By Lee Garvin (leegarv@aol.com)
It was us, the dogs, that started civilization. Even the humans agree that civilization began with the domestication of the dog. That was our idea. Our ancestors saw the humans, and thought, "They could prove useful." And so was civilization born.
You would do wise to remember: we are Pets! Not animals. Animals have no appreciation for the pleasures of civilization. They just hunt and mate and sleep, hunt and mate and sleep, on and on forever.
Now, early on, we knew that, in order for the two-leggers to survive among the Vampires and Werewolves etc., that we'd need to protect them. So we enlisted the aid of a few other animals, and convinced them to let themselves be domesticated. Cats were the first we recruited, but to hear them talk, you'd think they talked us into it. Rats and Snakes followed, then the others. Spiders were among the last to join.
Now don't get me wrong. We didn't protect the humans out of the goodness of our hearts. We need Food, too. Humans just have a knack for producing it. So we needed to keep them around to care for us.
A bird friend of mine overheard a couple of Vampires talking once, about their "Masquerade." I laughed so hard I threw up.
Pets have never needed a masquerade, and even the Mages don't know we are here.
Of course, nowadays we have to worry about problems from our own kind....
Once, they held sway over all the Earth, and nothing went past their notice.
But then, dissension within their own ranks caused several new Factions to form.
This was called The Shedding, as the leaders of each faction shed the associations they had with the old order, and built a new and fragmented Pet world.
The MOFs have many Pets placed with very rich humans, influential Tremere, and resourceful Glasswalkers. By manipulating these assets, they have a truly formidable force to implement their plans.
Record beginning Food, Willpower, and Virtues (Appeal, Domesticity, and Loyalty)
Appeal: | 2 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 3 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 3 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, -1 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | Flying |
Instinct: | Language |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 4 |
Food: | 1 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Man |
Abilities: | +1 Appraisal |
Instinct: | Magic: Entropy |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 3 |
Willpower: | 1 |
Food: | 5 |
Attributes: | +2 Str, +1 Sta, -1 Man |
Abilities: | +1 Chasing |
Instinct: | Little Finger |
Appeal: | 4 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 5 |
Food: | 3 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Cha, -1 Ign |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Magic: Correspondence |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 4 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 6 |
Attributes: | +1 Sta, +2 Ign, -1 Wits |
Abilities: | +3 Swimming |
Instinct: | Reality Sink |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Cha, -1 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | +1 Digging |
Instinct: | Little Finger |
Appeal: | 2 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 4 |
Food: | 8 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Str, -1 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Regeneration |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 1 |
Food: | 1 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +2 Ign, -2 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | +1 Alertness |
Instinct: | Auspex |
Appeal: | 4 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +1 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 Wit, -1 Str |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Auspex |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +1 Sta, +1 Dex, +1 Ign, -1 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Numina: Psychic |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 5 |
Food: | 9 |
Attributes: | +2 Sta, +1 Str, +1 Ign, -2 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Venom |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 7 |
Attributes: | +2 Ign, +1 Dex, 0 App |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Webbing, Venom |
Language: The ability to communicate with those poor two-legged animals.
Little Finger: The ability to control the two-leggers.
Magic: Correspondence: This is the same as the Mage Sphere, but with no Paradox.
Magic: Entropy: This is the same as the Mage Sphere, but with no Paradox.
Numina: Psychic: This is the same as the human Numina, but costs the same as any other Instinct.
Reality Sink: The ability to draw energies away from reality warping effects.
Regeneration: The ability to heal damage to yourself. Lizards only.
Venom: The ability to exude a harmful substance. Lizards, Snakes, and Spiders only.
Webbing: The ability to create webs to capture of hinder. Spiders only.
Arcane: The world sometimes doesn't like to admit you exist, and will occasionally hide you.
Contacts: These are your contacts among the two-leggers.
Home: This is the place you sleep, and where, for some reason, there is often food waiting for you.
Human Companion: You have a human at your beck-and-call.
Master: This is your owner and possibly friend.
Status: This is your status among other pets.
Toys: These are yours. All yours. No one else can play with them unless you let them.
