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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Razgrizi on April 18, 2016, 09:01:29 PM
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Good afternoon everyone! I hope everyone's day is going well. I just recently purchased the Dresden Files RPG books Your World and Our World and Im trying to build a campaign with some friends of mine for an Oklahoma City campaign.
With that said, I am wanting to have a mermaid as one of the main characters but make her more 'cursed.' I figured a changeling would fit that roll as it could go either way of a female accepting's a Fae's temptation which backfires or a male turned female mermaid due to the natures of the Fae and their whimsical looks on humanity and toying with them, either backstory struggling to try to return to humanity but tempted by the power of the Fae.
Regardless of either one (and I would like to hear your opinion on either and which would best suit the backstory,) I am having difficulties building a mermaid as a PC as I am reading as, honestly, Im very new to this and Im not even sure if they would fit as a changeling. Could anyone offer some advice and tips on what would make a mermaid in the Dresdenverse as there isnt really any input or examples that one could use. I would sincerely appreciate it and it would help me with helping others build their characters as well. Thank you so much!
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Well, there are, as so often, a few ways to do this.
First, the Aquatic power seems like a must.
As a base concept, I think we could take something like this:
High concept: Cursed Mermaid
Trouble: Cursed to [insert effect of curse]
Powers:
Glamor [-2]
Human Form (Involuntary, touching water) [+2]
affecting:
Aquatic [-1]
Inhuman Speed (representing the fin) [-2]
Total cost: -3
This would be your mermaid who would get legs when she is on dry land and a fin when in the water. That would make it easier for her to be useful in a campaign. The involuntary part of the human form can underline the curse.
The curse itself would make most sense as your trouble aspect. It would be compelled when the curse acts up and bad things would happen to you. In return, you would get a Fate point.
If you want to have more powers (for example greater glamors instead of normal glamors), you'd just need to adjust for that. Or we could look into other powers. Commanding fish, for example. Or anything else you like her to have.
Oh, I'm not really using a template here. You could probably fit this into the changeling template, but I find they are good as guidelines but can get in the way with some characters. They are better created freely.
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Incite Emotion at range might be a good fit for a mermaid if you want to go the siren route.
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Incite Emotion at range might be a good fit for a mermaid if you want to go the siren route.
Oh, yes. Good call.
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Oh, yes. Good call.
Thanks! Out of curiosity why glamours for a mermaid? (Also, is your total cost off by 1?)
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Thanks! Out of curiosity why glamours for a mermaid?
Standard fae stuff, seemed fitting enough. I didn't think of Incite, that could well replace that.
(Also, is your total cost off by 1?)
I have no idea what you're talking about. ;)
(But yes. :-[ )
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Standard fae stuff, seemed fitting enough. I didn't think of Incite, that could well replace that.
Ah okay cool. Landlocked mermaids are actually kind of a neat exercise.
I have no idea what you're talking about. ;)
(But yes. :-[ )
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain ;D
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Well, there are, as so often, a few ways to do this.
First, the Aquatic power seems like a must.
As a base concept, I think we could take something like this:
High concept: Cursed Mermaid
Trouble: Cursed to [insert effect of curse]
Powers:
Glamor [-2]
Human Form (Involuntary, touching water) [+2]
affecting:
Aquatic [-1]
Inhuman Speed (representing the fin) [-2]
Total cost: -3
This would be your mermaid who would get legs when she is on dry land and a fin when in the water. That would make it easier for her to be useful in a campaign. The involuntary part of the human form can underline the curse.
The curse itself would make most sense as your trouble aspect. It would be compelled when the curse acts up and bad things would happen to you. In return, you would get a Fate point.
If you want to have more powers (for example greater glamors instead of normal glamors), you'd just need to adjust for that. Or we could look into other powers. Commanding fish, for example. Or anything else you like her to have.
Oh, I'm not really using a template here. You could probably fit this into the changeling template, but I find they are good as guidelines but can get in the way with some characters. They are better created freely.
