W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

OUT OF AFRICAOutside of Africa, wild lions can be found inonly one other region in the world: a tiny outposton the western coast of India. While there wasonce a sizeable Simba population on the Indiansub-continent, the War of Rage wiped out thetribe throughout most of Eurasia. Even after theWar subsided, Indian members of the tribe laidlow, rarely dealing with the outside world.Things are changing, however. Rumorsspeak of a strangely-accented Simba femalewho sometimes holds secret council with BlackTooth in meetings where not even his closestpride-mates are welcome. Where this dark-eyedstranger comes from, or where her alliances lay,is a matter of great curiosity, although those whowhisper about it are careful to do so well awayfrom the warlord’s ears.Is it possible that this mysterious stranger isa representative of a long-hidden pride of IndianSimba, now hoping to ride the coat-tails of BlackTooth’s success back into the limelight? Or is theSimba warlord dealing with forces even darkerand more surreptitious than a lost tribal lineage?center on rituals of respect and deference. Simba typicallydon’t have established ranks or positions within thepride; they simply establish a pecking order and are verycareful to respect it (until such time as they are willingto challenge those who are higher up the chain).DistributionSimba are found throughout Africa, although thedecimation of wild lion territory has drawn the tribe inaway from the northern and southern tips, consolidatingmost prides in the central region.Kin and AppearanceSimba human Kin vary depending on the tribe; somefavor accomplished hunters and killers, while others lookto their human halves for wisdom and understanding —or cunning and ruthlessness.Simba are massively built, and beautiful to behold inall of their forms. Males have manes of varying lengths inCrinos, Chatro, and Feline forms, and luxuriant long hairin Homid and Sokto forms. Females tend to be athleticand graceful, regardless of their breed form. The moststriking feature about a Simba, however, is his presence,which is never less than awe-inspiring.Form StatisticsSokto Crinos Chatro FelineStr: +2 Str: +3 Str: +4 Str: +2Dex: +1 Dex: +2 Dex: +2 Dex: +3Sta: +2 Sta: +3 Sta: +3 Sta: +2Man: –1 Man: –2 Man: –2 Man: –1App: –1 App: 0Beginning Rage: 5Beginning Willpower: 2Starting Gifts: Majesty, SubmitThe Yava of the Simba• A rope made of lion’s mane will bind a Simba fast.• To defeat a lion, steal his roar. In it, you may find abit of his soul. He will not harm one who holds thatsoul until he finds his roar again.• No male Simba will kill his wife, or allow another todo the same.BLACK TOOTH’S PRIDEWhile the Simba have always consideredthemselves the “Lords of Sunlight” and rightfulrulers of all the Folk, recently one of the werelionshas taken it upon himself to prove this archaicclaim in the modern day. Black Tooth and hispride, the Endless Storm, ravage the land fromthe Sahara to South Africa, forcing others toally with him — or die.The majority of the Simba who have survivedhis onslaught have chosen to proclaim him theirone and rightful ruler. Those who refuse tendnot to survive long. The Bagheera and Swaraof Africa have either thrown their lot in withthis ferocious leader, or moved their people outof the path of his Endless Storm. The Ajaba —scruffy illegitimate cousins to the Bastet — havebeen decimated, destroyed almost to the point ofextinction under Black Tooth’s tyrannical claws.Many grumble — albeit not within his earshot— about Black Tooth’s reign of terror. Butunless someone succeeds in rallying the rag-tagremains of the African continent’s shifters againsthim, it appears that this ruthless war leader maysoon claim all of the Dark Continent as his own.82CHANGING BREEDS