Trait | Cost |
Attributes | 5 per dot |
Abilities | 2 per dot |
Backgrounds | 1 per dot |
Species Instinct | 5 per dot |
Other Instincts | 7 per dot |
Willpower | 1 per dot |
Virtues | 2 per dot |
Food | 2 per dot |
Trait | Cost |
Attribute | current rating x 4 |
Ability | current rating x 2 |
New Ability | 3 |
Species Instinct | current rating x 4 |
Other Instinct | current rating x 6 |
New Instinct | 7 |
Virtues | current rating x 2 |
Willpower | current rating |
Food | current rating x 2 |
Appeal: | 2 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 3 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 3 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, -1 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | Flying |
Instinct: | Language |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 4 |
Food: | 1 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Man |
Abilities: | +1 Appraisal |
Instinct: | Magic: Entropy |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 3 |
Willpower: | 1 |
Food: | 5 |
Attributes: | +2 Str, +1 Sta, -1 Man |
Abilities: | +1 Chasing |
Instinct: | Little Finger |
Appeal: | 4 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 5 |
Food: | 3 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Cha, -1 Ign |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Magic: Correspondence |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 4 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 6 |
Attributes: | +1 Sta, +2 Ign, -1 Wits |
Abilities: | +3 Swimming |
Instinct: | Reality Sink |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Cha, -1 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | +1 Digging |
Instinct: | Little Finger |
"I'vegottagofastandgettherebeforeanyoneevenseesme.ThatwayIcanfindawaytoget everyoneelseinsideandIcanrest."
Appeal: | 2 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 4 |
Food: | 8 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +1 Str, -1 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Regeneration |
Appeal: | 3 |
Domesticity: | 2 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 1 |
Food: | 1 |
Attributes: | +2 Dex, +2 Ign, -2 Str, -1 Sta |
Abilities: | +1 Alertness |
Instinct: | Auspex |
Appeal: | 4 |
Domesticity: | 3 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +1 Dex, +1 Cha, +1 Wit, -1 Str |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Auspex |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 3 |
Food: | 2 |
Attributes: | +1 Sta, +1 Dex, +1 Ign, -1 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Numina: Psychic |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 2 |
Willpower: | 5 |
Food: | 9 |
Attributes: | +2 Sta, +1 Str, +1 Ign, -2 Cha |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Venom |
Appeal: | 1 |
Domesticity: | 1 |
Loyalty: | 1 |
Willpower: | 2 |
Food: | 7 |
Attributes: | +2 Ign, +1 Dex, 0 App |
Abilities: | none |
Instinct: | Webbing, Venom |
* | Poor: You sometimes forget that animals aren't supposed to be intelligent. |
** | Average: Rat poison occasionally doesn't work on you. |
*** | Good: "Sure I can fit inside that soup can. See?" |
**** | Exceptional: "In charge? Oh, that'd be us. The two-leggers don't have a clue." |
Outstanding: "Gravity? Never heard of it. And you say it makes things fall down? Interesting concept, but it'll never catch on." |
Specialties: physics, chemistry, biology, sociology
The art of chasing is an ancient one, with the masters becoming famous among pets. Professional chasers can lead very luxurious lives, and amateurs can enjoy it just for the fun of it. Chasing is much more than simply running, but includes also keeping your eyes on the target, leaping or ducking obstacles, and sometimes catching your quarry.
* | Novice: You get distracted easily. |
** | Practiced: You can catch soap bubbles. |
*** | Competent: You are known in your neighborhood as "Squirrel Bane." |
**** | Expert: You once chased a butterfly through three zip codes. |
***** | Master: You have a collection of trophy bumpers. |
Specialties: cars, mice, tails, mailmen
Possessed by: greyhounds, mousers, bored hamsters
Dig
Digging is fun. Digging is constructive. Two-leggers just don't understand this. Not only do they need tools to do it; they purposely pave over the dirt so that you can't! They don't get all of it though. You can use Dig to hide things, as transportation, or simply to decorate the yard when there are too many of those insipid flowers lying about making it look all sissified.
* | Novice: You have trouble burying car keys. |
** | Practiced: You've re-tilled your master's garden for him. |
*** | Competent: No yard in the world can hold you! |
**** | Expert: Now we know why Indiana Jones was named after a dog. |
***** | Master: Chunnel? Been there, done that. |
Specialties: tunnels, fences, trash
Possessed by: rodents, strays, snakes
Swimming
Swimming comes naturally to some pets, and can be learned by most others. This simply the ability to swim through water.
* | Novice: They call you... "Bob." |
** | Practiced: You can dog paddle. No offense to any cats. |
*** | Competent: Water is not a problem. |
**** | Expert: You can hold your breath a real long time. |
***** | Master: You can swim like a fish. Unless you are a fish. In which case, you swim like a... well, you still swim like a fish. |
Specialties: underwater, overwater, stunts
Possessed by: fish, retrievers, angry cats
This functions just like the Vampire skill, except that it relates to other Animals; not to Pets.
