Some ideas for Khaiba (and Shouit)

In this post I will recap the rules for khaiba, offer an etymology, explain how the khaiba rules changed across the French editions, compare some house rules from the US mailing list, and finally offer my own thoughts on Khaiba.

Khaiba rules

Let's recap the rules for khaiba, since they're scattered throughout the Nephilim rulebook (p27, 43, 122-4, 130, 140, 220). I also do some minor simplifications here and there.

The Khaiba total is recorded on the character sheet as a percentage. This is the base chance for Khaiba rolls. See Nephilim rulebook p122-4 for details.

Nephilim increase Khaiba total under the following circumstances:

• +1 point when the Nephilim fumbles a magical technique, Ka or Ka-element roll (Nephilim rulebook p27, 122, 139, 175).
• +1 point per hour disembodied (Nephilim rulebook p117). 
• +1 point when a disembodied Nephilim fails to dominate a new Simulacrum (Nephilim rulebook p117).
• +1d6 points for each Ka-element drained into an Elixir vessel (Secret Societies p37).
• +1 point per week spent in a Homunculus formation jar (Secret Societies p38).
• +40 points upon reincarnating after living as a Homunculus (Secret Societies p38).

Nephilim decrease Khaiba total under the following circumstances:

• −2d10 points when The Nephilim experiences Khaiba and then exits it (Nephilim rulebook p124).
• −1 point when The Nephilim rolls a Critical Success on a Ka-element roll when casting magic (Nephilim rulebook p124).
• Certain healing spells known to the Temperance Arcanum can reduce Khaiba total (Major Arcana p107).

Nephilim make Khaiba rolls under the following circumstances:

• A Grand Enthronement opposed to the Nephilim’s dominant Ka-element, when the daily Astrological Modifier is 9 or greater, if the Nephilim’s Khaiba total exceeds its Ka-element corresponding to the current Enthronement (Nephilim rulebook p122).
• The Nephilim performs the Sorcery Sacrifice Ritual (Nephilim rulebook p140).
• The Nephilim uses Ka-Vision for more than an hour, once every ten minutes of extra use (Nephilim rulebook p128).

Effects: The following are the results for different degrees of success on the Khaiba roll.  

FUMBLE: Khaiba is permanent until the Nephilim’s comrades find it a cure, or can locate a Temperance healer who knows the proper spells to heal it.

FAILURE: Nothing happens.

SUCCESS: The duration of Khaiba is up to the gamemaster and should suit her narrative needs. See the table of Khaiba durations for guidelines.

The Khaiba type is determined by rolling 1d4: gigantism (1), dwarfism (2), elementalism (3), or etherealism (4).

In the French

The rules for Khaiba have varied a bit across editions. There were several stages: infection, “enkhaibatement”, and dissolution. In prior editions the infection remained latent until it burst, but in 5e the symptoms gradually worsen as points accumulate.

In the French version, Khaiba came in three stages: infection, “enkhaibatement”, and dissolution. In the US version, these stages weren't mentioned and "khaiba" referred to both the statistic and the mental/physical state. In both versions, the Khaiba total (i.e. the infection) represented how vulnerable the character was to the occasional transformation into an elemental beast (i.e. inkhaibation) but otherwise didn't affect the character's appearance and behavior regardless of the total. It was latent until it burst.

In the 3e, a unified table for Khaiba gains was given:

• Fumble Ka roll (+1)
• Fumble Meta-Characteristic (variable)
• Fumble occult science (+1/circle)
• Reincarnation after more than an hour wandering (+1)
• Narcosis (special)
• Injury by Orichalc (+3)
• Transform into homunculus (+5)

In the French 5e, this was changed so that the number of points accrued determined where a character sat in one of four stages of persistent appearance and behavioral changes.

1. The first stage (POT 1–4) was mild and roleplay flavor. The PC grew slightly shorter or taller asymmetrically, grew slightly translucent, elemental effects occurred randomly in his presence…
2. The second stage (POT 5–7) was more severe.
3. The third stage (POT 8–9) turned the PC into an NPC until reduced. This is analogous to inkhaibation from prior editions.
4. At the fourth stage (POT 10) the PC became permanently unplayable and had probably dissolved into the magic fields.

The frequency of Khaiba forms varied slightly between editions:

• In 1e and US version it was rolled randomly. 
• In 2e it was determined by the element of the grand enthronement that provoked inkhaibation: dominant = gigantism, neutral = elementalism, opposed = etherealism, orichalka = dwarfism. 
• I’ve no clue how it worked in 3e and 4e. 
• In 5e, it is linked to which occult science is fumbled accruing it: dwarfism and gigantism afflict sorcerers, etherealism afflicts alchemists, elementalism afflicts summoners. 

Etymology

Like many 90s ttrpg jargons, the word Khaiba has an unclear etymology that isn't helped by going through multiple rounds of translation into French and English. Both version said it meant "instincts" and was part of the faux Ancient Egyptian/Enochian used by the Major Arcana, but it doesn't exist in any Ancient Egyptian dictionary I consulted. After a lot of research, I finally concluded that it probably comes from Arabic: the origin is either a verb meaning "to fall" or a noun meaning "abominable."

