NIGHTBREED

By Peloquin (ka.vanadis@karlskrona.mail.telia.com) with revisions by Charrles Grey (CharrlesG@aol.com)

Introduction

"Once we were Legion. We ruled the world in its eternal night, hunting for what we needed, and Baphomet, our Lord and Baptizer, gave us the lands of the First Midian, building a great city of marble and obsidian. And all the world was Night, and we ruled the Night.

But the Creator, jealous of our Lord Baphomet, decided to create a race of his own, a race that would only serve Him, and thus he created the Naturals.

Now the Naturals was a weak Tribe, who died after only half a century, and they needed sleep and light to survive. The Creator created the sun, and we, the First Tribe were banished to dwell inside our houses half the day.

Baphomet was angered by this selfish behaviour, and asked the Creator why he had done this. But instead of replying, the Creator sent the Great Beast, Leviathan, to slay our God, and destroy the Breed. Leviathan failed, and was exiled to the Abyss, where he in time started creating minions of his own, the beings we know as Cenobites. Now, Baphomet had defeated Leviathan, true, but he had also been sorely injured by the battle, and was forced to dwell in his temple in Midian.

Millennia passed by.

We saw how the little Leeches arose, feebly imitating the Great Midian, and falling for their own petty bickering. We saw the first rise of the Wyrm, and helped striking it down. We saw the birth of the Garou, beings who were controlled by Gaia instead of the mad Creator, and a race we had quite good relationships with.

But as always, the Creator could not stand our good fortune, and he managed to poison the minds of two of the Garou tribes, those now known as Silver Fangs and Red Talons. And they attacked the city of Midian, in company of one of the Creators Tribes, those known as the children of Moses. And Midian was destroyed, with Baphomets temple.

For millennia we wandered the earth, aimlessly, without a home or God, and our contempt for the Naturals grew with each insult they gave us. We were a pitiful Tribe, living like scavengers, and as the eons passed, we forgot our proud past. But then one day, only a thousand years ago, Baphomet showed himself to us all in a great vision. He told us to rejoice, for he had found us an untouched area across the Great sea, in a land of great forests and great game.

There we built the Second Midian.

And a thousand years passed, in peace, without interference from the Naturals.

But seers told of a great disaster that would befall on us, that our Second Midian would be destroyed as the first, unless the Nightbreed known as Cabal came to us first. Cabal. The unkillable one. He who walks in the sun and touches the flames without being burnt. He who shall give us back our world.

And one night, only a few years ago, I stumbled upon a Natural above Midian. His name was Aaron Boone, and he said he was one of us. He wasn't. I have this talent to smell out Naturals miles away. He was as Natural as they get. I bit him, intending to devour his flesh, but I was held back, and he escaped. The Law strictly forbids the eating of Naturals. Bah. Boone was killed, just outside the gates of Midian, and a few nights later he came back to us. As a Breed. Maybe I should have left him alone. Oh well. The events after this led to the destruction of the Second Midian, by the hands of a madman named Decker and Hunters led by the late (heh, heh, heh) Sheriff Eigerman. And Boone became Cabal. We are wanderers again now. Walking the cities of the Naturals. Seeking Baphomet, who disappeared without a trace. Cabal is our leader now. He still thinks I'm an asshole for giving him the Bite. Heh. In any case, the Nightbreed is back. We want the world back. And we're increasing in numbers by the hundreds."

-- Peloquin, Beast of the First Tribe of the Moon

Description

"Everything is true. God is an astronaut. Oz is over the rainbow. And Midian is where the monsters live..."
-- Peloquin, Clive Barker's Nightbreed

The Nightbreed are an odd sort. They are not human. They are not zombies. They are dead, true, but death is only a state of mind to them. And some of them has gone so far beyond death that they cannot be killed.

They claim to be older than any other race on the Earth, and say that their cities were old when the Kindred built their First City. They are shapeshifters, not shapechangers, all with a unique ability. Some of them may turn into animals, some of them can be fog, some can fly, some only increase in strength and speed, though their appearance does change a little. (Fangs, claws, stuff like that.) And the only ones who could be killed by conventional weapons were slain during the destruction of the Second Midian.