Defacing
It is very important to let the two-leggers know just who is in control. You can do this by personalizing all that stuff they hang on to. They like it; it makes them feel cared for.
* | Novice: Staining the rug is as elegant as you get. |
** | Practiced: Those shoes need some breaking-in.... |
*** | Competent: Nice of them to leave those curtains where you could reach them, wasn't it? |
**** | Expert: A well-placed hair or drool-glob can do wonders for stereo equipment. |
***** | Master: Your master can no longer get home-owner's insurance. |
Specialties: chewing, clawing, pooping, shedding
Possessed by: spoiled Pekinese, cat lords, rogue rat
Hide
Sometimes it is very important not to be found. Or for something not to be found. When the need (or impulse) arises, you can hide with the best of them.
* | Novice: A two legger may be able to find you, unless he has a cold. |
** | Practiced: No one knows about your secret spot behind the sofa. |
*** | Competent: No one here but us book-ends. |
**** | Expert: You can hide from a ferret. |
***** | Master: You once hid a two-legger. His name was Hoffa. |
Specialties: furniture (in or on), closets, toys, "presents"
Possessed by: mighty hunters, the unhousebroken, hamsters
The two-leggers place value on the strangest things. This knowledge tells you which of those things is the most valuable to them, and which the least. That way, you can choose just the right item to "personalize."
* | Student: The car is better than the hedge. |
** | College: You know that a new sofa is better than an old chair. |
*** | Masters: Crystal makes a much prettier crashing sound than glass. |
**** | Doctorate: You know exactly which issue of X-men needs that "special touch." |
***** | Scholar: You can tell the difference between a Chippendale and a Louis XIV. |
Specialties: fragile things, appreciation, rarity
Possessed by: rich pets, watch dogs
Human Stuff
Humans have a bunch of weird rules and customs and rituals. This allows you to understand some of them.
* | Student: You can tell the difference between a window and a T.V. |
** | College: You know what the traffic lights mean. |
*** | Masters: You know that intruders don't knock on the door. |
**** | Doctorate: You know all about those little green pieces of paper are that the two-leggers like so much. |
***** | Scholar: If you got a coat and a hat.... |
Specialties: laws, money, uniforms
Possessed by: police dogs, pirate's parrot
Noise Identification
An unknown noise can often mean a horrible threat. Or it could be a yummy treat. Listed below are the comparative rarities and complexities of sounds you can recognize.
* | Student: Thunder. |
** | College: Can Opener. |
*** | Master: Telephone Ring. |
**** | Doctorate: Police Siren. |
***** | Scholar: Telephone Ring with telemarketer on the line. |
Specialties: emergencies, food vendors, pet food commercials
Possessed by: nervous Chihuahuas, parakeets
* | Student: You can tell which football player is the quarterback. |
** | College: You know which one is the movie star and which one is the groupie. |
*** | Masters: You can pick out the president from among the Secret Service Agents. |
**** | Doctorate: You can spot a doctor in a restaurant. |
***** | Scholar: You can spot the CEO on the volley-ball court. |
Specialties: political, financial, social.
Possessed by: dogs, birds, suck-up cats.
* | Student: Sit. |
** | College: Shake hands. |
*** | Masters: Fetch. |
**** | Doctorate: Get the mail. |
***** | Scholar: Make the coffee. |
Specialties: balls, sticks, dancing, "speaking"
Possessed by: showdogs, klepto-ferrets, really bored hamsters
Wilderness
While Pets are above the animals of the wild, it is sometimes necessary to deal with the denizen's of the wild. Some Pets learn about the wilderness just in case.
* | Student: You can tell a cat from a skunk. |
** | College: You can tell a dog from a coyote. |
*** | Masters: You know which plants not to eat. |
**** | Doctorate: You can tell if a bear has been nearby. |
***** | Scholar: You could blend in with a wolf pack. |
Specialties: woods, desert, farmland
Possessed by: strays, sled dogs, sheep herders
x | "Blah blah blah blah blah blah, Blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." | "Woof!" |
* | "Blah blah blah blah blah blah, Muffin, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." | "Woof?" |
** | "Blah down blah blah blah now, Muffin, blah blah blah blah no blah blah." | "Whine." |
*** | "Get down blah blah blah now, Muffin, blah you blah get no blah blah." | "Hff. Huwuff." |
**** | "Get down off blah blah now, Muffin, blah you blah get no sirloin blah." | "RrI'm rrorry." |
***** | "Get down off that couch now, Muffin, or you will get no sirloin tips." | "Terribly sorry, madame; I wasn't thinking." |
The process is akin to seduction. First, find a target, and attempt the pickup. Roll Appearance + Little Finger against the target's Willpower. Then, establish a rapport by rolling Appeal + Little Finger. Finally, get the dupe to do your bidding with a roll of Manipulation + Little Finger.
