The Faces of the Bear: Gurahl and their Totem

 

One of the most powerful of the animal Incama, Bear stands close to Gaia.Bear’s massive bulk, nurturing ways and potential for violence represent Gaia’sown qualities given animal form. Bear enjoys a special closeness with the Gurahl,the first of Gaia’s changing children and the ones whose lives most closely match the cycles of Gaia’s seasons. Bear’s Incarna possesses a triune nature, and the Gurahl recognize this as part of their devotion to their Totem spirit, finding enough variety and in this three-fold manifestation to answer most, if not all, of their needs for representation and patronage in the spirit world. All Gurahl have Bear as their Totem and receive all her marks at the time of their First Change (if they have not already manifested some of them in their pre-Change lives). They, therefore, do not need to select Totem as one of their Backgrounds during character creation. Most Gurahl favor one aspect of Bear over the others, reacting to the different aspects of each of Bear’s forms according to their temperament and, sometimes, phase in life. In fact, it is not uncommon for Gurahl to shift their attention and devotion from one of the faces of Bear to another depending on circumstances, need and understanding of their place in life.

Many Gurahl identify with Arcas immediately after their First Change, seeking in the example of the Little Bear a guide for their time of wandering and exploration. When Gurahl enter their Uzmati or warrior stage, they often
find themselves attracted to the ferocity and implacability of Mangi, the Death Bear. Other Uzmati lean towardursa Major, the Great She-Bear, who is both nurturer and fierce defender of her charges. During their Kojubat years, many Gurahl gravitate toward Ursa Major, finding in her the sense of continuity and tradition that resonates with their own concentration on the legends and history of the Gurahl. Kieh, like Uzmati, find either Mangi or Ursa Major reflects their own focus on mysticism and healing, since the cycle of life and death takes both aspects into account. As they age or when they enter their Rishi auspice, Gurahl often find themselves drawn to Mangi, seeing in the Death Bear a symbol of their own purpose in life - the defenders and protectors who sometimes answer the needs of their charges by sacrificing themselves so that others might live. Other Rishi return to a devotion to Arcas, finding a renewed zest in life as they near the completion of their cycle.

 

Ursa Major: The Great She-Bear

The Great She-Bear shares many qualities with Gaia herself. She demonstrates the compassionate, nurturing, maternal and life-giving aspects of the Great Mother. Ursa Major is the All-Healer, who touches her children with her own love and shelters them under her protection.

 

Mangi: The Death Bear

The Death Bear, called Mangi or the Spirit Hunter by some of the human tribes who honored him, generally assumes a masculine aspect. Mangi acts as the guardian to the Otherworld of the dead and takes charge of the spirits of Gurahl who pass through his domain on their way to their inevitable reunion with Gaia. Mangi symbolizes Bear’s anger over the cruelties afflicted upon the children of Ursa Major. Mangi also symbolizes birth as well as death, for he stands on the threshold of the two worlds. Only with his permission may Gurahl return slain spirits back to their bodies in the world of the living. Some Gurahl see Mangi and Ursa Major as consorts, a mated pair whose union gives birth to Arcas the Celestial Cub.

 

Arcas: The Cub

Also known as the First Cub or Ursa Minor, Arcas completes the three. fold aspect of Bear’s Incarna. Just as bear cubs are some of the most rambunctious and wonder-filled of Gaia’s creatures, Arcas represents the joyous spirit of discovery and playfulness and the indomitable spirit of youthful enthusiasm. The First Cub embodies the wide-eyed wonder and excitement experienced by many Gurahl as they embark on their Gallivant and discover what it means to be one of the Children of Bear. The First Cub serves as a reminder to the sometimes overly serious Gurahl that play and whimsy also have their part in the grand purpose of saving the world and fulfilling Gaia’s will.

 

 

 

Marks of the Bear

The Children of Bear share some qualities with their younger cousins, the Garou. Silver affects them just as it does Garou, and Gurahl regenerate damage just as Garou do. Gurahl have a few additional advantages given to them by Bear in order to assist them in fulfilling Gaia’s purpose for them, as well as corresponding disadvantages to provide balance. 

 

Adamant Will:

Gurahl begin with six Willpower Traits, giving them a distinct advantage over most other Changing Breeds when it comes to focusing their determination or resisting attempts to control their minds. As protectors of the earth and nurturers of the weak and helpless, Gurahl need to use their strong wills to oppose anyone who would harm the places and creatures under their care. Gurahl receive a free retest in any challenge involving their need to defend and protect. This high level of determination and mental focus also makes it harder for supernatural creatures such as vampires to influence the mind of a Gurahl. Gurahl gain two free retests in Mental Challenges involving attempts by supernaturals to dominate or otherwise affect their minds. In a similar fashion, Gurahl benefit from a free retest to resist wraithly possession or for any type of control by mages.

In general, Gurahl gain a boost to their Willpower whenever they are engaged in a contest of wills over something related to their duty to Gaia. Storytellers may give Gurahl extra Traits for the purposes of breaking ties or award an additional retest, depending on the circumstances. This does not mean that Gurahl can never lose a battle of wills or fall under the control of another creature, just that it takes a lot of effort on the part of the Gurahl’s opponent to succeed.

