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This book is copyrighted but you are encouraged to make copies and print-outs as needed. This PDF has been
published as a free download – if you are asked to pay for it you have been a victim of fraud.
This document is a reorganized and reedited version of my original werehorse rules which were first published in nine
parts back in 2005. This book is a Breed book designed for use with Werewolf: the Apocalypse published by White
Wolf © 1994-2004 and a copy of that book is needed to play this game.
All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional or used in a fictional context and
any similarity to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
The art used in this book comes from a variety of copyright free images as well as various Clipart
publications including Corel Clipart, Hemera, Microsoft Works and Word, and Wikipedia Commons. All
copyrighted work is from Simply Software’s Sci-Fi & Fantasy Clipart 3 and Witches and Wizards Clipart
both edited by Jon Gustafson and © 1997-2008, No Hassle Home.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In 2006 I decided to start a Werewolf: the Apocalypse® Chronicle. Unfortunately two of my players were
full of misinformation about wolves and refused to participate as they did not want to play “evil animals”. I
asked my players what kind of animals they would like to play and everyone agreed that horses were
“nice”. So I did some research than sat down with a copy of the Werewolf core rules (2nd edition) and the
Player’s guide and created this document. As this book was meant to replace the werewolves in my
Apocalypse chronicle it is rather lengthily so I originally published it on the internet in nine parts.
However that version did not convert to PDF very well as the pictures bled into the watermark I used as a
background. This revised Edition corrects that problem as well as fixes some` mistakes made in the original
edition.
This is not the first attempt to adapt werehorses to the Storyteller System’s Werewolf: the
Apocalypse® game, three others have already been published on various internet sites, yet all of those
versions were disappointing to me. The previous adaptations all had two things in common, they were
incomplete and their authors seemed ignorant of the plight of the many species of wild horse in the world.
In fact only one version had a tribe based on a wild species instead of a domesticated breed and that was the
most obvious- the Zebra. Yet there are seven species of wild equine in the world (as well as such “feral”
types as the mustang and brumby) and many of these are among the most endangered animals on Earth, a
fact that gives a ready made plot hook to an Apocalypse game!
In this book I am going to combine elements from the previous efforts with actual horse mythology. In
particular I am going to change the name of the race to reflect actual legends. All the previous versions
used different names for their werehorses (Equi, Equinasi, and Kelpies) but only one was a name found in
actual mythology. However this name (Kelpie) is already found in Werewolf: the Dark Ages as the Garou
term for a bane possessed mortal horse so I decided to start afresh with a new name. I decided upon
Ashringa based on the Indian legends of Rishyashringa, a boy who had a human for a father and a unicorn
for a mother. A character noted for his role in defeating the demon dragon of drought and healing a
kingdom from corruption. What better myth to link an Apocalypse tribe to?
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nonfiction (Horses)
The World According to Horses: How They Run, See, and Think- by Stephen Budiansky: just as the title
says. This book gives a good summary of facts about horses and their behavior.
The Horse in Magic and Myth- by M. Oldfield Howey: Everything you ever wanted to know about horses
in mythology, folklore and ancient religious rituals. This is simply the best book on the subject.
A Natural History of Zebras- by Dorcas MacClintock: Everything you need to know about the history and
behavior of zebras. It also has some information on the other species of wild horse as well.
Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies- PBS. An Emmy wining episode of Nature that documents the life of a
wild mustang in the Arrowhead Mountains. The DVD version also includes the sequel Cloud’s Legacy.
America’s Last Wild Horses- by Hope Ryden: A strong stomach is recommended when reading this book
which details the attempts the US government has taken to exterminate the native mustangs in order to
demoralize the Native American Population. A must read for Nhurim players.
The Last Wild Horse- by Morris Weeks: The story of the Przhevaslsky’s horse and the Tarpan.
Zoobooks: Wild Horses- by John Wexo: A little magazine with a huge amount of information. It not only
describes but illustrates (in color) every species of equine known.
Nonfiction (Unicorns)
Unicornis: On the History and truth of the Unicorn- by Michael Green: A beautifully illustrated book
claiming to be a translation of the Codex Unicornis, a 15th century manuscript written by a Gnostic monk
named Magnalucius. The seven houses of the unicorn were my inspiration for the Ashringa’s tribes and its
E. Piebus Untimus seemed to already be made for Werewolf: the Apocalypse. This is a book that I highly
recommend for Ashringa or Child of Gaia players.
The Unicorn- by Nancy Hathaway: A book on unicorn folklore dating from biblical times to today. It also
contains the most detailed retelling of the story of Rishyashringa I have ever found.
The Lore of the Unicorn- by Odell Shepherd: The best book ever written about the unicorn. For ancient
reports and beliefs about the one horned wonder this is the book to read.
Unicorns I Have Known and The Unicorn of Mount Kilimanjaro- by Robert Vavra: A book composed of
incredible color photographs of horses made up into the most realistic unicorns ever. The text near the end
is just as wonderful as the photos and is full of rare facts about the unicorn.
Death Valley’s Scotty‘s Castle: the Story Behind the Scenery by Stanley Paher: A tourist magazine that
tells the history of Death Valley Scotty and highlights many of the features of the Castle he built in Death
Valley.
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Death Valley: the Story Behind the Scenery - Bill Clark: A tourists picture book magazine showing some
of the sites around the park.
Dragons: A Natural History – Karl Shuker: A richly illustrated compendium of dragon legends from
around the world.
Exploring Death Valley: 3rd Edition – Ruth Kirk: An overview of the history of Death Valley, complete
with many Shoshone legends but is a bit patronizing towards the Native American cultures.
The Geological Story of Death Valley - –Thomas Clements: The geological and zoological history of
Death Valley and one of the few books to point out that the donkeys and the bighorn sheep they are
supposed to be competing with actually inhabit different areas of the park.
Sacred Sites: A Traveler’s Guide to North America’s Most Powerful, Mystical Landmarks – Natasha
Peterson: the perfect resource for finding a potential caern site in your local state.
Weird America – Jim Brandon: An encyclopedia of Weird Events (such as rains of Blood, odd
disappearances, Monster Sightings, Lost Treasures, and bizarre artifacts) from every state in North
America. You can find more inspiration for a chronicle in this little book than in a dozen game products.
Highly recommended, just make sure you get the 1978 version by Jim Brandon as a current book with the
same title details nothing more than odd tourist spots.
Fiction (Ludography)
Werepony: the Canter- by Red Raptor, (dinoguy@earthlink.net ): The first werehorse game. Short but has
some nice gifts and Métis flaws.
Birth of the Firebringer- by Meredith Ann Pierce: The first book in a trilogy this is one of the best unicorn
stories ever published. Often described as “My Little Pony for grownups”, it is the story of Aljan, prince of
the unicorns, and his quest to drive the evil wyrms from the Hollowed Hills.
The Grey Horse- by R. A. MacAvoy: the story of an Irish werehorse searching for a kin-folk wife. While
called a puca in the book, Ruairi Mac Eibhir has more in common with the Ashringa than with the pookas
of Changeling: the Dreaming.
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The Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West- by Mary Stanton: This is the book for adapting equines to
the World of Darkness. Despite the fact that it was written in the 1980s it could easily be a chronicle all by
itself- the spirit world, moon bridges, the wyrm, this book has it all! It was followed by a sequel called
Piper’s Song which is almost as rare as the first novel.
The Last Unicorn- by Peter S. Beagle: The classic novel (and movie) about a unicorn who is turned into a
human woman in her quest to free her kind from the Red Bull.
Mad Amos by Alan Dean Foster: A collection of all his Mad Amos Malone stories.
Misty of Chincoteague, Brighty of the Grand Canyon, and Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West- by
Marguerite Henry. These books tell the true stories of a wild Chincoteague pony, a heroic donkey, and
Wild Horse Anne, a young woman disfigured by disease that single handedly saved the mustang from
extinction. All were also made into movies.
Nico the Unicorn- MGM Motion Picture: The best live action unicorn film ever. A young crippled boy
rescues an abused pony only for it to give birth to a most unusual foal. Ignore the film “The Little Unicorn”
as it is only a poorly made and childish remake of the much superior Nico.
Nightmare- by Piers Anthony: A Xanith novel that turns the usual horse symbolism on its head when a
good nightmare saves the land of Xanth from an invasion masterminded by an evil werehorse.
The Unicorns of Balinor- by Mary Stanton: While Heavenly Horse is Stanton’s masterpiece this latter
series for children may be useful for storytellers needing inspiration. It reminds me of an old 1985 cartoon
series called Wildfire which I also recommend for Ashringa players if it ever is released on DVD.
The Year of the Unicorn and The Key of the Keplian- by Andre Norton: These two Witch World novels
are among the most recommended of the series as far as werehorses are concerned. In the first book a
woman is kidnapped by a group of lycanthropes who call themselves the Wereriders because their leader is
a werehorse. In the second story a Native American woman stumbles across the umbra into the Witch
World where she rescues a race of magical horses from the forces of darkness.
Unicorns! And Unicorns II- edited by Jack Dann and Gardener Dozois: A very good collection of modern
fiction. Included in II are Michael Bishop’s The Calling of Paisley Coldpony about a Native American
totem unicorn spirit, and a fantastic bit by Janet Kagan called Naked Wish Fulfillment about a unicorn spirit
on the set of a porn film!
The horse was first domesticated by the nomads of Central Asia over 6,600 years ago and these nomads
eventually became the Scythians and Aryans who introduced the domestic horse throughout Eurasia. To
their early Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, and Indian neighbors the early horse riders seemed almost supernatural
and were depicted as centaurs in ancient art. To the Nomadic tribes of India the horse was the symbol of
leadership as bestowed by the Great Mother, even their kings were chosen by whose horse neighed first at
the rising sun. Because of this close relationship with the horse it is no surprise that India’s legends are
filled with men becoming horses, horses becoming men, and a marriage that resulted in Unicorn’s children.
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The Legend of Rishyashringa
Long ago there lived an Indian holy man named Vibhandaka. For many years Vibhandaka lived alone
in a cave high up in the Himalayas. Eventually the old hermit became so lonely that he prayed that the
gods would send him a companion. Gaia granted his request by sending one of her creatures to him.
The being that came to Vibhandaka’s cave was a white pony with the grace of a gazelle and a single
golden horn in the center of her forehead. She was the most beautiful creature Vibhandaka had ever
seen and he instantly fell in love with her and, with the blessing of Gaia, Vibhandaka was married to the
unicorn by the gandharvas of the mountains.
In time the unicorn gave birth to a son who was human in every way except for the horn in the center of
his forehead. Vibhandaka and his wife named their son Ashringa which means “unicorn” and he
eventually grew into a young man so wise in the ways of nature that he earned the title of Rishy which
means “great sage” while still teen. One evening Rishyashringa returned home and found that his
parents had died. He buried Vibhandaka and his mother and would have lived out his days alone in the
mountains if it had not been for the princess Shanta.
Shanta was the daughter of a king so greedy that Britra, the Dragon of Drought breathed upon the land
and turned his realm into a barren desert. The king’s wise men told him that only the famous unicorn
boy could restore his kingdom but the king refused to listen to the advice of the Brahmans. Thus
princess Shanta felt that it was her duty to run away from home and find Rishyashringa to break her
father’s curse.
After months of searching Shanta finally found the unicorn boy and, by approaching him as a repentant
disciple, she finally gained his trust. Eventually they fell in love and Shanta persuaded Rishyashringa to
help her people. When Shanta returned to the drought struck kingdom the prideful king refused
Rishashringa’s help and ordered his guards to kill him. As the guards approached him Rishyashringa
began to pray and for the first time in over a year it began to rain. As the land turned from desert to
farmland the shamed king turned his realm over to his daughter and took to his deathbed. Queen Shanta
then married Rishyashringa and they all lived happily ever after.
The legend narrated above is the short and sweet version of the origin of the werehorses. According to
Ashringa lore the werehorses are simply the descendants of Rishyashringa and Princess Shanta. According
to their myths the princess and the unicorn boy had seven sons. Each son in turn gave rise to one of the
seven tribes (or bão) of Ashringa.
The first of these sons was Assalam, the Mighty who crossed the bridge of ice to the new world. The next
born was Ilvilon, the Devoted, who loved mankind. The third son was Vata, the Destroyer, who protected
the desert from bandits and evil. The forth son was Ohani, the Trickster, who danced with the gandharvas
and little people of the woods. The fifth son was Kestevara, the Peaceful, who brought the gift of writing to
the east. The sixth son was Abram, Lover of the Sea, who ruled the islands to the south. And, finally the
last son was Isfendarmd, Who Guards the Night, who brought light to a continent of darkness.
Each of these seven stallions eventually moved to different lands where they interbred with the native
peoples and equines and so sired one of the seven bãos (tribes) of the Ashringa. This is why each bão
resembles a different human race and a different horse kin and it is also why all Ashringa belong to the
same family and have a common goal.
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disease a duty which is similar to that of the Gurahl’s but the goals of the two be êteiffer. While a
werebear would allow itself to be killed so that a starving village could eat a werehorse would restore the
fertility of the land so that the village could plant crops for long term survival. The Ashringa believe that
there may still be hope for Gaia if the Earth Mother is returned to its original pure state. To do this they
seek to return the Triat to health. It is not the Ashringa’s duty to go against the Wyrm, rather their duty is to
purify the Wyrm of its corruption and restore the balancer Wyrm to power.
The Ashringa have a lot of work to do to rebuild Gaia. Some groups fight to clean polluted areas by
increasing regulations on air, water, and land quality. Others seek to restore endangered species and restore
the Ashringa’s link with the other shape shifters. Still others seek to rescue wild equines from government
sponsored roundups and slaughter houses in order to preserve their wild kin. Many still seek lost human
kinfolk in blighted cities or poverty stricken reservations.
The Ashringa follow the Codex Unicornis, a prophecy equivalent to the Garou Prophecy of the Phoenix. To
the Ashringa now is obviously the time mentioned in the Codex. This has caused the Ashringa to change
their habits for the better. In the past the werehorses were more concerned with hiding from the werewolves
and preserving their horse kin then in human affairs. But the Codex declares that now is the time for
Unicorn to show himself and the Ashringa are disclosing their presence to the world.
The Time of the Great Purification is at hand and unicorn’s children must be ready to come out of hiding
and rebuild the world to prevent the Apocalypse. Even humanity must become aware of their presence for
the Codex states that man must know the true nature of the unicorn if he is to resist the corrupting influence
of the Wyrm. But showing oneself to man is dangerous so the Ashringa have responded by encouraging
unicorn images in literature and art. Most Ashringa will show themselves in monoceros form to people
whom they judge to be innocent or pure of heart for it is only by knowing that magic is real and that Gaia
loves all her children that man can find the hope that will cure the Wyrm’s madness and restore the Earth to
primal harmony
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The Codex Unicornis
The unicorn is a kindred race, bound to us in love and service. He points the way, he guards the
gate, and he waits until the end.
Behold! An age shall come when science shall darken everywhere the hopes of men. Chariots of
iron shall roll the land, which shall grow hard and barren to bear their weight. The air shall be filled
with the clamor of many voices. Unknown plagues and sicknesses shall arise. The sphere of the moon
shall bear the booted heels of man.
Two mighty kingdoms will contend for the world, and turn against it, until the soil and the sea shall
sicken and the winds become a flux of poisoned vapors. And men shall be sorly tried, so that at the last,
none may escape the choice between light and darkness.
Then, in the time of Great Purification, will the unicorn return in strength, lingering at the margins of
our realm, to seed our minds with dreams of a brighter age to come, and many shall hunger to see him
in his true shape.
But being a spiritual creature, the unicorn must conform himself to the images held in the hearts of
those who call him forth. And there will be so many ill-formed and conflicting ideas as to his nature,
that he can hardly find a way to satisfy them all.
Then must these pages be revealed and broadcasts without restraint; that all confusion may be resolved
and a unity of vision call forth the unicorn in his true, original, and perfect state.
© Michael Green, from “Unicornis: The History and Truth of the Unicorn.
Corax: the Corax, on the other hand, know that the purpose of the Ashringa is to restore the balance and
are trying to convince the Garou that the horses are good for Gaia, though the Garou are as stubborn as
always. Corax and Ashringa get along exceptionally well.
Anansi: its’ uncertain if the spider-folk knows of the Ashringa’s existence, nor what they think of it.
Bastet: In essence, the cats are no better than the wolves. With the exception of the Bubasti, Ceilican and
Qualmi, all cats see horses as their natural prey. Balam, Pumonca and Simba in particular go after the
Ashringa who they see as their natural enemies.
Gurahl: The bears on the other hand, being Gaia's’healers themselves, are the closest allies the Ashringa
will ever have. They accept the werehorse’s work and occasionally help.
Mokolé: The were-crocs remember the Ashringa, through until recently most Streams believed that that
they had died out. While the larger crocodilians may eat horses it is uncommon and in any case the Mokolé
know and accept the Ashringa’s purpose as it is similar to their own. In many areas allied Mokolé come to
Ashringa Glories to tell the gathered werehorses of the times when real unicorns walked the Earth.
Nagah: The were-snakes believe that the Ashringa have died out.
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Nuwisha and Kitsune: The trickster foxes and coyotes respect the Ashringa but rarely interfere with their
problems. The Nuwisha especially enjoy exchanging tales of trickery with the Nimbi Tribe of Ashringa.
Ratkin: It’s’ quite sure that the Ratkin know of the Ashringa’s existence, but they stay underground too
much to make up an opinion on them. Then again, Ratkin like very few people, so it is debatable if they
make an exception here.
Rokea: Spending their existence in the waters, The Rokea knows only of the Nabrima Tribe of the
Ashringa who they view as rather difficult prey.
Other Supernatural Beings: Ashringa hate and despise vampires as the undead are a symptom of the
Wyrm’s madness. The werehorses are also in conflict with the Technocracy mages who see the Ashringa’s
attempt to show humanity the magic in the world as a threat. Dragons, Gargoyles and Faeries however are
the Ashringas greatest allies as they all believe in returning the world back to the Mythic Age. Mummies do
not know of the Ashringas existence and Immortals think they are a myth.
Ashringa Society
“A horse is a member of a company. A horse is one with her fellows.”
-El Arat, Dream Speaker of Bishop Farm (from Mary Stanton’s “Heavenly Horse”)
Horses are heard animals and this is reflected by the society of the Ashringa. However horse herds are not
organized like those of cattle or deer. Horses roam in bands consisting of a stallion, a lead mare, and from
1-13 subordinate mares and their foals. These mares are not related to the stallion. Despite popular belief,
wild equines do not commit incest and both the young fillies and colts will leave their home band to find an
unrelated mate when they reach puberty. A band rarely contains more than 16 animals and each band roams
a territory of approximately 1-4 miles per adult member of the band. Only in times of migration do the
various bands come together to form the huge herds that were once so common in the American West and
in Africa. Even in a herd, however, each band is distinct with its own lead stallion and mare. One stallion in
the herd is chosen by ritual combat to be the “king stallion” and it is this animal who decides on the herds
movement and directs the other stallions in the defense of the herd.
The Ashringa also have individual territories 1-4 miles square and every werehorse in the area belongs to a
group called a charm. A charm is equivalent to a Garou pack and rarely contains more than 10 members.
Equine kin are allowed to come and go throughout a charms territory. A perfect charm is supposed to
contain one of each Suhn (Ashringa auspice) but these days a perfect charm is almost as rare as Unicorn
herself.
Dwells
“So in the course of his wanderings he returns to favored spots called dwells where he may safely rest.”
- Magnalucius, 15th Century.
As in the Garou the Ashringa gather in places of power. The Ashringa call these areas dwells and they are
the equivalent of Garou cairns. Several charms that use the same dwell are collectively known as a grace.
Originally graces were all composed of the same bão but as the number of safe havens dwindled mixed
graces became the norm. The grace performs the same social, political, religious and protective duties as a
Garou sept. The grace usually has one charm composed of older members who remain on permanent
vigilance to care for the dwell and protect it. These elders often employ charms of younger Ashringa to
perform missions for it.
Most dwells are located in the deep wilderness but sometimes out of necessity one may be found near the
haunts of men. Otherwise the composition, size of the Kossiacky (the land around the dwell, named after an
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Old Russian term for a wild horse’s territory, equivalent to a Garou bawn), dwell level, and totems are the
same as in Garou cairns.
The only real difference is the form taken by the cairn’s center. In an Ashringa grace the dwells center is
always a naturally hidden spot. This could be as simple as a nest of ferns in tall grass, a secret bower in the
center of a tangled hedge of wild rose, or a clearing in the forest or as elaborate as a hidden cave behind a
waterfall, a pool of water, or even a long abandoned dolmen or stone circle. In all cases the center opens
into an umbral glade which is the true heart of the dwell. Any Ashringa may enter the heart of a dwell in
order to pass into the umbra. This is good because Ashringa, like most were-beasts, otherwise need a
special gift to enter the spirit world. Many a predator has chased a wild horse into a grove of trees only to
have it disappear into the umbra.
The umbral dwell is a large area that appears to be an idealized version of the mortal world, filled with
umbral plants and friendly spirit animals. If the outside is barren desert than the glade will be covered in
golden sand bestrewn with wildflowers, if in the forest than all the trees will be perfectly healthy and in
bloom, while city dwells will seem to be the loveliest of parks. In all cases the heart will be large enough to
allow the grace to hold council and perform rites.
Glories
“But when some great need comes to pass, the more ancient of the unicorns gather, unbidden, and of their
own accord, in some remote place, whether lofty crag or secret glade. And there they hold their council.”
- Magnalucius, 15th Century.
The glory is the Ashringa counterpart to the Garou moot. The functions and dynamics are similar to those
of the Garou but have their own cultural flavor. Each bão of Ashringa gives its own twist to a Glory. The
Arweharis like to employ African chants and dances, the Nabrima commonly perform such feats as fire
walking and other traits of the Pacific Islanders, while most modern Nimbi prefer drinking tequila, Latino
music and breaking piñatas to the Native American sun dances and peace pipe smoking of their Nhurim
neighbors. In all cases an Ashringa glory is divided into five sections: the Shu-pah, Ry-ya, Ya-rhuhn, Sai-
yah, and the Ya-eehaugh!
Shu-pah: All glories begin with the Shu-pah or “opening neigh”. The local king stallion of the dwell acts
in the roll the Garou call “the Master of the Howl.” Changing to Monoceros or Equine form the glory king
rears onto his hind legs and calls out a welcome. This call is then answered by the rest of the Glory in an
exuberant outburst of neighs, brays, whistles, stomping and general noise. In this way no matter their
original suhn, bão, or charm all attending the glory are made to feel like one herd.
Ry-ya: The Ry-ya, or “obedience to the spirits”, is dedicated to strengthening the dwell by contacting its
totem spirits. It is thus equivalent to the Garou “inner sky” portion of a moot.
Ya-rhuhn: Ya-rhuhn literally means “divine grazing” and it is the Ashringa equivalent to the Garou’s
“cracking of the bone.” It begins with the “great recollection” in which the Glory’s Truthcatcher leads the
elders in a speech in which they recount the history of their race and ends with the entire Glory pledging
anew their vow to restore the Earth to purity. Only after finishing their vow do the Ashringa turn to dealing
with the business of the Glory. During this time grievances are aired, grace policy is made, personal
conduct is addressed, and decisions are made about the future.
Sai-yah: The Sai-yah or “telling of divine stories” is led by the Grace’s Storyteller. She leads the Glory in
spinning stories about the past and present. Ancient heroes are remembered and new ones honored with
calls of recognition and praise. An Ashringa whose deeds have earned him a Storyteller’s praise gains
much renown in the eyes of his peers. During this time visiting Mokole’ may be asked to share their
memories and to remember the deeds of the Ashringa being honored at the Glory. This part of the Glory
usually ends with music, feasting and dancing. Two dances, the “Moon Dance” (a circle dance) and the
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Dance of the Stars (a dance in which the entire Glory forms a single twisting line led by the king), are
commonly performed at Glories.
Ya-eehaugh: The Ya-eehaugh, or “divine challenge,” cumulates the Glory. As the stories, songs, and
dances stir the Ashringa’s souls to a fever pitch the werehorse serving as Wyrm Foe changes into
Monoceros form and gives forth the ringing cry of a stallion challenging a rival. The rest of the Glory
answer his call, change to Monoceros (if not already in that form) and charge out of the Glory’s heart. The
stampeding herd is then led on an exhausting run to clear the kossiacky of enemies. The energy released in
the Ya-eehaugh is effectively raw gnosis (at least one point per person attending the Glory) which is used
to recharge the dwell. As in Garou cairns a dwell needs at least five points of gnosis per level donated to it
each moon to remain charged.
Ashringa Lexicon
Alicorn: a unicorn or Monoceros form Ashringa’s horn.
Alma: The Earth Mother Gaia in her form as the moon horse.
Asbar: literally meaning “horse-head” this is one of the Ashringa’s “Glabro” forms. An Asbar resembles a
horse headed man in contrast to the second Centaurus Glabro form.
Baguale: a feral horse from South America, one of the Nhurim’s kinfolk.