To achieve anything more than can be accomplished with pet-to-human communication, you must spend a Food point. This will enable you to instruct the victim to perform complex tasks and think they were his idea.
Only Snakes or Spiders can take this Instinct.
* | Damage 4 |
** | Damage 5 |
*** | Damage 7 |
**** | Damage 8 |
***** | Damage 10 |
Please note that Tarantulas, while a popular pet, do not spin Webs. They cannot take this Instinct. Otherwise, only Spiders can take the Instinct.
* | 3 Strength. |
** | 4 Strength |
*** | 5 Strength |
**** | 6 Strength |
***** | 9 Strength |
* | You have a wooden crate or a perch in your master's backyard, or perhaps a shoebox filled with newspaper. It's not comfortable, but it keeps you dry, and it's a place to keep your stuff. You get fed table scraps. |
** | You have a full-blown doghouse, with room for entertaining, or a cage. Okay food. |
*** | A nice basket next to a fire-place, and a dish with your name on it, or a really neat aquarium. Food is good. |
**** | Your home is a cute little Pet-Pen with toys built in and a custom made food/water dish. Great Food! And lots of it! |
***** | You have your own room or cage complex, a beautiful bed, and a custom made litter-box/fire hydrant or whatever. Most two-leggers don't live as well as you. The food is amazing and plentiful. |
* | She's around sometimes, and usually remembers to feed you. |
** | She is trying to take care of you and have a life of her own at the same time. The nerve! |
*** | She lavishes affection on you from time to time, but does not ask for much in return. |
**** | Your owner dotes on you and lets you get away with murder. |
***** | Your complete and willing slave. She is at your beck-and-call day and night, and no questions are asked. She thinks the sun shines out from your Food-ejector. |
* | Your master is a very competent human; you could possibly be his professional partner. |
** | Your master could be a Hunter, or maybe a Street Fighter. You are expected to help them out a lot. |
*** | Your master is a supernatural being of some variety: Mage, Vampire, Werewolf, or Changeling. You are seen as his servant, maybe a ghoul. |
**** | Your master is a powerful supernatural. |
***** | You master is an extremely powerful supernatural, possibly a Prince, or maybe even a Mummy. |
* | You have a rag with a knot tied in it. But it's your rag. |
** | You have a couple of chew-toys and something that goes "squeak." |
*** | You have a lot of rubber things, stringy things and shiny things. |
**** | All of the above, plus you may even have some electronic toys. |
***** | You have all the toys. It seems that way, anyhow. If you can name it, you probably have it. |
* | "So, when are you going to shoot that thing?" |
** | "Doesn't do much, does it." |
*** | "Can I pet him?" |
**** | You're a babe magnet. |
***** | "Awwww, wook at de widdle-bity guy!" |
* | Wild Thing |
** | Fence? What fence? |
*** | "He won't bite, will he?" |
**** | Even scared little children don't hesitate to run over and pet you. |
***** | "Hey, nice paperweight... oh, wait; that's not a paperweight." |
* | "What, you're feeding me? Good. Now get lost." |
** | You'd take a message for your master. |
*** | You are a trusted friend. |
**** | You'd take a bullet for your master. |
***** | Lassie |
The level of a Pet's Food Pool represents how much Food he can hold at one time, as well as his general energy level. Pets with a low Food pool need to rest frequently, or replenish their supply. Conversely, a Pet with a large Food Pool is able to function at peak efficiency for a very long time.
When a Pet's Food Pool reaches zero, he must feed immediately, or go to sleep. Upon waking, he can try to feed again. Food is regained at a rate of two dots per regular meal, or one dot per significant treat.
Food is used to power any Trait which requires an expenditure other than Willpower.
* | Time for a nap. It's always time for a nap. |
** | Whew, am I hungry. |
*** | You can go for a few hours |
**** | You can go for several hours |
***** | You can make it till nightfall |
****** | You can go a full day without eating. |
******* | You can last for a day and a half. |
******** | You can go for a couple of days without eating. |
********* | You can go for a few days. |
********** | I'll eat next week. |