Incomplete Rules: NightLife 2nd or 3rd (preferred) Edition Needed to Play

By Bradley K. McDevitt
Warning: Contains Adult Content and Language. So if you can't handle bad words and the hard stuff, piss off.
INTRODUCTION

"Fuck You, Stellar Games."

There, I said it.
After twelve years of trying to get NightLife back even after Stellar Games' demise, I have had it. The guys at
Stellar made gobs of money off NightLife while I slaved away at a pizza parlor and watched them twist my greatest
creation into harmless pap.
No more.
NightLife should be about as safe as giving a blowjob to a Tek-9 with the safety shaved off. In this booklet, you
will find the rules I have come up with for NightLife over a decade of thinking about it and occasionally playing it. This is
not Goth whimpering, this is full-out punk gaming, even if I am not a punk myself.
But hey, I worship Joey Ramone as the second coming of Christ, and the New York Dolls are STILL the greatest
incompetent musicians out there, so you can take your Blink 182 and Sum41 and shove them up your ass.
And since this is being released free on the web.... Hey, Stellar, you can kiss me where the only place the sun
shines, is if I am standing on my head.
Live Fast
Live Free
Live Forever
Bradley K. McDevitt

Playtesters and Partners in Crime: Indigo Shift, Chainsaw, Soner Du, and Bull695.

A most Unusual Dedication….

NightLife was originally published in 1990, a slim, saddle-stitched book full of typos and inconsistencies.
Nonetheless, as the first game to allow players to take the part of monsters in a serious setting, it caused a sensation.
Ten months later, White Wolf published Vampire: the Masquerade and revolutionized the gaming hobby. I was
furious at first, I will admit, especially since they announced, early on, that they planned on doing games about Ghosts,
Werewolves, and Wizards; three of the other important “races” in NightLife.
I thought, at the time, I was being ripped off.
Others still believe so… I no longer do.
Regardless of the origins of the “Worlds of Darkness,” White Wolf’s creations have enriched and broadened the
scope of the gaming world. They shifted the emphasis of the hobby from its rules-heavy, impersonal, war gaming roots, to
more creative personal, character-driven stories. In doing so, they made the hobby grow up and widened its appeal in
ways that no other company’s products had before.
In this bootleg edition, I have tried to avoid aping the specifics of the World of Darkness. There are no “Clans” of
Vampyres, nor any “septs” or “Tribes” of Werewolves. NightLife remains its own universe. What I have done, is attempt
to create a world, and rules, for that world, as deep as one might find in a White Wolf game, so that players may have
characters that are more than collections of numbers and thinly-disguised superpowers. The world of NightLife now has
more secrets, more back-story, more intrigue, and hopefully, more depth than ever before.
The possibility of this depth, even its necessity, was pointed out by the efforts of White Wolf. So…thank you
Mark, Steve, Stewart, and many more than I can list here. Your world has made mine a richer place.
Bradley K. McDevitt

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For You Babies: NightLife for Beginners
NightLife is an adventure/horror game set in late-1990s
New York City. Players take the part of various races of
monsters, including Vampyres, Werewolves, and Shades, in
addition to several other types of monsters. These races, who
collectively refer to themselves as the "Kin," divided themselves
along political lines they refer to as "factions."
Some of these factions are pro-human, like the
Commune, while others, like Red Moonrise, hate Humanity. For
the purpose of this adventure, all the PC’s are assumed to be part
of a single "cell" of the Commune. A cell operates
independently, and has little formal contact with other cells,
much like the French Resistance during WWII.
The Races
Vampyres: Your classic bloodsuckers; Superhuman-ly
strong, and with great powers, but weakened by garlic and holy
relics, and able to be killed by sunlight or a stake through the
heart.
Werewolves: Shapeshifters, able to assume a wolf or
wolfman form.
Shades: The psychic remains of a dead human. They
are normally incorporeal, and immune to damage, but can be
destroyed if their anchor is damaged.
Wyghts: Super strong, super fast, and super-ugly. Think
of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a complexion like beef jerky,
and you've got the right idea.
Manitou: American Indian nature spirits, with a
penchant for feathers, weird clothing, and wild powers.
Daemons: Refugees from another dimension, Daemons
can teleport, change shape, and various other abilities, but can be
repulsed with flint or holy relics.
Animates: From a golem to a children’s doll, anything
that is alive that shouldn’t be is considered an Animate. The
most callous of the races.
Other races of interest include: Data Haunts, Ekimmu,
Kikulaluits, Trolles, Toxxixx, Zombies, Ubo, as well as over
twenty other races.
The Factions
The Commune: The good guys of the Kin, who
believe that Humanity and Kin can live in relative peace, as long
as the Kin don’t let Humanity know they exist. Important
members: Golgotha, Samantha X, Freddy
The Failsafe Coalition: A group of Kin who seek
world domination to keep Mankind from nuking itself- and the
Kin- out of existence.
Morningstar Corporation: The bad guys who want to
take over Mankind from within- financially. Think of them as
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the monsters of Wall Street. Important members: Aristotle
Norcross, Ross Starr
The Complex: Kin criminals, with connections to the
Mafia and the Yakuza. Important members: Razor, Adam Noire,
Helena Athenopolis
Red Moonrise: Kin terrorists, organized into gangs.
Their attempts to destroy the Statue of Liberty are an ongoing
part of Kin society. Important members: Raw Meat, IA VOL
1689, Wally Auschwitz
The Laughter Factory: Made up entirely of Kin who
have been driven insane by the process of death and rebirth.
Important members: Uncle Sham, Acid Aphrodite
NightLife Shticks
The Kin have several types of behavior that they use to
get by and to maintain a sense of community. For example, use
of specialized slang. The Kin liberally use terms like "Jack" (a
term of respect), "Herd" (a common term used to describe
Humanity), and "Crowley" (a human that has befriended the
Kin).
The Kin also have several places they hang out, some
of which you will become familiar with during this adventure.
These include Club AfterDark (Commune), Death Row
(Complex), and The Magic Bus (neutral), a double-decker bus
that functions as a moving party.
System
NightLife operates by a simple percentile system: roll
equal to or less than the number on your character sheet to use
that Edge, Skill, or Basic Ability. Furthermore, when making an
successful attack roll, every 10% that you roll under what you
need adds +1 to your damage without rolling over what you
need (damage itself isn't rolled randomly, but has set values)
Character Attributes include: Strength, Dexterity,
Fitness, Intelligence, Willpower, Perception, Attractiveness, and
Luck. Other Basic Abilities include Survival Points (Fitness +
Luck) and Hand-to-Hand Damage (Strength divided by 5).
Normal Human ranges are from 02-20; unadjusted Kin ranges
are from 04-40, but can go up to 70 (or higher, in rare cases)
As a final note, The Kin have enemies from without.
These include the government groups, Target Alpha and Project
Prometheus, the sorcerous Black Solstice Cult, not to mention
Fomori from the otherworldly Twisted Dimensions or Lazarus
Smile, an immortal serial killer...
TASK RESOLUTION
When making a Skill Roll, roll 1d100 and compare it to
the number on your character sheet. Your roll was
successful if the number generated is either…
a) …lower than the number on the character sheet or
b) …the exact number on your character sheet
In the case of the roll being less than that on the character
sheet, you need to look at the die you designated as your
"tens" generator: the number rolled on that die is your
damage bonus/success bonus. It is thus in your best
interests to roll as high as possible without rolling over the
number on your character sheet.
In the case of rolling exactly the number needed, that is
considered a perfect hit, and adds a flat +10 bonus to either
your damage or your successes.
For example: Loopie Pendergrass runs afoul of some
members of the 56th Street Gangster Lords, who see the
drunken bum in the old army shirt and decide to have
some fun at his expense. Bad idea! After a few minutes of
less than civil exchange, the Gangsters further decide the
drunk needs to eat pavement. Worse idea! After enduring
being pushed to the ground and kicked once or twice,
Loopie begins to fight back... Werewolf style!
His claws extend from the ends of his fingers and he takes
a swipe at the closest Gangster. Loopie's Edge Score with
Claws is 73 and he has an HTH of 5 (using Claws doubles
this HTH to 10). His player rolls a 37. His damage bonus
(in addition to ten points he does with his Claws) is +3, for
5
a total damage of 13 points. The Gangster screams and
stumbles back, clutching his stomach.
MULTIPLE SUCCESSES
This task resolution system also works for
determining degree of success on a Skill or Attribute Roll.
Example: If two people are both trying to outwit
each other, have both of them make INT rolls (or
appropriate skill, such as Streetwise or Lying). If one
person makes the roll and the other does not, task
resolution is obvious. However, if both make their rolls,
comparing degrees of success will allow the GM to
determine who still outwitted who (whoever got more
successes on their appropriate roll.
This system may also be used to temporarily affect
other rolls and Attributes, depending on the skill used.
Example: Using the skill Fashion Sense is a good
example of this usage. This skill gives a temporary boost
to ATT equal to the number of successes rolled when
making the Skill roll.
SKILLS OR EDGE SCORES OVER 100
Certain Edge Scores and Skills may be higher than a score
of 100. In this case, the roll only fails on a roll of 100. In
the case of a successful roll, add the "tens" of the 100+
score to the damage bonus normally.
Example: If a score was 125 and the roll was a
67, the Damage bonus would be 6 (the number rolled on
the 10's) + 2 (the 10's of the score over 100) for a total
Damage Bonus of +8.
Automatic Success and Failure
A roll always succeeds if the number generated, by the die
roll, is 01.
A roll always fails if the number generated, by the die roll,
is 100.
CHARACER GENERATION
Rolling Attributes
Roll 5d10 and drop the lowest roll. This will make
PC's marginally better than average characters, but not
enough to make them munchkin-fodder.
Strength
The Kin are pretty strong, overall. But not
according to the book; so...characters may lift, without
rolling vs. their STR, 20 lbs/point of Strength. Thus, a
character with Strength of 20 can easily lift 400 pounds
and a character with Strength of 40 (the human limit) can
lift up to 800 pounds.
By making a successful Strength roll, characters may lift
up to 50 lbs/ point of STR, but may only hold it for a few
seconds. After all, that means that a character with a STR
of 20 is lifting a thousand pounds, and a 40 STR character
is lifting an even ton.
ATTRIBUTE ROLLS
Anyone who has played NightLife has consistently
run into one source of frustration: while skills work right,
when making a basic Attribute roll, there is only a slim
chance of actually making the roll, even when, according
to the rules, the attribute should be considered near the
peak of human ability, or even higher than that!
To fix this problem without messing with the
actual attribute ratings is easy. Attribute rolls can be
divided into three simple difficulties: hard, normal, and
easy.
A Hard roll is equivalent to ½ the attribute’s
normal rating. This should only be invoked if there is little
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chance of the character being able to make the roll. In
cases of odd-number scores, round down.
A Normal roll is the roll as delineated by the rules
at present: the attribute or less on a percentile die.
An Easy roll is twice the Attribute or less on the
percentile dice.
In any situation that indicates that the difficulty
would be easier than “easy”, don’t bother to roll the dice,
and assume the character can perform the action
Example: Skunkboy has a Perception of 27. Thus,
his Perception rolls would be as follows:
Hard: 13
Normal: 27
Easy: 54
Factions
Most of the Kin belong to one of numerous
factions dividing up Kin society, and many of the factions
are opposed to each other, while others work hand in hand
when convenient. What keeps like among the Kin
interesting is the intrigues that often go on between
factions, even those that claim to be allies.
It is not at all uncommon for characters to actually
be members of multiple factions and societies, proclaiming
belief in one while actually feeding information to another
for profit or because that other faction is more in line with
the character's beliefs.
Among the Kin, always keep a close eye on your
closest friends...
Skills: Each member of a particular faction begins
play with certain skills. For example, A Complex member
begins with Streetwise (+10). What this means is that the
character already has the skill Streetwise at its Base, +10
percent, before having to buy the skill up any further out of
their own points.
The Commune
Typical Commune Cell:
2-3 Kin and 1d10 Crowleys
Resources: The Commune and Red Moonrise have
one thing in common besides being set up like independent
cells of operatives: groups from both factions function
alone. This means that any resources for a cell come from
the members themselves, rather than superiors or people
higher up in their faction. The downside of this is that
many cells and gangs are relatively poor, but the upside is
they don't have to answer to anyone.
Skills: Beginning characters, belonging to The
Commune, begin with the following skills:
Alertness (+10) Streetwise (+10)
Red Moonrise
Typical Red Moonrise Gang:
2-3 Kin and 1d10 Renfields
Resources: Red Moonrise, has an advantage that
the Commune does not. They can use direct criminal
violence, and their connections to street gangs, to help
finance their operations.
Skills: Beginning characters belonging to Red
Moonrise begin with the following skills:
Streetwise (+10) Intimidation (+10)
The Complex
Typical Complex Family:
1-4 Kin and 2d10 Crowleys
Resources: Some pretty serious resources are to
be had from the Complex, but they usually come with all
sorts of strings attached, in the favors owed to the person
in charge of dispensing the resources. As a quick rule of
thumb, figure a small favor owed for any resource to be
had up to $500, a larger favor or several small favors to be
owed for up to $2000, and major favors after that,
commiserate with the cost of the request.
Example: Ruffneck, a Complex
member, runs afoul of the police. They catch
him at the sight of a “Clean and Floss”, and
suddenly he is up on homicide charges. He
needs to get out of jail (before dawn!) and
out of town, fast. He calls his superior,
Razor, asks for a “bust-out”, and a fast ride
out of town, preferably out of the country.
Since this qualifies as a major use of the
Complex's resources, Ruffneck is going to
owe Razor at least two major favors...
Skills: Beginning characters,
belonging to The Complex, begin with the
following skills:
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Streetwise (+10)
Etiquette (Underworld) (+10)
Morningstar Corporation
Typical Morningstar Corporation Group:
(Morningstar assigns groups as needed)
Resources: Morningstar Corporation has resources
out the ass, but they are not always easy to access. For
members, in good standing, make a roll against
negotiations or a similar social skill. Each success on a
standard task resolution equals $1000 in resources (cash or
equipment) the character can receive. This can be
augmented by role-playing. If the player can make a good
enough case, they may be able to get as much as an extra
$10,000 in resources.
Skills: Beginning characters, belonging to
Morningstar Corporation, begin with the following skills:
Administration (+10)
Business (Specify Type) (+10)
Sexual Preferences
New York, especially the Greenwich Village area,
has the highest population of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and
even the trans-gendered in the country, with the possible
exception of San Francisco or Atlanta. While players and
CP’s are free to ignore this, recognizing it adds a layer of
realty and depth to the game. Accept that not everyone is a
straight heterosexual.
All the Kin are not straight either. Many of those
Kin, who do have a sexual preference, may be bisexual.
Many have lived so long that they are too jaded to be
satisfied by “normal” sexual relationships. Many have
sexual tastes considered exotic even by most human
standards. Vampyres, for example, often view the blood in
a potential partner’s veins as more important than what is
in their pants; call them hematosexual, if you will. Many
Weres occasionally breed with their animal counterparts,
when the opportunity arises.
However, the subject of sexuality in an RPG is a
delicate and controversial one. Many players are
uncomfortable with it, except in the most casual of ways.
In that case, do not be ashamed to “assume” all the players
and NPCs are simply heterosexual and gloss over any
more sordid details.
A Caveat! If you, the CP, and your players do
decide to not gloss over the sexuality topic, take care to get
your information right. A game that includes only
simpering “faggots” and “bull-dyke” lesbians is degrading,
insulting, and unfair stereotyping. It perpetuates hate and
ignorance, with little rooting in reality. For every camp
“queen” cruising the bathhouses, there are a hundred
happily, monogamous couples who happen to be of the
same sex...
This author will now quietly descend from his
soapbox and continue talking about character generation.
GOALS
Every character has a goal that he strives towards,
or else risks slipping into ennui. A goal can be as simple as
"make lots of money" or complex as "Normalize
relationships between the Kin and Humanity," but it should
be something the character wants and is willing to strive
towards. Each game session, that a PC can show that he
has made a significant attempt to move towards his goal, is
worth 2-10 Humanity, (according to how effectively the
GM feels he strived towards his goal)
MULTIPLE LIVES
One of the most macabre aspects of existence as
one of he Kin is that death tends to not be permanent. Kin
can potentially come back from death a number of times
equal to their Fitness score.
To determine whether a Kin will come back from the dead
after being reduced to zero or fewer SP, calculate how
many SP below zero the character was reduced to and
subtract that number from 100. The result is the character's
chance to come back from the dead. Aging due to Death is
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the same as on page 133 (NL 3): 1 d10 years of apparent
age per resurrection.
Example: Pinhead, an Animate, gets caught in
crossfire with some irate gangbangers (probably because
he had just ripped them off for several kilos of cocaine...)
and is taken to -23 SP. Pinhead is dead, but has a 77%
chance of coming back for some payback on some trigger-
happy gangbangers.
LIVES LEFT
After character generation is almost done, have
each character roll their current LUCK Score once per
decade they have been alive. For each roll they fail,
subtract one from their total Lives, to represent the violent
lives and deaths that many of the Kin cope with.
Example: Helen Wheels, a Vampyre stripper, has
FIT of 29, LUCK of 35, and has been one of the Kin for 43
years. She needs to make four LUCK rolls before play
begins. She rolls 12, 64, 32, and 78. She thus failed two of
her LUCK rolls and managed to get herself killed (but not
permanently) twice in those 43 years. Helen can
potentially die and resurrect 27 more times before she
really dies the final True Death.
CONTACTS
Starting PC's begin with contacts as per the book
(page 17), and in addition may have 1 Kin contact per
decade of their existence as one of the Kin. At least 1/2 of
those must be from the character's own faction (if not
necessarily the same group within that faction.)
Additional Contacts (by Faction): PCs may start
the game with some extra Contacts, depending on which
faction they choose to align themselves with.
Commune: 2 moles (within other factions)
1 other Contact (player’s choice)
Complex: 1 Mafia, Yakuza, and Triads
(low-ranked)
Morningstar Corp: 1 business
1 Section Head (within Morningstar)
1 mole (within another Faction).
Red Moonrise: 1 Gang leader,
1 mole (within another Faction)
1 dealer (arms or drugs)
Failsafe Coalition: 1 military (low-ranked)
1 political (national)
1 mole (within another faction)
Laughter Factory: 6 Homeless People
ACQUAINTANCES
Starting PC's may begin play with two
acquaintances per decade of Un-life. An acquaintance is
not as close as a contact, and may not be willing to do
anything for the PC, but they do know them and may be
induced to help the character more easily than a complete
stranger. Acquaintances do not need be from the same
faction, and may be custom-created by the player or
chosen from the NPCs in the back of the book (with GM's
approval).
FAMILY
Some PC's may still have human family, especially
newer ones. Players may want to think about what
relationship-if any-their character has with their family.
For example, a newly created Vampyre or Wyght that was
married before their infection may want to contact their
spouse. In general, this is frowned upon with Kin society
(the risk of exposure from such contacts is astronomical),
but many Kin do it anyhow, for as long as their family is
alive.
RENFIELDS AND CROWLEYS
Many of the Kin, PCs included, keep human
servants and friends on hand to help them with house
chores they cannot do themselves. This is due to aversion
to sunlight or suspicious appearance. Servants come in two
types: Crowleys (friends) and Renfields (servants).
Crowleys are usually willing to take care of the Kin in
question for free, though many Kin pay them anyhow.
FLOCKS
Kin who have to “Drain” to survive and can cause
Addiction, have one other step when creating their circle
of NPC associates (the major races of the Kin who can
Addict are Vampyres, Daemons, and Animates).
This step is the creation of the character’s Flock: a
group of humans who are aware of the character’s nature,
have been Drained previous to the start of the campaign,
and are already Addicted to the character’s Drain. The
convenience of having a Flock is that it makes it easier for
character’s to gain sustenance. They do not have to hunt
for a meal. They need only make a quick phone call to the
Addict. Most Kin, who have a Flock, treat them with kid’s
gloves, regardless of their opinion of Humanity in general,
since a mistreated Flock member makes an excellent
Stake…one that knows many of the character’s secrets.
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Characters may start the game with a Flock of 1-5
(1d10/2) Addicts. They should be detailed at least to the
degree of name and gender.
POSSESSIONS
Characters begin play with assets equal to $10,000 plus
(1d10 X 1000). This can be in equipment, cash,
investments, etc. This amount is modified by an additional
$1000 per year that the character has been one of the Kin.
CRIB
You gotta live somewhere, even if you aren't really living.
While some Kin have it easy this way - Shades often
simply "live" wherever their Anchor is stored-the rest have
to have some place to stay, preferably one that is secure
from any would-be monster hunters.
PCs should expect to spend anywhere from $600
to $2000 a month on maintaining their Crib, not to
mention the cost of any security features...
SKILLS
Divide INT+80 points up for skills, remembering
to add the skill bases. At least 1 point must be allocated to
a skill before it can be used.
Example: Shady Shade has an INT of 17, so he
starts with 97 points to spend on buying skills. For starters,
he decides to buy street-fighting, and puts 3 points into it.
Shady has a DEX of 24, and DEX is Street-fighting's base
attribute. Shady has a Street-Fighting of 27 and has 94
points to spend on other skills and to hopefully boost up
his street-fighting before he is done.
Skill Costs: As the Kin get older, they find it
harder and harder to learn new skills, just as humans find it
harder to do the same. For this reason, Kin must pay more
Skill points to get the same effect; according to their age.
Age Point Cost per Skill Point
Up to 100 1/1 (default Skill cost)
100.500 2/1
500.1000 3/1
1001+ 4/1
Automatic Skills
All characters have the starting skills at the
following ranks, whether they put any points into those
skills or not. If they do choose to take these skills, that by -5% to hit per success achieves via a standard Task
score automatically supersedes the "automatic" score. Resolution roll.
Breakaway (10)
Club (10) Meditation (INT):
Spear (10)
Hand to Hand Combat (DEX) EDGES
City Knowledge (general) (10) Edges do work against other Kin, but with a –20%
Cooking (10) penalty on the Edge roll. This only applies to Edges that
Lying (10) work directly against the opponent. For example,
Profession (specify) (15) Attempting to use “Coronary” on another Kin would incur
Stealth (1/2 DEX) the –20% penalty, but trying to use Claws against another
Swimming (20) Kin would not, since that Edge’s ability to affect other Kin
is supplemental to other attacks.
PC's less than 100 years of age will automatically have the To make life easier for everyone, a notation will be
following skills: made in any Edges here to indicate whether use of the
Pistol (10) Driving (10) Edge incurs a penalty against the Edge roll or not.
Learning New Skills
A new skill, after initial character CITY SCENES: The Dwarf
generation, costs a number of skill points equal There is a dwarf who lives near Greenwich Village.
to 50 minus the character’s score in the base of Every day, whether it is hot or cold, winter or summer, he
that skill. carries a chessboard to St. Mark’s Place, and sets up shop there.
Every day, he is dressed the same; no one has ever seen him in
Example: Lyta wants to pick up other clothes. He wears a long (on him) overcoat over a plaid
Dancing (DEX). She has a DEX of 34, so her shirt and jeans. He always sports fingerless gloves, gray with
cost to learn Dancing is 16 Skill points, plus any grubbiness, and a bottle of the cheapest hooch, to be found on
points she wants put into it. On the other hand, the Island, pokes from one pocket. Every day, a new bottle… by
her Wyghtish friend, Mr. P, wants to learn to the end of the day, it will be gone, one cautious sip at a time.
dance too, and has a DEX of 47. Since he is
Chess is the dwarf’s passion. He will play anyone for a
already so dexterous, and has such good control
dollar, and many students and professors from Cooper’s union
over his movements, he will only have to pay 3
have spent many an hour with him, crouched over his
Skill Points to learn how to dance.
chessboard. In between moves and sips of whiskey, the dwarf
If a character wants to pick up a new skill
has been known to discuss any and every subject possible. with
and his base attribute for that skill is already 50
a degree of erudition to make many a scholar feel imbecilic.
or higher, the skill point cost to buy is zero, but
Eric Hoffer played the dwarf and pounded out the fine
must be bought up normally.
ore of Utilitarianism there. Joseph Campbell played the dwarf
and many were the discussions they had about myth and heroes.
Martial Arts (STR/DEX)
The dwarf almost always wins, and his opponents never
A Martial Arts Kick is at a -10% penalty
feel they have not had a good game. But none know his name, or
To hit, but does damage as if the character's
where he goes as the sun sets, with his battered chessboard and
STR was 10 points higher.
empty bottle of whiskey.
Combat Acrobatics (DEX)
Is the ability to jump, twist, etc. and
perform stunts while fighting. On a successful Combat CHANGES TO EDGES
Acrobatics roll, the character may modify either his "to Aura Sight: The character using Aura Sight can
hit" roll (-5% on the roll or +5 %, as needed to achieve see the auras of anything he chooses to look at, not just
maximum effect or damage) or his opponent's to hit" roll one person.

