Werewolf: The Forsaken - Blank It

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Chapter III: Special Rules and Systems
point, but their quarry died before being found or they are
sole survivors of an unsuccessful hunt. These werewolves
are called the Hollow. Forever barred from fulfilling their
vows to Blood Wolf, they serve him directly.
To join the Lodge of the Hunt, a character must find
one of the Hollow and state his intentions. The Hollow
then attempts to find other Uratha who wish to hunt the
same target. When enough Uratha are found to form a
pack, all of the would-be Brethren must accompany the
Hollow deep into the spirit wilds, to Blood Wolf’s den.
There, the great spirit hears each werewolf’s oath: That
he’ll stand by his Brethren, never betraying them or the
hunt, until the pack takes its quarry down. After this
simple oath, the pack is free to begin.
Benefits: All packs of the Brethren gain a powerful
servant of Blood Wolf as a totem. In return, they’re
forbidden from serving under totems other than Ortuz-
Ur and this servant. The exact capabilities of this totem
vary, but always reflect the specific needs of the pack in
question. In game terms, the pack has 20 Totem points
with which to build its totem spirit, but the ban is always
the same: The pack is forbidden to take any action other
than eating, resting and pursuing its quarry. Sometimes
pursuing the quarry requires bartering services with other
Uratha or spirits, and Blood Wolf understands this. If the
Brethren begin exhibiting agendas other than the hunt,
however, every pack member loses one dot of Stamina
each day until the hunt begins again (even if only one
pack member commits the offending behavior). Also, the
Brethren are forbidden from violence against each other.
Even attempting it leaves the offender crippled with pain
for a full minute.
FETISHES
All Uratha, even the Ghost Wolves, recognize the
value of fetishes. Fetishes are what would otherwise be
mundane items or elements fashioned together and made
into vessels or traps for spirits. The spirits contained
within these items can be of enormous benefit to werewolves,
affording them versatile advantages limited only
by a fetish-crafter’s skill.
Most fetishes are marked in some way, decorated
or engraved with symbols or glyphs that are meant to
enhance the power of the spirit within. Recognizing a
fetish or talen for what it is requires an Intelligence +
Occult roll. Success indicates that the character knows
it for a fetish and knows the general purpose (such as
recognizing that a Mask of Life has something to do with
health), while an exceptional success grants more specific
information.
Starting characters may possess a fetish by having the
Fetish Merit (p. 79). Such items may also be found, won,
stolen or otherwise acquired during the events of a story.
Actually creating a fetish requires the Fetish Rite (p. 162).
A character may attune himself to a fetish by wearing
it next to his skin for one hour and succeeding on a
Harmony roll. Success indicates that the fetish is attuned
to his form and will adapt itself as an item dedicated via
the Rite of Dedication would. The fetish remains attuned
to the character for one lunar month (at which point he
may attune himself to it again if he chooses), or until another
werewolf successfully attunes herself to the fetish. A
character automatically begins play attuned to any fetishes
purchased at character creation via the Fetish Merit.
ACTIVATING A FETISH
Most fetishes have a power that is used upon activation.
To activate a fetish, a werewolf communes briefly
with the inhabiting spirit, spurring it into action. The
player must make a Harmony roll (a pool with a number
of dice equal to the character’s Harmony dots), with a
penalty equal to the fetish’s level (the number of dots that
indicate its rating). Willpower may be spent to add three
dice to this roll. Alternatively, the player may spend a
point of Essence for his character to activate a fetish without
need for a roll, in effect bribing the spirit with Essence.
Talens have no dot ranking and, therefore, no activation
modifier.
Dice Pool: Harmony
Action: Varies by fetish
Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The Uratha pushes the fetish’s
spirit beyond the breaking point. The spirit refuses to
function again until the wielder performs the Rite of
Contrition (see p. 155).
Failure: The werewolf fails to contact the spirit, and
the fetish doesn’t activate.
Success: The fetish functions normally.
Exceptional Success: The werewolf is so courteous
that all rolls to activate the fetish receive a +2 bonus for
a lunar month, or until a dramatic failure is rolled while
attempting to activate it, whichever comes first.
FETISH RANKS
As Storyteller, adjudicating the effectiveness and
power of a fetish (that is, deciding how powerful it should
be) is simple enough. Just follow these guidelines.
Talen: A one-use, low-power fetish, or a minor item
that doesn’t lose its power, but that doesn’t have much
utility, either.
One-Dot: A useful fetish, but only under specific
circumstances.
Two-Dot: A fetish weapon no more useful than a
werewolf’s natural weaponry, or a more versatile fetish
that grants a minor bonus in a variety of situations or a
considerable bonus in one.
Three-Dot: A potent fetish. This could be a weapon
with a minor blessing, or an item that could be used reliably
in dangerous situations.