A totem is a potent spirit that lends its power to a group of mystically inclined individuals (usually Garou or other fera) in exchange for some token service or tribute.
(The equivalents of totems in 5th edition are Patron Spirits.)
Overview[]
Among the Garou and most other Changing Breeds, the totem is one of the fundamental binding aspects of the pack. Additionally, each of the tribes of the Garou has its own distinct tribal totem, as do many of the individual Changing Breeds.
Not all of those who have totems are shapechangers. A group of kuei-jin (a wu) is often bound by a totem called a nushi. As well, a number of supernaturals bind totems to individuals instead of groups, among them the Bastet, the Nunnehi changelings, and many Dreamspeakers and shamanistic sorcerers.
In general, only Incarnae can acts as totems. Jagglings are too weak and Celestines need to create Incarnae as avatars for the simple act of communication with any petitioner.
Personal Totems[]
Some werewolves seek out a personal totem, pledging themselves to service of their totem above all others. This is certainly possible, though not common among the Garou — to take a personal totem indicates that a werewolf values his relationship with the spirit as greater than the relationship he could get with a pack. Taking a personal totem has downsides. If the character joins another pack, he doesn’t get any benefits of that pack’s totem unless he relinquishes his connection to his personal totem. Until then, he’s never really part of the pack in a way that the other members are: any Gifts or rites that affect the pack do not include the character, and he cannot be a part of any pack tactics.
Known Totems[]
Totems are divided into aspects. It is not known how Nushi, the Totems of the Nunnehi and other entities that can act as patrons are classified. Some Incarnae, like Raven, Coyote and Sphinx, have multiple aspects that act as separate Totems.
Aspect Unknown[]
- Angler[1]
- Beaver[2]
- Bird of Paradise[3]
- Bonyscrap[4]
- Caribou[5]
- Chung Kuel[6]
- Citlacoatl, the Feathered Serpent King[7]
- Crab[8]
- Dog[9]
- Goose
- The Grandfather
- Hakahe[10]
- Hatii the Thunderer
- Hurricane
- Ika-Ika the Monkey King
- Jupiter[11]
- King-of-Beasts
- King of Cats
- Kishijoten
- Kokopelli and Pan
- The Last Ones[12]
- Loki
- Loon
- Manta Ray
- Mantis
- Mistress of Catkind
- Mongoose[13]
- Moose
- Moray
- Oghma
- Old Snapjaw
- Opossum
- Ox
- Polar Bear[14]
- Porcupine
- Prince Inari
- Ptah
- Rabbit
- Red - Cockaded Woodpecker
- Reindeer[15]
- Salamander
- Singing Dog[16]
- The Smiling Happy Buddha
- Sturgeon
- Tanawha
- Ti Malice
- Tiger
- Tin Hau
- Tzinzie
- Whispers
- Xochipilli
- Zarok[17]
Corruption[]
Totems of Corruption are always Wyrm-aligned.
- The Dark Fungus, "His Mycological Majesty"
- G'louogh, "The Dance of Corruption"
- Relshab, "The Faceless Eater"
- Qyrl (as totem)
Cunning[]
Totems of Cunning can be Gaian or Wyrm-aligned.
- Butterfly[18]
- Coatimundi
- Crow (also exists as a Totem of War)[19]
- Cuckoo
- Fox
- Genbu, the Black Tortoise
- Goat
- Gull
- Hawk
- Hidden Glade[20]
- Horseshoe Crab[21]
- Hyena
- Kelpie[22]
- Kirijama, "The Hidden Foe" (Bane)
- Machine Messiah
- Mitanu[23]
- Moodai the Possum
- Ngadu-dagali, the Brolga (Bane)
- Raccoon
- Roadrunner
- Sphinx (other Aspects include War, Wisdom and Respect)
- Tammany Hall
- Termite
- Tezcatlipoca (WTA)
- Tick
- Tulu, the Kookaburra
- Whippoorwhill
Dreamspeakers and Sorcerers[]
Menehune[]
Nunnehi[]
- Birch
- Cottonwood
- Dogwood
- Fir
- Fireweed
- Granite
- Ice
- Magnolia
- Maize (Corn)
- Saguaro Cactus
- Sandstone
- Tobacco
- Whitewater
- Willow
Others[]
- Elephant (Glory)
- Feng-Huang, Emperor of Birds (Jade Sentai Unique Totem)
- Kanau the Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Lost Totem)
- Mu-ru-bul Tu-ru-dun the Bunyip (Lost Totem)
- Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent (Lost Totem)
Respect[]
Totems of Respect are always Gaian aligned.
