Articles

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...

Au t u mn People Revised
Game: Changeling: The Dreaming by Charles Phipps A much needed and long-awaited revision of the incarnations of banality; the Dauntain... Authors Notes Changeling the Dreaming has always had a great deal of problem defining the Autumn People who are arguably the most prevalent and dangerous enemy a Changeling is likely to face. For the uninitiated an Autumn Person is an unconscious servant of banality, who by his choice of lifestyle is an enemy of all things glamorous and thus fey. Unfortunately an Autumn Person despite half of a book devoted to them (the Autumn People of which the other half deals with traitor fey) is not terribly an interesting antagonist. Examples of Autumn People provided should prove familiar to anyone who plays RPGs and speak my point better than words. The Obsessive (Collector of Stamps, Bugs, or comics who has no life otherwise) The Librarian (The stereotypical witch at the desk which is an insult to all good librarians I know) The Letch (not the name provided but basically the frat boy who sleeps with a lot of girls in high school or college to keep score) The Couch Potato (this is common enough lexicon I dont think anyone will have difficulty understanding it) In effect, Autumn People are the most dreaded scourge of them all to the serious RPG players. They are boring and unlikable people. Unfortunately as one may surmise by our need to immerse ourselves in a fantastic world where we are heroes, villains, warriors, or obsessed secluded occult scholars every odd weekend or so that these do not make a absolutely terrifying foe for a Changeling. The rules of Changeling for those only causally familiar with the game do not instantly render any fairy dead whom they look upon but require hours upon hours of exposure to such people in order to even remotely endanger the fairy soul. As Changeling ST and player Im not sure how common this affliction is but really I dont think that the boss from Dilbert whom is at a job a fairy can likely quit from is truly a worthy antagonist. Perhaps it is my need for metaphor that is talking or the fact that its hard to keep drama when a foes greatest weapon against you is I dont believe in faeries, clap none, Tinkerbell dies. As I suspect the defenders of Changeling are suggesting Im missing the fundamental theme of the game I plead Changeling Second Edition vs. Changeling First Edition which was a change from themes of childhood

Me m be r s
Not Logged in! Login Register

R e ce nt For um Posts
The Summoning by Menivros 02 - Honey White by tobie 01 - Brandon Kane by tobie Scene X: I Have Spoken Openly To The World by Danish_Gangrel Scene 7: Reclaiming An Old Home by Danish_Gangrel A Rescue Mission by Danish_Gangrel Unfinished Business by Yeled Chapter 2: Of Wolves, Not Men by Yeled Anyone? by DigitalTrowa07 Exalted Modern by Catatonik

Se a r ch

Advanced Search

SUBMI T

Most r e ce nt a r ticle s
Chapter Four: The Loudest Silence Never So Simple Vermin Chapter Three: Wind and Water Chapter Two: Shanghai Cityscape

Sy ndica te
Atom RSS 2.0

Join our Ma iling L ist

SUBMI T

1 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...
and fantasy vs. a harsh violent world to themes of terrifying powers and politics thrust on all too unready shoulders. Still if you feel the need to flame me for the following article my address is tcp@zoomnet.net and I absolutely love themkeep my house warm at night. Autumn People Revised

