Nuwisha

Nuwisha are were-coyotes, one of the Changing Breeds of the World of Darkness.

Overview

Endonymic symbol of the Nuwisha

The Nuwisha fill the role of "Gaia's Teachers". They are aware that Gaia's other children, particularly the Garou, are stubborn learners, and so typically trick people into learning things, rather than just directly telling them information. They were nearly rendered extinct in the War of Rage. The most well known part of their equivalent to the Garou Litany is the following: "Always Prank the Wyrm".

Breeds

There are only two known breeds of Nuwisha: Homid and Latrani. Metis do not exist, for either spiritual reasons or the fact that two were-coyotes tend not to stick together long enough to have a child.

Forms

Nuwisha forms

Nuwisha forms are analogous to those of the Garou:

• Homid - human form
• Tsitsu - near-man form
• Manabozho - the war form
• Sendeh - near-coyote form
• Latrani - coyote form

Culture

Unlike most Fera, who achieve Rank through honor and the favor of their Tribe, Nuwisha gain Renown through teaching. Instead of Honor, they have Humor - and the more humorous they prove to their deity, a form of Coyote incarnate, the more Renown they obtain.

Relationships with Others

The Nuwisha take great pride not only in teaching others, but learning a great many things themselves. To that end, they are aware and interact with most if not all of the other changing breeds. By traveling in disguise, they have learned a great many things about the various Fera of the world, gaining notoriety and enmity from most of them. This only occurs well after the Nuwisha has left the area, leaving those tricked by them either confused at the odd stranger that only asked questions or enraged that a Nuwisha got the best secrets and escaped scot-free. They are on good terms with the Gurahl and the Corax.

The Garou (with exception to the Uktena and the Wendigo) believe that the Nuwisha are extinct.

Known Nuwisha

• Chance
• Chung Kuel Star-Breaker
• Coyote Laughs-At-Luna
• Kokopelli Steals-the-Wind
• Laughing Manyskins
• Weeps-With-Joy

Gallery

Nuwisha Manabozho form, from Changing Breeds, art by Chris Bivins.

From Werewolf Players Guide, art by John Bridges.

Version Differences

First Edition

Werewolf: The Apocalypse Rulebook (1992) lists the Coyote Totem and Drums Around the Fire (1993) features the Totem in one of the stories.

The Nuwisha are fully introduced in the Werewolf Players Guide book (1993), such as their history, the trickster aspects of Coyote, Luna's disfavor, having only one auspice, leaving their caerns abandoned, the Umbral Danse, organization, habit, not being able to Rage (but can still be goaded into a frenzy by gifts or powers that cause it), Renown (Humor, Glory and Wisdom), Kin, forms (Sendeh form can mimic human sounds and the Veil prevents most creatures from acknowledging the Manabozho form: referred to as the "Trick"), special combat maneuvers (Trip, Roundabout and Throw), Gift list, Rites and a character is listed.

Form Statistics

Strength	Stamina	Dexterity	Appearance	Manipulation	Difficulty
Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +2	Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: -	Tsitu: -1	Tsitu: 7
Manabozho: +2	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: 0	Manabozho: -2	Manabozho: 6
Sendeh: +2	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: -	Sendeh: -3	Sendeh: 7
Latrani: +3	Latrani: -	Latrani: +3	Latrani: -	Latrani: -3	Latrani: 6

The GURPS Werewolf: The Apocalypse Companion book was canceled, since the Vampire version is the Players Guide, this book would have featured the Nuwisha in it if it was published.

Second Edition

Werewolf: The Apocalypse Second Edition (1994) briefly mentions the Nuwisha in the Uktena section and Who’s Who Among Werewolves: Garou Saga (1994) describes at least one Nuwisha.

The Nuwisha are mentioned in various Tribebooks, usually under the "Views" sections: Silver Fangs Tribebook (1997; in the War of Rage section), Uktena Tribebook (1998), and Wendigo Tribebook (1998).

