SCROFAK

By Scott Agnew (skye@nbnet.nb.ca)

All the pigs are all lined up
I give you all that I want
take the skin and peel it back
now doesn't that make you feel better?
shove it up inside surprise! lies
stains like the blood on your teeth
bite chew suck away the tender parts

-- NIN

Origins

The wild boar (sus scrofa) is one of nine species of animals which belong to the SUIDAE or pig family. The wild boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig.

The Scrofak (pronounced scraw-fek) are wild boar "skinchangers" and warriors of Gaia. They are fewer in number than the Garou and militantly opposed to the Garou dominance of the Bete. During the War of Rage the Scrofak, like the other Bete, were hunted by the Garou in their attempt at domination. The Scrofak however were fierce warriors and fought the Garou with all their might. Their downfall came, ironically due to their warlike nature. In one on one combat the Garou and Scrofak are evenly matched but when it comes to the spirit world the Scrofak know nothing. Their concentration on the art of combat left little time to study the Umbra. Thus did the Garou's knowledge of "stepping sideways" give them an advantage in their fight. The Scrofak were decimated, almost more so than any of the other Bete. Because of their nature the Scrofak took the Garou head on.

Today there are few Scrofak left -- maybe a few hundred worldwide. To the Garou they are all but a myth now. They tend to live in isolated wilderness in Russia, Southeast Asia and some of the remoter parts of Europe. Recently, a number of Scrofak have become more visible, travelling to the New World as some of their suida kinfolk were captured and taken to wild game ranches. A number of Wild Boar have escaped from these ranches in Texas, California, and the Carolinas and now live wild in those areas.

Physical Characteristics

Maximum weight for a wildboar is around 300 pounds. Females weigh slightly less. Boar are 3 1/2 - 5 feet long and stand 2 - 3 feet at the shoulder. Both sexes have 44 teeth including a well developed set of canine teeth. The upper tusks act as "whetstones" to keep sharp edges on the lower ones. Coat color varies from gray to black and most piglets have longitudinal stripes until they are about four months old. Boars have poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell and hearing.

In homid form Scrofak are normally either Caucasian or Asian depending on geography. They tend to be large and natuarlly muscular with coarse body hair.

Scrofak, like their Wild Boar kin, are mostly nocturnal but do have some daytime activities.

Life History

Wild boar piglets weigh about two pounds at birth. After three or four months, the piglets are weaned and independent of the sow. Family groups usually break up once the young reach sexual maturity, which is usually within a year of birth for both males and females. Gestation is approximately 100 - 125 days, and most litters have 3 - 8 piglets.

Male Scrofak are mostly solitary, except during the breeding season, while females and piglets gather in groups of two to three.

Scrofak are almost entirely of the Suida breed. Some few Homids are born every year, mostly in North America, but these are abandoned and usually go mad. Scrofak normally undergo their first "change" in their first year. They are taught Scrofak customs and laws and then abandoned to find their own path in the world. It should not be surprising then to learn that a growing number are becoming corrupted by the Wyrm. Homid Scrofak normally undergo their first "change" during puberty.

Range

The original range of the wild boar was Eurasia and North Africa. Native populations of wild boar exist from Ireland in the West to Japan in the East, and from Egypt to Southern Scandinavia and Siberia.There are many diverse sub-species of wild boar which occur across this wide geographic distribution. This has led to theories that the European and Asian wild boar belong to different species. However, at present, it is generally agreed that all European and Asian wild boar are members of the same species, sus scrofa. Because Scrofak (and Wild Boar) have no sweat glands, they move into cooler climate during the spring and summer to help regulate their body temperature. The understory growth of both the beech and northern hardwood forest provide an abundance of bulbs, tubers, and wildflowers. At the end of summer, the Scrofak move into the southern areas. Where Scrofak occur in tropical areas, they tend to migrate to higher elevations during the spring and summer. Male hogs are mostly solitary, except during the breeding season, while females and piglets gather in groups of two to three.

Hey pig piggy pig pig pig
all my fears came true
black and blue and broken bones you left me here I'm all alone

-- NIN

Character Creation

Scrofak Totem: Griffin
Auspices: Ahroun only.
Breeds: Same as Garou with twice the starting gnosis
Backgrounds: 4 - no pure breed, resources, rites or allies
Initial Willpower: 2
Initial Rage: 4

Advantages: Frenzy
Disadvantages: No knowledge of the Umbra, may not enter the Umbra.

Tribal Gifts

Basic: Beast Speech, Heightened Senses, Resist Pain,Razor Claws
Intermediate: Spirit of the Fray, Clenched Jaw, True Fear, Sense of Prey
Advanced: Silver Claws, Song of Rage, Luna's Blessing

Please note that Scrofak induce the delirium in humans just as do the Garou.

	Strength	Stamina	Dexterity	Manipulation
Homid	+0	+0	+0	+0
Glabro	+1	+3	+1	-1
Crinos	+2	+4	+1	-3
Hispo	+2	+2	+1	-4
Suida	+0	+4	+1	-4

Stereotypes

Black Furies & Get of Fenris: They are largely the reason for our loss but we must respect these tribes above the others for their prowess in battle.

Glass Walkers & Bone Gnawers: The worst scum short of Wyrmspawn.

Uktena: The most dangerous of all the Garou. Beware and avoid them if you can; gore them viciously if you can't!

All other Garou: They are our hated enemies. The killers of our grandfathers. One day they wil pay for their crimes.

Bastet: Cocky and arrogant. Avoid them where possible.

Corax: Useless in battle but an excellent source of information from the settled areas.

Mokole: Don't know much about them but they must be formidable warriors.

Gurahl: Strong but to slow to act.

Ratkin: Never heard of 'em. Rats! You must be kidding.

Nuwisha: Thieves and cowards all of them.

Simo & Rokea: We have no dealings with either.

Lutran: We know little of them but they obviously cannot be warriors.

Chiroptera: Rats with wings!

Pongida: Human lovers! Do not trust them; they probably value their humans over Gaia.

the pigs have won tonight
now they can all sleep soundly
and everything is all right

-- NIN