Contract of Iron

I know it's been said that the Contract of Elements cannot replicate iron.

But, if one were to find the True Fae that tried to bargain with iron, could a changeling reforge the Contract of Iron?.

The legend that the True Fae broke a Contract with Iron is only one of many theories why it affects them as it does.  Several alternative theories are provided in Autumn Nightmares (in a small sidebar) and Rites of Spring.  Any of them or none of them may be correct.  The broken Contract theory is the one presented as assumed true by most Lost in CtD, but it doesn't have to be.

However, even if this is the case in your campaign, going about forging a Contract with Iron would not be a simple task, and would likely be the basis of an entire chronicle.  I can't quite think why finding the True Fae that broke the Contract with Iron (assuming it was only one, and not all of them collectively, since the curse affects all of them) would help in forging a new Contract, though.

I always wanted to include a Contract of Iron, especially in terms of antagonists.  I thought it would be a terrifying idea if some Bridge-Burning showed up with the Contract of Iron--A Changeling that hunts changelings and other fae utilizes stranger powers.  WHile I never implemented the idea, i had a few inspirations for Clauses, thought not how to mechanically balance them or order them dot-wise.

A Contract of Iron allows the user to empower an iron object so that it does aggravated damage to any faerie creature it is used as a weapon against.

It allows the user to create an area warded from spending or regaining glamour.

It would allow you to temporarily transform a Changeling into a mundane human, whether himself or a victim.  Short duration, but that short duration can leave an enemy pretty much screwed, or save you from Hunter attentions.

Some fairies in Chinese myth are specifically iron workers, and in some regions there are specific faeries that are the faeries of iron.

Mister Knightshade:

Some fairies in Chinese myth are specifically iron workers, and in some regions there are specific faeries that are the faeries of iron.

Any faerie can work with plain iron, but iron has no real cool effects (Unless there is a COntract of Iron that has the supercharging normal iron power I mentioned, of course).  Smith faeries can even work with cold iron without spoiling its potency. 

It is said you cannot affect cold iron by magic, because it would ruin the "Cold" effect.  However, I am unsure of where the Contract of Stone stands with this.  Some of the clauses are non-combat focused--For an example, a Smith might use the Contract to become stronger, and thus hit harder with his hammer, lift more metal by hand, etc.  I do not know if these count as affecting the Iron itself--The Changeling is affecting himself to make him stronger, then influences his hammer, which is what influences the iron.  If he is doing it by hand (WHich is how the Smith's ironworking ability works, IIRC), I wonder if his strength boost would ruin the power.

One idea from Winter Masques says that iron hurts the Others because it is the most non-special thing in existence. This counteracts Arcadian magic.

Cleverest of Things:

It would allow you to temporarily transform a Changeling into a mundane human, whether himself or a victim.  Short duration, but that short duration can leave an enemy pretty much screwed, or save you from Hunter attentions.

wouldn't that kind of be counter of Changeling's theme of remembering abuse?

i mean, some Changelings would literally leap at the chance to go that route.

Maybe, but perhaps such transformation could do something worse.

Maybe even turn your behavior into something like Iron itself: Cold, unmoving, soulless.

Cleverest of Things:

However, I am unsure of where the Contract of Stone stands with this. 

Shock:

Cleverest of Things:

It would allow you to temporarily transform a Changeling into a mundane human, whether himself or a victim.  Short duration, but that short duration can leave an enemy pretty much screwed, or save you from Hunter attentions.

wouldn't that kind of be counter of Changeling's theme of remembering abuse?

i mean, some Changelings would literally leap at the chance to go that route.

If a Runnerswift is outrunning a changeling that is hunting him down, and he suddently loses his speed, his contracts, and his ability to enter the Hedge, is that a blessing?  Would an Ogre leap at the chance to lose his strength in the middle of combat, and be reduced to a helpless mortal again?

Cleverest of Things:

If a Runnerswift is outrunning a changeling that is hunting him down, and he suddently loses his speed, his contracts, and his ability to enter the Hedge, is that a blessing?  Would an Ogre leap at the chance to lose his strength in the middle of combat, and be reduced to a helpless mortal again?

that entirely depends on the changelings temperament and how he views mortals. some would drop at the chance.

and don't underestimate mortals. all it takes is a few lucky dice rolls and a mortal can kill a changeling.

Shock:

Cleverest of Things:

If a Runnerswift is outrunning a changeling that is hunting him down, and he suddently loses his speed, his contracts, and his ability to enter the Hedge, is that a blessing?  Would an Ogre leap at the chance to lose his strength in the middle of combat, and be reduced to a helpless mortal again?

that entirely depends on the changelings temperament and how he views mortals. some would drop at the chance.

and don't underestimate mortals. all it takes is a few lucky dice rolls and a mortal can kill a changeling.

