New Totems in this W.O.D.
Frey, God of the Harvest and
Fertility
By Athyra Di Giovanni (demonsreiche@yahoo.com)
Totem of Wisdom, Love, and
Fertility
Background Cost for Frey
Restrictions
The children of Frey are all male. As Frey's sister -- the goddess
Freya -- takes care of the women, Frey prefers
to confer his wisdom to the men. Not as if Frey is really choosy, but he
also requires his sons to have a strong constitution (Stamina 3+) and a
shining personality (Charisma 3+). Their general appearance does not need
to be outstanding, but they must have some knowledge of the land, knowledge
of the arts of healings,and good bearing. (Etiquette 2+, Medicine 2+, and
Science/Occult/Rituals 2+) None of Frey's sons are Ahroun-born.
Description
Frey was one of the gods of Asgard, but not of the same bloodline as
Thor or Odin.
Frey, like his twin sister Freya, is of the race of Gods called the Vanir.
Frey is a god of the harvest, a god of passions, a god of good deeds and
fertility. He and his sister were accepted by the Aesir (the line of gods
that Odin and Heimdall belong to) and stayed within the realm of Asgard,
ruling the people of the Norselands alongside
Baldur, Odin,
and the other Norse gods.
The werewolves of Eastern Europe especially honour Frey, for he gives them
the gift of grain and good food. Most of the followers of Frey tend not to
be warrior-bred, but none will shirk their duties to defend the caern if
they are called upon. The Get of Fenris, the Silver Fangs, and the Shadow
Lords do not particularly claim exclusive rights to this totem, as all of
them realise that Frey's importance is not local, but regional.
Traits
Frey, being a god of fertility, gives all of his children a 50% chance of
breeding more Changing Breed. Within the Metis community, all of their
children shall be born normal lupus or homid, depending on the mother.
(Lupus children from fellow wolves, homid children otherwise.) Frey also
gives his children the following abilities: +3 dice to all physical
attribute-based rolls while within 1 km of a farm or natural field, access
to the gifts given only to the Ahroun, and the merits of Acute Sense of
Smell, Acute Sense of Taste, Acute Vision, and Time Sense.
Bans
Totem of Beauty and Fertility
Note from Author
I would like to thank Peloquin for tipping me off to the corrections that
had to be made to this and the other Norse mythology-based totems. Without
his help, there would be a lot of people scratching their heads and
wondering where a few deities disappeared to. With good fortune, these
revisions should clear up any gray areas that appeared previously.
Background Cost
Restrictions
All the children of Freya are women. As her twin brother Frey takes care of the men, Freya ensures the
women know the ways of passion and love. All of the children of Freya must
place their Social Attributes first, or at lesat have a minimum score of
eight points in their Social Attribues by the time Freya chooses them.
Freya refuses to teach the arts of love to those she feels are not ready.
And the children of Freya cannot be married at the time she selects them to
her service. She doesn't believe in marriage . . . .
Description
It was once written that "Hell hath no fury like a woman
scorned." They might have been writing about Freya, the ill-fortuned
goddess of love in Norse mythology. Freya and her twin brother, Frey, were
not of the same race as Thor, Odin, and Heimdall. Whereas Thor and Baldur were of
the Aesir, Freya and Frey were of another race of gods known as the Vanir.
Freya once fell in love with a man by the name of Od. They were very taken
with each other, and were to be married. On the night of the marriage, Od
dumped her completely out of his life, leaving her heartbroken and berift.
(It was later suspected to be Odin, but none could prove it was he.) From
that point on, Freya vowed never to commit herself to another man (nor
woman, for that matter.)
The Black Furies honour her as a woman to be respected. While some Get of
Fenris and a good number of Shadow Lords find her story humourous, very few
have ever said as much to a worshipper of Freya or Frey. The few
that have said as much are able to sing any Michael Jackson song they wish
now . . . .
Traits Bestowed
Unlike many of the Norse gods, Freya has never been much for combat. She
finds it a waste of time, and a complete destruction of the fields and
crops. Freya gives all of her children one dot in each of the following
traits, to a maximum of 6: Seduction, Subterfuge, Empathy, Etiquette,
Performance, and Medicine. She also gives her children the choice of the
following merits: Animal Magnetism, Dual Nature, or Iron Will. The
followers of Freya also have access to the Charm: Influence. (from the
Kindred of the East book by White Wolf. The character may change the mood
of the chosen target by spending a point of Gnosis/Numina for each degree
of change the chosen target's emotion will change. This is a gradual
process.) The children of the goddess Freya have a 30% chance of birthing
Garou children.
