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Yeren

Art by James Denton

Yeren are a Mockery Breed of wereapes of the World of Darkness.

Overview[]

Named after a legendary race of hominids from China, the Yeren were designed to thrive in the urban environment. So far, they have proven to be the most successful Mockery Breed. They are currently focused in the business world of North America (but can be expected to expand).

Yeren have the same regenerative abilities as Garou, but do not share their vulnerability to silver. Yeren are able to step sideways, although they can only use artificial reflective surfaces, like mirrors or chromed installations.

History[]

The Board of Directors commissioned the Yeren to counter the Glass Walkers and Bone Gnawers, yet the Yeren have proven capabilities far beyond that. Their natural attraction to power and their territorial natures makes them competitors with criminals, vampires, Black Spiral Dancers, and similar groups for the control of urban domains. The majority have nestled themselves into the upper-middle management of corporations, banks, and law firms, where they remain in sporadic contact with Pentex. A few Yeren have even begun climbing the corporate ranks of Pentex-owned companies, and most of those few have their eyes on a seat on the Board of Directors.

The Yeren are pointless, open-ended greed writ large. They embody everything shortsighted, petty, and rotten that the Garou condemn in human nature when they refer to people as "apes". Their territoriality keeps Yeren from working in close groups very often (though they network extensively), and this is a blessing for urban Garou; on the other hand, the Yeren are very new, and few Garou are even aware of them as a threat, meaning they often have no idea they’re being targeted by a wereape until the hammer drops.

Breeds[]

Yeren have only one Breed, homid. They cannot produce metis, and are entirely incapable of reproduction with other primates. While the Yeren have no Kinfolk, all that have been recruited are characterized by overwhelming greed and hunger for power. Persons with nobler goals have so far not been able to be turned into were-apes.

Yeren reproduce through a ritual similar to the Corax that they refer to as "passing on the shadow of the ape". During a ritual spanning four days, the Yeren and the neophyte reel from party to party, abusing anyone and everything in their vicinity. As the rite progresses, both stumble in and out of the Umbra, where the new “pledge” steadily fuses his flesh and the nature of his spirit together. The rite culminates in the First Change and a bloody rampage.

Forms[]

The Yeren have only two forms.

  • Homid: Yeren in Homid form are usually well-groomed and with an ambitious intensity that resembles a mild psychosis.
  • Crinos: In Crinos form, Yeren have Strength +3, Dexterity +2, Stamina +2, Appearance –3, and Athletics +2. The character gains a bite and claw attack like Garou, but these inflict lethal rather than aggravated damage. Witnessing a Yeren in Crinos form induces the Delirium in humans.

Gifts and Rituals[]

In contrast to other Mockeries, the Yeren are a provisional part of the Pact between wyrmish spirits and the Black Spiral Dancers. They enjoy the patronage of Relshab, a servant to the Urge Wyrm of Greed. The Yeren learn homid gifts and have begun to develop their own unique repertoire, although no Yeren has as of yet advanced beyond Rank Three.

Yeren gain renown for acquiring power, status symbols, and influence, but do so slowly, for even their handful of spirit-sponsors remain wary of these unnatural creatures.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Previous editions had a habit of mentioning some kind of wereape or weremonkey before the creation of the Yeren.
    • In the Werewolf: The Apocalypse Rulebook (1992), shapeshifting orangutans are mentioned being seen in Indonesia.
      • "The Indonesian jungles are home to the last of Asia's other werecreatures, and Garou fear to go here, as it is rumored that many of these others have turned to the Wyrm. Recently, the markets and bazaars of Jakarta and other cities have been rife with whispers of weresharks, shapechanging pythons, and men who can turn into enormous orangutans. Something big is happening in the jungles, but as yet it is a mystery to the Garou."[1]
    • Who's Who Among Werewolves: Garou Saga (1994) mentions King Peorkel, who is of the monkey folk, in Klaital's Journey.[2]

References[]

Werewolf: The Apocalypse Fera
Gaian Breeds Ajaba · Ananasi · Apis · Bastet · Camazotz · Corax · Garou · Grondr · Gurahl · Kitsune · Mokolé · Nagah · Nuwisha · Ratkin · Rokea
Wyrmish Breeds Anurana · Kerasi · Samsa · Yeren
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