Totems of the CAS - Dumpshock Forums

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Dumpshock Forums > Discussion > Shadowrun

Totems of the CAS, What is a opossum totem?

Options

Gerzel View Member Profile	Mar 4 2007, 07:14 AM Post #1
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 209 Joined: 25-January 07 Member No.: 10,771	There are a few totems that I am looking for to use in my game set in the CAS. Most of them are for animals native to the area which I belive deserve their own totem. Below is a short list. Opossum Skunk Mole Groundhog Squirrel Snakes - Particularly in view of the Cherokee tradition Rattle Snake Copperhead (Probably a toxic/corrupt totem) Other snake species.. Birds - Again in view of the Cherokee tradition Whiporwhill Robin Sparrow Raven Turkey Bull Frog Crawfish I am also working on these totems myself as well as other items such as snake/man shapeshifters and other things that fit the myths of the Cherokee and other old Southern Myths. PS a source I am using for these myths is here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/cher/motc/index.htm

nezumi View Member Profile	Mar 4 2007, 01:14 PM Post #2
Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,546 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760	Isn't Raven already covered? Skunk you could just do the opposite of cat - must be smelly or suffers a +1 to spell TNs, domains of illusion (or whichever domain has 'stench', bad domain of.. combat?

Gerzel

Mar 4 2007, 02:25 PM

Post #3

Moving Target

Group: Members
Posts: 209
Joined: 25-January 07
Member No.: 10,771

QUOTE (nezumi)

Isn't Raven already covered?

Skunk you could just do the opposite of cat - must be smelly or suffers a +1 to spell TNs, domains of illusion (or whichever domain has 'stench', bad domain of.. combat?

Raven might be.

As for skunk, I don't think that being unclean fits the totem. Yes they use smell as a defense but that smell is controlled. The animal still keeps itself groomed. My working idea currently has a stench power that allows shamans of skunk to cause a temporary high background count to spray out in an area. Something that makes it difficult to concentrate and is unpleasant for awakened and non-awakened beings alike.

jrpigman

Mar 6 2007, 05:17 PM

Post #4

Target

Group: Members
Posts: 49
Joined: 9-November 06
From: Doing surgery with shotguns
Member No.: 9,810

QUOTE ( Dumpshock Archive)

SQUIRREL (or CHIPMUNK)
Environment:
FOREST

Advantages:
+4d FOREST spirits
+2d MANIPULATION spells
Character:
Squirrel shamans are always picking things up. It's not so much that they're kleptomaniacs, nor are they consciously storing things for later use. It's just a very strong urge-- Squirrel doesn't believe in "useless" things. Everything can be extended into other purposes. But not everything Squirrel does is random-- Squirrel is always thinking about the future, and what may be coming up. She is always storing things up, and taking steps to ensure that change will not take her by surprise.

Disadvantages:
Squirrel is just a bit paranoid. Also, Squirrel shamans DO have unconscious kleptomaniac tendencies in many (but not all) cases. Squirrel shamans are always fretting over something-- did they leave the lights on in the house? Should I do this or that? Is that person danger-ous? If it's not one thing, it's another. Also, Squirrel shamans tend to live in really abysmally messy homes-- they collect all this stuff and then they utterly fail to organize it in any way. Woe be to any marriage between a Mouse and a Squirrel! (It happens. A lot.)

SKUNK
Environment:
FOREST

Advantages:
+2d FOREST spirits
+2d ILLUSION and MANIPULATION spells
Character:
Skunk shamans do not believe in threatening another's life; they far prefer to threaten others' senses. They are fairly nonchalant about life most of the time, and (believe it or not) most are fairly charismatic.

Disadvantages:
Skunk shamans often use their charisma to emotionally harm others; they have a knack for knowing just what will crush you utterly. Also, they are very concerned about reputation, and about the way others think of them. This often drives them into situations that reason says would have been better avoided. They lose 1 die from Combat spells.

OPOSSUM
Environment:
FOREST

Advantages:
+2d FOREST spirits
+2d HEALTH and ILLUSION spells
Character:
Everyone knows the 'possum strategy of playing dead. This is something that Opossum shamans take very seriously-- though they can fight as well as the next totem, they will first try to make the enemy think they are out of the picture. They are into all forms of diversion and distraction, and have a good mind for tactics and strategy.

Disadvantages:
Opposum shamans tend to be a bit overdramatic, and blow things way out of proportion at every opportunity. Opposum sometimes confuses himself. Also, Opposum shamans tend to be fickle and change their minds about things all the time.

TURKEY
Environment:
FIELDS

Advantages:
+3d FIELD spirits
+3d HEALTH spells
Character:
Turkey shamans are generous-- far more than one would think possible, in some cases. Turkey shamans are always concerned about the sick, the poor, and the aged. They are very service-oriented and will go to any lengths to help and protect the down-trodden.

Disadvantages:
Turkey shamans are usually pretty poor, because they rarely hang onto many material things for themselves. In some ways, Turkey is the embodiment of everything that opposes shadowrunning....

I could keep copy/pasting these, but you might as well just check it out yourself.

X-Kalibur View Member Profile	Mar 6 2007, 05:37 PM Post #5
Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,579 Joined: 30-May 06 From: SoCal Member No.: 8,626	I would've figured the Turkey disadvantage involves making a will test to not stare up into the rain and drown :grinbig:

bclements View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 12:59 AM Post #6
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,507 Joined: 27-January 05 From: ...and I'm all out of bubblegum Member No.: 7,021	Wild Turkeys are actually pretty damn smart. It's pretty scary when you're out in a clearing in the woods (not even trying to hunt one) and one pulls a Maverick-style flyby on you.

fistandantilus4....

Mar 7 2007, 05:55 AM

Post #7

Uncle Fisty

Group: Admin
Posts: 13,891
Joined: 3-January 05
From: Next To Her
Member No.: 6,928

QUOTE (X-Kalibur)

I would've figured the Turkey disadvantage involves making a will test to not stare up into the rain and drown :grinbig:

From what I've heard it's the domesticated turkeys that are dumb as bricks. The ones that are just raised to be eaten. The wild ones are supposed to be a lot smarter.

« Next Oldest · Shadowrun · Next Newest »

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

Lo-Fi Version

Time is now: 28th April 2024 - 09:23 PM

Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.