Note: I am slowly converting Nephilim, an old Chaosium game, over to Dresden Files FATE. I am just flopping all the posts on my blog because I can tag and collect them all later. This stuff is in no particular order. You can buy Nephilim in PDF from DriveThruRPG for ~$17. You should also buy Dresden Files RPG.

Creating a new Metamorphosis starts a Ka and a Chinese Portrait.  PIck a mythological creature and match it with a Ka.  Then ask:

If I were a natural phenomena, I would be…

If I were a metal, I would be…

If I were an animal, I would be…

If I was a mythological being, I would be…

If I was a famous human being, I would be…

If I was a human activity, I would be…

If I was a work of art, I would be…

If I was a weapon, I would be…

If I was an object, I would be…

Finally, pick five emotional Metamorphosis aspects.  Either pick from the main list or add new ones.  The main list of emotional aspects is:

Altruistic, Angry, Calm, Conservative, Creative, Cruel, Curious, Deceitful, Destructive, Energetic, Honorable, Indulgent, Joyous, Loyal, Manipulative, Misanthropic, Modest, Pragmatic, Private, Proud, Prudent, Rebellious, Reckless, Spiritual, Social, Stubborn, Suspicious, Trusting, Uncaring, Unpredictable, Vengeful and Warlike.

Pick five physical changes to match the Metamorphosis.

Play!

An Example

The Bean Sidhe is a female spirit of Irish Mythology who often appears at burial mounds.  While she can appear as ugly, she usually appears beautiful.  She shows up when it is time for someone to die.  She has long, pale hair which she brushes with a silver comb.  She makes a natural Moon Nephilim, a creature born of darkness and moonlight.

If I were a natural phenomena, I would be… A lover’s moon.

If I were a metal, I would be… Silver.

If I were an animal, I would be… A white horse.

If I was a mythological being, I would be… A vampire.

If I was a famous human being, I would be… Morgan le Fey.*

If I was a human activity, I would be… Seduction.

If I was a work of art, I would be… Dangerous Liasons by Christopher Hampton

If I was a weapon, I would be… The Lie.

If I was an object, I would be… An expensive piece of jewelry.

Her Metamorphosis are:
  • Deceitful.  When she lies, her skin glows like the moon and her hair turns silver.
  • Indulgent.  As she indulges, so does everyone around her in an orgy of gluttony.
  • Manipulative.  She smells of flowers, the fresh flowers placed on the grave.
  • Modest. She fades into the background and she is easily forgotten when she doesn’t want to be found.
  • Social. And when she talks to people, they love her, and her voice sounds like half-forgotten Dreams.
And so…
Use this to make any kind of Metamorphosis, from a mermaid (water) to a muse (air) to a dryad (earth) to efreet (fire) to a morlock (earth).  The original set of Metamorphosis are cool, but new templates make the game grow fonder.
* We’re sort of stretching the definition of “Famous human being.”  Why not just say the Morrigan?  No reason.  Go ahead.  Maybe a historical Bean Sidhe Nephilim was the Morrigan in an Incarnation in Bronze Age Ireland among the Celts!