Post by Tameh on Jan 2, 2013 15:56:39 GMT -6
The Ragabash
New Moon
Questioner of the Ways
Other Names: Daughter (Black Furies), Rotagar (Get of Fenris), The Invisible Moon (Red Talons), Leaf (Stargazers), Trickster (Uktena), Heyoka (Wendigo)
ROLE OF THE RAGABASH
Born in the shadow of an unseen moon, Ragabash, right from the start, are rebels among the Garou. Their Auspice is of a moon sign you cannot even see. In a sense, Ragabash have no role in Garou society. Or rather, they have no specific role. It is the duty of a New Moon to defy stereotypes, rebel against rigidly defined roles and to bend the rules.
Ragabash are called the “questioners of the ways” because that is what they do. They bring into question what others commonly believe to be true and undeniable, to make others rethink the values they hold dear, to put a spotlight on the laws and ways of society and say “Just what does this mean?” But the New Moons do not do this by simply asking questions (not usually, anyway). Instead, they bring values and laws and beliefs into question by defying those things. They teach by an example of what not to do. By embarrassing an Ahroun in front of his pack, he does it to help the Ahroun learn something about his own sense of pride, rather than to simply make mischief. By bending (though never actually breaking) a Litany law, he helps the others to understand why that law is important. As a Ragabash, she can get away with such behavior when any other Auspice would be smacked down for it. A good example of this is the Native American concept of the “contrary”. Among such peoples as the Oglala Lakota, a contrary was an “upside down person”, who did foolish things but by doing so brought wisdom to others. They were often thought to be touched by the gods. The Oglala term for a contrary was Heyoka, which is the word the Wendigo use for Ragabash.
Taken from Lakota legend: “When a person dreams of thunder and lightning, that person is to become a Heyoka, who does everything in reverse which causes people to laugh. Just as the lightning cleanses the earth, a Heyoka brings cleansing to restore balance to those who are depressed, sad, lonely, etc.” Despite all the rule-bending and rebellious behavior, the Ragabash usually holds those rules and beliefs dear. It is his mission to help the other Garou take another look at those beliefs and gain a deeper understanding and better appreciation of them. The fool brings wisdom through his actions. However, the other Auspices don’t always “get it”, and rarely are thankful for it. As the Apocalypse grows closer and Garou temperament grows shorter, the role of the Ragabash is less appreciated and tolerated these days. New Moons are too often seen as pests and useless jokesters today. The ‘Bashers themselves grow angry as their fellows show them no honor for doing what Gaia expects of them, but they keep at it, for what else can they do?
As contraries, Ragabash are free of expectations and can do as they wish in many situations. They can do what others do, even if they’ll never be as good. They can be great warriors, but not as good as any Ahroun. They can wander the Umbra and traffic with spirits, but will never get along as well as a Theurge. New Moons are able to be “jacks of all trades” in a manner of speaking, learning a bit of this and a touch of that. In the end, they can support their packs all the better, for they can back-up the other Auspices and even do things the others may not have bothered to learn.
Born in the darkness of the invisible moon, Ragabash are the ultimate sneaks and spies. Their spiritual gifts give them powers of trickery and illusion and travel (thus letting them break the walls down in other ways than societal). Ragabash can often be found doing duty as wilderness scouts, corporate spies, con men and more. Stealth and subterfuge come naturally to them, and it is a keen Philodox indeed that can catch a ‘Basher in a lie.
PSYCHOLOGY OF THE RAGABASH
The Nuwisha (werecoyotes) are thought of as New Moons due to their common role with the Ragabash. Both Nuwisha and Ragabash bend the laws and bring wisdom through foolery. Both are little liked for it. But where as Coyote’s Children are free to do just that, the Ragabash must also deal with the Rage that burns in their hearts. Certainly, they have less Rage than the other Auspices, but it is there, and it is a factor in everything they do. Perhaps that is why Gaia created the Nuwisha, to improve upon the emotionally-hampered Ragabash. But if that is true, it is something best left unsaid, for even the Ragabash give into frenzies....
Angry Jesters? Perhaps.
Ragabash are adept at thinking “outside the box.” In their position as rule-breakers, they instinctively look for the unthought of solution, for the answers others ignore because such answers are either too bizarre or to hard to utilize. But sometimes the best way through is under or over or sideways, not straight forward. New Moons enjoy those sorts of paths. Any idiot can barrel through the door, but subtle can be better, so why not the window or ventilation shaft?
