THE CORPS

By J.D. Simmons ([email protected])

Overview

The term "Corps" is not an anagram or anything symbolic. It is simply the name this group has chosen. The Corps, as it is, is a loose and militant confederation of minor Bete who were almost exterminated in the War of Rage or those that came into being recently. They are composed of the Lepori, Stankers, Tojo, Troika, the Chiropterans, and Chatoje'. These are some of the rarest, and weakest of shapechangers, so they were forced to team up for survival. It is important to note that the Ratkin are not a part of the Corps, despite the Corps' large number of rodent members.

This group is based on survival of the fittest, which they are not. They feel that life is only worth living if you can live free of worry. They band together under one banner, pledging to protect all who are weaker than they, and destroy those who would abuse their power. In truth, really they are just a big shapechanger gang. They are vicious, feral, small and potent. They use guns, drugs, and melee weapons like their will be no tomorrow.

They possess no Wyrm taint per se, but many do end up turning to the Wyrm under his Beast of War. Very few respect anything that isn't brute strength or aesthetic beauty, and most will flaunt their powers over normal humans, or Garou. Many a Trooper (a generic term for any member of the Corps) has had his ass kicked for not watching his mouth, but that was his own damn fault. The Corps is the cockiest, cruelest, most profane, and most arrogant of Gaia's children. In all the violence and evil, however, they still remember Gaia, and are often found killing the Wyrm in its many places of convenience. They are Gaia's, and they are not purposefully evil, but they took hint from the War of Rage and decided to leave the fighting to the Garou. Some don't work in this way and instead covertly continue the fight against the Wyrm, but most simply use their power for more materialistic things.

The Forms

The Corps, in general, possess only three forms: Homid, Crinos, and Sciurus. The names are sometimes different, and some possess more than three forms, but these are the exception.

Homid: The base Human form, often lean, muscular and attractive. The Corps comes in all races, shapes and sizes. They are often either very artistic, of very homicidal. Many have to be rescued from asylums, before undergoing the first change.

Crinos: Garou often laugh at this form. It isn't very big, and usually not very frightening, but it has its advantages.

Sciurus: This is the form of a small, usually rodent creature. These all are usually large for their species, but that doesn't mean they aren't still pretty small in general.

Lepori

(lep 'or i)

The Lepori are a group of were-rabbits/bunnies/hares. They are known for their remarkable speed and loyalty, though not their fighting prowess. They once heard the name of a tribe of Garou known as the Bunyip, and were so enchanted by its likeness to the word bunny, that they changed and adopted it as their own in the form of Bunnyipp. Now that the Bunyip are gone and dead, many Garou find themselves hating the Bunnyipp for mocking the long line of honor of the Bunyip. Soon after, the Lepori reversed the name back.

The Bunnyipp are the most common of the Corps, as they breed so rapidly that even with the ten percent chance of a child carrying the gene for being a Bunnyipp, there are still surprisingly many of them. The Bunnyipp are one of the races that actually survived the War of Rage. Originally, they were Gaia's messengers, and at that time they were known as the Leporidae. After the War they were replaced by the Silent Striders.

Homid	Crinos	Sciurus
Normal Stats	Str +2 Dex +4 Sta +1 App -1 Per +1	Str -1 Dex +3 Sta +1 Man -2 -2 dif. on Per rolls
Dif: 6	Dif: 6	Dif: 6

Mousekin

Just as there are Ratkin that guard the people of the cities, and regulate them, the Mousekin did so for those of the country. In the beginning, the Mousekin were simply Ratkin who bred with mice and preferred to stay clean. However, even before the War of Rage they were targeted for extermination. The Garou saw them as a useless redundancy, though in older times the job of country regulation was much different than that of city regulation. So the Garou got representatives of Ratkin to agree to take over for the Mousekin then went and destroyed all the Mousekin they could find. The last of the Mousekin were exterminated in the War of Rage. However, recently a small pack of Ratkin that were isolated for some time again became Mousekin. In order to keep from being annihilated, the Mousekin eagerly joined the Corps, and have developed into the heroes they are today.

