Mortla: Claw of Wendigo

Mortla is a series of techniques that employ a the Warriors of Mortla would seem as though
rapid succession of calculated strikes delivered they were something more; as the air around
to the opponent’s body; resulting in various them drops in temperature. The art of
effects ranging from maiming to fatal. The Mortla is something completely unique to the
art itself is based on the concept of using Garou, as these fighting techniques weaponize
Gnosis to augment attacks, enhancing a Gnosis, causing supernatural damage that
Garou's natural weapons with the damaging persists after the initial attack.
effects of long-term exposure to cold weather.
Developed when all was one, this art causes
With Gnosis behind each attack, natural Garou who practice it to become more spirit
weapons become capable of dealing damage than flesh. Their presence, everything about
that typically manifests as frostbite. After them reflects the harsh and bitter cold of the
being hit it's possible for an enemy to spirits that their techniques embody. Their
experience extreme fatigue, degenerative Gnosis takes on added properties when focused
muscle symptoms, tissue destruction, and a or 'converted' through these techniques; giving
whole host of life threatening conditions. The off an icy 'aura'.
use of Gnosis makes the cutting nature of
each technique possible, making them seem Learning the basics of Mortla from a master
more like something of a minor charm; this is the usual beginning for any questing
reflects the harsh and cold nature of Great Warrior, but to further one's understanding, it
Wendigo. is mandatory to make a pilgrimage into the
harshest of cold environments. Those who
“Teeth barred, Winds of Silver crouches choose to walk the path of Mortla will
down on all fours, then makes a mad dash at inevitably come into contact with Great
his opponent in a blur of silver fur. As he Wendigo's brood, as it was Windtooth who
closes the distance, he 'focuses' his Gnosis, was the first to show Garou how to 'fight like
concentrating it to his mouth and fangs in (Great) Wendigo'.
preparation for the upcoming attack. His
teeth tear into the tainted creature's flesh, While Windtooth may seem a bit simple in
leaving a modest sized wound. While terms of intelligence, its lessons are always
suffering a minor injury, the formor just unique, challenging and straightforward (most
couldn't seem to shrug off the effects of of the time). Assimilation is an essential
Winds of Silver's Gnosis. As it looked closer, lesson: learning how to become one with the
it witnesses the horror of it's skin blackening environment, overwhelming and ultimately
and sloughing off.” consuming one's opponent (sometimes in a
literal sense). Cannibalism is a part of Great
Mortla was developed by the northern septs of Wendigo's ethos.
the Wendigo tribe. Inspired by the spirits of
Great Wendigo's brood, practitioners emulate
their behaviors and movements. In combat,

Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla 1

 subtracting one additional die because the
Using Mortla attack is their second action (giving a total of
five dice).
1. Mortla is considered a secondary ability
like Kailindo. The player rolls Mortla + Techniques that cost only one action can be
Dexterity for an attack. Purchasing dots done multiple times, as long as they are
follows the same format as any other performed as multiple actions.
secondary ability, but each technique is
independent of the other. All techniques take For each success above the first that the
time to learn, and are never easy to master. A player achieves on the attack roll, they add
specialty may be taken, however it can only one die to the damage dice pool. These dice
be with one technique. are refered to as Roll-over.

2. None of these attacks can be performed 5. Banned Forms: Some techniques are
with a melee weapon. accessible only to specific forms. For example,
if an attacker were in their homid form, they
3. Techniques that employ the use of Gnosis would lack the claws necessary to perform the
(spent, or rolled) cannot be used when Rage is technique: Frostbite, or the teeth necessary to
spent on the same turn. perform Maw of Frost.