Appearance

Umm...well...they don't have any sort of typical appearance, I mean, one of them, Devil Lude, could be mistaken for a blackskinned fomori (though he was a bit too skinny for that), and Rachel, one who could turn into fog, looked like any other human.

Advantages

They have Bloodpool. 20 points max, and no, they don't drink blood. They do eat raw meat though, prefarably fresh, and it is this that rejuvenates their Bloodpool. Their abilities? Well, it's different for each Nightbreed, but if you use Garou Gifts and some of the Disciplines of the Kindred, you get a good idea of how they work. Instead of Gnosis or Rage, use Bloodpoints, and, well, the same systems as for Kindred. They also heal back 1 HL per round, unless it's Aggravated.

Character creation

The Breeds are separated into three clearly specified tribes, The Bairns, The Beasts and The Berzerkers. The Bairns and The Beasts are the most common of the NightBreed, and The Berzerkers are...well, the Berzerkers. I will explain them in greater detail below.

There are only two ways of becoming Breed, being born to it, or being bitten by one. In both cases you will have to die in order to become one of them. Note that this does not mean that someone eaten by a Breed will become one of them; you have to let a few minutes pass for the venom to settle in you, if you die before that, you just plain die. If you're born to it, it means you have the blood of the Breed running in your veins, and upon your death the Breed blood takes over.

The Bairns are the most humanlike, they have never really let go of their human sides, and change shape easily; they were also, until recently, the most fragile of the Breed. The guns and explosives of The Sons of The Free took care of that particular part of them. A bairn have an extremely human appearance, with maybe some slight detail differentiating them, such as a glistening skin, or two holes in their stomachs.

The Beasts are savages who have almost completely given up on their human sides, such as Peloquin, who resembled some greyskinned humanoid monster with thin tentacles growing out of his head, or Devil Lude, with pitchblack skin and ramshorns growing out of his skull. These Breeds have a difficult time trying to follow the laws of Baphomet, and have been known to eat one or two Naturals who annoyed them...

Berzerkers...well, they are a looong way from being even remotely human. Standing well over 6 ft tall, resembling the most fearsome Fomori, with the self control of Donald Duck and the intelligence of an ant. These are clearly not Player Characters. If a Player wants to play one, say no. The Berzerkers have only one thing on their tiny minds. Killing. The nicer ones make the average Fomori look like fwuffy widdle bunnywabbits. And there aren't very many of them left. (Fortunately)

Okay, these are the three Tribes left of the Tribes of The Moon, and the two first of these are the ones you can actually play.

Attributes: 7/5/3.

Abilities: 13/9/5.

Bloodpool: 0-100 yrs old, 10 BP, 100-any age, 20 BP.

Backgrounds: 5.

Advantages: You get 10 points of Shapercraft, 1 point counts as 1 Gift, one point of Discipline or 1 point of Merits.

Freebies: 17.

Okay, if you need inspiration on how to create a NightBreed, use some Metis Flaws from Werewolf; they can be quite instructive. I mean, having two faces is practically common among the Breed. Also use Nosferatu Flaws from Vampire, they are also quite useful.

Weaknesses

Well, no sunbathing for these fellas; only Cabal is immune to that. They don't need sleep though, and can be active during the day; they just can't walk outside.

Adversaries

Hunters. First, and most important, a Canadian version of KKK, known as The Sons of the Free. Second, they hate Silver Fangs and Red Talons. If you can prove you're not either, they'll treat you well. If not, well, bye... Third, they don't like vampires. They consider them Nightbreed wannabes, and don't have any respect for them, especially since they are ex-Naturals.

WoD

Kindred: Hah. I just can't believe that they think themselves so powerful, when Baphomet could wipe them out without straining himself.

"The what? No such thing, or we would know..."

Garou: They can be useful allies, and we respect them. Except those bloody traitors the Silver Fangs and the Red Talons. Those should be executed on sight.

"We've met. They're odd, but they won't harm you if you can prove you're not one of those they hate."

Magi: Heh. Heheheheheheheheheh...they believe themselves "Awakened" Fools.

"Keep away from those. They're not to be toyed with."

Faery: The Little Lost People, yes...they have no interest in us, and we have none in them.

"We don't bother them."

Immortals: They die, do they not? Then they're not immortals, are they?