Brumby: the feral horses of Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia, Nabrima kinfolk.
Centaurus: one of the two “Glabro” forms of the Ashringa. It resembles a centaur. See Asbar.
Colt: a male horse under four years old. Also slang for a Rank one male Ashringa.
Equid: the type of wild horse an Ashringa is kinfolk with, mustang, ass, tarpan, onager, etc.
Filly: a female horse under four years old. Also slang for a Rank one female Ashringa.
Forest of Brocileande: The umbral lands the Garou call The Summer Country.
Galgallim: the true name of Unicorn, the whirlpool of harmony and love.
Gelding: a castrated male horse. A castrated donkey is sometimes called a john instead. Also slang for an
Ashringa who is cowardly (I.e. a wimp).
Hack: a “nag”, used as a slang term for an equine Ashringa born of domestic horse stock.
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Hand: a unit of measurement (equaling 4 inches) used to measure a horse’s height from the shoulders
down.
Herd: a group of horses. It is also a slang term for an Ashringa’s kinfolk, similar to the Garou “flock.”
Hinny: a hybrid where the mother is a donkey and the father is a horse. Also slang for a female Métis
Ashringa.
Hobgoblin: a demon horse. From “Hob,” a small horse and “Goblin,” an evil spirit.
Kossiacky: the territory claimed by a herd of wild horses, also the territory claimed by a Grace, similar to a
Garou bawn.
Mare: an adult (over 4 years old) female horse. A female donkey is sometimes called a jenny instead.
Mulassier: A term meaning “mule breeder” that is used for an Ashringa who sleeps with another Ashringa,
similar to the Garou “charach.”
Mule: a hybrid with the mother being a horse and the father a donkey. Also slang for a male Métis.
Orkus: the “dragon of death.” The beast of war aspect of the Wyrm.
Palfrey: a fancy riding horse, also slang for an Ashringa who is a dandy or a yuppie.
Rapture: the Ashringa word for a frenzy. It is divided into the Battle Rapture (berserk frenzy) and the
Wind Rapture (fox frenzy).
Rishy: a holy man of the continent of India who has renounced civilization. Used by modern Ashringa for
a werehorse that belongs to no charm, similar to the Garou ronin.
Stallion: an entire male horse over four years old. Male donkeys are sometimes called jacks instead.
Takin Shara Nuru: “the mountains of the yellow horses” in Mongolia, the first Killina dwell.
Tarasque: the ever hungry dragon. The eater of soul’s aspect of the Wyrm.
Yaldaboath: the Wyrm. Seen as female by the Ashringa, Yaldaboath is the dark mother gone mad from the
poisons that have sunk into the Earth. Only by purifying the world will nature be restored and the
fragmented aspects of Yaldaboath once more form the balancer of nature she was meant to be.
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actually gray not white. For that reason I am placing it in a lexicon all by itself for ease of reference. In the
colors below a horse’s points are its lower legs, ear tips, muzzle, and dorsal stripe.
Albino: white hair on pink skin with red eyes. This color is easily confused with White and Ivory.
Bay: golden brown to reddish brown with black points. This color is called “russet” in donkeys and may
have roaning on the face and legs.
Black: black fur over the entire body. “dull black” is slightly reddish while “raven” is dark and glossy.
Brindle: any solid equine color marked with stripes on the majority of the body. This color is extremely
rare in horses, ponies and asses but is the only color found in zebras.
Brown: black fur over most of the body fading to brown on the muzzle and belly. In donkeys this color has
darker legs like a bay.
Chestnut: this color, also called Sorrel, is brown ranging from tawny to reddish (a “bloodstone” horse is
actually maroon in hue), bronze or chocolate. The mane and tail are the same color or slightly lighter
(“flaxen”).
Dun: this is either dark Ivory (called “buckskin” or “yellow dun“) or Grulla (called “mouse” or “blue” dun)
with black points. Zebra stripes on the legs and mealy markings are common. “Rose dun”, a light pinkish
grey with darker points, is a color unique to the donkey. Roses often arise from chestnut and slate parents
and a rose that mates with a chestnut always produces slate foals.
Frosted: white fur on pink skin with dark brown eyes. Genetically this is a roaned pinto and not a variant
of Ivory or White. It is more common in the donkey than in horses.
Gray: a gray horse is born black and gradually turns lighter as more and more white hairs appear. A young
horse that is predominantly black is said to be “steel gray”, they then become “flecked” (black with
occasional clusters of white), then “dappled” (the clusters become clearly defined patches of white) and
finally “flea bitten” which is almost pure white with small, scattered patches of black hair. Some lighten
even more to “silver” which is pure white fur on black skin.
Grulla: this color, called Slate in donkeys, is gray hair on black shin. Often this color has a blue or pinkish
tinge. See also dun.
Ivory: this color, also known as Cremallo, is light cream, ranging from near white to golden, on pink or tan
skin. The mane and tail is the same shade or darker than the body making it look like a white horse with a
golden mane and tail. Eyes may be blue, amber, or brown.
Palomino: Ivory with a white mane and tail. The perfect palomino is the color of a newly minted gold coin.
Pinto: this color, called “spotted” in donkeys, is large patches of white and another color. It is called
piebald if the colors are black and white and skewbald if it is white and any other color but black. Calico
(two or more colors on white) is also known. Pinto is often called Paint but that is a breed of horse with
pinto coloring rather than a hue.
Roan: Roan is blue gray (“blue roan”) or reddish chestnut (“strawberry roan”) sprinkled with white hairs
for a frosted effect. Arabian horses may have reddish hairs mixed among blue roan for a purple effect but
this fades by eight years of age. Roan horses tend to have darker heads and legs while roan donkeys are
lighter in these areas. Donkeys may also have dapples with dark centers on a lighter background.
Smoky Black: a color unique to the donkey, this hue is actually black dun! The body is black with a visibly
darker mane, tail, dorsal stripe, and zebra stripes on the legs. The muzzle is lighter than the body.
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Tyger: this is the spotted color found in the spotted donkey and the Appaloosa horse. There are several
patterns including “leopard” (white with colored spots), “blanket” (dark with a white rump patch), “spotted
blanket” (as in “blanket” but with the white patch covered with dark spots), “snowflake” (dark with light
spots), marble (solid colored with both darker and lighter spots) and mixtures such as marbled blanket.
Genetically it is similar to brindle except that the stripes have broken up into spots, note however that the
hooves are still marked with vertical stripes and that zebras are occasionally born with this pattern.
White: white hair on pink skin. Unlike albino white horses have blue or amber eyes. White horses may
have a bluish (porcelain) or yellowish (dirty) tinge. Compare to Albino, Grey, Frosted, and Ivory.
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HORSES OF THE SUN: CREATING A CHARACTER
And the Horse of the sun passed lightly through him. He felt it enter him.
-“The Sun Horse”, ancient Navaho legend
This chapter will contain the basic rules needed to create an Ashringa Character. It will contain the basic
werebeast classifications as Breed, Tribe, and Auspice as well as notes on the forms, abilities, and Renown.
Last I will give Character Sheet designed for Ashringa Characters. To create an Ashringa use the chart on
pages 76-77 of Werewolf: the Apocalypse, substituting the following for the Garou equivalent.
Character Creation
BREED
Homid: You were born human and were raised by human parents. You did not know you were a werehorse
until you were a teenager though you were probably always fascinated by horses, unicorns, or fantasy. You
resemble the human race native to your bãos land of origin. Nickname: Horseman.
Initial Gnosis: 1 Starting Gifts: Hoof’s Might, Nature‘s Plenty, Smell of Man.
Métis: Unlike most Béte, Ashringa Métis are born in Monoceros (hispo) form instead of crinos form. By
causing the most beautiful form an Ashringa can obtain to be twisted and deformed Gaia shows her
displeasure in the sin that birthed him. Métis can be born as the result of mating by different bão in this
case the hybrid resembles whatever cross their equine kin would have made (mule, hinny, zebrass, zorse,
etc.) and the willpower will be the average of the two bão. Initial bão gifts may be taken from either
parent’s list but subsequent gifts must be the same as that of the mother since it is her totem that teaches
these gifts. Like most Béte, Métis Ashringa are sterile. Nickname: Mule
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Equine: You were born a wild horse, ass or zebra. You lived in the wild, the zoo, a wild animal park, or if
really unfortunate, a stable. You did not know that you were one of Unicorn’s children until your first
change at around 4-5 years old. Nickname: Cayuse
Initial Gnosis: 5 Starting Gifts: Banish Crop, Heightened senses, Leap of Pegasus.
SUHN
“We are not born to the Dark, only to shade and shadow.”
-Sharna of the Keplians, Andre Norton
The Ashringa call their auspices suhns and they have ties to both the sun and the moon. As in the Mokolé
the werehorses suhn is based on the time of day it is born but unlike Dragon’s children it is not the position
of the sun that matters but the size of the newborn’s shadow. Ones suhn determines the character’s role in
Ashringa society, which member of the Triat he follows, and how easily they Rage.
Initial Rage: 1
Renown/Gifts: as Warding Mokolé
Starting Gifts: Armor of the Tortoise, Blissful Ignorance, Sense Wyrm.
Initial Rage: 5
Renown/Gifts: as Ahroun werewolves
Starting Gifts: Full Moon’s Blessing, Inspiration, Razor Horn.
Initial Rage: 4
Renown/Gifts: as Galliard werewolves
Starting Gifts: Beast Speech, Mind Speak, Shadhavar‘s Horn.
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Initial Rage: 2
Renown/Gifts: as Theurge werewolves
Initial Rage: 3
Renown/Gifts: as Philodox werewolves.
Starting Gifts: Sense Guilt, Scent of True Form, Truth of Gaia.
Initial Rage: 1
Renown/Gifts: as Ragabash werewolves.
Starting Gifts: Colt‘s Foot, Mimic, Scent of Running Water.
BÃO
Truly, the unicorn displays a great variety of shapes, sizes, and temperaments, from the delicate deer like
Avarim to the bold Arweharis that guards the night.
-Magnalucius, 15th century.
There are seven tribes or “bão” of Ashringa. Each bão is directly descended from one of the seven sons of
Rishyashringa and each claims a separate horse kin which that bão resembles in animal form.
Arweharis
This bão is descended from Isfendarmad. They inhabit the
continent of Africa and their animal kinfolk are the several
species of zebra. In equine form they are always striped,
though their stripes may fade to silver in Monoceros form. Of
all the bãos the Arweharis were the least affected by the War
of Rage but they still lost the quagga when the wolves first
came to Africa. Outside of Africa this tribe is most common in
the Americas where both African Americans and zoo zebras
are common. In other lands they are confined to areas with
access to their animal kin. The Arweharis are a proud tribe
that constantly strives to win the leadership of the Ashringa
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from their Nhurim brothers.
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds; No allies or mentor
Tribal Totem: Lion
Tribal Gifts as the: Shadow Lords
Initial Gifts: Aura of Confidence, Camouflage, Fatal Flaw
Avarim:
This bão is descended from Ilvilion and their
homeland is Europe, England, and Russia. Their
Monoceros shape is the typical unicorn of English
art and their equine form is that of the “feral
ponies” of their homeland. They come in all horse
colors but many are a blue grey in the summer and
white in the winter. In ancient times their animal
kin was the tarpan but when that species was
almost exterminated in 1887 (only a single hybrid
herd survives in Poland) their kinfolk of choice
became the many herds of wild ponies of Europe
and the Chincoteague and Sable Island ponies of
North America. The Avarim are the bão most in
touch with humanity, indeed they have come to
believe that the only hope for the survival of their
animal kinfolk is in captivity.
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds; No Pure Breed
Tribal Totem: Pegasus
Tribal Gifts as the: Black Furies
Initial Gifts: Heightened Senses, Impala’s Flight, Sense Wyrm
Karkadamm:
This bão originated in the harsh deserts of Arabia. They are the
children of Vata the Destroyer and to this day they believe that
the best way to save Gaia is to destroy any human that dares to
enter the wilderness. The Karkadamm are a predominantly
equine tribe whose animal kin is the many forms of Asiatic
Wild Ass (Kiangs, Kulans, Dzigettai, Khur, and Onagers)
found in their homeland. In animal form they are yellowish
grey to deep rusty gold with a grey to white underside and
muzzle. Their animal kin are well known for being the fastest
and most ferocious of all wild horses and their Ashringa
relatives also live up to this reputation with bared teeth and
blooded horns.
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds; No allies, contacts or resources
Tribal Totem: Bull
Tribal Gifts as the: Silent Striders
Initial Gifts: Find Water, Sense Wyrm, Speed of Thought
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Killina:
This bão is native to the Orient. They are the children of
Kestivara and they are a gentle and honorable tribe. In their
home country this tribe’s Monoceros form was known as
the Qi-lin and it was considered a good omen to see one and
bad luck to harm one, for this reason this tribe was relatively
untouched by the War of Rage, it was modern hunters that
decimated the Killina’s animal kin and not the Garou. Their
equine form is the Takhi (Przewalski’s horse) and like their
kin they are yellowish in color varying from ivory white to
golden to a deep chestnut brown with a darker mane and
tail. The legs are either black or zebra striped and the
underside and muzzle are white. In the winter both sexes
grow a goat like beard. While the takhi is nearly extinct in
the wild there is a large zoo population. Their human
kinfolk are of Chinese or Japanese decent.
Initial Willpower: 4
Backgrounds; No restrictions
Tribal Totem: Unicorn
Tribal Gifts as the: Children of Gaia
Initial Gifts: Mother’s Touch, Resist Pain, Sky Running.
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds; No Allies, Pure Breed, or Resources
Tribal Totem: Dolphin.
Tribal Gifts as the: Stargazers
Initial Gifts: Balance, Resist Weakness, Snorkel Horn.
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mixed with the feral herds that all Nhurim mate with mustangs. Their ancestry from Assalom makes them
the lords of the werehorses but their mixed blood puts them in poor stead with the Arweharis.
Initial Willpower: 5
Backgrounds; No Pure Breed or Resources
Tribal Totem: Bison
Tribal Gifts as the: Silver Fangs
Initial Gifts: Lambent Flame, Leap of the Unicorn, Walk behind the Mirror.
Initial Willpower: 4
Backgrounds; No restrictions
Tribal Totem: Stag
Tribal Gifts as the: Fianna
Initial Gifts: Eyes of Oberon, Persuasion, Resist Toxin.
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with your bite but you have trouble eating vegetation, cannot crop grass like a normal horse and you have a
-3 penalty to appearance when in any form but Homid. Métis characters may take this flaw as their
deformity
No Hooves (1 point flaw) You are a throwback to prehistoric Eohippus and other fossil horses which had
dog like paws instead of hooves. You are -2 to all appearance rolls. You may take this flaw as your Métis
deformity.
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Forms
I have seen a unicorn confronted by danger seem to grow more robust in size and musculature, there may
be no final shape to which the beast must hold.
-Magnalucius, 15th century.
This is the normal Human form. Fairly much all Ashringa are tall with thick head hair, powerful builds, and
somewhat noticeable teeth, some may have buck teeth, perfect teeth, or gaps, etc. A light colored birthmark
is often found on the forehead. This form cannot regenerate but can handle iron without harm.
The Centaurus form resembles that of the Greek centaur. The head, torso, and
arms remain human (except for equine ears and four fingers on each hand)
while the lower body is the four legged figure of a horse. The Centaurus gains
an extra 175-275 % of body weight and an extra 8-10 inches in
height. Movement is as in the Equine form.
Stats: Str+2, Dex: +1, Sta: +2, Man: -1, App: -1, Difficulty 7
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characteristics as far as speech and movement are concerned. The huge claws do not allow fine
manipulation of objects (+2 to Difficulties) but jumping and other gross motor skills are as normal. This
form causes the and is only assumed when combat is the only option.
Stats: Str+4, Dex: +2, Sta: +3, Man: -3, App: always 0, Difficulty 6
Stats: Str+3, Dex: +3, Sta: +3, Man: -1, App: +2, Difficulty 7
Stats: Str+3, Dex: +2, Sta: +3, Man: -3, App: -1, Difficulty 6
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Movement
Horses are known for their speed but while a cheetah can reach a top speed of over 60 mph an onager’s (or
a very fast Racehorse’s ) top speed is only about 45 mph. however a cheetah can run for only a few seconds
while a horse can travel for over 100 miles (averaging 8 mph) for 12 hours without a break! Movement
rates in the game vary depending on form as in the chart below
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HORSES OF WAR: COMBAT
The unicorn fights with the mouth and with the heels, the mouth biting like a lion and with the heels kicking
like a horse
- Edward Topsell
Combat
The Ashringa were created to rebuild Gaia not to combat the Wyrm, however the time of The Great
Purification is at hand and sometimes the return to a better world can only be gained through the purgative
powers of destruction. As a diseased limb must sometimes be amputated to save a life so sometimes a spirit
or creature must die to prevent the further corruption of the Earth.
The Table below list the automatic combat maneuvers for the various forms using Dexterity + Brawl. The
abbreviations are:
(a): aggravated damage, difficulty 8 to soak Special: see the Core Rulebook for a detailed
(b): bashing damage, difficulty 4 to soak description of this maneuver
(n): normal damage, difficulty 6 to soak Str: Strength
N/A: not applicable, this form cannot do this
combat maneuver
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Ashringa can do the following Special Maneuvers: Evasive Action (all forms), Hamstring (Monoceros –
equine), Jaw Lock (Chalico – Equine), Leaping Rake (Chalico), and Taunt (all forms). They also have the
following exclusive maneuvers:
Brush Off
This maneuver is used to get an attacker off of an Ashringa’s back. The werehorse scrapes his sides along
fences, walls or trees (or runs under low branches) to dislodge a foe. He can also fall onto his back to crush
an opponent.
System: Roll Wits + Athletics (Difficulty = the rider’s Dexterity + Animal-kin). On a success the rider is
knocked off and takes damage equal to the Ashringa’s successes. On a failure the rider stays on. On a
Botch, the rider knows enough about horses that he can stay aboard like a trick rider and this maneuver
automatically fails if used again.
Bucking
This is the classic rodeo art of leaping, rearing, bucking and thrashing about to throw a rider or predator off
your back.
System: The Ashringa has a contested Dexterity + Athletics roll (Difficulty = the rider’s Animal-ken + 3
for the Ashringa and the werehorse’s Brawl + 3 for the rider.) The winner of the contest gets to add one
dice to her next roll while the loser loses one dice from his pool. The following occurs if a roll botches or a
dice pool is reduced to 0. If the rider botches he is thrown off. If the Ashringa botches the horse is too
exhausted to fight back any longer.
Capriole
This feat is used to drive away foes when one is surrounded. The Ashringa leaps into the air and kicks his
legs out behind him as if he is going to fly away like Pegasus.
System: On a successful Dexterity + Athletics roll (Difficulty 3+ the number of opponents) the Ashringa
clears a path behind him as the attackers dodge out of the way of his flying hooves. The Ashringa then
pirouettes about and gallops away out of the now cleared path. If an opponent spends a willpower point to
keep from dodging than that opponent takes the Ashringa’s Strength + 4 in normal damage and is knocked
down for one turn. If the Ashringa fails than the opponents were able to dodge his flying heels and
surround him before he could flee. On a botch the Ashringa falls for one turn.
Charge
The Ashringa runs at full speed at a target and rams him
with his horn for Strength +3 unsoakable aggravated
damage as the horn impales its victim.
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Courbette
The Ashringa rears upright upon his hind legs than leaps forward while still standing upright in a series of
short hops. This is a maneuver used to help a rider. Any rider on a courbetting steed may use a sword,
lasso, spear or other melee weapon (but not firearms) at normal difficulty.
System: The Ashringa rolls Dexterity + Athletics (Difficulty 6) to perform this action and each success is
the number of yards hopped. The rider can attack once per hop at normal difficulty as long as he is using a
hand held weapon. On a Botch the rider slips and must roll Dexterity + Animal-ken roll at a Difficulty of 8
or fall off.
Cow Kick
The Ashringa slams a hoof (or claw in Chalico form) into a
target for strength +2 damage. In addition the victim must
roll Dexterity + Athletics (Difficulty = the Ashringa’s
successes) or fall down. A fallen victim can take no action
for one turn (three turns if he botches) and may be trampled
or otherwise attacked by the werehorse at -1 difficulty.
Levade
Like the courbette this is an old warhorse trick to assist a rider in combat. The Ashringa rears upward and
crouches on his hind legs with his hocks almost touching the ground. Like a statue he holds this position
while the rider while the rider uses a handheld weapon (even weapons requiring two hands or firearms) at
normal difficulty.
System: The Ashringa rolls Stamina + Athletics (Difficulty 8) and each success is the number of turns the
werehorse can maintain the levade before he must return to all fours.
Mule Kick
The Ashringa stands on his fore hooves and kicks back with both hind feet for Strength + 4 normal damage.
Slashing Bite
Wild stallions use this maneuver to rip out the throat, cripple the limbs, or even to castrate rival males. The
werehorse holds his head low to the ground and then whips his head out like a striking snake to bite his
opponent in a particularly vulnerable area. The bite inflicts aggravated damage and even worse the target
must roll on the battle scars chart while adding one to the chart for each point of damage he was unable to
soak. These scars do not give Ashringa who bear them automatic Glory as they prove his weakness in
combat. It is considered unseemly for females to learn this maneuver.
System: This maneuver takes up two Brawl slots instead of one and is performed by rolling Dexterity +
Brawl at Difficulty 8. The damage is strength +1 aggravated.
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Used By: Chalico – Equine Actions: 1
Trample
The Ashringa actually runs over an opponent. Damage is taken from all four hooves if the victim fails to
dodge away in time.
System: The Ashringa rolls Dexterity + Brawl (Difficulty 6) and the damage is strength +4.
Rage
Ashringa find it much harder to Rage than do werewolves. After all they were created to heal not harm.
Follow the normal rules but at the following difficulties:
The Delirium
Humans were never preyed upon by horses but both the Chalico and Monoceros form cause a form of
delirium. Racal memories of the chalicotherium with its wicked claws causes true delirium effects (as in
W:tA) while the Monoceros form causes the wonderment derived from seeing the awesome power of the
unicorn. Like most changing breeds, the Ashringa are not as innately frightening as the Garou and all
delirium rolls (wits + occult)are at difficulty 5 (instead of 7 as in werewolves) or add 2 dice to willpower
instead. Note that unless the viewer has an unmodified willpower of 8 or higher than he will remember the
Monoceros only as a beautiful horse (“must have been an Arab”) and will try to rationalize the Chalico (“a
bear, it had to have been a bear”), whenever possible. A good example of this is in the movie The Last
Unicorn when the unicorn flicks a farmers lasso away with her horn the man thinks that he must have
slipped when trying to catch the Arabian horse.
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2 Panic: Runs away at full speed smashing Religious Awe: Falls to his knees in and prays
through anything in his way at the sight. Will only remember an angelic
presence.
3 Disbelief: “I must be going crazy.” Disbelief: “There’s no such Thing!”
4 Berserk: Will run in a blind frenzy, but Berserk: Goes crazy with joy, clapping,
will not harm him self in the process. screaming, dancing, and praying aloud
5 Terror: Will run but will look for a place to Fascinated: Will just stand and stare, “It’s a
hide and will stop once he seems to be safe unicorn, holy smoke it’s a unicorn!
6 Conciliatory: Will stay calm and try Possessive: Wishes to capture the Monoceros,
anything not to get hurt. “what a beautiful horse!”
7 Controlled Fear: May be scared but will Protective: Will want to help or touch the
remain rational. Monoceros at all costs.
8 Curiosity: More fascinated than frightened. Curiosity: Will be absolutely fascinated and
Will run if it seems appropriate. will probably follow or ask questions of the
Monoceros
9 Anger: “Ain’t no man afraid of no hoss!” Hunter: Will be filled with desire for the
Monoceros’ horn and will want to capture the
Ashringa
10 No special reaction. No special reaction.
RENOWN
Ashringa use the same Renown system as werewolves except that purifying a Wyrm tainted place, person,
or object is even more important to them. An Ashringa gets more glory from performing a great task of
building or repairing nature than from combat. A werehorse will get more renown for almost killing
himself building a protective wall around a dwell than one who is injured picking on Wyrm things. After all
it is much better to heal a spirit of the Wyrm’s madness so that it can rejoin Gaia. Ashringa also gain honor
for staying and protecting innocents from danger and they gain wisdom for any time they make a decision
in which the solution to a problem is working to repair the land or heal another.
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RENOWN CHART
Hrunnhe (Caretakers) & Hrunnhai (Protectors)
31
HORSES OF THE MOON: LORE OF THE UNICORN
Joachim, the Silver, the Horse-in- the-Moon “Come dance in the forest among us,”
Looked down from a nighttime sky “We’ll spin as we play to your song.”
To a ribbon of dark that was river Joachim, the Waxing, the Horse-in-the-Moon
With his Moon’s unwinking eye. Looked down in the farmlands to see
“Come down!” the beech trees whispered Men with their whips and their bridles,
With a dried leaf rattle and hiss. “We’ll ride on your back- You’ll be free.”
