Uktena (WTF)
The Uktena is a creature from the investigation section from the Ithaeur chapter in Signs of the Moon.
Background
According to legends passed down by Bone Shadows native to the region, the Uktena was once a powerful river-spirit until it was bound into a fetish-crystal by the Cherokee medicine man Âgän-uni'tsï. Whether Âgän-uni'tsï was an Ithaeur himself, a human magician, or something altogether stranger has been lost to the ages, but what is known is that the Ulûñsû'tï passed out of the tribe's hands several centuries ago and was believed lost.
Perhaps it was something to do with the long period bound in the Ulûñsû'tï, or perhaps the weekly sacrifice of blood created a fundamental shift in its nature, but the Uktena that emerged from the Ulûñsû'tï after the Redbirds were killed is fully a being of flesh and blood, not just a manifested spirit.
The Uktena lair is in a stagnant pool by a bend in the river. Even though it's only a few days old, the creature has grown to nearly 20 feet in length and is as big around as a trash can lid. A set of branching antler-like horns protrude from its head, and nested between its eyes is a glowing white diamond identical to the Ulûñsû'tï from that the creature "hatched"
Stats
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 4, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 7, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 4, Manipulation 0, Stamina 2
Mental Skills: (As a creature of animal intelligence, the Uktena has no dots in Mental Skills.)
Physical Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Grappling) 4, Stealth 3, Survival (Hunting) 3
Social Skills: Animal Ken 5 (Snakes), Intimidation 3
Merits: Fast Reflexes 2, Fleet of Foot 3, Iron Stamina 3
Willpower: 5
Health: 8
Initiative: 7
Defense: 4
Speed: 15
Weapons/Attacks: Type: Constrict, Damage: 3 (B), Range: -, Dice Pool: 15, Special: See Grappling, WOD p. 157; Type: Bite, Damage: 1 (L), Range: -, Dice Pool: 12, Special: -
- Aspects:
- Constricting: The Uktena can use its powerful coils to crush a grappled target, squeezing the air from his lungs. As an overpowering maneuver (see Grappling, World of Darkness p. 157), the Uktena forces the target to make a reflexive Stamina roll or pass out from lack of oxygen. Each subsequent use of this maneuver incurs a -1 penalty. If the target breaks free of the Uktena's grip, this penalty is reset to zero.
- Indestructible: The Uktena can only be slain by piercing the diamond that protrudes from its skull. Targeting the diamond requires an attack toll at a -3 penalty, but inflicts normal damage for the attack. Any other attack inflicts only a single point of bashing damage, regardless of the attack's normal damage type or the number of successes on the roll. Attacks that inflict aggravated damaged bypass this invulnerability and inflict a number of points of damage equal to the successes rolled, but all damage is downgraded to lethal.
The Greed of Men's Hearts: The diamond that is the Uktena's only weak point is also the source of its greatest power. The mere sight of the gem is enough to drive men mad with desire to possess it, even to the point of turning brother against brother. The first tie a character looks directly at the diamond, the player rolls Composure + Primal Urge (characters with the Vice of Greed suffer a -2 penalty). Failure means the character has become obsessed with the jewel, even to the point of attacking his packmates if he thinks they will try to take the jewel from him. Each day the character remains in the presence of the diamond, the player may make another roll to shake off the effects. Outside of the diamond's presence, the obsession fades after a day. Once a character had resisted the lure, he cannot be affected again for one full year.
References
- WTF: Signs of the Moon, p. 61-62
