Satyr
Some fae live by the sword, some search for stories, and some spend their lives building and creating. For satyrs, however, the truest passion in life is passion, and they devote themselves to the pursuit of pleasure. Whether they lust for food or drink, dancing and revelry, or something more carnal in nature, satyrs pursue their desires with wild abandon. Satyrs’ appetites are tremendous, and they have the stamina to match, able to make parties, raves, or sexual encounters stretch across multiple days. They lack restraint in all things, indulge in blunt or bawdy humor at every turn, and never lack for lovers.
Satyrs charge into battle with the same fully-committed passion that they devote to their revels. They throw themselves into the study of poetry, philosophy, and other academic pursuits with fervor, are both patrons and practitioners of music and art, and form extremely close bonds with their extended family bands (called tragos). The loyalty within a tragos is nigh absolute, and only the most heinous and extreme of circumstance could separate a satyr from this family.
Indulging in life’s finer pleasures doesn’t mean satyrs are materialistic. They give gifts freely, happily sharing their possessions with others. Satyrs seldom experience romantic jealousy, believing love should also be shared. Romantic or sexual partners looking for commitment should look elsewhere; satyrs quickly bore of relationships and want to move on to the next companion (or companions) and a new set of experiences. While Seelie satyrs at least try to let their former partners down gently, they can’t quite understand why ending a relationship could cause so much pain. Unseelie satyrs anticipate the inevitable end of their relationships and may exploit their partners as much as possible while they’re together, Ravaging them for their Glamour while sharing passion.
Satyr | |
---|---|
Name | Satyr |
Plural | Satyrs |
Pronounced | SAY-turr |
Dream of... | Passion |
Affinity | Fae |
Birthrights | Gift of Pan, Physical Prowess |
Frailties | Passion's Curse |
Kith Notes[edit]
Appearance[edit]
Satyrs may be among the most distinctive kiths in appearance. Their most notable features include fur-covered legs with cloven hooves and horns growing from their foreheads. These horns grow throughout their lives. Male satyrs’ horns are slightly larger than those of the females. Their horns are a huge source of pride and vanity, as well as the subject for many bawdy jokes. Satyrs trend towards lean, though a life of overindulgence can lead to a heavier build, especially in later years. Most satyrs prefer not to shave, and both males and females wear their hair long and wild. They dress sparsely, favoring light, gauzy articles that can be quickly shed.
Lifestyles[edit]
A tragos of satyrs typically shares a living space, preferably one with plenty of room for dancing and partying, but also filled with private nooks for more intimate entertaining. A satyr’s home is always filled with music and has well-stocked larders and wine cellars. Though much of a satyr’s life is devoted to physical passions, she also has regular periods of quiet introspection, with her primary focus her intellectual pursuits. Satyrs produce volumes of poetry, write philosophical treatises on a wide array of topics, and compose music for instruments like the panpipe and the lute. Unlike the wandering kiths, satyrs enjoy staying in one place and having the excitement come to them.
Seemings[edit]
Childlings[edit]
Satyr childlings find their enjoyment in music, singing, and physical competition like races and wrestling matches. Their precocious humor entertains and delights their peers and elders. Childlings depend on their tragos for instruction and encouragement as they explore the world around them and the many delights it holds for them. They often form close friendships with one or two other satyrs of a similar age, relationships that will become central as they form their own tragos branching off from the larger family group.
Wilders[edit]
As wilders, satyr fully explore the many pleasures of the flesh and mind. A satyr wilder spends his days in constant motion, bounding between sexual partners and wild raves, sometimes partying for days without sleep. Even a wilder’s quieter leisure activities lean towards the extreme – she reads an entire series of novels in two days, writes hundreds of pages on the history of classical sculpture without a break, or bakes an entire banquet of exotic, rich foods. Satyr wilders are thrill seekers, drawn to extreme sports, dangerous love affairs, and anything considered taboo. Wilders within a tragos exist in a state of perpetual one-upmanship, pushing each other to more extreme behavior. They often act brashly, placing themselves and their companions in compromising situations, but typically can sweet-talk their way out of trouble.
Grumps[edit]
Satyrs are sometimes said to be among the kiths most vulnerable to the passing of time, struggling to maintain their hedonistic joy as Banality slowly creeps in. Their passions often shift more towards intellectual studies, but leaving behind their years of wild partying, sex, and drinking takes its toll. After decades of chasing thrills, satyr grumps often become jaded. Satyrs do not go gently into that good night, however, and many spend their last days in a final great hurrah of celebratory passion. A grump’s tragos is his lifeline, and as he mentors younger satyrs, he may find himself rejuvenated, once again able to see the world as new and exciting.
Revelry[edit]
Satyrs find their Glamour in shared passion. This could be a sexual encounter, an exquisite bottle of wine paired with a rich meal, an impassioned poetry reading, or wild dancing in a night club, as long as their partners experience pleasure and intense emotion.
Unleashing[edit]
Satyrs imbue their cantrips with the same carnal intensity as they do the rest of their lives. Cantrips cast by satyrs fill the air with the heady scents of musk and wine. Those nearby may experience a brief frisson of pure lust.
Kith Mechanics[edit]
Affinity[edit]
Fae
Birthrights[edit]
Gift of Pan[edit]
When a satyr thoroughly indulges herself in one of her passions — often sexual, but also artistic and creative — those around her are also caught up in the frenzy. Fae and mortal alike join her in her dancing and debauchery. The Gift of Pan doesn’t force anyone to partake in sex or any other activity, but removes inhibitions that might normally keep someone from indulging. Rather than creating a new passion, the Gift of Pan removes the barriers of social convention that might otherwise prevent someone from being able to completely surrender to an action of passion or revelry. Those failing a Banality or Willpower roll (difficulty 8) find themselves helpless to resist indulging their secret desires.
Physical Prowess[edit]
Satyrs add one dot to their Stamina, even if this raises it above 5. Satyrs can use their powerful goat legs to move with great speed and agility, and thus can never botch an Athletics roll.
Frailty[edit]
Passion's Curse[edit]
A satyr’s intense passion also has a darker side. Prone to mood swings and wild fits of temper, especially while intoxicated, satyrs may exhibit violent emotional outbursts, fall into uncontrolled weeping, or be otherwise unable to rein in their temper. Near-perpetual indulgence also means that satyrs struggle on the rare occasion they must resist temptation, triggering Banality.
References[edit]
- Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, pp. 102-103