Forgotten Lore #1

7/30/2019 Forgotten Lore #1

1/10


2/10

EditorialWelcome to Forgotten Lore, a fanzine produced for fans of the DarkerDays podcast. Each issue we aim to bring you insightful and useful

material tied into the Darker Days show that can be used in your ownchronicles. We'll be offering a mix of old and new World of Darknesscontent, so there should be something for all fans of the show.

This month we present for the New World of Darkness an article lookingat a Spirit and the poor unfortunate it has possessed. An articlediscussing Kinfolk and how they can be used in your game is offeredfor classic World of Darkness fans.

These articles have been produced by Steve Nurse (aka Verghast) andAdrian (aka Boggan_Knight). If you would like to write future articlesforForgotten Lorewe would love to hear from you. You can send yourfeedback, submissions, art work (we especially need artwork!), ideasfor future articles or anything else you would like to seeinForgotten [email protected].

Until next time,The Rogue Council

Art CreditsOn the cover:Karlequin (2007). York minster in the fog, , used under aCreative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 2.0 License.

Anghenfil article:Fernanda Suarez (2012). Breaking the habit, from Used with the kind permission of the artist. Visit her portfoliohere:http://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/

Caerns and Kinfolk:Tchokes (2012). Werewolf Kinfolk Helen, from andGet of Fenris Kinfolk Heidi, from Used with the kind permission of the artist. Visit her portfoliohere:http://tchokes.deviantart.com/

All borders were provided from Mr Gones website(http://mrgone.rocksolidshells.com/)
mailto:[email protected]://www.flickr.com/photos/karlequin/440648686/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.enhttp://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/art/Breakingthehabit-319164398?q=boost%3Apopular%20meta%3Aall%20max_age%3A8h&qo=10http://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/art/Breakingthehabit-319164398?q=boost%3Apopular%20meta%3Aall%20max_age%3A8h&qo=10http://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=helen+kinfolk#/d30vy9nhttp://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=helen+kinfolk#/d30vy9nhttp://tchokes.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4zrhtxhttp://tchokes.deviantart.com/http://mrgone.rocksolidshells.com/http://mrgone.rocksolidshells.com/http://tchokes.deviantart.com/http://tchokes.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4zrhtxhttp://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=helen+kinfolk#/d30vy9nhttp://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=helen+kinfolk#/d30vy9nhttp://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/http://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/art/Breakingthehabit-319164398?q=boost%3Apopular%20meta%3Aall%20max_age%3A8h&qo=10http://fdasuarez.deviantart.com/art/Breakingthehabit-319164398?q=boost%3Apopular%20meta%3Aall%20max_age%3A8h&qo=10http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.enhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/karlequin/440648686/mailto:[email protected]


3/10

Llygad Gwurth Anghenfil: a spirit of envy for thenew World of DarknessBecky watched as Gail sailedeffortlessly across the dancefloor. Gail moved with such graceand elegance no wonder she was theobvious choice for Prima

Ballerina. Becky wondered if shewould even get a part in theperformance at all. As shewatched Gail glide around the roomBecky felt sojealous ofGail she hadeverything she

was thin,popular andshe danced so

well. Beckywished shecould dance as

well as her.

"You could, ifI helped

you..."Anghenfilwhispered inBecky's mind

"You can?"

***

Alien andinhuman,

mercurial andhorrifyingSpirits can be

used to create memorable NPCs foryour chronicle, some can be usedas allies for your players others

however are far more malevolent.

In this months issue ofForgotten

Lorewe take look at an example of

a spirit that can be used as anantagonist for any of the World of

Darkness game lines. Createdusing the rules inThe Book ofSpiritsthis Plug and Play NPCis fully stated and ready to go.

BackgroundDrawn like a moth to a flameAnghenfil is drawn to jealousy, it

feeds on it, itcraves it.

Anghenfil is anancient andspiteful spiritborn in theShadow the firsttime a humanlooked at thetalents another

and wished theycould do thesame. It sooncrossed theGauntlet into our

world and hasplagued mankindever since.

Quietly movingamong us claimingvictim aftervictim untoldthousands havebeen consumed bythis alien,

hungry spirit.

Anghenfil Ridden are possessed bythis abstract spirit of jealousyof others talents.

First it pushes the host gently towork harder to learn their desiredtalents. All the while growing


4/10

stronger as the victims jealousy

is fanned like a flame byAnghenfil.

