Gifts

As the

Philodox Gift.

WAIT A MINUTE, MY HAKKEN GETS FIVE GIFT LISTS?

Effectively, yes. Two of those lists (general Hengeyokai and Beast Court Auspice) are more expensive than native Gifts, but they’re still less expensive than, say, picking up a Silver Fang Gift.

So what gives? Why are hengeyokai so much stronger than western shapeshifters?

The answer has nothing to do with Asian mysticism or superiority, and everything to do with history and hard work. The Changing Breeds elsewhere in the world have spent all of history since the War of Rage in isolated, balkanized enclaves when they weren’t either going to ground to avoid discovery altogether — or tearing one another’s throats out. The Fera retreated from the world, mistrustful of the rage of the werewolves and of each other.

The hengeyokai, while not without their shortcomings and problems, managed to hold it together to a far greater degree. They came together and built something. They took their strength, and made it the strength of their brothers. Beast Court characters have more advantages than other shapeshifters because they’re the beneficiaries of thousands of years of hard-won unity and back-breaking spiritual labor undertaken by their ancestors. Because of this, Beast Court characters have some perks to emphasize this point — unity and understand­ ing bring concrete benefits, while the wage of infighting’s is death. Perhaps, if there is any time left before the Apocalypse, the Sunset People could learn from the Hengeyokai.