Marginal vs. Minimal vs. Complete Success for Combat. I have traditionally ruled as follows for combat: Zero Successes a miss. 1 Success contact is made but no damage is dealt to the foe. 2 Successes Marginal strike the strike deals half damage. 3 Successes the strike is Complete full damage is dealt. Any successes above 3 add an extra damage die to the damage pool. Negative Successes are Botches and hopefully will be avoided! I want to clarify this as this is the first combat.
The Five Forms of the Garou:
The Five Forms of the Garou
Many legends speak of werewolves assuming only two forms, human and wolf. In truth, the Garou wear five different forms, each suited to different tasks and situations.
Changing form requires a Stamina + Primal-Urge roll. The difficulty varies based on the character's starting form. However, the number of successes needed also varies based on which form the character is attempting to reach. She must cross over all intermediate forms before reaching the one she desires. Therefore, the player must roll one success to begin the change and then one for each form the character must "pass through" to get to the desired form.
Example: As the quiet cluster of men in the corner suddenly begin to foam at the mouth, Stone Beast decides that Homid form might be a bit weak for what lies ahead. Stone Beast wishes to assume Crinos form. His player must therefore roll Stamina + Primal-Urge at difficulty 6 (for starting in Homid) and score at least three successes (one to start the change, one for Glabro and one for Crinos). If the player scores only two successes, Stone Beast reaches only Glabro form, and he must wait until next turn to try again (unless his player wishes to spend a Rage point for him).
If a character is shifting to her Breed form, the change is automatic and instantaneous, no matter how many forms must be passed through. The same is true if the player spends a Rage point to enact the change. Any clothes the character is wearing when she shifts will probably be shredded unless they are dedicated (see the Rite of Talisman Dedication) in which case, they meld with the character's body and reappear when she takes Homid form again.
Homid: The Human
Statistic Adjustments: None
Shift Difficulty: 6
Form Description: The natural form for homid breed Garou and the form in which they feel most comfortable. Homid form is in all ways identical to a normal human being (save for lupus and metis werewolves, who are allergic to silver and possess regenerative powers in this form). Homid form werewolves still trigger the Curse in normal humans, however.
Example: In Homid form, the Silver Fang Theurge Longing Glance is just shy of six feet tall and is strongly built -- close to 185 pounds. His hair is dusky blond and cut short.
Glabro: The Near-Man
Statistic Adjustments: Strength +2, Stamina +2, Manipulation -2, Appearance -1
Shift Difficulty: 7
Form Description: The Glabro form is bipedal, and it doesn't possess obvious fangs or claws, but the resemblance to a human being ends there. A Garou shifting from Homid to Glabro gains from 100% to 200% in body weight (all muscle) and six inches in height. Body hair becomes much more profuse, the teeth and nails elongate (although not enough to inflict any special damage), the brow slopes, and the character looks huge and menacing.
Werewolves in Glabro can speak the Garou tongue and manage human language without too much trouble. Human speech, however, has a gutteral rasp to it. While Garou can use this form to interact with human society, they typically don't. The Glabro form is too crude and too easy to remember.
Example: Longing Glance stands nearly six and one half feet tall in Glabro form. He weighs in at approximately 350 pounds, and his normally sparse facial hair springs out around the jaw and neckline. His eyebrows grow together and he walks with a slight lope in this form.
Crinos: The Wolf-Man
Statistic Adjustments: Strength +4, Dexterity +1, Stamina +3, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0
Shift Difficulty: 6
Form Description: Affectionately known as the "nine-foot snarlin death-beast" form, a werewolf in Crinos wants to do only one thing -- kill. The natural form of all metis breed Garou, the Crinos is not a form for deliberation, even with other werewolves.
Shifting from Glabro to Crinos, the Garou grows in height by half and gains another 100% to 200% in weight. The head changes to a wolf's maw, and the fangs and claws are now fully grown. The arms become long and apelike, and the werewolf can move either on two legs or all fours. The Garou also grows a tail, which helps with balance.
A werewolf in the war form may speak the Garou tongue perfectly well, and he may converse with wolves crudely. Human speech is reduced to one or two words at a time (favorite phrases include "Wyrm!" and "Kill them!"). Expressing anything more complex requires the expenditure of a Willpower point.
Note that the Manipulation and Appearance penalties may not apply to other Garou, who speak the language and are used to the war form.
Example: Longing Glance shifts to Crinos form. He now stands over nine feet tall and weighs just under 800 pounds. His body is covered with fur, which takes on a silvery sheen in this form.
