Everything

Motor vehicles of all kinds fulfill the same roles that horses and oxen did centuries ago, so it is not surprising that they inspire similar feelings of respect and loving attention. They are more than a tool to be wielded and forgotten; they are a partner without which the driver cannot function in his day-to-day work. Urban and rural shapeshifters occasionally awaken the spirits of vehicles in order

to strengthen their bond with these cherished

allies. While economical compact cars and

luxury sedans have spirits that a Garou can awaken too, few vehicular spirits are as hard-working, practical, and devoted as the guardian spirit of a pickup truck.

Truck Guardians cherish their owners and trust them the way a skilled rider trusts his mount. Some Theurges speculate that as shapeshifters perceive Truck Guardians as humans, the spirits see their owners as their horses — to be guided and cared for but always respected and allowed the freedom to roam at will. A Truck Guardian regards any opportunity to haul cargo with the same enthusiasm that an Ahroun greets battle, and it grows restless if denied a chance to test its mettle regularly. Partially, this is because nothing makes the spirit feel more alive than carrying heavy burdens, but they also know that other Truck Guardians feel contempt for trucks who reach old age without earning the right to boast about their glorious cargoes. They also tend to snicker at other Truck Guardians whose owners are in some way inferior — physically weak, unfamiliar with the mechanical workings of their vehicle, or neglectful of the truck’s maintenance.

While Truck Guardians accept that not all vehicles are like themselves, they feel naturally superior to all non-pickups. They regard sports cars as cowardly dandies, consider compact cars and luxury sedans beneath notice, and treat large family vehicles with disdain for sacrificing so much cargo space while demanding multiple riders. They revere construction, cargo trucks, and diesel rigs but tend to consider these massive vehicles a bit unstable and not suitable for polite company on account of their single-minded devotion to hauling. Truck Guardians live to haul and tow, but they also think it important to make time for the occasional light duty work of a tailgate party or drive across town. Rage: 9, Willpower 5, Gnosis 3, Essence 25 Charms: Armor, Gremlin* • Gremlin: The spirit can choose to inhabit its truck self or its legal owner (or owners). The Storyteller spends one Essence and rolls Gno­ sis (difficulty equal to the owner’s Willpower if unwilling, or 4 for the truck or a willing owner). This possession lasts the time indicated:

6 three hours plus one hour per success above 6

If the spirit successfully possesses its truck self, it gains

control of all the vehicle’s functions as if the truck were running. If the Truck Guardian successfully possesses its owner, it increases her Strength and Stamina by one and adds two dice to all her Athletics rolls. This bonus applies for as long as the Charm lasts. The spirit can allow its owner to act independently but can also seize control of her motor functions at any time if it wishes. Image: Truck Guardians do not appear as vehicles in the

Umbra. Rather, they look like archetypal barbarian warriors. They bear a superficial resemblance to the physical truck — scratches and dents manifest as scars, custom detailing appears as elaborate tattoos, bumper stickers and accessories appear as badges or trophies worn on the Truck Guardian’s clothes or in its hair. Each one carries a large, heavy weapon strapped to its back — typically a battle axe or two-handed sword. A new truck’s Guardian is a young warrior as yet untested in battle, while an aging model is a grey-haired warrior with wiry strength and bright, fearless eyes.