Ceilican tribal glyph
The Ceilican are a hidden tribe of Bastet.
Overview[]
They originated in northern Europe, and have strong ties to the fae but are not fae themselves. When in feline form, they resemble oversized domestic cats.
Also called Ring Dancers, a fact that is driven through a Tekhmet's head during their fostering. There is no telling how many of the old secrets still work, and they're still in circulation. Of all the tribes, the Ceilican have adapted best to the modern world. Most of them favor sports, music, mass media and, frighteningly enough, psychology.
Passion intoxicates these Folk; anything that stirs up emotions draws them like ants to sugar, and they're not shy about whipping up a few frenzies now and then just to keep things interesting. Most Ceilican have a natural aptitude for technology, too; no other tribe is as comfortable with computers and mechanical devices as the Ring Dancers. Like all Bastet, they share a Yava that was once exploited by the lords of Faerie to enslave them.
- Historic: The faerie cats fear the touch of cold iron. It burns them like a brand.
- Modern: Pure iron makes the Ceilican uncomfortable, and affects them as silver does.
- Historic: Reciting a Ceilican’s name backwards three times causes him discomfort; recite it six times thus, and he will die.
- Modern: Speaking a Ceilican’s true name — the one she was born with — backwards makes her uncomfortable. As of yet, no reported causes of name-related death have been reported amongst the tribe.
- Historic: The sound of a silver bell or church hymn strikes a faerie cat deaf for three days after.
- Modern: Ceilican are entranced by the sound of silver bells; it is difficult for them to take any actions, carry on a conversation, or willingly leave the presence of pealing bells. Spiritual songs have the same effect, even for those with no religious leanings.
- Modern: At least once a year, every Ceilican must forget who they are and become someone else. They cannot directly tell anyone of the change.
History[]
The Ceilican can trace their ancestry back to the maneless lions of northern Europe and are regarded as cousins to the Simba (although every Simba would be outraged to be compared with one of the Ring Dancers). During the terrors of the War of Rage that destroyed their kin, the surviving Ceilican pledged themselves to a lord of Faerie, who soon enslaved them and infected them with their mercurial mannerism and even their weakness against cold iron. Legends claim that this tribe died out in the great witch-purges of the 1500-1600c. As usual, legends lie; they didn't die, they simply went underground after escaping Arcadia. A mercurial breed, these cats danced with the Good Folk and demons alike, and led humans along for the festivities. Their wild ways caught up with them; faerie lords enslaved them and witch-hunters burned them. By the time the tribe's survivors sailed to the Americas, they were but a handful. Common wisdom calls them dead, and the Ceilican won't dispute the claim.
Recent History[]
During their annual moot in the highlands of Scotland, the Ceilican came under attack by Black Spiral Dancers. Many died on this day, some survived and others were dragged down to Malfeas and transformed into the hideous Hellcats. The tribe is now considered defunct by many Bastet.
However, as of 20th Anniversary Edition, this has been rendered to something that only happened in Revised Edition. And the Ceilican are still around.
Culture[]
All varieties of Ceilican favor blades over guns; blades just simply have more style. Most Ceilican dabble in magic as well. There's a definite cunning bent to this tribe, a mischievous spark that ignites either playful games or malicious villainy (and frequently both). The Ceilican curse manifests in a divided nature. While most Bastet affect a Pryio, or moon-favor, which indicates their overall personality, the Ceilican shift Pryrio unpredictably. A friendly dancing cat may become sullen and conspiratorial without warning, which makes friendships with them difficult. Even most freewheeling Ceilican have a manic, unstable air; add this to their extreme deep-cover antics and you get an enigmatic and volatile tribe.
Rites[]
For a list of Rites, see Rites of the Bastet.
Gifts[]
For a list of Gifts, see Ceilican Gifts.