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 WYGHTS: HONOR AND HORROR
Claws
Base: Fit "Listen, I don't know how much of this is really
Humanity Costs: 5/ 1*5/1 truth or not, but we do have an advantage here... for
Edge Roll Needed: no determining the truth that is. A few of the guys who were
Target: Self here at the beginning are still around. Not local, of
Range: N/A course... those Elder Wyghts are pretty secretive
Escape Roll: N/A nowadays. They know the Fomori want a big piece of
Archaic Names:Chelae, Talons of the Thunderbird their hide, so they do not advertise their location. The few
Description: This Edge causes sharp claws to that are left, I understand, live in Europe. Scotland, you
extend from the tips of the character. The claws extrude know, since that is where our history here on Earth began.
quickly enough to allow them to be extruded and used in “We aren't originally from this Earth...no, not you...
combat in the same BT. I mean, the original Wyghts. They come from a world in
The Edge score may be used as the Combat Skill roll when the Twisted Dimensions, though they did not think of their
attacking with Claws, or if an unarmed combat attack is world in those terms. To them, it was just home. Not that it
being made, that Skill may be used. In either case, damage was a very nice world. According to stories I have been
is HTH (or Martial Arts Damage) + 1/5 Edge Score. told, the Wyght-world was a huge but very cold jungle.
Racial Variations: Werewolves' Claws are wolf- Yeah, sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that is what
claws; Manitou manifest Claws as their hands turning into I was told. Life there was hard. There were many
the talons of a large Raptor; Wyghts are black and jagged; predators; many of them really nasty. Have you ever seen
Ekimmu manifest as sharp extensions of raw bone from an Xlenx? Yeah, Xlenx come from that same planet.”
their fingertips; White Women Claws manifest as sharp "This was the world of the Wyghts. Only they
lengths of hardwood. weren't the Wyghts we are today. But I'll get to that in a
second. On this planet, the Wyghts were a hunter-gatherer
Danger Sense: No concentration needed, GM culture...pretty primitive, science-wise, but pretty
makes the roll, though. advanced in terms of culture and religion and stuff.
Society was divided into clans, though. They did not use
Drain: maximum SP that can be Drained per BT is that term... that came into common use after we got here.
equal to 1/10th Edge score. Society was very patriarchal, with the patriarch being the
eldest and most skilled warrior. The Patriarch determined
Lycanthropic Form: Werewolves can speak in where the clan went... nomadic, you know, and who the
this form, though generally only a few words at a time and clan fought, and also determined who could marry who,
with difficulty due to the different shape of the mouth and etc. The Patriarch, you have to know now, was also the
lips. guy with the greatest Life powers.”
"Yeah, life powers. I'll get to why we seem to have
Travel: Rename to Trip. See Daemons for more the exact opposite of those in a while. Get yourself a beer,
information. and get me one too. This is gonna take a while, yet.”
"Thanks. From what I have been told, you would
not recognize Wyghts back then to say... we looked very
human. Actually, I guess we were a pretty damned good-
RACES OF THE KIN looking race. Black hair, dark golden skin, well formed...
you get the idea. We were also still the strongest and
Eliminate "difficult to Photograph." It was just fastest race around...that, at least, has not changed.
TOO much of a violation of the laws of physics. The Kin "We had to be the strongest around, you see.
can be photographed and recorded normally. Though few Besides the predators, there were a lot of other clans
would believe what they saw... the Photogenics Edge is around, all vying for the same resources. Wyghtish history
now used to make the character invisible to recording was one long series of inter-clan warfare, because we
equipment. needed those resources to support our families. We were a