Would you say making a custom template would be better than basing it on a Changeling one? In addition, would having the curse let her keep her legs be beneficial versus something like being in a wheelchair or something with the tail hidden, maybe an aspect of Hidden in Plain Sight and give back with some water control? Or is that too much for a starting character? Only reason I ask is I want the character established enough where they do turn full mermaid when at least exposed to water but still have enough humanity where the temptation is there but takes a couple sessions of multiple temptation before a choice had to be made, if that makes sense.
Ah okay cool. Landlocked mermaids are actually kind of a neat exercise.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain ;D
That's the idea Im trying to roll with is a landlocked mermaid in Oklahoma as I feel that brings some initial drama to the character. Any suggestions? Im still trying to figure out as well how I want the character compelled, so if I want a female cursed or tempted by power turned into one or male to female cursed by a trickster Fae due to something like a broken promise from the male. Any suggestions on that point as well?
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or a male turned female mermaid due to the natures of the Fae and their whimsical looks on humanity and toying with them
Poor guy. With the Fae I could actually see that happening.
Trouble Aspect: The Little Mermaid (But Actually I'm a Guy!)
Compel for aquatic creatures to annoyingly burst into song at him or have Ranma 1/2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranma_%C2%BD) style mishaps occur - like your best friend having a crush on the "other" you. I could see Maeve doing this to somebody.
Power List (stealing from Haru slightly):
Glamor [-2]
Human Form (Involuntary, touching water) [+2]
affecting:
Aquatic [-1]
Inhuman Speed (representing the fin) [-2]
If you wanted a water theme you could potentially add in Channeling: Water (-2), although using Incite Effect (which can be found on the Resources page and has a ton of upgrades) would probably work better. It could also be used for siren-type effects.
Sex Appeal (?) - maybe whatever Fae did it would at least (un)luckily make him shift into an cutesy little mermaid surrounded by adoring sea critters? Like Aquaman but with a severe hoarding problem.
Edit:
That's the idea Im trying to roll with is a landlocked mermaid in Oklahoma as I feel that brings some initial drama to the character. Any suggestions? Im still trying to figure out as well how I want the character compelled, so if I want a female cursed or tempted by power turned into one or male to female cursed by a trickster Fae due to something like a broken promise from the male. Any suggestions on that point as well?
Originally I was just going to post for fun but now I'm going to try to offer some real help. I think one thing that might help you to decide is determine what conflicts down the road do you want to see with the character? Players have a lot more sway over the narrative than is typically the case in other games. If it's a female and she's cursed, what's the disadvantage of being cursed or why is she cursed? Does having water tossed on her cause her to grow gills and make her unable to breathe air? Was her mother (or father) a merperson who serves the Court of Atlantis or another group of Fae so the character has to do something as a favor to them? Did she just so happen to pick up a cursed conch that made its way inland and now every so often she gets mermaid impulses to drown somebody (similar to the Loup-Garou and the full moon)?
For the male to female trickster'd PC is he cursed to be a woman all the time now or is he a guy that just turns into a female mermaid when exposed to water? Maybe in exchange for being made a really good swimmer by a Fae he offered to be the Fae's servant - not realizing that all of the servants were female (whether they started that way or not - kind of like Lea's dogs). Maybe he was just a star swimmer who accidentally scorned a water nymph and she wanted to punish him for it (could tie into the broken promise idea you had)? He could either spend the game trying to find a way to break the curse or just have complications come up in his life that result from being an (unintentional) Little Mermaid.
Perhaps thinking into some of the characters' other Aspects would also help you to decide which choice would make for a more well-rounded and engaging RP experience. Do any of the other players at your table have an idea for what they want to do?
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Poor guy. With the Fae I could actually see that happening.
Trouble Aspect: The Little Mermaid (But Actually I'm a Guy!)