Appearance[]
Of all Bastet, the Ceilican most closely resemble domestic house cats; they are, however, much bigger - the size of small panthers - and can be quite fierce. Many have patterned fur - stripes and patches are common - although most favor a predominant color like black or white. Rebels at heart, lots of fae cats enjoy punk and pseudo-medieval fashions. Such clothes allow them to be their flamboyant selves and get away with it.
'Known' Ceilican[]
Gallery[]
Statistics[]
Werewolf: The Dark Ages
The Ceilican are a tribe of werecats who also have blood ties to the fae. Hailing from Britain, Scandinavia and even as far south as Brittany, they dwell among all types of wanderers. Not unlike the Fianna, the Ceilican are drawn to passion and pleasure - but their hedonism is a very selfish sort, and when they've chosen a particular game to play, they don't particularly care whether their playmates want to participate or not. They're flamboyant dressers, drinkers and fighters with a professed streak of romanticism, something quite out of place in these times. But their fae nature also shows through in their moodiness and lack of caution. If one's temper turns, she'd as gladly kill someone as make peace, even over a tiny slight or misunderstanding, in plain view of mortals. The Ceilican also aren't too particular over the company they keep, and they've been known to lead others into traps set by the Church and various hunters. They breed with European wildcats and often any attractive creature they come across. The Cceilican are magnets for trouble, and if one encounters the werewolf pack, some sort of torment is sure to follow.
Ceilican have three breeds - homid, metis, feline - and five forms: Homid, Sokto (Glabro), Crinos, Chatro (Hispo) and Feline. They have Gifts, Rage, Gnosis, Honor and Willpower just like Garou but exchange Glory and Wisdom for Ferocity and Cunning. Pryio replaces Auspice with the options of Daylight, Twilight and Night. (For more specific information, see Bastet). The following template is for a typical young Ceilican.
Breed: Homid
Pryio: Twilight
Tribe: Ceilican
Attributes: Strength 2 (2/3/2/1), Dexterity 4 (6/7/8/8), Stamina 3 (4/4/4/3, Charisma 4, Manipulation 3 (3/3/1/1), Appearance 3 (4/1/1/3)
Abilities: Alertness 3, Animal Ken 1, Brawl 2, Dodge 3, Enigmas 2, Etiquette 2, Faerie Lore 2, Linguistics 2, Melee 3, Occult 3, Primal-Urge 3, Stealth 3
Backgrounds: Contacts 2, Secrets 3
Gifts: Catfeet, Satyr's Wisdom, Sweet Hunter's Smile
Rank: 1
Rage 4, Gnosis 2, Willpower 6
Crusade Lore: The Storytellers Screen and Book
Tales of "devil-cats" cantering though the rural villages of Europe have a very dark ring of truth to them. Such legends typically arise from the activities of the Ceilican, fae-blooded cat-people with mystic powers and lurid appetites. Although born to wildcats, these dangerous creatures are reputed to prefer dipping their paws in human affairs - whether the humans like it or not - then remaining in the wilds.
Once renowned for their hedonistic lifestyles and playful "games" with mortals, the Ceilican no longer have the luxury of idle play. These fae cats ride the South Wind to extinction, hounded by Inquisitors, fearful townsfolk and Gabrielite beast-hunters. Most devil-cats forge pacts with whomever (or whatever) will listen, in hopes of saving themselves. Some even flee Europe entirely, stowing away on ships in hopes that the "New World" they hear about might prove more hospitable.
Tragically, the Ceilican lend a shred of truth to tales that link cats and witches. The werecats have a healthy interest in the whys and wherefores of human magicak, and aren't above tagging along with a sorcerer to learn a few trade secrets. However, woe to the errant mystick who decides that a Bastet would be a perfect subservient companion or an ideal romantic partner - the cats don't play by anyone's rules but their own. Even the closest allies of a Ceilican find themselves dancing to the tune of the werecat's mindgames.
