Fetish Torc

Fetish Torcs are a type of fetish in where a spirit is bound to a torc(s).

Overview

Many Garou favor fetishes in the form of torcs, braided loops of metal (or in some cases, carved wood or braided vines) that fir around a wrist or neck. Many take the form of an amphisbaena, a mythical serpent with heads at both ends of its body (albeit the heads may be those of a wolf, boar or other animals rather than snake heads). Throughout history humans have used similar torcs as talismans and amulets with countless uses, most medical or protective. The Garou have a long history of using these for such mystical purposes, and they are also beautifully decorative objects.

They are the most common fetishes among the Fianna, particularly those from Ireland.

List of Fetish Torcs

• Fetish Torcs - Level and Gnosis Variable
• Black Furies: Cavern Torc - Level 3, Gnosis 3 - The wearer of a Cavern Torc is blessed when traveling beneath Gaia's surface and exploring her womb; cave systems become safe harbors for her. When the Caern Torc is worn, the Garou can see in pitch-blackness as well as she could on a cloudy day. In ways, she can see even father; her senses extend about twenty meters in all directions, while underground. She can sense foes hidden around the bend in a tunnel, or see through a minor cave-in. The torc even works when beneath the earth in modern structures; should a Garou wearing it penetrate the basement of a Wyrm infested skyscraper, she will benefit from its abilities there. The Cavern Torc only fails if the Gauntlet rises to 9 or above. These fetishes are created with the help of various caern spirits, such as bat-spirits, mole-spirits or earth elemental.
• Fianna: Messenger Torcs - Level 1, Gnosis 5 - Worn by emissaries, diplomats, or other Fianna messengers to other tribes during times of war. Always made from gold or other flashy, highly visible metal, messenger torcs are bound with the spirit of a young cub or other infant animal. Their heads are shaped in the form of the glyphs connoting "Travel" and "Observant." When activated, the torc sends an empathic message to any who see it, telling them not to attack the wearer of the torc. Those who wish to attack the wearer must make a Willpower roll, difficulty 7; if the torc's wearer is currently engaged in combat or otherwise posing an obvious threat, no Willpower roll is needed. This message of the torc wearer holds no actual power over those who receive it, but in all save the most bloodthirsty of wars it gives messengers a chance to safely deliver a message and leave afterwards. This is especially true of battles with other Fianna; the messenger torc is a proud tradition that few ever choose to break. However, it does work against any opponents, human, animal or otherwise. Even the servants of the Wyrm have been known to occasionally honor the very temporary truce a messenger torc suggest, although some propose this is done simply to lure other Fianna into walking into their claws.
• Fianna: Battle Torcs - Level 3, Gnosis 7 - Easily the most common fetish torcs among the Fianna. Made at least partially from hard metals (many also incorporate a softer but more beautiful second metal) and bound with a spirit of Rage, the battle torcs are particularly favored by those Fianna that are both proficient with and switch between unarmed, armed and ranged combat. Quite often they are employed in combination with weapons that can be both used hand-to-hand and thrown, allowing the wearer a strong versatility that a fetish weapon can't provide. Anyone wearing a battle torc makes any Brawl rolls, Melee rolls, or Athletics tolls to hit an opponent with a thrown object at -2 difficulty.
• Fianna: Heritage Torcs - Level 5, Gnosis 8 - Handed down along family lines among the Fianna, a practice that inevitably produces chaos and bickering given the Fianna's haphazard ancestry. (Proving who is the closest Garou descendant can be difficult in any family without high levels of Pure Breed.) They are bound with a wolf-spirit, and the heads are always shaped in the form of wolf's heads. When activated, the fetish envelops the wearer in an aura of nobility that emulates all the greatest heroes of his line. In effect, the wearer gains Pure Breed 5 while the torc is active. Though they would seem to be a tremendous boon to a young cub attempting to gain respect, this boost lasts only as long as she wears the Torc, and anyone employing such a fetish often makes a lot of enemies eager to get their hands on it. Worse, inevitably someone wearing it falls in battle to someone who steals the torc, forcing the young cub to avenge their ancestor's death to reclaim her rightful mantle.
• Fianna: Torc of Wisdom - Level 3, Gnosis 5 or Gnosis 6 - When activated, the torc increases the wearer's permanent Willpower or Gnosis (each torc is dedicated to one or the other; a level four fetish might have the power to increase either one at a time) by one point until the end of the scene. A spirit of wisdom empowers the fetish.
• Fianna: Torc of the Wolf - Level 4, Gnosis 7 - This powerful fetish typically appears as a heavy gold torc, made with nine gold braids (each made with nine gold wires), the ends capped by golden wolfheads with bared fangs. When activated, the torc allows its wearer to shift forms instantly without spending Rage for the duration of the scene.
• Childbearer's Talisman - Level 1, Gnosis 5 - This amphisbaena is made up of two actual serpentine skins sown together with the eyes replaces by red-glowing Umbral gemstones, called Meralgems. When active and worn by a pregnant Garou the fetish prevents miscarriage of almost any kind (direct attacks to the womb or attempting to give birth in the wrong form are still dangers). The Childbearer's Talisman also wards the pregnant Garou against Banes, who must pass a Willpower test at difficulty 9 to use their Charms against the wearer. To create this fetish, some form of maternal spirit must be bound into it.
• Rhino's Resilience - Level 2, Gnosis 5 - A popular fetish among the Black Furies, it is said that whoever wears a fetish of this kind is blessed with the rhino's substantial fortitude. In game terms, activating this fetish grants the character an additional point of Stamina for the purpose of withstanding physical attacks. The fetish takes the form of a bronze amphisbaena with rhino heads carved at each end of the brace, and is worn around the neck. To create a fetish of this kind, a rhino-spirit must be bound into it.
• Medicine Man's Blessing - Level 3, Gnosis 6 - Though the use of torcs is relatively recent among the Uktena and Wendigo, this fetish has become increasingly popular. Wearing this amphisbaena carved with the heads of the sept and pack totems of the creator at either end negates three health levels of non-aggravated damage from any attack based on disease or poison. It also cleanses wound made by Wyrm emanations and removes Wyrm taint delivered by attacks (though it does not heal wounds resulting from Wyrm taint if they are aggravated, only cleanses them). A river-spirit must be bound into the fetish during its creation process.
• Talisman of Endurance - Level 4, Gnosis 7 - This fetish, often made of jade or precious wood, originated in the East. By dedicating it, a Garou can tap into its mystic energies and is then able to withstand more injury than normal. In game terms, the Talisman of Resilience adds one extra health level to the character when activated. The damage is absorbed by the talisman, and released, and the Garou does not suffer from it. Luckily the fetish is not destroyed by the damage it receives, but naturally it requires more care than other fetishes due to its nature. A turtle-spirit must be bound into this fetish to create it.

References

• WTA: Fianna Tribebook, p. 50
• WTA: Litany of the Tribes Volume 2, p. F: 50
• WTA: Tribebook: Black Furies, p. 83-84
• WTA: Tribebook: Fianna, p. 78-79
• WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 147-148
• WTA: Hammer & Klaive, p. 85-86
• Rage CCG: Rage Across Las Vegas: Equinox (Torc of Wisdom)