Compel for aquatic creatures to annoyingly burst into song at him or have Ranma 1/2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranma_%C2%BD) style mishaps occur - like your best friend having a crush on the "other" you. I could see Maeve doing this to somebody.
Power List (stealing from Haru slightly):
Glamor [-2]
Human Form (Involuntary, touching water) [+2]
affecting:
Aquatic [-1]
Inhuman Speed (representing the fin) [-2]
If you wanted a water theme you could potentially add in Channeling: Water (-2), although using Incite Effect (which can be found on the Resources page and has a ton of upgrades) would probably work better. It could also be used for siren-type effects.
Sex Appeal (?) - maybe whatever Fae did it would at least (un)luckily make him shift into an cutesy little mermaid surrounded by adoring sea critters? Like Aquaman but with a severe hoarding problem.
Edit:Originally I was just going to post for fun but now I'm going to try to offer some real help. I think one thing that might help you to decide is determine what conflicts down the road do you want to see with the character? Players have a lot more sway over the narrative than is typically the case in other games. If it's a female and she's cursed, what's the disadvantage of being cursed or why is she cursed? Does having water tossed on her cause her to grow gills and make her unable to breathe air? Was her mother (or father) a merperson who serves the Court of Atlantis or another group of Fae so the character has to do something as a favor to them? Did she just so happen to pick up a cursed conch that made its way inland and now every so often she gets mermaid impulses to drown somebody (similar to the Loup-Garou and the full moon)?
For the male to female trickster'd PC is he cursed to be a woman all the time now or is he a guy that just turns into a female mermaid when exposed to water? Maybe in exchange for being made a really good swimmer by a Fae he offered to be the Fae's servant - not realizing that all of the servants were female (whether they started that way or not - kind of like Lea's dogs). Maybe he was just a star swimmer who accidentally scorned a water nymph and she wanted to punish him for it (could tie into the broken promise idea you had)? He could either spend the game trying to find a way to break the curse or just have complications come up in his life that result from being an (unintentional) Little Mermaid.
Perhaps thinking into some of the characters' other Aspects would also help you to decide which choice would make for a more well-rounded and engaging RP experience. Do any of the other players at your table have an idea for what they want to do?
Im still very new as a player and GMing, so most of our players are still trying to figure out what they want to do and build. So, NOT yet but the ideas are flowing. We're all trying to be creative so that its not a typical roleplay and trying to stay within a balance of the power. Like, no one wants to start off flinging power like Dresden or Michael. We want lots of room for character development. I can provide those details as they emerge.
One question before I go on, for the Fae, as they would do something like that, why would Maeve do that? Like, do you think there's a compelling interest for her to do it outside of just because, even though Fae fit that bill?
As for the curse, I'm FAVORING kind of a mixture between a Loup Garou where she gets urges to be a mermaid, in addition to the normal situations where she would have to defend herself. I was thinking for that drowning as a possible impulse, some inspiration from normal mermaids and Pirates 4.
In addition, me personally (as its my character haha) I'm favoring a male turned female all the time, with the addition of the curse turning her into a mermaid. I was thinking it would be amusing of a 'learning yourself again' and getting into those awkward situations as simple as wearing a dress as a distraction but acting all manly cause of no experience as a lady. That's where Im a tad held up as I do want the Fae involved but I dont know how. I do like the idea of the Winter Court being involved however with Maeve or maybe even Mab, as shes the one who would seem powerful enough to permanent gender bend an individual and change their species at will. But, I dont know how or what history. That's also where I was thinking that the drama could be as its living with the consequences of being a mermaid as, well, I like the idea of being tempted but I also like it as well of no temptation and 'it is what it is and youre stuck with it period.'
Also, thanks for helping me out. I appreciate it. Im really doing my best for trying to nail my character down and learn it so I apologize for all the questions and newbie ideas and such.