H a v e You R e a d?
World of Darkness: Second Sight

As a man who dislikes crossovers I am the first to dislike any connection R a ndom Pr oje ct between Werewolfs Weaver and the Autumn People but for a starting point it works as best as any. Imagine for a moment that whether or not the Weaver exists in your game that Banality; the primal force of stasis, despair, and death is an aware entity rather than just a social problem. Banality is not just an idea it is a being with motivation and a desire to expand. Whether because it is alive or because it has properties like fire it does not matter. Autumn people to borrow another term from a game line serve as those Imbued by the force of Banality but not with the power to make magic crowbars, no the transformation is much more subtle than that. In effect a person who becomes an Autumn Person is so utterly committed to life without spontaneity, change, or the warmth of life that they actually succeed not only in fully snuffing out their ability to love and feel happiness but actively develop a desire to destroy everyone elses capacity to do so. Banality touches these people and gives them their mission to eradicate the glamour of the world, as its unconscious but very willing soldiers. Just imagine after all how your life would be completely absent of glamouryou cannot create, you feel no pleasure in anything from food to companionship, and your mindset cannot conceive of anything better. Still on some level you know that there are those who do and these feelings you refuse to let in become anathema to youan enemy. Autumn Kenning The first key to making Autumn People more dangerous is the fact that Autumn People should be allowed to learn the skill Kenning. The skill to perceive chimera and fey forms seems like an extremely unlikely skill to put in the hands of those who are active opponents of these things but is essential to the revising of the Autumn People. The best way to liken Kenning to Autumn People is the reverse of a Moth attracted to flame. They are flame attracted to moths who do not believe in the world of the fey but are perfectly willing to sense what they feel OTHER people believe and proceed to interpret it to their own paradigms and tear it down. It thus gives a slightly different perspective on each level of course. Autumn Kenning Basics * You can smell the presence of the insanity of the world (glamour) and can visualize the powerful delusions (chimera) that keep men imprisoned, ignorant, and afraid. ** You can sense the places that are conductive to freakish lifestyle, deviancy, and madness (freeholds) *** You can look at a person and know when theyre about to go over the deep end into full-blown dementia or possession. **** You can sense the smallest taint to a persons soul ***** Your insight into what horrors are about and the cause allows you to understand entire cities. Possessed by: Psychotherapists, Scientists, Priests, Conspiracy

2 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles
Theorists, and Serial Killers

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...

Specialties: Dreamers, Changelings, Freeholds, Trods, Glades, and Enchantments Autumn Kenning by its nature is a reduced form of kenning in which a person will see a persons problems not for what they are (manifestations of the ability to dream) but through their own twisted perspectives. A Autumn Person who believes that aliens are living among the world and they must be wiped out will interpret anything glamour filled as tainted by alien influence, freeholds as alien landing sites, and changelings as aliens. This is distinctly different from a homeless man who believes in insane predators on the street who destroy the neighborhood whether with charity and stupid dreams or more monstrous means or even a believer in aliens who dreams of them. It is a person living so much in his own little world that he has been chosen to destroy anything which offends his paradigm and no matter what he believes he will never be convinced otherwise as long as the Autumn taint is on his soul nor will he ever not be driven to hunt out and destroy by whatever means the fey. Autumn Kenning will always be explained away in their minds as if it possesses its own form of mist to it. Indeed an Autumn Person will never question what he witnesses with the skill. Autumn Lore Autumn Lore is a skill that ultimately represents a persons day to day knowledge of banality which may seem strange until one realizes the vast power that remains in knowing how to crush the human spirit and where ones best allies are to making use of such knowledge. In much the same way as Autumn Kenning most Autumn People are not consciously aware of their manipulation of Autumn Lore but Banality leads them by the nose in understanding what may perhaps help them in their unconscious mission to promote the mundane. This skill can be used in conjunction with subterfuge, intimidation, leadership, torture, seduction, and persuasion for turning a person against glamorous ideas or people. * You know the methods behind all the ravaging thresh holds. ** You understand how to spot a persons source of glamour and how to break it. *** You know symbolically the power of iron and what sort of a statement it makes when used (i.e. a good one no matter what) **** You know how to select places and alter them so that your actions will produce Autumn Chimera (even if you dont believe in chimera) ***** You know how to unconsciously (or consciously) invest the power of banality into objects that in effect become treasures of your cause. Possessed by: Autumn People, Dauntain, Dauntain Hunters, Banal Chimera This skill is essential to the functioning of the most malignant of Autumn People and at higher levels it often is extremely disturbing how Autumn People seem ALMOST aware they are serving banality (calling it the American Dream or White Power or whatever but always a separate conscious force) but refuse to break off from their chosen tasks. These people who become favored by banality are often protected by Banal chimera who exist little more than to destroy any magical or glamorous threat around them and often bestow redes and gifts to aid them in their quests. Autumn treasures which should be impossible are objects so