Bans and Flaws
Totem of Wisdom, Respect, and Love
Background Cost for Frigga
Description
She who is the noble consort, friend, and companion to Odin; she who is the mother of Baldur and the foster mother of Loki; she who
rules the Aesir with patience and gentleness. Frigga may be described as
many things, but she is always revered by those who know the trials and
tribulations she has faced in her immortal lifetime. Many men discount
Frigga as simply the "wife of Odin", but Frigga was a person of
her own merit, and those few of the Changing Breed and their kinfolk who
ask of her help generally receive it. Frigga, like Frey, Njord, and
Freya, was of the line of gods known as the
Vanir. Very beautiful and very wise, Odin took her as his wife, and
received guidance from her whenever he felt it necessary to review his
actions.
Merits and Benefits
Frigga is a goddess of the earth and sky. She does not give much in the
way of powers, but what she does give assist those who follow her
nonetheless. Any rolls requiring Willpower checks are reduced in
difficulty by 2 (from 9 to 7, for example). Her children receive one die
in the following skills: Medicine, Animal Ken, Empathy, Occult, and
Enigmas. As a result of her connection with the earth, she gives her
children the ability to seek out living spirits (Merit: Medium). Finally,
she gives +2 dice to all Stamina rolls involving either endurance or
staredowns (remember, she was a mother).
Restrictions
Only those who have been parents or tend children may take Frigga as their
totem. She may look upon all those who walk the earh with kind eyes, but
only the caregivers and the defenders of the weak does she give her
blessing.
Bans
Totem of Respect
Background Cost
Description
The 'All-Father,' God of War, Skalds, Nobility and Wisdom.
A mighty chieftain travelling across sky and sea on the eight-legged
horse Sleipnir, the two great wolves Freki and Geri at his sides, his
two great ravens Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory) scour the world
to gather him knowledge. His great spear Gungnir laying his enemies
low! He is held in great esteem by the Get.
Traits
Odin is all-encompassing, his packs receiving 1 point of
Glory, Honour and Wisdom. Although a mighty warrior he teaches the
great importance of wisdom, leadership and arts (+1 to all dice pools
involving Leadership, Performance, and Enigmas).
Bans
Totem of Cunning and Knowledge
Background Cost
Author's Note
I wish to thank Peloquin for the tip-off concerning Loki. I hope that my
revision will match the description given to me. If anyone finds fault
with this revision (or any other works I have created), please write to me
at the e-mail address given above. Also, if people would be interested in
seeing other totems developed or any other things created for their
campaign, send word to me. Thanks for taking the time to read my
works!
Restrictions
None of the Ahroun from the werewolf tribes may choose Loki as their totem.
As it stands, the children of Loki must have a minimun of three in all of
their social attributes at the time Loki chooses them.
Description
Loki, the Trickster God of the Norse myths, was not a true "god".
He was not born one of the Aesir (the race of gods that Odin and Hodr
belonged to), nor was he Vanir (like Freya was). Instead, the young Loki
was a fire giant, and very talented (not to mention attractive). The God
of Mischief could be charming when he chose to be, but within his heart lay
jealousy and harmful rage against Thor and Baldur. A very greedy and intelligent person,
Loki used his sharp mind to convince the other gods into giving him ranking
and status almost equal to Thor.
He would often find himself at the heart of a new failing scheme, but would
never be truly punished for his actions. Once, Loki's mouth and rash
actions cost the Aesir a valuable item: the golden apples from Frigga's own garden. Loki's shapeshifting
talents and natural skills were taxed to the limit, but he beat the risks
and recovered from his injuries. Any normal being would quell their
destructive urges after being chastied by Odin himself repeatly, but Loki would never
listen. One prank he pulled almost cost him his life, as he cut the
glorious locks of Sif off her head while she slept. (She snubbed Loki for
Thor, an insult he couldn't bear.) Thor would have slain him for the
"attack", but Loki managed to have gold chains woven so fine as
to be almost weightless to replace her hair.
Finally, Loki's antics grew too much for the gods of Asgard to bear.
