NOTE: The rules involving supernaturals are only being preserved for the sake of reference. We are not accepting supernatural characters as player characters in the game.

Tanuki

PC Restrictions: None yet.

Quote: (Coming Soon)

In General

The Tanuki are, for lack of a better word, were-racoons, though the term is a bit of a misnomer. They are a race of raccoons which are blessed with supernatural powers, and the ability to shapeshift. Related to the Kitsune, they are the more gentle and humorous cousins to the foxes, and not so spiritually inclined; they're more free-spirited types, who enjoy the good things life has to offer.

Appearance

As with the kitsune, the tanuki have a threefold appearance. By default they take the form of a raccoon, although tanuki stand out by being a tad larger than other raccoons. Most people would not notice the difference unless they were very familiar with raccoons in general, or unless they were specifically looking for a larger-than-normal raccoon.

The second form is that of a human being, either male or female, dressed very simply (a single kimono, minimal or no footwear), indistinguishable from regular humans except for those who are spiritually sensitive.

The third or intermediate form is that of a human being, but with a curious raccoon-like "mask" over the face. To the unobservant or unenlightened, this would resemble the face of someone who hasn't slept in a long time.

The tanuki's tail is used as a parachute (see below) but can also be used as a weapon. Anyone slapped in the face with a tanuki's tail is blinded for the number of rounds equal to the number of successes. (This gives them a chance to run away.)

The People Themselves

The tanuki live in loose aggregations that are like clans, but the clans do not fight with each other, for the most part. Think of them as large extended families. When one tanuki family meets another, the two will usually do their best to get to know each other and learn about whatever other families there may be in the vicinity. Social calls, get-togethers, and of course partying are always big things among tanuki families.

Tanuki also are found by themselves, but they almost always keep an eye out for more of their own kind. A "solo" tanuki who finds a family of other tanuki will often try to join them.

Nature

Tanuki are outwardly friendly towards humans (and other creatures). Sometimes this takes forms which others may not be accustomed to -- for instance, when a tanuki pulls a prank, it's not because they want to hurt anyone, and if the "victim" of the prank takes it in good stead, they will usually try to make a friend.

Demeanor

As with regular human beings, the Demeanor of a kitsune varies from individual to individual. Most tanuki, though, are not vengeful: if someone hurts them or betrays them, their first impulse is simply to avoid the betrayer instead of trying to get them back. There are plenty of other fish in the sea for them, so to speak. This doesn't mean that they take such things lightly; just that they know better than to allow vengeance to consume them. This is different from how they respond to such things socially (see below).

Tanuki will never reveal themselves as a group to any non-tanuki.

Drives

For the most part, the tanuki just want to have a good time and be among their own kind. They do also enjoy mixing with human beings, but more for the entertainment value than because they can build lasting friendships with them -- to do that would involve revealing their true nature to the person in question. Most tanuki would never do that (unless this was someone who was REALLY important to them).

Tanuki get drunk easily and love it. This is probably their biggest weakness: intoxicants, which they seek out in fair measure. It is also one of the few ways they can let their mask slip. Any rolls that involve resisting intoxication always have 1 added to the target number.

Tanuki society does have a very strong sense of what is right and wrong. If someone harms a tanuki, other tanuki (if they know of it) will get together to embarrass the attacker. Rather than attack someone directly, they prefer to use pranks, humor, sabotage and other distractions to allow karma to take its course on the evil one.

Throughout History

[To be written.]

Powers and Skills

Tanuki are by no means skilled fighters; it's not really in their nature to learn things like martial arts. However, a tanuki in human form might learn judo, since it's a defensive discipline and involves a notion that tanuki abide by: using an enemy's strengths and weaknesses against himself!

Here is a list of skills and powers that almost every tanuki has. These are purchased as regular skills. All tanuki should have at least a 1 in any of these.

Break-Fall

If they are dropped off a cliff or out of a tree, a tanuki can use his tail (provided he's in tanuki form) to break his fall -- something like a parachute. This converts free fall into an easy glide.

Roll: Reflexes
Requirements: Must be in tanuki form to do this. Shifting into tanuki form beforehand will take 1 round.
Effects: Converts any free-fall into an easy, gentle descent, although the character will not be able to control their exact landing point.
Duration: Until the character touches down somewhere.

Stomach Drum

In raccoon form, tanuki can beat out a rhythm on their stomachs. This can be used to send a message, but it's more often used to mesmerize an enemy.

Roll: Int + Stomach Drum skill.
Requirements: Must be in tanuki form to do this. Shifting into tanuki form beforehand will take 1 round.
Effects: Stops enemies in their tracks for the number of rounds equal to the number of successes. They cannot attack. Any attacking enemy will get at least as many successes with Int + any skills related to resisting mental attacks.
Duration: The character can attempt to beat out a rhythm for as many rounds as they want, but each round will have to be rolled at increasing difficulty (diff +1, then +2, +3...)

Disguise

Tanuki can use a leaf -- any leaf -- as a sort of magical implement to disguise either themselves or someone else or another object as an inanimate object, another person, or even another tanuki. This is a variety of shapeshifting.

Roll: Ki + Disguise.
Requirements: Must have a leaf on hand and be able to touch the object to be disguised with it. The object in question cannot be bigger than the tanuki doing the disguising, and the disguise cannot be bigger, either.
Effects: Number of successes = number of rounds the disguise persists. The disguise can be resisted with Int + any observational skills.
Duration: The character can attempt to maintain the illusion for as many rounds as they want by rerolling, but each successive roll will have to be rolled at increasing difficulty (diff +1, then +2, +3...). Also, if the disguised person or thing is touched, the illusion immediately breaks and cannot be restored for that object for at least 24 hours.

Moon-Merging

During a full moon, a tanuki can disguise themselves by apparently rising up and merging with the full moon. This is an illusion, though, something like invisibility.

Roll: Ki + Moon-Merging.
Requirements: There must be a full moon present. Will work either during the day or night.
Effects: Number of successes = number of rounds the disguise persists. The disguise can be resisted with Int + any observational skills.
Duration: The character can attempt to maintain the illusion for as many rounds as they want by rerolling, but each successive roll will have to be rolled at increasing difficulty (diff +1, then +2, +3...) Note that if someone stumbles into the space where the tanuki is, the illusion breaks as per Disguise above.