- American Dream[24]
- Bison[25]
- Chhi-Lin[26]
- Digital Eye
- Dragon[27]
- Elk[28]
- Falcon
- Father Mule
- Father Peyote
- Finch[29]
- Frog (also exists as a Totem of Wisdom)
- Glooscap
- Grandfather Thunder
- Harpy Eagle
- Horse
- Hyperion[30]
- Lion
- Mammoth
- Mir-Herta
- Mokihani
- The Muses
- North Star
- Old Wolf of the Woods
- Osprey
- Pegasus
- Phoenix (Unique Totem Only Silver Pack)
- Quetzal
- Sable
- Scarab[31]
- Snake Doctor[32]
- Snow Queen
- Sodals
- Sokhta / Phoebe[33]
- Sphinx (also exists as a Totem of Wisdom and Cunning)
- Stag
- Stourbridge Lion
- Sulis
- Suzaku, the Red Bird
- Tambiyah[34]
- Thunderbird
- Turtle
- Volcano
- Wild Turkey
Strength[]
Totems of Strength are Wyrm-aligned (with one questionable exception). Most consist of fallen Gaian spirits that were turned or sold themselves to the Wyrm.
- Bat (corrupted, formerly Wisdom)[35]
- Green Dragon (corrupted, formerly War)
- Hakaken, "The Heart of Fear"
- Kendi, the Frill-Necked Lizard (Bane)
- Minotaur
War[]
Totems of War are Gaian aligned.
- Adder[36]
- Anaconda
- Aray[37]
- Badger[38]
- Bear[39]
- Big Joe Magarac, City Father of Pittsburgh[40]
- Black Unicorn
- Boar[41]
- Bull[42]
- Buzzard[43]
- Bya-akko, the White Tiger[44]
- Carrion Bird
- Clashing Boom Boom[45]
- Cobra[46]
- Coyote (also exists as a Totem of Cunning)
- Crocodile[47]
- Eagle
- Earth-burrowers
- Earthquake
- Easy Credit
- Euryale
- Fenris
- Firedrake
- Flea
- The General, City Father of Shanghai[48]
- Gila Monster
- The Gorgons
- Griffin
- Helena
- Herne the Hunter
- Honey Badger[49]
- Hummingbird
- Igaluk, the Hunter
- I'wai the Crocodile
- Isthmene
- Jaguar
- Medusa
- The Medusae
- Momentum
- Morrigu
- Nerigal[50]
- O' Mighty Dolla'
- One Voice[51]
- Panther
- Panthesilea
- The People
- Piggi-Billa, the Echidna
- Rat
- Rhino
- Rorg[52]
- Seadrake
- Shark
- Sphinx-of-War (other aspects include Wisdom, Cunning and Respect)
- Stheno
- Tasmanian Devil
- Thunderbird
- Trapdoor Spider[53]
- Tsetse Fly
- Typhon
- Wakinyan Tanka, Thunderbird
- Walrus
- Wasp[54]
- Weasel
- Wendigo
- The Winter Manitous (Negakfok, Tomanik O'ha'a)
- Wolverine
- Wyvern
- Yongar the Kangaroo
Wisdom[]
Totems of Wisdom are Gaian aligned.
