W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

SwaraSwara are built for speed: quick, wiry, and fast. Itwould be easy to think these the best of their talents, butswiftness is only part of their virtue. The world of spiritspeaks to them, calling them to fight on Gaia’s behalf.This they do, and gladly, making them one of the mostcourageous of all of the Changing Breeds.Werecheetahs like to fix things. The nature of the “thing”does not matter — physical or spiritual, natural or mechanical,real or imagined. So long as they feel the task aids Gaia,the specifics don’t concern them. They are drawn to repairwhat is broken and make whole what has been torn asunder.Unfortunately, they are also plagued with a cripplingxenophobia that makes interacting with other ChangingBreeds difficult. They have been betrayed by others oftenenough that they do not give their trust easily. In a viciouscycle, their need to help Gaia often overrides theirparanoia, exposing them to more harm, and thus amplifytheir xenophobia — sometimes to the point of madness.During the War of Rage (and for centuries after)Swara kept to themselves to the point that many of theother shapeshifters believed them to be extinct. In recentyears, they have been dragged out of hiding, and forcedto play the role Gaia intended for them — in plain viewof all of their peers. Whether this newfound status liberatesthem or destroys them remains an open question.OrganizationLike Pumonca, Swara tend to be wanderers, and rarelyhave established territories. Since Simba, Ajaba, or evennormal lions and hyenas often terrorize them, they are shyand reclusive, and often stick together to better their oddsagainst the world. It is not uncommon to find young Swaratraveling in bands of two or three, especially if they arerelated individuals. Some make good use of their numbers,relying on rapid pack tactics to take down their foes. SolitarySwara, on the other hand, are more likely to flee intothe Umbra than stand their ground and fight (unless, ofcourse, the target is of the Wyrm, in which case they fightto the death unless a more sensible option presents itself).DistributionSwara were historically found throughout Africa, theMiddle East, and southern Asia, but nowadays they areconcentrated predominantly in southern Africa. Manylive in Umbral realms as well, having fled the world inthe manner of the Nuwisha long ago.Kin and AppearanceSwara human Kin are, interestingly, often of Europeandescent, since they control most of the private ranches inNamibia (which is some of the only suitable cheetah habitatleft in all of southern Africa). This is less so in the northand east, where some cheetah still roam the grasslands andSwara mate freely with any human that strikes their fancy.Swara tend to be long-limbed and lanky, with shorthair and a nervous air about them. In Chatro form theirfur occasionally has the striped king cheetah morph runningthrough it, which is considered a sign of good luck.Form StatisticsSokto Crinos Chatro FelineStr: +1 Str: +2 Str: +2 Str: +1Dex: +2 Dex: +3 Dex: +4 Dex: +4Sta: +1 Sta: +2 Sta: +2 Sta: +1Man: –1 Man: –3 Man: –3 Man: –3App: –1 App: 0Beginning Rage: 2Beginning Willpower: 4Starting Gifts: Diamond Claws, Impala’s FlightThe Yava of the Swara• The Swara are very protective of their mothers’ goodname. By insulting their mother (literal or figurative),you can reduce a cheetah to madness.• The soil of the moon intoxicates the Swara. Mix itinto his drink, and he will dance and laugh for days.• The Unmaker has his hand deep in all Bastets’ souls.A frenzy will herald his approach. A Swara fears suchfrenzy, and must avoid its taint at all costs.TraitsBastet do not have auspices. They do, however, havePryio (see below), a designation that tends to influence orrepresent their dominant personality traits and world-views.Bastet determine Gnosis based upon their breed,while their tribe determines their beginning Rage andWillpower. All Bastet regain one point of Rage each sunset.Feline Bastet may not take the Ancestors Backgroundand can only purchase personal totems with Backgrounddots or freebie points. Because of their solitary ways, they alsomay not take the Mentor Background after their first year.Storytellers may wish to make an exception for Bagheera, whomaintain loose ties with one another throughout their lives.The restriction on the Ancestors Background mayalso be waived for Swara. Swara have a deep connectionto the land, and as such the Storyteller may allow Swarato purchase Ancestors to represent this connection. TheSwara isn’t channeling an ancestor-spirit per se, but thegame effects are similar enough that the mechanics usedby the background represent the effects reasonably well.Bastet cannot step sideways without a Gift.BASTET83