First, he ran away with a frost giant and bore three children: Jormungandr - The Midgard Serpent, the
wolf Fenris (who cost Tyr his right hand), and the goddess Hel (Hela, who rules Nifhelm/ Nifflehelm). Then
he cost Hodr, the blind god, his innocence, by tricking him into slaying
Baldur the Valiant by accident. That act caused the starting of Ragnarok,
and cost Loki his freedom. The gods of Asgard chained Loki up in a cavern
on a huge throne, binding him with magics and allowing the acids of a great
and terrible asp to slowly drip on him, driving him mad.
Loki is one of the best known aspects of the Trickster, as well known in
Europe as Coyote is known in North America. No Ahroun in their right mind
would choose Loki as a totem, and none of the Get of Fenris nor the Shadow
Lords will take the followers of Loki seriously. The Black Spiral Dancers
honour Loki tremendously, as he is the father of Jormungandr.
Traits
Loki himself was an expert in the field of social espionage, and he imparts
his vast wealth of knowledge onto his children. The followers of Loki of
Asgard receive access to the following gifts: Cat's Feet, Heightened
Senses, Assimilation, Persuasion, Blissful Ignorance, Blur of the Milky
Eye, Shadow Pack, The Falling Touch, Awe, Preternatural Awareness, Eyes of
the Cobra (same as Level 1 Serpentis), Doppleganger, and The 1000 Forms
when they reach the appropriate Rank. The children of Loki are also able
to use all gifts related to fire. It does not matter
where the gifts come from (that includes Corax gifts). The
children of Loki can use gifts related to deception or mimicry from any of
the Changing Breed. On top of that, the children of Loki gain +2 dice in
any social event. This bonus doubles when in the presence of an individual
who could severly hurt, cripple, or kill them. (Note: the person must
intend to severely wound the follower of Loki for the bonus to
come into effect. Storyteller has final say.) Finally, the children of
Loki gain the merits: Metamorph, Mixed Morph, and Dual Nature.
Bans
Loki has never been known for his valour or his infinite wisdom. In fact,
Loki's followers lose 1 Honour whenever Honour is gained, and 1 Wisdom
wherever Wisdom can be gained. All of Loki's followers suffer from some
small form of madness (Flaw: Compulsion- choose two) and are often
well-known is some circles (Flaw: Notoriety). The children of Loki are
very vain (Flaw: Arrogant) and often overstep their bounds (Flaw: Over
Confident). The children of Loki, because of their link to fire, tend to
be hot-tempered (Flaw: Short Fuse) and are prone to accepting foolhardy
challenges. Like their totem, the followers of Loki are unused to be
treated as second-rate citizens in any case, and will sabotage someone
else's efforts in order to further their own.
All whom follow Loki must sacrifice something of value to Loki once per
month, especially if they received the object from someome else.... The
children of Loki may never gain the gifts of the warrior (except for those
mentioned above), and must constantly seek to undermine the leadership
and/or the credibility of the Ahrouns of the local septs and packs. If
doing such may undermine the efforts of another follower of the Trickster,
so be it. Loki never said life was fair, it should only be fair to he who
makes it fair....
Followers of Heimdall have a +4 dice
bonus to any roll resisting any actions upon their person by Loki (and in
fact, any aspect of the Trickster). Other totems who are reknown for their
ability to "see through" mysteries gain a +2 bonus against the actions of
the children of Loki.
Thor
Also Donar in Germany and Thunor in Anglo-Saxon
By Colin Chapman (col.chapman@virgin.net)
Totem of War
Background Cost
Description
God of War and Thunder, Thor the 'Thunderer,' is the strongest of the Aesir.
Travelling in a cart drawn by two mighty goats, he is awe inspiring.
A huge warrior, with a beard of flaming red and terrifying blue eyes,
he wields the great hammer Mjolnir 'the lightning bolt' clenched in
iron clad fists! An honourable combatant and gentle lover, not for
him are the lofty pretensions of rulers and noble born for he is the
warrior patron of peasants and a symbol of fertility.
He is held in high regard by the Get of Fenris, and his packs will
receive admiration and respect.
Traits
As the strongest of the Aesir he empowers his chosen
(add +1 point to Strength, even if it takes them above 5), and
they can summon his thunder, stunning their foes with power
(they have access to the gift: Clap of Thunder). A glorious totem,
his chosen all receive 2 points of Glory.
