Papyrus
By Diane Keating (unshetek@best.com)
Totem of Wisdom
Background Cost
Traits
Papyrus is an incredibly wise plant totem. Ancient, eternal, she stood for the fertile lands of Lower Egypt and the Nile Delta. The first papers were made of her body which she freely gave, and she absorbed the wisdom and creativity that were inscribed upon it. Rising high above the waters of consciousness, Papyrus hears everything that is whispered on the winds and repeats them back to her children.
Benefits
Children of Papyrus have access to the wisdom of the world. They get to add two dice to any roll involving ancient Linguistics. The swaying of Papyrus in the Waters of Consciousness can cause an almost hypnotic trance: her Children gain two dots in Hypnotism. Papyrus holds secrets in her heart: children of Papyrus gain 1 die in Enigmas, even if this takes them above 5.Papyrus also adds an extra die to the effects of talens made from her body. The Garou must make the papyrus herself, a simple but slightly time-consuming process, and the talen must be made to size: no cutting. Awakened papyrus (through Rite of Spirit Awakening) can store one bit of knowledge for retrieval at a later time; knowledge can be retrieved simply by holding the reed in the paw during meditation.
Ban
Children of Papyrus must pour a libation to her whenever they sit down to write something.Many Children of Papyrus also cover themselves with small tattoos, often heiroglyphs or magickal sigils, signifying what they've seen and heard in their travels and detailing wisdom they've accumulated during their livess.