Games - Changing Breed

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	Games - Changing Breed

The Changing Breeds is a term that broadly refers to shapeshifting beings in the World of Darkness. The most widespread of the Changing Breeds are the Garou, the principal actors in the Werewolf: The Apocalypse role-playing game. Other lycanthropes (also called Fera by the Garou) are less common or more regionally/demographically restricted, and as such are not as visible in the World of Darkness.

The Changing Breeds

Ajaba

A long time ago, Gaia saw that no wolves decided to live in Africa, so she created the Ajaba to be the warriors of the earth. These "were-hyenas" could do the same job as the Garou, but were more cat-like so that they could work with the Bastet. However, it did not work out. The Garou, upon discovering the Ajaba (as well as other Fera), slaughtered the other shapechangers quite liberally. In the mid-1980's, the Simba attempted to completely exterminate the hyenas.

The widely misunderstood Ajaba are often considered extinct or nearing extinction because of these wars, but the hyena people are very much alive and kicking. More recently published White Wolf books mention that the Ajaba have increased in population and have a promising future. Once thought to be cruel and tainted by the Wyrm, the Ajaba have proven their worth to the other Fera and are now accepted as true warriors of Gaia. This is all due to an Ajaba woman named Kisasi, who returned to the hyena homelands of Africa and rallied other shapechangers (along with the Ajaba) to defeat the tyrannical Simba, Blacktooth. This African group of shapechangers came to be known as the Ahadi, and consists of many different shapechangers including the Swara, Mokole, and even the Silent Strider werewolves. Though the Ajaba still hold a grudge against the Garou and the Simba for the needless near-extinction of their kind, the formation of the Ahadi has created a renewed sense of hope for all of the shapechangers of Africa.

These social Fera live in large clans; their society is strictly matriarchal, so Ajaba women are typically more aggressive and outgoing than Ajaba men. Their five forms are similar to the other mammalian shapechangers: homid (human), anthros (near-human), crinos (were-hyena), crocas (dire hyena), and hyaenid (hyena).

Hyenas are more closely related to cats than to wolves, so they are considered a Bastet breed and can be found in the "Bastet Breed Book" as well as the "Guide to the Changing Breeds."

Ananasi

The Ananasi are "were-spiders." Their name is drawn from the West African trickster/god Anansi (or possible the other way around). Originally servants of the Weaver, this race of shapeshifters was corrupted and coerced (through the imprisonment of their Queen, Ananasa) by the Wyrm into service for a considerable time. Though Ananasa was eventually freed and many Ananasi renouced the Wyrm, the Weaver did not forgive their lapse in loyalty. Thus, the Ananasi can broadly be divided into two groups: those who call themselves Ananasi and serve Gaia, and those who continue to serve the Wyrm, calling themselves Dahman (in the West) or Kumo (in the East). The Ananasi of the West have adopted a Triumvirate system within their race, each Ananasi has their Triumvirate aspect chosen for them. Therefore, an Ananasi is ether Tenere (followers of the Weaver), Hatar (followers of the Wyrm), or Kumoti (followers of the Wyld). Additionally, each Trimuvirate party has an Aspect in which they follow - Myrmidon (Warrior), Viskr (Wizard), or Wyrsta (Questioner). The Ananasi differ from the other Changing Breeds in that they do not have Rage, but instead use blood to fuel many of their gifts. The Ananasi are capable of acquiring a number of spider-like abilities such as multiple eyes, multiple limbs, venom, webs, as well as certain psychic abilities. Furthermore, they are the only Changing Breed whose animal form is not a single animal; Ananasi instead have "Crawlerling" form, which is a swarm of spiders. Their other two forms are Lilian and Pithus, a man-spider and a giant spider, respectively.

Apis

The last known Apis was the Minotaur of Knossos. They were so called after Apis of Egyptian mythology. The Apis' totem was the auroch, or the wild ox. They were daytime Fera and were in charge of cultivation and agriculture. They were also known as "The Matchmakers of Gaia." They were driven to extinction by the Garou.

Bastet

The Bastet (named for the Egyptian deity of the same name) are "were-cats." Servants of Gaia, their society is divided into tribes in much the same way as the Garou Nation, but these divisions exist solely along lines of heritage, and are not influenced by auspice. They don't form packs, seldom groups, where each members individuality is respected. Being very secretive many Bastet are not proud fighters, but mere protectors of their territory. The Nine Tribes of the Bastet now number only eight, with one of their tribes apparently extinct. Another has gone into extended hiding and are believed to be extinct. They are:

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