The witch doctors speak of a place called the Valley of Echoes. It is here that the cave of M'temba is located. Legends say that when M'temba left this earth he went into the cave and joined with the black blood of the earth. Mystical powers are imputed to those who immerse themselves in the black blood of the earth but only if they are pure of heart.
Witch Doctors speak freely of this place for a number of reasons. (1) It is very difficult to find the Valley of Echoes which is in the heart of the jungle. (2) The Valley of Echoes is said to be dangerous and haunted besides. (3) The cave of M'temba requires 3 tests to enter the black blood of the earth, a test of wisdom, a test of stamina, and a test of faith. (4) Supposedly, those who M'temba adjudges corrupt die in horrible screaming agony.
In other words, there aren't exactly a lot of whites who go looking for it in the first place and those who do rarely return. Those who do, earn respect among the tribes for M'temba has judged them and they have passed.
Those who are wise in the ways of medicine also say that other tribes in other parts of the world have learned the gifts of M'temba. Who are we to question M'temba if he wants to gift Aztecs and Indians with his wisdom. Each of them learns medicine in a different way and may earn the gifts through visionquest or through ritual. But they are the Gifts of M'temba. Never forget that.
Witch Doctors speak freely of this place for a number of reasons. (1) It is very difficult to find the Valley of Echoes which is in the heart of the jungle. (2) The Valley of Echoes is said to be dangerous and haunted besides. (3) The cave of M'temba requires 3 tests to enter the black blood of the earth, a test of wisdom, a test of stamina, and a test of faith. (4) Supposedly, those who M'temba adjudges corrupt die in horrible screaming agony.
In other words, there aren't exactly a lot of whites who go looking for it in the first place and those who do rarely return. Those who do, earn respect among the tribes for M'temba has judged them and they have passed.
Those who are wise in the ways of medicine also say that other tribes in other parts of the world have learned the gifts of M'temba. Who are we to question M'temba if he wants to gift Aztecs and Indians with his wisdom. Each of them learns medicine in a different way and may earn the gifts through visionquest or through ritual. But they are the Gifts of M'temba. Never forget that.
Mind of the Beast (level 1 Stalwart knack)
" The little one says that he smells many men in the jungle. They are coming from the river. We must go."
M'tembas first gift is the ability to understand the animals. those who are gifted in this way are rarely bitten or hurt because he has relearned the language that they once shared in common in the ancient days.
System: The Beastlord gains the ability to communicate empathically with animals. This translates out into a bonus to Animal Husbandry rolls based on the beastlords Intuitive facet. This roll is modified by the type of creatures that the Beastlord is trying to communicate with.
Primates(+1)
Mammals (no modifier)
Avians (-1)
Reptiles (-2)
Fish (-3)
Beastlord characters who try to communicate with insects and bacteria should be beaten about the head and shoulders.
" The little one says that he smells many men in the jungle. They are coming from the river. We must go."
M'tembas first gift is the ability to understand the animals. those who are gifted in this way are rarely bitten or hurt because he has relearned the language that they once shared in common in the ancient days.
System: The Beastlord gains the ability to communicate empathically with animals. This translates out into a bonus to Animal Husbandry rolls based on the beastlords Intuitive facet. This roll is modified by the type of creatures that the Beastlord is trying to communicate with.
Primates(+1)
Mammals (no modifier)
Avians (-1)
Reptiles (-2)
Fish (-3)
Beastlord characters who try to communicate with insects and bacteria should be beaten about the head and shoulders.
Note that this form of communication is empathic and as such is fairly inexact for informational purposes. this knack also does not confer any ability to control the beast in question but is often useful for calming beasts and making friends with them. Animals tend to be well disposed to those who speak their language.
When using this gift, the beast lord must actually make animal noises and must listen to the animal to understand him. This knack costs inspiration to activate and lasts for an entire scene. Regular use of this knack can cut the time and effort necessary to train an animal for various tasks.
When using this gift, the beast lord must actually make animal noises and must listen to the animal to understand him. This knack costs inspiration to activate and lasts for an entire scene. Regular use of this knack can cut the time and effort necessary to train an animal for various tasks.
Spirit of the Beast (level 2 Stalwart knack)
" I call on the spirit of Tantor! Grant me strength!"
M'tembas second gift is the ability to call on the spirit of animals to fortify the body for the rigors of the world.
System: The Beastlord spend a point of Inspiration and this knack become active for the rest of the scene. The Beastlord takes his permanent willpower trait and halves it (rounding up) he then applies those dots to one of his physical attributes which must be chosen when the knack is activated and cannot be changed thereafter. The Beastlords physical attributes can go over 5 in this fashion and those who have used this gift have displayed prodigious feats of strength, dexterity, and stamina. (note to twinks: this will not grant you nifty mega attribute benefits like Aberrant but extra dice to damage, initiative, and soak are always nice don't you think?)