“Come down,” they sang with a breezy snarl, Joachim the Waning, wise and aloof
“Come down for a beech trees kiss.” Remained where he was in the sky.
Joachim, the Ageless, the Horse-in-the-Moon Like a spider, slow spinning,
Whose heart beat ardent with time A web’s end to beginning,
Looked past to the forest’s dark secrets Watching the mortals pass by.
Where his shadow lay pooled in the pines.
“Come dance,” the meat-eaters invited, - he Horse-in-the-Moon” from Mary Stanton’s
Hiding their hunger in song, the “Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West”
This chapter details the gifts, rites, and fetishes of the Ashringa. The powers given below are from various
sources but most of the gifts and rites given below can be found in Werewolf: the Apocalypse (2nd Edition),
The Werewolf Player’s Guide (2nd edition), and the Mokole’ Tribe Book
GIFTS
Funny thing how that Avalanche came up on that howling horse. He’d forgotten that, but it came back to
him now, sharp an’ clear. That big old animal a howlin’ like a wolf, and then the snow crashen’ down on
them and buryin’ poor Great Knox and somehow jest missing all the horses.
- “Weither a Borrower Be…” a Mad Amos story by Alan Dean Foster
As in werewolves, Ashringa start with three gifts, one from breed, suhn, and bão. The gifts of the
appropriate Garou breed and auspice can be learned by Ashringa as can certain Garou tribal gifts but in
some cases the gifts in question may have to be modified in order to be appropriate for Ashringa characters.
For example, the Garou gift Razor Claws would only work in Chalico form as that is the only Ashringa
shape that has claws. Gifts unique to the Ashringa can be found below.
BREED GIFTS
Homid Gifts
Hoof’s’ Might (1)
In Homid form, the Ashringa may call on her foot to become as strong as a horse's’ hoof for feats of
strength. This Gift is taught by a Horse-spirit.
The Ashringa spends 1 Rage and rolls Strength + Brawl difficulty 6. A kick of this can break doors, shatter
wood, but not metal or stone, and is good for one kick only.
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Scholar’s Friend (1)
As the Bastet (Bubasti) gift.
Talk (2)
As the Mokolé gift.
Inspiration (3)
The Ashringa appears so impressive and inspiring that to humans that they are inspired to work just as hard
to preserve nature. Some people affected by this gift have become activist for cleaning up pollution while
others have been inspired to paint nature scenes.
As soon as the avatar of Gaia blesses the werehorse with this Gift, it stays in effect for as long as the
Ashringa lives and affects any human who sees it in Monoceros form on a Charisma + Empathy roll,
difficulty = the viewers Delirium score.
Adaptation (4)
As the Garou Gift of the same name.
Métis Gifts
Hobble (1)
The user can, by expending a Gnosis point and winning a Willpower roll at a difficulty equal to the target‘s
dexterity + 4, cause any opponent to be hobbled. The user may only take small steps and may not run
(divide speed by the number of successes) and has a -3 penalty to dexterity. This gift lasts for one scene and
is taught by a snail spirit.
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Unicorn's’ Favor (1)
The Ashringa can call upon the spirit of the Unicorn, grow a temporary horn on her skull in any form.
Although this protrusion is a bit unsightly, it allows horn attacks in shapes other than Monoceros. This Gift
is taught by an avatar of Unicorn.
The Ashringa spends one Gnosis point to grow the horn. This lasts for one scene, and allows her to gore
her opponent for Strength+2, Aggravated damage Difficulty 7.
Stomp (2)
The Ashringa focuses all her strength into one devastating kick, which can break bone and shatter steel.
This Gift is taught by an Elephant-Spirit.
The Ashringa spends one Willpower point, and rolls Strength + Primal-Urge, Difficulty depending on what
the target is. This Gift works only once and inflicts strength + 3 aggravated damage. If the kick misses, the
roll has to be repeated and the Willpower point is lost.
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With this gift, the Ashringa gains the ability to enter the Umbra.
The werehorse may now enter in the same way as the Garou.
Heave-Ho (4)
As the Nuwisha Gift.
Equine Gifts
Banish Crop (1)
When the Ashringa cast a glance at a human holding a riding crop, whip, or any other tool of horse
domestication that tool turns to dust in the target's hands immediately. This Gift is taught by a Rust-Spirit.
The Ashringa simply spends one Gnosis and rolls Manipulation + Primal-Urge Difficulty 7. For each
success scored, the Ashringa may "disintegrate" one object, if she scores more successes than the number
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of objects are around, she can't save them up, they are simply lost. For whip fetishes wielded by other skin
changers, she must score successes equal to the level of the Fetish +2.
Camouflage (2)
As the level one Wendigo gift.
Moonfire (3)
By expending 2 Gnosis, the user can immolate her body with silver fire. The user is not affected by this. All
Wyrm creatures will take 1 aggravated point of damage each time they touch the user. This gift lasts for 1
scene.
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The Ashringa spends 1 Gnosis and 1 Willpower point, then rolls Manipulation + Leadership, difficulty 6.
The effect will draw all Ashringa and their Kinfolk to the caller’s side, as long as they’re’ in the same city.
Scrying (4)
As the level 3 Uktena Garou gift.
SUHN GIFTS
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Hrunnhe (Caretaker) Gifts
The caretakers have gifts as in the Warding Mokolé in addition to the gifts below.
Talk (2)
As the Mokolé gift.
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even when it is highly improbable or altogether impossible. It works just like the Mokolé gift of the same
name.
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this isn't the case, the Ashringa inflicts his own trample damage on himself and the Gift ends.) Once the
werehorse reaches his target, he inflicts both normal trample and horn damage and the Gift ends. this gift is
taught by a rhinoceros or elephant spirit.
Pebble (1)
By expending a Gnosis point, the user can cause a pebble to appear directly under an opponent's foot. The
victim must then immediately make a Dexterity check or fall down.
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asked, but will not fight for the user. The power of the spirit depends on the Dream Speaker’s Charisma +
Rituals roll.
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Hrunnya (Judge) Gifts
The Judges have gifts as in the Philodox Garou in addition to the gifts below.
Weathering (2)
The user may, by expending 3 Gnosis points (and winning a resisted Willpower test if against living beings
or difficulty 8 if nonliving) age any person or object by the winds of time.
Secrets (3)
As the Uktena gift.
Mimic (1)
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As the level two Galliard gift.
Dwelling (2)
This gift is similar to the Croatian Gift Safe Cave, with it the Ashringa can cause the earth to split before
him, creating a small cave that can hold up to five human sized people. The hole can be sealed once within
the cave, so that no one outside can discern its presence without supernatural means. Any burrowing animal
or earth spirit can teach this gift.
System: The player must spend one Gnosis point and make a Charisma + Survival roll, Difficulty 7, to
open the cave. The decision of whether or not to seal the cave must be made within three turns of using this
gift or it remains open. The cave lasts for a variable amount of time and once the duration expires anyone in
the cave will pop out as the cave disappears. Anyone in a sealed cave is safe from physical attack, but some
Gifts (such as Hand of the Earth Lords) can still affect them, as can any concerted burrowing effort that can
dig down into the cave and break it’s seal.
Shroud (2)
As the level one Uktena gift.
Recycle (4)
As the Red Talon gift.
Invisibility (5)
As the level three Uktena gift
BÃO GIFTS
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Arweharis Gifts
The zebra tribe has the same gifts as the Shadow Lord Garou as well as the gifts below. Unlike the Shadow
Lords however the Arweharis do not have the gift Summon Storm Crow, as thunderbirds are not an African
spirit type.
Camouflage (1)
As the Windigo gift.
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Ashringa can temporarily cure any given target of one debilitating flaw, negative trait, or mental illness.
The Ashringa spends a point of willpower and rolls her Empathy + Medicine against a difficulty equal to
her target’s stamina. If successful, the target is ‘cured” of some randomly selected problem for the
remainder of the night.
Avarim Gifts
The Avarim have the same gifts as the Black Furies in addition to the gifts given below.
Awe (3)
As the Garou gift.
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The werehorse spends one Gnosis point and rolls Gnosis (difficulty depending on the amount of fire to be
created) and stays until it burns out.
Range Difficulty
Point Blank (within 1 yard) 4
Close (2-20 yards) 6
Far (22-40 yards) 8
Karkadamm Gifts
The Karkadamm have the same gifts as the Silent Striders in addition to the gifts below.
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Find Water (1)
As the Mokolé gift.
Gold Shod( 3)
As per the gift Iron Shod but the hooves become gold
instead.
Survivor (3)
As the level five Bone Gnawer gift.
Killina Gifts
The Killina have the same gifts as the Children of Gaia in addition to the gifts below.
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Strength of the Shire (1)
The Mongolian pony has long been hailed for their strength, and the Killina’s use of this gift supports this
concept very well. Simply roll Strength + Willpower. If successful, the Ashringa increases her strength
rating by three for one scene.
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Nabrima Gifts
The Nabrima have the same gifts as the Stargazers in addition to the gifts below.
Homid A Mermaid (a human with a fish tail instead Swims at double land speed
of legs)
Klatra A Hippocampus (a horse with a dolphin’s Swim at double equine speed
tail instead of a horse’s hind legs and tail)
Chalico A Camparech (a hippocampus with a short As in Hippocampus plus a horn that does
unicorn horn) Strength +2 aggravated damage
Monoceros A Narwhal (a dolphin-like whale with a Swim at double monoceros speed and horn
single very long tusk like a unicorn’s horn) attack as normal for Monoceros shape
Equine A sea Horse (a normal tiny fish) Can breathe underwater, no effective
attacks, movement as in human form
Calm (2)
As the Child of Gaia Gift.
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Hoof of Ice (4)
The Ashringa’s hoof freezes anything it touches. An ice spirit teaches this Gift. The Ashringa spends 1
Gnosis and 1 Rage, then rolls Strength + Enigmas, difficulty 7. Each success inflicts an aggravated Health
Level of ice damage when the target is hit by the hoof. The hoof's freezing effect stays in effect for 1 scene.
Quicksand (4)
As the Red Talon gift.
Nhurim Gifts
The Nhurim have the same gifts as the Silver Fangs in addition to the gifts below.
Scrying (2)
As the level three Uktena gift.
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The name of this gift is deceptive, since it doesn’t detect anyone but a werewolf or kinfolk of the Garou
tribe of the Wendigo. However the Nhurim once considered these Garou to be their kin, and do so even
today.
As per the gift Scent of True Form but it only shows who is Wendigo or Wendigo kinfolk.
Avalanche (3)
As the forth level Red Talon gift.
Hailstorm (4)
The trademark gift of the Nhurim, the Hailstorm is exactly what it sounds like: a hail storm that does
regular damage and is soakable. The Ashringa spends a permanent point of Gnosis and rolls Strength +
Stamina with the number of successes equaling damage.
Nimbi Gifts
The Nimbi have the same gifts as the Fianna in addition to the gifts below.
Balance (1)
As the Stargazer gift but taught by a donkey, mule, or goat spirit.
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As the level one Bone Gnawer gift.
Survivor (5)
As the Bone Gnawer gift.
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RITES
Unicorn rearing. Lion raises up on hind legs to full height, snarling, teeth gleam white in going light.
Appear like boxers sparing, lion striking out with paws, unicorn with his hooves. Move closer. Stop… can
see lion is not unsheathing claws as he strikes. All sounds and violent movements are of battle, but realize it
must instead be part of some strange, inoffensive , ritual.
-Robert Vavra, “The Unicorn of Kilimanjaro”.
Ashringa have most of the rites known to the Garou. Not being predatory animals, the Ashringa do not
know the following rites: The Rite of the Winter Wolf, Voice of the Jackal, The Hunt, Rending the Veil, The
Great Hunt, The Rite of Keres, and Hunting Prayer. The Ashringa do know the Gurahl Rite of the Pure
Land, and the Mokolé rites Silence of the Oracles, Feed the Wallow (called by the Ashringa Feed the
Herd), The Oknanikilla, and Into the Waterhole. Two rites known by most Ashringa are Greeting the Sun
and Greeting the Moon. The Ashringa also can learn the following special rites:
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an Ashringa to take some of the power from a great cat spirit.
This rite is performed in the spring and it represents a fight between the moon and the sun. The Rite Master
must first locate a big cat spirit (preferably a lion or puma), then persuades the spirit to engage him in
ritual battle. A rituals roll with a difficulty equal to the spirit’s willpower determines the outcome of the
rite. On a success the Ashringa gains dominance and can force the spirit to give up an amount of gnosis,
rage, or willpower points (or a combination) equal to the successes. These points are subtracted from the
spirit’s totals and the spirit will always keep at least one point in each category for himself. On a failure
the Ashringa loses the contest for dominance and does not gain any power. On a botch the cat spirit
becomes enraged and attacks the Rite Master.
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her) then the Rite Master trots about her several times before picking up a mouthful of flowers and shaking
the petals onto her horn. If the petals stick (a successful Rituals roll) the Rite Master then draws his horn
down the female’s side to her womb. The mare will now become pregnant the next time she mates and her
chance of bearing an Ashringa child increases to 7 out of 10.
This rite is performed on the autumn equinox and is the Ashringa equivalent to the Garou Rite of Keres.
The Rite Master first leads a dirge reciting the deeds of all the Ashringa who have died at the claws of the
Garou in the service of Gaia. The gathered Ashringa then take turns reciting how they have suffered at the
hands of the werewolves. After telling his story the Ashringa takes Monoceros form and plunges his horn
into a pond, stream, or bucker of water set in the middle of the gathered werehorses. The last to dip his horn
is the Rite Master who calls out to the spirit of Torgut to grant strength to replace the Ashringa’s grief. If
the rite is successful the wind will blow fearsomely through the dwell and the Rite Master will lead the herd
in a revel to celebrate the purging of the Wyrm taint from their souls.
All of the Ashringa who participated in this rite are may make a stamina + rituals roll (difficulty 7). If
successful the participant receives one permanent point of willpower for casting forth her inner fears and
resisting the Garou. Failure causes them to lose honor in the eyes of the grace. A botch causes them to lose
one point of permanent willpower and will cause them to automatically suffer the Delirium the next time
they see a werewolf.
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FETISHES & TALENS
Fetishes
Items marked with an asterisk (*) are made of Iron so their manufacture is deadly to the Ashringa. Those
who carry these items lose one point from their effective gnosis rating and using them against another
Ashringa is considered a grave offence
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will cure one nonfatal disease (like the flu, mumps, whooping cough, etc.) and when combined with a
healing rite or gift it will even cure diseases (like cancer, aids, diabetes, etc.) that are usually fatal. Only
supernatural diseases cannot be cured using this fetish. One of the donkey or horse spirits who serve the
Asvins must be bound into this fetish.
Because these fetishes are so honored these spirits are often flattered to share the item but each spirit may
give a special request (or ban) to keep them bound to the item. A sword with a single spirit bound to it is
worth 4 points, a two spirit sword cost 5 and the rare sword containing all three spirits can only be created
(or discovered) in play (a 6 point fetish)
Because of its size and nature a Sword of Mech-Gladinez causes unsoakable aggravated damage to any
Ashringa or Faerie it strikes. In addition any Ashringa of fae who carries one of these swords loses two
points of effective gnosis. In addition each of the three spirits contained in the sword grants it an additional
power.
The war spirit allows the user of this sword to add three dice to his attack pool when wielding this weapon.
In addition the sword inflicts strength +4 aggravated damage to anything it strikes. Without the war spirit
this fetish will not do aggravated damage (unless used on creatures “allergic” to iron) or give a bonus to hit.
The most common ban for this spirit is that it must taste blood at least once a moon.
The light spirit will cause the sword to glow in response to the proximity of Wyrm spirits. When it is
glowing the sword illuminates an area with a radius of 15 feet. This glow is bright enough to illuminate
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even magical darkness. The Most common ban for this spirit is that it must be laid out in full sunlight (or
moonlight, depending on the whim of the spirit) for three days (or nights) a month.
The Pegasus spirit will materialize when summoned and allow itself to be ridden by the wielder of the
sword. This “horse of lightning speed” varies in appearance depending on the type of Pegasus spirit bound
into it. Spirits from America, Europe or Africa resemble the conventional image of a horse with wings but
one from the Orient or Indonesia will most likely be a dragon horse (aka a Ri-rin or Ky-lin).
Attributes: Str: 6, Dex: 4, Sta: 6, Int: 3, Per: 4, Wits: 4, ,Cha: 2, Man: 2, App: 4, Will: 7, Rage: 6,
Gnosis: 4, Power: 11 (not counting the 27 points used to materialize).
Charms: Airt sense, Armor, Frozen breath, Materialize, sense Wyrm, Updraft.
Powers: Move: 19/ fly 37, Health levels: as normal +1 extra bruised level, Delirium Difficulty: 7 (awe),
Soak Bonus due to armor: +1, Damage: Strength +0 (bite), Strength +1 aggravated (hooves).
Talens
Buckeye Gnosis 4
This is the seed of a horse chestnut tree. If the plant is awakened and the seed worn about the neck or in
one’s pocket then it will cure lameness or arthritis for one day.
Horseweed Gnosis 8
When un-awakened this plant is used to help cure digestive problems, internal bleeding, and menstrual
irregularities. Once awakened however this plant truly lives up to its nickname of “Blood Staunch”. If a
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vampire is somehow forced of tricked into drinking a tea made from this plant will be unable to spend any
blood points for one turn of the moon. This prevents the vampire from healing itself and, as the leech
continues to lose one blood point every night he rises from his coffin the vampire may very well starve.
Even worse every time the vampire attempts to feed he must roll Willpower at difficulty 8 or be unable to
digest the blood.
Periadham Gnosis 7
This is a small round ball of pearlescent ivory made from the Ashringa’s horn ground up and mixed with
resin. When swallowed this item removes all feelings of anger, rage, depression (including harano) and
guilt for one turn per Rank of the Ashringa who made it. Werewolves who eat this talen cannot Rage or
spend rage points for the duration of the item.
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HORSES OF THUNDER: TOTEMS & SPIRITS
Probably no family of animals has had so great a totemistic and economic significance for human
civilization as the horse.
-David Day, “The Doomsday Book of Animals”
In this chapter I will describe the totems, spirits, and the most common animals known to the Ashringa.
This is necessary because there is much more to equine spirits than unicorns and pegasi. In addition wild
animal statistics are conspicuously absent from Werewolf despite being constantly referred to so I am going
to list the most common wild animals of the North American west for use in W:tA games.
TOTEMS
The Ashringa worship many of the same totems as the Garou and have both charm totems (equivalent to
pack totems) and Dwell totems (equivalent to cairn totems) and the rules are the same for both bête.
Ashringa rarely have carnivorous mammals as totems (Lion, the totem of the Arweharis, is an exception)
but predatory birds are often chosen. Common totems include Bison, Boar, Bull, Crow, Dana, Dolphin,
Duck, Elephant, Herne the Hunter (Avarim only), Fog, Goat, Hare, Heron, Falcon, Grandfather Thunder
(Nhurim only), Kanau the Wedge Tailed Eagle (Nabrima only), Lyrebird (Nabrima only), Merlin, Owl,
Pegasus, Quetzal, Raven, Rooster, Squirrel, Stag, Twister, Uktena, Unicorn, Wind, and Yongar the
Kangaroo. Below are several new totems for werehorse characters. Entries in italics were previously
published on the internet and have been updated and clarified for Ashringa characters.
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When Mary rode into Bethlehem she rode a donkey that was granted long life in return. Later this same
donkey served as the steed of Christ and bore his crucified body to its tomb. The faithful beast was
rewarded by being taken into Heaven where he became an angel. A true servant of God Alcyoneus (also
known as Al Borak the Lightning) took Mahomet to heaven. Today this spirit manifests as a winged
donkey (sometimes depicted with a human head) the color of saffron that represents the virtues of patience
and faithfulness.
Traits: Alcyoneus grants his children 2 willpower points per story, the gift Gaea’s Steed, and one dot of
True Faith.
Ban: Children of Alcyoneus must always help woman or children find shelter or medical help.
Like his brother Wind, Antelope has different aspects that Charms
can take. The two totems are said to proceed from the same source
and the followers of Antelope will find great allies in the Children of
the Winds. All aspects will bring their children's Stamina up one dot
(max of 5) and impart the Silent Strider Gifts The Great Leap and
Speed of Thought.
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Khnemu represents the African Kudu (and it‘s cousins the nyala, bongo, eland, and bushbuck) and the
nilgai of India. Large yet graceful, gentle Khnemu gives his children one dot each in Appearance and
Dexterity (Deft), and the Gifts Invent, and Reshape Object. Khnemu sculpts our bodies: if his children
conceive a Métis, they will have lighter deformities or, (Storyteller's option) will be deformed but fertile
(the deformity will carry over). His children also gain the Flaw Shy. Kudu's brother Wind aspect is the East
Wind.
Ban: Children of Antelope are not barred from hunting the physical embodiment of their totem, but if they
ever forget to be thankful for his sacrifice Antelope will abandon them.
Ass is known for his strength, stubbornness and his utter disdain of social niceties. Although reasoning is
not his strong point, very few can sway the mind of this totem once he decides on something.
Traits: Ass gives his followers the gift Lighten Task, and two additional points of Willpower (maximum
10.) He also gives the Mule Kick attack maneuver.
Ban: Followers of Ass are at +2 difficulties on all Intelligence and Social rolls. They also sound damned
silly when they laugh: "Hee-haw, hee-haw".”
The Asvins (or Aswins) are the Indian deities Dasra and Nasatya, patrons of the dawn and healers. The
offspring of the Indian sun god Vivavat and a mare, the twins take the form of horse headed men with
golden skin. The Asvins help their father the sun by driving their mule drawn chariot across the sky right
before dawn and dusk in order to make a path that the sun can travel.
Traits: Children of the Asvins gain a dot of Herbalism and Medicine (up to a maximum of five) as well as
the gifts Mother’s Touch and Tame Sunbeam. They also give their followers an additional point of
Dexterity and will restore up to 2 additional Gnosis points per story.
Bayard was a Kelpie that legend said could only be tamed when a man threw him to the ground. When the
knight Renaud heard this tale he decided to win Bayard as his warhorse. Renaud tricked Bayard into falling
down and the kelpie agreed to act as the knight’s horse in order to regain his lost honor. King Charlemagne
declared Renaud an outlaw and demanded Bayard in exchange for the knight’s freedom. Renaud agreed
and the vengeful king tied a millstone to the horse’s neck and threw him in the river. Luckily Bayard was a
faerie horse and simply used magic to slip the weight of the stone and swam away to freedom.
Traits: Bayard grants his children the gifts Kelpie’s Nature, Lighten Task, and Impala’s Flight. He also
grants the ability to swim at twice normal rate and the combat maneuver Courbette.
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Camparech the Narwhal (Totem of Wisdom)
Background Cost: 5
Traits: Narwhal gives two additional points of wisdom and reduces the difficulty of any craft roll to carve
ivory by -2. He also teaches the gifts Gaia’s Lance and Serine Pasture.
Ban: Camparech’s children must never hunt whales or dolphins- a high price indeed to a native Inuit who
usually follow him.
The Dharmapala are the protectors of the Mongolian horse nomads. They are represented as fierce warriors
with three eyes and hair of flame. The two most notable members of this group of spirits are the brothers
Hayagriva and Beg-Ts’e. Hayagriva is the lord of wrath and the protector of horses. He appears as a 50 foot
tall horse headed giant wearing a skull cap and armed with a huge meat cleaver. Beg-Ts’e is the patron of
cavalrymen and he appears dressed in the boots of the Mongol horse rider and wielding a sword with a
shrimp shaped hilt.
Traits: Followers of the Dharmapala horse kings gain an extra dot in melee (specialty in the axe or sword),
-2 to all brawl difficulties, the gift Beast Life (horses only) and an extra two points of Rage per story.
Ban: Children of the Dharmapala must protect horses and conduct the proper rites if one is slain.
Traits: Dragon Horse grants his children one extra point of willpower per story and reduces the difficulties
of any Occult dice pool by -2. He also teaches the gifts Sky Running, Dragon’s Scales, and Fire Breath. In
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addition once per story the entire charm or grace can pray and dance for one hour. The result of this rain
dance works exactly like the Mokole’ gift Call the Rain.
Ban: Children of Dragon horse must never harm one of Dragon’s children. This demand includes true
dragons, crocodilians, monitor lizards, dinosaurs, and Mokole’.
Epona (also known as Rhiannon) is the “divine horse of the moon” and “Great
Mother Mare” of Celtic mythology. As an aspect of both Gaia and Luna she is
a deity of fertility, maternity, prosperity, healing, and crops. She is said to be
the Queen of the Faeries and all fae defer to her. In addition to horses Epona is
associated with doves and butterflies that are said to serve as her messengers.
Traits: Epona grants her children a dot of Animal-ken (to a maximum of 5),
two points of willpower per story, one point of wisdom and the gifts Call
Spirit (as the Dreamspeaker gift but able to summon birds as well as horses),
Pride of the Monarch, and Eyes of Oberon. Epona also teaches the Rite of
Birth and the Rite of Fertility.
