SYMBRANI

By Jason C Marshall (jcmarshall@sympatico.ca)

Introduction

The Maltese shapechangers were a strange lot, capable of many forms, most bizarre if not downright unbelievable. The majority of these Maltese changers were killed or chased into the Umbra during the Rage War, but a few survived. Swimming deep into the ocean, these Symbrani hide from the Rage War and have continued to hide to this day.

History

The Symbrani have existed since the times of the Mythic age. After the end of that era, the Maltese shapechangers went into hiding, their shape, that of a large eel-like fish, was too strange to be truly shared with anyone. The Maltans hid until the War of Rage came, and then they learned what fear really was. Garou struck at the Symbrani with a unholy fury, cursing their form and calling them Wyrm-spawn.

The remaining Symbrani dove deep, finding caves deep in the depths to hide in. Soon only the Eel breed remained, those of the Homid long since dead. The only Kinfolk long since disappeared into communities, their genes no longer producing Homid Symbrani. Legends soon became the only evidence of the Symbrani on the Maltan coast.

It wasn't till the mid 1900s that the Symbrani finally came active again. New human kinfolk had been cultivated and soon the Symbrani retook some of the territory they once had.

Organization

Symbrani have a family based culture. Family means everything.

The Umbra

Symbrani need a reflective surface to cross over. They tend to only use the Umbra as a hiding place.

Totem

Dolphin and Eel. These two totems impose no ban on the Symbrani.

Habitat

Maltan coastal town and similar towns worldwide.

Character Creation

Homid:

Nickname: Landwalker
Initial Gnosis: 1
A Symbrani of human birth.

Eel:

Nickname: Waterwalker
Initial Gnosis: 2
A large eel-like fish.

Forms

Homid: Same as Garou. Most of the Symbrani tend to be short and lean, with pale skin and slightly bulging eyes.

Crinos (Eel-man): Str. +2, Dex. +3, Sta. +1, Cha. -2, Man. -2, App. 0, Per. +1. This is a nightmare cross of the Eel form and homid form. Clawed, webbed hands and feet, with scaly skin and an eel-like face.

Eel: Str. -1, Dex. +4, Sta. -1, Cha. -3, Man. -4, App. 0, Per. +1. This a very large version of the standard eel.

Tribes

The Symbrani are broken into three 'tribes'. The Morays tend to associate with the Electric Eels as a normal thing but the Wolf-fish tend to be loners and powerful combatants.

Electric Eel:

Initial Rage: 2
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds: 4 points.
Habitat: Coastal areas.
Specials: Shock Attack. The Electric Eel can charge its body with and electrical field that will do three health levels of damage (diff 7 for soak) to anyone touching them.

Moray Eel:

Initial Rage: 1
Initial Willpower: 4
Backgrounds: 5 points.
Habitat: Shoals and coastal areas.
Specials: Lightning Strike. The Moray can strike at prey at blinding speed. With a Dex + Stealth roll (diff 7) and two successes the symbrani can gain a surprise bite attack on its opponent.

Wolf-fish:

Initial Rage: 4
Initial Willpower: 3
Backgrounds: 3 points.
Habitat: Deep waters and harbour areas.
Specials: Crush.The Wolf-fish, also known as the Atlantic Cat-Fish, can use it's powerful jaw to crush objects, such as cans, lures, bones, etc. It gains a +2 Str to all bite attacks.

Racial Abilities

Constriction Attack: Any of the Symbrani can preform a constriction attack if in Eel-form. This is a Str. + Brawl attack (diff 8) that will do aggravated damage (due to broken bones and such) to an victim.

Gifts

Sense Prey: (Level 1) As the Lupus gift.
Call the Current: (Level 1) As the Wendigo gift.

Inner Strength: (Level 2) As the Stargazer gift.
Surface Attunement: (Level 2) As the Stargazer gift.

Invisibility: (Level 3) As the Uktena gift.
The Great Leap: (Level 3) As the Silent Strider gift.

Whirlpool: (Level 4) As the Red Talon 'Avalanche' gift.
Clenched Jaw: (Level 4) As the Ahroun gift.

The Living Sea-Weed: (Level 5) As the Children of Gaia 'The Living Wood' gift.
Elemental Gift: (Level 5) As the Lupus gift.