Bans
Totem of Beauty, Respect, and Honour
Background Cost
Description
Baldur (or Balder, depending on the spelling) was the most handsome of the
Aesir (the gods of the Norse mythos). His only true rival (by way of
appearance) was Loki, the youthful God
of Fire (and the Trickster God of the Norse). He was the "shining
star" of the Aesir, being a friend to all and always showing respect
to those who deserved it. He was the half-brother of Thor, Hodr, and Brage (the god of poetry). Baldur was famed
throughout Asgard for his prowess in swordsmanship. When Loki, jealous
over Baldur's fame, used Hodr (who was blind from birth) to slay him using
mistletoe, it started the series of events that would lead to Ragnarok (the
end of the world).
Baldur's children have never forgiven Loki for his callous and craven
actions, but they will still fight beside his followers when the Wyrm
attacks. Baldur teaches his children that the greater good must always
come before personal differences, and that the true worth of a person will
show itself in their actions.
Merits and Gifts
Baldur, being a humble individual, is loathe to extend the abilities of his
followers. Instead, the youthful Baldur prefers to make life easier for
his children. All those who follow Baldur and his ways get a (-2) to the
difficulty on the following activities: Acting, Athletics, Performance,
Empathy, Seduction, Melee, Brawl, Dodge, Etiquette, Animal Ken, and
Medicine. The followers of Baldur also receive Charmed Existence as a
Merit. (Note: this does not counteract their flaws in any
way.)
Flaws and Bans
Totem of Honour and Loyalty
Background Cost for Hodr
Restrictions
All of Hodr's children are either Metis or were born crippled naturally.
(Two flaws must be chosen at creation. They must be either Psychological,
Physical, or Perception based). Most of the Garou do not understand how
such a totem could exist, but those who follow Hodr know why he has chosen
them as his own legion of warriors against the onslaught of the Wyrm.
Needless to say, many of the more arrogant warriors are quite mortified
when the children of Hodr show up at a battle . . . . and proceed to
clean house with the demonic forces of the Wyrm (and other evils).
Description
Hodr is quite possibly one of the most ill-fated gods in the Norse mythos,
born blind and crippled, and held partially responsible for the death of Baldur the Brave. Hodr was a nice and humble
god; he lived within the glory of Asgard but never able to enjoy it fully.
Hodr's hand in the demise of noble Baldur was purely by accident: Loki the Trickster caused Hodr to slay Baldur
with a spring of mistletoe, causing Ragnarok (the end of the world) to
befall the gods. Hodr (in the legends) died of a broken heart, when he
heard that his was the hand that slew his half-brother Baldur.
When Hodr, still saddened by his role in the coming of the Apocalypse,
viewed the plight of the Metis and the crippled werewolves, his old heart
soared. Here, he thought, he could finally make a difference in the war
against the evils of the world. Taking the twisted bodies of the Metis and
the other cripped werewolves into his heart, he gave them new hope and a
new goal: to destroy the Wyrm's twisted minions, and eradicate the scourge
of the Infernalist vampires and demon-worshipping sorcerers. While Hodr
may not be the most popular totem (especialy amongst those who follow very
proud totems), his service to Gaia is appreciated by those who know the
suffering Hodr has borne on his shoulders.
Merits and Traits Bestowed
The followers of Hodr are hunters of the evil that others refuse to see.
His children are given the gifts: Sense Wyrm, Assimilation, Halt the
Coward's Flight (as the Rokea gift), Coup de Grace (as the Rokea gift),
Blur of the Milky Eye, The Falling Touch, Resist Pain, Preternatural
Awareness (in the Get of Fenris tribebook), Razor Claws (as the
Mokolé gift) at the appropriate Rank, and are able to enter the
Umbra at 2 levels lower than average. Hodr, not being a god of battle or
war, would not be expected to give his children combat skills. When the
children of Hodr engage the agents of the Wyrm, however, Hodr's inner
sorrow reveals itself. All weapons coated with the ashes of mistletoe and
some of the child of Hodr's blood will do aggravated damage when being
wielded by the child of Hodr. All of Hodr's followers attacks are lowered
by two (from 9 to 7, for example) if the person has been identified as
Wyrmspawn. The damage that his followers do gain another two dice if the
victim is filled with the poisons of the Wyrm. (examples of Wyrmspawn are:
vampires, Black Spiral Dancers, and Nephandi mages.)
