Canus

By John Fries (jfries29@mail.idt.net) for the Canusite bloodline.

* Speak With the Pack

The character may speak empathically with any canine, including wolves, jackals, dogs, hyenas, and the like. The character may also speak to a group of these animals. The character may send a non-verbal command to the canine(s), which the canine(s) will follow to the best of its (their) ability. Remember, the command cannot be too complex for the creature to understand, nor can it require the animal to do something suicidal.

System: No roll is required to speak with the animal, but the player must make a successful Manipulation + Animal Ken (difficulty 6, +1 per canine after the first being instructed, to a maximum of ten) for each animal being ordered to get that animal to follow the character's instructions. The canines must still be commanded individually, and orders may not be given to the group as a whole. If the character's attempt to instruct the animal fails, the character is unable to make another attempt that night.

** Master the Pack

The character may control any group of canines without consciously communicating with each animal specifically. The character now controls the pack as a single entity.

System: The player makes a roll for each canine that he is trying to control (difficulty 6). The character may now issue orders to the pack individually, or as a single entity. This saves time when ordering around many retainers.

*** Daylight Messengers

This power is the same as Master of the Pack, but the character may now also control the pack while he sleeps.

System: See Master of th Pack, only the character may now see through the pack's eyes, as well as control the pack, while he is sleeping during the day.

**** One With the Pack

The character may take the shape of a canine. The canine's breed and species will somehow relate to the character's appearance when in normal form. This may range from physical attributes such as strength to the character having a white streak in his hair. Example 1: A character that has gray hair when in his natural shape could be a gray haired wolf when in canine form. Example 2: A character that is naturally strong, might be a Rottweiler or St. Bernard when in canine form.

System: No roll is required, but one blood point must be expended for the transformation to occur. The transformation takes one round.

***** Lord of the Pack

The character becomes the complete Alpha dog in the pack, through the use of his vampiric powers while in canine form.

System: Use the same system as for One With the Pack, except that the character can use all of his vampiric powers while in canine form. The character gains all of the benefits of physical disciplines, and may use mental disciplines to their normal extent.