3 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...
infused with banality by their presence that they like cold iron cause fey extreme pain, destroy their abilities, and wound them far more than they might normally be affected byoften to the aid of the Autumn Persons Autumn Perspective (see below). For instance a Autumn Person priest who believes all changelings are demons might have a crucifix which repulses fey or burns them chimerically. For those who believe banality is completely anti-ethical to the creation of chimera and treasures there is an alternate possibility that all the glamour an Autumn person destroys is occasionally fused by their banality into objects or beings that aid banality out of some desperate instinctive attempt for survival. In any case only Dauntain seem to last long enough studying such horrors to make any sort of educated guess regarding it. Autumn Perspectives Belief is not banal and indeed is the very foundation of the Kiths and the Dreaming but Denial is in fact the foundation of banality and what makes an Autumn Person what he is. An Autumn Person must have developed a shell around himself that not only perfectly explains away the world around him but is completely immune to evidence otherwise and actively offensive to those whose perspectives are different. It is not enough that a human being be completely static but must actively promote stasis (otherwise he is merely a banal human being and living a very boring life). Though youve certainly probably met some people here is some common sources of Autumn Perspective. Religion Religion is one of the greatest sources of glamour in the world as the touching of a higher power brings hope to the deepest source of banality in the World of Darkness. However Autumn People use religion as a way of justifying their own superstitions and hate not to achieve enlightenment. Reactions to Changelings and Glamour: Dreaming becomes sinful and heretical as the questioning of answers provided or even requests for explaining become dangerous and signs of a diseased mind. Autumn People who use religion as their Autumn Perspective will likely view Changelings as demons possessing souls and attempt to exorcise them or at least destroy the offending creature before it spreads its evil. Nationalism Patriotism can foster great dreams and nightmares, which are both conductive to the Dreaming but Nationalism and the philosophies it sometimes uses can become easy ways to cease thinking for oneself and a convenient justification of base cruelties in the name of an unthinking state. Reactions to Changelings and Glamour: Whether the person believes that Communists, Jews, Homosexuals, States rights activists, or Liberals is the greatest threat to his country or not those with glamour will register to him as beings who hold ideals dangerous somehow to his chosen state. Changelings will appear to him as exaggerated versions of the worst stereotypes he has of his foe and a Nationalist Autumn Person will mistake this as his imagination showing him their true face. Science Science opens wonders to those who are willing to see the boundless

4 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...
potential that lay in humanitys mind for improving life on this planet and the truths, which open more doorways to greater understanding of the world. However for every potential polio vaccination there is also a potential social Darwinist theory or man whose willing to crush someone elses beliefs with evidence. Reactions to Changelings and Glamour: Scientists are among the most dramatized of Changelings foes with members of the Technocracy viewing them (perhaps rightly) as alien invaders and others viewing them as the dream faces of mental illness. Scientist Autumn People view creativity as the spark of going against the status quo and everything, which does not merely reinforce existing prevalent theory of the scientist is crackpot. Please note the science doesnt have to make actual sense to logic but merely some facts must back up his worldview. Social Stagnation 1984 by George Orwell gave an interesting quote that love was not necessarily any more lasting than hate and Autumn People who take social stagnation to heart as a perspective rely mainly on this hate to give them perspective. Whether theyre primary identification is that they are white, black, rich, poor, or not is immaterial. The fact remains that these Autumn People wage war for their social group and consider all forms of glamour a threat to its promotion. The point is not that disparities exist or not that should be change but that an Autumn Person uses Social Stagnation as an excuse for violence against glamour and in truth has no real desire to change the situation but in fact perpetuate it for what is politely termed a martyr complex. The only problem is such martyrs are more Jim Jones than Saint Stephen. Dementia Madness has been cited as lowering banality in Changeling the Dreaming and while I can certainly see that as true with the easily influenced mind of Brad Pitts character in 12 Monkeys and The Fisher King of Robin Williams there is another very banal side to mental illness that is extremely conductive to Autumn lifestyle. Delusions, Paranoia, Multiple personalities, Manic/Depression, Schizophrenia lend themselves often to living in worlds that cannot tolerate the presence of anything that disturbs their current worldview. Reactions to Changelings and Glamour: Mental illness should be tailored with two factors in mind what (whether genetic or trauma) drove them into this static reality and how the truth offends this sense of world. To a child of Holocost cost survivors traumatized by such there might be extreme paranoia about Nazis (Changelings) and race hatred and government tyranny forming in even the most humane or anti-government actions. Ways Autumn People Threaten Changelings Even with this ability to recognize glamour an Autumn Person does not have to deal with it solely by grabbing the nearest weapon and busting heads in, though that is certainly a possibility in the case of the deranged and criminal among them. Instead Autumn People react in such a way as to best utilize their resources in order to eradicate what offends them more often than not. After all a person obsessed with stasis because he lives life as a scientist will not transform into a man of violence because change is the very essence of what he is against. Instead he will attempt to actively debunk anything opposing his theories and make life miserable for any students who show the slightest bit of creativity. An Autumn Person at this point will likely show tireless energy in his activities no matter how humiliated and insane he is viewed as by society because in a