Bans
Totem of Sorcery, Death, and Arcane
Wisdom
Background Cost
Description
At once beautiful and terrible, Hel was one oft he three children born
to Loki and his frost giant mistress. Along with her two siblings, Fenrir
(also known as Fenris), and Jormundagr -- The Midgard Serpent
-- she represents some of the darker and more sinister sides of the Nordic
Gods. She is as ruthless as she is heartless, ruling over Nifhelm without
any consort needed, nor a man required. As the Empress of the Dead, all
who must cross through Nifhelm, the Realm of the Dead, must pay her
tribute and due honours, or face her wrath and an eternity of torment.
She is not a totem to be taken lightly. Only those who are merciless dare
invoke her name. She gives her daughters powers which even the most
stalwart men fear. Many of her children are considered morbid and power
hungry creatures of darkness, and many packs believe her a little too close
to the Wyrm for their tastes. She blesses both the damned of Gaia (e.g.,
Black Spiral Dancers) and the blessed with equal impunity. For as long as
they follow the path she has laid out for her children, they will be on her
good side. Woe to those who anger her, for none have been known to defy
her and not suffer the consequences.
Restriction
All of her followers must be women. They may come from all walks of life,
but she prefers those who have witnessed death in the making themselves (or
have caused death themselves).
Gifts
Her followers automatically receive the following permanent bonuses where
applicable: +2 to Perception and Manipulation (even if this takes them
above 5), Gnosis: +2, Willpower: +2. The children of Hel also receive the
following dice pools while in the service of Hel: Mage Lore: 2, Occult: 2,
Enigmas: 2, Wraith Lore: 2, Kindred Lore: 2. Finally, her children
automatically gain a Mage Arcane Pool of 3 dice whenever searching for
hidden knowledge, dealing with vampires or wratihs, and slaying the enemies
of Hel.
Bans
Totem of War, Respect, and
Strength
Background Cost
Restrictions
Only the Black Spiral Dancers may take this loathesome beast as their
totem. As he blesses those who are willing to embrace the wickedness of
the world with their lives, only the Black Spiral Dancers (and a few
Kinfolk who are allied with the Serpents of the Light) will choose
Jormungandr as their totem.
Description
Think of a snake. Now, think of a snake large enough to wrap its coils
around the entire world. That is the size, and the nature, of Jormungandr.
The Midgard Serpent (named so because he encases the Earth with his foul
presence) is the eternal enemy of the Aesir. Born of a frost giantess and
Loki, the Trickster, the Midgard
Serpent grew to his enormous size at birth and immediately fell fast asleep
under the seas of the world. He lies in wait for Ragnarok, when his
destiny -- to swallow the Thunder God Thor
whole -- can be fulfilled. Although he knows he will perish at the hands
of Thor, he knows he will still taste his flesh before he finally perishes.
This alone fills his dank and depraved dreaming. The Black Spiral Dancers
worship his presence, and he answers them with nightmarish powers.
Boons and Blessings
The Bastard sons and daughters of Jormungandr are blessed with many things,
but none is as fearsome as their physical prowess. They receive +1 to each
physical trait while outside of combat. This jumps to +2 while in combat,
and +4 if they are facing a follower of one of the Aesir (like Thor or
Tyr). (This allows their stats to go above 5.) On top of that, they may
receive various levels of the Vampire Discipline: Serpentis at the
corresponding rank. (For example: Rank 1 followers of Jormungandr may
purchase "Eyes of the Serpent", substituting temporary Rage
points or temporary Gnosis points for Blood points.) Jormungandr also
gives his bastards Acute Sense of Smell, Ambidextrous (to spite Tyr), and
Natural Linguist. They also receive an extra +2 dice to any rolls
involving squeezing or crushing their opponent.
Dangers and Dilemnas
Totem of Honour and Loyalty
Background Cost
6 (normally), 9 (for blind characters)
Description
Heimdall was known as the "Eagle-eyed God", for he possessed the
sharpest eyes in Asgard. In fact, his sight was only surpassed by Huginn
and Muninn, the ravens of Odin. With his great axe and stalwart heart,
Heimdall defended the gates of Asgard from all invaders. A true and loyal
companion, Heimdall "the Watcher" is held in great respect by
both the Shadow Lords (who appreciate loyalty more than most people
believe) and the Get of Fenris.