Mousekin are those of the Corps who most reject technology, and often opt for Medieval weaponry instead. Many prefer a rather swashbuckling look, with their swords at their sides, though others prefer a rogue look of the medieval role-playing games that Black Dog puts out. All Mousekin are adventurous, and enjoy questing about. They like the Fae above other Supernatural races, and have been known to quest for Arcadia alongside Sidhe. Many carry Glamour drenched treasures, and other magic items that allow them to fight or romance more effectively.

Homid	Crinos	Sciurus
Normal Stats	Dex +5 Sta +2 App -1 Per +1	Str -2 Dex +4 Man -2 -2 dif. on Per rolls
Dif: 6	Dif: 6	Dif: 6

Stankers

The Stankers are one of the newer races of the Corps. No one can account for their transition into the world of Bete. Frankly, the Stankers are, gulp, were-skunks. They are socially outcast, and are often manic-depressive. At heart most are deeply romantic, or very comedic, but most cannot stand social gatherings. Those who can adapt to Corps society function as Galliards telling what few stories the Corps has of importance.

The Stankers are the most devout in their duties; they hope that through steadfast work they can gain true acceptance.

In their Crinos and Sciurus forms, Stankers have additional natural weaponry: stink glands. The system for this is the same as "Gift of the Skunk" on page 126 of the WW:tA, but all Stankers automatically have it after their first change, or from birth for Sciurus born.

Homid	Crinos	Sciurus
Normal Stats	Str +1 Dex +2 Sta +2 App 0 Per +1 Natural weaponry	Str -1 Dex +3 Sta +1 Man -2 -2 dif. on Per rolls Natural weaponry
Dif: 6	Dif: 6	Dif: 6

Tojo

(to' yo)

The Tojo are one of the more militant groups of the Corps. They are the moles and appropriate to their race, many serve as infiltrators and spies. The Tojo are mostly Asian, though exactly why is unknown, and many additionally practice martial arts. Not to say all Tojo are ninjas, but many are and not all are Asian, but most are. Those who do not practice martial arts are often computer technicians, giving them easier access to hacking Pentex files.

The Tojo's answer to most problems is to destroy it, whether by using computers to frame the culprit or other hacker plans, or to simply assassinate the target. They always get their man. It should be noted, however, that the Tojo were one of Gaia's Bete at one time, but then deviated from the others due War of Rage. Originally, immediately after the turning of the White Howlers, the Tojo were used to keep tabs on Spiral Dancer underground (literally) activities. At this time there were many Tojo of both European and Asian descent. However, the Garou thought that the Tojo were too close to the Spiral Dancers in method, and exterminated as they saw fit. For this reason most Tojo are Asian.

A note on their crinos form: it is huge. The Tojo's body mass doubles, sometimes triples, though mostly in muscle, not in height. The Tojo's fingers become long hardened blades which can only be flexed at the base of the finger, ideal for waving, fighting, etc, not for gripping. The Tojo's claw/fingers inflict Str+3 aggravated damage and due to their strength and configuration can be used for several new attacks, but not for some old ones.

These new combat maneuvers have been listed with damage as used by a Tojo; their claws are already taken into account so the damage listed is the total amount of dice rolled. For example a normal swipe does the normal Str+3; a light jab does -2 to that because of its precision and speed, so it only does Str+1. The new maneuvers are:

• Light jab: A weak stabbing motion meant to hit fast, not hard. A good fighter often uses several of these in rapid succession (i.e., splits her dice pool due to low difficulty) Damage Str +1, Diff 5
• Strong jab: Like a light jab, but meant to impale, certain very strong Tojo have been known to do just that, and then take it another step further.... Str +5 Diff 7
The Blender: This disgusting often fatal maneuver is used only on those that a Tojo is set upon killing. In truth "the blender" is a combination of tricky maneuvers that when pulled off correctly leave an enemy with their intestines all over. It requires a great deal of both strength and acrobatics/tumbling and a good deal of flexibility, as well. It can be executed in many different manners, but here is a sample: Guido is sick and tired of this damn Black Spiral that's been following him around like a little lost puppy. After a few rounds of indecisive combat and non-stop mockery from the BSD, Guido decides now the bastard dies. He quickly sweeps the Spiral, knocking him to the ground, then channels his Rage and drives his claws into the Spiral's intestines, he lifts himself into the air in a hand stand, his claws still in the beast's belly, and spreads his legs into the splits. He twists, using both his strength and inertia, spinning in the Spiral's gut. Splat. Another common method is to lift the opponent into the air (having first driven your claws into their guts) and with them lifted above your head, spinning yourself on the ground. Str+5 (impaling jab), Dex + Ath diff 6 ( to lift yourself) or Str diff modified by opponent (to lift them), finally Str +4 for the Spinning. Very few creatures have walked away from this maneuver.