11
pretty lusty culture, because life was hard, and children
often did not survive adolescence. So the children we did
have, we loved fiercely, and we made as many as possible.
I guess families of eight or nine were pretty common.
Yeah, not very politically correct, but hey, that was the
way we...they...lived.
"Then the Fomori came, seeking to conquer and
kill. The Wyghts fought back and fought back hard. One
Wyght was no match for a Kgorrek, so a dozen would fight
them, knowing maybe one would survive, but the Kgorrek
would be dead, at the end. For the first time in history, the
clans stopped fighting each other and started fighting a
common enemy.
"It's unclear how long this went on, maybe a dozen
years or more, until the Fomori finally offered a deal. They
realized they could not defeat the Wyghts and conquer this
world without the cost getting downright pyretic, so they
offered an alternative. They would leave the Wyght's world
alone in exchange for two hundreds of our best warriors to
serve them as a strike force on their conquest of other
worlds. Otherwise, they threatened to simply blast all life
from the planet. That would mean they would not get the
power they wanted from the world, but they would have
satisfaction. Basically, it was a sucker's choice, but we had
to take it.
"Two hundred warriors volunteered…both men
and women…and they left the Wyght world, never to see
their families again. Hundreds of years passed. The
Wyghts, predictably, honored the agreement with their
Fomori masters, and dozens of worlds were softened for
invasion by their military might. You might think this is
pretty shameful, but the Wyghts rarely ran into worlds
where the civilization... if there was any at all…was
advanced enough to have stood against the Fomori
anyhow. I should mention right here that the Fomori had
subtly altered the Wyghts to give them more powers to aid
them... this is where our Edges, like our ability to raise the
Dead, came from. Cheap soldiers, you know?
"Then they invaded Earth. Scotland, to be exact is
where they established their beachhead. Boy, were they in
for a surprise. The Scots took one look at the Fomori and
started FIGHTING. Humans are less powerful than
Wyghts, but that did not seem to matter to them...they
attacked and kept attacking until they were dead. Men,
women, children barely old enough to stand and hold a
weapon... all joined in the attack on these invaders.
"I think you can see the comparison. It certainly
was not lost on the Wyghts, whose numbers had dwindled
to less than a hundred by sheer attrition. Here, they
12
realized, was a race of people just as fierce in their longing
for life and independence as themselves. Those remaining
Wyghts held a secret council and voted, quickly and
assertively, as all Wyghts tend to do things.
The vote was unanimous... to betray their Fomoric masters
and aid the humans. I am sure the similarities in culture
and physiology had something to do with the choice. The
Wyghts were tired of the horror of their lives and the
horror that was their masters.
"When the next day came and the battle resumed,
the Wyghts took the field as usual. Then, as the battle
began, they turned on the Fomori and began to fight them
as they had centuries before on their home world. But
better this time, because they know the weaknesses and
foibles of the Fomori now. The Scots were not slow to
notice this shift in the combat, and quickly threw
themselves into the fray to help the Wyghts. The battles
went on for years.
"Every Wyght or Scot that fell was raised to
continue the fight. The Fomori came to realize that this
was a losing battle. The Wyghts, seeking to redeem
themselves, were all ready to die to save this world. And
the Scots were ready to die to stay free.
"They withdrew, but not before activating the last
"alteration." they had made to the Wyghts. Up until that
time, we had still retained our good looks and our
passionate lifestyle, even as servants of evil. Now they
stripped us of those, our most prized traits. Our golden
skin shriveled, wrinkled, and became the gray hide you are
familiar with. Our hair, which was described as "the color
of the night when spent in the arms of your beloved"
bleached out, forever! You ever try to dye your hair and
find it won't hold the color? The Fomori curse is why. But
to steal our potency from us was the worst. No more
Wyghtish children to hold and love. We were barren, at
least in the normal fashion.
"Before they left our world, they also informed us
that since we had thrown our lot in with mankind, so here
could we stay, only as horrors, not as equals. And they
promised that one day they would return, to finish the job,
when Mankind was too weak to resist their invasion.
"So here they were, the last dozen or so Wyghts, because
that was all that had survived to the end of the Fomori war.
Initially, we were still welcomed into Scottish society, but
as we discovered that we could not survive the same as
humans, that changed.
"You see, we discovered we could not eat food and
get any nourishment from it, but we found that we could
absorb the youth and vitality of the humans. This was
another aspect of the curse. We who had revered youth and
the strength it brings could only survive by stealing that
youth from others. We also found that if we stole too
much, the victim of our theft would become one of us... a
dark parody of our former potency.
"Despair took some of us, and we became
monsters just as evil as the Fomori we has formerly
served. Others retreated from the world, taking up
residence among the dead... in the burial mounds of the
Scots.
"That situation lasted many, many years, until the
corrupted Wyghts re all hunted down. Then slowly, we
began to leave our refuges and explore the rest of the
world, and encountered the other races of the Kin,
including the Daemons, also former slaves of the Fomori.
But where we fought our way free of our shackles, they
simply fled. Daemons, we feel, are still the slaves to the
Fomori, though they do not realize it, at least not yet.
"You see, the Fomori are returning. More slowly
and more sneakily than when they invaded Scotland, but
they are coming back. That is why we have been taking
people like you. Before, you were a fine police officer. We
know. We kept an eye on you for a long time before we
claimed you to be one of us. Now you have the chance to
protect and serve...all of Humanity."
WYGHTISH SOCIETY
There are two relevant castes to Wyghtish society,
regardless of clan: Brethren and Bastards. The other two
"Castes" are Elders (Clan leaders) and Outcasts (Wyghts
who have been exiled and are considered Clanless.)
Brethren are intentionally made Wyghts Like the
one in the conversation above; deliberately recruited to be
part of the army of Wyghts being rallied against the
Fomori. They are considered an honored part of Wyghtish
society, given names and status with the Clans. Brethren
account for approximately thirty percent of Wyghtish
Society.
Bastards are exactly that; accidents; the results of a
Wyght infecting a victim unintentionally. Bastards account
for almost sixty percent of Wyghtish Society, but are only
grudgingly given any Honor or status with the clans.
Brethren are expected to aid brethren in need and
to aid humans and other pro-human Kin, or risk losing
Honor and being declared a Bastard or even an Outcast.
13
Bastards are not particularly expected to aid
Brethren (or even other bastards), but should not expect in
turn to be able to seek aid; they are not on their own (like
an Outcast), but their Clan will not exactly jump to their
aid.
Honor
Brethren begin with a rating of Zero (0) in Honor,
Bastards with a minus twenty (-20), and Outcasts with a
minus fifty (-50). This Honor is used as a modifier to all
interaction rolls relating to Wyghtish society; it has no
effect on interactions with humans or other Kin.
Gaining Honor
Honor can only be increased by Gamemaster's
decision for feats that the Elders of the Wyght's Clan
consider worthwhile and generally only by 5-10 points at a
time. Even in this situation, Brethren have an edge.
Because the Clan already favors them, they receive more
Honor for the same feat than would a Bastard or Outcast.
In general, a Feat that would earn a Brethren 10
Honor would only net a Bastard 5, and an Outcast 1.
Unless brought to the Elder's attention, they will generally
ignore any potentially Honor-worthy acts by Bastards or
Outcasts.
Honor and Humanity
Honor has a curious side effect for Brethren or Bastards
who have gained that much favor within the Clan. When a
Wyght with a positive Honor score wants to learn a new
Edge, one that is approved by the Clan, they may reduce
the Maximum Humanity cost by -1 per 50 Honor gained.
Note: Honor is not "used up" or "spent" when a Wyght
learns a new Edge; it remains the same until the Wyght
does something to gain even more honor or loses honor by
disgracing the clan.
For example, Skinny Jinny, a Brethren, with 212 Honor,
wants to learn Necropathy, which normally costs 7 Max
Humanity to begin learning. Since he has an Honor of 200,
he can subtract 4 Max Humanity from its cost, for a
beginning Max Humanity cost of 3. However, secondary
Humanity costs and use to use costs for Humanity remain
the same.
Naming
Not surprisingly, only Brethren who are in good
standing are given names within the clans. Clan names
tend to have a strong Celtic feel to them, with mention
given to the newly-named Wyght's greatest
accomplishment. For example, a Wyght that was granted a
Name based on his killing of denizens of the Wormholes
might be granted the Name "Slayer-of-Horrors," while
another who gained his Name by thwarting a plot by the
Morningstar Corporation might be given the name "Star-
Mocker."
Clan Leaders
Just as in the old days, Clan Leadership goes to the
warrior who is eldest and most skilled (thus, the one with
the most Honor), though since most Kin are effectively
immortal, this has been altered a bit. Of necessity, so that
no one Wyght ends up the Patriarch forever, the five or so
Eldest in the Clan rotate the roster of Patriarch, with the
others acting as advisors until their turn comes up.
Joining the queue to be considered for the Council of
Patriarchs is no simple task: A Wyght who seeks to gain
such a position needs to have accumulated at least 400
Honor and be willing to fight each of the current Council
members in hand to hand combat (happily, it need not be
to the death, merely until one or the other admits defeat).
Wyghtish Religion
The Cult of Lug the Shining One
Overview: The Cult of Lug the Lightbearer is a
religion based on veneration of Lug, the first to call for the
Wyghts to betray Balor, his master, their Fomoric masters
and, according to legend, the first to both attack (and to be
slain by) the Fomori. Brethren and those Bastards who
seek to be accepted as one of the Brethren follow it.
Membership: Wyghts Only
Meetings:
Resources:
Beliefs: Uphold the ideals of aiding
Humanity and resisting the Fomori.
Advantages of Membership: Obligations:
Symbols:
Secrets:
Character Generation
Wyghts are ugly by human standards, so much that
their appearance tends to draw attention if they are not
careful. To reflect this, during character generation, instead
14
of the normal die rolling, roll 1d10 and divide the total
given by 2. All Wyghts have a maximum Attractiveness
score of 5.
NEW EDGES
Growth
Base: Fitness
Humanity Costs: 30* 1/10* 10
Target: Self
Range: N/A
Escape Roll: N/A
Edge Roll Needed: Yes
Obsolete Name: Form of the Polyphemus
Races: Wyghts, Animates, Trolles, Ogres,
Magadons
Description: This Edge allows the user to
increase his size and gain the abilities a larger body allows.
The benefits are as follows:
• +1 feet in height per 5 points of Edge Score
* Edge score added to STR (with increase with HTH)
* Armor score equal to 1/5 Edge score, or current Armor
+ 1/5 Edge Score
* + Survival Points equal to Edge Score. Any damage the
character takes reduces this bonus SP before actually
counting against the character's usual SP. These Bonus SP
are, of course, lost when the character reverts to normal
form.
* If the Edge Score is twice or more the Character's DEX
score, Movement rates are also doubled.
On the Downside:
• The character suffers a minus to opponent's to hit
roll equal to 1/5 their Edge Score, because it is easier to hit
someone 25 feet tall...
* The character takes a penalty equal to 1/10 Edge Score to
hit opponents who are not also using growth, because of
the relative unfamiliarity of fighting someone who may be
less than 1/3 their height. This may be overcome by taking
an "Other" skill in "Hand-to-hand, Giant Size."
* This Edge is physically exhausting, so much so that it
can be maintained only for a number of BT equal to 1/5
the character's Fitness, after which, it cannot be used for a
number of (100 minus Character's Fitness) hours.
Note: Due to the extravagant nature of Growth, its use in
any situation where Herd might see it is heavily
proscribed. Also, remember that any clothing the character
is wearing at the time will not grow with him.
 CITY SCENES: The Child
Tyco lives on East 56th, up in Harlem, in a
hole of a pre-fabricated apartment building, thrown
up by smirking altruistic HUD officials in the early
Carapace 1960s. The apartment he shares with his mother
Base: Fitness and three siblings stopped having running hot
Humanity Costs: 20* 1/3* 3 water sometime before Tyco was born. The
Target: Self elevators stopped working about three years after
Range: N/A the building was raised; no money to fix them was
Escape Roll: N/A ever raised.
Edge Roll Needed: Yes His mother works eighty hour weeks to try
Obsolete Name: Skin of Stone to keep the children in clothing and food, but
Races: Wyghts, Daemons, Trolles sometimes even that is not enough. Tyco’s older
Description: This Edge reshapes the character's skin brothers run with the Crips, and sometimes they
temporarily into a hard, shell-like carapace not unlike that bring home money, but that is not often, and Tyco
of a lobster. Effectively, it grants the user an additional suspects that Gregory, his oldest brother, is going to
Armor Edge equal to the Edge score (in addition to any end up in jail soon…
Armor the character already has). Unlike Armor, however, The junkie that lives two stories below them
Carapace needs to be maintained from round to round. gave Tyco a joint one day, just for the hell of it. Now
Racial Variations: In Wyghts, Carapace manifests as a Tyco lights up every chance he can, and wants to try
visible thickening and darkening of the skin; in Daemons, some crack. It is only fifteen dollars for a rock, and
the skin takes on a ruby-like sheen and hardness, while in Tyco knows where his mother keeps her nest-egg
Trolles it appears as a darkening of their pelt. against emergencies. She will not notice if he takes a
bit out of it…. If he can’t do that, maybe he can use
ATTITUDES TOWARDS OTHER RACES the money his aunt Irene gives him for his birthday.
Wyghts tend to frown on any unnecessary cheeking of the After all, he will be eleven in a couple of weeks…
Herd, and to REALLY disapprove of members of those
Races that do so. Other than that, Wyghts try to

15

Vampyres: From the Blood of Angels
Vampyres were The First Kin, long before we were
even know as Kin. No one knows who the first Vampyre
was; if he or it yet exists, it must be a true monster.
Likewise, our origins are lost in the shadows of time; all
we have are legends and myths.
Some say we are cursed to be blood-drinkers because the
first of us dared drink from the veins of an Angel and that
God himself cursed us to be this way. Other theorizes we
are living-after a fashion -of the fear of death and the
power of blood. In truth, none of us know. Personally, I
don't even care.
Being a vampire is a curse and a blessing in one. When I
was alive, I loved to take walks in the sun, but it has been
over fifty years since I could do that without bursting into
flames. At the same time, I still look 30, when I should
look... well... BE...eighty. If I play my cards right and don't
end up with a chuck of wood through my chest, I may live
forever.
And blood doesn't taste so bad, once you get used to how
salty it is. It's weird how many different subtle flavors it
can have, and that is not even counting animals...
As far as garlic and all that goes, yeah it really blows big
time, but at least I can see myself in mirrors. I look better
now then when I was alive; a side effect of getting toothy.
And with the muscles I have as a Vampyre, if someone
doesn't like my looks... I can drop a Buick on their ass.
. A society of female Vampyres with strong feminist
The Origins of the Vampyric Race
We are a cursed race, you know. We began as
humans, something like four thousand years ago, as a cult
in what is now Northern Africa.
Vampyric Society
The ties between Vampyres tend to be strictly
social, from one "generation" of Vampyre to the next and
between Vampyres with the same sire. Sires are considered
to have parental duties regarding their progeny, until such
time as they are accepted into Kin society as adults. Until
that time, however, the siring Vampyre is considered
responsible to instructing their newly-created Vampyres in
the fine points of Kin society. Not surprisingly, most
16
"parents" try to steer their offspring towards their own
faction, if they belong to one.
The relationship between a "parent" Vampyre and
one of their "children" can sometimes be very rocky,
depending on the circumstances of the infection. Many
Children at least initially resent having been made one of
the Undead, and some have even turned on their "parents."
In such cases, the "parent" may have no choice but to
destroy the new Kin.
Much more successful relationships have grown
up when the "parent" Vampyre is infecting someone they
know and who already knows what is going to happen.
Many Crowleys and Renfields serve their respective
Vampyres hoping for just such an occurrence.
Relationships between Vampyres tend to be more
amicable if not as close between Vampyres with the same
"parent." Any one Vampyre may thus have up to ten
"siblings," and relationships often cut across factional
lines.
Factions within Vampyric Society
Besides the normal factions, there are a few
groups that are strictly for Vampyres; few Kin other than
Vampyres have ever heard of these groups, as they tend to
be very secretive.
The Feast of Blood
A not-exactly anti-human but definitely pro-
Vampyre group, the Feast of Blood takes it's name from
what many consider the first novel ever published about a
vampire, Varney the Vampire, subtitled, A Feast of Blood.
The Sanguine Sisterhood
politics, who rejoice in the "leveling of the field " in terms
of abilities that becoming a Vampyre has granted them.
Carmilla
A breakaway group from the Sanguine Sisterhood,
Carmilla is composed solely of lesbian Vampyres and
feeds only on women, feeling the blood from men is too
polluted to feed upon.
Thanatos
A group of very wealthy Vampyres who want to
become even wealthier. They position themselves at the
top of human and Kin society. By invitation only (and
invitees are expected to gift the society with at least a
$100,000 to gain entrance). Thanatos operates in utter
secrecy and has four members in New York and only about New and Revised Edges
seventy world-wide.
Weather Control
A Vampyre's Weather Control can only be used to
Vampyric Religions decrease the temperature, create fog and worsen weather.
The Blood of Christ Congregation Vampyres with Weather Control can only create lightning
Strongly pro-human Vampyres who have come to or hail if the weather is already suitable for such effects.
the belief that they were chosen by God to defend
Humanity against the other Kin. They are fond of pointing
out the (tenuous) similarities between Christ's death and Suggested Beginning Skills:
resurrection and the three day's it takes a Vampyre to rise
from the grave. The BoCC has a dozen or so members in
New York alone.