Obviously, gamecraft is the favored type of challenge for Ragabash, but for the contraries, anything goes, and they may just as often choose a staredown or duel, if only because they haven’t done it before. Their opponents can be caught offguard by such choices, which is to the ‘Basher’s advantage. Combat may be an Ahroun’s forte, but any Garou can fight. Ragabash, as with everything they do, like to find the more novel approach to battle. “Dirty fighting” is a term often applied to Ragabash combat styles. Tripping, crotch shots, eye pokes, you name it. Many of the stodgier tribes, like the Silver Fangs and Get of Fenris, frown on such tactics, but when it’s the Ragabash, you just can’t do anything about it. New Moons are like that.
Lying is rarely a problem for New Moons. Denying the truth is just another way to make people rethink just what the truth means. It may not be honorable, but Honor is subjectable. Ragabash have a different view of Honor than Ahroun and Philodox do, which is often a cause of disputes when the Ragabash tries to help those Auspices rethink their concepts of that trait. In the modern day, Ragabash get the most respect among the Bone Gnawers and Silent Striders. The urban Garou like the Ragabash approach to life, as trickery and subterfuge are key to survival in the blights of the city. The exiled tribe of lone wolves are quite Ragabash in their way, for they are constantly seeking out secrets and exploring the two worlds, and to do so, they must be ready to get past any barrier and obstacle. Such things are rarely conquered by the direct approach. Versatility is important for any wanderer.
ROLE-PLAYING TIPS
The rule to playing a ‘Basher is to remember there are no rules. You are there to be the oddball, to be the crazy bastard that somehow makes his wacky plans work. When a puzzle presents itself to the pack, watch what the others suggest, then bring up the possibilities they haven’t thought of. When someone starts quoting the rules, counter them with questions. Be the Devil’s Advocate. Statistics-wise, anything goes. Many Ragabash tend to have high Social Attributes and Abilities. Beguiling and Persuasive, especially. Expression, Streetwise, Subterfuge, Stealth and Enigmas are often key to what the New Moon does. Beyond that, go crazy. Combat Abilities are always useful, but so can Abilities like Law, Computer, Occult and many Lores. The more a ‘Basher knows, the better she can question those things.
When it comes to Renown, it becomes clear why Ragabash have a freer point set-up. Their Renown requirements are as loose as possible. While any Renown is good, Wisdom tends to accumulate faster for the ‘Bashers.
In the end, Ragabash are hard to pin down because their purpose is to not be pinned down. New Moons do not fit neatly into a pigeonhole, and that is the point. If you are easily defined, then you cannot break molds.
New Moon
Questioner of the Ways
Other Names: Daughter (Black Furies), Rotagar (Get of Fenris), The Invisible Moon (Red Talons), Leaf (Stargazers), Trickster (Uktena), Heyoka (Wendigo)
ROLE OF THE RAGABASH
Born in the shadow of an unseen moon, Ragabash, right from the start, are rebels among the Garou. Their Auspice is of a moon sign you cannot even see. In a sense, Ragabash have no role in Garou society. Or rather, they have no specific role. It is the duty of a New Moon to defy stereotypes, rebel against rigidly defined roles and to bend the rules.
Ragabash are called the “questioners of the ways” because that is what they do. They bring into question what others commonly believe to be true and undeniable, to make others rethink the values they hold dear, to put a spotlight on the laws and ways of society and say “Just what does this mean?” But the New Moons do not do this by simply asking questions (not usually, anyway). Instead, they bring values and laws and beliefs into question by defying those things. They teach by an example of what not to do. By embarrassing an Ahroun in front of his pack, he does it to help the Ahroun learn something about his own sense of pride, rather than to simply make mischief. By bending (though never actually breaking) a Litany law, he helps the others to understand why that law is important. As a Ragabash, she can get away with such behavior when any other Auspice would be smacked down for it. A good example of this is the Native American concept of the “contrary”. Among such peoples as the Oglala Lakota, a contrary was an “upside down person”, who did foolish things but by doing so brought wisdom to others. They were often thought to be touched by the gods. The Oglala term for a contrary was Heyoka, which is the word the Wendigo use for Ragabash.
Taken from Lakota legend: “When a person dreams of thunder and lightning, that person is to become a Heyoka, who does everything in reverse which causes people to laugh. Just as the lightning cleanses the earth, a Heyoka brings cleansing to restore balance to those who are depressed, sad, lonely, etc.” Despite all the rule-bending and rebellious behavior, the Ragabash usually holds those rules and beliefs dear. It is his mission to help the other Garou take another look at those beliefs and gain a deeper understanding and better appreciation of them. The fool brings wisdom through his actions. However, the other Auspices don’t always “get it”, and rarely are thankful for it. As the Apocalypse grows closer and Garou temperament grows shorter, the role of the Ragabash is less appreciated and tolerated these days. New Moons are too often seen as pests and useless jokesters today. The ‘Bashers themselves grow angry as their fellows show them no honor for doing what Gaia expects of them, but they keep at it, for what else can they do?
