SHEN-ENTU

By Jim Bohiem ([email protected])

History of the Shen-entu

Their primary design is controlling the Tellurian and the Umbra when Gaia cannot herself; that is why their gifts focus on controlling nature and the Umbra.

The Shen-entu are a very ancient breed of shape shifters and they were the first to realize that the Wyrm had strayed from its path. They, being no warriors, first contacted the Gurahl to heal the Wyrm . When that didn't work they met the Garou to Kill the Wyrm; they have been trying for millennia. Then they contacted the Ratkin, to keep the ways of the Balancer Wyrm alive. Then they contacted Nuwisha to act like the Wyrm was still a Balancer and to laugh like nothing was wrong. Later, they contacted Corax and Bastet to watch the Wyrm. Eventually, they contacted Mokole to remember the fate of the Wyrm. There are legends of other shifters contacted for other purposes, but only elder Burden-bearers know of that. Thus it was not Gaia who assigned the roles but Shen-entu working in her stead.

The Shen-entu did not participate in the Impergium because they knew what the likely outcome would be. Instead, they supported the Ratkin version of the Impergium and they tried to do the same in Polynesia, where turtles where accepted pets.

The Shen-entu took no part in the War of Rage and the angry garou that killed one was immediately cut off from gifts, Gnosis ,and rituals directly by Gaia and also that Garou became irredeemably of the Wyrm.

The Shen-entu acted in the area of the Pacific Ocean and used their powerful gifts to create the Ring of Fire (and an Umbra realm of the same name).

Recent History

The Shen-entu have recently been mating with tortoises, so they have moved further inland. The turtles are not as powerful as they once were because of the overfishing and decimation of their turtle kin by fishing nets. A recent alliance between them and the Children of Gaia has helped stave off the destruction of their turtle kin.

Description

Shen-entu are very solitary creatures and usually are mistaken for the "ghost on that small island" that the villagers stay away from. In homid form most are rather slow and clumsy.

The Shen-entu live near the Pacific Ocean and they breed from the tribal natives and the sea turtles. Recently, Shen-entu have been breeding with tortoises and those Shen-entu have infiltrated government environmental agencies and Washington based eco-lobbies.

The Shen-entu are the most at home in the Umbra of all the changing breeds and their gifts reflect that. Their home realm is a vast ocean with an island about the size of Michigan. It is said that anyone who swims to the end of the ocean in their homeland comes back with great gifts and you must swim the length of the ocean to rise to rank 5.

Traits

Shen-entu , being of Gaia, have no allergies to silver or gold. Instead all Wyrm toxins do aggravated damage.

Rage is different for the Shen-entu. By spending one point of Fage in Glabro, Crinos, Eshespus or Shellus form, the Shen-entu may double his effective Stamina. This may be done only once. Due to their lack of speed Shen-entu may not use rage for extra actions; instead they can raise their strength by one.

Society

The Shen-entu have a very structured society, but tolerate many outsiders. In their society Stewardship replaces Glory . Shen-entu have less Rage than their Garou cousins but its effects are more deadly. All Shen-entu meet once a year on the great island in their umbral realm on the summer solstice, and they stay for three days.

Shen-entu never learn gifts from elders,only spirits. Shen-entu regain all Gnosis if they sleep for three days straight.

Auspices

Shen-entu are creatures of Gaia, not Helios or Luna. Therefore they have three auspices: Long Swimmers (born at night), Far Swimmers (born at day), and Burden Bearers (born at dawn or dusk).

Far Swimmers fill the role of the shaman in Shen-entu society and their gifts are roughly analogous to those of the Thuerge and Stargazers but have more control over the Umbra.

Rage:1
Willpower: 4
Gifts: Sense Wyrm, Alter Gauntlet

Long Swimmers are the bards of the Shen-entu and travel far and wide in search of knowledge. Their gifts resemble those of the Galliard, Silent Striders and the Uktenka.

Rage: 2
Willpower: 3
Gifts: Scholar's Friend, Mindspeak

Burden Bearers are the warriors and leaders of the Shen-entu. They have many powers given to them and they are very strong-willed. Their gifts resemble Silver Fangs, Philodox, and Ahroun.

Rage: 3
Willpower: 5
Gifts: Falling Touch, Truth of Gaia

Breeds

Homids are a minority and account for 35% of all Shen-entu. They tend to live in coastal areas and are very tolerant (usually the first to smoke the peace-pipe with the invaders).

Gnosis: 4
Gifts: Persuasion, Tongues

Metis

Metis account for 10% of all Shen-entu and are treated with disrespect, They may never rise to Rank 5.

Gnosis:3
Gifts: Odious Aroma, Mask Flaws

Entrus account for 55% of all Shen-entu but are slowly dying out. They are the most in tune with Gaia and are frequently the Shen-entu leaders.

Gnosis: 6
Gifts: Landwalker, Create Element

Forms

Form Str Dex Sta Man App Per
Glabro +1 -1 +3 -1 -1 -1
Crinos +3 -2 +6 0 0 -1
Eshespus +2 -2 +5 0 0 -1
Entrus +0 -2 +4 -3 -2 -1
Shellus +00 +7 0 0 -2
Glabro: In the Glabro form, the Shen-entu gains a 100% increase in muscle mass and develops a small, shell-like carapace on his back.The Glabro loses 3 inches of height.

Crinos: In Crinos the shell is extremely apparent and muscle mass doubles again from Glabro. The Crinos gains 25% in height from the homid form. Delirium is incited as if Willpower was +3.

Eshespus: Huge turtle. The turtle gains 150% in weight from homid. It looks like a really big turtle.

Entrus: Entrus is Turtle form. It is no different from a turtle.

Shellus: Shellus is as if the turtle's shell covered the entire body with no holes at all. The turtle cannot see but all other senses are unmodified.

Common Gifts

Mother's Touch (1), Truth of Gaia (1), Legacy of Gaia(1) (as Lawgiver's Legacy), Gauntlet Runner (2), Gaia's Revenge (3) (as Jungle's Vengeance)

Tribe gifts

Tortoise: Armour of Tortoise (1), Contemplation (4)

Sea Turtle: Speed of Thought (1), Breathe (2)

Breed Gifts

Homid: As Garou homid, Tongues(1)

Metis: As Garou metis, Mask Flaws(1), Fury of the Tormented (3)

Entrus: Landwalker (1), Sense Evil (2), Alter Land (3), Qyrl's Shell (4), Alter Realm (6)

Far Swimmer: Change Umbra (3) (as Control Dreamtime, but costing 1 Gnosis), Umbra Walker (5)

Long Swimmer: Alter Land (3), Cataclysm (5)

Burden Bearer: Command (3) (as Dominate level 1), Invoke Gaia (5), Drop Burden (6)

Opinions of Others

Garou: They were foolish when they killed their cousins. Look at them now.
-- Swimmer of Worlds, Rank 3 Far Swimmer

"We respect then; they are pure."

-- Joey Farstrider, Uktenka Theurge

Rokea: They hate us for our opinion of the landwellers so the war must continue.

-- Shi-yazu, Sharp Katana, Rank 2 Burden Bearer

"Die"

Ratkin: They do not bother us so we will not bother them.

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

-- Ratkin chief

Bastet: We help them from anonymity.

-- Arther No-name, Rank 3 Metis Burden Bearer

"I have heard only legends."

-- Sezan-tu Simba elder