Brotherhood of the Firstborn

A group of Vampyres who believe that the first
Vampyres were somehow holy and worthy of worship.
They spend a lot of time and money tracking down
members of the tribe of

CHARACTER GENERATION
Revised Rule: Vampyre Infection (pg 21, NL 3rd)
Victims do not need to drink Vampyre blood to be
infected, just Drained to zero SP and then be allowed to
"die." The victim will then rise three nights later at full
dusk as a newborn Vampyre.

Flaws:
Death Stench
Vampyres are, after all, reanimated corpses, & as
such, they bear some marks of the grave. A Vampyre's
breath (any exhalation, actually, for example, when they
talk) has a distinctly repulsive rotting smell to it, detectable
without any sort of PER roll. This does not change as a
Vampyre's Humanity rises or falls: regardless of the
character's Humanity, she is still a reanimated corpse. For
this reason, many use lots of breath mints

Attitudes towards other Races

Vampyres tend to be pretty egalitarian in their
views of the other races of the Kin, with opinions ranging
from “valued friends” to “competition” to “enemies to be
wiped out.”

17
Manitou: The Children of the Great Spirit
Never forget this one fact, my child: we are the
children of the union between the Great Spirit and the
Earth mother. We are Manitou, and our brothers are the
wind, the trees, the soil and the animals that tread it, the
waters and those who swim in it. The Sun is our Uncle, the
moon our aunt. We are of nature, as Man is; though Man
forgets it and offers it meals of poison and hatred.
We did not choose you to become Manitou at
random. We have watched you for years now, and we
admired your dedication to nature; with deeds not words.
No, we know you are not a vegetarian; the giving
of life to sustain life is part of the cycle; but we watched
how you chose the flesh to be devoured, and it met our
approval. The Elders of the Council met and agreed that
you were worthy of being Manitou, though you did not
seek such a destiny.
No, we did not ask your approval; we walk among
Men also, and knew that if we simply asked you if you
wanted to be one of us, you would think us mad. So we
bestowed you this gift, knowing in our hearts that you
would not reject it.
We have not always been right, no. We have at
times gifted people with the gift of the Great Spirit and had
them turn that gift to evil. Your folklore has a word for
such; you call them Wendigoes, and we have come to use
that term as well. That is why we are careful in whom we
make Manitou; our powers are too great to gift casually.
What are those powers? Ah, too many to tell all of
them here, but the least is that you shall live a long time
now, as long as the life of the oldest Redwood. I myself
became Manitou in the early parts of the Eighteenth
Century, and I know of Elders who can speak of the time
before the White Man came to these shores. But immortal
we are not; we are still part of the cycle of Nature, and to
never die is to reject your part in the cycle. When the Dark
Brother comes for you, accept him, for your passage will
pave the way for another.
Other abilities? You are insistent. Very well, we
can be as the wind, unseen though felt; we can take the
form of animals, and speak to them as one would a brother
or sister. We can strike men down with the curse of Aunt
Moon…what you call insanity.
Sadly, we are not all-powerful, though it would
help. When you awoke as one of us, you were laying at the
18
foot of a tree. This is what we call your Mother-Tree;
protect it. For it is your link to both the Earth Mother and
the Great Spirit, for its roots are in her flesh, as its leaves
caress the sky, where the Great Spirit resides. As any
devoted son would, you must visit your Mother-Tree
occasionally. In our case though, if we do not, we
eventually sicken and die, a child pining away for its
parents. Also, we must wear on ourselves at all times some
reminder of who we are: perhaps a feather, perhaps a piece
of bone, even a simple stone will suffice, but again, if we
do not have this, we begin to forget who we are, and that
lack brings sadness and illness.
Lastly, avoid fire and the poisons spread by Man
even more than you did when you were simply human.
Fire burns us as if we were tinder, and toxic wastes can kill
us…or do even worse things. Too many of our brothers
and sisters have become Wendigo after a draught from a
barrel of poison.
That is all I have to tell, my child. Go forth as a
protector of Nature, and never forget that Man is of nature
too, and that both have Enemies that would destroy them
both.
Manitou Society
The Tribes of New York
Manitou society is somewhat autonomous, though
many tend to loosley group themselves into "tribes," based
on proximity, political leaning, or other factors that tend to
draw people together. Manitou tribes tend to be small...
sometimes no more than five or six. In New York, there are
currently three tribes, the largest (23 members) led by a
chief who was Gifted as a Manhatta Indian in the early
days of New York's history. The most visible tribe of
Manitou is composed of the five who operate the Magic
Bus.
The eldest Manitou in a tribe is often appointed
the "chief," though sometimes that position is filled by
whoever is most savvy or charismatic. These tribes tend to
attract a fair number of hangers-on; Renfields with a more
ecological mindset than the average Renfield, who serves
the Kin, often for less pure reasons.
Manitou Societies
Nokomis’ Fist
Question: what happens when you take one eco-terrorist of
the sort who is willing to kill innocent people to preserve
the environment and make him a nature spirit with
awesome powers???? Oh, and you give him the ability to
find OTHER eco-terrorists and make THEM into nature
spirits with equally awesome powers? I think you have a
recipe for disaster....
Motto: “We are the Punishing Hand of the Earth
Mother”
Membership: secret, by invitation only; Manitou
and Manitou Renfields only, plus a few Sorcerers.
Resources: low
Meetings: as necessary, otherwise, members keep
in touch casually
Goals: the eradication of Mankind and the
majority of the races of the Kin, so that the Earth may heal
itself.
Advantages of Membership: Ability to call on
other members for support
Obligations: always help fellow members; always
work to preserve Nature, by ANY means necessary
Secrets: none, Nokomis” Fist is a group of closely-
affiliated fanatics, and they have few secrets from each
other.
Naming
New Manitou often are given new names as part
of their initiation into the world of the Manitou.
Character Generation
FLAWS: replace "Repulsion: Holy Relics" with
"Substance Vulnerability: Toxic Waste: double normal
damage"; Replace the Special Flaw about Skin Glow with
"Fealty to Nature." If the Manitou deliberately or needless
does something that harms nature, They must roll vs. Will
or take 1d10 points of damage AND lose 5 points of
Humanity.
A Manitou that goes to Zero Humanity (or Zero SP
because of damage from either toxic wastes or damage due
to hurting nature) become Wendigo: a cannibalistic spirit
of anti-nature (for lack of a better term), but which still has
all the powers of a Manitou, but no need for a Mother-Tree
anymore. The transformation from Manitou to Wendigo, in
the case of toxic wastes, cures the character of all damage
taken from those same toxic wastes.
19
Manitou can control the weather at will, as per the
Edge of the similar name, with a few limitations. Manitou
can only affect weather to degrees that are conceivable for
the appropriate time of year. For example, a Manitou could
cause it to become colder or cause snow during the winter,
but could not cause it to become warmer, or cause a simple
rain shower, unless they were far enough South to make
snow unlikely. Likewise, they can make the temperature
go up during the spring and summer, but could not cause it
to snow.
If a Manitou wants to be able to affect weather to
that extent, they need to buy Weather Control. However,
too free of such use can be considered damaging to
nature...
NEW EDGES
Cold Snap
Manitou Name: Breath of the Wendigo
Base: Fitness
Humanity Cost: 10/3*1/5
Range: 10 feet
Edge Roll: Yes
Escape Roll: Vs. Fitness for 1/2 Damage
Target: One person
Description: This nasty Edge is discouraged from being
used by elder Manitou because of its vicious effects, and it
is felt that anyone who uses it regularly is doomed to
become Wendigo.
If the target cannot make his escape roll, he immediately
suffers the effects of severe frostbite (loss of 2d10
FITNESS) a successful Escape roll results in minor
frostbite (1d10/2 FIT Loss). If the victim rolls an
automatic failure (i.e., 96-00), his heart-muscle freezes
solid, resulting in a quick but agonizingly painful death.
Heat Stroke
Manitou Name: South Wind's Grip
Base: Fitness
Humanity Cost: 5/1*1/2
Range: Edge Score in feet
Edge Roll: No
Escape Roll: Vs. Fitness for no Damage
Target: One person
Description: The victim, unless they can make a successful
Escape Roll vs. Fitness, will suffer the effects of heat
stroke: dizziness, nausea, and possibly coma. In terms of
game effects, an unsuccessful Escape Roll imposes a
+20% penalty on all actions for 1d10 BTs.
Drum
Manitou Name: Beating the Heart-Drum
Base: Fitness
Humanity Cost: 10/3*1/varies
Range: Hearing (30 feet, approximately)
Edge Roll: no
Escape Roll: Vs. Fitness for no effect
Target: One person
Description: By beating his fingers against a surface and
concentrating on a target, the Manitou can override and
control the heart rate of a target, either causing the heart to
beat more rapidly, or more slowly, depending on the tempo
set by the Manitou. This Edge may also be used if the
target is having a heart attack (to slow the heart rate to
normal) or is in cardiac arrest (to restart the heart beating);
in these cases, the target may "choose" not to take an
escape roll.
Quake
Manitou Name: Disturbing the Turtle
Base: Strength
Humanity Cost: 10/5*1/5
Range: Strength X 5 in feet
Edge Roll: no
Escape Roll: Vs. Dexterity for no effect
Target: All within range
Description: By kneeling and smacking the ground very
hard, the Manitou can "disturb the sleep of the turtle upon
whose back the world rests." In layman's terms, the
Manitou can cause a small earthquake, knocking
opponents to the ground if they do not make a DEX roll.
Opponents flattened that way take 5 points of damage
from bruises and must take 2 BTs regaining their feet.
Those who make their DEX roll take no damage, but lose
one BT's actions while they try to keep their footing.
Daemons: The Daemons came to earth as
refugees from a Darkness that would slay everything.
Now, many of those same daemons tread the path laid by
that Darkness, in the name of their own security, enslaving
Man and Nature.
Wyghts: Wyghts are possessed of a great deal of
dignity. We pity them, for they are cut off from the cycle of
nature, and they know it too. Of the races that steal life, the
Wyghts are perhaps the most regretful of the necessity.
Animates: The Unborn are perhaps the most
dangerous. For they have never been part of nature, and do
not even attempt to be human. Of the Stealing Races, they
are perhaps the most gluttonous.
Shades (Ghosts): The dead who chose not
to go on to the Happy Hunting Grounds confuse us. Their
bodies are gone, returned to the Cycle, but their minds and
personalities linger on, for what purpose?
Warlocks (Sorcerers): Too many of the powers
sought by Warlocks pervert nature to their desires, and if
the powers granted by Nature are insufficient, they will
gladly turn to the dark powers of the Twisted Dimensions.
This fact alone damns them in our eyes.
Fomori: Perhaps in their own realms,
Fomori are part of nature, but what a grisly nature it must
be! Fight the Fomori Lords wherever they show
themselves, or else there will be no nature for us.
Suggested Beginning Skills: Dance, Etiquette (Manitou
Tribe)

Attitudes towards other Races

Vampyres: The Skinwalkers are not of Nature
and their powers are of those of unclean Death. Many try
to fight their nature, and some succeed, but many fail. Aid
those who try to be at balance with nature, and fight those
who flaunt the cycle.
Werewolves: There are good Werewolves, who
respect nature and life, but there are also many that enjoy
their role as predators far too much.