Hispo: The Near-Wolf
Statistic Adjustments: Strength +3, Dexterity +2, Stamina +3, Manipulation 0
Shift Difficulty: 7
Form Description: The Hispo resembles a normal wolf in the same way that the Glabro resembles a common human. A werewolf in Hispo form looks like a prehistoric dire wolf. The head and jaws are massive, even more so than the Crinos, and the bite of a Hispo inflicts an extra die of damage. The Hispo can stand on its hind legs, if necessary, but it is much more comfortable on all fours.
The Hispo form weighs nearly as much as the Crinos form, but its four-legged stance allows it to run faster. Perception difficulties decrease by one in this form. The senses are sharp, although not so keen as the Lupus. A werewolf in Hispo has no hands, so he cannot grasp objects, except in his mouth.
A Garou in Hispo form can speak with a Garou and wolves with little difficulty, but human speech requires a Willpower point and even that is limited to one or two syllables.
Example: In Hispo form, Longing Glance still weighs close to 800 pounds, but he stands 5 feet high at the shoulder.
Lupus: The Wolf
Statistic Adjustments: Strength +1, Dexterity +2, Stamina +2, Manipulation 0
Shift Difficulty: 6
Form Description: The natural state of lupus Garou, the pure wolf form is feral and driven by instinct. Used primarily for tracking and travel, the change from Hispo to Lupus causes the Garou to shed a great deal of muscle and body size. The jaws and claws shrink considerably -- a homid or metis in Lupus can cause aggravated wounds with only a bite, and lupus in their breed form cause lethal damage. The Lupus form runs at twice human speed (see Movement) and it is far more perceptive. All Perception difficulties for Garou in Lupus form drop by two.
The Lupus resembles a normal wolf for all intents and purposes. The exact appearance of a Garou's Lupus form will vary depending on her Tribe.
Example: Longing Glance completes the shift to Lupus form. He appears, to all scrutiny, to be a large, silver-white wolf.
Initiative:
Erik Talbot - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]4d10+2d10[/dice]
Gabriel Smith - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]3d10+3d10[/dice]
Guides the Pack - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]2d10+3d10[/dice]
Howls at Dawn - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]3d10+3d10[/dice]
Kindo - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]3d10+3d10[/dice]
Sylas Shadow - Wits+Alertness DC 4 - [dice]3d10+3d10[/dice]
Erik slowly picks himself up off the ground and brushes the snow off of his clothing.
What the f@&# is this? he thinks to himself as he looks around the clearing, making sure not to interrupt the ongoing conversation.
The old man nods, "I am. You pups will come with me. First, I must ensure you all are here.
Confirm your name and Tribe as I call it".
The man's English is slow and deliberate as if he knows it but does not speak it often.
"Guides the Pack - Red Talons.
Sylas Shadow - Silver Fangs.
Erik Talbot - Glass Walker.
Gentle Claws - Shadow Lords.
Kindo - Get of Fenris.
Howls at Dawn - Uktena."
The man grunts softly after each name, "Good then. The spirits of the North shine upon us and you have all arrived safely.
Come with me and I shall show you where you will stay for the night. Get to one another young pups for tomorrow will be a trying day. The Rites of Passage of my People are not to be taken lightly. You will prove your worthiness of you will bleed and replenish Mother Earth with your powers that another more worthy of your Gifts may replace you".
The man leads you into the woods where the snows become thicker and thicker until finally you arrive at the mouth of a cave. "All you shall have is all that you have brought with you and all that you shall find in the wilderness. This cave will be your shelter. Rest for when the sun kisses Gaia once more your trials will begin..."
Get with the times, old man... Erik thinks to himself as he enters the cave. Finding a vaguely comfortable location, he takes a seat and begins to study the others.
What do we have here? he thinks as his gaze drifts between his surroundings and the rest of the pack.
"All right, I'll ask. Do any of you have any idea of what the hell we're doing here?"
The spirit simply remains there watching and waiting.
[spoiler=Sylas] You ca only assume this is a spirit guide. You sense the Gauntlet here is quite weak and that it would be easy to "step sideways" and interact with this spirit which you correctly assess as a spirit guide if you so chose.[/ooc]
He keeps looking around. Yes. He was use to their kind and what they often did. But these were all new beasts. Non of them knew him and he knew none of them. He was in quite a predicament
Sylas vanishes before the eyes of the rest of the group, you are all aware of the fact that he has stepped into the spirit realm.
If You Too Decide to Step Sideways:
The fox nods, "I am to be your Totem. Temporarily of course. The Wendigo are perhaps the most difficult of all Tribes to pass Rites with, this is a rare occasion that your collection would be so chosen".
The Fox's tail twitches, "Outside of the Wendigo Caern and Bawn there are Banes that are beginning to seep into the area from an unknown location, they are infecting the fox of the North. As part of your Rite, you will hunt and slay these Banes leaving the living creatures so ridden alive".