Hippalectryon is a spirit found in India and the orient (though the American Jersey Devil sounds a lot like
this creature) that has the head and hind legs of a horse and the body of a peacock. This combination of the
most beautiful of both mammals and birds is a trickster whose bloodcurdling screams and blazing red eyes
cause terror in lone travelers and whose beautiful body hides a bellicose temper and flashing hooves.
Traits: Hippalectryon grants his Children one point of appearance (maximum of 5), -2 to the difficulties of
any subterfuge dice pool and the gifts Howl of the Banshee and Dazzle. He also teaches the Rite of the
Fearful Woods.
Ban: Charms chosen by Hippalectryon must never gain a battle scar that mars their physical appearance or
contain a Métis character with an appearance under 3 in any form.
Hippocampus with his horse’s head and fish’s tail combines the hard working
honesty of Horse with the playfulness of Dolphin. Hippocampus represents
the wisdom of the sea with his slow movements and his devotion to his young
as he carries them in his pouch, but when the sea is in danger he is not above
serving as the steed of the gods, charging into battle with armored skull and
strangling tail.
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Traits: Hippocampus gives his children a point of wisdom, 2 willpower points per story and the gifts
Marsupial pouch, Gift of the Sea Horse and Monkey’s Tail.
Ban: Children of Sea Horse must protect the sea from pollution and over fishing.
An eagle’s head and wings and a horse’s body makes hippogriff less fearsome than his brother Griffin but
his s tearing beak is just as deadly. Hippogriff guards the wilderness but unlike his brother Hippogriff is
willing to compromise with man as long as that man shows him and the wild respect.
Traits: Hippogriff’s eagle eyes and horse’s ears gives him excellent senses and grant his children +3 on all
perception dice pool. In addition he grants a point of Glory and a point of Honor. The gift Bacchante’s
Rage is also given to those chosen by Hippogriff.
Ban: Hippogriff demands that his followers only associate with humans who respect the wilderness.
Horse has long been of great importance around the globe, and a focal point of many cultures. He was
present in nearly all endeavors of civilization and tribal life until the recent rise of technology displaced
him. Horse is the tireless worker, friend of Man, and a symbol of freedom as the wild stallion or mustang.
Even in the midst of battle, Horse has been there. Although once highly important, he is now held in
greatest esteem by the Avarim and Nhurim.
Traits: Horse grants his children his tireless endurance (they gain an additional point of Stamina), and they
gain his stubborn will (they can call upon an extra 3 Willpower points per story). Horse is a totem of minor
Honor and Respect (each pack member gains 1 point of honor).
Ban: Children of Horse must be hard-working and honest, advocating the use of the horse above many
modern tools.
The Elder Serpent resides atop the highest crags in the central
mountain ranges of Pangaea. The greatest of all dragons, Io can
change his size from that of a mouse to over a mile in length.
Although he appears to be a Celestine of the Wyld, he is actually a
Wyrm Celestine, a representation of the Wyrm's true calling, that of
balance.
Traits: Io grants his children the power to give and take damage,
giving +1 to Strength and +1 to Stamina, as well as enhancing the
connection to the instincts of the ancient world, +1 to Primal Urge.
Also Wyrm spirits may balk at the character, sensing in them
something that they have lost.
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Ban: Children of the Elder Serpent must seek the balance. They must fight the Weaver as well as the
Wyrm, even occasionally the Wyld itself. To mark his children, the Elder Serpent places a small tattoo of a
dragon on their skin. When in any form other than Homid and Klatra, this tattoo will change into a
multicolored scale of the same size. As Io is a Celestine of the forgotten true Wyrm, it could become
disastrous for a charm bearing Io’s mark to be discovered as such. Guard well, for most Garou would not
take the time to discover the Elder Serpent's true intentions.
Traits: Followers of peafowl gain one point of glory and two dots of appearance. They also gain the gift
Scream of Gaia and dazzle.
Ban: Children of peafowl must behave in a vain fashion and show this especially in the way he or she
behaves and dresses. Peacock’s children must always be flamboyant, dress in bright colors, and be the
center of attention.
Traits: Followers of porcupine gain two points of Intimidation a point of wits and a point of Enigmas (up to
a total of 5). They also gain the gifts Gnaw, Tree Climber and (of course) Gift of the Porcupine.
Ban: Children of porcupine must seek to heal Wyrm creatures of their madness. Her followers also gain a
craving for salt and must make a Willpower roll to keep from eating salty foods of to eat foods that are not
sprinkled with salt (lots of salty marsh grasses for these horses).
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Ram (Totem of War)
Background Cost 6
The massive curving horns of Ram crash like thunder when they strike
an opponent while his nimble hooves can walk the narrowest of ledges
without fear. Sure-footed Ram does not go looking for a fight but when
challenged he is fearless, charging with battering horns. Stubborn, Ram
is a survivor,
but he is not renowned for his wisdom for his children include the
domestic sheep as well as the great bighorns and argali of the
mountains. Ram is associated with the Egyptian sun god Ammon-Ra,
Ares with his golden fleece, and with the lamb of the Hebrew God.
Traits: Followers of Ram gain access to 3 Willpower per story, the gifts Balance and Hoof of Diamond and
can add +2 to all Athletics pools. Ram’s Children can also learn to survive in harsh climates (+2 to Survival
dice pools) and gain the head butt special maneuver.
Ban: Ram’s Children must never start a fight (though they certainly can finish one) and, because of their
totems association with domestic sheep children of Ram lose one point of permanent honor.
Traits: Rhinoceros grants his children 2 points of strength, one point of perception when using the sense of
smell and the gifts Smell poison and Horn of Life.
Ban: Rhino demands that his children combat wild fires and help prevent the poaching of rhinos for their
horns.
When the Spaniards invaded Mexico Cortez brought his favorite warhorse, the black stallion Morzillo, with
him. When Morzillo became lame Cortez left him in the care of the Lake Peten Indians. The Native
Americans housed the horse in their royal palace and fed him their finest dishes off of golden platters but
despite this treatment the horse died of his injuries. When the Spanish returned they found the Indians
worshiping a stone statue of Morzillo who after death had become the spirit Tziminchac Lord of Thunder
and Lightning.
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Traits: Tziminchac grants his children -2 difficulties on all dice pools using special combat maneuvers and
the gifts Earthquake Stomp, Call lightning, and Clap of Thunder.
Ban: The children of this spirit must combat animal cruelty and honor their dead by making a stone image
of them.
ACTIVE TOTEMS
Al mi’ raj (Totem of Wisdom)
This aspect combines Unicorn with Hare. He is a golden unicorn horned rabbit. A trickster who protects the
wilderness from human encroachment Al mi’raj grants the gift Leap of the Kangaroo and his ban is the
same as Hare.
Lu (Totem of Respect)
A combination of Unicorn and Ass, Lu is the one horned donkey that carries upon his back Papa Silenus
the King of the Gandharva. Lu grants the gift Lighten Task and has the same ban as Ass.
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serpent or dragon. Oniont grants her children protection (+3 to soak rolls) when they are in the Umbra and
her ban is the same as in Uktena.
Sz (Totem of War)
Sz the sword ox is a combination of Unicorn with Bull. A buffalo with a single horn he represents the
temperamental aspects of nature. A Sz grant +1 to all brawl rolls and his ban is the same as in Bull.
LOST TOTEMS
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and not particularly fast (so her followers would lack Unicorn’s high speed in the Umbra) but gives the gift
Surface Attunement. Keratocephalus’ ban is for her children to never eat meat for she is a vegetarian
paramammal.
Tsintaosaurus
Tsintaosaurus was a duck billed dinosaur from Cretaceous China that had a forward facing hollow crest on
her forehead resembling a unicorn’s horn. A graceful and gentle herbivorous dinosaur this avatar of
Unicorn grants the usual healing bonus and ban of that totem. Unlike modern Unicorns however she was
not particularly fast (no speed bonus in the Umbra) but did have a loud call so grants the gift Howl of the
Banshee.
Willpower: 5 Rage: 6 Gnosis: 8 Power: 35
Charms: Armor, Healing, Scent of Sight, Tracking, Howl of
the Banshee
Attributes: Strength 14 Dexterity 5 Stamina 5 Perception 4
Abilities: Alertness 4 Brawl 3 Dodge 3
Attacks: 17 dice horn, 14 dice trample, 15 dice tail lash.
Armor: 2
Health Levels: 0(x3),-1, (x3),-2(x2),-5(x2).
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ANTAGONISTS AND OTHER SPIRITS
Then does the dragon, who,
Chained in the caverns to eternity
Curses the Champion of Erin
Moan and yell loud at the lone hour of midnight
And twine his vast wreaths round the forms of the demons
Then in agony roll his dead swimming eyeballs
Though ‘wildered by death, yet never to die!
Then he shakes from his skeleton folds the nightmares
Who, shrieking in agony
Seek the couch of some fevered wrench who courts sleep in vain
- From “The Spectral Horseman”, by Shelly.
This section describes the spirits most encountered by the Ashringa. Unicorn’s children call banes in equine
form hobgoblins. The reason for this is that the word hobgoblin, while no longer used as such by most
people originally signified a demon horse. As the word hobgoblin is used for kelpies, nightmares, and
similar spirits the word bane is reserved only for non horse like Wyrm spirits.
The Ashringa believe that all banes are simply corrupted Gaian spirits and hobgoblins are no exception. As
described below the queen of the nightmares is no other than Gaia herself. To the Ashringa this is a clear
indication that when the world is restored to its proper balanced state then the Nightmare Queen will
become the bright mare of the moon once more and the hobgoblins will become the pure Gaian spirits they
were always meant to be.
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Mountain Divas (Wyld Spirit)
Rage: 4 Will: 5 Pow: 30 Gnosis: 5 Move: 7
Charms: camouflage (as the gift), chant of Morpheus* (as the gift), curse of
Aeolus (as the gift), disorient, dragon fear * (as the Mokole’ gift), forest sense,
materialize, phantasm (as the gift), shape shift, and song of the siren * (as the
gift).
Both the ancient Greeks and the people of India said that there were divas that
represented the mountain mists. Both cultures claimed that these nature spirits
resembled small men with the ears, legs and tails of horses and donkeys. The
Greeks called the males Silini and the females Oreads while in India the sexes
were called gandharvas (males) or apsarasas (females). Like their forest cousins
the satyrs and dryads, mountain divas enjoy dancing, making music, and
drinking alcohol and games of chance. The males in particular like to play the
pan pipes the music of which can have several effects including sleep, fear, and
attraction (the charms marked with an asterisk * above may only be used while
playing the pipes) and will often use the pipes to trick mortals into joining their
dancing or gambling games.
The mountain divas are said to be spirits of the mountain mists who inhabit the cloud cities of Alaka and
Vismapana on sacred Mt. Meru. They were created to protect the sacred rice wine (soma) of the gods
(much like the Greek fauns were said to do) and to be the protectors of virgins and marriage. This latter
function is ironic for many a mountain diva has taken human form to seduce a mortal lover.
In combat and when angry hendar utter deep rumbling roars and snort
vapor and slime from their nostrils. they attack by biting and if they
get a good grip (using the gift clenched jaw) they will attempt to drag
their victim underwater and hold him there until he drowns.
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There are many kinds of horse spirits and the statistics above are those
of the typical domestic and wild species. The statistics for rage and
power are divided into three sections: ponies and wild horses/ typical
riding horses/ and draft and war horses. In addition to these typical
spirits there are many other equine spirits and the powers associated
with them can be found below.
Grant: this warning spirit appears as a black yearling colt that dances
on its hind legs and entices dogs to chase it. The appearance of the
grant warns of disaster, especially fires, to the village it wanders
through. Charms: blast flame, create fires, disorient, incite frenzy (in
canines only).
Kelpie: water hobgoblins that entice people to ride them then dive into the water to drown their prey.
Kelpies may resemble ponies or horses of a black or grey color or a human. In both forms the creature can
be recognized by its weed encrusted hair. Charms: find water, gift of the spriggan, kelpie’s nature (as the
gift), shape change, spirit of the fish (as the gift).
Qi-lin: While often confused for the Chinese Unicorn (the zhi-
lin or ki-rin), the true qi-lin (or ri-rin) is a dragon horse. The
body is equine with a flowing mane and tail, scaled skin, and a
draconic head crowned with two moose-like horns. The
gentlest creature on Earth, the qi-lin appears only to herald the
birth of a great leader who will bring about a golden age.
Sadly this spirit has not been seen in centuries.
Charms: dazzle, leap of the kangaroo, spirit of the bird, mental
Speech, sense wyrm, flame defense.
Sun horses: the horses that pull the chariot of the sun. Charms: cleanse the blight, flame defense,
halo of the sun, kiss of Helios, tame sunbeam.
Thunder horses: the horses of thunder include the horses that pull the chariot of the storm gods of to the
rhino like titanotheres of prehistoric America whom the Indians believed caused thunder by galloping
across the heavens. Charms: clap of thunder, lambent flame, lightning bolts.
Tien-lin: the celestial horse of China has the body of a dog and the head of a horse. It is often depicted with
either bird or bat like wings. Charms: clenched jaw, sense of the prey, spirit of the bird, tracking.
Unicorn: this entry can be used for all true unicorns. Charms: cleanse the blight, dark sight, dazzle,
healing, leap of the kangaroo, mental speech, mind block, sense Wyrm, spirit ward, reform, resist toxin.
Yyllethyn: this spirit equine is even more delicate than an Arabian and has a long, silky mane and tail. Also
known as an elf horse, yyllethyn are usually encountered while being ridden by their elven partners.
Charms: beauty (an attacker needs to make a successful willpower roll at difficulty 9 to harm the elf horse),
gift of the spriggan, magic resistance (+1 dice to resist any spell, charm, or gift), shape change, static
electricity (2 power points for 2 dice normal damage).
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Kaliya (Bane)
Rage: 18 Will: 9 Pow: 70 Gnosis: 6 Move: 8
Charms: armor, eyes of the cat, eye of the cobra,
joint snake’s mojo, paralyzing stare, perfect
poison (as the Rat-kin gift), venom, venom
blood.
Kaliya are nocturnal and like dragons they have acidic blood and captivating eyes. Their bite is poisonous
(as in the gift venom) but they are far more likely to spend five power points to spray the poison into
drinking water where it acts as the gift perfect poison when ingested. If chopped in half the severed parts of
the serpent will join back together. The easiest way to slay one of these serpents is to crush it, an attack
perfect for Ashringa hooves.
Lavellan (Bane)
Rage: 1 Will: 2 Pow: 20 Gnosis: 3 Move: 9
Charms: burrow (as gift), cats feet (as gift), gnaw (as gift), plague bite (as Rat-kin gift), materialize.
The lavellan is a bane possessed rat with grizzled black fur and a slime covered worm like tail. It is a spirit
of disease, especially those diseases that affect ungulates such as anthrax and hoof-and-mouth disease. This
ability to spread disease is caused by the lavellan’s bite (treat as the gift plague bite but hoofed animals
resist at difficulty 8 and all others at difficulty 6.) and the creature especially enjoys causing illness in
captive animals that cannot escape it by fleeing. The diseases caused by a lavellan can be cured in just one
way, the skin of the beast must be dipped in water with the appropriate ritual words spoken (intelligence +
rituals, difficulty 7) and the water drank by the sick.
Nightmares, or demon horses, are foul Wyrm spirits that takes the shape of a terrible black horse with
hooves that burn like embers and manes and tails composed of sulperous flames. Nightmares inhabit the
Umbra where they use their dream speak power on helpless sleepers in order to create horrible dreams.
In time such dreams may cause a victim to become vulnerable to corrupting banes or even to go insane. In
fact other types of banes will often use a nightmare as a steed since the hobgoblin can carry riders out of the
Umbra as in the gift grasp of beyond.
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In combat these monsters bite with viper like fangs and strike with iron hooves. They can also make their
hooves and mane burst into flame and it actually breathes fire. This combination allows a nightmare to burn
any combustible material they come in contact with as well as cause devastating wounds. In addition to fire
a nightmare may blast out a cloud of smoke and ash which blinds and gags anyone within 3 yards (10 feet)
of the beast. Creatures affected by the smoke must roll perception + survival (difficulty 6) or minus 2 from
all dice pools for the next three turns as the smoke clears.
According to myth the queen of the nightmares appears either as a skull headed white horse with blue eyes
or as a grim woman in a robe the color of storm clouds and with the head of a fanged horse. In both cases
she wears a gold medallion in the shape of a crescent moon and is accompanied by her retinue of nine black
man-eating foals. These foals are typical nightmares as described in this section but the queen herself is no
less than a manifestation of Epona as the dark side of Gaia.
These undead horses were originally created by a master vampire named Strahd and the secret of creating
them is an exclusive discipline to his bloodline. A skeletal steed is usually first encountered as a pile of
dusty horse bones that suddenly rise up and reassemble. The mere sight of this action causes fear even in
supernatural beings (treat as the Mokole’ gift dragon fear). Skeletal steeds usually attack with their bony
hooves and teeth but every other turn the bane will exhale a breath from the grave. This deathly breath acts
as the Mokole’ gift stinking breath as its foulness repels all living creatures. Being undead skeletal steeds
are immune to poison, cold, heat, radiation, and take no penalties from pain (as in the gift survivor) but they
do take aggravated damage from blunt weapons and unsoakable aggravated damage from electricity and
sunlight. These skeletal horses are used as guards or as mounts for ghouls or animated human skeletons.
In this bestiary will be listed the most common large animals in Death Valley National Park, the setting
given in the next chapter. All of these animals that can be friends or foes. Three species that are now extinct
in Death Valley, the grizzly bear, jaguar, and wolf will be listed as well. These species will be included
because they would make fierce antagonists and the Government is currently planning to reintroduce native
species that have been exterminated to the national parks. In addition statistics will be given for those
spirits most likely to be encountered in the area. These statistics will not include those already given in the
Antagonists chapter but will include many native American faerie races and monsters.
Animals
Wildlife includes several raptors, such as the golden eagle and the prairie falcon, as well as bighorn sheep
- California Wilderness Areas Volume 2: The Deserts by National Geographic.
All animals, no matter their species, will have the following traits: Mental 1, Social 1, Survival (foraging
hunting, and tracking) 4, a Gnosis score equal to Willpower and a Rage score (used to make extra actions
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only, animals do not frenzy) equal to the Brawl score and they can also split their dice pool to do extra
attacks per turn.
Thanks to The Bygone Bestiary by White Wolf games for some of the statistics given below. Changes can
be made to these statistics to create monsters simply by changing their size, appearance, and making their
attacks do aggravated damage. When changing a creature’s size add or subtract the Attribute modifier
given below to the creature’s Strength, Stamina and Health level rolls and remember to change the
Difficulty modifier to reflect the new size. The difficulty modifier is added or subtracted to all rolls to
detect the creature or to strike the creature.
For example, a mountain lion mutated to the size of a rhinoceros by radioactive waste would add
+1 to strength, stamina, and life points but would be easer to see coming and would make a larger target.
Bats
The bats of Death Valley are all small, harmless insect eaters. The only real danger
from them is having them swarm about you in a precarious situation, thus distracting
you, or from being bitten by the rare rabid animal. The most interesting desert species
are the Mexican free tailed bats that inhabit some local caves in the thousands and the
pallid bat which eats mainly scorpions and thus is immune to their venom.
Bear (Black/Grizzly)
There are two bears native to Death Valley: the common black bear and the extinct
grizzly bear. Both are omnivorous beasts with bad tempers that may try to attack anyone
who seems wounded or who gets between a female and her cubs. Black bears average six
feet tall on their hind legs and can weigh up to 300 pounds. Grizzlies can be up to 8 feet
tall and can weigh half a ton!
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Armor Rating: 1
Attacks: Bite for strength, Claw for strength +2.
Size: Medium/Large (0)
Move: 5/20
Powers: Heightened senses (smell), Hibernation, Resist Pain.
Bird: Owl
The owls of Death Valley range from the tiny elf owl to the eagle sized Great horned owl. They are
nocturnal birds of prey with feathers that make no sound when the wings flap.
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Move: 1/ 2, fly 20
Powers: Darksight, Heightened Senses (hearing), Silent Stalking (only when in the air).
Bobcat
The only small cat in Death Valley is a small desert lynx called the bobcat. This American wildcat is up to
three feet long and can weigh up to 25 pounds. It will attack animals many times its own size but is wary of
man.
Coyote
The coyote is a wild dog similar to a jackal. It is larger than a fox but smaller than a wolf and is the most
common wolf-like animal in America.
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Deer (Doe/Buck)
The only deer native to Death Valley is the desert mule deer. One of the largest deer, a mule deer buck can
have up to 22 tines on its antlers and weigh over 300 pounds. As in most deer only the males have antlers.
Fox (Kit/Gray)
There are two species of fox native to Death Valley, the kit fox and the gray fox. The kit fox is one of the
smallest foxes in the world and inhabits arid deserts. The gray fox in contrast is a forest dweller that often
climbs trees, boulders, and even telephone poles.
Jaguar
The jaguar is the largest of all American cats. This leopard like animal weighs up to 300 pounds and was
once believed to have been exterminated from the United States until a few animals were photographed in
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the Arizona desert. While not now located in Death Valley it is possible that the cat will eventually occupy
the area.
Horse/Burro
Here is something every Ashringa needs, the average statistics for his animal kinfolk.
Puma
The puma (also known as a cougar, panther or mountain lion) is the second largest cat in the Americas at 8
feet long and 200 pounds in weight. In appearance it resembles a small maneless lion and it is found from
desert heat to arctic snows.
Sheep
The only wild sheep in Death Valley is the desert bighorn. The ram is a large sheep and can be up to 6 feet
long, 3 feet tall and weigh as much as 225 pounds.
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Armor Rating: 0
Attacks: Horns for strength +2.
Size: Medium (0)
Move: 8/15
Powers: Balance, Heightened Senses (smell).
Small Mammal
Small mammals include all the smaller animals that do not fit into any of the other categories. This group
contains opossums, moles, shrews, raccoons, ringtails, weasels, skunks, badgers, ground and tree squirrels,
gophers, voles, lagomorphs, porcupines and rats and mice.
Snake
Several serpents inhabit Death Valley including the rosy boa and two rattlesnakes. Most (including the boa)
are only a few feet long but the Western Diamondback can be over 7 feet in length. The only other
poisonous snake is the sidewinder whose deadly venom is only mollified due to its small size.
Wolf
The wolf is currently extinct in the southern U.S.A. but it is being planed to reintroduce the species to many
of the national parks in California including Death Valley.
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Attacks: Bite for strength +1 die, claw for strength.
Size: Medium (0)
Move: 7/28
Powers: Darksight, Heightened Senses (smell), Trip.
SPIRITS
In the land of the pigmies there was a strange sight, from mountain to mountain a bowstring was stretched
and a line of dust rose where they danced
-Traditional Shoshone Indian chant.
All the spirits given below are from the myths of the American Indians of the Southwestern deserts. In a
few cases the Shoshone term for a particular spirit could not be found so I used a name from another Native
American culture. They are all typical adult individuals of their kind and physical statistics may vary with
age or even the whim of the spirit. These spirits rarely materialize in this day and age and when they are
reported the witnesses are usually labeled kooks by the media.
Dragon (Couatl)
The couatl appears as a winged, poisonous, serpent covered with brilliant
green body feathers and with bird-like wings and a feathered crest in a
rainbow of hues. These majestic dragons are the sacred spirits of rain who
bring life giving moisture to the parched desert sands. This role means that
they were worshiped much like the dragons of China throughout the
southwest, indeed Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec God of Life, was depicted as one of
these dragons.
Dragon (Piasa)
The Piasa is the guivre of America. It appears as a huge
scaly jaguar with the claws of a grizzly bear, the antlers
of a deer, the face of a man, and the tail of a fish. The
wings are those of a bat but they are covered in feathers
like a bird. Piasas vary from helpful guardians of the
umbra to vicious man eaters in Indian mythology and
thus are much like the dragons of European myth.
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33, Strength 5, Dexterity 6, Stamina 3, Charisma 4, Manipulation 6, Appearance 4, Perception 5,
Intelligence 9, Wits 6, Alertness 4, Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Enigmas 4, Intimidation 4, Linguistics 1, Stealth 2,
Survival 3, Health levels [ok (x3) ,-1 (x3), -3 (x2), -5, Incapacitated] Bite for 7 dice and claw for 6 dice of
aggravated damage), Open Moon Bridge, Paralyzing Stare (as the Garou Gift), Shapeshift.
Dragon (Wakinyan)
The Wakinyan is the American Wyvern. Like its British cousin it
resembles a serpent with a crocodilian head, two legs and bat’s
wings. Unlike its cousin, however this spirit lacks armored scales
and a poisonous sting. Instead the wakinyan is covered in smooth
silvery white metallic skin and can breathe bolts of lightning.
