I am looking for advice in creating a trickster modeled after Anansi from the West African fables; Anansi was a shapeshifting spider who in many ways is similar to Coyote and Raven from Native American culture.

The game is Chest Deep and set in Anchorage, Alaska. This particular Trickster has set himself up as Anchorage's Information Broker; if anything is happening in town, I want this character to know about it or have to means to find out.

Mechanics-wise, I'd like advice on which skills and powers would best compliment this character concept. I plan on doing lots of shapeshifting and prankster actions; his role as an information broker is for the sole purpose of facilitating mischief by providing knowledge.

So I've been giving it some thought, and I believe I've come up with some of what Yuletide magic can do:

Cold (being essentially Winter)

Slumber (winter being a time of hibernation and rest)

Travel (Santa is known for his ability to visit every house in the world in one night)

Divination/spying (He knows when you've been sleeping/awake. He knows when you've been bad or good... which very creepy when you think about it)

Infiltration (He essentially breaks into peoples houses)

Protection/Threshold (I'm kinda iffy about this one. Christmas is all about family spending time together, sitting in front of a warm hearth, and living in safety. To me, that implies the power of the threshold, but maybe not...  )

Rebirth/Renewal (The celebration of Yule and Winter Solstice was largely about marking the return of the sun and the eventual transition to kinder seasons) (Thanks DFJunkie, for the idea)


Thoughts?

Keep in mind that the Summer and Winter knights are “just” emissaries of power, albeit very well known and probably inordinately badass ones.  Also, Santa is not beholden to the Court (I got that from the Spoiler board), and as a relative independent he’s probably able to get away with things that would normally get Mab’s panties in a homicidal bunch.


Assuming that Santa has less power to throw around than the Queens it’s probable that his knight would be similarly limited, but IMO there’s no reason he couldn’t empower a mortal to undertake tasks that his own nature prevents him from attempting.

Could you post a link to the thread? I've not seen much outside of it stating that Santa is the Winter King. I'd love to look at whatever info is floating around out there.

Wow! That spoiler raises all sorts of questions! I'm absolutely flabbergasted by the implications.

With this news, it is tempting to give the Christmas Knight the Unseelie Magic and call it a day. But somehow, that doesn't sit right with me; I'm certain their would be some differences between how Santa works and the other Winter fae.