Hu Do

By Jenny Parr (j.l.parr@bradford.ac.uk)

* Yanjing

As the Kuei gains this level of Hu Do his eyes change permanently. The pupils become slits and the iris' gain a golden-green colouration, perfectly suited for seeing in low light.

For the Kuei all rolls involving perception have a -2 difficulty, and he can see in very low levels of light. However very bright lights will be uncomfortable.

** Jwa

As this level of Hu Do is reached the nails of the Kuei permanently become feline claws, always razor sharp. Both the nails on the fingers and toes are changed and unless shoes are made specially they can be uncomfortable. Many Princes of the Orient insist on Kuei of this level wearing gloves while in their presence.

The claws do aggravated damage of Strength +2. If a barefooted kick is attempted this will also cause aggravate damage of Strength +3 at a higher difficulty.

*** Chindzu

As the Kuei becomes proficient in this level of Hu Do he can understand the speech of all cats and can talk to his feline cousins. No cat, even a blood bound ghoul, will ever attack the Kuei and all will treat him as their favoured master. Chindzu affects even the big hunting cats. The Kuei can also talk the lilting, expressive language of the Bastet and will be treated as a long-lost brother by them.

The Kuei is able to command any cats within hearing distance on an Intelligence + Animal Ken roll against a difficulty of 7. The cats will do favours for the Kuei with the number of successes determining the loyalty of the cat. At least three successes are needed to fight for the Kuei. When dealing with Bastet the Kuei has a -2 difficulty to all social rolls and the Bastet will run rather than fight.

**** Syingjwang

By using the mantras and gestures of Syingjwang, the Kuei can transform himself into the form of a small wildcat of the forests. This form still has the Jwa claws, Yanjing eyes and can converse easily with any feline he meets. The cats may mistake him for a true cat but will always treat him with respect and awe.

The Kuei may either spend 2 blood points and transform in one round, or spend 1 blood point and transform in two rounds. In the Syingjwang form the Kuei gains +2 Dexterity and +1 Perception. In this form all Stealth rolls have -2 difficulty and automatically has the effects of the merit Cat-like Balance. A Manipulation + Animal Ken roll against a difficulty of 6 must be made if the Kuei wishes to fool a cat into thinking he is one of their own. Bastet are not affected by this.

***** Wanggung

By really wanting to be a tiger, the practicioners of Wanggung may transform into a great Bengal tiger with Jwa claws, Yanjing eyes and Chindzu leadership. Again all cats will treat the Wanggung tiger with respect, and so will Bastet.

If 3 blood points are spent the transformation takes one round. If 1 blood point is spent the transformation takes 3 rounds. This will increase the Kuei's attributes as follows: Strength +2, Stamina +1, Dexterity +3 and Perception +1. A Manipulation + Survival roll against a difficulty of the target's willpower must be made if the Kuei wishes to fool a Bastet into thinking he is a real tiger. A Manipulation + Animal Ken roll must be made for normal felines.

****** Ywanshou

Once a Kuei is capable of the Ywanshou he is able to transform himself into a massive sabre toothed tiger capable of taking on nearly any enemy. This form has the Jwa claws, Yanjing eyes and Chindzu leadership but all commands to normal cats will be carried out with little fuss. No Bastet will fight a Ywanshou. Ever.

Transforming into this form takes 4 blood points and takes two rounds. This form increases the Kuei's attributes as follows: Strength +3, Dexterity +3, Stamina +3, and Perception +1. All attempts to command normal cats have a -2 difficulty.