Post by Iota on Apr 24, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
Answer:
Most shapeshifters are not created. They are born as what they are. Being bitten by one, while almost guaranteed to be a horrible injury, will not turn a person into a were-creature. The Ratkin and the Corax are the only exceptions to the 'born as' rule - Ratkin are created from Ratkin kinfolk by a bite-transmitted disease called The Birthing Plague, while Corax are chosen from Corax kinfolk, and their soul is bound to a Spirit Egg.
Any shapeshifter with Rage is subject to The Curse. The greater their Rage, the worse humanity reacts to them, regardless of what they are doing or the form that they're in. Average humans find the presence of most shapeshifters uncomfortable at the minimum, a sensation that each interprets differently. They may believe they are actually intimidated by the shapeshifter's race or percieved social standing, or that they are facing an aggressive wild animal. They may believe the shapeshifter is some sort of more human predator-a pedophile, a rapist, a mugger, a serial killer. They subconsciously or consciously avoid shapeshifters, giving them a wide berth when they pass them on the street, and so on.
Humans who are not touched by the supernatural in some way who witness a shapeshifter in their war form (and some in other forms as well) are subject to The Delirium. This is the ancestral memory dating back to the Impergium, when the shapeshifters herded and hunted humans. The stronger a human's will, the easier it is for her mind to override her instincts to deal with the sight of the Garou or Fera. The overwhelming majority, however, do not have such an advantage, to the point that most ultimately forget everything they saw. The following is a chart of the common reactions. The percentage is the percent of the human population that exhibits that particular reaction.
Catatonic Fear (10%) - The sight of the shapeshifter causes the unfortunate soul to collapse into a ball and whimper. (Forget: Yes)
Panic (20%) - The human runs in terror, getting as far from the monster as he can, screaming and paying little attention to his surroundings. (Forget: Yes)
Disbelief (18%) - The person refuses to accept what she sees, likely trying to retreat to a safe spot to stare at the 'hallucination' until it passes. (Forget: Yes)
Berserk (15%) - The human takes some sort of aggressive action - firing a gun (though they don't have the presence of mind to reload), throwing things or attacking the creature with his bare hands. (Forget: Yes)
Terror (13%) - Like Panic, but more reasonable. The person will flee, but will think to lock doors, get into a vehicle, that sort of thing. (Forget: Yes)
Conciliatory (10%) - The human tries to bargain or plead with the shapeshifter, doing whatever she can to avoid getting hurt. (Forget: Yes)
Controlled Fear (7%) - Although terrified, the human doesn't panic. He will flee or fight as appropriate, but maintains control of his actions.(Forget: No, but will rationalize what they saw)
Curiosity (5%) - This is one of the most dangerous reactions, from the Garou perspective. The human remembers what she saw, and might investigate further. Though she is afraid, she's also curious about what she saw. (Forget: No, but will rationalize what they saw)
Bloodlust (1.5%) - Somewhere in the back of the humans mind, he's decided that enough is enough, and he's not going to take the shapeshifters' crap any more. He's afraid, but he's angrier than he is scared, and he will remember the shapeshifter and try to hunt it down. (Forget: No)
No Reaction/Blase (0.5%) - Not even kinfolk are this calm about seeing a crinos garou. The human is not even the slightest bit afraid or bothered by the shapeshifter's presence. (Forget: No)
Most shapeshifters are not created. They are born as what they are. Being bitten by one, while almost guaranteed to be a horrible injury, will not turn a person into a were-creature. The Ratkin and the Corax are the only exceptions to the 'born as' rule - Ratkin are created from Ratkin kinfolk by a bite-transmitted disease called The Birthing Plague, while Corax are chosen from Corax kinfolk, and their soul is bound to a Spirit Egg.
Any shapeshifter with Rage is subject to The Curse. The greater their Rage, the worse humanity reacts to them, regardless of what they are doing or the form that they're in. Average humans find the presence of most shapeshifters uncomfortable at the minimum, a sensation that each interprets differently. They may believe they are actually intimidated by the shapeshifter's race or percieved social standing, or that they are facing an aggressive wild animal. They may believe the shapeshifter is some sort of more human predator-a pedophile, a rapist, a mugger, a serial killer. They subconsciously or consciously avoid shapeshifters, giving them a wide berth when they pass them on the street, and so on.
Humans who are not touched by the supernatural in some way who witness a shapeshifter in their war form (and some in other forms as well) are subject to The Delirium. This is the ancestral memory dating back to the Impergium, when the shapeshifters herded and hunted humans. The stronger a human's will, the easier it is for her mind to override her instincts to deal with the sight of the Garou or Fera. The overwhelming majority, however, do not have such an advantage, to the point that most ultimately forget everything they saw. The following is a chart of the common reactions. The percentage is the percent of the human population that exhibits that particular reaction.
Catatonic Fear (10%) - The sight of the shapeshifter causes the unfortunate soul to collapse into a ball and whimper. (Forget: Yes)
Panic (20%) - The human runs in terror, getting as far from the monster as he can, screaming and paying little attention to his surroundings. (Forget: Yes)
Disbelief (18%) - The person refuses to accept what she sees, likely trying to retreat to a safe spot to stare at the 'hallucination' until it passes. (Forget: Yes)
Berserk (15%) - The human takes some sort of aggressive action - firing a gun (though they don't have the presence of mind to reload), throwing things or attacking the creature with his bare hands. (Forget: Yes)
Terror (13%) - Like Panic, but more reasonable. The person will flee, but will think to lock doors, get into a vehicle, that sort of thing. (Forget: Yes)
Conciliatory (10%) - The human tries to bargain or plead with the shapeshifter, doing whatever she can to avoid getting hurt. (Forget: Yes)
Controlled Fear (7%) - Although terrified, the human doesn't panic. He will flee or fight as appropriate, but maintains control of his actions.(Forget: No, but will rationalize what they saw)
Curiosity (5%) - This is one of the most dangerous reactions, from the Garou perspective. The human remembers what she saw, and might investigate further. Though she is afraid, she's also curious about what she saw. (Forget: No, but will rationalize what they saw)
Bloodlust (1.5%) - Somewhere in the back of the humans mind, he's decided that enough is enough, and he's not going to take the shapeshifters' crap any more. He's afraid, but he's angrier than he is scared, and he will remember the shapeshifter and try to hunt it down. (Forget: No)
No Reaction/Blase (0.5%) - Not even kinfolk are this calm about seeing a crinos garou. The human is not even the slightest bit afraid or bothered by the shapeshifter's presence. (Forget: No)
