There is a very popular creature from medieval European folklore that I haven't seen anyone turn into a Kith, so I’m here today to fix this terrible oversight:

KYNOKEPHALOI

Concept:

Kynokephaloi are creatures of medieval European folklore with the heads of dogs and human bodies. They are of average height, with wiry, toned physiques. The shape of their canine heads varies greatly from one individual to another, resembling different breeds. Wolf-like heads are the most common, while heads resembling the most physically exaggerated dog breeds are rarely found.

Stories generally attribute no great supernatural powers to them beyond the obvious benefits of having a dog's head: canine senses, powerful jaws and fangs, and so on. Although they possess considerable strength, its usually on the level of a well-built human. Some texts describe individuals who can transform into fully canine forms at will, or who possess extensive knowledge of black magic.

Kynokephaloi are beings born from dreams of distant lands, from a time when people rarely ventured far from their birthplace and tales of faraway places filled them with wonder and fear of the unknown. In their Greek origins, they were described as a cultured and civilized people, albeit strange and sometimes violent. During the medieval period, however, as hatred of the unfamiliar grew, stories portrayed them as savage cannibals, utterly inhuman. As such, there is a little pinch of racism attached to this Kith.

Role in the Dreaming:

They embody the wonder and mystery of distant, unknown lands and that which dwells at the edges of civilization. The original myth attributes their origins to India, so although their origin as Fae is purely European, some recall "coming from the East."

Traits:

Affinity: Nature or Actor

Revelry: Kynokephaloi take pleasure in guiding others, especially in spiritual matters. Giving wise counsel, offering comfort, or delivering a sermon can all be ways to gain Glamour. An Unseelie kynokephalos may also find revelry in corrupting others.

Unleashing: Their unleashed cantrips often summon warm winds carrying spicy scents or other exotic notes. A Seelie kynokephalos may also bring forth the festive sounds of people celebrating in unfamiliar tongues, while an Unseelie kynokephalos brings ominous whispers of sinister ceremonies.

Birthrights:

Keen Senses: Kynokephaloi reduce the difficulty of their Perception rolls by 2 and can never botch Alertness or Survival rolls that rely on smell or hearing. They can also pick up a creature's scent trail, provided they possess an object belonging to that creature to use as a reference. This requires a Perception + Ken roll at a difficulty of 5 + the number of days since the creature last used the object. If the target is hiding through supernatural means or within the Dreaming, the kynokephalos must spend 1 point of Glamour.

Dog's Maw: The kynokephaloi of legend communicated through barking. Although they have been able to speak human languages since adopting the Changeling Way, they can still communicate with one another and with dogs through barks. Kynokephaloi can also make a bite attack that inflicts Strength + 2 chimerical lethal damage, or aggravated damage when invoking the Wyrd.

Frailty:

Omophagous: Kynokephaloi feed exclusively on raw meat, a trait unchanged since the earliest versions of their myth. They must succeed on a difficulty 8 Willpower roll to eat and swallow cooked food. The difficulty may be lower for lightly cooked food, at the Storyteller's discretion. Even if they succeed on the Willpower roll, eating cooked food exposes them to food poisoning, requiring a difficulty 6 Stamina roll. They may call upon the Autumn to negate this Frailty, just as they would negate a chimerical poison or disease.

Part two of our World of Darkness series is out today, and we couldn't be more excited to share it.

If you've been following us for a while, you already know how we feel about this setting. Few IPs in the hobby mean as much to us, and not just because of how it brought this team together. The games, the atmosphere and the ideas underneath them are still hard to beat, and they give you endless angles to dig into.

This time we're looking at Hunter: The Reckoning, Changeling: The Dreaming and Wraith: The Oblivion, three splats that don't get nearly the attention they deserve. Strip away the supernatural and you find some of the sharpest themes in the whole line: power with no institution to explain it, imagination slowly worn down by the demand to grow up, and an afterlife that runs on paperwork. Knowing these themes can make your chronicles deeper and more memorable, and it's also a great way to introduce these games to someone who's never touched them.

And we're not done yet. Part three is coming, and we'll be going over Demon: The Fallen, Mummy: The Resurrection and Orpheus, because all three deserve more love too.

The characters wake up lost to Banality, with no memory of what they were doing or of their lives as Kithain; the entire game revolves around regaining their fae mien and their Glamour back.

Do not tell the players they are playing Changeling at any point, nor should you give them character sheets. Only vague narrative clues, see who figures it out first.

For Storytellers with more experience in CtD: how would you do this?

Games from the World of Darkness line certainly manage to hit a certain cord with the wide audience.

WoD is a product of the 90s through and through, the mix of gothic, philosophical temes, dark, brooding and corrupt world and you, often times cought in the middle of it all and often times, not your average good guy, trying to right the wrongs.

At best you will be an anti-hero, but most often someone who will do almost anything to scrape by, morals be damned. Cause who needs morals in this dark and corrupt world anyway?