These gigantic dragons were believed to have warred with the
horned serpents sometime in the past and still feel anger towards
Unktena’s brood. Today reports of these creatures are usually
dismissed as UFO reports even by the terrified airplane pilots
who are occasionally chased out of the desert by one of these
spirits. After all which are your superiors more likely to believe,
that you were attacked by a UFO or by a 90 foot long flying
crocodile?
Dzoo-no-qua
The Dzoo-no-qua are troll like earth spirits made of living stone. They are ponderous 12 foot giants that
carry whole uprooted tree trunks as clubs. Unseelie Dzoo-no-qua are man eating horrors responsible for the
disappearance of many hikers and campers in the badlands. Seelie members of this troll tribe in contrast
may move heavy objects or otherwise help others but will remain hidden if at all possible.
Eye Killer
The eye killer is a vile cockatrice like monster with the head
of an owl, the wings of a bat, the legs of a coyote, and the tail
of a serpent. This cat sized beast differs from its relative in
having two huge eyes that shoot beams of electricity at its
victims instead of a gaze that turns its victim to stone. An eye
killer’s gaze can merely shock a victim or cause fatal burns
depending upon the intensity of the beams.
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Hohoq
Hohoqs (pronounced “Hoh-hoks”) are banes that from a distance appear to be winged men. Up close they
more closely resemble a cross between a giant bat (or pterodactyl) and an owl with dark brown to gray
leathery skin, blazing red eyes in a gorilla like face and a toothed beak. Legend says that they are the spirits
of witches wronged by a faithless husband. Like UFOS these creatures can cause automobiles to stall and
often appear as omens of disaster.
Kai-nu-suvs
The Kai-nu-suvs are the elves of Death Valley. These spirits take the form
of small men with skin the color of sunset clouds and flowing hair. Some
say their king has snow white hair and wears a crown of antlers. The Kai-
nu-suvs ride bighorn sheep and use coyotes to herd the valley’s deer. In the
old days any Indian who killed a deer or bighorn was supposed to leave
some of the meat to the elves in payment. Those Indians who failed to leave
the Kai-nu-suvs their tribute would be elf-shot for stealing from the faerie
herds. These elves are associated with the spirit Wee-sa-kee-jac (corrupted
to “Whisky Jack” by Europeans) the local name for the trickster god
Coyote.
Ohdowa
The ohdowa are small reptilian humanoids similar to the kobolds
of Europe. Ohdowas are possessed of huge eyes and ears, are
covered with rusty red to black scales, and have long tails. The
Indians believe that the ohdowa were the prototypes of
humanity, discarded by the Creator long ago because of their
extreme ugliness. In shame these small goblins fled
underground. There they mine for the metals used by the other
faerie races of the desert.
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Survival 3, Health levels [ok (x2) ,-1,-1 (x2), -2 (x2), -5, Incapacitated] Club or spear for Strength 4 dice
aggravated damage, Reshape Object (as the Fianna gift).
Pa-o-has
Pa-o-has are water spirits resembling mermaids that inhabit the valley’s
rivers and lakes. These spirits can often be seen swimming around or sitting
on the shore while combing their hair. They are famed for using their
singing to lure unwary men and children close enough to drown them.
Thunderbird
The thunderbird of the American southwest is an immense eagle-like condor with
a 30 foot wingspan. It is sometimes confused with the much larger Wakinyan from
a distance but it has feathers and cannot breathe lightning, though its wings can
flap with the sound of thunder and create windstorms and tornados.
U-nu-pits
U-nu-pits are banes, spirits of serpents and disease. Theses demons live in the craggy mountains where they
seek to cause illness and injury by tripping (or pushing) people off of cliffs, causing landslides, and placing
snakes in their beds. Like many banes they can also posses others. A possessed victim may have the demon
driven out by having the exorcist cut the victim with an obsidian knife and rubbing the wound with ash and
live coals while a circle of chanters surround the Ritemaster.
Yan-tups
Yan-tups are water spirits similar to naiads and nixies. A nymph of lakes, rivers, and springs Yan-tups are
skilled in music and dancing, and are supposed to have healing powers. Like all water nymphs they often
seduce men and attempt to carry them off to their underwater realms. In Death Valley’s salt pools however
it was believed that these Nymphs were truly evil and became corrupted as their lakes dried up and became
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encrusted with arsenic laded Epsom salts. These evil spirits sit by the salt pools singing of their loss and
waiting to poison some unwary man with a kiss.
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HORSES OF THE FIRE: A SETTING
“Indian riddles, teleporting rocks, unidentified flying objects, Charles Manson-this area has had a lot
more going foe it than merely the lowest elevation and the highest temperatures.”
- Jim Brandon, about Death Valley National Park in “Weird America”.
This chapter is a sample setting for Ashringa characters set in the deserts of California and Nevada. In it
you will find all the information you need to run a chronicle in Death Valley National Monument and its
surrounding areas. Death Valley was known to the Shoshone Indians as Tomesha, a word which means
“the ground is afire”, and it is a land known for it’s extremes in temperature, abundance of paranormal
phenomena, and colorful history.
The Death Valley area includes most of the parks in the Great Basin desert. Laying between the cities of
Los Angeles on the west and Los Vegas on the east this area adds up to 3.4 million acres of designated
wilderness, an area of land that is actually larger than the entire state of Oregon! Within the park are ten
named mountain ranges and several large valleys, many of them unexplored. In addition the sheer size of
the area (the National Monument itself covers 3,000 square miles) ensures that several Ashringa
Dwells can inhabit the setting with room to spare!
Death Valley is famous for being the hottest and driest pace in the world. It averages only 1.8 inches of rain
a year and summer temperatures in the valleys commonly reach 128° F while in 1913 the hottest
temperature ever recorded was 134° F –in the shade! In 1972 the ground temperature actually reached
201° F, which is hot enough to boil water! At night it ranges from 90° F in the summer to a record of 65° F
in the winter of 1913 (and yes the coldest and hottest records were on the same year) and it often snows in
the higher elevations.
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existed is the extensive salt flats that cover what was once the lake bed and the unique flora and fauna of
Death Valley, many of which are descended from aquatic ancestors.
The first white men in Death Valley stumbled into the desert by accident in 1849. Several families led by
the Bennett and Arcan (sometimes spelled Arcane) were on their way to the California gold fields when
they left their guide to take a shortcut. Twenty seven wagons went into Death Valley but only one came
out. On the way out the departing survivors of the Bennett-Arcan party stood upon a hill overlooking the
valley which had nearly become their grave. “Good by, Death Valley,” murmured one of the women and
the valley received the name it bears to this day.
Eventually some of the ’49ers returned to the valley in order to prospect for minerals. Prospectors searching
for gold, silver, copper, and lead were doomed to failure for the valley’s ore was too difficult to prospect in
quantity. More profitable were those who came to mine for salt and borax. Borax was a popular cleaning
agent at that time and the famous 20 mule teams were created to haul huge wagons weighing as much as 36
½ tons from Death Valley to the railroads in Mojave. This trip took 10 to 12 days one way and covered 165
miles. Several towns were erected in the valley most of them with reputations as dreadful as the climate.
The boom years were short, within five years a market panic scared off investors and the mines closed.
Today the only reminders of Death Valley’s Wild West days are crumbling ruins, rusting pipes, and
pathetic holes dug in the rocky walls by desperate prospectors.
The most famous resident of Death Valley was undoubtedly Walter Scott, better known as “Death Valley
Scotty. In his youth Scotty traveled with Buffalo Bill Cody’s “Wild West Show.” eventually he married a
woman in New York City but by 1905 he had left her to prospect for gold in Death Valley. Later that year
he came out of the valley carrying suspiciously refined looking gold which he claimed to have found in the
Grapevine Mountains. Critics claimed that the gold must have been stolen but they never found any proof.
In the contrary whenever Scotty came to town he caused a great uproar by hiring a personal train called
“the Coyote Special” for $5,000 to carry him to Los Angeles, where he tied up traffic by throwing gold
coins out the windows of his hotel room! How Scotty avoided the heat and deadly quicksand of Death
Valley amazed everyone and when asked all he would say was that the mine’s location was known only to
him and his burro.
In 1924 Scotty became friends with a shy insurance millionaire named Albert Johnson. Together they built
a two million dollar Moorish Castile in Grapevine Canyon to the North of Death Valley. The castle was
massive with a huge swimming pool, ancient medieval furniture, and even a clock tower! Scotty claimed
the money came from his mine but critics said it came from Johnson.
When the Great Depression hit in the 1930’s construction ceased on the castle when Scotty’s ex-wife and
the old grubstaker (who had financed his show business act) tried to sue him for a part of the mine’s profits.
In addition the Government, who wished to turn Death Valley into a National Monument, tried to evict
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Scotty. Scotty got out of the difficulty by claiming that there was no mine (and indeed the mine has never
been found) so his wife could not claim a share of money that did not exist! As for the Government they
were flummoxed when Scotty invoked the old homesteader laws to keep the castle. Scott and Johnson lived
in the castle for the rest of their lives, still coming to town, throwing gold about, and making people
wonder.
Death Valley was designated a national monument in 1933. In 1984 it was recognized as a Biosphere
Reserve due to its many unique plant and animal species. It was finally enlarged and upgraded to National
Park status in 1994.
Hundreds of years later the prospectors arrived in Death Valley. The prospectors did not come alone,
however. With the miners came the “miner’s canary,” the little gray donkey, that carried the prospectors
ore. The abandoning of Death Valley after the boom days resulted in the abandonment of these burros into
the park. With the burros came the Nimbi, including Walter Scott and Albert Johnson. The two Nimbi used
their connection with the Faerie folk to borrow gold from the Elvin city of Shin-au-av. When the
government and Scotty’s wife threatened both the Nimbi’s and the Fae’s safety the two Nimbi traveled
deep into the Umbra where they not only awakened the original Dwell’s totem but also brought forth the
spirit of The Great Spotted Roadrunner who was only to happy to give them advice on outwitting their
opponents.
Called by the feelings of fellowship from the newly reopened Dwell, the Nhurim came back to Death
Valley and joined their small cousins. Eventually, as the number of immigrants increased in California, the
other bãos also came to the valley. Some of them promptly opened minor dwells in the great wilderness but
all acknowledged the authority of the old dwell and eventually formed the Tomesha Council to govern
Ashringa affairs in the United States.
The American governments attempt to exterminate wild horses from the National Parks was finally enacted
in the 1980’s. Between 1983 and 1987, over 6,000 burros, 87 horses, and 4 mules were removed from the
park. The government claimed that the equines were overgrazing the grass eaten by bighorn sheep and
fouling waterholes. When naturalist disagreed, pointing out that the sheep inhabit different mountain ranges
than the burros and that burros actually dig waterholes that benefit wildlife, the government simply claimed
it was attempting to make the park look the same as it had before the 49ers had arrived. To the dismay of
officials however new burros and horses moved in from the surrounding wilderness.
Attempts to remove these horses however have been stifled by the Ashringa who hide the herds whenever a
roundup is scheduled. Today, despite removal attempts, about 200 burros can be found in Death Valley and
an unknown number of burros and mustangs inhabit the neighboring parks.
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pupfish, a shrimp, and a sea snail which are found nowhere else on Earth. In addition to physical life the
local Indians also peopled the valley with many spirits, most of them of the faerie type. As for human life,
it is mostly confined to tourists.
Mammals: There are over 50 species of mammal in Death Valley, the majority of them small in size.
Among the most interesting of the Valley’s small game are at least 13 species of bat, one pica, three rabbits
(the Desert, Pygmy, and Bush), one hare (the Black Tailed Jackrabbit), two chipmunks, a marmot, two
ground squirrels, two tree squirrels, one flying squirrel, one gopher, several species of rat (including
Grasshopper Mice, Packrats, Muskrats, Kangaroo Rats, and the tiny jerboa known as the Jumping
“Mouse”), and the unique Inyo Shrew. Carnivores include coyotes, gray and kit foxes, black bears,
raccoons, cacomistles, weasels, badgers, skunks, bobcats, and cougars. Wolves, Jaguars, and Grizzly bears
once inhabited the area but are now extinct. Large herbivores are the bighorn sheep, mule deer, mustangs
(and possibly a few wild Curly horses), and burros.
Birds: several hundred species of bird have been seen in Death Valley. Ravens, roadrunners, hawks, and
golden eagles are commonly seen all year round. Migratory birds visit the park between September and
May. Migrants include flickers, larks, sparrows, phoebes, kinglets, shrikes, pipits, robins, doves, bluebirds,
warblers, swallows, ducks, snipe, cormorants, wood ibis, coots, grebes, great blue herons and swans. On
several occasions even snowy egrets and arctic loons have been seen in the park.
Reptiles and Amphibians: there are five species of amphibian native to Death Valley all of them varieties
of Spade Foot Toad or Burrowing Frog. More typical of a desert climate are the 36 species of lizard
(mostly whiptails, geckos, and chuckwallas) and 18 species of snake. Dangerous snakes are the sidewinder
and Western diamondback rattlesnake. Gila monsters are almost unknown in Death Valley National
monument, though the species is very common in the southern Kingston Range to the south. The most
common animal in the park is the Californian desert tortoise which is the states National Reptile.
Fish: the normal types of fish native to California can be found in the permanent rivers and lakes of Death
Valley, most of them stocked by the government for fishing. There are, however, six endangered species of
pupfish that can be found nowhere else in the world. These pupfish are all descended from a single ancestor
that once lived in Lake Manly. Today these fish inhabit the boiling waters (the Devil’s Hole species
inhabits water with a temperature of at least 186 F.) of the deserts many hot springs and underground
rivers.
Invertebrates: as a reminder of Death Valley’s past the Californian Fairy Shrimp and the Salt Pan Sea
Snail are the most unique invertebrates in the state. The fairy shrimp abounds in most of the waterholes and
temporary rivers in the Valley throughout the winter. In the summer when this water dries up the shrimp
die, leaving their eggs to hatch out during the next wet season. The sea snail is actually found on land and
survives the lack of water by actually living among the moist roots of the iodine bushes that grow in the salt
pans that once formed the lake bottom. There are no deadly scorpions or centipedes in Death Valley;
however the poisonous Black Widow and Brown Recluse spiders are common. The most dangerous and
irritating animal in Death Valley however is an insect- a type of inch long, disease carrying, blood sucking,
horsefly.
Plants: Death Valley is famous for its many unique species of plants. More than 1,000 species, including
two orchids, six lilies, ten ferns, and over thirty grasses can be found there. Many plants including the
Evening Primrose, Panamint Daisy, and Monkey Flower are found nowhere else. As a reminder of the
valley’s wet past it comes to a surprise to many that over 15% of the plants in Death Valley are cat tails,
marsh rushes and reeds. Cactuses are rare, though the common Beavertail, Prickly Pair, and Barrel cactus
do occur. The most common plant in the mountains is sagebrush but in the valleys this plant is,
surprisingly, replaced by an evergreen shrub called the Creosote bush. Several trees are also native to the
valley. Joshua trees are the most common in the lowlands but along the watercourses one can also find
Willows and Cottonwood. Pinyon Pine (from the seeds of which the natives ground flour) and Juniper can
be found between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. At higher elevations these trees are replaced with forests of
Bristlecone (the oldest known trees, Bristlecone can live for over 3000 to 5000 years) and Lumber Pine.
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The famous Mesquite tree, from the pods of which the Indians made fermented drinks and candy, are
abundant throughout the area.
Spirits: the Shoshone Indians called the spirit world Na-gun-tu-wip and described many of its residents..
According to Indian lore the Faerie folk lived in Shin-au-av a city located beneath the Panamint Mountains
near Wingate Pass. The numerous references to elves in Shoshone lore seem odd until you realize that
many of the prehistoric rock etchings in the Death Valley area show Celtic inscriptions. Even more
amazing native lore claims that the faerie originally came from a distant land and that they escaped to
America by riding on shooting stars when their own world perished. Perhaps this explains some of the UFO
reports of the area.
In addition to the faerie folk the valley contains numerous animal spirits, glade children (though the spirits
of the bristlecone are the so old that “glade ancients” would be a better term), Thunder-horses,
Thunderbirds, Eye Killers, Ancestor spirits and even Dragons. As for banes several corrupted Native
American spirits inhabit the area and work with the two local tribes of Black Spiral Dancers. In addition the
proximity of Nellis Air Force Base, the location of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nevada Test Site for
nuclear bombs, allows for a great variety of Wyrm beasts to appear.
The Death Valley area is usually dismissed as ‘lifeless desert” and, while there are nine campgrounds, it is
an odd fact that there are only two maintained trails in the entire park. In addition, despite the many dirt
(and even a few paved) roads, most tourists stick to these two trails. The only other people in the park are
the park rangers who stay at the visitor center and a few Shoshone families that winter in the valleys but
retreat to the cooler mountains in the summer. Nevertheless there are several places of interest in Death
Valley. Some of these areas are known for their history, others for seemingly unexplained phenomena, and
yet others are just plain odd.
In the pages below a tour of Death Valley National Monument and its satellite parks will be given. The
portion in regular text is Death Valley as the mortals know it, everything written here, no matter how
strange, is true and part of the public record. The text in italics details Umbral features or things known
only to the supernatural denizens of the park and was created specifically for Werewolf: the Apocalypse.
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habitat for bighorn sheep. The area is also riddled with mining roads and trails leading to caverns and other
sites once frequented by prospectors.
The umbral Argus Range is noted for an abundance of ancestor spirits of all kinds. It is also the hunting
ground of the Dzoo-no-qua (stone trolls) of native myths.
The road through Artists Drive is in place by pattern spiders that spin long threads to try to keep the traffic
going on the proper direction. Off the road, however, this area of the Weaver is quickly overwhelmed by
the Wyld as the dull grey of the road is abruptly replaced by rainbow colored hills. This is an excellent
place to meet rainbow horses.
Many people have commented that Ashford Mill could double as a fortress, and indeed that is exactly what
it is. The mill was actually built by the Ashringa and Faerie to withstand an attack by Garou or other
supernatural beings. Built to resist both physical and umbral attacks, the mill is used only in the direst of
emergencies.
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (Nine miles from Death Valley Junction)
Ash Meadows comprises some 22,000 acres of wetlands and desert that is reached by an unpaved road
leading to the lower end of the Amargosa valley. The Meadows is filled with springs, small reservoirs,
streams and small lakes and it provides the sole habitat for no fewer than 24 species. Only Crystal Spring (a
pool of blue-green water about 8 yards across) and Crystal Reservoir (where boating, swimming, and
fishing is allowed) are open to the public.
The most famous area of Ash Meadows is undoubtedly Devil’s Hole. This rocky tarn is located in the
northeast corner of the refuge, at the base of a range of barren hills. The entire area is closed to the public
and is not signposted or even on many maps. In addition the site is enclosed by a high security fence. The
reason for all this secrecy is to prevent anyone from disturbing the rusty scientific equipment which
monitors the severely endangered pupfish that live in the tarn. In addition to the pupfish, Devils Hole is
also the sole home of a species of beetle, two sea snails (one of which may be extinct), and cave
salamanders.
Once known as Miners Bathtub, Devil’s Hole is a sheer sided cavity in the rocks (10 yards deep) that leads
to a flooded cave system. The opening to the caverns is about 6 feet by 18 feet and no one knows how deep
the tarn is. The temperature of Devil’s Hole averages 186 degrees Fahrenheit and increases the further
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down one goes and divers who have tried to find out the depth of the tarn descended for 300 feet (without
touching the bottom) before being forced to the surface by the heat.
Devil’s Hole has an interesting history. The Shoshone Indians believed that it was where they left the third
world for the fourth and considered it a sacred site. In the 1960s two divers descended into the tarn and
never returned, presumably lost or cooked alive in the lake’s murky depths. Soon after the divers
disappearance Charles Manson became fascinated with Devil’s Hole. Combining Hopi myth with the book
of Revelations in the Bible, Manson believed that he could escape the law by swimming through the tarn
into the Umbra but Manson was captured before he could make his escape. In 1976, the first court order of
the Endangered Species Act was declared for Devil’s Hole. This order forced people to regulate water
usage in Ash Meadows so that lowered water tables would not expose the shelf where the pupfish breed.
The last time Devil’s Hole was explored was in 1995 when three scientists were sent to count the pupfish.
Devil’s Hole is the entrance to Death Valley’s largest dwell. The Dwell of the Ancient Waters is reached by
walking through the cave opening, over the platform used to count the fish, and into the water. Ashringa
and others of a spiritual nature will enter the hot water only to emerge in a moonlit glade bordered by
willow trees and with the moss covered shore of a sparkling lake to one side. This lake is a representation
of Lake Manley as it was hundreds of years ago with the tarn now a rocky wall, covered with petroglyphs
of horses, birds, and horned serpents, from which a clear stream emerges from the moss covered rocks and
flows into the lake.
The Grace of the Ancient Waters is a level 3 fellowship dwell under the stewardship of Nyrallar, a totem
spirit of Oniont's brood. More recently a second totem, The Great Spotted Roadrunner had also become
part of the dwell. This dwell is run mostly by Nhurim and Nimbi but as it is also the headquarters of the
Tomesha Council all bãos may be found here.
The cavern behind the waterfall is frequented by a local charm of Nimbi following the totem spirit of the
Heron.
Water spirits called Pa-o-has inhabit this hidden pool. In the Umbra one can often see these mermaids
sitting on the shore combing their hair or swimming. The pa-o-has may attempt to drown unwary tourists
and while they can be capricious they are usually friendly to the Ashringa.
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leading to Hole in the Rock Spring, a small cave containing a seep of fresh water that has saved the lives of
many a traveler. The main road however leads to Rhyolite, and important tourist spot. Rhyolite was an
important town between 1905 and 1908 but is now a ghost town. The ruins of the schoolhouse, doctor’s
office, the country store and the local jail still stand but the towns most famous building is its bottle house.
The bottle house is a unique building made out of 51,000 beer bottles. Today the bottle house is open to the
public with food and souvenirs for sale. Other sites in this area include Rhyolite’s Boot Hill graveyard
(which lies one mile south of the town), the gaping hole of an old mine (to the north), and the ruins of
Bullfrog, the site of the deserts first Copper mine to the west.
This area is similar to Furnace Creek, though glass spirits hang about the bottle house and ghosts are said
to haunt Boot Hill.
Stalks from the arrowhead bushes, when awakened, make exceptionally potent fetish arrows. The exact
effect is up to the storyteller but may include an automatic success to bind a spirit to the arrow, arrows that
are -1 difficulty to shoot or for a target to soak, or causing unshakable aggravated damage to a certain
type of creature. The fae make their elf shot from these arrows.
The Devil’s Golf Course is infested by Yan-Tups of the foulest nature. These corrupted undines sit near the
few pools of water singing of their lost sea and waiting to poison foolish mortals with a kiss.
In the Umbra the area around Needle’s Eye is alive with enigma spirits and anyone who sleeps in this spot
overnight will have a prophetic dream. Schwab is covered with the webs of pattern spiders but the spirits
themselves are rapidly being overwhelmed by the Wyld.
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tourists stop here. On the south side of the canyon, about 300 feet from the falls, is an area marked by
cairns. These cairns mark an area that can be scaled using rock climbing skills (difficulty 9) to reach an
area behind the falls where the canyon narrows for about a third of a mile before enlarging again. After
passing several side canyons and climbing many rock formations the canyon opens into a wide valley
covered with pinion, pine, juniper, and other trees. At the end of the valley are the waterfalls headwaters
located beneath the 6,701 foot tall Peak of Palmer Mountain. This valley is rarely reached by tourists and is
abundant in bighorn sheep and other wildlife.
The hidden valley at the base of Palmer Mountain is the location of a charm of Avarim, Killina, and Nimbi
under the protection of the Ram Totem.
This is the main area of the Weaver in Death Valley. A data stream spurts from the visitor center and
pattern spiders crawl everywhere. About once a week or so a foolish pattern spider will try to enter the
park only to be consumed by the Wyld.
Golden Canyon is a good place to meet ancestor spirits, especially if you are a Nhurim.
The two graves in this area act as “Graves of the Hallowed Heroes” to all the Ashringa in Death Valley.
Other than the body of the two Nimbi, Jim and Shorty, the graves serve as a memorial to the deceased
rather than as an actual cemetery.
The Asbestos mine is the headquarters of the Black Spiral Dancers who belong to the Hive of the Poisoned
Flesh. These demonic dogs are assisted in their atrocities by U-nu-pits, banes of serpents and disease.
These Wyrm worshiping Garou are planning to turn the rest of the Garou against the Ashringa much as the
Australian Black Spirals turned them against the Bunyip. They have already planted evidence that the hive
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is located at Devil’s Hole and will soon begin a plan of terror to bring the Garou to the desert in numbers.
Once the Ashringa are gone Death Valley will no longer have anyone to heal the land and the desert will
soon fall to the Wyrm.
Chloride is a meeting spot for a small pack of Silent Strider Garou. The Garou came to fight the Black
Spirals in the park and are planning to open a caern somewhere in the park. The Garou and the Ashringa
are on ambivalent terms, both bête know that wolves think of horses as prey yet they will need all the help
they can get against the Black Spirals.