As it gains greater control overthe host Anghenfil pushing them

harder and harder often at theexpense of their physical and

mental health, not to mentiontheir family and friends. Itdelights in pointing out howflawed its hosts are and howamazing everyone else is. Itrevels in the isolation andobsession it creates.

Anghenfil is also a glutton it

feeds and feeds pushes and pushesuntil the victim snaps under thepressure and savagely destroys theobject of their desires. Thespirit then seeks out its next

host and the same awful processstarts again.

DescriptionAnghenfil is looks like a sootycloud of dense black smoke. As itpasses it leaves ash and glowingembers in its wake. At its hearttwo orbs of green fire spin aroundthemselves hypnotically.

Rank:3Attributes:Power 6, Finesse 9,Resistance 5

Willpower:11Essence:15Initiative: 14Defence:9Speed:15Size:2Corpus:7Influences:Jealousy 3 Obsession 3Numina:Claim, Greater Influence

(Obsession) x 3, Hallucinations

Spirit Ban:Anghenfil cannot controlthose who wear its name written in

green ink. Anyone who surroundsAnghenfil or its victims in acircle of coal dust can hold it in

place for one day.

Rebecca CartwrightBackground

Rebecca was born the only childinto a wealthy family from Surreyin the UK. Her parents whileloving were career drivenand packed her off to boardingschool at a very early age.

Rebecca was devastated she becamequiet and reclusive. She found it

hard to make friends and spentmuch of her time at school aloneand often overlooked. While she

was only an average student she

showed real promise as a dancer.Joining the school dance troupeRebecca only felt alive when shedanced; it was the only time

people ever seemed to notice her.Her teachers recommended she joina specialist performing artsschool in London. Thrilled shecould not wait to start, but shestill had one term left in her oldschool including a trip to Wales.

While there she and her classmatesvisited an old slate mine. Downthere in the cold wet minesomething old and dark woke andreturned with Rebecca. All summerit whispered to her promised hershe would be popular and havefriends if only she would let itin. Anghenfil told her how it had

helped others to get what theywanted and how its last 'friend'


5/10

Dai became the best miner in NorthWales.

Rebecca willingly gave intoAnghenfil's persuasions. Packed

off to a new school Rebeccareinvented herself as Beckybecoming more driven andcharismatic. She soon madefriends becoming the life and soulof the party and caught the eye ofthe famed ballet instructor MadameSobanovski. Impressing the tutor

with her grace and obsessivetraining and determination. Shesoon became the one of the bestdancers in the school second onlyto Gail Anderson, who Becky nowobsesses about.

DescriptionBecky is a short, attractive girlin her late teens. She has a

willowy figure that recentlypeople have noticed is almostskeletal. She has long dark hair

often done up into a tight bun.She now follows the latestfashions and rarely wears the samecloths twice.

Storyteller HintsBecky is now a Ridden. Possessedby the spirit Anghenfil this

malevolent entity is pushing her

more and more with each passingweek and the first signs of thedownward slide are becomingapparent.

Plot HooksAnyone close to one of yourplayers with connections to themortal world such as Ghouls,Allies or even their family couldbe possessed by Anghenfil. The

gradual shift in personality ofthe host could catch the players

notice giving them little to worryabout at first but soon escalatesalarmingly. The race is on tofind the cause and cure and has

an added level of horror as the

players discover Anghenfilsmalignant presence.

Rebecca could be used in anInnocents game as a slightly olderfriend or sibling for one of the

players. Rebeccas return home

from her new school for vacationhighlights the massive change inher personality. This isexplained away as Rebecca maturingby her distant parents, leavingthe players wondering why does

Rebecca now insist she be calledBecky and why does she talk toherself in that funny voice?


6/10


7/10

'We need someone who can hide us - anyone know some Kinfolk we can trust?''There is grave news, one of our Kinfolk families has been kidnapped by Black Spiral Dancers'~overheard at almost any Werewolf: the Apocalypse game

In most Werewolf: the Apocalypse chronicles,Kinfolk most often fulfil the role of helpless plothook, love interest, strategic asset (such as theBackground Contacts) or (pardon the pun)general dogsbody. Kinfolk are generallysecond class citizens, and itappears to be a rare Storytellerwho pushes their involvement tothe fore. Bringing life to Kinfolk(outside of these more functionalroles) is worth an investment oftime, but can be tricky. They areusually NPCs, although some troupesmay experiment with whole Kinfolkchronicles or even intersperse full-bloodGarou with Kinfolk for a very differenttype of chronicle. It can however, be ahard sell for the Storyteller. After all,Werewolves have access to the SpiritWorld, fetishes, are full members oftheir society and have a powerfulwar-form - all of which makesplaying a Kinfolk appear(superficially) less appealing.