At least one Nuwisha is featured in Rage’s Umbra Set (1995) and the book, Rage: Warriors of the Apocalypse (1996). One Nuwisha character would also be in Rage Across Las Vegas (1997-1999) by Five Rings Publishing Group. However, they were only represented as character cards one could add as support to a Garou deck, they never received enough material in either game to run an all Nuwisha themed deck.

Outcasts: A Players Guide to Pariahs (1995) discusses the Nuwisha Caern, the Dutchman's Caern, in Arizona. And the Hell-Storm novel (1996) features a Nuwisha character.

The various Breed books would also mention the Nuwisha under the "Views" sections: Bastet (1997, in The Changing Breeds – First Twilight Section), Corax (1998), Gurahl (1998), Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East (1998, the Kitsune section for Sunset People), Ratkin (1999), Mokolé (1999, seem to be Garou or cousins to the Garou to the Mokolé), Ananasi (2000), Nagah (2001) and Rokea (2001). There was also an undercurrent narrative of Old Man Manyskins disguising himself among the Changing Breeds throughout the books. While the Kitsune show interest in the Nu-Isha and "kai-otes" in Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East.

Kinfolk: Unsung Heroes (1997), has a section on their Kinfolk by Woody Blackhawk, a Nuwisha Kinfolk.

The Nuwisha Breed Book (1997) discusses; Their legends, History, an umbral realm known as Coyote's Tunnel, the Coyote Totem's aspects, breeds, Festivals, Kibas (Their term for caerns), the Trickster's Laws, Geography, Umbra, views on others, taking no special damage from silver, some Gifts that do allow them to be able to use Rage opens them up to the same weakness to silver, no Nuwisha Metis, Humor Renown, Merits, Flaws, Gift list, fetishes, Umbral Danse, Coyote's Blessing, Manabozho from incites a reduced delirium, Sendeh form being able to use mimicry, templates and notable Nuwisha. The book also has Errata for the Werewolf Players Guide, for the Teasing Mate Gift, Rite of Dansing and Sing Back the Dead Rite.

Werewolf Players Guide Second Edition (1998) lists a Gift List, Breeds, Forms, Description, Organization, Traits (No damage from silver, having no Rage, cannot Frenzy, and get no extra actions), Rites and Stereotypes.

Form Statistics

Strength	Stamina	Dexterity	Appearance	Manipulation	Difficulty
Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +2	Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: -	Tsitu: -1	Tsitu: 7
Manabozho: +2	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: 0	Manabozho: -2	Manabozho: 6
Sendeh: +2	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: -	Sendeh: -3	Sendeh: 7
Latrani: -/+0	Latrani: +3	Latrani: +3	Latrani: -	Latrani: -3	Latrani: 6

Rage Across the Heavens (1999) discusses how the Nuwisha's only interest in the Heavens is trying to regain Luna's favor, while they have no particular allies among the Star-spirits, Mitanu is amused by their antics; World of Darkness: Blood-Dimmed Tides (1999) mentions that there are stories of Manyskins spending some time as a Rokea; Book of the Weaver (1999) has a section with a Nuwisha character discussing the Weaver; Guardians of the Caerns (2000) discusses how Nuwisha run their kibas; and Croatan Song (2000) mentions the Nuwisha on the Shapeshifters section.

Werewolf: The Wild West (1997) mentions the Nuwisha under the Coyote Totem; Frontier Secrets (1997) has a section on the Nuwisha with their description, organization (Storm Dansers), traits (Cannot use Rage to gain extra actions or instantly shapeshift, can only frenzy if a gift or power is used on them, and they can soak damage and do not lose Gnosis from silver), breeds, forms (Delirium is at two levels less than the Garou for the Manabozho form, Sendeh form can use Mimicry), gifts, rites and stereotypes; The Wild West Companion (1998) has a section written from the perspective of Manyskins; Tales from the Trails: Mexico (1999) has a history section by Manyskins where he discusses a great moot where all the Changing Breeds joined to bring down Malinche and the city of Teotihuacan, then how the Nuwisha walked away from the Second Wat of Rage and how the Nuwisha have left Mexico with only a few scattered here and there.

