Tribes & Fera

Hearing legends of weresharks might be amusing to someone who has lived his life far from the oceans, but islander people have traded stories of such creatures for centuries. Sharks that walk as men appeared in legendry as vicious killers, ruthless pranksters, and uncaring preda­ tors. The Rokea, the shark-changers, can be all of these, but their Gaia-granted purpose is far simpler: The Rokea are meant simply to endure.

The Rokea predate the other Fera, even the Mokole, by millions of years. They do not naturally die — unless something kills a Rokea, it simply keeps swimming as long as Sea exists. However, the Rokea are just as en­ dangered as any of the Fera. Some decades ago, a nuclear explosion nearly wiped out their species, and since then the weresharks have been waging an internal war on the “betweeners,” those Rokea who dare to venture on land.

Breeds: Rokea have two breeds: Squamus and homid. The vast majority of them are squamus, born as one of a variety of breeds of shark. Such a wereshark is the result of a mating between a shark and a wereshark; no metis exist among them.

If a Rokea mates with a human being, the result is a Rokea Kinfolk, called a kadugo. If this kadugo goes on to mate with a Rokea, the child is a homid wereshark. Since the majority of the Rokea species hunts down and kills kadugo and any wereshark that sires them, it’s no wonder that homid Rokea are virtually unknown.

Breed determines starting Gnosis. Squamus Rokea begin with 5, homid with 1.

Auspices: Rokea belong to one of three auspices, determined by their time of birth. Brightwater Rokea, those born during the bright day or the full moon, are the fiercest warriors among the weresharks. Dimwater weresharks, born when the sky is clouded over or at night when the moon is visible, but not full, are the balancers and judges of the Rokea. They tend to be the policymak­ ers and leaders, and they are the most common auspice. Finally, the Darkwaters, born under eclipses or the new moon, are the mystics, shamans, seers, and explorers of the weresharks.

Auspice determines a wereshark’s starting Rage. Brightwaters start with 5, Dimwaters with 4, and Dark­ waters with 3.

Traits:

• All Rokea are constantly compelled to move. On land, Rokea pace unless the player succeeds in a Willpower roll (difficulty 6) each scene. If restrained, the Rokea must check for frenzy.

• Rokea use Rage and Gnosis in much the same way that Garou do.

• Rokea frenzy with only two successes on a Rage roll. Four or more successes indicate that the wereshark enters a state called Kunmind, similar to the Thrall of the Wyrm. In such a state, the Rokea attacks and eats any being within reach. Rokea do not enter fox frenzy.

• Weresharks regenerate as Garou do, except that Squamus Rokea can regenerate in breed form, provided they are immersed in salt water. Like werewolves, Rokea cannot soak silver damage except in breed form.

• Rokea cannot step sideways without using a Gift or the Rite of Passing the Net. They can perceive and communicate with pelagic spirits without the use of a Gift, however.

• Rokea do not die naturally. Once they reach adult­ hood, they simply stop aging.

• Rokea begin with 4 dots in Willpower. Forms: Rokea are capable of assuming five differ­ ent forms, though most only have access to four. Their Glabro-like form, called “Round Back” or Glabrus, is only accessible to Rokea who have spent some time on land and learned to use it. Their Homid (“Long Fins”) form is that of a normal, if somewhat squat and ugly, human, while the Squamus (“Swimming Jaws”) form is that of a shark, usually one of the larger species (white, tiger, bull, oceanic whitetip). The other three forms are listed below (modifiers in parentheses apply in water):

Glabrus (“Round Back”): Similar to the Glabro form: ugly, dense with muscle, and hunched. Modifiers: Str +2, Dex +0 (+1), Sta +2, Man –2, App –2

Gladius (“Standing Jaws”): Ten feet tall, covered in sharp scales, and possessed of a shark-like maw capable of biting an adult human in half, Standing Jaws form is the stuff of nightmares. This form incites weak Delirium (treat Willpower as though it were two points higher). Modifiers: Str +3, Dex –1 (+2), Sta +2, Man –4, App 0

Chasmus (“Fighting Jaws”): The preferred combat form for Rokea, Fighting Jaws is an immense shark. The Rokea gains half-again its length (meaning a 20-foot white shark becomes a 30-foot Chasmus), and incites full Delirium in onlookers. Modifiers: Str +4, Dex N/A (+1), Sta +3, Man –4, +1 bite damage

• Swimming Jaws: The

natural form for most Rokea, this form is indistinguishable from a normal (if large) shark of the character’s species. Modifiers: Str +2, Dex N/A (+3), Sta +2, Man –4

Sample Gifts: Rokea gifts focus on hunting, killing, eating, and moving ever forward. Ahroun, Get of Fenris, and Red Talon Gifs are good inspirations. In addition, Darkwater have access to a Gift allowing them to step (or swim) sideways at rank 2.

STEREOTYPES

Glass Walkers: Where were you when they learned to poison the Sea? Why didn’t you stop them?

Red Talons: If you understand me as I think you do, then you understand why we cannot help you.

Mokolé: You are the Memory, little brothers and sisters, not because we do not remember but because we do not care.

Nuwisha: I don’t understand.