If you're also a fan of Grimm, you've probably thought of doing this. I did it. Tell me what you think
Wesen
Wesen are semi-shapeshifters. They can hide their inhuman natures when they want to. As long as they’re not using their powers. The more they draw on their powers, the more difficult it is to hide their true form. I’m using Feeding Dependency as a model for the power, but it also includes other powers. They have 3 states. Human form, Woge, and Display Woge. Woge is involuntary and only visible to those with special powers, or extremely high Lore. Display Woge can be seen by everyone. And to anyone who’s not aware of the supernatural, it is a terrifying and scarring experience.
Woge: Semi-shape change to the beast you carry inside. Generally, only other Wesen can see you Woge unless you intentionally display your nature to everyone.
Hiding your form: First, the sight sees your true self, so anyone using the sight will see a shadow of the Wesen form, aside from whatever else they see when you are in human form. If Woged, the sight sees all.
Second, other Wesen can see you Woge.
Third, high lore gives people enough info to notice a Woge. A great lore check will notice the change without actually seeing it. Higher scores will give more detail. Epic (+7) sees it as clearly as if it were a Display.
Beyond those exceptions, when in human form, or Woged, you are undetectable.
Mechanics: when drawing on any power, you must make a discipline check vs the refresh cost of any power being used to avoid a woge. This is cumulative in a scene. Each time you use a power, you make a discipline check vs the total refresh of all of the powers used in a scene.
Any time you take any damage, you must make a discipline check vs the number of boxes. This applies to physical, social or mental damage.
All of the modifiers to the discipline check are cumulative. So if you take 3 boxes of damage, and use supernatural strength, your discipline check is vs 7.
Display Woge: Woging specifically to show everyone what you are. This is usually done to stun people into inactivity. Knowing what’s happening greatly reduces its effects, but for the unprepared, it can have lasting effects, and even incapacitate viewers.
Mechanics: Woging is treated as a weapon 7 mental attack with a targeting of 1. Defense is either Lore, or discipline -2. So a fair lore check or a great discipline check avoids all damage.
Powers: Vary by species, but some are common
-1 Woge
-1 Woging clears your physical stress track and reduces all physical consequences by one level. Reverting back to human form doesn’t do this.
-1 Echoes of the beast.
+1 Human form
Vampires: Vampires find Wesen blood to be amazingly tasty. There is no sipping of Wesen blood for most vampires. They have to make a Good discipline check to not drain a Wesen to death.
Origin: Most Wesen originally come from Western Europe. Not all though. Many come from other lands. But the society and social structure that most Wesen are a part of are from 15th century Austria. The names, traditions and rituals are mostly German, and regardless of where a particular kind of Wesen comes from, most individuals speak at least a little German.
In the US, there are 2 large groupings of Wesen. Austin Texas and Portland Oregon. Both cities are generally ignored by the major league supernatural players and are perfect for Wesen to live fairly normal lives.
Examples: These are minimums. Many have advanced beyond the basics.
Blutbad (wolf) - 9
Wesen -2
Inhuman Strength -2
Inhuman Toughness -2
-the catch is silver +1
Inhuman Speed -2
Claws -1
Pack instincts -1
Fuchsbau (fox) -5
Wesen -2
Inhuman Speed -2
Claws -1
Mauzhertz (mouse) -4
Wesen -2
Inhuman Speed -2
Hundjager (hound) -6
Wesen -2
Inhuman Speed -2
Claws -1
Pack instincts -1
Eisbiber (beaver) -3
Wesen -2
Pack instincts -1
Hasslich (troll) -6
Wesen -2
Inhuman Toughness -2
Inhuman Recovery -2
-the catch is fire +2
Inhuman Strength -2
Fuilcre (Ox) -6
Wesen -2
Inhuman Strength -2
Inhuman Toughness -2
-the catch is Yew +1
Claws (horns) -1
Siegbarste (ogre) -10
Wesen -2
Supernatural Toughness -4
Inhuman Recovery -2
-the catch to both is fire +2
Supernatural Strength -4
Ziegenmenschen (goat) -10
Wesen -2
Supernatural toughness -4
Inhuman recovery -2
-the catch to both is hemp +2
Inhuman Strength -2
Claws (horns) -1
Pack instincts -1
Hexenbeast (witch) -12
Wesen -2
Inhuman Strength -2
Inhuman toughness -2
-the catch is +1
Inhuman Mental Toughness -2
-the catch is individual -0
Thaumaturgy -3
Channelling (spirit) -2
Wendigo (Canibal spirit) -11
Wesen -2
Feeding dependency, connected to
Cloak of shadows -1
Inhuman Strength -2
Inhuman Speed -2
Inhuman Toughness -2
Inhuman recovery -2
-the catch is bone/teeth/claws +2
Claws (claws and teeth) -1
Demonic co-pilot -1
Flesh eater (same as blood drinker)
This appears to be a possessing spirit. They may have been Wesen before they were possessed, and now only woge as Wendigo. Or, it’s just like the old stories, and a man who eats human flesh becomes possessed by the wendigo spirit. Either way, there’s a murderous spirit that demands human flesh inside them..
The spirit is always close to the surface. Wogeing always engages the spirit. Eating flesh calms the beast.
