Boto
(BOH-toh)

By Jose Alexandre Nalon (nalon@brnet.com.br) with input by Psychedelic Goblin.

Description
The time of the village festival is fast approaching. An air of wild excitement is palpable. People from neighbouring villages arriving for the celebration. It's fun and good times for everyone. But there's excitement because of another reason too. It's these vast festivals, that the creature finds irresistible. The people would do anything to find out who among them is a Boto. Extremely rare, the Boto are unusual kithain, spending most of their time in the form of pink dolphins, lazily swimming in the great rivers. Elusive and shy, few people (if any) will ever be honoured enough to see them as they truly are. Despite this, they are as gregarious and friendly as any dolphin, living a life full of fun and frolic. Friendly people will find that Boto are kind hearted, relishing the very fact that they are alive. Boto live a solitary existence, and despite the fact that they greatly enjoy good company, they spend almost all of their life alone. Sometimes, however, the lure of fun and good companionship proves too much to resist, and the Boto will join a crowd of people, just to enjoy being with them. Because of their good humour and lightness of heart, they actively seek those people who are enjoying themselves, and thus they are most likely to be found at small village festivals. Any Boto at such a party will certainly attract a great deal of attention, for they are both attractive and charismatic. Of course, much of the attention is from members of the opposite sex... A passionate kith, they are extremely fond of love, both physical and spiritual, but sadly it rarely lasts for more the one night. But, that night of passion is splendid in it's intensity, with the Boto leaving behind a broken heart come the following morning...

Appearance
Seductive and handsome in their human form, the Boto are an attractive kith, but their beauty is not the unearthly beauty of the Sidhe, but is instead a beauty that is much more natural and easily felt by mere mortals. Their dolphin form is that of the bizarre pink dolphin of South American rivers (especially the Amazon).

Seemings
Childling Botos have vanished in recent years, with no-one seeing a Boto childling for a long time. The reasons for this aren't fully known, but sadly, this kith is dying off. (Note: actual pink dolphins are under threat of extinction).

Wilder Botos are extremely rare too. They are among the most attractive people in the world, combining the freshness of youth and glamour of their souls.

Grump Botos are the most numerous of this kith but their numbers are still pitifully low. The total world population of Botos (mainly in the Amazon basin) is not more than 200. These Grumps age gracefully with the full beauty that age can bring.

Lifestyles
Botos are, perhaps, not humans with Fae souls, but dolphins with Fae souls. They will spend most of their time in the water, as a dolphin. They will only leave this form if they have a strong desire to meet people or if they need their human form to avoid attacks, or travel where there is no waterway etc.

Affinity
Actor

Birthrights
On Two Legs: Botos spend most of their time on water, but, by spending one Glamour point, they can turn into human form. This form is extremely beautiful and attractive. Reversion to dolphin form is free.

Awe: Botos naturally attract attention wherever they are, or whatever form they use. They gain an extra dot in both Charisma and Appearance, but not above 5. They will never botch any Seduction roll.

Frailties
Mark of the Dolphin: When in human form, Botos still have the dolphin's blow-hole on the top of their heads. Anyone who sees it can roll Intelligence + Mythlore, Difficulty 6. If the person already knows about the myth, the success is automatic. If successful, the person understands the true nature of the Boto, and she loses the use of her birthrights for a short period (she loses her Charisma and Appearance bonuses and can't change her form from it's present shape). To find out how long the Boto is affected, roll the viewer's Banality, Difficulty of the Boto's Glamour. Each success means the Boto is affected for 1 turn. Botos inevitably flee under such a circumstance. They typically wear a cap to cover this frailty.

Quote
"Please take my hand, and we'll dance with passion for life!"

Outlook
Boggans: Timelessly happy, they would be good companions if only they would free their emotions.
'The Boto? Can't say I've ever met one..'.

Curupira: They strive to protect the wilderness, but we know that it's a futile task. We should spend our final days with laughter and happiness.
'My heart aches with pain, as their demise looms ever closer. If only they would stop and fight back to save themselves'.

Eshu: They truly possess the wonder of life, for is life not the grandest of stories?
'I've never met one. But tales about the festivals they attended are delightful'.

Nockers: Where is the life in a piece of metal or wood?
'Worthless hedonists'.

Pooka: Enjoying life by causing discomfort to others doesn't seem like fun to me. Shouldn't everyone be happy?
'When they're around attention is fixed on them, making it easy to pull some good pranks. Unfortunately it gets boring when nobody pays you any attention. Thankfully, they are almost never around'.

Redcaps: Brutality is the wrong way to get attention.
'Who gives a toss if the 'pretty pink shits' die? I won't be wasting any tears'.

Saci: They can be good fun, but all to often they bring anger and annoyance to others.
'They just don't appreciate a good prank, but they are fun at parties'.

Satyrs: True kithain, understanding the wildness and fun of a good party!
'They get very easily what we work hard for... You know, lust, girls,... Wish I could be one'.

Sidhe: They pose too much. If they joined us in our merrymaking, they would be much happier.
'Beautiful kithain, if a trifle stuck in their pursuit of fun. Life isn't just one big party'.

Sluagh: Too quiet, too sad, too shy.
'Too shallow, too noisy, too annoying'.

Troll: It's hard to have fun with a chunk of stone.
'I feel sorrow at their dwindling fate, but dancing while the future of your race burns seems a pointless and confused gesture'.