Merits and Traits Bestowed
Heimdall gives all of his children the following abilities while either
guarding or searching: +2 dice to Wits, Perception, and Stamina (even if
this takes them above 5 dice). He also gives all of his children the
following merits while either guarding or investigating: Acute Sense of
Smell, Acute Sense of Taste, Acute Vision, Acute Hearing. For those who
are blind and still follow Heimdall, he gives them the Gift: Echolocation,
and the skill Blind-fighting: 2 (as the Sabbat Vampire ability). Heimdall,
being a searcher of the stars and the lands, bestows upon his children a -2
difficulty to any rolls involving Streetwise,Enigmas, Occult, or
Investigation at all times.
Bans
Totem of Respect and Wisdom
Background Cost
Restrictions
Brage prefers that his students have a strong sense of art. All of those
whom wish to gain the favour of Brage must have 2+ in the following
categories: Perception, Wits, Charisma, Empathy, Expression, and
Performance. The students of Brage should also be well-educated, so they
must have at least one dot in three of the following Abilites: Politics,
Sciences, Computers, Linguistics, Repair, and Law. Brage is not known for
selecting weak-minded fools, so a minimum of 3 Willpower is also required
before Brage graces the student's head with his knowledge.
Description
Brage is one of the many gods of the Norse. Not a well-known deity, Brage
was the god of poetry in the Norse mythos. He was born Aesir, being the
half-brother of Thor, Baldur, and Hodr. A very intelligent totem, he prefers to
teach those who have a thirst for knowledge, rather than a hunger for
power. Many of his students come from poor backgrounds, but have fought
their way through life in order to further their education. He smiles upon
those who strive to improve themselves mentally as well as physically, and
rewards those who deserve praise.
Merits and Gifts
Brage does not extend the abilities of his students. He prefers to grace
their hard work with the gift of ease. All rolls made by the students of
Brage involving Perception or Wits have their difficulties reduced by 2
(e.g., from 9 to 7). Brage further encourages his students to reach higher
ground, by giving them an extra Wisdom each time they gain Renown (+1
Wisdom each time they gain Renown; if more than one kind of Renown is
gained,the reward remains at +1 Wisdom). Thanks to Brage's affinity with
the spoken and the written word, all rolls concerning Acting, Performance,
Seduction, Subterfuge, Linguistics, and Etiquette have their difficulties
reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 2).
Flaws and Bans
Totem of Respect
Background Cost
Restrictions
All those who follow Njord must be sturdy like the ships that sail upon his
domain (Strength 3+, Stamina 3+). His followers all must me capable of
sailing the high seas as well as the small rivers. (Swimming 2+, Sailing
2+). He does not brook cowards lightly, for he expects all of his
followers to take up the fight against Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent. After
all, the coils of the Misgard Serpent pass through the domains of both he
and his wife, the fire giant Skade
(Willpower 3+, Rage 3+).
Description
Njord is a god of the seas, the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers. Njord
is also the god of winter. His kingdom, as such, is vast and beautiful.
Njord was the father of Frey and Freya. He, as one of the Vanir, realized that
making allies of the Aesir (such as Odin and
Baldur were) would be a wise idea. Not a
particularly ambitious god, he was comfortable with his position.
Njord's wife was a fire giant by the name of Skade. She, unlike all the
other fire giants (except Loki) was
beautiful. Even though they loved each other, Skade and Njord could never
stay together. She missed her mountainous home, while he could not bear to
leave his rivers and lakes. So, they made a compromise. Once each year,
they would go to visit each other. When Skade went to Njord's home in the
oceans, the summer would begin. When Njord visited Skade in her mountains,
winter would reign.
When Njord saw the war between the Changing Breed and the now-corrupted
Wyrm, he knew he had to intervene. He chose those of the Changing Breed
who lived most of their lived near or in his domain, as he wanted to know
their hearts were of the high value he wanted them to be.
Traits
Njord gives his followers access to the all the gifts concerning the seas.
Whether the gifts were available only to the Rokea, the weredolphins, or
simply not of the Changing Breed's auspice, the follower of Njord may gain
that gift at their appropriate Rank. As well, the followers of Njord are
also able to use the Thaumaturgical Disclipline "Neptune's Might" as a
Gift, learning each level from a spirit associated with the seas or the
oceans, and substituting "blood points" with points of Rage or Gnosis.
Finally, the children of Njord gain +1 die to all their physical stats
while on a major body of water. (Storyteller's call.)