Ill also be on for a long time so Im available for responses and such tonight :)
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Lake Thunderbird, Lake Oolagah, and Lake Tenkiller are all supposed to have had sightings of a Giant Octopus, so a mermaid seems relatively tame.
Oklahoma also has Native American stories of a half human/half deer, satyr-like creature who lures unsuspecting young men into the forest with her and tramples them with her hooves.
Oklahoma also has an Alligator man.
And Skinwalkers... (eeep)
And Thunderbirds... (with wingspans of 160 ft)
http://hubpages.com/travel/Monsters-and-other-Unexplainable-Legends-in-Oklahoma
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Lake Thunderbird, Lake Oolagah, and Lake Tenkiller are all supposed to have had sightings of a Giant Octopus, so a mermaid seems relatively tame.
Oklahoma also has Native American stories of a half human/half deer, satyr-like creature who lures unsuspecting young men into the forest with her and tramples them with her hooves.
Oklahoma also has an Alligator man.
And Skinwalkers... (eeep)
And Thunderbirds... (with wingspans of 160 ft)
http://hubpages.com/travel/Monsters-and-other-Unexplainable-Legends-in-Oklahoma
Just as a question, but what do you mean by a mermaid being tame?
I was thinking with the mermaid more or less along the lines of her maybe choosing to live in Oklahoma in part to trying to resist those urges but due to the recent flooding and rainfall the past two years, those urges are back in the forefront. Kind of like people I know who live in Arizona due to the very dry heat cause of allergies.
Youre actually reading my mind. I have some monster of the month campaigns Im wanting to do and one of the aspects were coming across with Oklahoma as of right now as we narrow down is tornadoes, Bible Belt, and Native Americans, meaning were thinking there is going to be some type of interaction between the Angels/Demons, Norse, Fae, and Native Legends. Our biggest fear is those skinwalkers. But, we figured that, due to all the native american lands, possibly skinwalkers are easier to handle versus the ones Dresden has encountered.
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Just as a question, but what do you mean by a mermaid being tame?
I just meant that compared to giant octopi sightings, the presence of a mermaid in Oklahoma is less weird.
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I just meant that compared to giant octopi sightings, the presence of a mermaid in Oklahoma is less weird.
Oh, gotcha gotcha. As for whats been suggested and such, do you have any input for the character creation or what would be fun or creating trouble? Any suggestion is welcome as Im looking to have a solid character idea by the time the first session happens.
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Incite Emotion at range might be a good fit for a mermaid if you want to go the siren route.
Any recommendations as well? Trying to get everyone whose answered input :)
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Incite Lust to attract people to their doom
Incite Despair to cause people to lose all Hope and drown themselves.
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One question before I go on, for the Fae, as they would do something like that, why would Maeve do that? Like, do you think there's a compelling interest for her to do it outside of just because, even though Fae fit that bill?
As for the curse, I'm FAVORING kind of a mixture between a Loup Garou where she gets urges to be a mermaid, in addition to the normal situations where she would have to defend herself. I was thinking for that drowning as a possible impulse, some inspiration from normal mermaids and Pirates 4.
In addition, me personally (as its my character haha) I'm favoring a male turned female all the time, with the addition of the curse turning her into a mermaid. I was thinking it would be amusing of a 'learning yourself again' and getting into those awkward situations as simple as wearing a dress as a distraction but acting all manly cause of no experience as a lady. That's where Im a tad held up as I do want the Fae involved but I dont know how. I do like the idea of the Winter Court being involved however with Maeve or maybe even Mab, as shes the one who would seem powerful enough to permanent gender bend an individual and change their species at will. But, I dont know how or what history. That's also where I was thinking that the drama could be as its living with the consequences of being a mermaid as, well, I like the idea of being tempted but I also like it as well of no temptation and 'it is what it is and youre stuck with it period.'
