Why are Onirim so distrusted?

The Onirim are distrusted by other Nephilim due to a variety of factors (see Nephilim rulebook p26), which I reiterate here and add some of my house rules too.

The Lunatic Nature

The Lunatic Nature ruled by the Moon is very... not conductive to good and honest interactions (see “Emotional Natures” sidebar, Major Arcana p40). This is shown in the personality Traits of the Snake, Baba Yaga and Baen Shide (see Chronicle of the Awakenings p70, 72-5). This doesn’t mean Onirim can’t be trusted compatriots, but their nature makes them unreliable weirdos by default.

The Ophidians

Many Onirim metamorphoses are variations of the Snake. These include the Lamia, Medusa, and Naga. These scaly metamorphoses are collectively known as the Ophidians. They are looked down upon because of their painful resemblance to the Saurians, who nearly destroyed the world 65 million years ago. [However, not all Nephilim necessarily know the stories of the Kaïm or believe these stories to be true. So this is a less reliable source of distrust.]

The Curse of the Black Moon

The influence of the Black Moon and existing prejudice against Selenim. Although all Nephilim may become Selenim, the risk of being unwillingly influenced by the Black Moon scales higher with the power of their lunar branch. Thus, Onirim are always in the most danger. 

Performing the Sacrifice Ritual for a Moon spell is strongly frowned upon, as it is seen as the first step to becoming Selenim. Nonetheless, the Moon sacrifice is made anyway for things like enchanted magical sickles for enhancing ritual magic and the Magician’s Wand used by The Magician Arcanum. Hypocrites…

(Rules for the Sundering will be given in a future post…)

The Legacy of the Black Star

The spells to create elixirs and homunculi are lunar spells. The lunar spell to sever Ka-elements from a Nephilim and trap them in an elixir mirrors the blood sacrifice made during the Sundering Ritual to turn Nephilim into Selenim. The lunar procedure to grow a homunculus from the fluids of a simulacrum and the litharge of a stasis item likewise mirrors the cycles and madness of the lunar sphere. [This was implied by the moon powder in Secret Societies, but I’m making it explicit here. Btw I was influenced by Ex Oculis.]

The Sign of Capricorn

[If using my house rule] The month of Capricorn is ruled by both the Moon and Saturn. When all the other Ka-elements receive the monthly penalty, the lunar field receives a bonus! This puts lunar magic, at which Onirim naturally excel, at an advantage. Why this happens is the subject of furious debate, but regardless of the reason it still makes other Nephilim envious of Onirim.

Addendum 3/24/2023:

The Exaltation of The High Priestess

[If interpreting the text literally] The High Priestess has the Exaltation "Moon" (see Major Arcana p9). They receive their Exaltation's bonus to Moon-Ka constantly and to all Ka-elements on Mondays. Why this happens is the subject of furious debate, but regardless of the reason it still makes other Nephilim envious of Onirim Initiates.

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