Places

Search Engine is linked to the Weaver’s Pattern Web and resonates with all things of structure or form. The Glass Walker pack who discovered it theorize that it came into being with the rise of the internet.

The Realm always appears empty to new arrivals, as they stand on a large silver-white disk surrounded by blackness. No scents exist in this place except what the characters bring with them, and sounds fade off into the distance. Packs travelling together always arrive on the same disk, which alters size to accommodate the number of questers.

From here, visitors speak what they hope to find. Names are best, but clearly described concepts with plenty of detail also work. Once it has something to find Search Engine tries to find a connection. The blackness explodes into a cacophony of sights, sounds and smells as the Realm stalks the Pattern Web to locate what the character seeks. Silvery tendrils grow from the disk to form pathways ending in new disks.

At each disk the speaker finds some representation of the connection between her and her desire. It may be some shared history, an obstacle or foe that stood in her way, or a perspective of what the item means to her. The Storyteller decides what she encounters, and creates a scene for the character or pack that either strengthens their resolve or changes their perspective.

The character overcomes each scene and repeats her request or adds additional detail. New tendrils and paths form again and the process repeats while the pack walks the silvery web. When the character overcomes the Realm’s final

challenge the pack arrives at a disk where a glittering Moon Bridge awaits. The pack can refuse to take this first Moon Bridge and continue searching, hoping to learn more about their quest. The Realm reinterprets their request, trying to find alternative answers, which may be different from what the pack originally sought.

Characters in the Search Engine make an extended Wits + Enigmas roll, difficulty based on which Umbral plane the target is located, and minimum successes dependent on its specificity and rarity. Success and failure both bring new paths, with insightful scenes on successes and irrelevant or confusing challenges for failures. A botch indicates the pack has chanced across a corrupted junction where a portal opens but all paths behind them disappear. Their only choice is to step through to where it leads. The Storyteller decides what waits through the portal but it will likely be inconvenient and dangerous — the Abyss, the caern of a hostile sept, a Black Spiral Dancer hive, or a nest of Banes.

Achieving the minimum successes opens a Moon Bridge that leads to within ten miles of the target, with each success beyond the minimum reducing the distance by one mile. Refusing a Moon Bridge increases the difficulty by 1 for each subsequent roll. Failing a roll after refusing a Moon bridge closes off additional choice to the pack – the exit provided is the last one they will get.

The Realm of Synesthesia warps every sensory interpre­ tation. Eyes hear intense noise from vibrant images, ears taste sweet or savory sound, the mouth feels flavors as texture and pressure, the skin smells every touch and caress differently, and scents fill the nose with a palette of different colored hues. This is highly disorienting to visitors but the substitution of senses can help Garou learn to better integrate all experiences and overcome the bias of favoring some senses over others.

Spirits within Synesthesia revel in the twisted sensations. No creature of flesh can fully appreciate the rush creatures of pure spirit feel here, not even half-spirit creations like the Garou. As far as anyone can tell the Realm is Earth-like beneath the strange sensations, with areas of wilderness and urban sprawl, but with no native residents. Synesthesia exists to be experienced and visitors are free to roam within its borders without interference from emanations accustomed to the Realm’s conditions.

Storytellers portraying this Realm should twist descrip­ tions from what players expect. Werewolves place particular importance on scent, sight and sound. Emphasize the changes to these senses. Words and conversations appear as taste sensations on the listener’s tongue. Pleasant compliments and the reassuring voices of pack-mates have sweet flavors, whereas harsh phrases and curses are bitter on the palate. Looking at a fellow Garou gives a chorus of the werewolf’s appearance. Her scent shows an earthy, primal-colored mi­ asma that tells her predilections. An Ahroun Glass Walker may look like the chatter of automatic weapons fire and smell of the rich red color of blood and the dark blue-black shades of oil. A Shadow Lord Ragabash may look like the whisper of a blade pulled from its scabbard and the creak of a floorboard in an otherwise silent house, and smell of the starlit dark of a moonless night.

Synesthesia is a difficult Realm for characters to endure without slipping into confused Rage but they benefit from the experience. Each day a character spends here roll Perception + Primal Urge at difficulty 6. Success gives the character -1 difficulty to Perception rolls for one week per success. The character must also roll Willpower at difficulty 7 every day in the Realm. Failure inflicts her with a derangement that lasts for a week after she leaves Synesthesia. Successive fail­ ures either increase the time she suffers the derangement, or inflict a new derangement.

Every tribe has a homeland in the Near Umbra. Their precise origins are lost to time but legends speak of their creation. Some tell of epic explorations by the greatest he­ roes of the tribes, others speak of the tribal totems making pocket realms and calling their followers home. Whatever the truth, the homelands are a valuable resource for every tribe who can still reach theirs.

Theurges debate whether tribe shapes the homeland or homeland shapes the tribe — optimistic Garou point to the changes within various homelands as proof that the tribe is the dominant factor. These werewolves view the continued existence of the Croatan’s homeland with hope.

The tribal totems maintain the homeland but don’t spend all their time in these Realms. Indeed, most totems have other Realms and duties that demand their attention and delegate responsibility for the homeland to a lesser spirit or tribal elder.

The homelands are sacred places not entered lightly. In theory, every member of a tribe has the right to enter the homeland but in practice only members of Rank 4 or above may enter without question. Younger Garou usually accompany more senior werewolves and poor behavior is certain to cause loss of renown.