To answer your first question, I'm guessing you haven't read the Dresden short story compilation Side Jobs? In the "Something Borrowed" story Maeve gets one of her underlings to try to kill Georgia and ensnare Billy as a permanent thrall...for something that happened years prior (in Summer Knight). I just chose her because she's vengeful and rude enough to do it - Mab certainly wouldn't be the only Fae powerful enough to gender swap somebody.
After thinking about it some more it actually seemed to make sense more to me though that a member of the Summer Court would be more readily able to curse somebody with mermaid-ness and gender-swap. Biomancy (shaping flesh and what not) is one of the specialties found under Sponsored Magic: Seelie (Your Story pg 290) so a Fae from that Court would be more practiced at it. Additionally I imagine there's a Lea equivalent (aka a Titiana-second-in-command) in the Summer Court that minimum would be able to do biomancy and curses with ease. As for why your character would be cursed, I think that's really up to you and figuring that out will help you determine the PC's personality and life experiences. The thing that would make sense to me the most would be that the character pissed off some lower-level mermaid servant and a higher-up Sidhe decided ironic punishment worked best, although I don't think the character would be considered a Fae at this point anyways - for the most part I think you have to be "born" into it (although you could include a Fae parentage as part of the backstory for it to make sense).
I'm not familiar with Pirates 4, but I feel like the drowning compulsion is a good idea. You could even really model it like Feeding Dependency: Drowning if you wanted to, but Feeding Dependency can be a pain in the butt for PCs from what I've gathered on here.
From a uniqueness perspective, the male-to-female swap seems to create more potential for interesting character behaviors, but I could see either working. Having to overcome suddenly be treated like a lady or being an office worker-turned-mermaid seem pretty unique to me.
If you have any further questions just continue posting here. Hope this helped somewhat!
Edit: Adding Incite Emotion seems like a smart idea to me, just depends of what kind of character idea/Power set you had in mind.
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Any recommendations as well? Trying to get everyone whose answered input :)
Not really. Just find something that fits with your group.
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It might be cool if the character is in some kind of witness protection. Maybe as a merman, he saw something under the sea that he shouldn't have, like how to kill Dagon, and now the Fomor/Deep Ones are after him. Perhaps Neptune or Poseidon used his power to swap his gender, buried the information down in the depth (ahem) of the character's unconsciousness and has called in a favor from some of his land based buddies to keep an eye on the character, and has even placed one of his trusted giant octopi in Lake Thunderbird to assist when needed. The Fomor have limited reach in Oklahama, but they have contacts that they can use and favors of their own that they can use to track a foe that is further inland.
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It might be cool if the character is in some kind of witness protection.
If you go a changeling route, it could be that one of his parents struck a bargain with a more powerful Sidhe and had them erase the memory and send her on dry land to be safe. Since Sidhe rarely do what they are told, she got turned into a man with all the memories of a mortal life, but when he touches water turns back into the old mermaid self.
That might also give you lots of opportunities for plot hooks. Someone is looking for her, for example.
Generally, it's easier to finalize a character sheet the more you know about who the character is supposed to be. The powers aren't really the problem, most of the time, they just follow from a good description.
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If you go a changeling route, it could be that one of his parents struck a bargain with a more powerful Sidhe and had them erase the memory and send her on dry land to be safe. Since Sidhe rarely do what they are told, she got turned into a man with all the memories of a mortal life, but when he touches water turns back into the old mermaid self.
That might also give you lots of opportunities for plot hooks. Someone is looking for her, for example.
Generally, it's easier to finalize a character sheet the more you know about who the character is supposed to be. The powers aren't really the problem, most of the time, they just follow from a good description.
Expanding on this idea slightly, instead of being cursed to transform when in water, running water is gradually washing away the spell that keeps her transformed. By the time the game takes place the spell is nearing its end and he/she's transforming into a mermaid more and more often, often at completely random and inopportune times.
