- See also: W20 Umbra: The Velvet Shadow (20th Anniversary Edition)
Umbra: The Velvet Shadow is the sourcebook on the Umbra and its spirit denizens for Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Information on the realms of the Wyrm is given elsewhere, in Book of the Wyrm.
Summary[]
From the White Wolf 1993-94 catalog:
- The sourcebook on the Umbra, the spirit realm where many battles of the Apocalypse are fought. This book details its denizens and Realms, from the awesome Celestines to the hell-pits of the Inferno. Expanded information on traveling in the Umbra and the odd encounters to be had there.
From the Back Cover:
- A Song of an Older Time
- Long ago, the world was One. Everything lived in harmony. All creatures revered the great mother, Gaia. Then the fabric of the world was rent. Spirit was torn from matter by the claws of the Wyrm and the webs of the Weaver. From one world, two were born: the Earth and the Umbra.
- A Memory Yet To Come
- The Garou still live between the two worlds. They have one foot in each world, yet their home is in neither. They can walk in the Shadow, talk to the spirits and find wisdom. Great adventures are waiting in the Umbra – but Death also waits; the Wyrm has infiltrated the Shadow. There can be no rest, no safe haven – even in the Umbra, the Apocalypse is coming.
- Umbra: The Velvet Shadow is a Werewolf sourcebook detailing the places, spirits and cosmology of the Garou spirit world. It includes:
- The 13 Near Realms known to the Garou: their residents, the laws that govern them and adventure ideas.
- The Tribal Homelands of the 13 Tribes: reflections of the spirit and culture of the Garou.
- The spirits that roam the Shadow, from the Weaver Geomids and Spiders to the Wyld Nebulae and Vortices.
Contents[]
Legends of the Garou: Through the Shadow[]
A lesson on the dangers and wisdom of the Umbra.
As told by Gunther Stone, Get of Fenris Galliard.
Introduction[]
- Recommended Books and Films:
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
- American Indian Myths & Legends compiled by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
- The Kalevala, various translations.
- Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
- Films: The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen (or any film by Terry Gilliam), Altered States, Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, All That Jazz, Buckaroo Banzai, Dreamchild, Dreams Come True, Dreamscape, Explorers, Into the Woods (a film of the Steven Sondheim play), Labyrinth, Made in Heaven, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey, The Never Ending Story, The Singing Detective, Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam again), 2001: A Space Odyssey, Quintet, Prisoners of the Lost Universe, Slaughterhouse Five, Watership Down (read the great book by Richard Adams) and The Wizard of Oz.
- A Lexicon of Umbral Terms
Chapter One: Cosmology[]
The Umbra and its relationship with the Garou.
Chapter Two: Geography[]
The strange realms of the Umbra.
- The Penumbra
- Umbral Travel
- The Thirteen Near Realms:
- Abyss
- Fetishes from the Abyss: Hearts of Midnight - Level 5, Gnosis 8
- Aetherial Realm
- Arcadia Gateway
- Fetishes from Arcadia Gateway: Faerie Weapons (Level 2, Gnosis 7) and Faerie Armor (Level 3, Gnosis 6)
- Atrocity Realm
- Fetishes from the Atrocity Realm: Memory Ribbon - Level 4, Gnosis 7
- The Battleground
- CyberRealm
- Technofetishes from the CyberRealm: Steel Fur (Level 4, Gnosis 5), Lightning Claws (Level 3, Gnosis 5), Geomid Fragment (Level 3, Gnosis 7), Identification Card (Level 1, Gnosis 3) and Phreak Box (Level 4, Gnosis 6)
- Talens from the CyberRealm: Weaver Patches: Stabilizer Patch (Gnosis 5) and Booster Patch (Gnosis 3)
- Erebus
- Fetishes from Erebus: Brood Spears - Level 4, Gnosis 6
- Talens from Erebus: Water of the Silver Lake - Gnosis 8
- Flux
- Legendary Realm
- Pangaea
- Scar
- Fetishes from the Scar: Web Spinner - Level 3, Gnosis 4
- Summer Country
- Wolfhome
- Abyss
- Mini-realms
- The Beast
- Sub-Realms
- Daydream
- Land of the Dinosaurs
- Television
- Vistas
- Death
- Chaos
- Stasis
- Origin
- Zones
- The Mirror Zone
- Null Zone
- Dream Zone
- Fetishes and Talens from the Dream Zone:
- Dream Stones - Level 1, Gnosis 6
- Nightmare Coins - Gnosis 7
- Fetishes and Talens from the Dream Zone:
- The Periphery
Chapter Three: Denizens[]
The spirits that live in the Shadow.