5 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...
very real way every Autumn Person is a fanatic about his cause. Some Ideas for Autumn People Areas of Danger Social Work Strangely some Autumn People seem to gravitate to where they can spread their beliefs as if on a Crusade. Welfare agents seek out children who are lost and in need of good moral guidance are especially nightmarish as even competent parents come under scrutiny out of desire to crush simple healthy imagination. Priestly professions are more difficult as the message of banality makes for unpopular pulpit leaders in most cases but a great shortage is afflicting most churches who cannot afford to be choosy for spiritual guidance even if their spiritual authority is questionable. These beings use their positions to establish power over the disadvantaged and turn them against their chosen foe and all in all create the most Autumn People by sheer force of will. Business Ebenezzer Scrooge is one of the best examples of an Autumn Person as is Mister Potter from Its A Wonderful Life. They take no pleasure from their money or even crushing the human spirit with disgusting housing and sending to prison anyone who cannot even afford their slums, they simply do it because it is their nature to do so and crushes what they hate. Land Developers who wish to tear down the freehold and Dreamers section may use any number of tricks to rip apart and arrange for men and women to be arrested as defaulters of debt, loitering, trespassing of worse. Realize an Autumn Person businessman is quite willing likely to bend facts if its suits his needs and they have likely the wealth to do so. These Autumn People create perhaps the most day to day suffering of humanity. Medicine Autumn People under Anton Stark have already proven to be especially ruthless individuals as the Dauntain leader openly advocates any and all means to deal with the insane from abusing Doctors position to see changelings be subjected to asylums and horrific treatment to making sure that extensive amounts of drugs are given to problem children. Malpractice is frightening easy to perform when it is behavior one is trying to eradicate. However some Autumn People Doctors are much more willing to view glamour as a disease of the body and might be willing to out and out kidnap and kill in order to discover proper means of treatment if theyre Autumn Kenning leads them to believe they alone perceive the threat. Another less legitimate Autumn Person who uses chemicals to enforce Banality is the Drug dealer. A Autumn Person Drug Dealer may hope to addict his natural foe to chemicals in order to eradicate their glamour but given the profession is far from ethical it is quite possible if that fails they may use more direct methods. These kill more changelings day to day than any other method. Militancy Aside from a serial killer who hunts the glamorous, vigilantes who fights criminals, and even those self styled witch hunters who seek out those they believe to be tools of Vampires/Aliens/Demons/Elvis there are those who use violence and the threat of violence to crush glamour. Police officers who plant evidence or fire first and ask questions later (or fire first then plant evidence), Ku Klux Klan cultists, Gang-bangers and Militia survivalists all may hide members of the Autumn People who are preparing or already actively using their positions to wage war on the fey or dreamers. These are simply the most direct Autumn People in their

6 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM

Articles
assaults and danger. Theme

http://web.archive.org/web/20060512051130/http://www.nocturnis.ne...

Autumn People whether they call Banality the American Dream (in the height of irony) or White Power or refer to Secret Benefactor all serve Banality with the same ultimate goal of glamours destruction. Still Autumn People are invisible enemies and ones that are ever present. A Changeling, Kinian, or Enchanted Dreamer aware of such things can never be sure when a man stinks of banality if he hates them because of something theyve done or something they can instinctively sense about them. The ranks of the enemy are legion and growing with each success they procure. How soon until they come after you? Or, come after you againand again.and again?

All C o nte nt and Art is c o py right 1 9 9 9 , 2 0 0 3 , 2 0 0 4 , 2 0 0 6 Kat he rine Burre s s and C hris to pher Sim m o ns unle s s o therw is e Spe c ifie d. Applicable info rm atio n, bo o k s and pro duc t s are 1 9 9 7 W hite W o lf Publishing, Inc . All rights re se rv e d, any re pro duc e d art w o rk o r t ex t are fo r re vie w purpo s es o nly.

C o py right W hite W o lf Publishing, Inc .

7 of 7

2/23/2012 4:06 PM