Gurahl is a sourcebook for Werewolf: The Apocalypse setting. It is the fourth volume of the Changing Breeds book series and revolves around the Gurahl, ancient werebears among the changing breeds.
Summary[]
From the White Wolf Catalogue:
- Waking from centuries of slumber, the Gurahl — the werebears — rise again.
- Some aid the Garou from the shadows. Others exact vengeance on werewolves for ancient slights. Now players can become these gentle and ferocious, strong and unyielding creatures. Gurahl allows you to create a werebear character of your own — and to join in the final struggle against the forces of Apocalypse.
- But are the Gurahl too late?
From the Back Cover:
- We sing.
- Heads thrown back, our throats bared.
- Muzzles pointing to the sky.
- Awaken, our kin! Return once more from
- Gaia's stony embrace.
- Sleep no more, for it is time.
- Young ones hunger for your wisdom;
- Come, sing with us the ancient songs.
- We dance.
- Arms thrust outward, heads lowered.
- Shame rides us like a crippled child.
- Hear us! Watch our stumbling steps
- across the Mother's body.
- Sleep no more for it is time.
- Bear kin fall to annihilation's ax;
- Come, dance with us the ancient steps.
- The stars that form the Mother and cub
- watch in their radiance, remote, waiting.
- Mangi bides in darkness and silence,
- judgment held suspended.
- The young clamor to know who they are.
- Have we have slept too long?
- May Gaia grant it is not so.
- Arise!
- - "Grandfather's Call," song of the Gurahl
- Gurahl includes:
- The tale of the world as given by the gentlest Changing Breed
- The society of the Gurahl, including details on their four tribes and worldwide distribution
- Complete rules for running Gurahl: Gifts, rites, fetishes, forms, totems, sample characters and more
Contents[]
Trial & Error[]
Comic by Steve Prescott.
Introduction: The Journey of Ursa Minor[]
An introduction into the themes of the book.
- Selected Bibliography
- Books
- Bears: Behavior, Ecology, Conservation, by Edwin A. Bauer
- Polar Bears: Living with the White Bear, by Nikita Ovsyanikov
- River of Bears, by Tom Walker
- Black Bear: Seasons in the Wild, by Tom Anderson
- Grizzly Bears, by Gary Turbak
- Grizzly Reflections and Black Bear Reflections, both by Ken L. Jenkins
- Giving Voice to Bear: North American Indian Myths, Rituals, and Images of the Bear, by David Rockwell
- Great Bear Adventures: True Tales from the West
- Mark of the Bear: Legend and Lore of an American Icon, edited by Paul Schullery
- Polar Dance: Born of the North Wind, by Thomas D. Mangelsen and Fred Bruemmer
- The Sacred Paw: The Bear in Nature, Myth, and Literature, by Paul Shepard and Barry Sanders
- Shardik, by Richard Adams
- Films
- The Bear
- Alaska
- Books
Chapter One: The Dance of Centuries[]
The history of the world through the lens of the Gurahl, from the First Times of Gaia through the War of Rage into the 1990s.
Chapter Two: Painted Faces[]
The social divisions among the Gurahl, including their tribes, auspices and breeding habits.
Chapter Three: Song of Making[]
Advice on how to create a Gurahl character.