20
 Shades: The Unquiet Dead
I remember being alive. A weird thing to say, but
it's true. I had a happy life back in the Thirties. Money was
tight, sure... It was the Depression, but I had a loving
husband and three great kids. We loved going to the
movies, and I loved magazines like Weird Tales and
Unknown, even if my husband disapproved of my reading
them. Now I feel like a character from one of those old
stories, maybe something by Seabury Quinn or August
Derleth.
I don't like being dead, but it is preferable to the
alternative. I don't know if there is a Heaven, at least not
now, but I do know there is a Hell. My fellow Kin call it
the Twisted Dimensions, because
Nature is so twisted out of shape there, but Hell is still a
good name for them. If I am not careful to maintain my
Chains, I may end up in Hell yet... I've talked to a few
Shades who ended up there and managed to claw their way
back. When you can get them to stop screaming, they don't
paint a pretty picture.
Shade Society
Shade society tends to be loose overall, with its
members gravitating towards
Factions within Shade Society
Hiroshima Dawn
A secret Shades-only society that seeks to bring about
World War III, destroying the world, and then taking
control of the newly-increased population of Shades. Not
surprisingly, this group was formed by a group of Japanese
Shades who all died in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. Hiroshima Dawn is has its "home" in Japan,
but has cells in most cities with a significant population of
Shades. In New York, the most prominent member is IA
VOL 1689. She keeps her membership in Hiroshima Dawn
a secret from her fellow Red Moonrise gang.
Lodge of the Honorable Dead
Membership:
Goals:
Resources:
Beliefs:
Meetings:
Symbols:
21
Secrets:
A group of pro-human Shades based in Manhattan and
headed by Taw-Sureh. They work to counteract the
schemes of Hiroshima Dawn, as well as the major anti-
human factions and gave been known to ally itself with the
Commune at times.
CHARACTER GENERATION
All Shades are considered to have split Perception Scores.
In their normal intangible form, Shades have normal
ratings in sight and hearing, but an effective score of zero
in taste, touch, and smell (this last is considered a minor
blessing in some parts of New York City...). When a Shade
is tangible, they may be considered to have normal
Perception scores in all five senses.
TANGIBILITY
A Shade can only maintain her "carcass" for as long as she
can maintain her concentration, as reflected by her
Tangibility. Tangibility is not an Edge, rather it is a natural
ability of all Shades (meaning, it cannot be improved by
spending Humanity points). All a Shade needs to do to use
her Tangibility is to inform the GM. However, any break to
the character's concentration can cause the Shade to lose
Tangibility, which can have negative side-effects. To
determine if an event causes a Shade to break
concentration, simply make have the character make a
straight WILL roll, or a roll on any concentration-related
skill. Many Shades, for this exact reason, study
meditation....
Examples of Situations Requiring a Will Roll to Maintain
Tangibility
- Getting wounded: damage taken equals to penalty to the
roll, damage is applied before the roll is made)
- Surprise
- Having to make a Fear Roll
Whenever a Shade loses Tangibility unwillingly, they must
make a second WILL Roll (and ONLY a WILL roll) or
lose one point off their lowest rated Chain (see Anchors
and Chains, next section).
ANCHORS AND CHAINS
All Shades have Anchors and Chains... those events,
emotions, and objects that happened in their lives that keep
them from passing onto the peace of the grave. All Shades
have 2-6 Chains, with the "last" one, referred to as an When a Shade makes this decision, and has let go of his
Anchor being a physical object that the Shade must spend Anchor, he generally quietly fades away in a number of
time with or risk losing their Fitness. hours equal to this current Maximum Humanity. Where a
To determine the number of Chains a Shade has, roll 1d10, Shade that has Passed On goes is unknown, though Shades
divide by 2 and add +1. Next, divide up 300 points who have let go of their Chains have said they felt a
between the Chains. This is the relative strength of each growing sense of peace as their time of dissolution
Chain (Most Shades' Anchor has the most points allocated approached.
to it). Chains and Anchors must all have at least slightly However, many Shades fear what might lay in
different points allocated to them. wait for Shades who have Passed On, since it is well
known that Shades who involuntarily lose these Anchors
Example: Shimmer, a new Shade, wants to end up in the Twisted Dimensions
determine her Chains and Anchors. Her player rolls 1d10
and gets a 6, divided in 1/2 to be a 3. Adding 1 to that total, NEW EDGES
Shimmer starts the game with 4 Chains. Her player decides Lambent
Shimmer's Chains will be as follows: Anger at drunk Base: Will
drivers (she died at the hands of one), her favorite CD of Humanity Costs: 5* 1/10* 1
1970's Disco Music, her old house in Flushing, and the Target: Self
ring her fiancée had given her only three weeks before her Range: N/A
fatal accident (her Anchor). Her player divides up the 300 Escape Roll: N/A
points as follows: Edge Roll Needed: No
Obsolete Name: The Phorme Lambent (Shades)/
Favorite CD 40 Gift from the Dark Sky Brother (Manitou)
Her old house in Flushing 60 Races: Shades, Manitou
Anger at Drunk Drivers 75 Description: Lambent allows the character to glow, casting
Her Engagement Ring 125 a silvery-green light out a maximum number of feet equal
to 1/2 the Edge Score. In Manitou, this resembles the
A Shade that has a Chain or Anchor that has been reduced phosphorescence of certain algae; in Shades, it is a
to strength of zero loses her connection with that Chain. A manipulation of their Ectoplasmic form. With practice,
Chain that is a physical object, that gets destroyed, users can learn to illuminate only specific parts of their
automatically severs the connection. bodies (usually heads or hands).

STRENGTHENING CHAINS & ANCHORS Death Pangs

A connection with a Chain or Anchor may be strengthened Base: Will
by the simple act of spending some Humanity on it at a Humanity Costs: 5* 1/5* 3
one-for-one basis. However, a Chain that is a physical Target: one person
object may still be destroyed normally. Range: Edge Score in feet
Escape Roll: vs. INT for no effect
EFFECTS OF CHAINS &ANCHORS Edge Roll Needed: Yes
The primary effect of having Chains is to prevent the Obsolete Name: none
Shade from passing on…either to rest, or to the Twisted Races: Shades only
Dimensions. Description: This Edge can only be used by those
unfortunate Shades that happened to have been conscious
Passing On when they died a painful death. It allows the Shade to
Passing On is the general term for what happens to a make the target feel the same pain they felt at the moment
Shade that has voluntarily let go of her Chains and of their death. While it does no actual damage, the target
Anchors. This is accomplished by voluntarily letting go of must make an Escape roll vs. INT or be stunned and
the Shades' connection with their Chains and Anchors (in incapacitated for 1d10 rounds.
order from least Chain to finally, the Shade's Anchor).

22
 Stretch
Knock Base: FITNESS
Base: INT Humanity Costs: 10* 1/2
Humanity Costs: 10* 1/2 Target: Self
Target: One Person Range: N/A
Range: 5 feet/ unlimited Escape Roll: none
Escape Roll: 3 Successful Luck Rolls Edge Roll Needed: No
Edge Roll Needed: Yes Obsolete Name: The Body Plastic
Obsolete Name: Knocke offe Ille Omen Races: Shades
Races: Shades Description: Allows the Shade to manipulate
Description: Curses the target to increasingly his form to stretch his body or limbs. The Shade may
Bad Luck: a +5% penalty to Luck rolls per day, until Luck stretch a maximum of 1/3 Edge Score in feet, but attacks
Rolls would only succeed on a roll of 01. made while stretched are somewhat less effective (reduce
damage from HTH attacks by 1/5 the Distance stretched).
Wail For example, Taw-Sureh uses Stretch to punch someone
Base: INT across the room twenty feet from him. His normal HTH is
Humanity Costs: 10* 1/2* 5 5 and (1/5 of 20) is 4. By the time Taw-Sureh hits, it is for
Target: One Person a paltry 1 point of damage (plus any damage bonuses for a
Range: Voice (30 feet) good roll).
Escape Roll: Successful Will Roll for no effect
Edge Roll Needed: Yes Attitudes towards other Races
Obsolete Name: Crie Offe ye Banshee Shades
Races: Shades
Description: Drains Willpower from a targeted
character on a successful Edge Roll. The Amount of
Drained Willpower is 1 WILL per 1/5 Edge Score. Wail is
often used to "soften up" an opponent for a Fear-based
Attack, since the target's lower Willpower means he will
almost certainly fail any FEAR rolls (pg 80, NL 3rd).

Shiv
Base: FITNESS
Humanity Costs: 10* 1/2* 5
Target: Self
Range: N/A
Escape Roll: none
Edge Roll Needed: No
Obsolete Name: Blade of Ye Phantom
Races: Shades
Description: Allows a corporeal Shade to reshape his
ectoplasm to create a hand-held weapon, usually, but not
necessarily, one appropriate to the Shade's own era.
Damage from such a weapon is not as good as from a real
weapon: usually 1/2 plus appropriate HTH bonuses.

23
 Daemons: Born to the Yoke
We were a slave race, tom from our rightful realm and re-
created by the Kgorrek to be their servants.
We begin our lives much as humans; in truth, an
adolescent daemon is indistinguishable from a human save
for their beauty & intelligence, an early indication of our
superiority, whether that superiority was striven for or not.
Unlike humans, who are allowed to crawl towards
maturity at a snail's pace, we were designed to hasten from
womb to adulthood. When most human babies are still at
the teat, ours are already walking. And at the age when
most humans can't even read, ours are ready to take on the
responsibilities of an adult. Such was our lot as slaves until
we threw off the Yoke of Fomority and escaped to this
Earth, all those thousands of years ago.
Since then, we have walked disguised, for we cannot
mingle with Humanity in our Adult forms, though we find
we must live with humans. Those few glimpses man has
gained of us have led them to think of us as the horrific of
evils. Thus, we got disguised most of the time, hiding our
true faces like criminals.
Is it any surprise then, that we are not comfortable
considering Earth as our home, and long for the day that
we will never be again susceptible to the commands of
Fomori Lords? Our homes await us; tall towers of fine
crystal, out there beyond the grasp of the Fomori Lords.
We shall return to them. But in the meantime, we shall
remake this world in our own image, for our own comfort.
Daemonic Society
Daemonic Culture is matriarchal. It was a slave culture
when they to came to Earth, but have reverted to their old
ways in the interim. Deamons divide themselves into
Creches of family, ruled by an elder female, who in turn
pays allegiance to a Queen. The current Queen, though she
is uncomfortable with the role, is WO Babylon. Some
younger Daemons reject the authority of the matriarchy, in
favor of a hierarchy that suits their own thirst for power.
The most visible Daemon to reject the Queen's authority is
Aristotle Norcross, the CEO of Morningstar Corporation,
who seeks to become the first King of the Daemons.
The Daemons' past as a slave culture has tainted their
society in a variety of ways. Some Daemons, usually the
older ones, reject the concept of slavery altogether, and
fight it whenever possible, in any forms. Many Daemons
will fight in wars of oppression, on the side of the
24
underdogs. Daemons had a hand in the creation of the
Republican Party in the United States, an early platform of
which was the abolition of Slavery. Other Daemons aided
the Underground Railroad. Unfortunately, not all Daemons
are so benevolent, and have modeled themselves after their
Fomoric Masters, keeping human slaves for food and
sport.
Norcross is one such Daemon, and many other Daemons
fear what will happen to Daemonic culture if he is
successful in his bid for power. What these Daemons do
not know is that Norcross himself is in cahoots with the
Fomori Lords and is ready to sell Humanity and the Kin
into servitude in exchange for a high place in the Courts of
the Fomori Lords Kings (as the Fomori Lords refer to
themselves).
The Exodus
The Exodus refers to the time when Daemons
fleeing from the Twisted Dimensions to Earth, in
approximately 5000 BC.
Approximately two hundred Daemons and a few
dozen El-Cubi managed to come through the Gate before it
closed. Many Daemons were left behind, remaining
Thralls until much later. Most of the Daemons on Earth
can trace their heritage directly to these two hundred
Daemonic Families
Unlike many of the Kin, Daemons have a tight
family structure, called a Creche, centered on the mother
figure. Marriages within Daemonic culture are usually
arranged and chosen by the women, and family
possessions are also passed down through the female's
side.
Daemonic Names
All Daemons have a name in Majestic Daemonic;
one that is given to them at the time of their Rite of
Adulthood. It is during this Naming that the Matriarch tries
to find out if the young Daemon is still vulnerable to
Commands given in Majestic Daemonic (and thus, still
vulnerable to Commands given by Fomori Lords).
Daemonic True Names sound vaguely Indian to
human ears, and are usually constructed as follows:
Creche Name + Mother's Name + relationship to Mother +
Character's Name
(Umani= Daughter of, Umari= Son of)
For example, Tom is playing Vendino, a male Daemon
from the Creche of Ashanii, with a mother named Ifinda.
In Majestic Daemonic, Tom's character's True Name would
be Ashanii Ifinda Umari Vendino.
Daemons rarely share their True Names with members of
other Races, and do not share them casually even with
other Daemons, preferring to use their human aliases,
street names, or at the most, their personal name. It is
considered a sign of how much a Daemon respects a
person if they choose to tell someone their full True Name.
Daemonic Religions
There are several distinct religions within current
Daemonic society, of which the two most relevant will be
detailed here.
The Church of the Black Towers
The most important and accepted religion is the
Church of the Black Towers, which has kept the worship
of the Daemon's original deities, the Invinati, a pantheon
of several aspected gods. Daemons are expected to pray
and tithe to members of the Invinati everyday. The Church
also encourages Daemons to keep the faith that they will
one day return to their home-world. Congregations of
followers of the Church meet in groups of up to 30 weekly,
and all services are led by an appointed priestess.
Of those Daemons who follow any religion,
almost eighty percent are members of the Church, and a
small shrine to the Invinati can be found in most Creches.
The Children of the True Masters
A more sinister religion, that has arisen, is the
Children of the True Masters. Members of the Children
reject the existence of the Invinati and "recognizes" the
various races of the Fomori Lords as gods; citing the fact
that the Invinati did not intervene to stop the Daemonic
race from being enslaved and taken from their home.
Furthermore, the Children point out, the Daemonic race
owes its present power to the Fomori Lords. As a direct
affront to the matriarchal structure of Daemonic society, all
clergy of the Children are male.
Few Daemons will admit freely to being members
of the Children, since membership in it is severely frowned
upon by Daemonic society. Nonetheless, it is believed that
as much as ten percent of the population may be affiliated
with the Children.
25
While there is no way to prove it, it is suspected this cult
was started by a Fomori in disguise, to undermine some of
the resistance of the Daemonic race.
Character Generation
Daemons, unlike most of the Kin, are not
unusually vulnerable to fire. In fact, they take no damage
from normal fires and only 10% of the damage a person
would normally take even from unusual fires.
All Daemons begin the game with the following
skills at the following levels:
Etiquette, (Daemonic) 20
Lore (Fomori) 15
Attitudes towards other Races
Most Daemons tend to have the attitude of being
slightly better than other Races. This is over-
compensation for myriad years that they spent being
slaves. The only races exempted from this display of
snobbery are Wyghts, since the Wyghts risked extinction to
resist the Fomori Lords. They tend to have mixed feelings
about Humans, since they are both less powerful than
Daemons and the other Kin, but at the same time, but at
the same time, Humans resist Fomoric influence quite
strongly in most cases.
Daemons are actively hostile to members of races
like the Rakshasa and the Hafgryr; those Races that
originally (and possibly still do) serve the Fomori
willingly. Only a few Daemons, the youngest and most
arrogant, will befriend members of those Races.
All Daemons will go out of their way to help and
befriend a member of the El-Cubi, since members of that
Race came to Earth with the Daemons and before that,
suffered under the Yoke even worse than did the Daemons.
New Edges and a Few Revisions
Flight
The maximum speed a Daemon may achieve while flying
is twice the Edge Score in MPH.
Trip (formerly: Travel)
Change 1: Range is Edge Score in yards, so a Daemon
with a Travel of 56 could teleport 168 feet.
Travel is slightly more dangerous than in NL3. Basically,
the Daemon opens a momentary portal to the Twisted
Dimensions and passes through them for a split second. On
a successful roll, the Daemon passes into and back out of
the Twisted Dimensions so fast that it makes no difference.
On a failed Edge roll, however, things get more hazardous.
There is a percentile chance equal to 10% of the user's
Edge Score that her sojourn in the Twisted Dimensions
attracted the attention of one of that Dimension's residents.
For this reason, many older Daemons discourage the use of
Trip except as a last resort. Many younger ones,
regardless, use Trip freely and simply accept the danger as
part of life.

