UNCIA

By The Goddess (goddess@lk.ceap.wcu.edu)

Caliah

We are the Forgotten Ones, those who were left behind during the great War. But we have not forgotten. We walk the spirit-paths still, waiting for the time our kin need us again. Until then, we keep ourselves to ourselves.

Unlike the other children of Seline, we make no pretense to a 'human' origin, or 'human' ties. We rose from the stone of our mountain homes, and the show-filled winds breathed life into us. Seline smiled on our forms, and blessed us with her gifts of shifting and moon-magic. We always were, and we shall remain.

Should you ever get wanderlust -- and I both recommend and speak against it -- do your best to conceal your identity. The Garou and Asuras must not know of our existance, and even some of our cousins are best kept in the dark.

For you see, the Garou believed us a dead people, and we were not included in their curse against our kind. Even now we still have access to our spirit-home, and we cultivate our relationships with the chaya. We work our snow-magic against dogs and Asuras alike, and laugh quietly in our mountains as they Rage in helpless frustration.

Wait a moment, kit. Be not so hasty -- you must learn patience. Remember we are few, and each one of our kind lost is a bit of the future lost. We endure like stone, but we can melt like snow. Bide your time, and think through your actions before you make them.

Ah, I see. You wish to see the rest of the world. Go see what there is to see, kit, but be sure to watch your back. Keep company with the chaya, and remember your calm. Patience is all..

Tribal Background

The Uncia are a special breed indeed. Introverted and insular, the snow leopards have retained the ability to step sideways into the Umbra.

The Bastet's finest spirit-walkers before the War of Rage, the Uncia were quickly and savagely attacked by the Garou. Gathering the remnants of their shattered tribe, they fled into the Umbra and quickly covered their tracks. Both the garou and the other Bastet tribes believed the snow leopards dead and gone, and they were subsequently excluded from the Garou's Umbral ban on the other Bastet.

Unfortunately, the Uncia are few indeed. Perhaps no more than a few dozen snow leopards survive in modern times, and many of these are metis. The Uncia are besieged, but they are too patient -- and too stubborn -- to give themselves up now.

Lodged in their mountain fortresses, the Uncia rarely leave except to make forays into the Umbra -- or, more rarely, to other locales in order to gather knowledge or even just to see "what's there" (this is more common in the younger Uncia).

The Uncia value patience and quiet above all else, save the collecting of knowledge. And in these fields they are almost without equal, even among the Bastet.

Tribal Home

The Uncia make their homes and Den-Realms in the high, craggy peaks of Nepal and southeast Asia. It is a very rare thing for one of the snow leopards to leave his mountain home, let alone take up residence in a city, but nvertheless it is known to happen -- particularly in more recent times.

Culture and Kinfolk

Uncia have few Kinfolk, human or feline. Occasionally one of the natives may be taken as a mate; even more rarely a foreign explorer may "disappear" into the mountains, perhaps to never be seen again. Having relied for so long on their feline Kin, the decimation of the ounces (snow leopards) has placed the tribe on very unsteady footing indeed. As Kinfolk twindle, more and more metis Uncia are concieved. Some elements of native culture may be borrowed by the Uncia on occasion, but by-and-large the snow leopards are a "culture" unto themselves.

Organization

The Uncia have a very close-knit tribal structure, out of tradition and out of necessity. All Uncia keep in contact with each other, and if this is not possible physically they will meet in the Umbra, or send spirit-messengers.

Secrets Sought

The snow leopards desire many secrets, but most of all they desire to increase their spiritual and Umbral knowledge. In addition, they search for the means to end the slaughter of their Kin and avenge their cousins by undermining the Garou. Some very few Uncia turn to looking for the secrets of the Kindred.

Yava

• Cut off an ounce's whiskers and he will be blinded.
• Salt is a barrier to Uncia; they cannot pass over a line of salt.
• A bright flame, flared in the snow leopard's face, will make him die of terror.

Appearance

In Homid form Uncia are of medium height, well-muscled, and lithe. They tend to go grey very early in life. Most are southeast Asian, but there are a number of Uncia of other racial types as well. In Feline form an Uncia is much like a heavyset puma, covered in thick fur which varies from pale grey-white to deep smoke, with blurry black rosettes and white underfur. Uncia have huge paws for navigating show and cliffs, and a long thick tail for balance.

Form Satistics

Sokto	Crinos	Chatro	Feline
Str+1	Str+3	Str+3	Str+2
Dex+3	Dex+4	Dex+4	Dex+4
Sta+2	Sta+4	Sta+3	Sta+3
Man-1	Man-2	Man-3	Man+0
App+0	App-3	App-3	--

Character Creation

Initial Rage: 3

Initial Willpower: 4

Beginning Gifts: Ibex's Footing, Spirit Speech

Quote

Listen to the wind and the stone, and learn from them. Patience is its own reward.

Stereotypes

Bagheera: They mean well, but they are too flighty.

Balam: They move too fast and too furiously, and they will rue it in the end.

Bubasti: Dark, dangerous and desperate. Beware, lest you become like them.

Ceilican: They've learned tricks we would love to share...

Khan: Savage things, the tigers have lost their honor long ago.

Ocelotl: Foolish and flighty, yet there is wisdom is some of their words.

Pumonca: Do they learn anything in their wanderings? I would think not...

Qualmi: Little brothers of our hearts, though they may lose themselves in their own games.

Simba: These brutes make the Khan look civilized. They might as well be dogs in cat-skins.

Swara: They have no knack for waiting, but they are wise in their own ways. We understand each other well.

Gifts

The Uncia, though their spirit contacts, have access to many Garou Gifts (and possibly those of the Nuwisha). When swiping Gifts, they tend to choose those associated with spirits, the Umbra, or the chill of winter.

Ibex's Footing (1)

Spirit Speech (1): As the Level 1 Theurge (Garou) Gift.

Chill Of Frost (2)

Fur Of Granite (2)

Centre Self (3)

Heart Of Stone (3)

Blizzard's Shards (4)

Spirit Vessel (5): As the Level 5 Theurge (Garou) Gift.

The Malleable Spirit (5): As the Level 5 Theurge (Garou) Gift.