Homid	Crinos	Sciurus
Normal Stats	Str +4 Dex +1 Sta +3 App 0 Per -1 Claws inflict +3 damage	Str -2 Dex +2 Man -2 +2 dif on sight rolls
Dif: 6	Dif: 6	Dif: 6

Troika

(troy' ka)

Tojo may be the most militant of the Corps, but the Troika are the most vicious, and the most deadly. Troika are badgers, and they are as large as your average Garou and as mean as your average bully, but they often back their threats up. Troika are generally of one of two dispositions: 1) everything sucks, and everything must die or 2) everything is sacred and anything that tries to disrupt the balance of nature must die. Either way, you don't want to be on their badside, and not to place sexist stereotypes, but in general males possess the first outlook and females, the second. Troika, whichever disposition they prefer, are very protective and make good packmates, and better babysitters or bodyguards. As tough as they act, however, many Troika possess a heart of gold and are often very good with children. Breaking the tough exterior will show you a friend for life, however more likely you'll just be confused.

Homid	Crinos	Sciurus
Normal Stats	Str +3 Dex +2 Sta +4 App 0	Dex +2 Sta +1 Man -2
Dif: 6	Dif: 6	Dif: 6

Chajote

(ka yo' tay)

Whoo the comic relief! These guys are only in the Corps because the had such a fit when the Corps initially said "no." Since then, they are the two that are most pushed around and laughed about. The story of the Chajote, or were-Chihuahua, is as such there were several components: a regular, female Chihauhau, a pack of Spanish Garou, a couple bottles of whiskey, a powerful aphrodisiac called "American Pig Dog-Homie G," and a really good lubricant. I know, I know that is the most disgusting thing you've ever heard, but how do you think the Chihuahua felt? Point is, of the resulting litter of puppies, three were born Garou, very, very confusing. It's the same way the Bone Gnawers like to mate with street dogs, but smaller. Two of these Garou puppies underwent their first change and came to the U.S. via a mail order dog service, don't ask, and the third underwent his change in Me-hico. Later he also came to America, and got a job with Taco Bell, but that is another, equally disturbing and humorous tale. The two puppies ended up in Hollywood, where they met a plethora of other Chihuahuas and the Corp. After a lot of bitching (no pun intended) and whining, they managed to join the Corps and Lorita has just given birth to an annoying, loud, mean litter of puppies, and three or four show signs of being born true. So soon there will be another set of Chajote to join the ranks of the Corps.

Due to the pure Garou blood that started these chihuahuas they possess all the strength of the Garou, and the Auspices, and the Gifts, though it would be hard to convince spirits to teach them. Their Crinos forms are disturbing to look at: they are tall, ugly (those huge eyes are just not a turn on). They've got these huge claws, nasty teeth, and pencil thin necks. They are actually shorter in their Crinos forms than Homid, as they have to grow down to Rodens, and there's only so much their Supernatural nature can do.

Homid	Glabro	Crinos	Hispo	Rodens
Normal stats	As per WW:tA	Str +4 Dex +1 Sta +1 App 0	Str +3 Dex +2 App 0	Str -2 Dex +2 Man -2
Diff 6	Diff 7	Diff 6	Diff 7	Diff 6

Chiropterans

(kir 'op tear ans)

I have borrowed the name used by "Genma the Gurahl Panda" but the rest is different. As he presented it, they are a separate race of Bete. As I present it, they are a deviation of nature.

