LunarTotems/Panther

Introduction

The songs of victory raised high, lifting with the smoke of the bonfire. Flickering shadows of men and women danced and lept before the flames, celebrating the defeat of their enemies.

In the midst of it all, the chieftain exulted. Adorned with the gold and jewelry torn from the bodies of his enemies, he was attended by new slaves, the most beautiful women the other tribe had to offer.

As he approached the celebration, an excited hush fell over them as his favored warriors lined up for his blessing.

He stumbled.

Icey, cold hands gently stroked his cheek, and laughter murmured into his ear, and his ear alone.

His warriors stared at him in amazement, but he waved off any attempts to aid him. Dammit... not now.

He could remember her so well, cloaked in a mantle of white, her sleek body moving with an heart-aching grace. Her hair was as black as the night, thick and luxurious, and her dark lips would have been inviting if they hadn't always been curved into a smug smirk.

He might have even been foolish enough to want her when he had first seen her, if it hadn't been for her eyes. Dark eyes, with irises as white as the full moon. Eyes that spoke of power, that reminded him of why he had gone to her in the first place.

With a gasp, he pulled his mind back to present, sucking on warm air as he heard her voice, as whispered by his shadow.

"Come tomorrow night, by the light of the moon, to my den, to discuss my payment."

It seemed the price of his victory was not yet payed.

Nayeli the Shadow Witch

Symbology : Magic, darkness, death

Like other large cats, the panther represents ferocity and courage. The black panther is a particularly mystical symbol that has represented dark energies and rebirth. Native American tribes of North, South and Central America considered the black panther to wield powerful magic; Egyptian rituals involved the wearing of a panther tail about the waist or neck, which brought strength to its wearers; and the Kayans of Borneo feared the soul of a black panther as much as the beast's corporeal form. A Kayan hunter that killed a panther would step eight times over the dead animal, reciting the spell, "Panther, thy soul under my soul."

Charms :
Finding the Spirit's Form: Black Panther
Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
-The Spy that Walks in Darkness
-Shadow Summoning
Sense Sharpening Change
Form Fixing Method
Ox-body Technique (2 x -1)
Stealthy Fox Method
Unspeaking Aura of Dread

Panther Form : Strength 5, Stamina 5, Lethal damage, climbs well, +1 die to stealth, excellent night vision.

Tell : Dark eyes with white irises

The panther is a close cousin of the jaguar, and so for our witch, I chose to return to the jungles of the southeast. I wanted to play up the darkness, the malevolence, making a no-moon equivelant to Nasketew: someone players would love to hate (or fear). The mythology of the panther ties very well into this: extraordinarily magical, and dark. Thus, I chose "shadow" magic.

I originally intended to give her some DBT, however, her totem is extremely capable, so I saw no need. You'll note that she has a good mix of non-combat charms. I figure her totem makes her strong enough to take down a few extras (the most important thing to be able to do in Exalted), and the rest of the charms make her quite capable of dealing with mortals in both social and mystical avenues, making her a well rounded character.

Finally, the evil witch is far from the only possibility you can use a Panther for. Darkness implies stealth, perfect for a cunning changing moon, and its sleek sides and graceful killing method make for a powerful full-moon Spirit-warrior.