Balam-Colop

Balam-Colop are a race of shapeshifting humanoid jaguars found in the Blasphemies book.

Overview

In ancient Mayan, Balam-Colop is roughly translated as "Tribe of the Jaguar." These monstrous creatures may be the foundation of the jaguar-monsters of Mesoamerican myth and art. Legend has it that they are born as the result of a curse levied upon a line of jaguars that once participated in human sacrifices. (The Aztecs, for one, were known for sometimes feeding the hearts of their victims to captive jaguars.) Certainly, thus race's existence legend predates the Aztecs by centuries, perhaps beyond even the Olmec's worship of Tezcatlipoca, the jaguar god of prophecy, evil and Lord of the Smoking Mirror. Should a pregnant jaguar of this line kill a human, her actions damn her young to an existence as Balam-Colop. As soon as the young mature, their supernatural nature takes over and they grow larger, more violent, more intelligent and develop a taste for human meat. When they die, Balam-Colop revert to their jaguar forms.

Balam-Colop have near-human intelligence, and can roughly mimic human cries and sounds in their humanoid form - they seem to have a talent for picking up names. They often use this ability to lure their prey within striking distance. They have no real Gift of language or tool use. They normally live their lives as jaguars deep in the wilderness, periodically preying upon humans. Balam-Colop require human hearts to power their regenerative abilities, and they have a natural taste for human flesh.

Like most jaguars, they are solitary creatures, though paragons of their breed in feline form - ensuring they pass on the tainted bloodline. Their natural tendency towards self-preservation is normally only overridden due to the influence of other supernaturals, of if they find themselves severely injured and need human hearts to heal.

Balam-Colop have a unique ability to sense an ambush and have a preternatural ability to spot Uratha, no matter what their form. Balam-Colop have a unique hatred of werewolves - most of the time Balam-Colop avoid Uratha, but have been known to attack lone Uratha. The opportunity for a werewolf hunt is one of the few times Balam-Colop gather in groups. Perhaps this ability was gifted to them as part of their creation. Maybe they were used to hunt down the Uratha at one time, and now they have further developed this ability as a defense against the Uratha who see the Balam-Colop as an abomination.

For some reason, Balam-Colop cannot abide their own reflections when in their humanoid forms and will go out of their way to avoid mirrors of all kinds. When drinking in a still pond, they almost always shift into their leopard form. It is strange that they can be shaken from murderous glee to tears with a glance at their own form.

Description

In much the same way that werewolves are monstrous humanoid wolves, the Balam-Colop combine a jaguar's claw, fangs and skin. But, like the Olmec effigies, their human proportions are like those of a child. Their heads and eyes are overly large for their frames and their features seem almost chubby - making their appearance all that more disturbing. These proportions do little to hinder their movement as their fat obviously conceals stout muscle. Balam-Colop are incredibly fierce and nimble predators.

Balam-Colop have exceptionally sharp hearing and keen night vision, plus well-developed sense of taste and smell.

Stats

Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3, Strength 6, Dexterity 5, Stamina 5, Presence 3, Manipulation 1, Composure 3
Skills: Athletics (Jumping) 4, Brawl 2, Stealth (Jungles) 4, Survival (Jungle) 3, Animal Ken (Cats) 2
Merits: Danger Sense, Unseen Sense (Uratha), Fast Reflexes (**)
Willpower: 5
Morality: N/A
Initiative: 10
Defense: 4
Armor: 2/1 (supernatural hide)
Speed: 16 (species factor 7)
Size: 7
Weapons/Attacks:
Health: 12
Jaguar Form: Balam-Colop can shapeshift into jaguar form as a standard action. In this form a Balam-Colop loses its armor, and two points of Strength, Size and Health. They gain +4 Speed (after the modifiers for losing Strength). Balam-Colop may stay in either form for as long as they wish.
Regeneration: Balam-Colop that have fed on a human heart within the past 24 hours may regenerate one point of damage per turn. Balam-Colop always regenerate bashing damage first, then lethal. Aggravated damage cannot be regenerated in this fashion.
Children of the Smoking Mirror: Tezcatlipoca's obsidian mirror revealed the future and his children have inherited some of its power. They have an innate ability to sense danger (Danger Sense) and supernatural insight into the actions of their foes in combat, reducing their prey's Defense by 2. They also don't suffer from the negative effects of fighting more than one foe at a time - a Balam-Colop's Defense is never lowered for fighting multiple opponents. Balam-Colop instinctively seem to know who will attack and when.
Breath of the Jungle: As an instant action, these creatures can generate dense tendrils of jungle mist that quickly extend about 10 yards in all directions. This gives them partial concealment (-2) from their foes. Balam-Colop are not affected by this mist - their foes gain no concealment from their attacks. The clouds of mist last for five minutes, but do not follow the creatures as they move. Balam-Colop may use this ability several times to encircle their prey in a ring of mist.
Obsidian: Obsidian causes aggravated damage to Balam-Colop, leaving black, smoking wounds.

References

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