Chapter Four: Encounters[]
Stories beyond the Velvet Curtain.
Appendix: Game Rules[]
Game statistics for spirits and Umbral residents.
- Gifts:
- Lupus: Sense Wyld - Level One
- Theurge: Sense Weaver - Level Two
- Theurge: Sense Wyld - Level Two
- Theurge: Parting the Velvet Curtain - Level Three
- Philodox: Power of the Ways - Level Four
- Galliard: Scent of Distinction - Level Three
- Black Furies: Sense Wyld - Level One
- Children of Gaia: Parting the Velvet Curtain - Level Three
- Glass Walker: Sense Weaver - Level One
- Glass Walker: Web Walker - Level Three
- Glass Walker Virtual Umbra - Level Four
- Rites:
- Rite of Dreaming - Level 3
- Rite of Homecoming - Level 3
- Rite of the Silver Forge - Level 4
- Fetishes:
- The Magic Trench Coat - Level 4, Gnosis 6
- Moonsilver Whip - Level 5, Gnosis 9
- Talens:
- Dream Incense - Gnosis 5
- Spirits:
- Emanations
- Incarna and Celestines
- Weaver Spirits:
- Mind Spiders
- Strand Spiders
- Guardian Spiders
- Informational Geomids
- Attack Geomids
- Structural Geomids
- Wyld Spirits:
- Wyldstorms
- Nebulae
- Color Clouds
- Malleons
- Color Strings
- Pockets
- Rejects
Charms Chart[]
A complete list of spirit Charms.
Index[]
Background Information[]
This book can also be used with Mage: The Ascension.
Memorable Quotes[]
"Cerberus - 65, Cerebus - see Dave Sim" - Index
Characters[]
- Gunther Stone - Get of Fenris Galliard
- Thunder-On-High - Garou (Pg. 16)
- Soul-of-Fire - Shadow Lord Ahroun Garou (Pg. 26)
- Gutterpaws - Female Garou (Pg. 26)
- Freebird - Garou (Pg. 26)
- Atalanta - Black Fury Ahroun (Pg. 26)
- Midnight Eyes - Children of Gaia Theurge Garou (Pg. 27)
- Klaital
- Lewis Shadows-of-the-Mountains - Stargazer Theurge Garou (Pg. 31)
- Sits-Under-Trees - Fianna Garou (Pg. 39)
- Aurik - Dwarven Blacksmith of the Gateway Castle (Pg. 42)
- Wayward Son - Wendigo Philodox Garou (Pg. 45)
- Brenda - Black Fury (Pg. 49)
- Courtney Wellington - Female Children of Gaia Garou (Pg. 50)
- Kenneth - Fianna Garou (Pg. 51)
- Antiope - Black Fury Garou (Pg. 51)
- Avery "Steel Byte" Hollins - Glass Walker Garou (Pg. 51)
- Sylvan-Sylvan
- Ivan Ironclaw
- Visions-of-Darkness - Garou (Pg. 62)
- Susan Wyldstrike - Female Garou (Pg. 62)
- Wyrm Eater - Wyrm-Corrupted Uktena Ahroun Garou Ghoul, sent to Erebus (Pg. 64)
- Silver Wind - Uktena Garou (Pg. 64)
- Strength-of-the-Mountain - Uktena Garou (Pg. 64)
- Cloud Seeker - Uktena Garou (Pg. 64)
- Riversong - Garou (Pg. 64)
- Milo - Ghoul (Pg. 64)
- Red - Gangrel (Pg. 64)
- Steve - Gangrel (Pg. 64)
- Leaps-Into-Madness - Garou (Pg. 72)
- Cracked Teeth - Garou (Pg. 73)