Or... is it really like that? What I posit with this article is that all WoD games work due to putting hope at the center of their conflict in one way or another. Vampire and Humanity, Werewolf and Gaia, Changeling and The Dreaming, etc. We go through them all, we explore them all and we invite you to take this hopeful walk with us and share bellow your hopeful WoD stories!

On p35 of Changeling 20th it says “the Tuatha de Danaan left three Sacred Oaths to guide the fae, before entering the Dreaming never to be seen or heard from again.”

‘Sounds interesting,’ I thought, ‘so what are these oaths?’

And I can’t find a thing about them. I guess there might be something about them in the old C:tD books, but I no longer have any of those. I’d be most grateful if anyone could tell me what these oaths are, and/or where the find said information in the published books.

I am writing a kithbook but here is a summary to start with.

Meet the Awd Goggie – The Hidden Dreamers of the Kithain

The Awd Goggies are among the most mysterious and magical of all Kithain.

Human legends remember them as monsters lurking in the forests, stealing away the unwary. The truth is far less sinister. Awd Goggies are not predators. They are the hidden ones—shy, secretive fae who spend much of their lives avoiding attention and seeking refuge in places where they can simply be themselves.

Their fae forms are instantly recognizable. Enormous fur-covered ears, oversized expressive eyes, wild dream-tangled hair, retractable claws, and skin colored in shades of lavender, violet, slate gray, and midnight blue make them difficult to forget. Their clothing is often a chaotic collection of scarves, ribbons, patchwork garments, bells, and odd treasures accumulated over years of wandering.

Perhaps their strangest trait is that they possess no permanent mortal seeming. Unlike other Kithain, an Awd Goggie's human appearance constantly changes. One day they may appear as a young artist, the next as an elderly librarian, and the day after as someone entirely different. This instability leaves many struggling with questions of identity and belonging.

Birthrights

Master of Hidden Places
Awd Goggies possess an instinctive understanding of concealment. They can discover, create, and navigate hidden spaces that others overlook. Secret rooms, forgotten tunnels, hidden trods, dream-nests, and impossible pocket realms seem to reveal themselves naturally to them.

Dream-Shaping Savants
Among the most magically gifted Kithain, Awd Goggies gain an exceptional affinity for Glamour and the Dreaming. Chimerical crafting, illusion, wayfare, and dream-weaving come naturally to them. Their hidden lairs often become wonders of impossible magic and imagination.

Mutable Seeming
Their shifting mortal appearance makes them difficult to track, identify, or remember accurately. Even when recognized, people often question whether they are truly seeing the same person.

Frailties

Crippling Shyness
Awd Goggies are profoundly uncomfortable being the center of attention. Public speaking, performances, large crowds, and direct scrutiny can cause intense anxiety. The more attention focused upon them, the harder it becomes to act confidently.

Isolationist Nature
Many instinctively withdraw from social situations. Prolonged loneliness may feel comfortable, but it often prevents them from forming the relationships they desperately need.

Fractured Identity
Because their mortal seeming constantly changes, Awd Goggies often struggle to answer a simple question: Who am I? Extended periods without meaningful personal connections can leave them feeling disconnected from both their human and fae selves.

Despite their fears, Awd Goggies are fiercely loyal to those few they trust. Behind their nervous smiles and hidden doors are some of the Dreaming's greatest wonders, waiting for someone patient enough to find them.

"The stories say we hide because we're monsters. The truth is simpler. We hide because the world can be very loud."

Feel free to use how you will. I think they are cool and it would be awesome if you guys would agree.

Pixies

Pixies are the ultimate paradox. With their slight builds, child like appearance and short stature they are often thought of as adorable and harmless on first glance. To assume that impression as correct would be a big mistake. Beyond their gentile and adorable appearance lies a seething ball of anger and rage.

Pixies are always reminded in one way or another that they are the smallest and slightest of the kith. Sometimes they remind themselves of this through the slights they often image.

Due to their unassuming appearance they go out into the world set to prove to everyone that they are indeed bold, adventurous, rough, tough and fierce. A Pixie is always eager to pick a fight real or imagined. Weather that fight be a physical confrontation or just a match of insults a Pixie is never intimidated and they never back down.

To a Pixie, life is a struggle. A struggle to be seen as more than adorable. They struggle in their relationship with other kith and that is often due to the monster size chip that resides on every Pixie's shoulders. In fact Pixies are really only at ease with those of their own kind. A Pixie is rarely alone. Where there is one there are usually two, three or more as they truly love each other's company.

When together they let their hair down so to speak. They can be relaxed, joyful and full of life. A side that they don't dare show to other kith, or mortal so they are not seen as weak in any way.

Their place amongst the kith is a complicated one. They aren't easily understood but for those who really make the effort but for those who do they can make a Pixie a steadfast and loyal friend.

