Jormungandr, The Midgard Serpent
By Athyra Di Giovanni (demonsreiche@yahoo.com)
Totem of War, Respect, and Strength
Background Cost
Restrictions
Only the Black Spiral Dancers may take this loathesome beast as their totem. As he blesses those who are willing to embrace the wickedness of the world with their lives, only the Black Spiral Dancers (and a few Kinfolk who are allied with the Serpents of the Light) will choose Jormungandr as their totem.
Description
Think of a snake. Now, think of a snake large enough to wrap its coils around the entire world. That is the size, and the nature, of Jormungandr. The Midgard Serpent (named so because he encases the Earth with his foul presence) is the eternal enemy of the Aesir. Born of a frost giantess and Loki, the Trickster, the Midgard Serpent grew to his enormous size at birth and immediately fell fast asleep under the seas of the world. He lies in wait for Ragnarok, when his destiny -- to swallow the Thunder God Thor whole -- can be fulfilled. Although he knows he will perish at the hands of Thor, he knows he will still taste his flesh before he finally perishes. This alone fills his dank and depraved dreaming. The Black Spiral Dancers worship his presence, and he answers them with nightmarish powers.
Boons and Blessings
The Bastard sons and daughters of Jormungandr are blessed with many things, but none is as fearsome as their physical prowess. They receive +1 to each physical trait while outside of combat. This jumps to +2 while in combat, and +4 if they are facing a follower of one of the Aesir (like Thor or Tyr). (This allows their stats to go above 5.) On top of that, they may receive various levels of the Vampire Discipline: Serpentis at the corresponding rank. (For example: Rank 1 followers of Jormungandr may purchase "Eyes of the Serpent", substituting temporary Rage points or temporary Gnosis points for Blood points.) Jormungandr also gives his bastards Acute Sense of Smell, Ambidextrous (to spite Tyr), and Natural Linguist. They also receive an extra +2 dice to any rolls involving squeezing or crushing their opponent.
Dangers and Dilemnas
Those who follow Jormungandr are very lazy at times (Flaw: Deep Sleeper), and are slow to enrage (+2 difficulty to all Rage rolls). Furthermore, the bastards who follow Jormungandr have a deep-seeded loathing for the followers of the Aesir, attacking them first before all others. (+4 difficulty to do anyhing else other than attack a follower of the Nordic Gods.) The only Nordic god immune to this is Loki, his father. In times where the bastards of Jormungandr cross paths with The Trickster in any of his forms, they are at a +4 difficulty to attack or defend against the Trickster's children. Jormungandr demands that his subjects be satisfied, so offering of food (perferably fresh and living) must be made to snakes or monitor lizards must be made regularly. (Children are always appreciated...)