- Guinivere "Fire Heart" Masters or "Fire Dancer" - Female Silver Fang Garou (Pg. 75)
- Leafhunter - Garou Packmate of Guinivere (Pg. 75)
- Tears-of-Gaia - Garou Ancestor of Guinivere (Pg. 75)
- Stormchaser - Garou (Pg. 80)
- Mist Coat - Female Red Talon Garou (Pg. 80)
- Silvertongue - Female Garou (Pg. 80)
- Moonsong - Garou (Pg. 80)
- Victoria Silverfire - Female Silver Fang Garou (Pg. 84)
- Heart-of-Rage - Garou (Pg. 86)
- Moondancer/Moonsinger - Female Garou (Pg. 89)
- Robert Kinsolver
- Edge Runner - Fianna Ahroun (Pg. 91)
- Gregor - Bone Gnawer (Pg. 96)
- Set
- Blood-Demon - Giant Wyrm-corrupted Metis Garou (Pg. 108)
- Grimjaw - Shadow Lord (Pg. 108)
- Burger Hunter - Bone Gnawer (Pg. 109)
- Fights-like-a-Badger - Warder of Elizabeth Lionheart's Sept, Garou (Pg. 111)
- Eyes-of-Lawrence - From Elizabeth Lionheart's Sept, Garou (Pg. 111)
- Elizabeth Lionheart - Female Silver Fang Philodox Garou (Pg. 111)
- Bloodfang - Ragabash Garou (Pg. 112)
- Render-of-Bones - Ahroun Garou (Pg. 113)
- Windchaser - Garou, Possessed by a Bane (Pg. 130)
- Sokaris Amon - Silent Strider (Pg. 132)
- Glee - Faerie (Pg. 132)
- Spike Stealer - Glass Walker (Pg. 132)
- Residents of the Abyss:
- Residents of the Aetherial Realm:
- Altair
- Star Spirits (Pg. 141)
- Residents of the Arcadia Gateway:
- Lord Lysander - Faerie (Pg. 141)
- Princess Mariana - Female Faerie (Pg. 141-142)
- Faerie Knights (Pg. 142)
- Low Faeries (Pg. 142)
- Residents of Erebus:
- Charyss' Brood (Pg. 142)
- Residents of the CyberRealm:
- Cyber Wolves (Pg. 142)
- Nanospiders (Pg. 142)
- Weaver Constructs (Pg. 142-143)
- Residents of Scar:
- Blight Spiders (Pg. 143)
- Residents of the Tribal Homelands:
- Bone Gnawers: Father Noah
- Children of Gaia: Unicorn Anamae (Pg. 143)
- Silent Striders: Wepauwet
- Residents of the Dream Zone:
- Phantasms (Pg. 144)
- Phragments (Pg. 144)
- Dream Banes (Pg. 144)
Terminology[]
Abyss (Maw of Jormungandr to the GoF): Curtains of Mist, Empty Plains, Golden Path, Iron Path, Silver Path; Aetherial Realm: Hyperion, MIR Caern, Moonsilver, Phoebe, Sept of the Stars, Spirit-Orrey, Weaver Reaches, Wyld Reaches, Wyrm Reaches (Wyrmholes to the SG); Airts, Aisling, Anchorhead, Arcadia Gateway (Avalon, Hy-Brasil and Tir-na'nogth): Faerie, The Gate, Gateway Castle, Grim Fortress, Nymphic Roads (BF), Seelie Court, Silver Road, Unseelie Court, Way of the Dwarves (GoF); Atrocity Realm: Bane Pits, The Wall; Awen, The Battleground: Army of the Apocalypse, Plain of the Apocalypse, Signpost; Bane, The Beast, Blight, Caern, Celestine, 'Celestine, Greater', 'Celestine, Lesser', Chaos Vista, Charms: Create Object, Corrupt