Laws of the Wild (1997) has a section on the Nuwisha; while Laws of the Wyld West (1999) has a section that lists their forms, gifts and rites.

Revised Edition

Werewolf Storytellers Companion (2001) has a section on the Nuwisha under The Fera section, mentions their traits and lists a Nuwisha Young Infiltrator for use in games; Umbra Revised (2001) states that the Uktena occasionally invite the Nuwisha to their Tribal Homeland.

The Nuwisha are usually mentioned in the viewpoints in the Revised Tribebooks, these include: Tribebook: Black Furies (2001), Tribebook: Bone Gnawers (2001), Tribebook: Fianna (2002), Tribebook: Get of Fenris (2002), Tribebook: Glass Walkers (2002), Tribebook: Red Talons (2002), Tribebook: Shadow Lords (2002), Tribebook: Silver Fangs (2003), Tribebook: Uktena (2003) and Tribebook: Wendigo (2003).

Players Guide to the Changing Breeds (2003) lists their history, Trickster's Laws, Umbral Danse, Totems, Traits, Breeds, Forms, Gift list, rites and stereotypes. They do not use Rage, can regenerate and soak damage as werewolves, but suffer no special vulnerability to silver. They produce no Metis, Manabozho form incites reduced Delirium, observe Humor, Glory and Cunning Renown.

Form Statistics

Strength	Stamina	Dexterity	Appearance	Manipulation	Difficulty
Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +2	Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +0	Tsitu: -1	Tsitu: 7
Manabozho: +2	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: 0	Manabozho: -2	Manabozho: 6
Sendeh: +2	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: -	Sendeh: -3	Sendeh: 7
Latrani: +0	Latrani: +3	Latrani: +3	Latrani: -	Latrani: -3	Latrani: 6

Rage Across Egypt (2001) has the Nuwisha in the Ahadi section. While the Nuwisha are not native to Egypt, they do sometimes visit. The idea of the Ahadi made them laugh, as any Nuwisha who heard of it simply assumed another was behind it. Further investigation proved them wrong and they don't know whether to laugh or rejoice at this news, so they will do both; Werewolf Storytellers Handbook Revised (2002) discusses the Nuwisha in the Fera section and mentions how there are only a hundred Nuwisha on Earth at a time while the rest are in the Umbra, Possessed (2002) discusses that there has yet to be a Nuwisha that has gone under Drone Clarification thanks to their personal relationship to Coyote; Book of the City (2002) states that Nuwisha are creatures of the road and not the city; Hammer & Klaive (2003) lists Nuwisha Fetishes and discusses the culture around fetish-making with the Nuwisha; Apocalypse (2004) and Laws of Judgment (2004) discusses that Manyskins ran out of luck with the Nagah from their Breed Book and succumbs to their poisons. Upon his death, he singled out one Nuwisha as Coyote's Chosen. This chosen now has all of the knowledge on the Changing Breeds. The Last Battleground scenario has a dark fate for all of the Nuwisha as the Midnight Shadows seek them out. The Nuwisha play an important part in vexing the Weaver in the Weaver Ascendant scenario. In the Ragnarok scenario each Nuwisha follows a personal quest that ends up aiding Gaia in some way. And the Appendix features a Nuwisha character for the Weaver Ascendant scenario.

Mind Eye Theatre books include: Laws of the Wild Revised Edition (2001) has the Nuwisha in the Changing Breeds section; Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 (2000), Book of the Wyrm (2001) introduces the Bitter-Grins. Followers of Ti Malice are the most susceptible to falling to the Wyrm, but the Fallen Coyotes also follow other aspects of Coyote, such as Xochipilli. In Hengeyokai: Way of the Beast Courts (2002) the Kitsune think that the Nu-Isha are something like larger foxes.