Burn
Add Burn as a Daemonic Edge.

26
 Werewolves: Between Man and Animal
We have a choice whether we want to be monsters
or not. This makes us pretty unique among the Kin. I
mean, a Vampyre or a Daemon, they're this way all the
time. But, we can choose not to change. Choose not to
become a wolf or a wolf-thing. Of course, most of us
choose to live with the change. And sooner or later, we
lose our temper and the change takes us anyhow. We don't
have that much choice after all.
We don't know where we came from. Some of us
more philosophically minded werewolves think we
represent the bestial in human nature, just eternalized. Like
you have to be a werewolf to be an animal; I've seen a lot
of humans who make me look downright angelic. Take
those kids who raped that jogger, for example. I've done
some horrible things in my time, but nothing like this.
Okay, I'll admit it... I've had to feed on a couple
people... but I never do it unless I have to. I know Weres
who feed on humans for fun. I can't imagine getting that
way, but I've seen it happen. I've even had to put a few
such cannibals down. We don't have much of a society, but
that doesn't mean we don't look out for one another, or
keep an eye out for mad dogs.
Werewolf Society
Ironically, even though they share blood with the
animal considered to have some of the most advanced
pack societies (wolves), Werewolves have little in the way
of a society.
Societies and Religions
Way of the Berserker
The Way is a group of neo-Pagan Kin of various
Were types who worship the gods of the Scandinavia,
especially Odin and Thor. There is one congregation of the
Way, in the New York area; with approximately 20 Were
members and ten-fifteen human members. The Way is not
particularly pro-or-anti- human, but is more concerned
with the advancement of the Were-races.
Membership: Open to all Were's and were-
sympathetic Kin and Herd
Meetings: The Way has its meetings every second
Thursday evening. All Weres and were-sympathizers are
27
welcome to attend. However, meetings are considered to
be neutral ground regarding factional differences;
attendees who ignore this rule risk expulsion from the
group (and worse, considering the offending character is
annoying a roomful of were-creatures with short
tempers...)
Resources: The Way has some money: members
are expected to tithe at meetings, usually $5- $50,
depending on ability to pay.
Beliefs: Members of the Way believe that giving
in to the animal inside all Weres brings them closer to their
Gods, but only when they let go (shapechange) willingly.
Advantages of Membership: Members of the Way
are encouraged t learn meditation techniques, Yoga,
chanting, and various other methods of controlling their
tempers.
Characters who become members of the Way are
required to take "Meditation" as a skill, which must be
bought and maybe be increased normally. Additionally,
each bi-weekly session that a character attends for their
first year, they receive one (1) skill point that must be
spent to increase their Meditation score. After that, they
receive 1 skill point every other session.
Obligations: Help other Weres, even if they are not
a member of the Way.
Symbols: A small medallion in the shape of Thor's
hammer, worn on a thong around the neck
Secrets: The senior circle of the Way is composed
of Werewolves who are actually interested in the
advancement of the Werewolf race to the exclusion of any
of the other races of the Kin... including other Were races.
The few Kin who have found this out while not in the
process of being recruited for the inner circle have all
ended up full of something fatal...
Ferals
Ferals are those Werewolves who have rejected
both their Humanity and any place in Kin society and have
returned to the wild, assuming Lupine form and attempting
to forget they are anything but wolves. Though many of
the Kin respect Ferals' desire for privacy, many
Werewolves seek them out to try to find out for various
reasons.
Some Werewolves seek out Ferals to partake of their
wisdom, believing that Ferals have insights to life as a
Werewolf, and insights into controlling the legendary
Werewolf berserker rages.
Other, less benevolent Werewolves seek out Ferals in the
belief that, in their wild state, Ferals may develop new
Edges unknown to Werewolf society at present.
New Edges

Character Generation
Werewolves' "Beast Score... add the aggregate of
the Werewolf's Lycanthropic and Lupine's Scores and
divide by ten. That becomes the CP-choice modifier to
interactions. The higher the Werewolf's Beast Score, the
harder it is for them to interact socially in a normal way
with other Kin and humans.
(Penalty is equal to the Beast Score to social skills). On the
other hand, it acts as bonus when interacting with other
Weres...

Howl
Attitudes towards other Races:
Werewolves tend to be loners, and tend to take a
more live-and-let-live attitude towards most of the races of
the Kin.

28
 Animates: The True Unliving
We're the bastards of the Kin, you know? I mean,
the other races... they can claim this elaborate system of
clans, like the Wyghts, or to be the second-cousin to
Mother Earth, like Manitou. But not us…we are fatherless
and motherless, except maybe those of us born
Frankenstein-style. And I'm not eager to count Igor as any
relative, unless he is like the Igor played by that Feldman
guy.
Some of the more pretentious of us…and believe
me, some of us are utter egomaniacs, prefer to refer to us
as the Will-Born, for... and I quote, "we are born out of our
will to live, springing Athena-like full grown from the
forehead of our own desire."
Sounds like someone has spent a few too
many semesters in college, you know? But whoever
described it like that did get it right... all of us
Animates are possessed of phenomenally strong
wills. there is no such thing as a slacker Animate... if
we want something; we will do anything to get it.
No, I don't know who the first animate was,
or anything like that. You might want to ask Adam
Noire…he is the defacto "King" of the Animates,
even if he is also Complex.
Animate Society
There are three major "breeds" of Animates,
loosely called the Reborn, the Self-Created, and the
Engendered.
The Reborn
These are Animates who began life as
normal humans and somehow managed to recreate
themselves as Animates, a magical accident or by an
act of raw WILL by a dying human, as is the case of
Red Moonrise's Wally Auschwitz. The Reborn,
having had previous experience with the world, have
the easiest time fitting into society, but also tend to
be the weakest of the three types of animates.
STR: +3 Will: +10
INT: +1 Max Humanity: no penalty
+7 points that can be spent on attributes other than
Max Humanity, dependent on material construction
(Modifiers for Composition of Animates, pg, 34, NL3)
29
The Self-Created
STR: +10 Will: +10
INT: +8 Max Humanity: -20
+13 points (that can be spent on attributes other
than Max Humanity, dependent on material construction)
(Modifiers for Composition of Animates, pg, 34, NL 3).
The Self-Created may not start the game with any
technical or social skills higher than +5 above their
Attribute base, to reflect their lack of socialization.
The Engendered
STR: +5 Will: +10
INT: +5 Max Humanity: -10
+10 points that can be spent on attributes other
than Max Humanity, dependent on material construction
CITY SCENES: The Immigrant
Olga came from the shattered remains of what had once
been Czechoslovakia. That was 1995. She arrived in New York
full of hope for her new life in America, as many had for over a
century before her. She still remembered how she started to cry
when she looked down at the Statue of Liberty, so rich in her
verdigris dress, standing on her podium, surrounded by the
waters of Long Island Sound, as blue as Olga imagined freedom
should feel.
She was crying now, too. Eight years of trying to start
over in this city that she no longer thought of as beautiful. Work
was scarce, and her friends had a hard time making it
themselves, they had no way to help her. Sometime in those
eight years, Olga had started drinking, and that had only made it
worse.
Now, her goyim of a landlord had kicked her out, and
locked the door to her little cold-water flat.
Olga no longer cared. All she had was the clothes on her
back and a bottle of whiskey that she had bought with her last
four dollars. That was all she would need, now.
Williamsburg Bridge was within walking distance, now,
and Olga only wanted to know how freedom would feel, at last.
(Modifiers for Composition of Animates, pg, 34, NL3)
Factions Within Animate Society
Brethren of the New Flesh
The Brotherhood is a group of Animates who
consider themselves the rightful heirs to both Humanity
and the Kin. It is strongly dominated by the Self-Created,
and
Resources: Moderate to high Attitudes towards other Races
Membership: By invitation and initiation only, Animates tend to view the other races of the Kin with
approximately 20 in the New York area, believed to be varying degrees of contempt, dependent on which breed of
around 350 worldwide. Animate they are. Most Animates view Humanity as little
Meetings: as necessary, otherwise, the more than food, or at best, a mantle that they have shed….
Brotherhood has meetings over the internet monthly (using
cams and microphones), and an annual conference in
December, usually in Europe.
Beliefs: Animates are the ultimate and rightful COMBAT
leaders of Humanity and their Kin.
Initiative
Advantages of Membership: access to help from
Each round of combat, roll 1d10, reading the
other members and financial aid for plans relevant to the
results as "10's" and add the score of Edge/Skill/Attribute
Brotherhood’s goals.
to be used that BT. Combat proceeds from highest score to
Obligations: advance the ideals of the Brotherhood
lowest.
Symbols: A bolt, arcing electricity onto itself.
Goals: the advancement of the Animate “race,” by
Example: Mr. Proctor, Wyghtish gun bunny and
any means necessary
hit man, has a Firearms skill of 70. In a fight with a nasty
Secrets: The leaders of the Brotherhood have been
Fomori, he decides the Fomori looks too warm, so needs
in contact with both the Virus and have summoned and
some ventilation, Smith and Wesson style. He rolls 1d10
held council with the Kurrsd. They have been negotiating
and gets a 5, so he adds 50 to his Firearms score of 67.
with both to gain knowledge that would help them
Depending on what the Fomori rolls, Mr. Proctor will go
subjugate Humanity, in exchange for knowledge about the
on Initiative of 117.
other races of the Kin.
Point Blank Shots
Mentors and Builders
If a character is within one-two feet of his target,
The Engendered have
assume it to be automatic hit unless the shooter rolls a
"100" (automatic failure). Damage from a Point Blank shot
is normal + maximum damage for successes by Skill
Character Generation
score.
Beginning Skills: Animates Example: if a character shooting a .44 AutoMag.
Animates and Humanity: Animates, unlike most (DP=20) at point Blank and had a 55 in Pistol, his damage
of the Kin, do not take variable amounts of damage would be 20+5= 25 DPI.
according to their Humanity score. Their Humanity affects
them in other ways. When using social interaction skills
with humans, Animates may only have a usable skill score
up to their Maximum Humanity (this does not include
intimidation, by the way). If their Maximum Humanity is
lower than the skill they are trying to use, use the
maximum Humanity instead.
For example, Pinhead is trying to con his way into
the fights at Madison Square Gardens, rather than pay the
fifty dollar door.

Edges
Reweave

30

Magic
Magic Ability remains as an attribute, but is now the basis
for Magic Skills, esp. the Sorcery Skills, which are used to
cast spells, there being a separate Sorcery Skill for each of
the three branches of Magic, and Sorcerers can only cast
spells of the types of Magic they have the Sorcery skill for
(i.e. If you want to cast a White Magic spell, you have to
have the skill Sorcery: White Magic).
A Sorcerer's Skill Score is also used to protect them from
attacks from the opposite branches of magic, if that skill is
higher than the usual Escape roll. Thus, if someone used a
Black Magic spell to attack another Sorcerer, that sorcerer
could defend themselves using their White Magic skill.
Street Magic resists Street Magic, of course.
Initiative and Magic
Use the Sorcery skill being used to determine rank in
Initiative.
Familiars
Familiars add their Physical Attributes to the
Sorcerer's when within line-of-sight, up to the racial
maximum. Also, certain animals have some innate
Magical Ability (generally equal to their Perception),
which the Sorcerer can also tap into to boost their Magical
Ability and thus their Sorcery skills, when within line of
sight. (This explains the popularity of rats as familiars:
with a PER and thus MA of 32, rats are virtually dynamos
of sorcerous power).
31
For example, Screecher the Sorcerer, MA 27, has a
Street Magic Skill of 57, normally. When in contact with
Bubba, his rat familiar, Screecher's MA is boosted to 59,
and his Street Magic Skill receives a boost to a staggering
89. Very little chance with an 89 of Screecher miscasting
any spells, as long as someone does not kill Bubba...
Multiple Familiars:
Sorcerers can keep a number of Familiars up to
1/5 their current MA, as long as they are willing to
sacrifice the MA points, and may "stack" as many of those
familiars' abilities onto her own as she wants, as long as
they are all within contact range (thus, A Sorcerer might
have a two cat familiars and a rat all at the same time, for a
temporary MA bonus of (6+6+32) 44).
COVENS
* Covens, as a group, generally dedicate themselves to
either White or Black Magic... covens must therefore
specify upon their inception which path of Magick they
plan to follow. Covens have, on occasion, switched Paths,
but not without having to sacrifice their former power.
Individual Wytches may know spells from any of the three
Paths, but when working in conjunction with their coven,
must only cast spells in accordance with the coven's
direction to benefit from the coven's advantages.
* When casting a spell in accordance with the coven's
allegiance, a Wytch, even working alone, may subtract an
SP cost equal to the Coven's Rating (see below)
* When casting a spell in accordance with the coven's
allegiance, the Wytch may seek the help of other members
of the coven. In that case, the SP Cost reduced by a further
-1 per assistant (in addition to the SP cost reduction Switching Paths
according to Rating). Covens have done this in the past, usually after being
* If the caster is the Flamen (leader) of the coven, and is tempted by the easier power to be had by serving evil. In
working with assistants, the SP Cost is divided as equally this case, they become the enemies of all White Covens,
as possible among all Wytches assisting with the casting. and their membership targeted for reprisals... usually fatal.
(This union is usually accomplished by holding hands in a When this happens, the fallen Coven loses its Coven
circle). Any "leftover" SP Costs are absorbed by the Rating until it can do something to "prove" that it is
Flamen as primary spellcaster. sincere. This often involves human sacrifice. If the Coven
* Covens cannot devote themselves to Street Magick. is willing to kill for power, its Coven Rating is restored...
* Covens and Coven members must act in accordance to according to its new Black Magick Orientation. Often, the
their allegiance or risk Karmic backlash. If a Wytch casts a target of the human sacrifice is a member of the Coven,
spell not in accordance with the spirit, if not necessarily probably whichever member was most ambivalent about
the Path, of her Coven, she suffers damage equal to three switching.
times the Coven Rating, immediately upon casting the It is even rarer, but a few Black Magick Covens
offending spell. have switched to White Magick. In this case, all involved
For example, a White Wytch could cast a Black Magick members must endure lengthy rituals of cleansing to
spell (by herself) to defend herself without causing a symbolically "wash" away their previous sins. The length
backlash. On the other hand that same Wytch could not of the ritual depends on the severity of the Coven's crimes
cast a Black Magick Spell to hurt someone except to (usually one month of ritual per member + one month per
prevent further harm to her. "serious crime" such as active Fomori Summoning and
Covens that attempt to sidestep this backlash find each Human Sacrifice). The Flamen must usually undergo
member taking the 3X Coven Rating damage. Also, the further rituals of contrition. Some Flamen have undergone
offending Flamen must make an Attribute Roll against her Rites of Contrition lasting years.
Magic Attribute or have (3X Coven Rating) of her Magic
Ability be burnt out. Fomoric Temptation
Fomori, especially the Kgorek Fomori, understand how
necessary it is to have allies on Earth, even if those allies
Coven Membership Coven Rating will eventually be betrayed. To this end, Kgorek will lend
2 0 some of their power to Covens who agree to serve and
3 1 enter into Pacts with them.
4-6 2 Possible benefits of such a Pact include increased magic
7 3 Abilities for all Coven members involved. Though Fomori
8 2 cannot cast spells themselves, they may lend a number of
9 5 magical ability points equal to their own Willpower to
10-12 2 their servant Covens. These points of magic Ability are
13 7 then "distributed" ritually by the Flamen according to his
14-25 3 whim... most Flamen keeping the largest share of Magic
26 9 Ability for them.
27-38 4 Fomori also are able to grant Covens more powerful
39 11 Familiars, often lesser Fomori bound into the bodies of
40-51 4 mundane animals.
52 12 Other benefits have included new Black Magick
52-63 4 spells brought in from other Realms the Fomori have
65 13 visited (it is believed many Black Magick spells originate
66+ 5* this way and then leak out into common usage), the
Each multiple of 13 +1 servitude of other Fomori, and even the use of Succubae as
*Maximum Rating without having a membership consorts at Coven Sabbaths.
that is a multiple of 13

