EXPANDED ANANASI

By Ellerby (ellerby@nccn.net)

Ananasi Tribes

The Ananasi are divided into 4 tribes (not including basic Ananasi), all related to a certain species of spider. The Ananasi tribe given in the Player's Guide is a common garden spider. The 4 tribes are:

Spindlerling (Orb Spiders)

Automatically start with gift: Spinnerets and 2 dots in Webmaking. Must take flaw: Territorial, and gains no freebie points for it. However, it does not count towards maximum flaw points.

Tribal Gifts:

• Static World (5th level)
• Cocoon, as 4th level Homid Gift.
• Catfeet, as 3rd level Lupus Gift.
• Entangle: Treat as 4th level Red Talon Gift: Quicksand.
• Balance, as 1st Level Stargazer Gift.
• Surface Attunement, as 2nd level Stargazer Gift.

Shamian (Jumping Spider)

Can take the Silent Strider Gift: The Great Leap as though it were level One. Gains additional +1 Dexterity and Perception in Lilian and pithus form. However, Dexterity must be higher than Stamina in Homid form.

Tribal Gifts:

• Catfeet, as as 3rd level Lupus gift.
• Circular Attack, as 5th Level Stargazer Gift.
• Spirit of the Bird. As Uktena 2nd level Gift, but this is level 3 for Shamians.
• Camouflage, as 1st level Wendigo gift.

Manaratans (Tarantulas)

The hulking Tarantula people gain an extra Wounded Level, and in Pithus and Lilian forms gain an additional +1 Strength, +2 Stamina, -1 Dexterity.

Tribal Gifts:

• Gift of the Porcupine, as the 4th level Metis Gift.
• Icy Chill of Despair, as 3rd Level Shadow Lord Gift.

Sambar (Funnel-Web Spider)

The Funnel-web spider is often mistaken for a trapdoor spider, as it is similar in behavior and appearance. However, it is much more dangerous, with a poison 5 times deadlier than that of a black widow. However, it will only affect very small creatures, like insects, and primates. The Sambar are the most mysterious of the Ananasi. They are believed to exist so that if they are corrupted, their deadly poison will not affect the minions of the Wyld. It usually has no effect on Shapechangers of any kind.

Sambar have a deadly poisonous bite. On a successful bite attack, it may spend a Blood Point to inject its poison. Although ineffective against shapeshifters unless 3 blood points are spent in the bite, a non-Bete will go into shock and die within an hour if antivenom is not administered. Resist Toxin will filter out the poison, but Mother's Touch will not. Bete that are injected must soak 7 Health Levels of non-aggravated damage. However, the funnel-web is nocturnal, so all Sambar lose 2 dice from their Dice pools in the Daylight. A bright light, such as Lambent Flame, will temporarily blind them.

Tribal Gifts:

• Hatred's Venom (4th level)
• Display of Power (Funnel-webs are aggressive creatures that will rear up and thrash about when threatened.) as the 2nd level Homid Gift Staredown.
• Wither Limb, as the Level $ Metis Gift.
• Whelp Body as the Level 4 Ragabash Gift.
• Visceral Agony. as the 3rd level Black Furies Gift.
• Resist Toxin, as the Level One Fianna gift.

Aspects of the Blood

As an ananasi grows, she will one day be forced to drink the blood of another. The way that she obtains this blood decides her role in ananasi society. These Blood Aspects decide Blood Pool, advancement, Gnosis, and Willpower.

Weavers of the Noose: Tricksters

Common among the spindlerings these are those who make their victims think that they're getting a blood test, or pretend to remove their victims earrings, etc.., then strike. They are subtle, devious, and shrewd. Their strikes are always unexpected.

Blood Pool: 10
Willpower: 2
Gnosis: 2

Bloodsworn: The Keepers

The center of any Ananasi coterie. Their first feedings were through willing sacrifice of their victims. Honor is pinnacle.They will serve and protect and take little blood in a feeding.

Blood Pool: 6
Willpower: 5
Gnosis: 3

The Needle of Desire: Blood Dancers

Passionate, wild, and unrestrained, they take their blood in a moment of passion, whether it be lust or hatred. Their victims are often willing, or in a state of euphoria and carelessness. They drink often, with little thought of consequences.

Blood Pool: 14
Willpower: 1
Gnosis: 1

Hunger Strikers: Feeders of Force

These are the most likely to kill their victims. They often don't even use their fangs, ripping open wounds wih claws and lapping up the blood. They attain power quickly, and use force of arm and fang to get what they want, for good or evil. They always take the initiative.

Blood Pool: 13
Willpower: 1
Gnosis: 1

Broods

Ananasi are fairly solitary, and their coteries tend to be small and loosely-knit. However, they do have one single overriding social bond: their Brood. Queen Ananasa and the other totems of the spider-folk have Jagglings spread out all over the world. Each of them has a Lair where it watches over the Ananasi in the area, and a bond forms between the Brood Mother/Father and its Hatchlings (Ananasi in Brood Mother's Lair), and between each of the Brood. They often take the Patron of their Brood Mother as their totem. Brood Mothers have a deep connection with each of their Hatchlings, and this spiritual tie makes them fairly powerful. Their appearance reflects the well-being and attitude of the Brood at large. However, some Ananasi simply drift away from their Brood, and the connection breaks.