Bans
Totem of Respect, Wisdom, and Cunning
Background Cost
Restrictions
Only the most intelligent Bastards can gain the favour of this Asgardian
legend (Intelligence 4+, Perception 3+, Wits 3+). Those who wish for
Utgard-Loki to gaze his eyes upon them must also be well-educated in either
the mysteries or the ways of the world (21+ total dots in Knowledges are
needed). Finally, the followers of Utgard-Loki must also have a keen mind
(Merits: any three mental ability related merits will do).
Description
What can be said about the smartest giant ever to walk the mountains of
Jotunnheim? Utgard-Loki (also known as Utg”rda Loke in some texts and
legends) was known as the most intelligent giant in Jotunnheim. Some would
go as far to say he was the smartest being in the Norse mythology. His
crafts were the art of illusion, the art of magic, and the science of
trickery. Utgard-Loki was never the largest giant, nor was he the most
powerful giant in terms of physical prowess. He was, however, the
trickiest, sneakist, and most devious bastard whom ever lived, bar none.
(Not even Loki of Asgard was as good
at being bad as he).
For sport, he fooled Thor, Loki, and Tjalve into a series of events they could not
win. Using his illusions, he convinced Tjalve to race against Thought
itself. He humilated Loki by having him compete against Fire in an "eating
contest." Using the guise of an old woman, he used Old Age to defeat Thor
in a wrestling match and when he went out to fish for the dinner of the
following night, what he thought was a trout was really The Midgard
Serpent.
Utgard-Loki is honoured immensely by the older members of the Black Spiral
Dancers. They know that one as old and as wise as the frost giant
Utgard-Loki must be capable of showing the servants of the Wyrm against
their foes....
Merits and Minor Gifts
Utgard-Loki reduces all Mental Attribute related rolls by four, to a
minimum of 2 difficulty (e.g., from 9 to 5). The chosen of Utgard-Loki may
also learn any non-combat related gifts they choose. The Bastards of the
frost giant are also able to learn various Vampiric Thaumaturgical paths as
gifts, given the resources and the time (Storyteller's call). Finally, the
Bastards of Utgard-Loki gain an extra 2 Wisdom every time they gain
Wisdom.
Bans and Blasphemous Deeds
Totem of War, Honour, and Respect
Background Cost
6 (for most tribes), 8 (for Get
of Fenris and Black Furies)
Description
As beautiful as she is deadly, the warrior-maiden Brunhilde rode through
the skies, taking only the most valiant of the warriors on the battlefield
to Valhalla, the final resting place for those souls who were deemed worthy
to fight in the final battle. As the warriors trained for Ragnarok -- the
end of the world -- Brunhilde and the other valkyries would search the
fields of war for more brave and powerful warriors to bring back to
Valhalla.
Traits Bestowed
As a warrior maiden, she ensures that all of her followers are
knowledgeable in the ways of war. She gives all her followers the Merits:
Danger Sense, Acute Sense of Smell, Acute Vision and Acute Hearing. All of
the warhost of Brunhilde also gain the following traits while in battle: +2
dice to Melee, +2 dice to Dodge, +2 dice to Brawl, and +1 die in all the
physical attributes. These may go above five, but will go away immediately
after the battle is over. Whenever Glory, Honour, or Wisdom is gained, one
extra Reknown is gained in any of the three.
Restrictions
Only women are allowed to claim this totem as their own, for men do not
have either the will, the strength of purpose, or the proper balance of
fierceness and wisdom needed. On top of that, the women may only use
archaic wepons in combat. Modernized version of said weapons are possible,
but using guns and other modern-day inventions are almost impossible for
them. (+6 difficulty anything involving such weapons)
Bans
Sexual relations are typically frowned on by the warhost of Brunhilde, who
believes that chaste living makes for successful valkyries. There is no
official punishment for those who commit themselves to such actions, but
many followers of Brunhilde will shun or disparage the person. All of the
followers must subject themselves to a rigid code of honour, one which does
not allow mercy to be shown to their foes -- or their allies. Brunhilde
was never one to blindly follow the commands of Odin, and all Brunhilde's
followers suffer a +2 difficulty when trying to deal with male authority
figures or those who follow totems of male authority figures. Brunhilde
demands that her followers never give up a hunt for the unfit (read: guilty
or evil) until all available avenues have been exhausted, despite its
physical and mental cost. The warhost of Brunhilde is not a tolerant
group, and all of them suffer from at least one Intolerance or Hatred, and
are either very vengeful (Flaw: Vengeance) or hot tempered (Flaw: Short
Fuse).