Ceilican Rogue
So sleek! So lean! So utterly seductive! With a flash of his shining eyes, this sophisticate can soften the hardest heart or convince the shrewdest noblewoman to put her riches in his safekeeping. The fact that he would never - could never - keep his troth cannot hinder the affection he engenders when he looks into the eyes of his prey.
Character Creation: Attributes 9/7/5, Abilities 20/15/5, Backgrounds 4, Willpower 4
Suggested Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3, Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Appearance 4, Perception 4, Intelligence 2, Wits 3
Suggested Abilities: Acrobatics 2, Alertness 3, Animal Ken 2, Archery 2, Artist 2, Athletics 3, Awareness 2, Brawl 2, Cosmology 1, Culture 1, Dancing 3, Dodge 3, Enigmas 3, Etiquette 3, Expression 2, Fencing 3, Hearth Wisdom 3, Intrigue 1, Larceny 3, Linguistics 2, Lore 4, Medicine 1, Melee 3, Occult 3, Seduction 3, Singing 2, Stealth 3, Survival 2
Suggested Powers: Strength + 1 Bite; Strength + 2 Claw. Many are skilled at swordplay. Ceilican magic calls on fae energies to spin glamours and stir hearts; werecats are masters of illusion and mental manipulation.
Gear: Fine clothes, jewelry, dice, sword, dagger
Version Differences[]
First Edition[]
The Ceilican are introduced in the Werewolf Players Guide book (1993), however they are not playable as the book states they were decimated by the War of Rage and then by the human Inquisition. Also stating that no recent Ceilican has been born. The book notes their alliances with the Fae and that they may have escaped into Arcadia.
Their links to the fae may because Changeling: The Dreaming (Back then known as Faerie) was going to be the fourth World of Darkness gameline to be published after Mage. Rage Across New York also featured faeries hinting that they would be next. So, the Ceilican probably would have been featured in a crossover section for Werewolf and Faerie. However, it seemed the gameline needed more work or was pushed back when Wraith: The Oblivion (Ghost) was switched in its place. It would take until Second Edition for them to be more detailed in depth.
The GURPS Werewolf: The Apocalypse Companion book was canceled, since the Vampire version is the Players Guide, this book would have mentioned the Ceilican in it if it was published.
Second Edition[]
The Ceilican are mentioned in Mage's Ascension's Right Hand (1995) as supposedly been destroyed.
The Bastet Breed Book (1997) fully introduces the Ceilican and makes them playable. The book details their history, tribal home, culture, organization, yava, statistics and gifts. They are no longer "allies" of the fae, as they state that they were enslaved and trapped by them.
Form Statistics
| Strength | Dexterity | Stamina | Manipulation | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sokto: +0 | Sokto: +2 | Sokto: +1 | Sokto: +0 | Sokto: +1 |
| Crinos: +1 | Crinos: +3 | Crinos: +1 | Crinos: +0 | Crinos: -2 |
| Chatro: +0 | Chatro: +4 | Chatro: +1 | Chatro: -2 | Chatro: -2 |
| Feline: +1 | Feline: +4 | Feline: +0 | Feline: -2 | Feline: |
Crusade Lore: The Storytellers Screen and Book (1998) and Werewolf: The Dark Ages (1999) feature the Ceilican as potential allies or antagonists (See above for Statistics).
And Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 (2000) details the Ceilican for Live-Action Play.
A World of Rage (2000) notes that during November in Scotland, a pack of Fianna came across a bunch of wildcat and human corpses near Caithness.
Revised Edition[]
Werewolf Storytellers Companion (2001) mentions the attack on the Ceilican by the Spirals from A World of Rage. Saying that those who survive the attack have gone back into hiding, perhaps never to reemerge.
Tribebook: Fianna (2002) notes that something horrible must have happened to the Ceilican. The Fianna mention encountering a bunch of werecat corpses near Caithness from fighting the Black Spiral Dancers. More than one pack has come back from the Highlands with reports of Bastet fighting for the other side.