Additionally, the treatment thatsome tribes mete out to their Kinfolk(Get of Fenris spring to mind) can also makeplaying a Kinfolk a less attractiveoption.Kinfolk: Unsung Heroescovers thesepoints in far more detail, and is an invaluableresource for Storytellers wanting to more deeplyinvolve the role of Kinfolk in their games.Storytellers may also like to consultGuardiansof the Caerns

for more information on Caernstructure and responsibility.

Throughout this article, we'll explore a smaller-scale Caern which needs the assistance of these'Unsung Heroes' simply to function. The Sept

of the Five Seasons features in myhome chronicle, and will be furtherrevealed (as appropriate) in futureissues of 'Transmissions'.

As the Apocalypse draws near,there are many tenets of theLitany which can be disputed.

Above all others however, isan agreement on the sanctityof the Caern. Even among

the other Changing Breeds,the integrity of a Caern is inviolate, and

no Garou or Bete would daresuggest that abandoning a

Caern is acceptable. Thechallenge for the Garou as a

dying breed is to provide morethan simple defence for these

sites. As wells of spiritual energyand direct connections to the

Umbra, these places are sacred andneed active nurturing. It is neverenough to simply maintain a Caern -

it must be cared for.But this care takes time, and requires Garoudedicated enough to live in the area and devotetime to their duties at the Caern. Whilst suchduties are worthy of Renown (see page xxofWerewolf: the Apocalypse 2nd edition), so areother actions such as combating the Wyrm and

completing Spirit Quests.


8/10

At the Sept of the Five Seasons (see sidebar)the pressure to protect and nurture the Caernhas been catalysed by tragedy. Tucked awayeight miles from the town of Cedar Rapids inthe Hanging Bog state Preserve is a relativelylow-level Caern. Tended by three packs and asmall group of single Garou, the site seemedwell-positioned to eventually grow in stature, aplan which Molly (the Fianna Sept Leader)encouraged.Recent events derailed the plans of the Septwhen a co-ordinated strike killed one entire packand decimated another. In one night sevenGarou were slaughtered, and the only witness(xx) has no recollection of any event prior to aweek before the assault. The attack hasseverely undermined any plans for the area, andwith increased rumours of Wyrm-riddenbusiness using the current Councils' businessincentive funding to establish themselves, theremaining Garou have been hard-pressed to findan advantage.

A year after the attacks, the Garou are none the

wiser as to the identity of the murderers. Overtime, it has become known (though not aswidespread knowledge) that all of the Garou ofthe Sept of the Five Seasons have a week ofmissing memory, culminating in the night of theattack. This fear that this internal weaknesscould be discovered has led to their near-isolationist policy and rejection of help fromother cities. Additionally, the local fetches havebeen silent for the last year and no new cubs

have been found in the Sept.

During this time, the few Kinfolk in the areahave been instrumental in shoring up thedefences and providing much-needed support asthe Sept seeks foremost to protect what is stilltheirs, but also avenge the fallen. Nowdecimated, the Sept realises that aware Kinfolkand Garou numbers are more than evenlymatched, and the Garou simply lack the

personnel to undertake all of the Caernactivities. The harsh reality is that some

positions within the Sept cannot be undertakenby Kinfolk (example here), but there are arange of duties which can be shouldered.

Presented here are two sample NPCs who havestepped into the breach of the war against theWyrm - and may survive yet to have theirtales sung beyond their own Sept.

Level: 2Gauntlet: 5Type: Love (Guardians of the Caerns, p.12-13).Tribal Structure: Open, with SilentStriders, Glass Walkers, Fianna, BoneGnawers, Stargazers, Silver Fangs andUktena represented. Given the lownumbers, there arent many of any Tribe

in residence for a clear majority to arise.

Sept Leader: Molly (Rank 3 HomidFianna Theurge). Molly knows that hercurrent position is extremely vulnerable,especially given the recent attacks and lackof new cubs. She is torn between acomplete isolationist policy to allow forthis internal affair to be dealt with, butis slowly being swayed by Aunty Gallileos

arguments to the contrary. The arrival ofWyrm-tained business and growinghostilities with the local Fae are seeingthis situation quickly reach a crisis point.

