Fera Backgrounds

Some of the Backgrounds presented here are specific to a particular Changing Breed. Others, such as Secrets, are possessed by many kinds of Fera.

Most of the Fera can take many of the same Backgrounds as the Garou, others do have the same Backgrounds.

## Bastet

Bastet use most of the same Backgrounds as Garou, eschewing only Ancestors (with the exception of Swara). They use personal rather than pack totems, however (calling such patrons “Jamak”). Bastet make additional use of two Backgrounds unknown to the Garou: Secrets, which they share with the Corax, (see “Shared Backgrounds,” below) and Den-Realm.

### Den Realm

The Bastet has built or acquired (either by inheritance or duel) her own Den-Realm, a sanctuary where she and the land have become one. In the Umbra, a Den-Realm resembles a Domain, one which other travelers cannot pass through without permission. The appearance of this Domain is up to the Bastet who owns the DenRealm — a proud Khan’s Den-Realm may resemble a maharaja’s fortress, while a Balam’s might resemble an impenetrable forest.

A difficulty 8 Perception + Occult roll is necessary to recognize a Den-Realm for what it is, and penetrating its walls uninvited requires a roll as though the intruder were stepping sideways (difficulty 9). This automatically alerts the Bastet that an intruder is coming in.

A werecat inside of his Den-Realm enjoys several benefits: He may step sideways at any time within his Den-Realm, against a Gauntlet of 3. A number of times per scene equal to his Gnosis rating, the Bastet may make a Gnosis roll (difficulty 6) to blink between two points in his Den-Realm without crossing the intervening space. Any attack on the Den-Realm (whether by banes in the Umbra or bulldozers in the Gaia Realm) registers as a cold bolt of pain in the werecat’s heart. The Bastet can freely peer through the Gauntlet from either side within her Den-Realm. Finally, the Bastet can lead any others she chooses across the Gauntlet while in her Den-Realm as though they were packmates.

A Den-Realm’s rating determines how big it is. The first rating is for urban Den-Realms, while the second is for the much larger Den-Realms possible in the wilderness.

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## Corax

Corax rarely stick with any single Mentor for an appreciable length of time, and dismiss Pure Breed as elitist nonsense. They have no pack or personal Totems, either; Raven claims each Corax for his own, granting them one free dot of Athletics, Enigmas, and Subterfuge. In return he asks only that they whisper each secret they learn into the air, that he might hear it as well. Corax can, of course, purchase the Secrets and Umbral Maps Backgrounds (see “Shared Backgrounds,” below).

## Gurahl

Owing to their rarity, Gurahl rarely amass much in the way of Resources and their Kinfolk background differs slightly from the Garou. All Gurahl have an aspect of Bear as their personal Totem. They also use a unique Background: Umbral Glade.

### Umbral Glade

A Gurahl with this Background possesses a Den which opens into a Glade in the Umbra, serving as a “mini-caern” or wellspring of Gnosis. The size and location of the Umbral Glade determines how much Gnosis is available for the resident Gurahl. If more than one Gurahl remains within the Glade in order to regain Gnosis, the total Gnosis available must be shared among those wishing to partake of it.

In addition to providing Gnosis for the Gurahl, an Umbral Glade gives the werebear an instantaneous doorway into the Umbra without the need for a rite.

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### Kinfolk

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## Nuwisha

Nuwisha use the same Backgrounds as Garou, as well as Umbral Maps (see “Shared Backgrounds,” below). Virtually all Nuwisha have a personal totem, inevitably a trickster spirit of some sort. Rarely, a Nuwisha will bind herself into a pack of other Fera — but only if the pack is united under a trickster totem.

## Shared Backgrounds

The following Backgrounds are available to more than one Changing Breed.

### Secrets

The character possesses information that would be considered desirable — or damaging — by someone else. While such knowledge can sometimes place the character in danger, mostly it gives her leverage and advantages. What the character does with these secrets (bartering them for favors or cash, using them to take down minions of the Wyrm, or something else entirely) is up to her.

The player and Storyteller should work together to determine what sort of secrets the character possesses. The Background’s rating determines the value and number of secrets the character knows. This Background is normally the province of Corax and Bastet, though other Changing Breeds (and even the odd Shadow Lord!) occasionally pick it up as well.

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### Umbral Maps

The character possesses a wealth of experience and received information about Umbral navigation. These “Umbral maps” are not physical objects, but rather the collected lore of symbolic navigation among spirit paths, the entry methods for safe havens and refuges, the cycles of natural spirit paths, and reliable methods to bypass various obstacles along the way.

This Background is normally the province of Corax and Nuwisha, though other Changing Breeds occasionally pick it up as well (and the occasional Glass Walker Umbral Pilot).

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### Totem

Most Fera make use of totems in the same manner as the Garou, whether to bind together their “packs” or as personal patrons. The Ananasi, Corax, and Nagah form notable exceptions.

So what happens when a Garou, a Bastet, an Ajaba and a Mokolé band together?

Most Fera would regard the very idea as little more than the set-up to a bad joke, but as the Wyrm’s shadow darkens such places as Africa and the Amazon, it’s a question an increasing number of shapeshifters find themselves seriously considering. Can Gaia’s changing children, so long divided, work together?

The answer is yes — with some difficulty.

The Rite of the Totem is particularly calibrated to the sensibilities and capabilities of the Garou — those Fera who cannot innately step sideways would have particular difficulty with it. The equivalent rites used by the other Changing Breeds are similarly specialized.

A rare and particular rite exists, however — the Rite of the Joined Circle — which may be used to attract a spirit to act as a totem for a diverse pack of Fera. Mechanically identical to the Rite of the Totem, it requires the ritemaster to prepare a ritual space decorated with items pleasing to the spirit they hope to attract while singing of Gaia’s need for renewal. Some Mokolé with powerful Mnesis remember this rite from the times before the War of Rage, and a few African packs have recently independently re-discovered or re-created the rite. The Beast Courts of Asia use very a similar rite to form their sentai.

A multi-Fera pack may pool its Background points to buy its Totem in the same fashion as a Garou pack. Owing perhaps to some similarity to the rites used by the hengeyokai, even Corax and Gurahl are able to participate in the rite, giving up Raven or Bear’s favor in exchange for that of the pack totem. The inclusion of a Nuwisha still guarantees that the totem attracted will be a trickster of some variety, however. In the incredible event that an Ananasi or Nagah participates in the rite, they gain only the ability to participate in pack tactics and the totem spirit’s favorable regard; Queen Ananasa will not relinquish her children to another, while the Nagah remain outside of the Pact that facilitates congress between the spirit world and the other Fera.