Though similar to Totem, Brood is subtly, but importantly different. Each Brood Mother is a projection of queen Ananasa. That means whenever an Ananasi devotes energy to his Brood, he grants power to his Queen to help her escape from her prison. Each Brood Mother represents a facet of the Queen's psyche. As she changes, so do the Brood mothers. The state of the Brood is an indicator to the well-being of Queen Ananasa, and Brood Mothers and their Hatchlings have become much wilder, independent, and powerful. This spurs on the Ananasi's hope. Also, Brood siblings have a much deeper connection than do Bete who share Totems. They are connected on a spiritual level that is visible in the Umbra, and will be visible to Leeches with Auspex.

All Brood members can expect a varying degree of help from their Brood Mother and Broodmates (depends on how many dots are put in Brood Background. See below.)

Brood is also linked to status. The stronger an Ananasi's connection with his Brood, the more respected he will be by others. Your Rank can never be higher than your Brood rating, unless you are a Moteling, one of the pitied Broodless.

However, this status also gives you power. You can make a Gnosis roll in the Umbra, diff. (10- [Brood rating] ), or in the physical world, at diff. (11- [Brood Rating] ) to call your Brood Mother to you. She will appear as a huge spider of varied appearance, depending on her Patron Incarna and her Hatchlings. A low-ranking Ananasi with a high Brood rating can sometimes give orders to higher ranking Brood brothers.

New Ananasi Background: Brood

*	You're connection with your brood is weak, almost nonexistent. You have little standing within your Brood, and must roll Perception+Gnosis Rating, diff. 7 to sense a fellow Brood member. If you summon your Brood Mother too often, she will become very annoyed with you, and possibly hinder you in the Umbra until you learn humility.
**	You have devoted a small quantity of Gnosis to your Brood Mother, but still have little standing. Although you are not widely known, you are respected by those of your Brood that do know you, and your Brood Mother will overlook small offenses against her. You will recognize a fellow Brood Member if you succeed a Perception+Gnosis roll, diff. 6, in the presence of a Hatchling of your Brood. (ST's, do this secretly.)
***	You have gained a fair amount of standing within your Brood. You are widely known, and are given much leeway by even high Ranking Brood brothers. You can automatically sense a Brood brother within 100 yds.
****	You have a strong connection with your Brood mother, and are known throughout your Brood. You have many strings to pull within your Brood, and can get almost anything you want from Ananasi of equal and lower Rank. You can speak telepathically with any Brood brother in the vincinity as well as your Brood Mother while in the Umbra. You automatically sense the exact location and identity of any Brood brother within a mile.
*****	You are the champion of your Brood, and are held in awe and respect by your Brood brothers. You are seen as an avatar of your Brood Mother, and she visits you often. You know all of your Brood brothers inside and out, and your Brood Mother will risk her own life to protect you. You know the identity, exact position, and minds of all your brethren, in the Umbra or out.

Anasasi Society

Each tribe has its place within Ananasi society. For many years the ancient duties were forgotten, but as the Ananasi grow stronger and stronger and the old Brood Mothers rejoin their Children, their society is returning to its former strength. The Keepers remembered the old ways, and sent them through the Blood Dancers to every city, every Brood, until even the Sabbat had mighty contenders to their bloody throne.

At the top of the social pyramid, are Spindlerlings. Most of them, especially their Tricksters, haven't lifted a finger since the War of Rage. They usually manipulate their willing pawns from behind the scenes. They manage the networks of servants that fuel the Ananasi web of power, and fulfill a position similar to the Princes of the Vampire cities, or the Silver Fang kings of the Garou. However, the relationship is a tense one. The other Ananasi only put up with the two-faced dealings of the Spindlerlings because only they have the prudence and subtlety to be effective leaders. More than once a noble Manaratan has rallied Ananasi against their manipulative lords. However, as long as they control the technology and political power of the cities, the Spidlerlings will occupy the upper class.

Next in power are the Manaratans. They govern the Broods, extended families, and corporations. They are granted much respect for their just ruling, but never had the slyness or deviousness to rule on a larger scale, so they are content to adminstering justice on a more personal basis. They usually keep the laws with fairness, but uprisings have been more common. . .

Enforcing the rule of the Manaratans are the Sambar. Too untrustworthy to be put in a position of political power, but too skilled to be servants, they are the leaders of teams of Ananasi, and provide direction to their underlings.

Finaly are the Shamians: far too flighty to receive command positions, they are scouts, warriors, workers, the fingers and eyes of their masters. However, with the lack of responsibility comes great freedom.

Note: There are always exceptions to these rules. A Shamian once ruled an anarchistic syndicate, before it collapsed.