- Natures and Demeanors
- New Archetype
- Teacher
- New Archetype
- Abilities
- Talent
- New Talent: Biorhythms
- Skills
- New Skill: Fishing
- Knowledges
- New Knowledge: Ecology
- Talent
- Backgrounds
- Kinfolk
- Mentor
- New Background: Umbral Glade
- Forbidden Background: Resources
- Merits and Flaws
- Early Maturation (3 point Merit)
- Garou Companion (3 point Merit)
- Rip Van Winkle (3-6 point Merit)
- Umbral Affinity (3 point Merit)
- Dancing Fool (1 point Flaw)
- Attracted to Humans (2 point Flaw)
- Clawless (3 point Flaw)
- Abandoned Cub (4 point Flaw)
- Gifts
- Breed Gifts
- Homid
- Persuasion - Level One
- Ursa's Light - Level One
- Climate Control - Level Two
- Dolorous Countenance - Level Two
- Shape Matter - Level Three
- Sense Need - Level Three
- Ursa's Coat - Level Four
- Spirit Shield - Level Four
- Fearless Unveiling - Level Five
- Charismatic Presence - Level Five
- Ursine
- Heightened Senses - Level One
- Voice of Woe - Level One
- Burrow - Level Two
- Weather Watch - Level Two
- Pull of the Chosen Land - Level Three
- Shelter of the Earth - Level Three
- Gnaw - Level Four
- Sweet Swarm of Vengeance - Level Four
- Bear's Bounty - Level Five
- Call the Cave Bear - Level Five
- Homid
- Auspice Gifts
- Arcas
- Open Seal - Level One
- Walk Like a Man - Level One
- Cajole - Level Two
- Sense of the Prey - Level Two
- Safe Passage - Level Three
- Trackless Waste - Level Three
- Favor of Ursa Minor - Level Four
- Rejuvenate - Level Four
- Humiliate - Level Five
- Natural State - Level Five
- Uzmati
- Slash of the Death Bear - Level One
- Ultimatum - Level One
- Mangi's Strong Arms - Level Two
- Threaten - Level Two
- Crush - Level Three
- Silver Claws - Level Three
- Delay the Death Bear's Coming - Level Four
- Strength of the Earth - Level Four
- Engulf the Prey - Level Five
- Rage of the Mother Bear - Level Five
- Kojubat
- Beast Speech - Level One
- Stonesight - Level One
- Eyes of the Soul - Level Two
- Song of Terra - Level Two
- Mind Sight - Level Three
- Mind to Mind - Level Three
- Shadows by the Fire Light - Level Four
- Probe Thoughts - Level Four
- Aversion Therapy - Level Five
- Prophetic Vision - Level Five
- Kieh
- Diagnose - Level One
- Spirit Speech - Level One
- Refresh - Level Two
- Sense the Unnatural - Level Two
- Exorcism - Level Three
- Name the Spirit - Level Three
- Spirit Healing - Level Four
- Spirit Shape - Level Four
- Restore Sanity - Level Five
- Image of the Sky Bear - Level Five
- Rishi
- Befriend - Level One
- Truth of Gaia - Level One
- Compel Truth - Level Two
- Presence of the Great Bear - Level Two
- Ways of the Tapestry - Level Three
- Waken - Level Three
- Bestow Ursa's Blessing - Level Four
- Quell Mob Rage - Level Four
- Oath of the Great Bear - Level Five
- Words of Doom - Level Five
- Arcas
- Gurahl Gifts
- Fiddlefish - Level One
- Healing Tongue - Level One
- Ignore Wounds - Level One
- Sense Pattern Breaker - Level One
- Sentinel's Warning - Level One
- Nature's Plenty - Level One
- Ursa's Cleansing - Level One
- Calm - Level Two
- Grisly Aspect - Level Two
- Treeshake - Level Two
- Survival of the Bear - Level Three
- Dreams of the Buri-Jaan - Level Three
- Ease the Fevered Mind - Level Three
- Masking the Hunted - Level Four
- Gaia's Breath - Level Five
- Great Grandfather's Summons - Level Six
- Breed Gifts
- Rites
- Rites of Greeting and Leave-taking - Level One
- Rite of Rending the Gauntlet - Level One
- Rite of the Changing Moon - Level Two
- Rite of the Healing Winds - Level Two
- Rite of the River-Portent - Level Two
- Rite of True Mating - Level Two
- Rite of the Finding the Ancient Cache - Level Three
- Rite of the Pure Land - Level Three
- Rite of the Ban - Level Four
- Rite of the Freed Spirit - Level Four
- Rite of the Long Sleep - Level Five
- Rite of Fighting the Death Bear - Level Five
- Fetishes
- Talen
- Ursa's Healing Balm - Level 3, Gnosis 3
- Fetishes
- Claws of the Cave Bear - Level 3, Gnosis 4
- Mother Tongues - Level 3, Gnosis 5
- Soul Brush - Level 4, Gnosis 5
- Net of Stars - Level 5, Gnosis 5
- Talen
Appendix One: Children of the Bear[]
Prominent characters from Gurahl lore.
