Crossover games of Kindred of the East with Other genres can expand the opportunities for intriguing stories. After all, even the mages of the Akashic Brotherhood know little of the Kuei-jin. Adding a shapeshifter, ghost or changeling can
certainly change the dynamics of' the game. For a chronicle centered in the mystic East, too, the unusual denizens of the West smack of strangeness and threatening ways.
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Be careful not to leaven the bread too much, though. Remember, a Kindred of the East chronicle typically focuses on the journey of enlightenment and redemption. To add too many new and foreign elements may dilute these themes. Instead, try using crossovers to highlight the moral dilemmas of the Kuei-jin, and to point out the essentially inhuman and monstrous natures in spite of their efforts to seek Golconda.
Vampire: The Masquerade
As noted in the Gweilo chapter, the Kuei-jin and the Kin-jin
The primary consideration when combining Western
determine control. Thus, if Animalism, Dominate or Presence is pitted against
east Shintai, Cultivation or Obligation, the character with the highest Discipline level wins. If
successes.
• Although a mental power, the Dementation
The sharpened senses of я Kuei-jin can be used to detect an Obfuscated vampire. The Kuei-jin must
te sharpened senses (see p.90-91of Kindred
East). The Cathayan, is then eligible to
sense past any level of the Obfuscate Discipline up ws him to penetrate illusions - a Kuei-jin with only one level of Dharma can only contest a Kin-jin
e actually possesses Obfuscate 5. This same procedure also
ter's demon form from Demon Shintai does not keep such scars, and
, • The Sabbat ritus of the Vaulderie has no effect on
said).
• Ghouls cannot be maintained with Kuei-jin blood.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Kuei-jin usually detect as Wyrm-tainted to the senses of the Lupines - but not always. In particular, the Thrashing Dragon Dharma often seems to radiate Wyld energy, and the Resplendent Crane Dharma Weaver energy. However, almost all Kuei-jin (except those of great enlightenment- Dharma 7+) have at least a subtle hint of Wyrm taint. Naturally, this can be accelerated by the actions of the Kuei- jin in question - a Cathayan who indulges in flesh eating very likely smacks of the stench of the Defiler.
Werewolf Rage and Gnosis can be compared to Yang and Yin Chi energy, respectively. Typical Werewolves have effective Chi pools of 25 points, though, due to their incredibly strong life forces. Attacks that sap Chi energy can be assumed to drain Rage or Gnosis; the Lupine simply isn't able to channel all of its bodily Chi, and this excess can be drained by a Kuei-jin through the usual means (flesh eating, blood drinking or breath stealing).
The shifters of the West in particular have an affinity for dragon nests (which they call "caerns") and a hatred for vampires; such enemies make excellent (if dangerous) adversaries for a Cathayan wu, as they are ferocious, implacable, and quite often barbaric by the standards of civilized courtly society.
don't usually get along in the least. The arrogant Cainites assume the Kuei-jin to be lesser, wayward brothers, while the Cathayans look down on the reckless and unenlightened Children of Caine, scarcely realizing the potential dangers presented by the Antediluvians and Methuselahs of Cainite society. Where the two meet, Chi flares up in bloody conflict.
Vampire games with Kindred of the East lies in the
interaction of powers and functions between the two groups. Storytelling considerations are shown in detail in Chapter Six, but the mechanics of the two systems can sometimes conflict.
• Controlling Disciplines compare levels of effectiveness to
B
both have the same level of Disciplines, then the players' successes on the rolls are contested; the player with the most successes wins, but only gets a level of effect equal to his own successes minus his opponent's
Discipline works as a catalyst on incipient instability. As such, Kuei-jin cannot use the P'o to defend against this Discipline; the P'o welcomes madness. Other mental defenses (Internalize, etc.) function normally.
• A Kuei-jin's soul, once separated from her body, can be affected normally via Necromancy. Thus, Kuei-jin who fall in battle may find their essences captured. However, since a Kuei-jin generally has a split soul, the Necromancer may discover that he has only the Kuei-jin's Hun or P'o, not necessarily both.
• activa
of the
to his own Dharmic level, as his enlightenment allo
with one dot of Obfuscate, but a Kuei-jin with a Dharma rating of five can attempt to see any vampire with up to five levels of the Obfuscate
Discipline, Note that this applies against the Cainite's total Obfuscate skill; a Cainite using Unseen Presence (Obfuscate 2) is still invisible to a Kuei-jin of Dharma 4 if the Cainit
applies against the Chimerstry Discipline. • Thaumaturgical powers - the Blood Walk ritual and
the Inquisition of Captive Vitae power - can determine if an individual is a Kuei-jin (assuming that the caster is familiar with Kuei-jin blood), but cannot determine lineage or Dharmic rating. Thaumaturgical powers that detect blood bonds do detect bonds of guanxi, though.
• The Discipline of Vicissitude usually inflicts permanent deformities on Kuei-jin. However, these alterations can be removed through the use of Flesh Shintai. A charac
indeed, if a demon form is twisted with Vicissitude the form is unmarked the next time it manifests. Kuei-jin, just like the blood bond. Conversely, a Kuei-jin cannot cause a participant in the Vaulderie to gain Vinculum toward herself. Also, Cainites cannot be part of Cathayan wu (as if it had to be
See Hengeyokai: Shifters of the East for information regarding the Hakken and other changers of the East.
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Mage: The Accension
Kuei-jin can do little to resist the powers of True Magick. Obviously, since they are vampires, Kuei-jin are susceptible primarily to Life and Matter conjunctional effects, though clever mages can easily find other means to discomfit the Hungry Dead.
When True Magick is pitted against Chi energy, the Kuei-jin's Chi generally loses - the stolen life energies of mortals
As with any other wraithly matter, relics and artifacts of the
Und o ld a Kuei-
jin acquir mortal
realm, it q
A Kuei-jin owers
that norm e and
other pow wraith mu these po problems
See Dark out the
afterlife o Changeli The ir in dreams a they do n Still, a ch like normally; effect on chan in
for rich C can
gain Chi
draining G s of
Chi per tu d
would be this dl
Dreams for more specific
information regarding the unique changelings (called hsien) cannot withstand the reality-bending powers of True Magick.
However, a Cathayan who can negate or smooth out flows of Chi may be able to resist magickal tampering to some degree; every two successes on such a power count as one countermagick success, partially muting the magickal effects.
Wraith: The Oblivion
As split souls in dead bodies, Kuei-jin obviously have much to do with the wraithly world. Combined with the ability to actually see into and enter the Underworld, the Kuei-jin may associate with wraiths more than with any other sorts of supernatural creatures.
erw rld cannot survive in the living lands. Shou e such an object and return with it to the
uickly disperses in a puff of insubstantial plasm.
's P'o can be affected by certain wraithly p ally work on Shadows - Castigate, Contaminat
ers can suppress or enrage the P'o. Of course, the st be able to interact with the Cathayan to exercise wers, so a cautious Kuei-jin can evade such .
Kingdom of Jade for more information ab
f Asia.
ng: The Dreaming
Fa Folk have little to do with the Kuei-jin; living nd escaping the banal concerns of thee undead, ot cross paths often.
angeling in the East can use her Arts and die Wyrd cantrips in particular can have a devastating unsuspecting Kuei-jin, who know nothing of the gel gs. Conversely, the Glamour of changelings makes
hi energy: A Kuei-jin feeding from a changeling not only by draining health levels, but also by
lamour (allowing the Kuei-jin to take two point rn). Naturally, changelings dread such attacks, an quick to evade the Kuei-jin if they were aware of dea y hunger.
See Land of Eight Million of Asia.