Cauthon's Homebrew Hub

[GibberingEloquence]

Really simple Merit idea - the ability to use Hedgespun Items without incuring the 1-die penalty. Operating off the fact that Fabricate Fortune can technically trick supernatural effects like the item's Drawback.

Vagarities of Fate (●)
Prerequisites: Fate ●●
Description:
The Mage has become so innured to the mutable nature of The Hedge that even native items have begun to accept them. The Mage is treated as a Fey by Hedgespun Items.

IIRC, Hedgespun Items don't have Drawbacks nor Catches, they're Equipment++ of a moderately fey nature. You might be thinking of Tokens, in which case a Merit like this would remove the Mage's need to suffer the Catch of the Token, since the Mage counts as fey in nature thanks to the Merit. But the Drawback of a Token is always suffered regardless of who the user is, even if they are fey in nature.

[Cauthon]

IIRC, Hedgespun Items don't have Drawbacks nor Catches, they're Equipment++ of a moderately fey nature. You might be thinking of Tokens, in which case a Merit like this would remove the Mage's need to suffer the Catch of the Token, since the Mage counts as fey in nature thanks to the Merit. But the Drawback of a Token is always suffered regardless of who the user is, even if they are fey in nature.

I'm thinking of Hedgespun Items from page 225 in Changeling Core - they have no activation, but inflict a -1 penalty to non-fey using them

[TempleBuilder]

How about using a system like the Epiphany Stone merit for the first Attainment? Changelings, High Clarity ones anyways, can do something similar. That or learn to navigate the Hedge without the normal problems, like using Gnosis for Wyrd in Hedge navigation.

[TempleBuilder]

For an Attainment creating a Hob (Fetchling?), what would be a good clause for a Conditional Duration? Using Golem as a model-base, I can push it to Indefinite Duration with the Conditional Duration, as long as Reach is only being spent there.

Well, it's fairy tale logic, so it's probably something it does, like looking into its reflections eyes, or breaking an oath it makes. I'm partial to trying its existence to a drawing or painting of it, which must survive the years.

[Cauthon]

Well, it's fairy tale logic, so it's probably something it does, like looking into its reflections eyes, or breaking an oath it makes. I'm partial to trying its existence to a drawing or painting of it, which must survive the years.

Hm, a fairy-phylactery would be neat. I figure it's an extension of the Malleable Thorns' Hedgespinning, and the plan was already for the activation ritual to be a Keeper-esque structuring of dross materials, so creating a depiction that the creature emerges from is a good extension.

On the other hand, not breaking oaths would be dead on for a Hob.

(Aside, should they call their minions Hobs, or Fetchlings? Hob is less likely to elicit a response from Changelings, I'd imagine)

How about using a system like the Epiphany Stone merit for the first Attainment? Changelings, High Clarity ones anyways, can do something similar. That or learn to navigate the Hedge without the normal problems, like using Gnosis for Wyrd in Hedge navigation.

Sorry, I'm blanking on that system, and my cursory ctrl-F isn't turning anything up. Would you mind elaborating? And would you slot it as Fate or Mind?

[TempleBuilder]

(Aside, should they call their minions Hobs, or Fetchlings? Hob is less likely to elicit a response from Changelings, I'd imagine)

No idea, sorry.

Sorry, I'm blanking on that system, and my cursory ctrl-F isn't turning anything up. Would you mind elaborating? And would you slot it as Fate or Mind?

SoS pg 91. 4 dot merit, requires Mind 2, Dream or Astral Adept, and to carry their Soul Stone on them. Basically, while using mage sight to spend mana to force a Clash of Wills against any illusions, or forced Astral Journey, or anything that separates them from reality by interacting with their Soul Stone. It's really impractical and expensive.

[Cauthon]

No idea, sorry.
SoS pg 91. 4 dot merit, requires Mind 2, Dream or Astral Adept, and to carry their Soul Stone on them. Basically, while using mage sight to spend mana to force a Clash of Wills against any illusions, or forced Astral Journey, or anything that separates them from reality by interacting with their Soul Stone. It's really impractical and expensive.

Holy heck, how is that worth the equivalent of at least a whole dot in an Arcana?! Astral Adept is already a touch overpriced, but at least you could fabricate it with a Mind spell if you wanted to.

[TempleBuilder]

Holy heck, how is that worth the equivalent of at least a whole dot in an Arcana?! Astral Adept is already a touch overpriced, but at least you could fabricate it with a Mind spell if you wanted to.