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Expanding on this idea slightly, instead of being cursed to transform when in water, running water is gradually washing away the spell that keeps her transformed. By the time the game takes place the spell is nearing its end and he/she's transforming into a mermaid more and more often, often at completely random and inopportune times.
Im liking maybe a combination of ideas, where they upset a Sidhe and was cursed and, by the time the game starts, and the curse becomes more prominent where its starting to wear off at inopportune times. I really do like that cause it does give the character drama and interaction with the Fae, which is something I do want, and I like what someone said about the learning to be female moments with male mind as I can see some random comedy from that.
My questions to this though would be: what type of inopportune times? Like near water? Just randomly? Could I get some examples?
Also, what template should I use? Is changeling the best one or should I go for a different one? Thats kind of my hold up.
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My questions to this though would be: what type of inopportune times? Like near water? Just randomly? Could I get some examples?
You see a sailor in a bar, you feel the urge to seduce him to his doom. You see a body of water, you feel the need to go in just to feel the water for a moment. You are running from a group of thugs when you suddenly lose your legs and grow a tail.
This would be a compel on the aspect, which means anything that could remotely fit with the mermaid theme that gets your character in trouble could fit.
Also, what template should I use? Is changeling the best one or should I go for a different one? Thats kind of my hold up.
None. You could use the changeling one, if your goal is to force the character's choice at one point, but you can also just create the character without a template. Especially for characters that don't exactly fit those molds, that works best, and it seems like your mermaid is best served like that.
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You see a sailor in a bar, you feel the urge to seduce him to his doom. You see a body of water, you feel the need to go in just to feel the water for a moment. You are running from a group of thugs when you suddenly lose your legs and grow a tail.
This would be a compel on the aspect, which means anything that could remotely fit with the mermaid theme that gets your character in trouble could fit.
None. You could use the changeling one, if your goal is to force the character's choice at one point, but you can also just create the character without a template. Especially for characters that don't exactly fit those molds, that works best, and it seems like your mermaid is best served like that.
So, as I am still a new player myself, how would i go about then templateless? Do I have notes and kind of create my own? I thought I had to use one of the templates provided.
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So, as I am still a new player myself, how would i go about then templateless? Do I have notes and kind of create my own? I thought I had to use one of the templates provided.
(http://oi58.tinypic.com/2ewfipe.jpg)
The templates can make it a bit easier to build a character, as you are given a lot of what you need already. The wizard, for example has 7 points of refresh plotted out before he can make any other choice. If you play a wizard, that's the way to go. If you look at the first paragraph in the Types and Templates chapter, it's right there.
If you go templateless, you just have to pick your powers yourself and tie them up with a neat bow, aka give them a reason why they make sense for your character. Then pick your aspects and skills accordingly and you're pretty much done.
With or without a template, all characters eventually look the same. They have aspects, powers/stunts and skills. Templates just do some of the work for you.
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Well, there are, as so often, a few ways to do this.
First, the Aquatic power seems like a must.
As a base concept, I think we could take something like this:
High concept: Cursed Mermaid
Trouble: Cursed to [insert effect of curse]
Powers:
Glamor [-2]
Human Form (Involuntary, touching water) [+2]
affecting:
Aquatic [-1]
Inhuman Speed (representing the fin) [-2]
Total cost: -3
This would be your mermaid who would get legs when she is on dry land and a fin when in the water. That would make it easier for her to be useful in a campaign. The involuntary part of the human form can underline the curse.
The curse itself would make most sense as your trouble aspect. It would be compelled when the curse acts up and bad things would happen to you. In return, you would get a Fate point.
If you want to have more powers (for example greater glamors instead of normal glamors), you'd just need to adjust for that. Or we could look into other powers. Commanding fish, for example. Or anything else you like her to have.
Oh, I'm not really using a template here. You could probably fit this into the changeling template, but I find they are good as guidelines but can get in the way with some characters. They are better created freely.
I am SO stealing this as a template for my DFRPG Campaign world. Of course, credit will be given where due :)