- Templates:
- Veterinarian - Homid Forest Walker Kieh
- Kindergarten Teacher - Ursine Mountain Guardian Arcas
- Wilderness Avenger - Homid River Keeper Uzmati
- Primitive Artist - Ursine Ice Stalker Arcas
Appendix Two: Stories for the Telling[]
Advice on how to run a chronicle focused on the Gurahl.
Background Information[]
The ad at the back of the book is for Deluxe Slipcased Guide Set (February 1999), Guide to the Camarilla (February 1999) and Guide to the Sabbat (March 1999).
Memorable Quotes[]
Characters[]
- Amos - Gurahl, Comic, Wyrmbeast, Died
- Tessa Speaks-The-Truth - Gurahl, Comic, Died
- Michael - Gurahl, Comic
- Mr. Parker - Human, Biology Teacher
- Rip Van Winkle - Gurahl
- Rendon Sheatheclaw - River Keeper, Gurahl
- Silverhair - Past Garou
- Shoshona Medicine-Bear - Gurahl
- Tanya Trains-Her-Cubs-Right - Gurahl
- Jeremy Nimble-talon
- Blackberry Ferraday - Kojubat Gurahl
- Uncle Ironjaw - Gurahl
- Kari Woodsinger - Rishi Gurahl, River Keeper
- Sedna Stalks-the-Glacier - Kojubat Gurahl, Ice Stalker
- Slowfoot Groundshaker - Kieh Gurahl, Mountain Guardian
- Yuliya Finds-the-Way - Gurahl, River Keeper
- Chewanna First-Mother - Gurahl
- Goloyé Seeks-After-Death - Gurahl
- Mabel Wears-Her-New-Coat-Hunting - Gurahl
- Jessamy Juniper-Eater - Gurahl
- Sarah Childslayer - Gurahl Umfalla
- Elisha - Mad Vampire prophet
- Peter Fire-Under-His-Ass - Gurahl
- Jacob Treeshaker - Gurahl
- Sadie Kate Fourclaws - Gurahl
- Kuruk Songmaker - Gurahl lorekeeper
- Leaping Bear - Hezekiah's Buri-Jaan, Gurahl
- Aaron - Human Died, Past
- Dogface Vinton - Human, Vinton Gang, Died, Past
- Marta - Ursula's Buri-Jaan, Gurahl
- Olaf Peders - Kirima's Buri-Jaan, Gurahl
- Grrsha - Snarl Tooth Tangle Fur's Mother, Gurahl
- Grisl - Orphea's Buri-Jaan, Gurahl, River Keeper
- Demetrios - Gurahl, Orphea's pupil
- Bears of Note
- The Most Ancient of Bears , a legendary Gurahl rumored to be the oldest one in existence
- Arturus, the Bear-King
- Kirima Skye
- Snarl Tooth Tangle Fur
- Orphea Lightwalker
- Ursula Berensen, former partisan fighter in Poland during World War II
- Hezekiah Blake, surviving hero from the Savage West
Terminology[]
Auspice: Arcas, Kieh, Kojubat, Rishi, Uzmati; Bhernocht, Breed: Homid, Ursine; Buri-Jaan, Code of Ursa, Creation Dance, Council of Autumn, Dance of Centuries, The Elders of Winter, Fests, Forms: Arthern, Bjornen, Crinos, Homid, Ursus; Gallivant, Gangrel, Geth-Rura, Great Council Ring, Hibernation, Honor, Okuma, Olio (Forest Walkers: Storytelling), Pattern Breaker, Powwow, Rar-Azgai, Regalia, Renown: Kovi, Matae, Sorna, Talchwi, Verden; Storm Eater, Succor, Tapestry Maker, Totem (Faces of the Bear): Mangi, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor; Tribes: Forest Walkers, Ice Stalkers, Mountain Guardians, River Keepers; Umbral Glade, Umfalla, Ursa's Tooth (Comic), War of Rage, War of Shame, Wisdom, Wyrm Frenzy, Yarn Spinner,
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