Totem: Dawn (Axis Mundi, p. 89-90)Physical Location: Hanging Bog, Iowa(north of Cedar Rapids)


9/10

Helen, Watchful Healer

Background: Helen became aware of herheritage from a young age. Her mother, a full-

blood Garou was killed when she was still veryyoung, leaving Helen to beraised by her father and brother.When her brother, Michael, underwenthis first change, he savagely attackedtheir father who is now wheel-chair bound. The guilt of hisactions drove him first intoHarano and then into a near-suicidal vigour to combat

the Wyrm. Helen was thelynchpin holding the familytogether, and her entry intomedical school was preci-pitated by her belief ingaining skills to benefit herfamily. When Michaeleventually slid further intodespair, he was removed fromactive duty and sent to the

Valkenburg Foundation for extendedtreatment.By that stage, Helens degree had beencompleted, although she was tetheredby duty and family to Cedar Rapids.Even as Kin, she understands that her skills areincredibly useful to the Sept, and working thelate shift means that wounded Garou and Kincan be safely and discretely treated.Recently, Helen has secured a contract

for their clinic to work with the localnursing home owned by the nationalAutumn Health corporation.However, her recent meetings withthe Director Mr Thaddeus have lefther with a distinct feeling that some-thing is wrong with the business.Having spent most of her life withwatchwords like duty and

obligation, Helen has decided that it is time totake her own path and prove her worth.

Perhaps motivated by a feeling of sham overthe actions of her brother, she firmlybelieves now that the family name needs to

be redeemed. Guided by these beliefs, Helenhas met with a small number of other

Kinfolk and has begun an off the booksinvestigation into Autumn Health and their

practices. The alliance firmly believesthey are capable of good, especiallygiven the recent tragic decline in

Garou numbers in the Sept. Theonly question, however, is how

foolhardy this need to provethemselves makes the Kinfolk and

whether they are able to getinformation back to the Sept before

something goes horribly wrong. AutumnHealth has already secured public goodwill

by funding open Family Days, andspearheading local charity activities so

convincing the public of any wrongdoing willbe a risky venture. Helen, however, is

keeping her eyes on the end goal of arrivingat the Sept with intelligence that Kin not

Garou- have uncovered and the possibleGlory of their activities.

Description: Helen is surrounded by afierce energy and seems to be in near-

constant motion; whether pacing the floor

or drumming the table with her fingers.She is a genuinely warm, and both her

home and work life have given her greatpatience welling from an honest desire tohelp people. Her reddish-brown hair is

usually tied back in a functional ponytailand most of the Sept would be familiar

with her only in her hospital garb.


10/10

Heidi, Vicarious Nomad

Background: Identified as Silent Strider Kinfolk onlyrecently, Heidi was blessed to spend time on the road with

a few of the Tribe

a combination of fortunatemeetings has proven her knack for being in the rightplace at the right time. The past year has been one offinding herself after finishing high school and decidingwhether college, a job or something else was the rightpath. The road was not exactly where she thought thatfinding herself meant the realisation that werewolvesexisted and darker forces were at play. However, Heidisnear-perfect memory has taken it all in, as she does thestories of fellow travellers. Her ability to not only tell a

good tale, but tell the right tale, has already earned her therespect of the few low-Ranking Galliards and those Garouin particular are watching her for signs of the Change.Arriving in Cedar Rapids only recently, Heidi has madethe acquaintance of Aunty Galileo, the owner/operator ofthe local Bed & Breakfast. The matronly woman, aStargazer Garou, is the local Den Mother (or would be ifany Cubs were to be discovered). Instead, Aunty Galileooffers a safe haven for the nomadic packs which passthrough and Heidi is already making herself known to

these packs as a source of information. Able to seepatterns in disparate stories, and aided by her memory, theStrider Kin has become somewhat of a human network forlocal news. Stories from other packs (and even mundanetravellers) are eagerly stored in her head, and in the quietnights at the Bed & Breakfast the facts are sifted throughher mind. Helen has only recently become aware of thenew Kinfolk in town, and is debating whether to bring herinto the Autumn Health operation. Heidi is still verywide-eyed about Garou, and Helen worries that secrecy

may be an issue.

Description: Heidi is very much an experimenter whenapproaching what she calls her look, and it can beinfluenced by present company and her mood alike.Currently, she is fond of a pair of second-hand leather boots left unclaimed at the Bed & Breakfast and along coat which has been her constant travelling companion. Beyond that, she is just at home in jeansand t-shirts as clothes most at home at a Ren Faire. She is a very good listener, and most folk find herto have a youthful, positiveness which older, more cynical Garou speculate will not last long.

Documents

Forgotten Lore #1