Introduction
INGEN report #JUR0274
Re: Velociraptor SubjectFurther to the initial results, the subject has continued to exhibit hostility toward its keeper and still attacks the compound fencing during the feeding period.
Considering the growing number of personnel being diverted to this project, a description of the subject is most definitely in order.
The subject was originally identified as a previously extinct reptile, of Jurassic origin, known as the Velociraptor (hereafter known as Raptor). Once within the compound, it was discovered that the subject is, in fact, another species of Garou.
Initial tests found that the subject possessed all the normal faculties of a human, but had the usual Garou benefit of the ability to change form. This would either be a hybrid human/Raptor form or the full Raptor form, depending on outside influence.
The subject has remarkable recuperative powers, much like those of the Garou, but has a much greater capacity for close combat, as was recently discovered when a type-39 Fomori clone was introduced into the compound. The subject immediately leapt upon the type-39, and killed it almost before it was aware of the threat.
With this information, and the continuing experiments currently being undertaken, it is advised that our Pentex backers should be informed of this new Garou species, and that steps should be taken to further defend their facilities from this new threat.
Dr. Simon Granger
International Genetics
Gaia's 1st Choice
Millions of years ago - 65-million years to be exact - Gaia was a beautiful, green and violent world. Her inhabitants were powerful, varied and somewhat lacking in mental faculties. It was the Jurassic Era, and the creatures were dinosaurs.
Of the many dinosaurs, one stood out from the rest as a potential evolutionary possibility - Velociraptor.
The Raptor possessed a comparatively large brain, at least the size of a dog, and was well armed for its primary prey - other dinosaurs!
Could this be the next stage of her evolution? Would the Raptor become fully intelligent? Would it become the first step towards a cognitive species, with language, society and religion?
Sadly, this was not to be. A comet struck Gaia shortly after this period, and the dinosaurs were rendered extinct - or so it was thought…
The Plateau
Deep within the South American rainforests, the Raptor species survives. An organised society of Jurassic Garou lives within the safety of the endless forests of Brazil and the Amazon.
They live on a massive Plateau, over ten miles across, and have evolved as Gaia intended, with all the faculties of humans and Lupine Garou, but with the benefit of 65 million years of uninterrupted evolution.
But the Plateau is now under threat. Thousands of acres of rainforest disappear every year, and little is done to repair the terrible scars that are cut across Gaia's primary oxygen factory.
With the threat of discovery and possible invasion literally on the horizon, the Raptor tribe has decided to defend their society. Raptors that have been trained in human languages and human behaviour are leaving their ancestral home to find the source of the threat. They recognise that humanity was chosen by fate to inherit the world, but not to the extent of allowing them to destroy the mother to which they owe their existence.
The Raptors are coming…
Raptors
Filling a unique position within the evolution of the world, the Raptor is a species that has continuously evolved over 65-million years.
They are a very intelligent, thinking, social race. Their society is based around the continued recognition of a strong, female 'Queen'. The position of Queen is constantly contested, but unlike human society, the contest is made against the current Queen alone. There is no word for 'war' in Raptor society, although the occasional argument will crop up.
In their natural form, Raptors resemble humanoid lizards. Society and evolution has guided their form towards the human shape, with a fully erect stature and an opposing thumb. It has also reduced the size of the protruding 'nose' to make the head look like a human/lizard hybrid. They also have a vestigial tail that is about 11/2-2ft long.
Gaia has ensured the Raptor position in the food chain by giving them the same capability to shift forms. They may choose to hide their reptilian traits and become 'human', or they can embrace the form of their ancestors and become full Velociraptors.
In human form, a Raptor possesses all the physical traits of their mammalian successors. In their natural form, Raptors have tougher skin, better visual and olfactory senses, and have a faster running speed (about the same as a Lupus form Garou). They are also slightly better, physically, than humans.
In Velociraptor form, the species becomes a veritable killing machine, weighing 150% of their natural weight and yet only standing at average human height. The Raptor is incredibly fast, especially in a short sprint, with the capacity to run faster than the cheetah (65mph!) for short distances, and can easily outdistance the Lupus or Bastet Garou. They can jump twice as far as a human, and possess the infamous hinged claws on their feet. In Velociraptor form, the Raptor looses partial manipulation ability from its 'hands'. They are highly agile, strong and have great endurance. They also possess stronger senses than their natural form, all the better to hunt their prey - whatever it may be…
Raptor Characters
This is the bit you've obviously been waiting for!
Raptor characters are generated in much the same way as other WoD characters, but there are some essential differences.
ATTRIBUTES
As the natural form of a Raptor is the Hybrid form, the character is created using this as the base for all attributes. The player gets 7 dice to distribute amongst the physical attributes, 6 amongst the mental attributes and 4 amongst the social attributes. Remember that these are subjective values compared to humans. As a Raptor is limited to 1 dot in Appearance when in its natural form, the dots are distributed between Charisma and Manipulation.