...yeah.
The wording is kind of vague, and I think could be used to return from a pocket dimension or the underworld or somthing...Which seems way out of the scope of merit. If that's the intended use...How in the world is that Mind?
Anyways, I don't like this merit, but I think it can be salvaged by using it somewhere else. Up to you to use if you think it fits. If you want to use it, I'd say instead of a Soul Stone, use a bit of Iron, or Cold Iron for a bonus, and you can clash.

[Cauthon]

Anyways, I don't like this merit, but I think it can be salvaged by using it somewhere else. Up to you to use if you think it fits. If you want to use it, I'd say instead of a Soul Stone, use a bit of Iron, or Cold Iron for a bonus, and you can clash.

Sounds good, I'll hammer something out with that. Thanks!

...yeah.
The wording is kind of vague, and I think could be used to return from a pocket dimension or the underworld or somthing...Which seems way out of the scope of merit. If that's the intended use... How in the world is that Mind?

Edit: I think "supernatural experience that separates him from reality" just means hallucinations and the like.

[KaiserAfini]

I think it would be interesting if the phylactery was inspired by The Portrait of Dorian Gray, created at the Goblin Market by making a specially prepared painting into a Soul Stone. Every revival could accrue a point of Goblin Debt. Rather than high amounts of debt transforming a mage into a goblin, it would instead bind them to a Painting/Mirror Person Familiar (meaning they can Discorporate and reform as the painting's image) that would pursue certain Wyrd chosen goals to settle the debt.

[Cauthon]

I think it would be interesting if the phylactery was inspired by The Portrait of Dorian Gray, created at the Goblin Market by making a specially prepared painting into a Soul Stone. Every revival could accrue a point of Goblin Debt. Rather than high amounts of debt transforming a mage into a goblin, it would instead bind them to a Painting/Mirror Person Familiar (meaning they can Discorporate and reform as the painting's image) that would pursue certain Wyrd chosen goals to settle the debt.

Wait, you mean make it into a Lich Legacy? Or the Fetchling is able to resurrect itself?

[KaiserAfini]

I wasn't thinking of a Legacy, however, that is an interesting idea. I meant starting with the Mirror People from page 267 of the CofD book, give it the Immortal Dread Power as a base and then build it so the image in the portrait becomes their Mr Hyde, serving the Wyrd's/Goblin's agenda. I think it could lead to an interesting Mystery, especially if there is some kind of reason to prevent them from revealing the situation, all while dealing with the fallout of the doppleganger's actions.

[KaiserAfini]

What spells would be needed for a Legacy aping Changelings? The gouges caused by Thorns could certainly be tempting Mysteries for a reckless Mage to make something out of. I can repurpose parts of my Hedgemarshals, but they're focused on being bountryhunters. I want someone who's whole shtick is wanting to be a Changeling without most of the downsides.

I assume it would be a Fate-primary Legacy, since Fate seems to be the dominant Arcana over Mind when it comes to Changling-adjascent spells.

Courtiers of the Thorn Brand

Nicknames: Courtlings, Hedgewalkers, Thornweavers, Keeperlings (Derogatory)

Organization: lalala [Friendly with Changelings and try to get Goodwill with as many courts as possible. Fate-Masters are often welcomed as brokers for strange contracts, but Second-Degree Legacy Masters are side-eyed for their "Fetchlings"]

Theory: Just because magic isn't Supernal, doesn't mean it isn't a route to enlightenment. The Exarchs broke the world to secure their dominion, and it would be foolish to ignore the fragments other than our own.

Background: Lalala [Founded by a Mage who went Rapt studying the ragged state of Changeling souls, creating a Legacy that emulated the gouges in a more artistic form. Several would-be students attempted to learn from his Soul Stone and went Rapt themselves before a one managed to puzzle out a stable form.]

Parentage: Free Council, Mastigos

Ruling Arcana: Fate

Yantras: Lalala

Oblations: Assisting with Court Bargain rituals; Safely traversing the Hedge; Performing a favor for a Hedge denizen without seeking recompense; Triggering an event that would net Glamour if the Mage were a Changeling

Prerequisites: Keen Periphery 2, Piercing Glance 2
Initiation: There are two common methods of initiation into the Courtlings. The first -and most common- is to closely study the soul of a Changeling, identifying the various cuts and scrapes that have elevated the fairy to something more than human. This is best performed on a willing subject, although that is far from required. The prospective Initiate is then walked through the proper pattern to carve by their mentor, carefully working to avoid the slips that will send the Mage into Rapture.

