RED PAW By Kirk Brobson (gamers@erols.com) History: Once before the blood moon of Chicago (see Under a Blood Red Moon) a powerful Child of Gaia had a vision. She saw the tribe full of rage killing one another over small pieces of the Wyrm while vast collections of Wyrm beast watched amused. In the midst of the fighting appeared a strange new tribe sign, a simple blooded paw print. No claw or teeth marks. No sign of anger or hate. The new tribe set the others at peace and it was made up many tribes not just one. All who wanted to join were welcome. They would heal Gaia and serve only her. Others had the vision too but most chose to interpret it in other ways. She was sure she was right she also saw a great battle in New York were the tribe would first be formed. This came to pass that upon the blood moon week a battle between the corpses and Gaia's defenders erupted in New York. Many a corpse was laid to rest and many of Gaia's own went to their next lives. But in the end the Red Paw and their self-appointed leader, "the Prophet" had killed the Bishop of the city and had completed they rites that would forever change them in to the messengers and spokesmen of Gaia among the garou tribes. They now travel in small numbers from sept to sept spreading the call to arms. Not for hate but out of love. The restless undead must find rest. The Wyrm must be put back in to its proper place so that Gaia may be healed. Garou need to stop fighting the small nest and start attacking the strongholds of the Wyrm: the cities and the true dangers to Gaia. "Gaia's love is the love of nature. The weak are called in to their next lives. The strong have their day in Gaia's service. The Garou need to turn away from what make them different from each other --. Tribe, Totem, Breed -- and embrace the higher love Gaia's." Organization The whole camp/tribe is run by the Prophet and a select core member which consist of a Black Spiral that had been turn back in to a White Howler and then in to a Red Paw, a Child of Gaia, a Silver Fang, a Stargazer, and a Silent Strider. They travel in sets of two and have no Sept of their own. They tend to go to the sept nearest to the larger cities. They will accept converts but make no bones about what is called for of the Red Paw and do not seek them. They have a range of success in their effort more often with the war-like tribe than with the peaceful one. But surprisingly they get most of there converts from the peaceful tribes. Although they call themselves a Tribe they are more like a camp in number. They most likely will never become more then that due to their strict codes and wondering natures. Names The Red Paw start out in other tribes. They very often abandon their old names when they join the Red Paw. Often they choose names like Mouth of Gaia or Servant of Gaia. But some do keep their old names. The changing of ones name is not a requirement, only the changing of ones nature. Gifts Mother's Touch: (Level 1) Same as the level ones Theurge Gift (see main book pg 119) Lambent Flames: (Level 1) Same as the level ones Silver Fangs Gift (see main book pg 133) Luna's Armor: (Level 2) Same as the level two Child of Gaia Gift. (see main book pg 127) Inner Strength: (Level 2) Same as the level two Stargazers Gift. (see main book pg 134) Banish Wyrm: (Level 3) With a command in the name of Gaia the Red Paw can send a Wyrm creature running in blind fear. System: Roll Gnosis vs. target's Willpower. Each success will force the target to run blindly in fear. This can be resisted by spending a number of Willpower equal to the the number of successes rolled. Dazzle: (Level 3) Same as the level three Child of Gaia gift. (see main book pg 127) Gaia's Love: (Level 4) With this gift no Wyrm powers will work with in 20 feet the Red Paw. The Wyrm spirits are not destroyed or run off. They simple lay low. So Vampires that are wyrm tainted will lose all their supernatural powers and formori will assume a normal looking appearance when with in 20 ft the user. System: This power cost 1 gnosis to turn on and will last a scene. To resist its effect the wyrm must make Humanity or similar roll versus the Gnosis roll of the Red Paw. This must be a conscious effect on the part of the wyrm tainted thing. If the wyrm has no humanity it cannot resist this gift. Serenity: (Level 4) Same as the level four Child of Gaia gift. (see main book pg 127) Paws of the Newborn Cub: (Level 5) Same as the level 5 Silver Fang gift. (see main book pg 134) Gaias final Judgement: (Level 5 ) With this gift the Garou performs a day long rite. At the end of it the target of the rite, normally a corpse, fomori, or Black Spiral is forced to choose to either completely embrace the wyrm or to reject it. If they reject the wyrm they assume their natural Wyrm free form. A vampire would become human again. A Black Spiral becomes a White Howler. A fomori a human. etc. If they embrace the Wyrm the die because Wyrm is death and decay. System: This rite is taxing on user and target alike. First the user make a stamina roll difficulty 8. Failure means she loses a permanent stamina point if zero she dies. Then she must roll manipulation + rituals. The target difficulty is set by the strength of the Wyrm taint, the stronger the easier. Then she must roll Gnosis (diff 7) and add the two amounts of successes. This number must be higher than the target's willpower or the gift has failed and can never be use on that target again. Once this has worked the target must roll his humanity. Difficulty is set by GM; the lower the humanity the higher the difficulty since evil is attracted to Wyrm. If you make the roll you lose the wyrm taint and assume your natural form. (A vampire may still die if he is over 100 year old). If you fail you have embraced the wyrm and you turn to rotting dust. Tribe Bans 1) Rage can never be used except for defending others, never to defend yourself or out of anger. 2) They can never frenzy. 3) They can never serve a Totem. They only call upon Gaia herself. Physical The rite you go thorough when joining the Red Paw changes ones colors. The fur of your wolf side becomes a vanilla or light tannish color. The eyes become sky blue. All Red Paw wear only natural fabrics and never furs. They prefer lighter colors normally matching the tones of there new wolf fur. They also always wear a necklace of some other piece of simple jewelry that consists of a leather or fabric band or chain with a piece of wood with a Red Paw mark on it. Often it is their mentor's paw print or the mentor's own blood.