- American Dream[55]
- Ayahuasca[56]
- Bacchus
- Boobook the Owl[57]
- Bougoodoogahdah the Lyrebird[58]
- Brigid[59]
- Buffalo[60]
- Caern-Rattler
- Chameleon[61]
- Chimera
- City Parent[62]
- Cockerel[63]
- Cockroach
- Corn Maiden[64]
- Dana
- Danu
- Dolphin
- Dragonfly
- Epona
- Eshtarra[65]
- Fog (Aeolus)
- General Lee
- The Great Trash Heap
- Hare[66][67]
- Harrier
- Heron
- Hrafn, the Raven
- Ibis
- Invisible Hand
- Jackal
- Kiunik, Otter
- Lava
- Lu-Bat[68]
- Merlin
- Meros[69]
- The Monkey King
- Mouse
- New World Trinity
- Old Man Sea
- Owl
- Peregrine Falcon
- Peyote
- Queen Ananasa
- Ratatosk
- Rattlesnake
- Raven
- Roe Deer
- Rooster
- Salmon
- Sea Otter
- Seiryuu, the Azure Dragon
- Shantar[70]
- Sirius, the Dog Star
- Skaia, the Salmon
- Soma
- Sphinx (also exists as a Totem of War, Respect and Cunning)
- The Spirit Without Name
- Themis, the Dream Weaver
- Toad
- Trout
- Twister
- Uktena
- Unicorn
- Whiptail Lizard[71]
- Whisky Jack (Jaybird)
- Wild Raven
- Wind Incarna
- Winter Wolf
Gallery[]
References[]
- WTA: Werewolf Players Guide, p. 30, 104-106, 130-133, 191
- WTA: Umbra: The Velvet Shadow, p. 12-13, 101, 118-121
- WTA: Werewolf Players Guide Second Edition, p. 85-86, 108-109, 118-123
- WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 79, 124, 135-142, 211, 82, 210
- WTA: Players Guide to the Changing Breeds, p. 163
- DAW: Dark Ages: Werewolf Rulebook, p. 227-231
- W20: Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition, p. 54-55, 70, 140, 371-377
- MTAs: Dreamspeakers Tradition Book, p. 46, 65-66
- MTAs: Tradition Book: Dreamspeakers, p. 58-61
- ↑ WTA: Rokea, p. 80
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Wendigo, p. 80
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 120
- ↑ WTA: Bastet, p. 140
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Wendigo, p. 79
- ↑ WTA: Nuwisha, p. 55
- ↑ WTA: Bastet, p. 141
- ↑ WTA: Rokea, p. 80
- ↑ WTA: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East, p. 114
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 34
- ↑ VTM/WTA: Under a Blood Red Moon, p. 21
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 64
- ↑ WTA: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East, p. 114
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 121
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 121
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 121
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 47
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 142
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Bone Gnawers, p. 87
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 33
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 64
- ↑ WTA: White Howlers Tribebook, p. 76
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 31
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Bone Gnawers, p. 83
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 135
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Stargazers, p. 53
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 63-64
- ↑ WTA: White Howlers Tribebook, p. 72
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 63-64
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 28
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 64
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 64
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 25
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 35
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Shadow Lords, p. 78
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 137
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 136
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Red Talons, p. 80
- ↑ WTA: Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition, p. 295
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 56
- ↑ WTA: Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition, p. 295
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 138
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Silver Fangs, p. 80
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Stargazers, p. 81
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 106
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Silent Striders, p. 84
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Silent Striders, p. 85
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 56
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 107
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 41
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 56-57
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 43
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 106
- ↑ WTA: W20 Rage Across the World, p. 31
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Fianna, p. 51
- ↑ WTA: Axis Mundi: The Book of Spirits, p. 120
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across Australia, p. 139
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across Australia, p. 140
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Fianna Revised, p. 82
- ↑ WTA: Werewolf: The Wild West Rulebook, p. 286
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 139
- ↑ WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 140
- ↑ WTA: Tribebook: Fianna Revised, p. 83
- ↑ WTA: Croatan Song, p. 122
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 38
- ↑ WTA: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East, p. 114
- ↑ WTA: Ways of the Wolf, p. 52
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 49
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 58
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across the Heavens, p. 54
- ↑ WTA: Mokolé, p. 64