The second method is to willingly walk into the Thorns of the Hedge, wandering its depths until the briar has gouged out alien geometries upon Gnosis. While the far riskier method, initiates of this method often emerge bearing strange Artifacts, Tokens, or novel Attainments.

The Form Of A Thing
(Fate ●) Initiation
Though their glance cannot see through all illusions, the Courtling is innured enough to the tides of Arcadia to see through Arcadian Masks.

An always-on effect that allows the mage to see through Masks as if they were Fae

Commentary: Eh. Not much to say. Basically a convenience thing, not needing Active Mage Sight up.

(Mind ●)
A strange truth can be found in the surety of iron - that all illusions are as fleeting as the wind. Using cold iron in hand to draw hot iron from their own veins, the Courtling rages against perceived intrusions. Should this lashing out prove accurate, the drawn blood bubbles away as an iridescent smoke.

Emulates the Epiphany Stone merit, but cuts themself with a piece of iron rather than utilizes a Soul Stone. This deals one point of Resistant Bashing Damage.

Commentary: an... odd effect, suggested by TempleBuilder. Could replace it with giving the Mage a Glamour pool... although the closest equivalent would be Mana Battery, which is Disciple level.

The Intangibles
(Fate ●●) Piercing Glance 4
The Wyrd is not quite the threads of Fate, and not quite the bonds of Sympathy, yet there is a kinship there nonetheless. The marks the Courtling etched into themself blur the distinctions between those gossamer weavings.

Interconnections
Potency = Fate
Duration = Two Turns
Scale = 1 Subject, 2 Subjects at Fate 4
Range = Sight
Casting Time = Instant

Commentary: Spot them tricksy oathbreakers. At the Adept level, you can even discern the connections between subjects two at a time.

(Mind ●●)
Something in the scouring that shapes Changelings opens them to the currents of emotion in other entities. Carefully trimming at the edges of their Gnosis in imitation, the Courtling is able to glean similar details.

Mental Scan
Potency = Mind
Duration = Two Turns
Scale = 1 Subject, 2 Subjects at Mind 4
Withstand = Composure
Range = Sight
Casting Time = Instant (Reach to Instant Casting)
NOTE: Activates simultaneously with the Fate portion of the Attainment. This is not optional. Prioritizes emotional state, then psychosis, then desires, then Mage's choice.

Commentary: Not exactly mind-reading, but still useful.

Between What You Can Touch
(Fate ●●●) It's Only A Weave 2, Astral Adept 3
Though creating new Hedge Irises requires Mastery of Fate, an experienced Courtling can leverage their understanding of the superficially-similar Astral to rip open pre-existing Hedgeways with but a flicker of will.

Open Hedgegate
Duration = Fate
Potency = N/A (2, 3 at Fate 4)
Range = Touch
Casting Time = Instant (Reach to Instant Casting)

Commentary: Spotting Hedgegates might be a bit tricky, but you can sure as heck guarentee they'll open to you.

(Mind ●●●)
While not quite as mutable as the Astral, the Hedge has a plasticity that responds nicely to Awakened will. A Courtling hones this control to a knife-fine edge, albeit one that requires constant attention.

Malleable Thorns
Potency = Mind
Duration = Two Turns, Three Turns at Mind 4
Range = Self/Touch
Casting Time = Instant (Reach to Instant Casting) NOTE: Reach to Paradigm Shift. Mage can now purchase Hedgespinning-related Merits.

Commentary: Powerful and spam-able, but you'll need to act fast.

And What You Can't
(Fate ●●●●) Supernal Taxonomy 2, Vagaries Of Fate 1, Occult 4
There is a faction within the Adamant Arrow who believe that any oath -even those not backed by some form of magic- contains a spark of the Supernal. While the Courtlings cannot speak to mundane oaths, they can certainly attest to the power of oaths sworn beneath the aegis of the Wyrd. They have studied the nature of such pacts so closely that a reflection has taken root within them.

Wyrd-backed Oath
Duration = Lasting
Potency = N/A (3)
Range = Self
Casting Time = N/A (Scene)
NOTE: Gives bonus benefit of being able to buy Court Goodwill dots as if the Mage was a Changeling. When this Attainment is first learned, any dots of the Ally merit relating to Changeling Courts that the Mage possesses are automatically converted into the equivalent number of Court Goodwill dots. Court Goodwill also expands the Courtling's Legacy Oblations to include Court-based methods of Glamour harvest based on their Court Goodwill.