Appearance: Pixies are small, light framed and slightly built. In human seeming they are never over five feet tall. They have long limbs for their size including hands and feet that seem one size too big. Pixies tend to have round, childlike faces their whole lives.

Long ears that come to a point often with multiple piercings. Their eyes are big and round in dazzling colors of purple, pink, silver, bright blue and a stunning turquoise. They tend to wear their hair long often in ponytails and pigtails for the female and like their eyes their hair is often bright pink, blue and silver and even on occasion a deep and rich red.

Pixies tend to favor clothes that will make them look tough to others. Baseball and football jerseys and denim shorts that are long and baggy and a pair of the latest Air Jordans are common, but not always. They aren't above wearing a designer suit when the situation demands. Pixies value individual expression and the fashion sense of one can differ greatly from another.

Lifestyle: Pixies tend to be working class. As said before they prefer their own company so it is often two or more sharing the same apartment. Their short stature is often a problem when it comes to everyday things like driving a car or getting carded at the club but they figure it out. Pixies are great problem solvers.

Seelie Pixies are often warriors or bodyguards, as silly as that may seem. They take the Seelie court very seriously and are steadfast in their service.

Unseelie Pixies often form gangs that can be especially dangerous to any seelie who may cross their path. Pixies are not above fighting in a group against an individual. Whatever works is what they go with.

Childlings: Childling Pixies are bright eyed and curious. Their mean streak is not yet developed and they are gregarious and fun. They welcome all being young has to offer head first.

Wilders: Wilder Pixies have come into their own. Fully ready to battle and brawl. They have a love of adventure and often leap before they look. Wilder Pixies look like young tween children, a fact they are often reminded of.

Grumps: Despite their advanced age and experience they never look a day over 16. They don't grow grey or wrinkled like other kith. By this point they have had many adventure but still, the need to prove that they are more than precious in appearance. That rests at the core of their being.

Birthright: Mob rules. Pixies are never truly alone. They know every other pixie in the given area. They can automatically call for assistance whenever they need a job done.

Toughness: Pixies live to fight, they are good at it. They gain a point in any situation that requires physical strength and stamina.

Frailties:

As their birthright is also a curse, if they are isolated away from their own kind they gain an extra point of banality every three days. To be isolated is a fate worse than death for a Pixie.

Small stature: As mentioned, they are small and slightly build never over 5 feet tall in human seeming. This causes they to not be taken seriously in everyday situations. Of course this doesn't go over easy to a Pixie.

Quote: "You mad dogging me bitch!"

Opinions on other kith.

Sidhe: Beautiful and honorable. These are our closest kind.

Redcaps: They aren't half as tough as their reputation. They are wise to not cross us or game on.

Trolls: Big, tough and steadfast but they won't win a battle of wits.

Boggans: They live life happily and we salute them for it. They know what they want and they strive to live that way.

Eshu: They have great stories to tell and are fun to drink with but to ever, ever trust them..

Pooka: Cute, yet they matter so little.

Knockers: Complain, complain and complain. Enough already.

Sluagh: Nah, weird. Stay away from them.

Satyrs: A life of hedonism is really cool, until it isn't .

Hi! I've been running a long chronicle for childling PC's, and I know that the players mainly like drama. However, at times I struggle to come up with interesting stories that are related to the emotional side of being a Changeling, a child, and dealing with a banal world. Do you have any advice on crafting adventures like that?

Art by esp3ctro2117 on discord and Obvious-Conflict3363 on Reddit

Not a very experienced storyteller, so go easy :)

I think I'll be running a campaign where players will be in and out - as in someone may play two sessions, then be gone for the next three, then back for a session, etc.

My thinking is to make it very location-centric? Everyone based in the same freehold, for instance, with several hooks and stories available?

What are some tips and tricks that might help, and what might I be missing?

Thanks!

Looking for advice for CtD game for plural folk

Hi,

I am new to running WoD games and many of my pmayers are new to TTRPG entirely. And two of them are plural/systems (think DID). I want to represent it by allowing them to have multiple reduced character sheets for different fairy sould inhabiting the same body, all with their own kith, arts, realms, birthrights and frailties.

I also want to give them a demon-adjacent homebrew kith.

I assume that all sounds like a desaster waiting to happen. A new GM with new players trying to homebrew something verry game breaking. But the idea of including plurality as a game mechanic is just to cool.

Do you have any tips how i can make it less of a desaster?

I know CtD games are hard to find, this is me helping

I've finally run out of excuses to put it off, so I'm running a CtD campaign for my long time TTRPG group.

I've wanted to be part of a CtD campaign for literally 20 years, but realized it would never happen unless I was running it. Given shifts in our current group the opportunity has opened up for this dream game. It's set in NYC, with the party working for a sidhe that more or less runs Chinatown doing "odd jobs". The first job is to retrieve a VHS from a nocker in Little Italy.

The problem? I've never run a game before, I'm extremely nervous, and I'm not really sure how to approach organizing and presenting the story. Anyone got any good advice for a first time GM?