The Kingston Range is important to the Mokole’ as it is the only part of the park where their animal kinfolk
dwell. The local clutch often travels to Death Valley to commune with the Ashringa and Faerie.
Within the umbra Malpais Mesa is the lair of an ancient 90 foot Wakinyan, a type of American dragon.
This spirit is currently sleeping but a renewal of mining may awaken the beast.
Military Bases (On the western, southern, and northeastern borders of the park)
There are three military bases bordering Death Valley, to the west is the China Lake Naval Weapons
station, to the south is the Fort Irwin Military Reservation, and to the northeast is Nellis Air Force Base. By
far the most interesting of these three bases is Nellis as this is the location of Area 51 of UFO fame. In 1997
the CIA finally admitted that the U.S. military had deceived the American public in an effort to hide
information about high-altitude spy planes. These planes, the Lockheed U-2A and the Lockheed
SR-71, accounted for over half of the UFO reports during the late 1950s and 1960s. The other half are still
unexplained, though reports of “strange sky beasts” are mentioned in some Air Force reports.
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Another site of interest, though not actually a part of Death Valley is the Tonopah Atomic Testing Range.
This area of land, located only 80 miles northwest of Los Vegas, is where the US government tested atomic
bombs from 1953 to the 1963. Open air testing ceased when the many Nevada residents and military
personnel sued the federal government because they had never been warned of the health risks of nuclear
radiation. In 1982 the National Cancer Institute looked into these reports and determined that people as far
away as Montana, Utah, South Dakota, and Colorado had been affected with thyroid cancer that was a
direct effect of windblown radiation from nuclear testing. Once this was announced to the public all
bombing ceased in the early 1990s. Unfortunately this area of desert is now being proposed as a site to bury
nuclear waste as the companies claim that the ground is already contaminated and “just useless desert
anyway.”
The umbral land around all military bases is thickly scared by the Wyrm and the Weaver. Surviving plants
and rock formations are shrouded with webs and the ground consists of soil blackened with sulpherous
soot and dotted with gaping pits leading to Hellholes or the lairs of banes. Tonopah is particularly blighted
as the very soil glows a sickly blue and leaks balefire. Tonopah is also the home of the largest Black Spiral
Dancer hive in North America, the horrid Hive of the Blasted Earth who have a level 4 cairn located at the
blast zone.
The Racetrack is, of course, actually an umbral playground for the Kainu-suvs, the elves of Death Valley.
These mischievous fae have realized that they can really mess with the minds of supposedly rational
mortals simply by moving a few rocks about. The elves then sit back invisibly and laugh at the appalled
scientists.
In the Umbra pattern spiders still inhabit the few intact buildings while the pits are suspected of housing
banes or leading to hellholes or worse.
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The dunes are the home of a charm of fierce Karkadamm warriors. The totem of this charm is the Desert
Tortoise (cost 3) who gives is children +1 stamina and the gifts Armor of the Tortoise and Lighten Task.
Desert Tortoise’s ban is to protect his species and the purity of the desert.
The guides who lead tourists through Scotty’s Castle are all Ashringa or kinfolk who have converted a few
rooms for important visitors. These guest rooms usually hosts the Royal Court of Faerie on its rare trips to
Shin-au-av.
Skidoo is so decayed that the pattern spiders have almost been overwhelmed by the Wyld. Only the mine
still has active webs. Ghosts may be found in the graveyard but do not commonly materialize.
During the four years of Panamint City’s existence there were 50 fatal shootings, a fact that gave this town
an ill reputation. When Wells Fargo refused to set foot in the town local bankers were forced to ship the
silver ore across the desert to the railroad in open freight wagons. They were never robbed because they
cast the bullion into quarter ton balls that were way too large for highwaymen to gallop off with! In 1982
there was an attempt to reopen the silver mine and in the process much of Panamint City was bulldozed to
the ground before the idea was abandoned. All that remains of Panamint City today is a few houses and the
65 foot chimney that was once part of the ore smelter.
Unlike the abandoned towns in the rest of Death Valley Panamint City is a true ghost town. During the day
the umbral buildings are home of pattern spiders of the Weaver. At night, however, Panamint becomes a
focal point for the energy of the Wyld. Shocking and brutal visions from the towns past come to life
haunting anyone who stays in the town after dark. It was these ghosts that frightened away the miners in
the 1980s. A path to the Atrocity Realm can also be found here.
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Telescope Peak is the one of the two maintained trails in Death Valley. One of the highest peaks in the area
Telescope Peak rises directly from the salt pans to a height of nearly two miles straight up! The trail passes
through a pinion and juniper forest reaching Arcane meadows 2.6 miles from the trail head. The trail then
continues along many steep, pine covered switchbacks until reaching the top.
In the Umbra Arcane Meadows is a site of great magical power. The common presence of tourists have
prevented the area from being used as a cairn or dwell but any use of magic (including rites and gifts) gain
an automatic success.
Titus Canyon is an area celebrating the Past. It is a place used as a meeting place for the Mokole’ who
here to gather information from each other, the Ashringa, and the Faerie folk. The inscriptions consist of
bête and Fae writing which tells of the history of the various supernatural tribes of Death Valley and
illustrates various umbral features. The stone circles on the other hand are for relaxation and celebration
as they are the rings in which the faeries dance.
As a sacred volcanic area the land about Ubehebe Crater is frequented by salamanders, fire elementals,
and earth spirits. The Ashringa sometimes make offerings to Alma (Gaia) by throwing them into her basket.
This is usually done in the umbra so tourists will not disturb the gifts.
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Wildrose is other maintained trail in Death Valley. This trail climbs 2,200 feet in four miles. The treeless
summit offers a 360 degree view of the entire park. The trail includes several kilns once used as mining
smelters. Around the kilns can be found several tree stumps which have been preserved by the dry air ever
since the loggers cut the trees down for fuel the ovens over 100 years ago.
In the Umbra fire spirits may be found still inhabiting the kilns and weeping glade children sit upon the
stumps and bemoan the fate of their trees.
In the 1880s twenty mule teams pulled multi ton wagons full of borax over a pass in the southern
Panamints. The drivers named the pass “Windy Gap” because of the constant high winds and in time this
name became shortened to Wingate. Wingate met high technology in 1920 when the backers of an Epson
salt mine decided to build a monorail from the railroad in Trona all the way to the mines at Epsomite.
However the monorail was doomed to failure when the first engine proved to be too weak to pull the cars
and the second was so heavy that it sank the A-frames of the rail into the mire of Searle’s Lake!
Later in the 1920s a prospector named white fell through a floor in an abandoned mine in this area. He
found himself in an underground tunnel that led to a series of rooms filled with hundreds of short, leather
clad humanoid mummies and gold bars stacked like bricks against the walls or piled in bins. White quickly
ran to get help removing the loot but when he came back he was unable to find the tunnel again, even
though he tried several times. Later an Indian guide named Tom Wilson claimed that his grandfather had
wandered into a miles long labyrinth of caves beneath the valley floor that eventually ended in an
underground city filled with tiny, leather clad people who spoke an incomprehensible language.
The little men showed up again in the 1940s when several UFO reports came from the Wingate area. The
most detailed report comes from 1949 when two prospectors witnessed the apparent crash of a flying
saucer. When the prospectors approached the craft two little men leaped from the UFO and fled into the
desert. The miners gave chase but lost the little men in the wilderness and when they returned to the site of
the crash the UFO was gone.
The native Shoshone Indians would not have been surprised by all the stories coming out of
Wingate for a cavern under this pass was said to lead t the faerie city of Shin-au-av. This Umbral city is
inhabited by all sorts of faerie races. Many kiths, including Kai-nu-suvs (elves), Yan-tups (undines), Pa-
ahas (mermaids), and ohdowa (kobolds), may be found in this city. All the odd things that have plagued
Wingate are simply the faerie folk playing tricks on ignorant mortals who attempt to build on their land.
The fae also enjoy harassing the neighboring Nellis Air Force Base, Fort Irwin Military Reservation, and
China Lake Naval Weapons Station, all of whom are infested with UFO sightings and gremlin reports.
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The Dwells of America
I’ve been to the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.
- America, “Horse with No Name”
This chapter gives an overview of some sample characters for Death Valley and the Tomesha Council. All
werebeasts in this chapter have their statistics in the following format for ease of play: Homid /Glabro or
Klatra/ Crinos or Chalico/ Hispo or Monoceros/Lupus or Equine).
Abilities: Animal Ken 2, Athletics 3, Brawl 2, Crafts 1, Computers 2, Dodge 5, Enigmas 2, Empathy
2, Firearms 1 Melee 1, Occult 1, Performance 1, Pilot (Car) 2, Primal Urge 3, Rituals 1, Survival 1.
Breed Stats:
Homid (Gnosis: 1, Gift: Smell of Man)
Métis (Gnosis: 3, Gift: Sense Wyrm)
Equine (Gnosis: 5, Gift: Heightened Senses).
Suhn Stats:
Hrunnhe (Caretaker) Rage: 1, Gift: Blissful Ignorance.
Hrunnhi (Protector) Rage 5, Gift: Razor Horn.
Hrunnsai (Storyteller) Rage: 4, Gift: Beast Speech.
Hrunnsaiya (Dreamspeaker) Rage 2, Gift: Spirit Speech.
Hrunnya (Judge) Rage: 3, Gift: Truth of Gaia.
Hrunnsaf (Trickster) Rage 1, Gift: Mimic.
Bão Stats:
Arweharis (Will: 3, Gift: Camouflage, Totem: Lion, Animal Form: Zebra.)
Avarim (Will: 3, Gift: Impala‘s Flight, Totem: Pegasus, Animal Form: Pony).
Karkadamm (Will: 3, Gift: Speed of Thought, Totem: Bull, Animal Form: Onager).
Killina (Will: 4, Gift: Mother‘s Touch, Totem: Unicorn, Animal Form: Prezwalski‘s Horse).
Nabrima (Will: 3, Gift: Balance, Totem: Dolphin, Animal Form: Brumby).
Nhurim (Will: 5, Gift: Lambent Flame, Totem: Bison, Animal Form: Mustang).
Nimbi (Will: 4, Gift: Eyes of Oberon, Totem: Stag, Animal Form: Burro).
Higher Ranks: Ashringa gain an extra two dots per Rank to apply to Attributes, Abilities Rage, and
Willpower, they also gain one gift of the appropriate level and one level one gift per every two ranks.
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Level: 3 Gauntlet: 3 Type: Fellowship & Healing
Bão Structure: Open, dominated by Nimbi and Nhurim but all bãos are represented.
History: The Grace of the Ancient Waters is one of the oldest dwells in North America. The dwell was
opened by the Nhurim during the last ice age when Death Valley was filled with the crystalline waters of
Lake Manley. The Grace was once one of the most powerful dwells in the world but time has reduced its
power. The drying up of the lake, the activities of the white settlers, the shunting of the Native Americans
into reservations and the attempted extermination of the mustang all contributed to its loss of power and to
the Nhurim’s abandonment of the dwell. The coming of the prospectors however introduced the Nimbi
tribe and during the Great Depression the Nimbi not only reawakened the dwells original Totem but also
brought a second totem into the area. Now the dwell is dedicated to both healing and fellowship and it acts
as a magnet to all Ashringa no matter their bão. The dwell is the headquarters of the Tomesha Council is
used as a meeting place for the head Ashringa of each bãos in America.
The Kossiacky: The Dwell of the Ancient Waters is located in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge on
the border between California and Nevada. This area is a part of Death Valley National Park and a full
description of the area may be found in the previous chapter. The Kossiacky covers all of Ash meadows as
well as most of north and central Death Valley National Monument, the Piper and Sylvania Mountains, and
Resting Spring Park.
The dwells center is entered by walking through the cave opening of Devil‘s Hole and then diving into the
water. Those of a spiritual nature will enter the hot water only to emerge in a moonlit glade bordered by
willow trees and with the moss covered shore of a sparkling lake to one side. Tourists and Campers are not
allowed in Devil’s Hole and the tarn is both absent from hiking maps and surrounded by a rusty chain link
fence to keep them out. This is no real barrier as humans can still climb over it and horses can simply jump
over the obstruction.
The hole’s unique species of pupfish are monitored electronically by rusting equipment used to monitor the
water levels and the fish themselves are only counted once every decade or so which limits even the
presence of park officials. In addition even if strangers do make it into the center most would not survive
diving into the near boiling water as most creatures lack the healing abilities of were-creatures. All in all,
the Grace of the Ancient Waters is a private place of neutral territory perfect for the council’s meetings.
Umbrascape: Within the Kossiacky the land resembles the Death Valley of the Ice Age with most of the
land taken up by a large but shallow lake. At the Dwell’s center, where Devil’s Hole should be, is a rocky
wall covered with petroglyphs of horses, birds, and horned serpents. A clear stream emerges from that wall
and flows into the lake which is filled with pupfish spirits as well as the occasional salamander (which is
both an aquatic animal and a fire spirit) and water elementals.
There are two totem spirits associated with this Dwell. The oldest is Nyrallar who was first summoned by
the Nhurim during the ice age. The other totem is the Great Spotted Roadrunner who came to the aid of the
Nimbi during the 1930’s.
Nyrallar is an ancient and powerful water spirit who belongs to Oniont’s brood. She manifests as a dragon
the color of moonlight with eyes as green as leaves and a single horn. Water acts as a focus for her powers
and her moon bridges join with all bodies of water inside the Death Valley area. When the Dwell was first
opened Nyrallar was a very powerful spirit of healing but as the waters of Lake Manley dried up and her
followers moved away she diminished in power. Even so she is still greatly respected by the Ashringa,
Mokole’ and Fairy tribes of the desert. Nyrallar is a spirit of healing, not just of the body but of the soul.
She believes that the Ashringa must stand together, not only with each other but also with the other Béte’,
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the Faerie, and all other creatures who wish to restore the universe to its original state. Just as all the widely
separated rivers and lakes in Death Valley are really one so the Ashringa need unity if they are to survive.
The Great Spotted Roadrunner is more often encountered than Nyrallar and is much more in touch with the
modern world. As Roadrunner is a spirit of Cunning who relies on both his quick wits and fast feet to avoid
harm he gains power by the cunning deeds enacted by the grace. In addition he is much more likely to
come to the assistance of charms that are in battle with Wyrm beasts for as expects his wards to overcome
the Wyrm just as physical roadrunners subdue snakes.
The Great Spotted Roadrunner manifest with the following statistics: Rage 2, Willpower 7, Gnosis 4, and
Power 20. He has the following charms and gifts: Airt sense, Materialize (cost 13, Strength 2, Dexterity 3,
Stamina 2, Mental 3, Social 3, Alertness 3, Athletics 3, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Peck for 2 dice, claw for 2 dice,
Normal Health levels), Survivor, Impala’s Flight, Messenger’s Fortitude, Speed beyond Thought, and
Avoid fate. Roadrunner’s Nature is that of a Gallant but his demeanor is definitely that of a Show off.
Characters to Meet
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Born at the San Diego zoo Cage-Leaper (in monoceros form) jumped over the fence enclosing his zebra
kinfolk during his first change and ran wild until he was found by the zookeeper the next day. The keeper
(Benson King) was not only an Arweharis but Cage’s sire and he introduced the young equine to Ashringa
society. Eventually he was taken to the Grace of the Burning Sands where he quickly grew in Rank. When
King retired from his job he persuaded the zoo to hire his son to replace him. Cage now acts as the person
to contact in order to find an equine mate of the proper species as he has extensive contacts with every zoo
in the country and a few outside America as well. In equine form Cage-Leaper is a Grevy’s Zebra and in
Homid he is a tall black man with a light birthmark on his forehead. His Klatra form is an asbar and in
equine he is a common zebra.
Crusher-of-Evil was born in Saudi Arabia and came to the United States as an exchange student. He
quickly rose to be the leader of a local gang but this came to an end when 9/11 took place. The attack on
the World Trade Center and his criminal record caused Crusher to fear being deported so he fled to the
desert where he joined the Sand Dune Charm under the leadership of Kris. He fantasizes about becoming
the leader of all the Karkadamm in America. He plans to take over the charm when Kris retires and then to
challenge that pip-squeak of a donkey, Thunder Jack, for leadership of the Grace of the Ancient Waters.
Once he leads the Grace he will then challenge the Karkadamm council member for that post. Once he is
leader of all the Karkadamm, Hashim plans to destroy every human being who enters a national park.
Crusher is a sandy colored onager in equine form and a asbar in Klatra.
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Gifts (1) Call Spirit, Find Water, Heightened Senses, Spirit Speech.
(2) Command Spirit, Force of Nature, Impala’s Flight, Name the Spirit.
(3) Form of the Wild.
(4) Speak with Wind Spirits, Spirit Drain.
Rites: Rite of Talisman Dedication, Rite of the Opened Cairn, Rite of Binding, Rite of Spirit Awakening,
Ritual of Summoning, Rite of Passage, Rite of the Fetish, Rite of the Opened Bridge.
Fetishes: Spirit Whistle.
Kris was conceived in the deserts of Pakistan and came to the United States when his pregnant mother was
rounded up and shipped to the San Diego Zoo. He was coached through his first change by Benson King
the Arweharis zookeeper who and introduced to the Charm of the Burning Sand where he eventually
became leader. Today Kris is in his late 50’s and while he knows he must choose a successor soon he waits
because he believes that Crusher-of- Evil is too power hungry to lead. Kris received his name because in
Monoceros form his horn has a wavy shape like the Malaysian sword called a Kris. In equine form he is a
khur with dark fur and in Homid he is a small dark skinned Indian man. His Klatra form is a centaur.
Long Ears is a mule born accidentally when the old Gatekeeper, the Nimbi Eloy Cornelio, mated with a
mustang mare. To his surprise the mare subsequently underwent her first change and was now a Nhurim
pregnant with a Métis foal. When Long Ears was born the mare gave her son to his father and left the
Grace. To this day Long Ears wonders what happened to her. Eloy trained his son in the arts of being
Gatekeeper and after his death in a Black Spiral Dancer attack Long Ears took over his sire’s position in the
Grace. Long Ears natural form is a mule with a unicorn’s horn and huge, drooping donkey’s ears that
actually drag on the ground. These ears also appear in Asbar and Chalico form and make him somewhat
clumsy (+2 Difficulty on all Dexterity rolls when in Monoceros, Klatra, or Chalico form, on a botch he
trips over his own ears). In human form he resembles a middle aged Aztec Indian, in klatra form he is an
asbar, and in equine form he is a small slate mule with lop ears.
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Bão: Nhurim
Nature/Demeanor: Maker/Caregiver
Attributes: Strength 2 (4/6/5/5) Dexterity 3 (4/5/6/5) Stamina 4 (6/7/7/7) Charisma 4
Manipulation 3 (2/0/1/0) Appearance 2 (1/0/4/1) Perception 4 Intelligence 4 Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 3, Empathy 5, Expression 4, Primal Urge 3, Leadership 4, Linguistics 3, Medicine 3,
Rituals 4, Survival 3.
Backgrounds: Kinfolk (Shoshone Indians) 5
Rank: 5
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 3/5/10
Gifts (1) Nature’s Plenty, Sense Guilt, Truth of Gaia, and Walk behind the Mirror
(2) Talk, Sense Wyrm
(3) Wisdom of the Ancient Ways
(4) Adaptation
(5) Summon Storm Crow
Rites: Rite of Cleansing, Rite of the Opened Cairn, Moot Rite, Rite of Binding, Rite of Summoning, Rite
of Passage, Rite of Birth.
Fetishes: Horn of the Evil Eye, Medicine Bag of the Asvins, Spirit Drum.
Mustang Meg is an older (in her 60’s) Shoshone Indian woman who grew up in the nearby reservation.
Meg changed form early in life and was introduced to Ashringa culture by her Ashringa father. She is a
tough, no nonsense woman who has led the grace since she was twenty. In equine form she is a
swaybacked brown mare and in Klatra she is a centaur.
Growing up in San Francisco’s Chinatown Mei’s human parents was part of the radical peace movement of
the 60’s. When she was 16 she was contacted by her uncle from China who showed her true heritage and
gave her a family heirloom, a dagger said to be made from the tooth of an oriental dragon. She once
worked for Social Services and has a great amount of pull through various contacts in the government. She
worked long and hard to get National Park status for the Death Valley area. She is a pale yellow takhi in
equine form fading to in Monoceros. In Klatra form she is an asbar.
Rowena Grant
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Position: Keeper of the Land at the Dwell of the Ancient Waters
Breed: Homid
Suhn: Hrunnhe (Caretaker)
Bão: Avarim
Nature/Demeanor: Conformist/Autist
Attributes: Strength 3 (5/7/6/6) Dexterity 3 (4/5/6/5) Stamina 2 (4/5/5/5) Charisma 3
Manipulation 4 (3/1/3/1) Appearance 3(2/0/5/2) Perception 3 Intelligence 3 Wits 2
Abilities: Alertness 2, Athletics 2, Brawl 1, Dodge 2, Empathy 3, Expression 2, Animal Ken 4,
Performance (Drawing) 2, Primal-Urge 3, Enigmas 2, Science (Botany) 3.
Backgrounds: Mentor 3
Rank: 3
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 3/7/5
Gifts (1) Blissful Ignorance, Sense Wyrm, Smell of Man.
(2) Lambent Flame, Neigh of Glory, Talk.
(3) Awe
Rites: Garlands of Bright Flowers, Gathering for the Departed, Rite of Remembrance.
Fetishes: None
Merits/Flaws: Common Sense, Soft Hearted, Reputation
Rowena was born in the Maryland city of Annapolis to a family of ex-hippies. She grew up surrounded by
her parent’s creed of universal peace and love and was also aware of her family’s Celtic heritage thanks to
her Welsh grandparents. Thus it was no surprise that Rowena was attracted to the New Age movement in
her early teens. However it did surprise her when on her 18th birthday she became not a witch but a
werehorse. Adopted by a local charm of Avarim, Rowena was taught the ins and outs of werehorse culture
and at the age of 21 moved to California where she joined the dwell. Rowena’s equine form is that of a
white welsh pony and her Monoceros form is that of a classic unicorn. She is a asbar in Klatra form.
Agna-iyanke chose his human moniker from a Dakota Indian name meaning “Runs beside
Horses”, an appropriate title since he grew up among a tribe of wild mustangs in Wyoming. He
received a vision from Nyrallar soon after his first change which told him to come to California and he has
been Master of the Rite there for the past twenty years. In human shape he is a tall Native American man in
his early thirties with very long black hair, in equine he is a bay stallion. His Klatra form is a centaur.
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Owl Chief (Kibbe Lesharo)
Position: Master of the Challenge at the Grace of the Ancient Waters
Breed: Homid
Suhn: Hrunnhai (Protector)
Bão: Nhurim
Nature/Demeanor: Traditionalist/Bravo
Attributes: Strength 5 (7/9/8/8) Dexterity 4 (5/7/8/7) Stamina 4 (6/7/7/7) Charisma 3
Manipulation 2 (1/0/1/0) Appearance 3 (2/0/5/2) Perception 3 Intelligence 2 Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 4, Athletics 4, Brawl 5, Dodge 5, Enigmas 2, Firearms 3, Medicine 2, Melee 5, Primal-
Urge 3, Stealth 5.
Backgrounds: Kinfolk 2, Familiar Spirit 3
Rank: 3
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 5/3/4
Gifts (1) Lambent Flame, Hoof‘s Might, Razor Horn,
(2) Sentinel’s Warning
(3) Gaia’s Lance
Rites: none
Fetishes: none
Born in the Shoshone Indian Reservation in 1980s Kibbe had always wanted to be a great warrior like the
Indians of old and not the pathetic “white-man wanabees” his tribe had become. In response his parents
enrolled him in a martial arts class (where he soon received a black belt in karate) in an attempt to curb his
warrior spirit. Still he seemed obsessed with the Plains Indians and their horses. As a result he was
overjoyed when he underwent his first change at the age of sixteen. While young to have such an important
position, Kibbe has proven his abilities again and again. Kibbe received his name from the owl familiar that
constantly follows him about, an omen echoed in his Indian name which means “chief of the night bird”.
Kibbe Lesharo is a pinto stallion in equine form and an asbar in Klatra.
Born in Titanathere canyon, Thunder jack, like all Nimbi, is a lover of practical jokes. A happy-go-lucky
sort of man Adriano likes to use glamour to make himself look taller and to make Meg seem younger
during council meetings. After all appearance is everything when dealing with outsiders. In human form he
calls himself Adriano Gomez and passes himself off as a park ranger. Thunder Jack is a smoky black burro
in equine form and an asbar in Klatra.
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Grace of the Desert Intaglios
Like the Nazca lines of Peru, the intaglios are visible from the ground but their clear and full impact
becomes evident only when looking down from the sky.
- Peterson, Natasha, Sacred Sites
Location: Southern California
Level: 3 Gauntlet: 4 Type: Strength
Bão Structure: Open, dominated by Arweharis and Nimbi
Totems: Puma
History:
Sometime in the past an unknown group of Native Americans scraped away the dark gravel to expose the
lighter topsoil beneath the desert sands on the border between California and Arizona. Much like the Nazca
lines of Peru these figures can only be seen from the air but unlike the famous lines in South America the
intaglios have more in common with the “giants” and “white horses” of Europe. This is because one figure
is that of a 94 foot tall man while the other is a horse.
