Retribution Gifts

Lodges The Faithful p. 115
Auspice, Lodges & Tribes
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Werewolves are not at any loss for skill in battle or in ways to track down their enemy, and so a being that wrongs a werewolf (or, worse, a pack) is probably in for a savage lesson in pain. Members of the Lodge of Wrath, dedicated as they are to seeking out and punishing those who would trespass on or despoil Meninna territory, have special blessings from Shrike-Bloody-Beak to aid them in their work. Retribution Gifts only function against targets that have directly wronged or harmed the Gift’s user, her pack or the Lodge of Wrath in general. Against innocent targets or offenders that have never committed any offense to the werewolf or her people, these Gifts are useless. The player should be ready to justify the use of these Gifts against a given target, and the Storyteller is, of course, the final arbiter of whether the use is justified.

Shrike's Vengeance (•)

Shrike-Bloody-Beak teaches its followers how to strike with spirit talons, making even their Hishuform fists deadly weapons. A werewolf using this Gift can split open an opponent’s flesh with a slap and disembowel him with a solid kick — provided that he can first convince Shrike of the opponent’s guilt.

The character utters an entreaty to Shrike in the First Tongue, asking for the spirit’s blessing in punishing a given target. If the entreaty is accepted, that character inflicts lethal damage with any attack against that specific target for the rest of the scene, whether or not the attack would normally cause lethal damage. Fists, feet or blunt weapons can kill a target in the same way claws and blades would. The Gift lasts for one scene once activated, and can only be used against one opponent per scene.

Sinful Thoughts (••)

Used when someone has offended one of the Serthaha in a minor way or with a decent explanation, this Gift works to prevent a recurrence. Shrike-Bloody-Beak sends one of its flock to follow the target of the Gift, watching carefully for any intent to inflict harm upon the werewolf’s pack, trespass on his territory or otherwise repeat his crime. If he so much as considers doing so again, the tiny bird-spirit pecks at him, causing him extreme pain for a few seconds. While this spiritual attack usually doesn’t cause any damage to the target’s body, it’s normally enough to make him think twice about crossing the Lodge of Wrath again.

Sinful Thoughts requires the werewolf to stare at the target for a full turn. If the target is capable of ridding himself of the shrike-spirit, he may do so (werewolves and some mages often can, for instance, though normal mortals are usually stuck with their watchful hanger-on).

Shrike's Larder (•••)

The Serthaha believe that the soul carries pain after the body dies, and that it serves as a reminder in future lives. Therefore, they sometimes wish to stretch out the pain an offender feels so that, in future incarnations, he will instinctively know to avoid the same crimes. This Gift, named for Shrike-Bloody-Beak’s habit of impaling still-living prey on thorns for later consumption, facilitates that by forestalling the moment of death. The target may (and probably will) wish to die, but cannot until the Gift’s effects end.

Traditionally, Shrike’s Larder is used to prolong the agony of serious offenders to the Lodge of Wrath. Some Serthaha use this Gift on a given target before entering combat, allowing them the surety of at least one survivor to interrogate or leave writhing in pain as an example. Using this Gift as a method of torture requires a roll to resist degeneration if the character’s Harmony is 3 or more^[1].

Guilt's Lure (••••)

The Uratha are superlative trackers, but the myriad antiseptic scents in the modern world often make hunting down an unknown trespasser very difficult. This Gift, however, draws the offender back to the scene of the crime, allowing the werewolf and her pack to lay an ambush.

The Gift must be activated within 24 hours of the crime. The werewolf paces around the crime scene (which might where a body was found, the site of vandalism in the werewolf’s territory, etc.) and emits low growls and snarls. The target, wherever he is, feels a strong pull to return to the area. The desire to return makes sense to the target. A murderer might feel compelled to return and make sure that no one has discovered his crime, while a vandal might want to go back and do more damage.

Shrike's Feast (•••••)

Shrike-Bloody-Beak is known to impale its prey on sharp objects and eat it one piece at a time. The ultimate expression of this spirit’s vengeance is similar — the werewolf can separate the target’s soul and mind from his body, picking away at flesh, spirit and mental strength.

This Gift requires the werewolf to touch the target. Doing so in combat requires a single success on a roll of Dexterity + Brawl – target’s Defense.