Remember, I am talking about Changelings that hunt their own kind.  It doesn't matter how or when a Changling would want to become human again in safe circumstances.  This is a clause meant to weaken an opponent.  Sure, the Contract could be used to bribe someone, or perhaps earn a favor or pledge.. but I designed the Clause specifically to give a Changeling a disadvantage.  The only people using the Contract of Iron are Brdige-burners and other Changelings that kill their own kind.  Remember, he uses this on his enemies, not his friends.  He uses this so that his opponent loses Seeming and Kith benefits, as well as Pledges, Contracts, the Hedge, etc.  Sure, a Changeling might enjoy being human again.. for about half a second, until he gets shot to death, chased an eaten, have his neck broken, etc.  If he runs away, he may enjoy it for a scene (or maybe even just a few turns).  However, these enemies are not going to be using it on people who want it, or at least when they would want it.  These Changelings are going to use the clause in combat, just like any other clause to weaken someone.  It's used so that the changeling hunter has more supernatural abilities than the other Changeling, almost exactly like a Fetch shuts off the powers of glamour in an area.

I still think it's something an entire chronicle should be based around, but I think this basic idea has merit.  I don't think such a Contract should be able to remove Seeming and kith blessings, however, since these represent a Changeling's mien.  The Mask is just an illusion, while the mein is what a Changeling truly is.  How can you justify denying a Hunterheart his sharp claws, a Gristlegrinder his sharp teeth, or an Antiquarian her sharp mind?  How can a single, simple Contract undo, however briefly, the physical and mental changes inflicted on a Changeling by her Keeper and Faerie itself during her Durance?

I can understand a clause that prevents the expenditure of Glamour for one turn per success (which would prevent the use of most Contracts and the more magical Seeming and kith blessings), but not one that says "Poof! You're a mortal!"  Why not the reverse?  Make a mortal Changeling-for-a-day (or Promethean-for-a-day, since one template's as good as another).

You might also have another clause that drains a point of Glamour per success, or else allows attacks with an iron weapon to drain Glamour... 

mb_webguy:

I still think it's something an entire chronicle should be based around, but I think this basic idea has merit.  I don't think such a Contract should be able to remove Seeming and kith blessings, however, since these represent a Changeling's mien.  The Mask is just an illusion, while the mein is what a Changeling truly is.  How can you justify denying a Hunterheart his sharp claws, a Gristlegrinder his sharp teeth, or an Antiquarian her sharp mind?  How can a single, simple Contract undo, however briefly, the physical and mental changes inflicted on a Changeling by her Keeper and Faerie itself during her Durance?

I can understand a clause that prevents the expenditure of Glamour for one turn per success (which would prevent the use of most Contracts and the more magical Seeming and kith blessings), but not one that says "Poof! You're a mortal!"  Why not the reverse?  Make a mortal Changeling-for-a-day (or Promethean-for-a-day, since one template's as good as another).

You might also have another clause that drains a point of Glamour per success, or else allows attacks with an iron weapon to drain Glamour... 

1) That clause would probably be the 4th or 5th dot.
2) That clause is only temporary, and has high cost, including willpower.
3) It is only single target, versus the city or region wide effects of other 5 dot clauses,.
4) This is an excedingly rare Contract, possessed by only a single Changeling or a handful who have both profoundly denied and turned against everything faerie, especially their own kind.
5) They've somehow figured out how to break the typical rule of "No Contracts with Iron".

Remember, this isn't meant to be just something flung around.  If a Changeling is hit by this Clause, and he doesn't know the Changeling in question could use it, it's meant to be a shocking and horrifying experience, but one that they feel ambivalent to.  A typical changeling would react in wonder and fear--surely, they may enjoy the use of such a Contract in other circumstances, but in mid combat it is quite dangerous (Though, not as powerful as the "I kill you now!" Goblin Contract).  If a Changeling escapes the battle alive, he will both worry about this Clause being used on him, but also wonder if he could have it used on him in peaceful circumstances.  This might become dangerous--A Changeling might "sell his soul" (Not literally, but he would give up a lot, maybe even secretly serve the Bridgeburner in question) to have it used on him again, to feel his humanity one more time.  However, as previously stated, it is a very dangerous situation, as he loses his abnormal stats for a few turns (or a Scene, with an exceptional success).  It would CERTAINLY be a resisted roll, and has a strong chance of not working at all if the changeling has the right stats.. but it would freak a lot of people out to see it done to their friends.

Quite simply, for a 5 dot clause, removing the ability to spend glamour for only a few turns is kind of weak.  It isn't thematic with Iron quite so much as the complete loss of Faerie nature.  Plus, there are NO story hooks in just losing glamour, but there are LOTS of storyhooks and thematic elements of temporarily losing your Wyrd and all attached to it.  Some changelings would want it used on them.  Some changelings would feel its dangerous effects in combat.  And other changelings would see at as abominable, as something that shouldn't be able to happen.

And remember, this isn't a simple Contract, one that every Autumn Courtier and their mothers are going to have access to.  This is the unique Contract that some mad and twisted faerie killer, perhaps deep in the Hedge or deep in the city, has access to.  One that shouldn't exist at all, and one that will already be fueling a storyline or chronicle.  It wouldn't be that big of a jump, considering how many events will already be surrounding it, and how much flashy cinematic potential and ado surround every single clause.

And why on earth would the Contract of Iron turn someone INTO a Changeling, when Iron is the death of things fae?

I think it could make a good Privilege for an Entitlemant of Changeling Hunters.