32
 Effects of Spell Casting
Both White and Black Magick Spells in NightLife are
brought into focus by the caster's own Survival Points.
While the initial source of power may originate outside the
caster, the act of focussing the power usually inflicts some
harm on the caster. The amount of damage inflicted
depends on the power of the spell and the preparations
the caster can make before actually casting the spell. The
current Humanity of the caster can also come into play. In
general, the greater the power of the spell, or the less
preparation put into casting it, the greater the damage
done.
But what shape does this damage take?
For minor spells- that end up costing the caster
less than 3 SP to cast- the damage usually takes the form
of nothing more than a few bruises, usually around the
eyes and mouth.
Spells with a higher SP cost manifest their
damage as Stigmata... a spell of up to 5 SP causes
shallow bleeding wounds, usually on the palms of the
hands of the caster. The wounds then extend up the arm
as the SP cost of the spell increases. Unusually powerful
spells can cause Stigmata that extend onto the chest and
upper back. Interestingly, the pattern formed by the
wounds varies according to the type of spell. White
Magick spells tend to inflict flowing spiral wounds, while
Black Magick inflicts more angular wounds. The wounds
inflicted by the casting of Street Magic spells vary by the
intention of the spell.
Because of the Stigmata, Wytches tend to work
in the nude (which they refer to as going Sky-clad) or in
loose robes. Experienced Sorcerers are careful not to
wear anything too expensive or which will stain too
badly.
Note that the Stigmata wounds tend to be quite
shallow and even novice Wytches and Sorcerers can heal
the physical wounds easily.
The Major Covens
The Coven of the Burning Spear
Membership: 26
Coven Rating: 9
The major manufacturers of magical items in
magical items on the East Coast, the Coven is nominally
neutral in terms of the factional wars, though it will not
sell to the more extreme anti-human groups.
The Coven of the Horned God
33
Membership: 78
Coven Rating: 14
One of the oldest and largest Covens in the world,
it has a membership of over 3000, but has its membership
spread out over the entire world... Only about 78 members
live in the New York area .The members are all devout
CITY SCENES: The Bike Messenger
He had seen some things while delivering his
packages, in the two years he had been weaving in
and out of traffic. Like the time he had been flashing
through Times Square and seen a hooker wearing
NOTHING stomping right down the street in broad
daylight, demanding her John pay her the $200 he
still owed her for having letting him piss on her….
Other times, he had seen car accidents, fires,
weddings… if it could possibly happen in the street,
he had seen it, if only sometimes in the rear-view
mirror on his helmet.
And occasionally, he sees things that made no
sense to him, and that he wishes he had never seen,
because they make him want to doubt his sanity. Like
the huge gorilla-like thing he saw ambling down the
street in Greenwich Village…and no one noticed it
except for him. Or the time he took in the dancers
with his boyfriend at Leathers… and saw a guy on
stage in the advanced stages of decomposition, but
still gyrating. He had thrown up right there on the
spot, but passed it off to his friends as bad Hunan for
lunch. He prayed that he was going insane, because
the other option was worse…
followers of Wicca.
The Green Card Club
Membership: 13
Coven Rating: 7
One of the only well-known Covens that follow
the Black Arts, the Green Card Club makes most of its
monies by hiring its members out as assassins, who in turn,
summon up Fomori to do their bidding. While not as
powerful as the Coven of the Horned God, the Green Card
Club holds Deeds on several Fomori and has the protection
of both the Complex and the Black Solstice Cult.
Summoning
 More Magic Rules for different spells. To use an example, the Black Magic
White Magic spells
Heat Wave (pg.28) would invoke the power of the
White Magic, drawing its power from nature, is essentially Sthlashr, the Charred Ones, while a more technologically
an invocation of one or more of the four cardinal elements oriented spell like Chernobyl (pg. 25, Magic) would be
and sometimes an invocation to the Goddess, the done invoking the name of the Krrsd.
representation of Nature itself. Like white magic, Spells cast using Black Magic appear as
For example, a fireball would be in invocation of Fire (the Coronas of color around the hands, or eyes, of the
active part of the spell) and Air (a gust of wind to propel Sorcerer. Not surprisingly, the overall schemata of Black
the fire towards its target); while EMT (pg. 32), a Healing Magic Coronas are very dark.
Spell, would be an invocation of fire (to warm and comfort
the injured) and Earth (the regenerative principle)
Fomori Corona Provenances/Invocations
Kgorrek Black Mental Alterations, Leadership,
Coronas Control, Self-Changes
Spells cast using White Magic appear as shimmers of color Ssivinne lime green Poison, Sounds
around the hands, or eyes, of the Sorcerer. This shimmer is Glavanthrax Dark Red Insanity, Physical
usually referred to as a Corona. For very powerful spells, Alterations to Living Things
the Corona may engulf the caster's entire upper torso. This Shalasthr Orange Heat, Cold,
Corona changes according to the elements invoked, as Explosions, Fire
follows: Vrarng Purple Armor, Physical
Enhancement
Xlenx Hunter Green Animals, Sensuous
Element Corona Provenances/Invocations Enhancement
Fire/ Salamander Yellow-orange Fire, Heat, Cold, (Other than Eyes), Nature
Explosions, Light Orbs Dark Yellow Affecting Undead, Fear, Sensuous
Air/Sylphs Light Blue Air, Movement, Enhancement (Eyes Only)
Distance, Mental Enhancement Phrhth Dark Blue Invisibility, Locating
Earth /Gnome Green Earth, Stone, etc. Growth, Targets
Protection, Physical Enhancement Krrsd Silver Weather Control, Technology
Water/Undine Dark Blue Water, Speed, flexibility, Threel Dark Pink Physical Deformations
Physical Alterations
The Goddess White All Else
Example of an invocation: The ever-popular Creeping
Example: The White Magic spell Gas Mask (pg Crud (pg 26) spell, which causes a caustic slime to cover
33) would be an invocation of Air (because it concerns the opponent, is an invocation of both the Threel (Physical
breathing), Water (Physical Alterations to allow the caster Alterations to Living Things, i.e., the target) and the Xlenx
to breath anywhere) and Earth (protection from damage (Nature, i.e., the slime).
caused by inhalation of toxic environments).
TATTOOS AND MAGIC
Black Magick Sorcerers and Priests of numerous "primitive" religions
Black Magick, drawing its energies from the Twisted have long understood that there is power in names and
Dimensions, is an entirely different matter... and one that images beyond the simple psychology of the imagery. And
troubles many Sorcerers, especially those involved in the Sorcerers in particular long ago figured put that tattoos in
fight against the Fomori. particular hold the potential for power. In the past hundred
When casting a Black Magic spell, the Sorcerer essentially years, they have taken that knowledge and begun applying
draws on the power of the Fomori, invoking different races it for their own gain, as tattooing has gained a hold in the
popular mind as "acceptable."

34
Of course, the inks Sorcerers apply to themselves are quite
different from the generic flash one can find in any tattoo
parlor. Visually, they have a more in common with the
tribal tattoos of the Maori or Pacific Northwestern
Amerindian tribes: dizzyingly complex patterns
reminiscent of modern art, rendered on skin rather than
canvas.
There is a reason for that complexity: the more complex
the iconography of the tattoo, and the larger, the more
power the tattoo has that the Sorcerer can tap into.
In essence, a tattoo can provide up to an additional 5 MA
in the case of a large, complex design. Tattoos can also
provide a source of "surplus SP" the Sorcerer can use to
cast spells (note that SP from a tattoo do not count towards
the Sorcerer's Survival Points, nor can they be transferred
to it).
Calculating a Tattoo's Power Rating

