You get good hunches from time to time, and you've come to trust them. Sometimes, you can't explain why you know something or how you jump o a conclusion, but the instinct serves you well. Intuition may let the character know someone is lying, or it may allow her to pick up on a lead from a seemingly minute set of clues. Storytellers can also use Intuition to convey information to the players.
l Novice : Your instinst often put you on the right trail.The human world thrives on red tape. This Ability gives you the power to cut through the mire, get quick answers and see results. Bureaucracy allows you to deal with government agencies, as well as to run your own organization. Combined with the Contacts Background, you can accomplish a lot and be very effective force for Kinfolk and werewolves.
l Student : Still a babe in the concrete jungle, you are, nonetheless, a good planner, and you can find local government offices in the phone book.Some of the following Backgrounds are entirely new and just for Kinfolk. Others may be familar from Werewolf; however, several have different benifits for Kinfolk characters. Storytellers should only work closely with the players in making sure selected Backgrounds fit the chronicle. The Background Allies, Contacts and Mentor remain the same for Kinfolk characters (see main rulebook). Kinfolk may not purchase Kinfolk (duh), Past Life, Rites, Totem or Fetish (Fetish is a Merit for Kinfolk Characters).
EquipmentWhether through your Garou family, a Fellowship or your own nimbleness, you have access to specialized equipment not normally available from the local outfitter. This equipment may be as simple as silver bullets or as rare and complex as a mage's ray gun. You begin the game with this equipment, but once it's gone, it's gone. If you blow all your dragon-breath bullets in one firefight, you'll have finagle a way to get replacements through roleplaying. {See "Equipment" for more ideas and sample equipment}
l One minor item : Encompasses such objects as silver bullets, quality kelvar vests, street level drugs, etc.For whatever reason, a Garou owes a big indulgence. Prehaps you saved her life or rescued one of her Kinfolk. Whatever the reason, you claim one favor from the person; it may take the form of a "get out of trouble free" card, a cash gift, a shift as private bodyguard or even a wet job (assassination). Like Equipment, though, once you spend the Favor, it's gone forever, unless you somehow win another. Explain to your Storyteller how you got the favor and a bit about the the person who owes you.
l One Favor from a Garou of low rank (0-1)Pure Breed determine the nobility of your blood and pedigree. Garou automatically recognize your pure breeding and probably pay you slightly more attention because of it. A few rare Kinfolk also possess an eye for pedigree. Kinfolk with Pure Breed are great prizes for marriage, so be ready for some offers of holy bedlock (or tumbles 'neath the pines) if you purchase this Background! Pure Breed also figures quietly into the chances of conceiving a Garou child. For every level of this Background you purchase, the chance of producing a full Garou offspring with a werewolf partner increases five percent. (Note: The Garou's Pure Breed, if any, does not figure into the odds.) For example, if Ilsa, a Kinfolk with three levels of Pure Breed, mates with Klaus, a Get of Fenris, their chances of having a Garou son or daughter would leap from a mere 10 percent to 25 percent (the base 10 percent chance, plus the 15 percent increase from the three levels of Pure Breed). In cases of Kin/Kin pairings, the chance for werewolf offspring increases by 1 percent for every dot of Pure Breed. Certain Silent Striders also postulate that Kin with Pure Breed may be reborn as Garou. The drawback to this Background is that the werewolves expect you to behave according to your lineage. Kin who fail to do so risk scorn and reprimands.
l Your ancestors were loyal tribe members and Kin, even if they weren't famous heroes.Renown is a rare and precious Background among Kinfolk. While they cannot ever possess the rank of a Garou, Kin occasionally recieve acclaim for their deeds. This Background allows your character to start the game with some temporary Renown; you choose whether these points are Honor, Wisdom, Glory or a combination of the three. You and the Storyteller should work out the circumstances under which you recieved the Renown. {See Renown, for more information} As with Pure Breed, werewolves respect Kin with Renown, but they also demand a lot more work from them!
l One temporary point of Renown.As in Werewolf, this Background reflects your personal wealth, assets and access to means. However, it's also an expression of what you can offer your Garou relatives. Werewolves expect Kinfolk with money to help the tribe but sacred lands or purchase equipment for raids against Pentex. Rest assured, tribes such as the Shadow Lords and Glass Walkers keep careful tabs on what their Kin own. Stargazer and Red Talon Kinfolk may not purchase this Background. Some Bone Gnawer Kin actually have money and property to aid their Garou families, but never above three dots' worth.
l Student : You squeak with an efficiency apartment, a low-income job, a moped and lots of canned soup. You could probably support one Garou relative for a short period of time.