 

Intractability:

Gurahl have a stubborn streak that serves as the downside to their strong will. Whenever one of the Children of Bear sets his mind and will on a course of action, it is almost impossible for him to change his mind or rethink his decision - even if new information comes to light that proves his actions wrong or detrimental. In general, Gurahl have a strong regard for tradition. This love for the tried and true methods of accomplishing goals and performing certain activities often blinds them to new and better ways of achieving the same ends. Whenever someone attempts to go against a Gurahl’s decision or convince him to rethink his position or course of action, the Gurahl must make a concerted effort to overcome his own mind-set. The Gurahl must spend a Willpower Trait and win a Mental Challenge in order to change his mind. Otherwise, he persists in his previous efforts or refuses to alter his opinion or decision. Alternately, if the need to alter his plan of action or belief is important enough, a Gurahl may forego the Mental Challenge and spend two Willpower Traits to change his mind. If he chooses this method of overcoming his stubbornness, the Gurahlmay not gain the benefits of Adamant Will for the remainder of the playing session since he has deliberately weakened his will.

 

Keen Smell:

Like bears, Gurahl have an extremely refined sense of smell.Their highly sensitive noses can locate sources of food, detect mating partnersor sense the presence of intruders in their lands. In all forms except for Homid,Gurahl can smell their enemies long before they arrive. Gurahl gain a freeretest to tests involving perception when they can reasonably use their senseof smell. Storytellers may rule that Gurahl automatically learn some kinds ofinformation without testing. In addition, Storytellers should describe distinctiveodors to Gurahl characters whenever appropriate. However, particularlystrong or pungent odors (stinky cheese, skunk spray, heavy perfume, sulphur)may overwhelm a Gurahl’s sense or cover up a subtler, more important smell.

 

Poor Eyesight:

While bears have a keen sense of smell, they also sufferfrom less than perfect eyesight. Gurahl are not blind, nor do they need to wearglasses. In Homid form, in fact, most Gurahl (unless they have a specific Flawthat gives them flawed vision) have normal vision. What they lack is the keensight of an eagle. In addition, Gurahl are not as attuned to how things lookas how they smell or feel. They are less likely to notice small visual detailswhen searching an area. A Gurahl standing on high ground is more likely tosmell an approaching intruder than to see one coming. Gurahl may not retestchallenges involving perception that rely solely on visual cues for success

 

Biorhythmic Control:

Gurahl have the ability to regulate or alter their internal biological mechanisms, slowing down or speeding up their metabolism, raising or lowering their internal temperature, controlling their heartbeat, etc. If a Gurahl faces a situation in which altering her biorhythms might be useful, she may cause some significant change in her body functions by
winning a Simple Test. The Storyteller should determine what kinds of changes are appropriate and permissible.

 

Seasonal Lethargy:

Gurahl have such a deep connection to the Earththat their bodies tend to respond to the changing of the seasons in ways thatdo not always give them an advantage. Gurahl experience a psychologicallethargy during the winter months, perhaps in sympathy with their bearcousins’urge to hibernate. Though Gurahl themselves do not hibernate, theydo become sluggish and less active in winter than during other times of theyear. Punctual individuals may oversleep in the winter, showing up late for meetings and gatherings. The desire to “take a nap” may recur at odd timesduring the day. While most of these effects are best used as roleplayingguidelines, Storytellers may wish to assign a one-Trait penalty to certainchallenges to indicate the character is working under groggy condition.

 

Bhernocht

When a Gurahl knowingly fails in his duty or willingly abandons aperceived obligation in order to pursue another, more frivolous or ephemeralcourse of action, he undergoes a partial loss of the indomitable will inherentto his species. Such a voluntary dereliction of duty results in the loss of aWillpower Trait as well as the forfeiture of the advantages gained fromAdamant Will. Until the Gurahl resumes his stated purpose (such as theprotection of a particular person or group or the guardianship of a specificterritory), he continues to lose Willpower Traits at the rate of one per sessionin addition to any Willpower Traits he may spend or risk. When a Gurahl’sWillpower Traits fall to zero, he enters the profound depressive state knownas Bhemocht - literally the “dark night of the bear.” While similar in someways to the Garou’s Harano, Bhemocht has a special application for Gurahl.Gurahl in Bhemocht exhibit persistent lethargy and apathy. Theirlistlessness accompanies a sense of personal failure. Unless a Gurahl discoverssome way to overcome her feeling of worthlessness (or seeks help fromanother who is qualified to deal with Bhernocht), the werebear eventuallyenters a state of deep hibernation. In order to rouse a Gurahl who has falleninto Bhemocht-driven slumber, the person making the attempt must useeither sustained force or the Waken Gift. Once the Gurahl has awakened, shemust still recover from Bhemocht - a process which requires the reassumptionof Willpower Traits through either taking up the abandonedpurpose or finding a new, equally important, purpose to take its place.The Storyteller should carefully adjudicate the process whereby a Gurahlregains Willpower Traits and recovers from Bhernocht. Roleplaying thisdramatic plunge into despair and re-emergence into the light should providesome intense drama for the character and his companions.