Dream, Drain Gnosis, Flare, Informational Link, Intangibility, Nullify Dream Powers, Warp Dream; Chimares, CyberRealm: Computer Web (Macro Level and Micro Level), Corporate Ladder, CyberWolves, Daemons, Downtown, Juice, Netrunning, Old Town (Rubble), Pentex ICS, The Pit, Spider City (Stench City by the BG, Sprawl to Others), Uptown, Viruses; Dark Watchers (Nightmaster's Pack), Daydream, Death Vista, Deep Umbra, Den Realms, Disconnection, Domains, Dream Zone: Auspice Powers: Control Dream Self (Philodox), Dream Comprehension (Theurge), Dream Shaping (Galliard), Heart of Rage (Ahroun), Hidden Path (Ragabash): Chimerlings, Dream Banes, Dreamers, Dreamquest, Ephemera, Mind Spiders, Oneira (Dream Lords to Mages), Phantasms, Phragments; Dreaming, Dreamspeakers, Emanations, Englings, Epiphs, Erebus: Cerebrus, Charyss, Citadel of Charyss, The Deal, Hell Hounds, Lake of Silver, Silver Forge, Unfortunates; Fetishes: Ark, Klaive of Electricity (Level 4, Gnosis 5); Flux: Creation, Time Warp; Gafflings, Gaia, Gauntlet, Geomids, Gift: Stealing the Soul (Nightmaster, Level 5); Glade Children, Glens, Hellhole, Incarna, Jagglings, Land of the Dinosaurs, Legendary Realm: The City, Great Ocean, The Pure Land; Lunae, Lune, Mages, Malfeas, Membrane, Mini-realm, Mirror Zone: Warriors of Twilight (Sept); Moon, Moon Bridges, Moon Paths, Mummies, Naturae, Near Umbra, Null Zone (Backstage at the Theatre of the Umbra to the F), Origin Vista, Pack Totem, Pangaea: Elder Serpent, One Tribe Law; Patronage, Penumbra, Pericarp, Periphery, Reaching, 'Realm, The', Realms, Realm-System, Scar: Bane Spiders, Gnosis Battery, Lords of Scar, Maeljin Incarna; Sept of the Awakening, Sept of the Green, Spirit Gates, Spirit Tracks, Stasis Vista, Stepping Sideways, Sub-realm, 'Subway, the', Summer Country: Cloudtop High, Enchanted Glade, Endless Ocean, Forest of Longing, Forest of Promise, Gaia's Tear, Garden of Delight, Inner Sea, Isle of the Self, Luna's Landing, Mountains of the Moon, Mount Peace, Sea of Joy, Sky Home, Well of Life; Sun, Technofetishes, Television, Tellurian, Totems: Chimera, Cockroach, Falcon, Fenris (Sub-Realm: Valhalla), Griffin, Owl, Pegasus, Rat, Stag, Thunder, Uktena, Unicorn, Wendigo; Tribal Homelands: Castle of Heroes (SF), Great/Storm Mountain (SL), Mount Selene (BF), Rainbow Bridge (GoF), River of Life and Death (SS), Well of Serenity (CoG), Wild Hunt (F); Trod, Umbra, Umbral Wind, Virtual Odyssey, Vista, Vortices, Wagnerians, Weaver, Weaver Spiders, Web, Wolfhome: The Cities, Deep Woods; Wyld, Wyldings, Wyrm, Zone,
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