Transformations

A transformation is a change to your body through outside influence. The beginning stages of a transformation have only subtle effects.

Once the Condition has spread to all four concrete elements, however, the transformation takes over your form.

Transformations leave the spirit intact; you retain your reasoning ability and memory.

The Transformation progresses like:

  • First Condition – Very minor signs
    • Examples: Slightly sharper fangs, slight change in height
  • Second Condition – Signs you notice
    • Changes in body hair, sensations, dreams
  • Third Condition – Signs others notice
    • Such as claws, fur, ears and tail
  • Fourth Condition – The transformation takes hold

Harmless transformation?

Feeling clever, you may try to argue that a change of form is not a Condition. For example, a character might be transformed into a different Lineage, a different gender, or a different age group. You might argue that none of these are harmful; the target remains at full Health and still controls their own faculties!

This system uses a simple answer: Any undesired transformation is a Condition and subject to degradation as its Severity wears off. Even if the change provides some marginal benefit, the important question is whether the spirit rebels against the change.

Transformation and identity

Your mind slowly accumulates to your body. When turned into an animal, your memories of the folk slowly become less relevant. If turned into another identity, your past life starts to seem distant.

Each season, roll 1d6 for Light and 1d6 for Dark. Keep track of the running sum of each element. Once the total of both surpasses your matching defense, your memories of your old life submerge and remain dormant until you or an ally can break the transformation.

Your memories and sentience are never truly lost – only suppressed.

If you fully accept the transformation, then it becomes permanent. You are no longer considered transformed, leave your old life behind, and remove the Conditions. No game effect will ever force this; this is solely at your discretion as a player.

Lifespan

  • Animalistic transformations do not alter or reduce your lifespan
  • You do not age while under the effects of an inanimate transformation (such as Lamia’s petrification)
  • Transformations that appear to reduce your age do not influence your lifespan.
    • These transformations are still subject to degradation; try not to accidentally revert to an old man while you’re flirting at the tavern!

Rejuvenating immorality

Optionally, the storyteller may decide to allow you to obtain a form of immortality by de-aging.

Like the Firstpetals, this is a difficult process and lessens your ability to express your power.

  • Tally up the Essence you have cultivated over your character. For every 4, choose 1 to persist through reincarnation
  • Create a new Path student and apply that Essence
  • You must keep the same Path; you may choose a different Grace
  • You must be at least the age of a Blossom to access Paths and Arts

Degradation

If you are transformed into a form that cannot take Downtimes, you will automatically choose to Convalesce and degrade the transformation. This occurs even if you are unconscious or unaware of the outside world (such as with petrification).

Elemental storms may also help you break a transformation effect.

  • When an elemental storm that matches your Primary element enters the region, automatically reduce the Severity of all transformation Conditions by the Rank of the storm!

Finally, your spirit has enough awareness of the impending breakout to influence the exact timing of your reversal. You will naturally revert to your true form at the best possible time given the circumstances. For example, when the guards are far away, the kennel is empty, or the Grand Fae is otherwise occupied.

Especially long-lasting transformations may leave permanent after-effects. Careful – you may end up with a tail!