Commentary: Not hugely useful as an Attainment, especially an Adept-level one, but it saves on casting and the Mantle bit can be a nice bit of flavor.

(Mind ●●●●)
The Courtlings willingly step into a realm woven of barely-contained madness, sculpt their soul in emulation of the wounds that realm can inflict, and engage in rituals that border on manias. To engage in such hubris and emerge at least sane enough to continue functioning, the Courtling's mind raises a bulwark of pure will.

Mental Shield
Potency = Mind
Duration = One Week (Reach to Advanced Duration)
Range = Self
Casting Time = Instant (Reach to Instant Casting)
NOTE: Reach to switch Potency to Primary Factor

Commentary: Simple. Basic. Actually, pretty powerful. Withstand 5 is nothing to sniff at.

It's The Nature Of A Thing
(Fate ●●●●●) Hob Kin 1, Occult 5
A Courtling Master has blurred the line between Mage and Changeling, and knows on a fundamental level that it is not the form of a thing that matters, but it's nature. All things are symbols, you simply need the proper cypher to interface with foreign symbols. Drawing deep on this understanding, the Courtling weaves strange new bonds between the writhing fragments of the Fallen World.

Masking the False Fae
Duration = Indefinite (Two Reach to Indefinite Duration)
Potency = 3
Range = Touch
Withstand = Resolve
Cost = 1 Mana
Casting Time = Scene
NOTE: Conditional Duration [Entity attacks -or is attacked by- a petitioner]. If the Mage reaches the Adept level of understanding in Mind, Spirit, or Death, entities that fall under the auspices of that Arcana become valid targets.

Commentary: Not very impressive for a Master slot on the face of it, but holy heck they'd be in demand to broker contracts.

(Mind ●●●●●)
The Courtling rummages through the Hedge, snatching up sticks, stones, scaps, and dross. Cobbling together an artistic representation of a creature as fantastical as they please, they infuse their "Effegy" with a flicker of Glamour-flavored Mana to give it life. The Mana draws substance from the fabric of the Hedge, creating a life-sized entity in emulation of the Effegy. These "Fetchlings" are Hobs for all intents and purposes, albeit Hobs who feel an instinctive loyalty towards the Courtling. Fetchlings will last for as long as their Effegy remains intact, and as such become very protective of them.

Create Fetchling [Golem]
Potency = Mind
Duration = Indefinite (Two Reach to Indefinite Duration)
Scale = Up to Size 5
Range = Touch
Cost = 1 Mana
Casting Time = Scene
NOTE: Conditional Duration [The Fetchling's Effegy is destroyed]. Can only be activated Hedge. Effegy can be sculpture, drawing, painting, carving, or the like, but must be a visual representation and no smaller than a handspan.

Commentary: Make li'l minions. Whether they can teach Goblin Contracts is another matter.

It's Only A Weave (●●)
Prerequisites: Fate ●●, Mind ●●
Description:
The Mage has become an expert at traversing The Hedge, and can navigate it as if they were a Changeling. The Mage substitutes Gnosis for Wyrd where appropriate, and Wisdom for Clarity

Changling-adjascent spells
1. Break Boundary
2. Dream Reaching
3. Interconnections
4. Correspondence
5. Sworn Oaths
6. Malleable Thorns
7. Open Hedgegate
8. Create Hedgegate
9. Channel Glamour
10. Harvest Glamour
11. Wyrd-backed Oath
12. Masking the False Fae
13. Sleep of the Just
14. Mend Clarity
15. Knit Clarity
16. Fabricate Fortune
17. Alter Mental Pattern
18. Emotional Urging
19. Clear Thoughts

Another possible approach could be Fate and Spirit. Since the Exarchs supposedly broke the Hedge, they theorize the tales are not flowing in the proper direction. So they shift the context and the emotional resonance of the myths back in the right direction, by shifting the intent of the tale, Materializing the right props, redefining the constraints the actors are under, making sure Fate lets them flow in the right direction. They are prompters and stagehands, the most revered masters are choreographers. The danger and Hubris comes from not only taking responsibility for all the actors, but also contending with countermoves of the Hedge.

[Cauthon]

More or less done with the Courtlings, although if anyone can recommend polish-points I'd appreciate it. They need a better name though, anyone have suggestions?

[Cauthon]

Sooo... the whole thread goes down if I update the index post. Gooooood to know.