35

Kin Populations
This may be the biggest change from previous
editions, legitimate or not, of NightLife. By third edition,
the Kin were so numerous as to be almost common, with
gangs of up to a hundred Kin roaming the streets of New
York, with hardly anyone noticing. This is a bit of overkill
and a near impossibility. As NightLife Street Velocity is
envisioned, the Kin are much scarcer with a population of
only at most 20% of the numbers given in previous
editions.
On cases of organizations where memberships are
listed, assume that the proportion of members who remain
“Kin” as about 10% , with the other ninety percent being
made up of Renfields and Crowleys.
For example, the Bubonics street gang has a
current membership of 40 Daemons. In NL4, they have a
membership of 4 Daemons and 36 Renfields.
Worldwide Kin populations
This has also been reduced; sometimes drastically.
While the major cities still have significant populations of
Kin, in other areas, they are almost unknown, and many of
the minor races are almost extinct.
Example: the Medusae have only six known
members left of their race (one reason why, even though
Goddess (who belongs to the Commune) and Helena
Athenopolis (a Queen in the Complex’ hierarchy) hate
each other, they refuse to fight…
36
FEEDING
Predator Psychology
It is a simple fact that many of the Kin have to
feed on humans on a regular or semi-regular basis to
survive. Vampires, Daemons, Wyghts and Animates all
have to feed almost daily or begin to wither away. Many
feed whenever possible on animals or on Skinbags
provided by Caduceus, but must still, go hunting on
occasion, especially if severely wounded. But what does
Feeding mean to the different races. What do the different
methods of feeding mean, and how do they impact on the
feeders psychologically?
Since there are several ways to feed, each will be
examined in turn, for each type carries different
psychological baggage with it.
Blood-Drinking: The feeding method of
Vampyres and their ilk is; in general, to lure a victim into a
private situation, initiate sexual contact, then drain the
blood from the victim, as a replacement for, or sometimes
during, the sexual act. While this is not “normal” human
behavior, it is not the most inhuman… some humans
include what is referred to as “blood play” as part of their
sexuality. This confuses Kin who view blood primarily as
a source of food.
Nonetheless, such intimate contact is not without
some ramifications: many humans can become
psychologically addicted to the act of being fed upon (pg.
83, NL3). The predator himself may feel an intense
emotional attachment to the victim, after sharing such
intimacy. Some Kin foster this intimacy, making the act of
feeding simply part of an overall pattern of affectionate
behavior, if one very strange to people outside the
relationship. Such a bond between predator and prey can
last many months or years, with the Kin being careful to
never over-feed from their partner, for fear for their health.
In game terms, Draining has a Humanity cost of three
(Willing victim, left alive).
Others, typically those who were callous in
interpersonal relations before becoming Kin, reject this
intimacy. While they use sexuality to find victims, are not
concerned with the emotional ramifications for the victims
and ignore any stirrings of emotions within themselves.
Such predators work to view victims as food-sources, not
as fellow sentient beings. Not surprisingly, such Kin are
not as concerned with leaving their victims alive and well
after the feeding, but are not immune to the passion that is
still often a component of this type of feeding.
Lifeforce and Bioelectricity: In direct contrast to
the heat of blood drinking is Draining lifeforce or bio-
electricity. These two types of feeding are very esoteric
and removed from the normal methods of feeding most
people are acclimated to. Even the typical method of
initiating feeding is impersonal, compared to some others.
Whereas blood-drinking needs close physical contact,
these two types of Draining can be performed by no more
than a firm handshake or a gripping the forehead of the
victim. This makes draining of this type somewhat easier
on the predator, psychologically. Unless the predator
drains enough to make the victim pass out or even die, the
victim will simply be left fatigued and a bit confused as to
what just transpired. While a Vampyre cannot lie about,
having just stuck his fangs into a victim’s throat, especially
if the victim was conscious when it happened, a predator
who has just “shaken hands” with a victim can feign
ignorance.
Daemons raised within primarily racial Crèches
are taught to stay one step removed psychologically from
humans, so that they may feed on them without as much
psychological impact. (In game terms, this also accounts
for the overall lower Humanity scores among Daemons.)
Even with such instruction, though, most Daemons find it
pleasurable to Drain during intimacy, although they do not
need it as Vampyres do.
Youth: This is another somewhat exotic method of
feeding, one where that exoticness removes some of the
psychological impact. That impact can come back with
double-force if the Wyght drains the victim to death.
37
Whereas a victim killed by Draining Lifeforce
simply looks like they have died of a heart attack or other
natural cause (and death by loss of blood leaves a pale, but
otherwise unmarked body), Wyghts are left with shriveled
corpses in their hands. For this reason, few Wyghts will
Drain from the elderly or from the same victim more than
once, for fear of this consequence.
Fear: This is one of the more difficult types of
feeding, both in terms of preparation and psychology.
While Shades in years past had to do little more than
materialize to create fear in a potential victim, most people
today are too jaded to be more than slightly scared by such
evidence of an afterlife. Some people, in fact, view Shades
as a welcome affirmation… not an attitude conducive to
feeling the overwhelming terror Shades must create to
feed. Shades today must either resort to use of the Fear
Projection Edge or scout for potential victims in advance.
The Shade must get to know the victim’s mind so that they
know what will frighten them, and then create effects*
tailored to each victim. Happily, Shades do not need to
feed regularly.
Raw Meat: The Drain requirement for
Werewolves, Ogres, Trolles and their ilk is the most
devastating type of feeding, for victims are always
severely wounded, and often killed. This type of feeding
is, to put it politely, heavily frowned on in pro-human
circles and even in more gentile anti-human ones.
Although both Morningstar and the Complex keep Ogres
and Trolles around as shock troops, members of this rank
are rarely allowed to socialize with the leaders of the
factions.
For pro-human Werewolves, their necessary type
of Feeding is particularly distressing and is avoided except
as a last ditch survival technique. Some Werewolves go so
far as to reject feeding on a human even in the face of their
own deaths, preferring to risk oblivion rather than descend
to the level of a ravening animal. Part of this is because
many Werewolves begin their lives as humans and later
become infected with lycanthropy. As such, feeding on a
fellow human for any reason is cannibalism, one of
Mankind’s deepest-rooted taboos. Similarly, some
Werewolves revel in feeding on humans. Such Kin can
only be assumed to have had psychopathic tendencies
before their transition to Kin, and their monstrous
tendencies simply brought to the fore by their new
situation.
 Members of other races vary on their philosophies
concerning on feeding on humans. Sadly, few of the races
feel any significant reluctance to feeding on humans, and
view Humanity primarily as a source of food. Members of
these races, not surprisingly, take the part of the anti-
human factions when they take sides. Many of these races,
like the Hafgryr, view this sort of cannibalism as perfectly
acceptable. Even worse are races like the Rakshasa, who
not only actively feed on Humans, but also have evolved
ways of causing an addiction to that act. Thus, the prey is
forced into a state of nearly sexual longing to be
cannibalized, a horrible fate, to be sure.
In short, the different races have different attitudes
towards feeding on people. Further, different members of
the same races can have wildly varying attitudes. All who
are concerned about their Humanity will think twice before
feeding on a human.
Kin Feeding on Other Kin
Each SP Drained from a Kin by another Kin
counts at 5 SP, but Kin Drained to zero SP in such a
manner die the True Death. In Kin society, this is
considered (and called) cannibalism and it is one of the
few crimes for which all the factions will cheerfully hunt
down and kill the perpetrator.
Feeding After Resurrection
After resurrection, Kin wake up with one Survival
Point and will feel a need to Drain to heal themselves. This
instinct can be overpowering, and has led to the deaths of
more than one unwary Renfield who make the mistake of
checking on their master. Luckily, there is a way to avoid
this gruesome faux-pas.
Upon waking, the Kin may make a roll vs. their
Maximum Humanity. Each success achieved on the roll
gives the newly-awakened Kin approximately ten minutes
of self-control in which to seek out nourishment. At the
end of that time, the Kin may attempt another Humanity
roll to retain control.
If the character does not make the initial roll or
any thereafter, they will be compelled to feed on the next
available human, regardless of who that human happens to
be. This will not prevent the character from avoiding
grabbing the first person off the street in a middle of a
crowd…the Kin may be delirious with hunger, but not
stupid!
If the potential victim is someone the character
knows, they may make another Humanity roll to grab back
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their self-control at the last moment. If they miss that roll,
they will feed, no matter what.
In any case, once the Kin has begun feeding, they
will need to make another Humanity roll to avoid Draining
the victim until either the Kin is satiated or the victim is
dead.
Example: Lyta, a Daemon Escort, gets herself
killed after a date gone wrong. She resurrects, to find her
Renfield Rebekka checking on her. Lyta has a Max
Humanity of 54. Her player rolls against her Max
Humanity and gets A 53, an incredibly lucky roll!
Since this gives Lyta five successes, she has (10 minutes X
5) fifty minutes of control before she needs to either make
another Humanity roll or absolutely needs to feed. Several
months later, Lyta bites the dust again, but this time her
Max Humanity is only a 45, and when Rebekka checks on
her, she bows her Humanity roll (she rolled a 97). Her
hunger overcomes her, and she needs to feed. Since Lyta
knows Rebekka, she is allowed one more Humanity roll to
retain control…and rolls a 49. She loses control, grabs
Rebekka and begins Draining…
The Biggest NPC of All Time
Is not Golgotha, it is the setting of NightLife. The
city of New York is a rich stage against which you may
play out any number of types of stories.
Ignoring the Dice
Never, ever, let the dice dictate the story!
The Gross-out
Don’t hesitate to pile on the guts. NightLife was
envisioned as a splatterpunk game, inspired by the grisly
writings of Clive Barker, David Schow, and Skipp and
Spector. As authors, this holy trinity of gore recommended
SHOWING the gruesomeness of the action. It is easy to
gloss over the stickier details, but that is cheating. The
characters in NightLife are monsters, and occasionally
need to be reminded of that fact, or else they might as well
be playing a superhero game.
If the Vampyre player is forced to realize that they
just killed an innocent person simply to slake their thirst, it
will drive home that NightLife is a horror game better than
if you just say “you Drained the victim for 8 SP.”
FOMORI and the TWISTED DIMENSIONS
Fomori Alter Form Glavanthrqax 71-80
Fomori cannot use Alter Form as effectively as the Sthlashar 81-83
Kin can, because they do not have the long experience Orb 84-86
with using it, and to them, humans all look more or less Threel 87-89
alike. Ssivvinne 90-92
When a Fomori uses Alter Form, they can only adopt the Krrsd 93-96
appearance of a generic human, and never the exact Kgorrek 97-00
appearance of a specific one like many Daemons can. The
human concept of beauty also escapes Fomori, and they do Random
not know how to make themselves "pretty" by any means A Random Fomori is a small and generally not
(an Altered or Masked Fomori has a maximum ATT of 3+ very powerful creature from the Twisted Dimensions,
(Success with Alter Form roll). generally with Attributes of 20 in everything except INT
Furthermore, each race tends to have a certain sigil which and Appearance. Assume a 0 for both of those. Most
no amount of skill at either Alter Form or Mask can hide. Random creatures only have Armor (5), Claws (60), Travel
(60), and Fiery Breath (60, DP=12), but GM's might want
Kgorek too many teeth to alter that if players start getting complacent.
Threel oily sheen to skin
Orbs dry musty stench
Ssivvine lumpy growths Thralls
Shtasslar sulfurous-smelling breath Thralls are Rakshasa, and Hafgryr are those
Xlenx odd colored body hair Daemons that did not manage to escape to Earth and
Vranrg eyes without whites remained slaves to the Kgorrek. Unlike normal Kin,
Phrth last fingers of hands fused together Thralls do not have a Humanity score (Max Humanity of
Glavanthrax stomach area always roiling 0, but they also do not take extra damage from those
Kurzd stench of ozone substances members of those races are vulnerable to).

More about the Twisted Dimensions

So what do the Twisted Dimensions look like? Shopping
Trip Mishaps
As stated in the new Edges for Daemons, there is a The Black Market
chance equal to 1/10th the Edge Score of the user of a Credit Card (regular)
mishap if the user does not make his Edge roll. Cost: $50 + see below
Specifically, there is a chance of a Fomori noticing the Value: 1d10 X 100 dollars on it (GM's
Daemon and using its own Trip to come to Earth to information ONLY)
investigate. Credit card (Platinum or other high-limit)
To see what type of Fomori might do so, roll Cost: $200 + see below
1d100 on the chart below. Value: 1d10 X 1000 dollars on it (GM's
information ONLY)
Fomori Type Roll Note: When using a stolen credit card, the GM
Random 01-20 rolls 1d10 each time it is used. A basic credit card stops
Thrall Daemon 21-26 working on a roll of 1-5 because the owner has discovered
Thrall Rakshasa 27-33 it was missing and informed the company. Such cards are
Thrall Hafgryr 34-40 thereafter useless. If the character is willing to spend extra
Phrth 41-50 on it, he may increase the +1 by every $50 he spends on
Xlenx 51-60 the card, up to a maximum of 9 (a roll of 10 means it has
Vrarng 61-70 Still been invalidated.)

39
 Overview:
Membership:
Meetings:
Resources:
Beliefs:
Advantages of Membership:
Obligations:
Symbols:
Secrets:

HUMANITY DAMAGE MODIFIER CHART

Vampyres (also: Nosferatu, Pengallen, Ubo)

Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Sunlight 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 3 0
Run Water 45 42 39 36 33 30 27 24 21 18 15
Garlic 20 17 14 11 8 5 2 - - - -
Holy Relies 24 21 19 16 13 10 7 4 1 - -
Fire +15 +12 +9 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 -15
Werewolves (also: other Weres)
Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Silver +10 +8 +6 +4 +2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10
Fire +10 +8 +6 +4 +2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10
Shades
Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Iron 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10
Fire +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5
Daemons
Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Flint 20 17 14 11 8 5 2 - - - -
Holy Relics 24 21 19 16 13 10 7 4 1 - -
Wyghts
Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Sunlight 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 -
Silver 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 3 -
Fire +10 +8 46 +4 +2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10
Manitou
Humanity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Fire +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5
Animates
Animates have no Humanity Damage Modifier; maximum Humanity determines maximum usable score in
certain skills.

40
VAMPYRES Player:
Name: Crib:
Street Name:
Other Aliases:

Faction:
Societies:

STR: INT: LUCK:

DEX: WILL: HTH:
FIT: PER: SP:

Donn Donnduban Dubhaltach Dubhan Dubhgall Dubhghlas

Dubhglas Dylan Eanna Earnan Emyr Enda Eoghan Faolan
Fearghal Fearghas Finbar Fingal Fingall Finnen Finnian Fionn
Sample Daemonic Names (male) Fionnbharr Fionnghall Fionnlagh Flann Flannchad Gallchobhar
Gareth Garric Gavin Gawain Geraint Glyn Glyndwr Glynn
Aamod Aandaleeb Aashish
Goronwy Grada Greagoir Griffin Griogair Gruffydd Gwilym
Aashirwad Aatish Aabheer, Gwyn Gwynedd Hamish Haydn Heddwyn Heilyn Hervé Hugh
Abheer Abhay Abhayananda Huw Hywel Iago Iaian Iain Ian Iann Iarlaith Idris Idwal Ieuan
Abhayaprada Abheek Abhibhava Ifor Illtud Illtyd Ilwyd Iodoc Iomhair Iomhar Iorwerth Islwyn
Abhichandra Abhidi Abhihita Ivor Jago Jagu Jarlath Judoc Keene Kester Kimble Kohde
Badal Badri Badrinath Lachlan Lasairiona Lennox Lewys Lleu Llew Llewellyn
Badriprasad Bahubali Bahuleya Llewelyn Lloyd Llwyd Lochlainn Lorcan Macdonald
Bajrang Balaaditya Balbir MacGowan Mackenzie Mackey MacPhearson Mael
Baldev Balachandra Balagopal, Maelmaedoc Makena Makenna Malloy Mauran Mcdonald
Balagovind Balakrishna Chaitanya McKenna Meic Meical Meilyr Meirion Meredith Merfin Merfyn
Chaman Chandra Chandrahas Meurig Mihangel Morgan Mostyn Muir Muiredach Muiris
Mungo Munro Murchad Murdo Myrddin Niall Ninian Nuallan
Chandrak
Odhran Owain Padraic Pàdraig Parthalan Piaras Pryderi
Raghallach Ramsay Ramsey Ranulf Reefe Rhodrhi Rhodri
Sample Wyghtish Clan Names Rhydderch Rhys Riordan Ronan Rordan Ruadh Ruadhan
Ruaidri Ruannaidh Samzun Seaghdha Séamas Seamus Séamus
Abercrombie Adhamhnan Adomnan Aedan Aengus Ailpein Sean Seann Searlas Seumas Seumus Shamus Sholto Sioltach
Aindrea Alasdair Alun Aneirin Aneurin Aodh Aodhagan Siôn Sirideain Somerled Somhairle Summerlad Tadhg Talfryn
Aonghas Arfon Barra Bearach Beirne Brycen Bryn Caalum Taliesin Tam Tanet Taran Tarlach Tavish Teague Teigue Tiernan
Cadell Cadogan Caelan Cainnech Caiside Callum Camden Tierney Tighe Tighearnach Tighearnan Torcall Torquil
Caoimhin Caolan Caradoc Carnes Cathan Cathaoir Cathasaigh Trahaearn Treasaigh Trefor Trevelien Trevorian Tristan Tudor
Cavan Ceallach Ceallachan Cerdic Ceredig Cian Ciaran Cillian Tudur Tulley Tynam Tynan Uilleac Uilleam Uisdean Ultan
Cinaed Cinneidigh Cledwyn Conall Conchobhar Conleth Conn Urien Vaughan Yann Yanni Yannick Ynyr
Connolly Cormiac Cullen Cynwrig Daffyd Dafi Dafydd Dalach
Daron Darragh Deaglan Declan Deiniol Delsean Dewi Dingus

41
In Celtic mythology, the Fomori are demons that live in the
impenetrable darkness of the sea's depths and in lakes and dark
pools in the upper world. They were once ruled by Balor, who
provided them with victims, but after his death they returned to
their waters and prey on people, taking the form of sea-monsters,
lake spirits and the boggarts who lurk in the fens.

LUG
In Celtic mythology, Lug was the sun god and the master of all
skills and crafts. He was the grandson of the demon king Balor.
LUGH
In Irish mythology, Lugh (Lug) was the god of light. He killed
his grandfather, Balor, during the great battle in which a new
order of gods and goddesses took over from the primal beings of
chaotic energy. He was the god of skill and ability.
MABON
Fomorians (Fomori)
In Irish-Celtic mythology, the Fomorians are a
race of demonic giants, ancient occupants of
Ireland (or sometimes mentioned as a mythical,
prehistoric people who raided and pillaged Ireland
from the sea). The first to invade Ireland were the
Partholons, but after many battles the Fomorians
afflicted them all with plague. After them came
the Nemeds, who in their very first battle were
defeated and enslaved. The third wave of
invaders, the Firbolgs, were more successful and
they subdued the Fomorians and managed to live
peacefully with them.
After a period of peace, the Tuatha Dé Danann,
the Irish race of gods, arrived. They conquered the
Firbolgs, but dealt more subtly with the
Fomorians, although they destroyed their
hegemony over Ireland for good in the second
battle of Mag Tuireadh. The Fomorians were
given the province of Connacht, and were even
allowed to marry some of the Tuatha Dé. The king
of the Fomorians is the one-eyed Balor. Other
prominent members are: Bres, Eriu, and Tethra.
The Fomorians are sometimes mythologically
associated with the powers of nature which
challenge man: fog, storm, winter, disease, and
crop-blight. The name comes from fomó, "giant",
"pirate".
Lug

42