The spirit replies, "The Banes skinride the creatures of the forest. They try to stay out of sight of the Wendigo and do a fair job of it. They range far and wide Sylas Shadow. You must track them and cleanse them".
"Well. Really? What now... the others are... gone. And we're standing here like... i dont know... idiots?" he could feel himself shiver from just thinking that the others could be right there. Next to him. Yet there was no way to interact with them. Heck. They could kill him for all he knew, and he wont even see it coming
"That pretty much sums it up."[b] Erik says matter-of-factly. [b]"We could try to 'step-sideways', at least that's what I think they call it, and join them if you would like."
Lupus human name is Miguel Santos, Uktena Theurge Rank 1
"Spirit is there a way to destroy these banes without harming the forest creatures. This could be a plot to get us to upset the natural balance in the forest."
Erik and Kindo begin to cross over though their forms are fuzzy. The fox's eyes light up and suddenly they come through all of the sudden. The fox seems a bit less distinct.
Erik you and Kindo get pulled through by the Totem spirit which smiles weakly. It then nods to Sylas, "Yes that would be best and the least harmful to the forest creatures of Gaia. You can also attempt to trap the banes in one area and force them to materialize here to destroy them. That should allow you to destroy the Bane while preserving the forest creatures beneath..."
"I do not know in what capacity I can help? Maybe monitor the creatures outside of the spirit world? In that way we know what effect it has on them what you do to them here?" was all he could suggest he could help them with
The Fox turns to Kindo and begins to smile then to giggle. "Oh clever, clever indeed. I wonder when... No, the time is not right, not yet. Return to Gaia. Rest, in the 'morrow shall your Rite of Passage begin".
Totem the Fox
Traits - All PC's receive +2 to Stealth pools both on Gaia and the Spirit World for as long as the Fox in their Totem patron. Also once per day a member of the pack may use the Gift Speed of Thought.
Ban - The PC's must hunt and remove Banes from any woodland creatures they encounter.
Your invested Totem background points enable the pack to speak with Fox and grant Fox +10 more Power.
The group still strangers to one another bed down in the cave for the night, no doubt over the coming days and nights there will be time to introduce themselves to one another...
-----------
"AHHHOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A Howl pierces the night followed by several more howls.
Perception+Rituals DC 6 - 1 Success:
That is the Howl of Mourning. It appears that a tragedy has taken place in the Caern!
Another set of Howls follows these more frequent and shorter in duration and more urgent.
Perception+Rituals DC 8 - 1 Success:
A Howl of the Calling Pack. It is a variation that may be meant to summon the entire Sept to the Caern!
Love the Rituals. I think you are about 6 over on Freebies, feel free to take Flaws to make up those points if you so choose. I like the Background choices so I would just reduce each of the extras in the Abilities by 1 if you do not want to take flaws.
Just finished my buddies character in what turns out to be the only Ahround submission. He also has Mother's Touch so two of you have it which is a good thing.
From what I see there are 2 points so far in Totems, we can discuss Totem's once we are all done with characters, Kindo, I am getting to your submission now!
Seth here. Dotting with profile. Nothing there yet, GM pending
Kindo:
Looks good but I think you are 3 points too high on Merits. I would say take away Double Jointed and 1 point out of the Abilities somewhere and you are good to go!
Love the Rituals. I think you are about 6 over on Freebies, feel free to take Flaws to make up those points if you so choose. I like the Background choices so I would just reduce each of the extras in the Abilities by 1 if you do not want to take flaws.
Need a specialization for a few things.
For Fetish I would choose Sanctuary Chimes.
I will double check and clear things up tomorrow after work. Just to make sure I am operating off the right set of parameters it was base character creation +1 gift.
Unfortunately, the website LOST EVERYTHING ELSE I WROTE DAMMIT...Will update with backstory and more stats after everyone goes home from black friday party.
Unfortunately, the website LOST EVERYTHING ELSE I WROTE DAMMIT...Will update with backstory and more stats after everyone goes home from black friday party.
I'll address Backgrounds during the week for each of you. Probably one set a night. This will be a crazy two weeks as I will be looking to launch both a new Greyhawk and a new Dragonlance game here on the boards in addition to this one. Just an FYI.
Kindo & Guide the Pack, we will pause your scenes here for a moment as the rest of the group catches up. The plan is to have you all arrive by Moon Bridge at the same time.
Im posting this in all my games. Gm/Player. Last few days has been quite exciting. And hectic. My wife told me shes expecting. So been busy with tests etc to make 100% sure. So now. Officially. In about 8 months from now. I will be a father =^^=
