Kachina

The Kachinas are one of the kiths of the Nunnehi, fae native to North America.

Overview
Tribes such as the Hopi and the Zuni attribute knowledge of the rituals and customs necessary for survival in nature and among the spirits to beings known as the kachinas. Kachina cults dress in elaborate costumes and perform dances throughout the year, honoring the kachinas and petitioning them for aid. Ornate dolls representing the different aspects of kachina spirits are used to teach children how to identify one kachina from another.

The kachinas are living representatives of the songs and dances of the Hopi and Zuni. They are among the most spiritual of the Nunnehi Nations, basing much of their life around ritual and ceremony. They believe that every ritual establishes a link between the mortal and spirit realms. When enough links are formed, the two worlds will once again be united, and the paths to the Higher Hunting Grounds will again be opened.

Most kachinas live in the southwestern desert regions of Arizona and New Mexico. They live amongst mortals on reservations and even in cities, but they also keep enchanted pueblos hidden away from mortal eyes. Their lives are filled with rituals and they are meticulous preservers of the old ways, in both dress and manners. They can be found at powwows all across the country, spreading knowledge and respect for the old ways.

Kachinas are of normal human height and build, but no matter their age, they have a certain doll-like quality about them. Their eyes are rounded, almost button-like and black, and their faces have a smoothness, with overly exaggerated features. They wear traditional garb both in their fae and mortal seemings.

Affinity: Nature

Birthrights
Prayer of Plenty — Kachinas are able to convince plants to grow and rain to fall even in the harsh desert environment. The player rolls Wits + Gremayre (difficulty 7). The more successes, the greater the harvest.

Cloud Form — Kachinas are able to transform themselves into wispy, smokelike clouds. While in this form they are impervious to all harm, but cannot affect anything around them. They can control their direction and can even float in the air, but they are at the mercy of the prevailing winds. Transforming into this form requires one point of Medicine, and the kachina can only maintain Cloud Form for one minute per dot of Medicine.

Frailties
Single Mind — Kachinas are very keen on specialization, and specialize in one of their Abilities to the detriment of the others. Kachina must choose one Ability: Crafts, Etiquette, Leadership, Performance, or Survival. The player rolls an extra die on all rolls for that Ability, but subtracts one die for all others.