When selecting Abilities, the player has the normal 13 points for their primary selection, 10 points for their secondary selection, and 7 points for their tertiary selection. This is to simulate the fact that Raptors are well educated in a wide variety of skills.
Once this is done, the player can select 4 points of backgrounds, but is not allowed to choose Contacts or Allies. They are outsiders, and find it difficult to trust other species, especially humans.
They gain three gifts, and are considered to be Lupus and Philodox for deciding two of the gifts. The last gift can be selected from the tribal gifts of the Black Furies, Children of Gaia, Glass Walkers, Silent Striders and Stargazers (65-million years is a long time to gain the support of Gaia).
Finally, the player has 18 freebie points to distribute to the characters' various traits, and are spent in the same was as for normal Garou.
Human Form
When in human form the Raptor looses one dot in Strength and Stamina. There are no other effects to the character.
Raptor Form
When in Raptor form the character has full physical attributes. She enjoys a 20% increase in height and 40% increase in weight, as well as a -1 bonus to all perception and athletic rolls. This includes pursuits made on foot.
Velociraptor Form
This is the usual battle form of the Raptor people. Weighing in at 150% of the character's Raptor form, this form gives the character +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Stamina and +2 Perception, as well as a -2 to all perception and athletics rolls. The difficulty of pursuit rolls is reduced by when the Raptor uses it's sprint ability. While in this form, the Raptor cannot fire a firearm or climb a sheer surface. They can still grasp objects and opponents, however.
The Velociraptor form also possesses three powerful weapons:
The hind-claws on the character's feet are very sharp, and do Str+3 damage. As a natural weapon, they are only have a difficulty of 6, but if the player wishes, the character can make a jumping attack, difficulty 7, and do an additional 2 damage (Str+5).
The long, powerful tail that the Velociraptor has is primarily used to keep the character balanced during fast movement, especially the sprint. It can, however, be used to trip and swipe at an opponent. Difficulty is 8 for an opponent ahead of the character, but only 7 for a target beside, and 6 for a target that is behind the character. Damage is Str+1.
When feeding, the Raptor's ancestors would usually use the large hind-claw to rip open their 'meal' and then feed - often while the prey is still alive! The teeth of a raptor are not canine in appearance, but the sheer number of teeth makes up for the lack of fangs. The Raptor can either bite as a normal attack (Difficulty 6, Damage: Str+1) or bite once the 'prey' is grappled or otherwise unable to move (Difficulty 5, Damage: Str+3).
Their Place in the World of Darkness
Lupine Garou
These new 'brothers' seem to spend most of their time blaming each other for their current predicament. Maybe they should listen more before acting?
"Either a powerful adversary, or an equally powerful ally. They give even us the willies when they shift to their 'battle form'."
Bastet Garou
We acknowledge our fellow forest-dwellers, and often swap tactics and hunting tips. Good allies for the forthcoming fight to save our home.
"We have passed each other in the darkness, and see their desperate plight. To help them is natural - they live in our own back yard!"
Kindred
These creatures are a strange lot, with their 'ancient' and 'civilised' ways. We reserve judgement until it is proven that they blindly serve the Wyrm.
"Dinosaurs…alive? You've been watching far too much of that Spielburg movie again…"
Mages
They don't seem to understand what they do when they rape our cairns. They must be educated, and punished as a child if they refuse to learn.
"The rumours are…difficult to believe. However, we are always open-minded…"
The Technocracy
These are part of the reason that Gaia is in peril. They must be stopped - permanently!
"Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse… Bastet are enough of a problem without these bastards complicating things in South America even further!"
Changelings
Could they be the physical evidence of Gaia's life force? We see so few of them now. We protect the cairns for both our futures.
"We remember them when they hunted anything that moves, and enjoy the occasional visits to keep up relations."
Pentex
The influence of Pentex can be felt across the globe. The Wyrm moves through them and must be stopped, or our society, and that of the world, will be lost forever.
"…I'm afraid that I cannot comment on the subject that you mentioned. If you would like to call our public relations department, I'm sure that they would be happy to help you in any way they can… Click"
Last Words
I put this tiny supplement together as a test. Saurian character's are probably on the cards as a supplement to the Kindred of the East Vampire supplement. This is a fill-in until White Wolf gives us were-dinosaurs, which seem to exist in a haphazard fashion in the form of the Mokole (were-crocodiles).
My influences for this supplement are primarily the Jurassic Park movies (especially The Lost World), every dinosaur book ever published, and the short story Our Lady of the Sauropods, by Robert Silverberg.
As you might gather, a copy of Werewolf: The Apocalypse is required to play these characters.
The use of trademarks in this document is not a challenge to the ownership of those trademarks.