The presence of the horse caused most historians to date the intaglios to less than 500 years old, claiming
that they must have been made by a wandering tribe (because none of the local tribes would admit to
making them) fleeing the Spanish. When it was revealed that the covering of desert varnish over the figures
proves that they were several thousand years old the academics still had to account for the horse so either
still insisted on a young age for the intaglios or claimed that the animal was a badly drawn mountain lion.
Because the figures are only scraped into the ground they were in danger of being destroyed by visitors
using off road vehicles until the local boy scouts built a fence around them. Today the figures are under the
care of the Bureau of land Management in Riverside California but no tower or other ability for people to
see the intaglios have been built and they are still practically unknown to the public.
The intaglios are actually an old Nhurim dwell that was taken over by the Arweharis in the early 19 th
century. The Arweharis took over the dwell when the native mustangs were driven away and today the only
wild equines near the intaglios are a few feral donkeys. The Arweharis members visit the nearby San Diego
Zoo and Wild Animal Park to breed.
The Kossiacky
The Grace of the Desert Intaglios is located 15 miles north of the city of Blythe near Route 95. The
Kossiacky includes most of the border between California and Arizona including a portion of the Colorado
River. The dwells center is reached by walking the spiral path. When one reaches the center they will find
themselves in the dwells heart.
Umbrascape
Within the Kossiacky the land appears to be a glorified version of its physical appearance. The intaglios are
unmarred by tracks and trails and gleam a snowy white against the black soil that surrounds them. A dance
ring marked with piles of gravel surrounds the human figure and anyone who sleeps on the giant may gain
a horse’s strength even in human form for one turn after performing the proper ritual dance. Horse spirits of
all kinds abound in this and a huge spiritual mountain lion, the totem of the dwell, lies at the heart of the
horse figure.
Fangs-In-The-Dark
Position: Grace leader and Tomesha Council member
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Breed: Métis
Suhn: Hrunnhi (Protector)
Bão: Arweharis
Nature/Demeanor: Competitor/Alpha
Attributes: Strength 4 (6/8/7/7) Dexterity 3 (4/5/6/5) Stamina 5 (7/8/8/8) Charisma 2
Manipulation 2 (1/0/1/0) Appearance 2 (1/0/4/1) Perception 4 Intelligence 5 Wits 4
Abilities: Alertness 3, Animal-ken 5, Brawl 4, Firearms 2, Intimidation 4, Leadership 4, Linguistics 1,
Melee 3, Politics 3, Primal-urge 3, Rituals 2, Survival 4.
Backgrounds: Contacts 3, Pure Breed 4
Rank: 4
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 6/8/7
Gifts (1) Camouflage, Sense Wyrm, Sight out the Predator, Razor Horn
(2) Staredown
(3) Form of the Wild
(4) Safety in Numbers
Rites: Moot Rite, Rite of Passage, Baptism of Fire, Rite of the Lion, Rite of Ostracism
Fetishes: Carbuncle, Purification Cup
Merits and flaws: Common sense, Deformed Horn (Métis deformity), Fangs.
Fangs-In–The-Dark was born to punish the hubris of two equine Arweharis who were too proud to breed
with zoo animals. Born with three horns and lupine fangs, the parents were horrified and dumped their
offspring in the desert. The abandoned foal then lived with a herd of wild burros until he was found by a
charm of Nimbi. As time went on Fangs grew strong enough to defeat the puma spirit that was guarding the
Grace of the Desert Intaglios. This act reopened the dwell and gave Fangs much renown. His act attracted
many young Arweharis tired of the posing of their elders and his grace is now the largest zebra dominated
grace in the west. In human form Fangs is a stern looking black man, in klatra form he is an asbar and his
equine form is a common zebra. He has fierce-looking canine teeth in all his forms.
History
The location of this dwell is not an ancient sacred site but rather one made in recent years. In 1939, Chief
Henry Standing Bear of the Sioux had a vision of a monument to Native Americans that would rival the
nearby Mt. Rushmore. Standing Bear contacted the sculptor Korzcak Ziolkowski, who dedicated his entire
life and that of his descendants into finishing the monument. Korzcak was over forty when he began
carving a monument that would be larger than the Great Pyramid of Egypt. After his death, Korzak’s
grandchildren finished and dedicated the statue in 1998.
The Nhurim are, of course, responsible for this monument the dedication of the statue allowed for the
opening of the first new major dwell in historical times. The monument serves as monument to all Native
Americans and the horses that were defeated with them.
The Kossiacky
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Located just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument is the largest sculpture in the world.
Carved out of an entire granite mountain it is a staggering sight, a handsome, grim-faced native warrior
pointing towards the east from the back of a leaping horse that seems to be rushing forward into the sky. He
rises up a full 600 feet high and carved at his horse’s feet are the words “My lands are where my dead lie
buried”. Near the statue stands the Indian Museum of North America, representing some 80 tribes.
Eventually the area will also include The North American Indian University and Medical Training Center.
To enter the dwell one must go down a trail leading from behind the statue to a circle of trees. Entering the
glade brings one into the dwell.
Umbrascape
Within the Kossiacky the land appears to be a glorified version of its physical appearance. The hills are
pristine and unmarred and Ancestor spirits ride spirits of mustangs, hunting spirit buffalo, much as they
once did in the physical world.
Sun Eagle is the direct descendant of Crazy Horse himself, and many believe that he is the Nhurim destined
to not only unite the Ashringa, but to unite the Indian Tribes and bring them back to prominence in North
America. Sun Eagle was born to a Sioux family in 1980 and soon showed promise to the elders of the tribe,
as he seemed to have visions of the spirits. Many took this to mean that the child was destined to become a
shaman but others thought the child was too warlike for this, as the boy loved nothing more than hunting
from horseback. When he was 16 Sun eagle was approached by his Grandfather who revealed his Ashringa
heritage. Sun Eagle is a chestnut pinto with curly fur in equine form and a centaur in klatra.
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History
Hawaii is said to be paradise on Earth but it is really a land filled with the spirits of fire and water. Many
overeager land developers have laughed at the “native superstitions” only to have their million dollar
homes collapse into the sea or smothered by burning lava, Mother Pele will not be laughed at. Legend says
that the Haleakala volcano is the place where the trickster spirit Maui captured the sun in order to give his
people more daylight to fish. It was also said to be the home of Madame Pele, goddess of fire and
volcanoes. The area was so sacred that it was made a national park almost as soon as Hawaii became part
of the United States. As part of Polynesia, Hawaii, was settled by and has a language very close to that of
Australian natives. That, along with its access to water, means that the Nabrima quickly made it their home.
There are a few feral herds of mustang-like horses in Hawaii so most Ashringa of equine need not leave the
islands to breed.
The Kossiacky
Haleakala National park is on the island of Maui, the second largest of the Hawaiian islands. The center of
the park is dominated by a one of the largest volcanoes in the world ( the crater alone is as big as
Manhatten Island in New York City) and surrounded by lush orchid trees. The single road leading to the
summit starts in tropical jungle and ends 40 miles later at a arctic cold lava rock plain. As the volcano rises
30 degrees straight up, one cannot see the land from the summit but instead are surrounded by clouds and
the sea. Interesting features are the Leleiwi Overlook (located six miles from the visitor center) which
projects a mirage of clouds surrounded by rainbows called the Specter of Brocken, Pele’s Pig Pen (a rock
formation that looks like a corral) and the Bottomless Pit. The Bottomless Pit is an old volcanic vent where
it is said that Pele’s sister, Keanawilinau, entered Pele’s domain in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the
volcanoes fires.
There are two visitor centers, the main one at Park Headquarters at the mountains base and the other
located near the summit. The Main Visitor Center stands out because of the piles of lave rocks thrown
outside its rear entrance. Legend stats that any foreigner who takes one of Pele’s rocks of the island will
suffer bad luck until the rock is returned, and every year the visitor center is mailed hundreds of rocks from
people who dared scoff at this belief and suffered the consequences.
Thirty miles from the summit road is the Pug Ululate Visitor center. A mile from this Center is Science
City, an astronomical research station where astronauts once practiced traveling to the moon. The only way
down to these areas is by horseback (stables are provided at a scenic spot the end of the road) or hiking.
The dwell is entered from the Bottomless Pit, the Ashringa enter the vent and exit an umbra opening to the
surface to enter the volcano’s spirit world.
Umbrascape
Within the Kossiacky the land is one with the elements. The rock of the mountain gleams with obsidian and
streams of lava flow from the crater. Clouds surround the top and the sea below sparkles with rainbows.
One rarely sees Madame Pele unless she is angered, and then the volcano erupts in the physical world.
More common are various fire spirits, the were-sharks of the nearby ocean, and the Ku, green furred faerie
hounds identical the cu-sidhe of Irish myth.
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Linguistics 1, Medicine 1, Melee 3, Occult 3, Pilot 3 (aircraft), Primal-Urge 3, Repair 3, Rituals 3, Stealth
3, Survival 4.
Backgrounds: Allies 5, Mentor 3, Resources 2.
Rank: 3
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 4/6/8
Gifts (1) Smell of Man, Snorkel horn, Balance, Find Water
(2) Spirit of the Fish.
(3) Clarity
Rites: Rite of Cleansing, Rite of the Opened Cairn, Moot Rite, Rite of the
Fetish
Fetishes: Lightning Shoes.
History
14,400-acre Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is found on Assateague Island off the east coast of the
United States. Assateague Island is a long narrow barrier beach that lies partly in Maryland and partly in
Virginia. The island’s coastline is characterized by sandy beaches, behind which are extensive salt marshes
and shallow lagoons.
In the days of the conquistadors a ship carrying Moorish ponies sank off Assateague island and its load of
horses swam to the islands where they lived in the wild for nearly a hundred years. When Europeans
discovered the islands they quickly settled Assateague’s sister island, Chincoteague, and once a year the
wild ponies were rounded up and driven across the small channel between the islands where a few of the
foals were kept by the islanders while the rest were swum back to Assateague.
Pony Penning Day became a local holiday, well loved by the islands inhabitants who left Assateague to the
ponies and made homes only in Chincoteague. The Island became famous in the 1950’s due to the novel
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Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. Released as a film in 1961, this movie made Pony Penning
Day famous and turned Chincoteague into a tourist trap.
The increases interest in the horses caused the Government to step in and declare that the ponies a menace
to the local wetlands, despite the fact that the ponies had been there for nearly 200 years without bothering
the birds. As a result the natives were forced to sell their land to the government who promptly fenced off
most of the ponies grazing land resulting in an increase in diseases and death by drowning because the
horses could no longer escape from hurricanes by moving inland.
Today a bridge actually reaches from Maryland all the way to Assateague Island and the 14,400-acre
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, once pristine wetlands, is now filled with fast-food outlets and
curio shops. Once inside the reserve one finds oneself in a summer tourist throng of 1.3 million visitors
who pour through little Chincoteague each year. The ponies are still present but in very small numbers and
mostly in captivity.
The Kossiacky
The territory of the Isle of Grass is the entire island of Assateague. The Ashringa dislike the thousands of
tourists who flock to her shores all looking to buy the wild ponies that are nearly extinct instead of buying
perfectly tame members of the same breed that have been preserved on nearby Chincoteague. Even worse
is the effect such traffic is having on the wetlands that the government was supposed to be saving by
eliminating the horses. The heart of the dwell is located within a ring of stones and trees found on the
islands far side.
Umbrascape
Within the Kossiacky the land is still unspoiled wetlands, sandy beaches surrounded by blue seas and with
the land covered in pristine forest. The only exception is the NWR entrance where the trees are thick with
the cobwebs of the Weaver. Bird, Horse and water spirits abound in this dwell.
Autumn Mane was born a pony on Assateague Island in the 1970’s. Her Ashringa mother easily kept her
from the pony penners simply by entering the Umbra with her on the day of the Holiday. She underwent
her first change at a year old when, apart from her parent, she found herself being herded to auction.
Frightened by the screaming cowboy she changed to Monoceros form and leaped full over horse and rider.
The cowboy calmly tied his horse, took monoceros form himself, and catching up with the startled mare
explained to her what she was. Thus Autumn mane was introduced to Avarim society and eventually
became Dreamspeaker and lead mare of the dwell. She was horrified by the changes the government
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wrought to the islands in the 1980’s and now relies on her homid tribe members to deal with the
government and hopes to eventually return the island to its native people and horses. In equine form
Autumn Mane is a dark chestnut pony with a bit of Shetland blood. In klatra form she is an asbar.
History
The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. It is an exceptionally deep, steep
walled canyon in northwestern Arizona, excavated by the Colorado River and a full 277 miles long and 18
miles wide. The walls of the canyon plunge a full 5000 feet deep and expose rocks from every era in
Earth’s history. The entire canyon is extremely beautiful, containing towering buttes, mesas, and valleys
within its main gorge. Beloved by President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt it was one of the first national
parks in America. Today Grand Canyon National Park receives about four million visitors a year.
The Kossiacky
Perhaps the greatest secret in America is the Egyptian Temple discovered in the Grand Canyon during the
1920’s. Newspapers at the time plastered the story all across America but today when anyone asks about
the temple they are told that the story was a hoax. However it is an interesting fact that geographic maps of
the canyon have areas marked with such enigmatic names as The Osiris Temple, the Isis Temple and The
Buddha temple. In addition the part of the canyon where these names appear is the only area in the canyon
where both visitors and government workers are not allowed to go. The official reason is that the
cartographers just “liked Egyptian and Indian names” and that the area is filled with dangerous holes and
cliffs. The real reason is that this area is the land of the Grace of the Hidden Temple, home to those
Ashringa and faeries that make Arizona their home.
The dwell is that of the Hidden Temple and its people insist that it remain hidden, visitors have their eyes
covered until they enter the heart of the dwell, only then are they allowed to see where they are. Anyone
who refuses to cover their eyes has their memories wiped by the faeries of the canyon.
Umbrascape
Within the Kossiacky the land appears to be covered in golden sand surrounded by towering sun-colored
canyon walls to steep to climb. To the east there are temples to Osiris, Isis, and Buddha surrounding an
Egyptian pyramid at the top of which is a shrine to Amon Ra, Egyptian god of the sun. To the west is a
waterfall pouring down the canyon wall into the umbral Colorado river. The river is bordered with bizarre
rock formations and trees filled with faerie and animal spirits. Often the spirit of Bright Angel himself, the
wild donkey that once lived in the canyon and who was declared its spirit by Roosevelt himself can be seen
splashing in the water.
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Bão: Nimbi
Nature/Demeanor: Rebel/Gallant
Attributes: Strength 3 (5/7/6/6) Dexterity 3 (4/5/6/5) Stamina 4 (6/7/7/7) Charisma 5
Manipulation 5 (4/2/4/2) Appearance 2 (1/0/4/1) Perception 3 Intelligence 3 Wits 5
Abilities: Alertness 2, Athletics 4, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Drive 2, Empathy 3, Expression 5, Primal-Urge 4,
Leadership 2, Politics 3.
Backgrounds: Allies 3, Pure Breed 3
Rank: 3
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 1/5/8
Gifts (1) Eyes of Oberon, Mimic, Persuasion, Resist Toxin.
(2) Glib Tongue.
(3) Faerie kin.
Rites: none.
Fetishes: none.
In the 1970’s many immigrants from Egypt came to America and Bishr Habesha parents were among them.
Born in the 1980’s Bishr became a true class clown during childhood. One day during detention, he was
looking at a magazine on the Grand Canyon, a place his father, Shadi often went on business. He pestered
his father about it and to his delight dad took him with him on his next trip to the canyon. There the two
hiked deep into the forbidden part of the park where Shadi announced that he and his son were Ashringa
and introduced him to his new family. In equine form he looks like a pure blooded Somali wild Ass. In
klatra shape he is a centaur.
History
Mount Shasta is located in northern California’s Cascade range. It is a dormant volcano 14,162 feet high
with a scarred cone with lava flows and a snowcapped summit. Five glaciers encircle the mountain, the
longest of which reaches 9,500 feet. From its western slope rises a secondary peak, about 12,000 ft high,
called Shastina. Although Mount Shasta has not erupted in modern times, steam vents are still to be seen on
its cindered slopes. While officially “discovered” in 1827 by the Canadian fur trader Peter Skene Ogden,
Shasta had been a sacred site to the American Indians since the Ice Age.
The metaphysical mysteries surrounding Mount Shasta are varied and many. It is reputably the home of a
great many spirits. Some say that when Atlantis (or Lemuria or Mu) vanished beneath the waves the last of
their mystics traveled to Mount Shasta where using magic crystals they can fade away into the world of the
spirits. Another myth tells of the Yaktayvians, a race belonging to the Secret Commonwealth (Faeries) that
use magical bells to manipulate the elements. Others claim that a secret brotherhood of Tibetans have
tunnels dug into the mountain filled with their sacred libraries. Another myth tells of a giant deer, larger
than an elk, with huge antlers that vanishes when hunters get to close. In addition the odd, disc-shaped
clouds that surround the mountain have spawned rumors of UFOs and alien abductions.
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The New Age also ushered in the I AM cult established by Guy Ballard, who claimed to have climbed
Mount Shasta where he met the Ascended Master St. Germain (claimed by many to have been a vampire),
who gave Ballard the tenets of his new religion.
The Kossiacky
Mount Shasta is part of the Trinity National Forest, which contains some 38,000 acres. The town of Shasta
at the base of the mountain, lies in a basin and is bordered by both the Klamath and Cascade mountain
ranges. Temperatures are extreme and change suddenly without warning from roasting hot to freezing cold,
indeed the biggest cause of fatalities in the mountain is hypothermia, altitude sickness and sunburn.
The paranormal activities of the mountain are the result of a truly unique sacred spot within the mountain.
Mount Shasta is both an Ashringa dwell and a Garou caern. The land was awakened by a pack of Tibetan
Stargazers and a charm of kulan Karkadamm in the 1940s in order to have a sacred spot dedicated to
preserving the ancient knowledge of the ancient Orient. The totem of the dwell /caern is Stag whose
presence confounds many a hunter, and the faeries are indeed found on Mt. Shasta.
Umbrascape
The heart of the caern is near the mountain’s peak where a cave leads to a hidden valley in which the
Stargazers have built dwellings similar to those in their homeland. The largest of these buildings is the
great library, a cavern dug into the very walls of the mountain, filled with scrolls saved from the book
burnings of China, sacred text from Tibet and India, and rare and potent fetishes. This librarian is protected
by the Counte St. Germain, a vampire who joined the brotherhood to gain enlightenment and purge the
wyrm from his soul. St. Germain spread the I AM religion to discourage people from climbing the sacred
mountain and disturbing the dwell, an act sure to lead to their deaths either by freezing to death or by the
fangs and hooves of the werebeasts.
Swift as the Moon is the descendant of one of the founders of the dwell and the leader of the equine
population of the mountain. Like all the Ashringa of Mt. Shasta he is a scholar who hopes to enlighten the
world to Gaia’s pain and believes that purifying oneself must be done before you can purify others.
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However, he is a Karkadamm, and like all his kind believes that the best way to keep Gaia pure is to keep
people out of it. To this point he travels the mountain pretending to be a Park Ranger, Space Brother,
Policeman, or whatever will get the job done to discourage climbers. Those who get violent are treated to a
whirlwind of martial arts and if that doesn’t work the chalico form will.
While tolerant for a Karkadamm Javas will kill if he sees no other way. Javas is an stunning sight in
monoceros form, a silvery white unicorn with a flowing mane, beard and tail and elegantly elongated ears.
In equine form he is an albino kulan and in klatra he is an asbar.
History
Rainbow Bridge National Monument was formed proclaimed in 1910 to protect Rainbow Bridge. This
bridge is a natural formation of salmon-pink sandstone that resembles the arc of a rainbow. The largest
natural bridge in the world Rainbow Bridge is a full 309 feet high and spans 278 feet over Bridge Canyon.
The bridge is also 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide. The bridge can be reached in only two ways, by boat or
by trail. Most tourists take one of the boats and go on all day cruises that visit the bridge only briefly. The
trails can be hiked or traveled by horseback and are 13 to 14 miles long. Hiking and horseback riding
permits must be obtained from the Navaho Tribe.
A former branch of the Colorado River created Rainbow Bridge through erosion.. The Native American
Navaho people considered the bridge one of their most sacred spots but it became famous only after 1909,
when Native American guides led a group of white explorers there.
In the early days of western expansion Chinamen were brought in to work on the railroads. A few of these
Chinese were Killina who soon joined up with the native Navaho Nhurim. These Nhurim had worshiped at
the rainbow bridge for as long as their ancestors had been in the land and, as the Chinese beliefs were not
much different the two bão soon joined together.
The Kossiacky
According to Navaho legend Rainbow Bridge is an actual bridge between the physical and spiritual realms.
It is an actual doorway into the Umbra that leads to the home to the Rainbow god and his spirits. As
Rainbow’s magical sky serpents were believed to bring rain to the Indian’s crops just like the dragons of
China. It is no surprise that the Killina soon joined their Nhurim brothers in worshiping at this site. The
dwell is located under the bridge. The Ashringa travel along one of the many trails and then plunge into the
water and swim under the bridge until they come out the shore at other side into the Umbra.
Umbrascape
The Kossiacky is like a sight out of a book on fairy tales, the stone bridge is replaced by a huge rainbow
spanning the lake and sprays of water cause smaller rainbows to form near the base. Faerie and dragon
spirits of all colors and sized sprawl about on the surrounding canyon walls and the occasional thunderbird
or stormcrow is also seen.
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Hu-lin Marrim (Spotted Tiger)
Position: Grace leader and Tomesha Council member
Breed: Homid
Suhn: Hrunnhe (Caretaker)
Bão: Killina
Nature/Demeanor: Traditionalists/Nurturer
Attributes: Strength 3 (5/7/6/6) Dexterity 3 (4/5/6/5)
Stamina 3 (5/6/6/6) Charisma 4
Manipulation 5 (4/2/4/2) Appearance 3 (2/0/5/2)
Perception 2 Intelligence 3 Wits 4
Abilities: Alertness 3, Brawl 3, Dodge 2, Enigmas 2,
Intimidation 3,Investigation 2, Leadership 4,
Linguistics 1, Melee 3, Politics 3, Rituals 3, Science 4,
Streetwise 4, Subterfuge 3.
Backgrounds: Allies 4, Contacts 4, Resources 3
Merits/Flaws: Horse of a different color
Rank: 4
Rage/Gnosis/Willpower: 3/4/8
Gifts (1) Blissful Ignorance, Mother’s Touch,
Persuasion, Smell of Man.
(2) Calm.
(3) Dazzle.
(4) Unicorn’s grace.
Rites: Rite of Talisman dedication, Rite of the Opened
Caern, Gathering for the Departed, Fertility Rite,
Rite of the Winter Wolf.
Fetishes: Clear Water, Dream trap, Tears of Gaea.
Born to an old Killina family, Hu-lin grew up knowing that she might one day join the horse people who
protected the land. She showed all the signs of being Ashringa and when Hu-lin had her first change many
in the dwell thought that it was an omen or blessing from the dwell spirit for her fur in monoceros form was
all the colors of the rainbow. Her equine and klatra forms are less flashy, a plain yellow dun Takhi or
centaur. Today Hu-lin is the lead mare of the grace and makes sure that the traditions of both Navaho and
China are maintained – no radios and fast food in her dwell, its sacred drums and maize all the way.
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HORSES OF THE WIND: THE WILD KINFOLK
In the Beginning there was a wild horse, and that horse was man…
-Ancient Babylonian Myth.
Very little has been written on wild horses and most people simply assume that they are similar to domestic
steeds. In reality, however, wild equines are as different from tame horses as wolves are from dogs. As in
wolves, wild horses live in extended family groups that have a strict pecking order. The herd is led by a
lead mare and stallion. The stallion is dominant in most situations for it is his job to scout ahead to find
good pasture, keep the herd safe from predators, and locate safe water and places to rest. The lead mare on
the other hand keeps order in the herd and decides the herd’s movement, leading the band as it moves in
single file in order of rank as the stallion brings up the rear. Next come the mature mares and their young
(foals have the same rank as their mother until they are weaned) in order of age.
Unlike wolves, horse herds are bound together by bonds of friendship as well as family relationships. To
cement herd bonds two horses stand side by side, head to tail, and groom each others head and back. As
horses cannot reach this area of their bodies by themselves they must learn to trust the close presence of
another horse to keep themselves clean. All herd members will groom other herd members and will not
groom strangers.
Interestingly, a horse herd may have non-equine members. Many wild horses have herds that include
various antelopes, small wild cats, or even ostriches that repay the herd with using their superior senses to
detect predators. Even humans may be adopted into a horse herd, if a man stands in front of a horse and
reaches out to scratch its neck and the horse reaches out ant begins to groom the man’s shoulder than that
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man is considered a member of the herd. No doubt this is how the first horses became “tame” enough to
trust man.
