Bestiary

Freshwater spirits best known in Cameroon, miengu (singular jengu) bring good fortune and can cure many diseases. Since water is the cleansing potion of life, granting relief to people suffering from illness, the miengu grant magical healing for those who worship them. These entities can also act as messengers between humans and the spirit world. If you need a message sent to an ancestor or a god, you can ask a jengu to send it from you.

The blessings of these benevolent spirits are said to be fourfold: abundant harvests of crayfish, victory in local boat races, protection from disease, and the end of the rainy season. For those reasons, among others, local humans revere the miengu, often forming fellowships to worship them in thanks for their generosity.

Though feminine in most aspects, miengu are essentially genderless spirits who embody kindness and innocence. Typically invisible unless they choose otherwise, these entities favor children most of all, and appear to kids — especially little girls — far more often than to adults. When a young girl’s in danger, the miengu can help her hide in the water, turning her invisible as well. If an innocent person needs magical intervention, a jengu may grant her a healing potion if the spirit considers her worthy of such a gift. If a jengu allows itself to be seen by an adult, that’s considered to be extremely good luck, and a sign of valuable protection. People chosen for such favor by these spirits enjoy helpful coincidences and — if the person needs concealment or escape — a gift of stealth on the land or invisibility in the waters where these spirits make their home.

Willpower 5-6, Rage 1-3, Gnosis 2-5, Essence 30-40

Charms: Cling, Dream Journey, Good Luck, Healing, Materialize, Spirit Away, Spirit Gossip

Materialized Attributes: Strength 2-4, Dexterity 2-4, Stamina 3-5, Charisma 2, Manipulation 2, Appearance 4, Perception 2, Intelligence 3, Wits 3

Abilities: Alertness 3, Athletics 2, Awareness 3, Brawl 1, Cosmology 1, Empathy 3, Enigmas 3, Esoterica 2, Stealth 5, Survival 2

Materialized Health Levels: 4-7

Image: Essentially African pixie mermaids, miengu combine the sleek tails of fish with the upper bodies of gorgeous women. Their bodies are slim and iridescent, shining like the sun of the water’s edge, which also makes them hard to see. Although one may change size if they desire to do so, the natural form of a jengu is far smaller than an adult human being. They’re fast, too, and often swim by before you even have a chance to realize they were ever there. Combined with their talent for invisibility, these spirits are seen only when they wish to be seen, and only by those who the meingu trust.

Roleplaying Notes: Helpful, if called upon by someone in genuine need.