"Where? Where? Oh, um, no, never heard of them..."

Cenobites: Cowardly snakes. They dare not face us in honest combat, so they poison the Naturals instead. Pathetic.

Quote

"I'm an actor, see? There's a face, beneath my face..." (The sound of skin being torn off...)

Sample Character

Name: Peloquin
Nature: Bravo
Demeanor: Gallant
Tribe: Beast
Age: ?
Apparent age: 30-something
Concept: Asshole

Str 3	Cha 4	Per 3
Dex 4	Man 1	Int 2
Sta 3	App 1	Wits 3

Talents: Alertness 3, Athletics 2, Brawl 3, Dodge 2, Intimidation 3
Skills: Melee 3, Stealth 3, Survival 3

Knowledges: Enigmas 2, Occult 1, TribeLore 2^*

^*The same as Mythlore for Changelings, only it's for Breed.

Bloodpool: 10

Advantages: Potence 4, Celerity 1, Fortitude 2, Claws, Fangs damage str+2, Acute Senses, Gleam of Red Eyes (blue in his version), Sense Naturals (like Sense Wyrm, but you sniff Naturals instead. Yes, that means Kindred, Garou, Mages and Faery also.)

Nightbreed Revisions

By Charrles Grey (CharrlesG@aol.com)

Author's Notes

I enjoyed Peloquin's adaptation for Nightbreed very much. I simply felt with a few minor ad-ons it would be even better. I think that the Nightbreed is an excellent addition to the World of Darkness. They ease into the atmosphere so well. Peloquin had a wonderful idea in turning this into a WoD game.

Advantages

Bloodpool: They have Bloodpool. 20 points max, and no, they don't drink blood. They do eat raw meat though, preferably fresh, and it is this that rejuvenates their Bloodpool. Starting Blood Pool is determined by the age (after the change) of the Breed. However Freebie points can be invested to raise those levels.

Willpower: Same as other WoD systems.

Virtues and Paths: Same as the Virtues and Paths from Vampire. Some of the Breed are on the path of Humanity while many have chosen other paths.

Shapecrafting Abilities: Their abilities? Well, it's different for each Nightbreed, but if you use Garou Gifts and some of the Disciplines of the Kindred, you get a good idea of how they work. Instead of Gnosis or Rage, use Bloodpoints, and well the same systems as for Kindred.

Healing: They also heal back 1 HL per round, unless it's Aggravated. They also have two extra levels of health after incapacitated in which they are still incapacitated, however they are not destroyed until after that point.

Background: Age determines bloodpool in the Breed. The older of course the better.

Level	Age	Starting	Extra
	Range	Blood Pool	Shapecraft
-	0-100	5	0
*	101-200	8	1
**	201-300	11	1
***	301-400	14	2
****	401-500	17	2
*****	501+	20	3

Tribes

The Breeds are separated into three clearly specified tribes: The Bairns, The Beasts and The Berzerkers. The Bairns and The Beasts are the most common of the NightBreed, and The Berzerkers are...well, the Berzerkers. I will explain them in greater detail below.

There are only two ways of becoming Breed: being born to it, or being bitten by one. In both cases you will have to die in order to become one of them. Note that this does not mean that someone eaten by a Breed will become one of them; you have to let a few minutes pass for the venom to settle in you. If you die before that, you just plain die. If you're born to it, it means you have the blood of the Breed running in your veins, and upon your death the Breed blood takes over.

The Bairns are the most human-like. They have never really let go of their human sides, and change shape easily; they were also, until recently, the most fragile of the Breed. The guns and explosives of The Sons of The Free took care of that particular part of them. A bairn has an extremely human appearance, with maybe some slight detail differentiating them, such as a glistening skin, or two holes in their stomachs.

Advantages: Beginning Appearance starts at one

Shapercraft: 8

Willpower: 5

Notes: If they are on the path of Humanity they receive a +1 to the path.

The Beasts are savages who have almost completely given up on their human sides, such as Peloquin, who resembled some grey skinned humanoid monster with thin tentacles growing out of his head, or Devil Lude, with pitch black skin and ram's horns growing out of his skull. These Breeds have a difficult time trying to follow the laws of Baphomet, and have been known to eat one or two Naturals who annoyed them...

