Huecoyotl [Coyotes] [PG-13]

Huecoyotl, Tales and Tricks

“The coyote sat down by a spring under a walnut tree, thinking about the soldiers that he knew were after him. He swept the ground clean under the tree and strung his money up on its branches. Pretty soon the soldiers came along, and the coyote said, ‘I’m going to tell you about this tree. Money grows on it and I want to sell it. Want to buy?’
The soldiers were interested, and the coyote told them, ‘It takes a day for the money to grow and ripen. Today’s crop is mine, but tomorrow it’s all yours. I’ll sell you this fine tree for all your pack mules.”
-Folk Legend

Rated PG-13

The following material contains brief mention of sexual themes, and may not be appropriate for all groups and/or players. Please do not use this material in a game without approval from the GM as well as the other players.

Playtest Version

This material is still in the process of being playtested. It is fully usable as written, but may be refined or changed in later versions. As always, this content should only be used with GM permission.

The Huecoyotl

With sandy or warm gray fur, a narrow muzzle full of sharp teeth, and fingers and toes tipped with blunt, non-retractable claws, the huecoyotl closely resemble a humanoid version of the coyotes they are named for. Like coyotes they are swift and sneaky scavengers who, at first glance, seem to thrive off of the labor of others, but on deeper inspection are often a vital part of the underlying natural cycles of their environment. If defenses can be breached, they will find a way. If people are in need, they will obtain what is required.

Wise Coyotes

The word “huecoyotl” literally means “wise coyote,” to distinguish them from the beasts they resemble. Their origins are unclear and there is much conflicting folklore, but the most commonly told tale is that they are distant descendants of some deity or archfey who the huecoyotl refer to as “Old Grandfather.” The stories of Old Grandfather tell of him walking freely between the form of a human and the form of an actual coyote. Like Old Grandfather before them, the huecoyotl are inventive, friendly risk-takers, and often call upon powerful magic.

Gleeful Tricksters

While they instinctively delight in harmless pranks and comedy, the trickster nature the huecoyotl inherited from Old Grandfather runs deeper. As a spiritual archetype, tricksters are responsible for inventing (or stealing from the gods) many of the luxuries that people take for granted. They also often become thieves or shamans (or both), and have an uncanny talent for persuading others, either with a silver tongue or with disarmingly simple words. Despite embodying roles that are considered outsiders in most societies, they are seen as heroes to common people as often as menaces, and they remind people of the important parts of life that should be relished regardless of law and order.

Live in the Moment, Live to Excess

To a huecoyotl, anything worth doing is worth doing with total abandon. Don’t just eat that turkey drumstick, feast on it and go back for five more. Don’t just sing a sad song, cry out the lament with all your soul. Don’t just tease the guard who needs to lighten up, mock him absurdly. Don’t just filch a few copper pieces from a nobleman, con him out of dozens of platinum. A life without daring and testing your wits and skill is a life for other, far more dull, people. But remember, don’t just avoid getting caught, make sure you escape to laugh about it around the campfire, as well.

What is a “She”?

Similar to the elves, the huecoyotl have a more diverse range of physical sexes. Unlike the elves, however, huecoyotl society views gender as an entirely individual matter that is unique to each individual and thus more akin to personal fashion than a social grouping. Sexual preferences may favor particular “types” but they rarely limit their choices along anatomical lines. Even their dialect of Common does not even have words for distinguishing male or female and the only linguistic division of pronouns is “he” for any living things (even including plants) and “it” for entirely inanimate objects. Curiously it is not strictly masculine words that are retained in their dialect—all siblings are “sister,” for example. They sometimes struggle to understand the concept of dividing up people into sets by gender, but most are clever enough to catch on that it is important to other folk and are eager to learn about strange customs like this, even if it takes them a while to figure out how it works.

Huecoyotl Names

Huecoyotl are given a personal name at birth, and when they come of age they are given a byname by an elder based on either some notable antics, a defining personality trait, a prophecy about their future, or some other aspect of their life. Typically only family, close friends, and childhood peers will continue to use an adult’s personal name.

Example Personal Names: Ahuiliztli, Citlali, Chantico, Chimalman, Ichtaca, Meztli, Moyolehuani, Namacuix, Oxomoco, Teicuih, Teyacapan, Xipilli, Xochipepe, Yohualticetl

Example Bynames: Armadillo’s Friend, Burning Tree Singer, Chief’s Loincloth Thief, Eighty Thousand Words, Eagle Is His Sister, His Knives Are Sharp, In Shadows Of A Cactus, Jousts On A Mule, Kind Claw, Mocking Shaman, Long Tooth, Outruns Sandstorms, Pepper Night, Rain Drum, Sells Acorns To Squirrels, Ten Wineskins, Thread of Steel

New Species: Huecoyotl

Common Personality Traits: Trickster, heroic, glutton, mentor, flirt
Common Physical Traits: Swaggering, sharp-toothed, easy grace
Type: Medium biped folk with a Reach of 1. Your maximum wounds equal your Constitution score.

Attributes: +3 to the lower of Dexterity or Charisma, -3 to Any
Base Speed: 30 ft.
Charming: Once per session, you may improve the Disposition of any 1 non-adversary NPC by 5.
Hearty Appetite: You benefit from the first two food and 2 drink you consume each day.
Lusty Fortune: Once per scene when you have sexual relations with a consenting sapient creature, you gain an action die. If not used, this die is discarded when the scene ends.
Natural Attack: You gain the Bite I natural attack (see FC, page 235). If you gain a natural attack from multiple sources, the attack’s grade becomes equal to the highest single grade + 1 per additional benefit granting the same attack, to a maximum of V (e.g. Bite IV, Bite III, and Bite I become Bite V)
Impudent: Your error range increases by 2 when making Blend and Haggle checks opposed by characters of other species.
Indolent: You suffer a –2 penalty and –1 threat range on Crafting and Tactics checks. (A threat range reduced beyond 20 cannot threaten)

Legal Appendix

NOTICE OF OPEN GAME CONTENT
This product includes Open Game Content that may only be used under and in terms of the Open Game License Version 1.0a

DESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY
Product Identity in this document designated in accordance with section 1(e) of the Open Game License, version 1.0a includes but is not limited to: Any and all Malachite Idol logos and identifying marks and trade dress, including all Malachite Idol product and product line names including but not limited to Malachite Idol Presents, all Malachite Idol logos, and all artwork, logos, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses, and poses. Designated Product Identity is not Open Game Content.

DESIGNATION OF OPEN GAME CONTENT
All material in this document following the Playtest Version sidebar and prior to the Legal Appendix that is not otherwise designated as Product Identity is Open Game Content.

LICENSE

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved. 1. Definitions: (a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, nonexclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

Open Game License v1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System Rules Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

END OF LICENSE