When using this gift, the beast lord must enter a light trance and invoke the power of a particular beast out loud.
" I call on the spirit of Tantor! Grant me strength!"
M'tembas second gift is the ability to call on the spirit of animals to fortify the body for the rigors of the world.
System: The Beastlord spend a point of Inspiration and this knack become active for the rest of the scene. The Beastlord takes his permanent willpower trait and halves it (rounding up) he then applies those dots to one of his physical attributes which must be chosen when the knack is activated and cannot be changed thereafter. The Beastlords physical attributes can go over 5 in this fashion and those who have used this gift have displayed prodigious feats of strength, dexterity, and stamina. (note to twinks: this will not grant you nifty mega attribute benefits like Aberrant but extra dice to damage, initiative, and soak are always nice don't you think?)
When using this gift, the beast lord must enter a light trance and invoke the power of a particular beast out loud.
Skin of the Beast ( level 3 Stalwart knack)
"Never mind how I will find the soldiers. Be ready to strike when I return.They cannot hide from eyes in the sky."
M'tembas greatest gift is reserved for only those who are most pure in heart. They gain the ability to take on the form of a beast and live as one with nature.
System: This knack confers an extremely limited form of Shapeshifting. The Beastlord must spend Inspiration and then make a Stamina+Athletics roll against +2 difficulty. (botches on this roll result in the beastlord temporarily losing his intellect to his animal instinct.this may have lasting effects even when he's reverted to human form.)
Success on the roll indicates that the Beastlord is able to take on the form of an animal (this animal must be chosen when the knack is purchased and cannot be changed. if you want to assume multiple animal forms you must purchase this level 3 knack multiple times.) Look in the storytelling section for examples of animal forms to take on. (the animal must actually be indigenous to the area the beastlord comes from. Beastlords cannot assume the form of dinosaurs or similarly telluricly augmented animals. Also, only so much of the Beastlord's mass can be gotten rid of, so it is very likely that any creature that the Beastlord becomes will be unusually large. If the beastlord choose the form of an eagle, it is likely to be an enormous one. Conversely, The form of a bear or elephant may only be the size of a child of that species.
The transformation into the animal lasts until the beastlord wills it away (Again roll Sta+Athletics + 2 diff) or until he loses consciousness (either through bashing damage or going to sleep) If the beastlord suffers Lethal damage while in animal form half of it will carry over into his human form. If he is slain in animal form he stays dead.
While in animal form, the beastlord retains full possession of his intellect. he may also use his Inspiration for dramatic editing and cliffhanging and various other uses. however, it should be noted that there are very few knacks that translate across to an animal form. Most of these are physical in nature. (body of bronze, man for all seasons, et al.)
"Never mind how I will find the soldiers. Be ready to strike when I return.They cannot hide from eyes in the sky."
M'tembas greatest gift is reserved for only those who are most pure in heart. They gain the ability to take on the form of a beast and live as one with nature.
System: This knack confers an extremely limited form of Shapeshifting. The Beastlord must spend Inspiration and then make a Stamina+Athletics roll against +2 difficulty. (botches on this roll result in the beastlord temporarily losing his intellect to his animal instinct.this may have lasting effects even when he's reverted to human form.)
Success on the roll indicates that the Beastlord is able to take on the form of an animal (this animal must be chosen when the knack is purchased and cannot be changed. if you want to assume multiple animal forms you must purchase this level 3 knack multiple times.) Look in the storytelling section for examples of animal forms to take on. (the animal must actually be indigenous to the area the beastlord comes from. Beastlords cannot assume the form of dinosaurs or similarly telluricly augmented animals. Also, only so much of the Beastlord's mass can be gotten rid of, so it is very likely that any creature that the Beastlord becomes will be unusually large. If the beastlord choose the form of an eagle, it is likely to be an enormous one. Conversely, The form of a bear or elephant may only be the size of a child of that species.
The transformation into the animal lasts until the beastlord wills it away (Again roll Sta+Athletics + 2 diff) or until he loses consciousness (either through bashing damage or going to sleep) If the beastlord suffers Lethal damage while in animal form half of it will carry over into his human form. If he is slain in animal form he stays dead.
While in animal form, the beastlord retains full possession of his intellect. he may also use his Inspiration for dramatic editing and cliffhanging and various other uses. however, it should be noted that there are very few knacks that translate across to an animal form. Most of these are physical in nature. (body of bronze, man for all seasons, et al.)
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