Various house rules

The mailing list had a few house rules shared over the years.

One house rule was a “Shouit Pool” that changed Shouit to accumulate points like Khaiba did. The PC generally gained points for neglecting their mundane life and lost points for taking better care of mundane life.

Ian Young used something similar and further proposed rules where Khaiba and Shouit gains were applied on opposite ends of the same percentile total, with the conditions for gaining points also linked to defying Metamorphosis Traits. So whenever a roll was made to see if the PC would inkhaibate or inshouitate, either could happen depending on the result. Fits were divided by severity into lesser, greater and permanent.

The Ex Oculis fanbook took inspiration from the sanity mechanic in Unknown Armies. Here it was possible for a nephilim to become desensitized to khaiba over time, but this resulted in the character becoming obsessed with and addicted to concentrations of their dominant Ka as a side effect.

My ideas on Khaiba

My idea is to marry most of these together. 

The current Khaiba Total and Shouit Pool determines the severity of persistent physical and/or personality changes, but characters may always suffer temporary fits for greater or lesser periods of time if they fail a Khaiba/Shouit check.

Khaiba Total is generally increased by fumbling magical rolls or denying/neglecting one's elemental nature. Shouit Pool is generally increased by fumbling mundane rolls or denying/neglecting one's mundane nature. Defying one's metamorphosis traits while pursuing a magical or mundane action is a common way to gain points.

The persistent changes come in four stages of severity depending on the current total(s):

1. Mild: (05–40%) The PC suffers mild persistent physical, personality or magical changes, usually only visible in Ka-vision. Asymmetric growth, shrinking, translucence, spontaneous random elemental effects in vicinity, simulacrum’s personality traits become more pronounced than usual… 
2. Severe: (41–70%) The PC routinely suffers lesser fits, perceived as blackouts or dreams. These may be randomly decided by the GM or checks are provoked by astrological modifiers or social interactions.
3. Extreme: (71–95%) The PC immediately suffers a fit regardless of current circumstances, and he remains that way indefinitely until cured.
4. Dead: (>95%) The PC either dissolves into the magic fields after being inkhaibate for too long or their simulacrum expels their elemental essence.

Khaiba Total and Shouit Pool are tracked from opposite ends of the same percentile. If the PC has to roll, which happens right after any point gains, then there is a chance that either Khaiba Fit or Shouit Fit occur as the PC’s dual natures fight for control. The pools don’t overlap, but displace the other if they meet.

The form of Khaiba transformation will depend on what provoked it. Lesser Fits take form depending on what occult science accrued the most points, like persistent changes. (If that’s too much book keeping, then use the PC’s highest occult science to determine the persistent changes.) Greater Fits take form based on the element of the provoking grand enthronement, as per French 2e (see above), overriding the persistent changes.

The duration of a temporary fit is based on the Dominant Ka (for Khaiba) or Solar-Ka (for Shouit) modified by the astrological modifier when the fit was provoked. Khaiba Fits last longer the stronger the Dominant Ka-element, while Shouit Fits last longer the weaker the Dominant Ka-element and the stronger the Solar-Ka. Lesser Fits generally last anywhere from a few rounds to a few hours. Greater Fits last anywhere from a few days to several months. Permanent Fits generally only occur after fumbling a Khaiba/Shouit Check under an Opposed Grand Enthronement.

Totals are reduced by 2d10 after an episode, by 1 for every critical success on a relevant roll, and by a variable amount if the player roleplays reconnecting with that side of the PC or seeks healing from Temperance.

Ar-Kaïms suffer Khaiba and Shouit as well. Their Khaiba transformation almost always takes the form of elementalism, regardless of provoking circumstances. Their metamorphosis traits almost always seem to take the form of auras or phenomena surrounding the character, typically resembling the symbolism of their Star Sign. (I will work on Ar-Kaïm metamorphoses in a future post.)

Selenim suffer Khaiba and Shouit too. Their transformation under astrological circumstances is generally determined inversely to Onirim because they derive less interference as the Moon wanes. Khaiba Total (or Entropy Total) is increased by going too long without Assuaging and suffering Entropy, so a Selenim’s Khaiba episodes generally take the form of predating on mortals and the Total can always be reduced by Assuaging. Shouit is similar to that experienced by Nephilims and Ar-Kaïms for the first century of immortality, but after that the Simulacrum goes on “auto-pilot” due to the lack of social connections from their mortal lifetime (the Selenim call this "Ahasverus syndrome").

In all cases, Shouit doesn’t take the form of the human host retaking control and being surprised by the lost time. (Remember, in my campaigns the Immortals are composite beings and not body snatching aliens.) Instead, an Immortal in Shouit psychologically rejects the occult world and subsumes themselves in the mundane world. They’re aware on a subconscious level of their time in the occult world, so instead of being surprised by lost time they instead ignore it: if confronted about it then they either rationalize it away or outright refuse to discuss it.

Nephilim and Ar-Kaim in the early stages of Khaiba infection may not think it's a problem, or even find the new feelings addictive. Selenim never find Entropy remotely pleasant, but the more self-destructive ones find their impending demise a relief from torment.

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Hope you enjoyed!