Players Guide to the Changing Breeds (2003) basically states that the Ceilican were slaughtered by the Black Spiral Dancers and are not featured in the Bastet section as a playable Bastet Tribe because of this.
Dark Ages: Werewolf Rulebook (2003) feature the Ceilican in the Fera section of the book.
Apocalypse (2004) reveals the fate of the remaining Ceilican as the fallen Hellcats.
The Rage CCG Fansets feature the Hellcats in the Hellcats Set (2011). However, the set is in Africa and many of the Hellcats are illustrated to be of Caracal, Serval or African wildcat variety rather than European wildcats. Suggesting that these may be fallen Bubasti than Ceilican. So, Histpah instead of Hellcats.
20th Anniversary Edition[]
Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition (2013) ignores what happened in late Second Edition and Revised Edition and makes the Ceilican playable again.
Form Statistics
| Strength | Dexterity | Stamina | Manipulation | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sokto: +0 | Sokto: +2 | Sokto: +1 | Sokto: +0 | Sokto: +1 |
| Crinos: +1 | Crinos: +3 | Crinos: +1 | Crinos: +0 | Crinos: -2 |
| Chatro: +0 | Chatro: +4 | Chatro: +1 | Chatro: -2 | Chatro: -2 |
| Feline: +1 | Feline: +4 | Feline: +0 | Feline: -2 | Feline: |
Initial Rage: 3
Initial Willpower: 3
Changing Breeds (2013) also features the Ceilican. The Form Statistics changes are that Sokto's Appearance is now -1. Crinos' Manipulation is -2 and Appearance is 0. And Feline's Strength is now -1. Starting Gifts are Faerie Light and Satyr's Wisdom.
Trivia[]
- The Ceilican are first named in the Werewolf Players Guide in 1993. They are stated as being decimated by the War of Rage and the human Inquisition, with no Ceilican born in recent memory. Rumors persist that they escaped to Arcadia.
- The Ceilican are named after the Celtic words, Céilí and Céilidh. Which is a type of social gathering and a type of Irish dance.
- Tybalt deLeon, the Ceilican who changed his Breed's Yava, is based on "Monsieur Tibault/Tybalt" from the short story: The King of Cats by Stephen Vincent Benét (1929). While deLeon means "of the lion."
- The Ceilican are based on legends of European werecats and witches who could shapeshift into cats. As well as the witch/fae cats like the Cait Sìth, which are based on the Kellas cat. And urban stories of large phantom cats (Alien Big Cats or ABCs) which started in Britain during the 1960s.
- Later material would associate the Ceilican with the extinct Panthera spelaea aka Eurasian cave lion or European lion.
- The Storytellers Handbook to the Sabbat (1993) features a Demon known as "Tivilio, the Injurer of Cats." The book states he once had a rather large following in the Scottish Highlands and appears as a large mangy black cat. He is looking for those who will grant him animal sacrifices. He could be repurposed as a fallen Jamak or Bane for the Hellcats or Histpah to follow.
- Rucksack Mary reappears in the infamous Chronicles of Darkness book, World of Darkness: Changing Breeds.
- The Ceilican can learn Hedge Magic.[1]
References[]
- ↑ WOD: World of Darkness: Sorcerer, p. 56
- WTA: Werewolf Players Guide, p. 155
- WTA: Bastet, p. 54-56
- VTDA: Werewolf: The Dark Ages, p. 21-22, 143-144
- MTSC: Crusade Lore: The Storytellers Screen and Book, p. 54, 56, 57
- WTA/cMET: Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1, p. 126, 136-138, 190-193
- WTA: Werewolf Storytellers Companion, p. 13
- WTA: Players Guide to the Changing Breeds, p. 29, 55
- DAW: Dark Ages: Werewolf, p. 191-192
- WTA: Apocalypse (See Hellcats)
- W20: Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition, p. 403
- W20: Changing Breeds, p. 77-78
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