Long ago, when the Howlers were still pure, when Scotland still was populated by dire wolves, when things were still in balance, and when the Howlers worshipped the great totem of Bat, there came to be a strange Sept of Garou. In these days Bat was still pure, as were his chosen among the Garou, and there was one Sept in particular that he patronized, the Sept of the Night Watchers. This Sept of both White Howlers and Fianna held only to Bat. They performed as he would like, and through this they became the eyes and warriors of the night. They worshipped Bat so long, that soon their children that were born true finished their first Transformations with his aspects. These new get had patagia and the ears of the Bat in their Crinos forms, and in their Glabro and Hispo to an extent, but neither was visible in their Homid or Lupus. After a few more generations, these Bat-Garou no longer had a Lupus, but instead possessed a Rodens like form, that of a large bat.

Then the White Howlers fell and these Garou and their kin went into hiding amongst the Fianna, or roamed as Ronin, and a few survived, though most died. When the Black Spirals rose and Bat, driven mad by his chosen's betrayal, went unto the Wyrm with them, there rose amongst the Spiral Dancers an elite Pack, which, like the Sept of the Night Watchers, were naturally gifted by Bat. These twisted freaks rose to stations of great power amongst the Black Spirals, but for some reason their progeny never possessed the gifts of Bat from birth. They could learn these gifts as any other Garou, but they weren't gifted specially. Some say that though Bat followed the Howlers, he did not do so willingly, and this was his only defiance.

Those Garou and kin who did survive mated with Fianna, twisting their blood together, so as to become of that tribe, and they were excepted for the Howlers and Fianna had been brothers before. So, though in smaller numbers, Bat's true children continue to be born in Gaia's grace today, but they are bastards and many see them as Black Spirals and do not even bother to check to see if they are Wyrm-corrupted. Amongst the Black Spirals, after several generations of inbreeding, finally again Bat's true children began to surface, Bat was now so corrupted he had forgotten why he had never bestowed these gifts upon his Bastards before now.

So now upon both sides of this great war, there has risen a race divided, a race of Garou who now call themselves bats, and a race without a spirit guide. The Gaia driven Chiropterans are at a disadvantage; they have no totem, except those that they borrow of the other tribes, and the Chiropterans of the Wyrm are supported by their Totem and their Tribe. Gaia's are hunted by both Black Spiral and Garou, and only through hard work can hope to gain any form of safety or renown. However, there is reason for hope: it is said that Gaia has approached the most powerful of these Garou and offered them a job befitting of their talents. They are offered to be the true masters of the Night. Gaia asks them to be her eyes and claws when all others choose to sleep, but this would put them alone against all the Wyrm's minions of the night, including the Chiropterans own twisted brethren. To escape certain doom, some have joined the Corps; these often gain large amounts of respect within the Corps, but very little outside it.

The Wyrm closes in, the Garou turn their backs, it is every Chiropteran for themselves, which side shall you choose?

Homid: Unchanged, Patagia only apparent in Crinos to Sciurus

Glabro: Larger, furrier, ears get bigger, very small patagia, don't effect anything, but look strange

Crinos: As per Werewolf, but with Patagia (suitable for Flight or Gliding) and large bat ears or Chiropterans with mastery over their bodies (Sta + Primal Urge, diff 8) can have arms and fully working, separate bat wings growing from their backs. However, these wings are only good for gliding. Hispo: A very big, bipedal, hunched over figure. It is like a wolf bat; it walks on its hind legs, ripping at anything near it with its huge clawed wing arms.

Sciurus: A large bat

Crinos-Sciurus forms are all capable of flight and sonar. Sonar works as per "Ears of the Bat" found in a couple Werewolf books. In Crinos and Hispo forms the Chiropterans have hands at the ends of their arms, even though they have the Patagia.

Homid	Glabro	Crinos	Hispo	Rodens
Normal stats	As per WW:tA	Str +3 Dex +3 Sta +2 App 0 Man -3	Str +3 Dex +4 Sta +1 App 0 Man -3	Dex +5 Man -2
Diff 6	Diff 7	Diff 6	Diff 7	Diff 6