Advantages: Beginning Appearance starts at zero

Shapercraft: 10

Willpower: 4

Berzerkers...well, they are a looong way from being even remotely human. Standing well over 6 ft tall, resembling the most fearsome Fomori, with the self control of Donald Duck and the intelligence of an ant. These are clearly not Player Characters. If a Player wants to play one, say no. The Berzerkers have only one thing on their tiny minds. Killing. The nicer ones make the average Fomor look like fwuffy widdle bunnywabbits. And there aren't very many of them left. (Fortunately)

Okay, these are the three Tribes left of the Tribes of The Moon, and the two first of these are the ones you can actually play. Advantages: Beginning Appearance starts at zero, and can never be higher

Shapercraft: 12

Willpower: 2

Character Creation

Attributes: 7/5/3

Abilities: 13/9/5

Bloodpool: According to age, after the change.

Willpower: According to Tribe.

Path: According to virtues.

Virtues: 6

Backgrounds: 5

Shapercraft: According to your Tribe. 1 point counts as 1 Gift, one point of Discipline or 1 point of Merits.

Freebies: 17

Okay, if you need inspiration on how to create a NightBreed, use some Metis Flaws from Werewolf; they can be quite instructive. I mean, having two faces is practically common among the Breed. Also use Nosferatu Flaws from Vampire, they are also quite useful.

Weaknesses

Well, no sunbathing for these fellas; only Cabal is immune to that. They don't need sleep though, and can be active during the day. They just can't walk outside. Sunlight does aggravated damage to them, just as it does to vampires.

Fire, acid, and electricity also does aggravated damage. Beheading or hacking the Breed to pieces kills them. Characters can regenerate after they are incapacitated, however continued damage at that point will destroy them. They have two more levels after incapacitated.

Character Sheet

                               Nightbreed
                       the First Tribe of the Moon
Name:______________  Demeanor:_____________  Age:____ Sex:_________
Concept:___________  Nature:_______________  Apparent Age:_________
Player:____________  Tribe:________________  Date of Birth:________
Chronicle:_________  Haven:________________  Date of Change:_______
===================================================================
                               Attributes
Strength  oooooooooo Charisma     oooooooooo Perception  oooooooooo
Dexterity oooooooooo Manipulation oooooooooo Intelligenceoooooooooo
Stamina   oooooooooo Appearance   oooooooooo Wits        oooooooooo
===================================================================
                                Abilities
Talents                  Skills                 Knowledges
Alertness    ooooo       Animal Ken ooooo       Computers   ooooo
Athletics    ooooo       Drive      ooooo       Enigmas     ooooo
Brawl        ooooo       Firearms   ooooo       Linguistics ooooo
Dodge        ooooo       Melee      ooooo       Occult      ooooo
Intimidation ooooo       Stealth    ooooo       Science     ooooo
Primal Urge  ooooo       Survival   ooooo       Tribelore   ooooo
____________ ooooo       __________ ooooo       ___________ ooooo
____________ ooooo       __________ ooooo       ___________ ooooo
____________ ooooo       __________ ooooo       ___________ ooooo
____________ ooooo       __________ ooooo       ___________ ooooo
____________ ooooo       __________ ooooo       ___________ ooooo
===================================================================
                                Advantages
              Shapercraft                          Health
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Bruised        0[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    ____________  __[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Hurt           1[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Injured        1[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    ____________  __[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Wounded        2[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Mauled         2[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    ____________  __[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Crippled       3[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Incapacitated  3[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    ____________  __[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Incapacitated  4[]
_______________ ___   ________________ ___    Incapacitated  5[]
=================================================================
Virtues                  !                      !Background
Conscience/Conviction __ !        Path          !__________ ooooo
--------------------     ! --________________-- !__________ ooooo
Self-Control/Instinct __ ! o o o o o o o o o o  !__________ ooooo
-------------------      ! [][][][][][][][][][] !__________ ooooo
Courage/_____________ __ !      Willpower       !__________ ooooo
=========================! o o o o o o o o o o  !__________ ooooo
Experience               ! [][][][][][][][][][] !__________ ooooo
                         !      Bloodpool       !__________ ooooo
                         ! {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} !__________ ooooo
                         ! {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} !__________ ooooo
==================================================================