Rank order is maintained by pantomime aggression, instead of kicking another horse the lead mare may
simply lift a hoof or instead of biting she may simply snarl. Other facial expressions include smiling (ears
up and mouth partially open without showing the teeth) and a variety of angry expressions ranging from a
closed mouth frown (with the ears back) to a true snarl with the ears back and the teeth showing. The
submissive members of the herd show their status by lowering their head and tail and clacking their teeth.
Stallions often show a gesture called snaking that looks ferocious (the male lowers his head and snakes it
forward while snarling) but is really a signal for the herd to move because the stallion senses danger.
The mares and their young remain united whether or not the stallion is present. If he dies or leaves the herd
for any reason the normal family existence continues until another male adopts the herd. Sometimes
(especially during the mating season, which is February to March in the northern hemisphere) a displaced
young stallion may attempt to take a herd away from another stallion by force. If the old stallion is
defeated, the herd accepts the new male without any disturbance to the rank relationships (however
individual mares have been known to flee back to their chosen stallion when they have the chance). Unlike
many mammals the new male does not kill the young of the previous male but those young stallions that
are old enough to leave their mother may go with their father when he leaves the herd.
It is commonly believed that stallions drive off or kill their young colts while the young mares stay in the
herd but this is a falsehood. In reality the young stallions leave their family groups when they are around
three years old, not because they are driven off (indeed they may be on very good terms with their father),
but because they wish to start a life of their own. Groups of adolescent males form bachelor herds of
around fifteen animals that have no apparent rank order. This group of friends eventually breaks up as
members meet available fillies or encounter an unrelated group of mares and form their own herd.
The young female leaves the family group at an earlier age than her brother, often during her first heat
when she is only fifteen months old. Fillies are seldom fertile this first season but the sight and smell of
these young mares is especially attractive to young bachelor males. Females who stay with their families
during this time will find their herd pestered by hoards of lustful teenage males who may utterly exhaust
the family stallion as he attempts to chase them away from his daughter. Eventually she will leave with one
of her suitors (or her herd will actually take her to a group of bachelors so she can pick a young one) and
send a year or so traveling from one herd to another until she finally settles down with a male. If the mare’s
chosen stallion already has a family than she becomes a member of his harem, if he is a bachelor than she
becomes the lead mare of a new herd. Once pregnant all wild equines carry their young for one full year
and the newborn is able to walk within hours of being born.
Of course the lifestyle described above differs somewhat according to species. The wild asses and Grevy’s
zebra are relatively solitary species that live in small groups and do not migrate when food becomes scarce.
Instead the males and females separate into same sex herds that occupies different areas of the territory
until food is plentiful again. During the mating season these species also form leks in which the males mark
out an area with dung and urine and any female who wishes to mate with him simply enters his territory.
The African wild ass differs in that the couples engages in ritual combat, a female not choosing a male that
she can defeat in battle.
Some herds have to deal with interference by man. In this case there is a yearly roundup of the horses and
many of the mares and foals are sold at auction while almost all the males are either killed or gelded. The
remaining females are set free with only those few males that the government decides are worth breeding.
Sometimes the males released are not even of the same breed but are domestic stallions that the men hope
will contaminate the bloodline. This “management” often “improves the breed” (I.e. makes the horses look
more like domestic animals) but makes the horses less fit to survive in the wild. Most of the wild equines
treated in this fashion are the wild ponies of Europe and America, Mustangs and Brumbies
Most people think horses have limited vocalizations but equines do more than just neigh. The calls of
equines fall into three basic types: the whinny, the nicker, and the blow. These sounds correspond in
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function respectively to the howl, whine, and barking of wolves. The whinny (a sound that varies from the
neigh of true horses to the braying of the asses and the barking of the zebras) is a low pitched sound that
carries for several miles and is used to communicate over a long distances, to call another member of the
herd, to call other herds (stallions will often call to one another so that they will not intrude on each others
territory) and to welcome back missing herd mates. The nicker is a low vibrating sound used by mothers to
call their foals and as a submissive call between adults. The blow is an unusual sound that is made by
exhaling sharply through the nose. In pitch and loudness this call is exactly like a dog’s bark and is used
when the horse senses something unusual, to get the attention of the herd, or to signal a neutral state of
mind without the aggression of a scream (the horse equivalent of a growl) or the submission of a nicker.
Horses have excellent senses of hearing and smell. They also have the largest eyes of any land mammal and
the eyes are placed on the sides of the head, an arrangement that allows the horse to see in a wider arc than
man. In horses the only blind spot is directly behind the animal. Unfortunately this eye placement allows
for less depth perception than the eyesight of men or wolves. In addition all equines are far sighted and
have trouble focusing on things that are close up through their distance vision is superb. Horses do see in
color but have trouble distinguishing between yellows and greens. Their night vision is equivalent to that of
a wolf. All together the vision of horses is better than that of rats so there is no more need for special vision
rules for Ashringa in equine form than there is for Rat-kin in rodent form so none are given in these rules.
Horses are also among the most intelligent of animals and come out as number six on animal IQ tests. In
these tests the order of the most to least intelligent are humans, apes, dolphins, elephants, wolves, horses,
pigs, goats, cattle, deer, kangaroos, sheep and rats. Donkeys, mules, and onagers are even more intelligent
than true horses so much so that one scientist declared that “the dumbest jackass on earth is a genius
compared to the smartest horse that ever lived.” the IQ of wild equines has never been studied but it is
likely that it is closer to the donkey level than that of the pampered domestic horse much as wolves score
higher on IQ tests than domestic dogs. Even so domestic horses have learned how to open their stable
doors, turn on lights, and even how to line dance to western country music!
Of all the Ashringa the Arweharis were the least affected by the ravages of the other shape shifters. The
only equine kin of the Arweharis known outside of Africa was Grevy’s zebra which was captured for use in
the gladiator arenas of the Romans. With the collapse of the Roman Empire the zebra became regulated to
myth, a monstrous beast half horse half tiger that no serious European believed in.
When the Dutch settlers of South Africa rediscovered the zebra they soon began to ruthlessly slaughter the
animals in order to make their hides into shoes, vegetable sacks, and the connecting bands for machinery.
By 1883 two types of zebra were extinct and the rest severely endangered. Today three zebra species are
still endangered but the three varieties of plains zebra are the most numerous wild horses in the world, both
in the wild and in zoos.
The first zebra to be discovered by Europeans was called the Berkwagga, Wildepaard, or Dauw by the
Native Africans. It was the smallest zebra at only 12 hands high, seven feet long and 500 lbs. In appearance
it resembles a short eared donkey with a dewlap of skin hanging from its throat. There are two distinct
types of Mountain Zebra, The Cape (E. zebra zebra) inhabits Namibia and the west coast of South Africa
and the Hartmann’s (E. zebra hartimannae) inhabits central South Africa. The Cape variety is white with a
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brownish black muzzle and stripes of the same color extending all the way to the hooves. Hartmann’s is
slightly larger (571 lbs.) and appears whiter due to the fact that its stripes are much narrower than the Cape
subspecies.
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Grant’s zebra is the most common of all zebras. Its range extends
from southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, south into Uganda,
Kenya, and Tanzania. This is the zebra of Tsavo National Park and
the Ngorongoro crater. In appearance it is pony like and quite
variable in color. Most are white with wide black stripes that encircle
the belly and reach to the hooves but a few are black with white
stripes, white with brown stripes, or even black with white spots like
a snowflake appaloosa!
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The Kinfolk of the Avarim
“An abundance of myths link the little horse with the unicorn. Perhaps, as some say, the pony is really the
unicorn minus the horn.”
- Gerald and Loretta Hausman, “The Mythology of Horses”.
The dun and white tarpan had roamed Europe since the ice age and was held sacred by the native tribes. In
Celtic myth they were the sacred animals of Rhiannon, the Earth Mother, and a “were-tarpan” was said to
have founded the royal line of Russia. The commoners deliberately staked their pony mares in the open in
the hope that they would have colts sired by their wild relatives as the results were prized for their stamina
and intelligence. This lasted until the sixteenth century when Henry the VIII, king of England passed a law
that effectively allowed only the nobility to own horses. This was the Bill for the Breeding of Horses that
called for the extermination of any horse less than 14 hands in height. As a result in England, and to a lesser
extent Europe, all ponies (including all wild horses) were viciously hunted to near extinction.
It was during this period of extermination that ponies became associated with the little people. It was
claimed that the reason there are still ponies in Ireland is because the Faeries took them Underhill until the
King’s law was changed. Unfortunately the law was not repealed until the nineteenth century and by then
the last pureblooded tarpan had become extinct. Today the Avarim find equine breeding stock in the feral
ponies of Europe and North America and in the hybrid tarpans found in wildlife parks and zoos. In most of
these horses a yearly roundup in which the foals are sold at auction is performed, an action that means that
that most Equine Avarim make their first change in captivity.
Today experts argue over whether the species was preserved or restored but its appearance suggests that it
is as pure as its Takhi relative. It is a small equine (6 ½ feet long, 13 hands tall, and weighing 750 lbs.) with
a lighter build than the takhi and with a more flowing mane. In the summer it is a blue grey (grulla) color
fading to snow white in the winter.
Note that the Steppe tarpan is not the only subspecies of tarpan. Tarpans once came in a forest variety (E.f.
silvestris) that gave rise to the domestic cart horse and a desert species called the plateau tarpan (E. f. ferus)
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which gave rise to most the Arabian and Akhal-teke. However both of these types had died out by Roman
times.
European feral ponies these are the descendants of domestic ponies that returned to the wild during the
times of Henry VIII. These ponies can be found in semi-wild herds that are rounded up once a year by the
local government and sold at auction. Those stallions considered fit to breed are released while the rest are
sold and gelded. Many of these ponies have since become established breeds that can be found worldwide.
European Breeds: Germany is home to two breeds, the Senner which is almost extinct (or is extinct
according to some authorities) which inhabits the forest of
Teutoberger Wald, and the Dulmen which now numbers less
than 100 animals and is found in the Meerfelder Bruch reserve
in Westphalia, which are 12 hands tall and black, brown, or
dun in color. Another breed can be found in the forest of
Hojsta on Sweden’s Gotland Island. The Gotland is common
in captivity and is 12-13 hands high and dun, black, bay,
chestnut, gray, or palomino in color. France has three breeds
of feral pony. The Basque region has the Pottock which
resembles a large with whiskers on its upper lip which protect
its nose from the thorny plants it eats and comes in black,
brown, bay, chestnut and pinto. The Camarguais (gray, bay, or
brown) and the Merens (which is always black in color) are
slightly larger (13-14 hands high) and are especially loved by the Gypsy peoples.
Brittish Breeds: There are two wild ponies remaining in Britain. These are the Welsh and new Forest
ponies. The last wild Welsh ponies can be found in the mountains of Wales where several Arabian horses
released into the area have made it a near twin of the Caspian. Another pony is found only in the New
Forest preserve in England. These New Forest ponies are 12-14 hands tall and come in all equine colors
except pinto and tyger.
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The New World contains two populations of wild ponies, one in Canada and one in America. They are
basically hybrids of the ibericus, aqilus and celticus subspecies created when various domestic breeds
turned feral. The Canadian breed is the Sable Island pony. This 14 hands tall tarpan like pony is said to be
descended from French ponies that were abandoned on the tiny treeless Island in the eighteenth century.
There are currently only 300 Sable Island ponies in the world and they are gray, black, brown, bay, or dark
chestnut in color.
More famous is the Chincoteague pony of the United States. These ponies are 12 hands tall and are found
only on Assateague Island off West Virginia. According to legend they are the descendants of Caspian
ponies that escaped from a Moorish ship that sank near the Island during the early days of American
exploration. In colonial times Shetland ponies were released onto the island which caused the native horses
to diminish in size, changed the color to pinto, and
made the breed more massive in build. In the early
20th century the release of several Welsh ponies
onto Assateague Island restored some of the
original pony’s quality. For decades the ponies
were rounded up by the volunteer fire department
of Chincoteague Island on the last Thursday and
Friday in July. The horses were then swum across
the narrow channel between the two islands where
the foals were sold at auction. Recently the
American government has fenced off the ponies
from most of Assateague island claiming that the
ponies harm the wetlands. This move that has
angered the people of Chincoteague who point out
that the ponies have lived on the island for
centuries without affecting the wetlands and that
the fence was actually built to keep the ponies from their main grazing land and shelter from storms. This
view seems to be correct for hurricanes have devastated the herds since the fence was built making “pony
penning day” a thing of the past.
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The Kinfolk of the Karkadamm
A man said to a wild ass one day “Let me ride you and I will feed you”, whereupon the ass replied, “Keep
your fodder and may you never ride me!”
- from “The Book of Abiquar,” written in the fifth century.
The wild asses of Arabia are the kinfolk of the Karkadamm. These creatures (often called demi-asses)
resemble mules but are a group of species unto themselves. Demi-asses once roamed the entire northern
hemisphere before the end of the ice age restricted them to Asia. In the days of the Sumerians onagers and
their kin were captured to pull chariots but were so vicious they had to be controlled with a nose ring. Once
the donkey was tamed anyone who still owned a demi-ass was said to be “half assed” because onagers were
half again harder to control then even the wildest donkey. Once returned to the wild the demi-asses soon
became favored game for royal hunts due to their great speed, tender meat, and their unique ankle bones
which were used to make dice. This hunting was so extreme that two subspecies quickly became extinct
and most of the rest are severely endangered. Luckily for the proud Karkadamm their animal kin are well
represented in many wild animal parks and zoos worldwide.
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Dzigettai (Equus [Assinus] hemionus hemionus)
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The Kinfolk of the Killina
The unicorn is to come in the shape of an incomparable man, a revealer of mysteries, supernatural and
divine, and a great lover of mankind.
- N. McCloud, “An Epitome of the Ancient History of Japan”.
Przewalski’s horse was known for centuries as the Takhi or “good luck horse” in its native lands of
Mongolia and China but expanding agriculture and hunting soon made the horse almost extinct. Discovered
by science only in 1881 it was deemed to be almost identical to the steppe tarpan drawn in the cave
paintings of Eastern Europe and moves were quickly made to preserve these horses from the wars that were
killing off so much of China’s wildlife at the time. The Duke of Bedford, a member of the Zoological
Society of London, arranged for the capture of several takhi for his organization but of the 50 takhi
captured only 13 lived to reach England. The surviving horses were bred to domestic Mongolian ponies to
prevent inbreeding and their descendants are now found in zoos worldwide. This was fortunate for by 1969
it had become extinct in the wild. There are now 200 animals in zoos and wildlife parks and about 50 were
released into the Takin Shara Nuru (“mountains of the yellow horses“) in Mongolia in 1990.
The yonaguni is a pony of the Mongolian type that runs wild in two herds on Okinawa Island in Japan.
Like most feral ponies the Yonaguni is rounded up yearly for vaccinations and to have the “excess” foals
auctioned off. These tiny (11 hands tall) ponies are used as kinfolk by both the Nabrima and those few
Killina who still live in Japan.
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The Kinfolk of the Nabrima
One by one in the moonlight there, Neighing far off on the haunted air, The unicorns come down to the sea.
- Corbin Aiken, “Evening Song”.
Many wild ponies of the tarpan type once inhabited Indonesia but as man colonized these islands the native
horses were captured and crossbred with domestic stock. The surviving Nabrima are now stuck with only
three kinfolk, each one at the extreme north or south and east of the bão’s range. The kinfolk to the north
are the Yonaguni which is shared with the Killina (see above) while the kinfolk to the south are the
Australian Brumby. Those Nabrima who live on the Hawaiian Islands breed with the brumby-like feral
ponies that can be found in the jungles there, Outside Indonesia and Australia most Nabrima are usually of
human stock though it is possible for a few kinfolk horses to be kept in captivity.
Similar to the brumby is the Hawaiian feral pony, which is managed much like the mustangs on the
mainland of the United States. These ponies are in fact mustangs abandoned by cowboys when the
Sandwich Islands (as Hawaii used to be known) were used primarily to herd cattle. They differ from the
mustang of the mainland by being somewhat smaller in size as is normal for an island population of
animals.
The horse evolved in North America and many species once roamed the New World including Grant’s
zebras, kiangs, and donkeys. By the end of the last ice age, however, only one
species remained. This was the Arctic Tarpan. It was similar to the Takhi of China except that it had a thick
wooly coat to protect it from the arctic snow and tended to be palomino in color. When man fist came to
the New World these horses were hunted like deer and, as the ice age waned and the environment warmed,
the horses became rarer and moved into the relatively cooler mountains. Though thought to have died out at
the end of the Pleistocene some evidence indicates that a few survived by retreating to the isolated desert
mountains of California and Nevada.
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In the early 1500’s the first Spaniards landed on the east coast of Mexico and, as the eastern Indian tribes
knew nothing of horses, they treated the Spanish horses as supernatural beasts. By the time the first
Europeans traveled to the west it had become “a fact” that America had no wild horses so any seen by the
explorers “had to be escaped domestic steeds”. Thus the myth that all of America’s horses died out over
12,000 years age became part of the history books despite the insistence of the Indians of Nevada and
California that there were “horses before there were horses” and the presence of American cave drawings
and sculptures in that area of horses that date from before the coming of the Spanish!
Today there is conflict between the government, which wants to exterminate the horse (which it regards as
a non-native species) from America’s national parks, and the average citizen who sees the mustang as the
very symbol of the west. The latter recently received confirmation of their view in 1993 when miners
working in Alaska dug up a mummified horse. Analysis showed that it was over 26,000 years old but when
genetic tests were done this supposed new species (the remains were dubbed Equus lambi) turned out to be
genetically identical to the living mustang! The fight to change the status of the American horse from “feral
pest” to an endangered species is currently being fought by the National Mustang Association and the
Nhurim are in the thick of the battle.
The mustang is the descendant of the Andalusian and Barb breeds of domestic horse (both of subspecies
ibericus), and Arabian (subspecies aqilus) horses that were stolen from the Spanish by the Apache Indians
in 1598. As time went on the “elk dog” (as the Indians called it) soon became indispensable to the lives of
the plains Indians, a fact that soon got it the enmity of the new American Government. At fist new settlers
were simply encouraged to fence mustangs off from grazing land and watering holes. Soon the farmers
were told to shoot the horses because they supposedly competed with domestic cattle for grass, fouled
watering holes (in reality horses dig watering holes which benefit’s the local wildlife), and stole domestic
mares. Cowboys called “mustangers” captured the horses and sold them for $10.00 each to the British for
use in the Boer War in the 1890’s.
By 1925 the U.S. government decided to expand cattle ranching in the west. As an excuse to remove the
mustang from public land once and for all the government claimed there were now too many mustangs. In
actuality the herds had already dropped from a high of over two million animals to less than a million. They
passed a law that allowed any unbranded horse to be sold by anyone who captured it. These horses were
then sold for $2.00-$3.00 each to pet food plants. In 1934 congress demoted the wild horse from “wildlife”
to “feral pest” and gave permission for them to be rounded up out of the national parks and sold for profit.
By the end of the 1950’s more then 100,000 mustangs in Nevada alone were killed to make chicken feed.
In 1959 Mrs. Velma C. Johnston, better known as Wild Horse Annie, was driving along a country road
when she saw a truck leaking blood and gore. Curious she followed the truck to a slaughter house and to
her horror saw that the truck was full of mustangs. The wheelchair bound young woman disfigured by
polio filmed the atrocities committed by the mustangers. She filmed them as they chased their quarry in
helicopters while shooting at them to make them run over sharp rocks until their hooves were nothing but
bloody stumps until they finally chased them over cliffs to break their legs. The horses were then tied up
with barbed wire and piled atop one another in the trucks which then carted them away to the rendering
plants. Though ridiculed by politicians (who nicknamed the woman “Horse-Faced Annie”) the public was
outraged by this misuse of tax dollars and forced the passing of the Wild Horse Act which prohibited the
hunting of mustangs with airplanes and automobiles.
Despite the Wild Horse Act the hunting continued for the Act did not prevent mustang hunting on horse-
back or the selling of branded horses on public land. During this time many mustangs were captured,
branded, and sold to slaughter houses in order to bypass the law. The poaching finally resulted in a massive
public protest that resulted in the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act that made it a crime to capture,
brand or kill a wild horse or burro.
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By now there were less than 10,000 mustangs alive. Nevertheless a mere ten years later in 1981 the
government claimed there were now 55,000 mustangs and began rounding them up and putting them up for
adoption. In 1990 it was revealed that the adoption program was a sham and that most of the horses were
sold to government agents who then sold the mustangs to slaughter houses. Public outrage was the result
but the practice continues.
Today there are an estimated 45,000 mustangs but most of these specimens have been bred on farms and
ranches for generations as cow or rodeo ponies and most contain the blood of domestic breeds. The true
wild population teeters at only a few thousand and only the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Refuge in Montana
and the Owyhee Desert in Nevada have sizable herds. Mustangs come in all horse colors and average 15
hands high.
The arctic tarpan was long believed extinct when a rancher named Peter Damele rounded up three odd
looking animals among a herd of mustangs in 1898. The new horses were much smaller than a mustang
with oriental eyes, perfectly round hooves, a double mane and the curly coat of a sheep. Since the Damele
family had a Ripley’s believe it or not cartoon claiming that the Russian Bashkirsky horse had curly hair
the Damele’s simply assumed that the ponies were members of that breed. Later they would learn that such
horses had been reported from America as long ago as 1700 and the local Indians had always known of the
horses. By 1971 only 20 of these horses were known to exist and the Damele family crossed these last
known Arctic tarpans with mustangs, Morgan, and Quarter horses.
Today the breed has crossbred so extensively with the mustang that it is technically extinct as a true
subspecies. In captivity however the modern hybrid American Bashkir Curly numbers 2,500 members.
Curlys stand 14-15 hands tall and weigh 800 to 1,100 pounds. They share with the takhi the unusual feature
of having a mane and tail that is completely shed each year. The mane is always double and the coat comes
in all colors including pinto and tyger. The original coat color of palomino in the summer and pure white in
the winter is still common even in hybrid animals. The mane and tail is long and falls in kinky waves while
the body fur varies from only slightly wavy in the summer to long ringlets in the winter. Though thought to
be extinct it is possible that a few of this subspecies may survive in the remote mountains of California and
Nevada.
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The Kinfolk of the Nimbi
All of a sudden that stone gave a squeal and jumped right in the air, and you may be sure that the old
woman jumped too. But before she had the chance to run, the stone let down four lanky legs and threw out
two long ears and waved a great long tail. Then away it went, squealing and laughing like a naughty boy.
- The Hedley Kow”, an ancient English folktale.
The Nimbi’s animal kin is the African wild ass and the feral donkeys (Equus [Assinus] assinus) of the
world. While today the ass is associated with stubbornness and stupidity in ancient times the gray-horse
was the very symbol of cleverness, trickery, and the faeries. It was the playful Hedley Kow which changed
its shape to trick the greedy, it was Bottom in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream, and it was Bright
Angel the very spirit of the Grand Canyon.
The wild ass originally came in four types of which three are considered extinct. The Northern Ass (E. a.
hydruntinus) inhabited the entire northern hemisphere from Europe to California. It became extinct at the
end of the ice age and is known only from fossils. The Algerian (E. a. atlantics) inhabited the Atlas
Mountains of Algeria and Morocco. It was exterminated in Roman times but it gave rise first to the
domestic donkey at least 6,000 years ago. The Nubian Ass (E. a. africanus) inhabited Egypt and the Sudan
until the late 1980’s. Today it can be found only on the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean where the last
known survivors escaped from a zoo and hybridized with escaped feral donkeys.
The North American burro is descended from domestic donkeys that were
released by prospectors and miners during the days of California’s Gold Rush. Its
history is similar to that of the mustang including the change in its status from
wildlife to feral foreign species and the removal of all wild burros from public
land. Even the statue of Bright Angel was torn down from its place in the Grand
Canyon and replaced
with a sign claiming that wild burros destroy waterholes and eat the grass meant
for native sheep. Also like the mustang recent fossil finds have caused the public
to ask about these policies for an ice age burro was found in 1990 in California’s
La Brea Tar Pits, a find that refutes the government’s claims that the burro is
not a native species.
The wild burro comes in all donkey colors though slate with a white belly, muzzle, and eye ring is the most
common. Like its domestic kin most burros have a dorsal cross of dark hair and shaggy coats.
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ASHRINGA
The Earth is sick and while the Wyrm withes with insanity, the werewolves fight the
plague with tooth and claw, their rage merely fueling the fires of the Wyrm's
madness. The children of Unicorn have hid from the Garou since the War of Rage,
now they will hide no longer! They have come to heal the Wyrm and restore the
Balance and they are not going to let the Garou stop them from doing everything
they can to save Gaia!
Ashringa is a complete breed book for playing werehorses in the world of Werewolf:
the Apocalypse. It also contains new Gifts, Fetishes, and Antagonists for Werewolf as
well as a full description of Death Valley National Park (as well as hints about
several other sacred spots including the Mount Shasta Stargazers Caern) and
statistics for the wildlife within.