20th Anniversary Edition

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition (2013), Changing Breeds (2013), presents their history, organization, festivals, Coyote's Rules for life, Umbral Dansers, traits, totems, breeds, forms, gift list, rites, fetishes and Stereotypes. They have no Rage, are incapable of frenzy, no weakness to silver, Manabozho form incites reduced Delirium, observe Humor, Cunning and Glory Renown. Three Nuwisha have passed through Africa and even one has undertaken the Ahadi Dawning Ritual - although that werecoyote has not yet joined a kganmadi.

Form Statistics

Strength	Stamina	Dexterity	Appearance	Manipulation
Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +2	Tsitu: +1	Tsitu: +0	Tsitu: -1
Manabozho: +2	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: +3	Manabozho: 0	Manabozho: -2
Sendeh: +2	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: +3	Sendeh: -	Sendeh: -3
Latrani: -	Latrani: +3	Latrani: +3	Latrani: -	Latrani: -3

Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds (2014), features a story with a Nuwisha; Book of the Wyrm 20th Anniversary Edition (2014) discusses the Bitter-Grins (Now known as the Nokhomi), while Ptah refuses patronage to the fallen coyotes; W20 Umbra: The Velvet Shadow (2014), discusses the realm, Coyote's Tunnel; Kinfolk: A Breed Apart (2016), discusses Nuwisha Kinfolk; and the non-canonical Shattered Dreams (2016) features the Nuwisha. The Wyld West (2014) discusses the Nuwisha in the Western Fera section.

Mind's Eye Theatre: Werewolf: The Apocalypse (2016) features the Nuwisha.

5th Edition

This is only speculation, as the Nuwisha have so far not shown up in Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition. At best, they will probably be re-named as Coyote-Shifters as the other Changing Breeds have been (Raven-Shifter and Spider-Shifter).

Trivia

• The Nuwisha were first introduced in the Werewolf Players Guide in 1993.
• The Nuwisha may be inspired by the Coyotlweres from Dungeons and Dragons' Fires of Zatal in 1991. And the Skin-walker from Navajo culture.
• In Aztec Mythology, the coyote god was Huehuecóyotl. Also known as "Very Old Coyote."
• Chumash Mythology/Folk Tales has two very different Coyote figures. Old Man Coyote (Xuxaw) is part of the Trickster stories, while Sky Coyote is a Celestial figure. Sky Coyote (Snile-mun; pronounced shneelaymune) represents part of the North Star and plays peon with the Sun. Old Man Coyote's counterpart is Old Woman Momoy (Spirit of the Datura plant).
• Navajo Mythology/Folk Tales have Ma'ii Biz-', the Coyote Star, which represents Canopus.
• The Kiowa figure Sendeh can transform into Coyote. While Manabozho comes from the Ojibwe trickster, Nanabozho. Latrani comes from the Latin name Canis latran for Coyote. Nuwisha might come from the Navajo yee naaldlooshii (See Skin-walker above).
• Coyote is often seen as a Creator figure, a Companion to a Creator figure or one part of two Creator siblings. With Creator siblings, Coyote is often paired with either Wolf or Fox. With Wolf being the Older brother to Coyote or Fox being the younger brother to Coyote. However, Silver Fox is seen as a main creator with Coyote only as his partner.
• The Pleistocene coyote or Ice Age Coyote is a sub-species of Coyote. However, there is current debate on its identity. Because it is bigger than the modern coyote, this is probably the form that the Sendeh is based on.
• Eastern Coyotes or Coywolves are a hybridization of a Coyote and a Wolf. They are usually bigger than normal coyotes and are moving into areas once populated by wolves.

References

• WTA: Werewolf Players Guide, p. 139-144
• WTA: Nuwisha
• WTWW: Frontier Secrets, p. 22-25
• WTA: Werewolf Players Guide Second Edition, p. 170-175
• WTWW/cMET: Laws of the Wyld West, p. 278-287
• WTA/cMET: Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1, p. 7-49
• WTA: Players Guide to the Changing Breeds, p. 130-137
• WTA: Changing Breeds, p. 166-176