As contraries, Ragabash are free of expectations and can do as they wish in many situations. They can do what others do, even if they’ll never be as good. They can be great warriors, but not as good as any Ahroun. They can wander the Umbra and traffic with spirits, but will never get along as well as a Theurge. New Moons are able to be “jacks of all trades” in a manner of speaking, learning a bit of this and a touch of that. In the end, they can support their packs all the better, for they can back-up the other Auspices and even do things the others may not have bothered to learn.
Born in the darkness of the invisible moon, Ragabash are the ultimate sneaks and spies. Their spiritual gifts give them powers of trickery and illusion and travel (thus letting them break the walls down in other ways than societal). Ragabash can often be found doing duty as wilderness scouts, corporate spies, con men and more. Stealth and subterfuge come naturally to them, and it is a keen Philodox indeed that can catch a ‘Basher in a lie.
PSYCHOLOGY OF THE RAGABASH
The Nuwisha (werecoyotes) are thought of as New Moons due to their common role with the Ragabash. Both Nuwisha and Ragabash bend the laws and bring wisdom through foolery. Both are little liked for it. But where as Coyote’s Children are free to do just that, the Ragabash must also deal with the Rage that burns in their hearts. Certainly, they have less Rage than the other Auspices, but it is there, and it is a factor in everything they do. Perhaps that is why Gaia created the Nuwisha, to improve upon the emotionally-hampered Ragabash. But if that is true, it is something best left unsaid, for even the Ragabash give into frenzies....
Angry Jesters? Perhaps.
Ragabash are adept at thinking “outside the box.” In their position as rule-breakers, they instinctively look for the unthought of solution, for the answers others ignore because such answers are either too bizarre or to hard to utilize. But sometimes the best way through is under or over or sideways, not straight forward. New Moons enjoy those sorts of paths. Any idiot can barrel through the door, but subtle can be better, so why not the window or ventilation shaft?
Obviously, gamecraft is the favored type of challenge for Ragabash, but for the contraries, anything goes, and they may just as often choose a staredown or duel, if only because they haven’t done it before. Their opponents can be caught offguard by such choices, which is to the ‘Basher’s advantage. Combat may be an Ahroun’s forte, but any Garou can fight. Ragabash, as with everything they do, like to find the more novel approach to battle. “Dirty fighting” is a term often applied to Ragabash combat styles. Tripping, crotch shots, eye pokes, you name it. Many of the stodgier tribes, like the Silver Fangs and Get of Fenris, frown on such tactics, but when it’s the Ragabash, you just can’t do anything about it. New Moons are like that.
Lying is rarely a problem for New Moons. Denying the truth is just another way to make people rethink just what the truth means. It may not be honorable, but Honor is subjectable. Ragabash have a different view of Honor than Ahroun and Philodox do, which is often a cause of disputes when the Ragabash tries to help those Auspices rethink their concepts of that trait. In the modern day, Ragabash get the most respect among the Bone Gnawers and Silent Striders. The urban Garou like the Ragabash approach to life, as trickery and subterfuge are key to survival in the blights of the city. The exiled tribe of lone wolves are quite Ragabash in their way, for they are constantly seeking out secrets and exploring the two worlds, and to do so, they must be ready to get past any barrier and obstacle. Such things are rarely conquered by the direct approach. Versatility is important for any wanderer.
ROLE-PLAYING TIPS
The rule to playing a ‘Basher is to remember there are no rules. You are there to be the oddball, to be the crazy bastard that somehow makes his wacky plans work. When a puzzle presents itself to the pack, watch what the others suggest, then bring up the possibilities they haven’t thought of. When someone starts quoting the rules, counter them with questions. Be the Devil’s Advocate. Statistics-wise, anything goes. Many Ragabash tend to have high Social Attributes and Abilities. Beguiling and Persuasive, especially. Expression, Streetwise, Subterfuge, Stealth and Enigmas are often key to what the New Moon does. Beyond that, go crazy. Combat Abilities are always useful, but so can Abilities like Law, Computer, Occult and many Lores. The more a ‘Basher knows, the better she can question those things.
When it comes to Renown, it becomes clear why Ragabash have a freer point set-up. Their Renown requirements are as loose as possible. While any Renown is good, Wisdom tends to accumulate faster for the ‘Bashers.
In the end, Ragabash are hard to pin down because their purpose is to not be pinned down. New Moons do not fit neatly into a pigeonhole, and that is the point. If you are easily defined, then you cannot break molds.
