A deep sadness swirls at the heart of all pooka, a regret for the innocence they know we all must lose. You'd never know it to look at them, though; these changelings are a blur of happy chaos, chasing away the doldrums with an almost desperate frivolity. No joke (well, almost no joke) is too low if it gets a laugh.
Pooka share a primal affinity with the animals they resemble; these kith excel at shapechanging and carry some "reminder" of their bestial alter egos into their mortal seemings. Fae lore claims that pooka descend from dreams of innocence, when wistful mortals watched animals playing and wished they could be so free. The theory rings true -- even the worst Unseelie poka is more careless than malicious -- and helps explain the deep depressions that pooka sometimes fall into for days at a time. Mundaneness disturbs them, and they have an almost mortal terror of Banality.
These changelings' animal affinities often spring from their environment: those from the cities take the form of dogs, cats, rabbits and even rats, while country pooka become horses, wolves and wild hares. Most are mammals, but a few avian and reptilian pooka have been met. The eshu claim to have met lion, kangaroo and platypus pooka, but few believe them.
Truth is an insult to the pooka; anything they say will be peppered with lies to make it more interesting. They delight in spreading misinformation and foolishness, then retreating to a safe vantage point to watch the fun. Their goal is rarely injury (just chaos), and they´re usually confused when the butt of their jokes gets mad. Lack of humor mystifies these kith and usually drives them to "cheer up" their quarry with even more manic pranks...
For all their mischief, pooka have a strong streak of nobility. They are loyal to friends and courageous in battle; if a prank cause real pain, most Seelie pooka will be genuinely sorry. The Unseelie types are more dangerous -- some have a sick sense of humor. Even they, however, are pretty decent as Unseelie go.
Everything is larger than life for a pooka; their sense of romance is as overwhelming as their sense of humor. These kith, male and female alike, are highly attractive and fun to be with, so long as a paramour dosen't mind a lot of good-natured ribbing. They often travel about in bands, enacting plays and carnivals for fae and mortal alike. Wherever they go, they bring laughter, deceit and a rollicking good time -- if only for themselves.
Appearance:
Whatever form they choose, pooka are unusually cute. Though their appearances are manifold, they are often furry, with elongated, animalistic features and actual animal ears.
Seemings:
Childlings are too cute for words; adults want to cuddle them and feed them candy. This is useful when avoiding punishment.
Wilder pooka are class clowns who'd secure best friend's S.O. while planting a stink bomb in the school ventilation system. Their bestial nature is more obvious by now; they have small tails and luminescent eyes.
Grumps differ a little from wilders. They barely seem to age at all. Most settle down to comfortable lives as jesters and jugglers. Though they seem more then mature, the trickster in them never fades completley. Grump pooka set up beautifully elaborate pranks that may take years to complete. No mortal joker can rival an old pooka with her mind set on a trick.
Lifestyles:
Acting, clowning and standup comedy are common pooka pursuits. City types hang out at univesities an circuses, while country folk travel in troupes or stake out a village to haunt. Mortals too sad or unfortunate to enjoy life often meet pooka who try to cheer them, while those with no respect for nature encounter kith of a more menacing stripe...
Affinity:
Nature
Birthrights:
Shapechangeing - Each pooka has an affinity with one animal of her choice. When totally alone, she may change into that animal (or back from it) in one turn. It costs one Glamour point to transform into the animal, but reversion is free. No roll is necessary. These beasts forms include all of the animals' natural abilities (claws, speed, leaping, etc.); as a rule, however, only mundane beasts are possible. Tiger pooka are virtually unknown.
Condidant - These changelings' innate charm breaks down most people's barriers. This, couppled with faerie curiosity, makes them very good listeners - and manipulators. During a given conversation, a pooka may roll Manipulation + Supterfuge (or Empathy) to get a subject to spill his guts; the difficulty is the "victim's" Willpower. Each success allows the pooka to obtain a truthful answer to one personal question. This is not an instantaneous talent - it takes time and conversation and should be played out in full.
This affinity also means that pooka never botch Empathy or Supterfuge rolls.
Frailties:
Lies - People may trust a pooka, but no one in her right mind will believe one. These kith are notorious liars. No matter how important a statement may be, a pooka must always mix in a lie. It's in his nature. A pooka must make a Willpower roll (difficulty 8) to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.
Quote:
"...and then the king rode in without his pants on!
Well, maybe he did have them on, but they were torn out right in the crotch..."
Outlook
Boggans - Nice enough, I guess, but their sense of humor is a little on the rusty side.
Eshu - Kinda weird, but they tell great stories. One of them gave me some great dirt! Wanna hear it?
Nockers - Bitchy little whiners who wouldn't know a giggle if it bit them on the bahoogies. Their humor isn't wit, it's acid.
Redcaps - Brrr...My cousin got skinned by one three years ago and it still wears his fur across its shoulders. Don't want any part of 'em!
Satyrs - A bit randy, perhaps, but these guys know how to party!
Sidhe - The emperors have no clothes.
Sluagh - They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky...
Trolls - Good blokes with muscles of stone and heads to match.
- Mark Rein-Hagen
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