W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

FOLLOWING THE GREAT BEARAll Gurahl have Bear as their personal totem,but each Gurahl acknowledges one of Bear’s threefaces according to their auspice or temperament.All aspects of Bear give +1 Survival, as wellas the additional benefits associated with thatparticular face of the totem. (Unlike Garou whofollow Bear, Gurahl face no Honor loss from theirassociation with their patron spirit.)The First Cub, Ursa Minor, is the discovererand questioner, and is most often the patron ofArcas Gurahl. Those who follow Ursa Minor arethe most playful and curious of the werebears,with outgoing and engaging personalities. Gurahlwho follow Ursa Minor receive +1 Expressionand +1 Larceny, in addition to the Survivalgranted to all.The Great She-Bear, Ursa Major, is thehealing and nurturing aspect of the totem, andmost often appeals to Kojubat and Rishi Gurahl.Those who follow Ursa Major are fiercely protectiveof those they consider their own, rivalingMangi’s followers in lethality when their wardsare threatened. Gurahl who follow Ursa Majorreceive +1 Empathy and +1 Medicine, in additionto their Survival bonus.Mangi, the Death Bear, is both warrior andmystic, drawing Uzmati and Kieh to him. Thosewho are entrusted with the Gifts to bring thedead back to life often follow Mangi, as he is theaspect with whom they must wrestle in orderto retrieve the slain from his realm. Those whofollow Mangi receive +1 Brawl and +1 Enigmas,along with their additional Survival.Just as their auspices change throughout theirlives, Gurahl often shift which aspect of Bearthey follow as age, rank, and life experiencesalter their outlook on the world. As they doso, they lose the benefits given by their formerpatron, and gain the ones associated with theirnew totem aspect.• Arthren: The “near-man” form of the Gurahlresembles the stereotypical wild man of the mountains:humanoid, but hairy and unkempt, with brutish features.Arthren Gurahl are tall and burly, often approaching(or exceeding) the human extreme for both height andweight. This form does not invoke the Delirium butdoes tend to intimidate most humans. Their voices areoften guttural and harsh, but they are capable of humanlanguage in this form.• Crinos: The Gurahl’s fighting form inspires nightmaresin humans even when they are awake (invokingthe Delirium). Standing upright at between 14 and 16feet in height, the Crinos Gurahl may weigh well morethan a ton. The Crinos face becomes bearlike with hugecanines capable of biting small trees (or other limbs)in two. Non-retractable claws extend to nine incheson both front and hind paws, perfect for burrowingthrough stone — or flesh. The Gurahl’s fur is thickand shaggy in Crinos form, providing natural armor forbattle. Gurahl can speak only in harsh monosyllablesin this form.• Bjornen: The cave-bear form. Gurahl in Bjornenare most comfortable on four feet, although they arecapable of walking upright for short distances. Muchtaller and more massive than contemporary bears, Gurahlin Bjornen have elongated claws on all four paws, andsharp teeth. In this form, a Gurahl reverts to instinctual“thinking” and loses the ability to converse in humanlanguages altogether, although it may still communicateroughly in the Gurahl tongue.• Ursus: Gurahl in Ursus form look like normal bearsof whatever species they are most closely related to bybirth or tribe. They can speak the language of bears anda limited version of the Gurahl tongue. When in thisform, Gurahl tend to think like the bears they resemble.Form StatisticsArthren Crinos Bjornen UrsusStr: +3 Str: +5 Str: +4 Str: +3Dex: +0 Dex: –1 Dex: –2Sta: +3 Sta: +5 Sta: +4 Sta: +3Man: –2 Man: –3 Man: –3 Man: –3App: –2 App: 0GiftsGurahl begin play with three Gifts, one each frombreed, auspice (Arcas, usually) and the general GurahlGift list.General Gurahl Gifts• Desperate Strength (Level One) — As the BoneGnawer Gift.• Healing Tongue (Level One) — As the TheurgeGift: Mother’s Touch.• Ignore Wounds (Level One) — As the PhilodoxGift: Resist Pain.114CHANGING BREEDS