4. Techniques that require 2 or more actions 6. Some techniques may cause a dice penalty
to complete are considered multiple actions. in addition to the damage dealt. Also, said
To perform multiple actions, the player techniques can be cumulative (which is always
subtracts one die from their pool for every explicitly stated), resulting in multiple dice
action beyond the first that they wish the penalties. Examples include Frostbite, and
character to take. This reduction is Maw of Frost:
cumulative.
Maw of Frost: The attacker rolls Dexterity
A specific number of actions are required to + Mortla at a difficulty of 5. They receive 3
be completed in order to progress and successes on their roll. 2 Roll-over dice were
ultimately finish each technique, the number achieved from the attack roll, therefore a
of actions are noted as Actions required. Each damage roll of Strength + 2 dice occurs. The
action is to be performed at a set difficulty. defender receives 2 aggravated health levels of
damage. After receiving damage, the defender
The attacker is performing two actions this
is subject to the technique's effect: The
turn, a dodge and then a punch. The attacker
attacker's permanent Gnosis score is 5, so for
has five dice in their Dexterity + Dodge
five turns, the defender's stamina suffers a -1
pool, while their Dexterity + Brawl pool is
penalty. This effect is cumulative.
eight. Since the attacker is performing two
actions this turn, they remove two dice from
each action. The attacker is dodging first;
they roll their adjusted Dexterity + Dodge
pool for that action (three dice). Then, they
roll their adjusted Dexterity + Brawl pool
the same way (removing two dice) and
2 Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla
 Techniques of Mortla Actions Required: 1
Banned Forms: Homid, Glabro, Lupus
Roll: Dexterity + Mortla
● Cold Sinew: The Warrior grapples with the Difficulty: 7
target, forcefully introducing Gnosis into their Damage: Strength (Aggravated)
body, causing a temporary but severe form of
arthritis. The target suffers inflamed joints ● Limbs of Ice: The Warrior's blocks are really
and damaged muscle tissues. Ultimately, strikes aimed at the target's attacking limbs.
movement is inhibited. To complete the
maneuver, the Warrior then kicks or pushes System: Roll Dexterity + Mortla for a
the target away; not hard enough to cause 'normal' Block roll, but if the player scores
damage or cost an action, but to create three or more successes than the opponent on
distance. their roll to attack, they also inflict
(Strength) damage.
System: If successful, the player rolls Half of
their permanent Gnosis score rounded up If the attacker is using this technique against
(example: 5 Gnosis = 3 dice for damage) + an opponent armed with a melee weapon, the
Roll-over. If the defender fails to soak any difficulty can increase up to 8.
damage from the attack, then the difficulty for
all of their physical actions are increased by 1. Actions Required: 1
The duration of this effect is equivalent to the Banned Forms: N/A
number of health levels lost. (-3 health levels Roll: Dexterity + Mortla
= 3 turns). Difficulty: 6
Damage: Strength (Bashing)
Actions Required: 1
Banned Forms: Lupus, Hispo ● Harsh combination: The Warrior attacks
Roll: Dexterity + Mortla with a brutal three hit combo. The first two
Difficulty: 6 attacks simply help build up momentum for a
Damage: ½ Gnosis, rounded up (lethal) bone-jarring aerial spin kick.

● Frostbite: The Warrior expends Gnosis while System: Each action is rolled at a varying
clawing the target. Gnosis seeps in and chills difficulty, and damage (Roll-Over still
the muscle, breaking down various tissues and applies). Once the technique is started, if
fibers, thus mimicking the effects of frostbite another action is performed (i. e. dodging after
and reducing the strength of the target. performing the first punch), or if an attack is
missed, then the attacker must start from the
System: The attacker rolls Dexterity + first action.
Mortla at a difficulty 7 to execute a claw
maneuver, If damage was dealt, the attacker The first attack is a punch at a difficulty of
rolls Gnosis (difficulty 6). For one turn per 6. The damage roll for this punch is
success, the defender's strength will incur a Strength – 1.
dice penalty of -1. The strength penalty effect
can be cumulative. The second attack is a kick at difficulty 7.
The damage roll for this kick is Strength.

Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla 3

 The third attack is a kick at difficulty 9. System: The attacker must spend 1 point of
The damage roll for this kick is Strength + Gnosis before the upcoming attack. If damage
4. If the attacker inflicts more health levels was dealt, then for one turn per health level
of damage than the defender has dots in lost (2 levels of damage recieved = 2 turns),
Athletics, they are knocked off their of feet the vampire must spend 1 additional blood
and rendered prone. point per point used (1 BP = 2 BP).

Actions Required: 3 For non-vampiric beings, the attack creates a

Banned Forms: Lupus, Hispo weak-point. If damage was dealt from the
Roll: Dexterity + Mortla inital attack, then for one turn per health
Difficulty: Varies level lost all damage dealt to the defender's
Damage: Varies (Bashing) weakpoint must be soaked at difficulty +1. All
attacks to the weakpoint must be called shots.
● Maw of Frost: The Warrior focuses Gnosis
into their bite. Acting very much like a deadly Actions Required: 1
poison, the Gnosis lowers the target's defenses, Banned Forms: Homid, Glabro, Lupus
and can cause intense shivering. Roll: Dexterity + Mortla
Difficulty: 7
System: The attacker must spend one point Damage: Strength (Aggravated)
of Gnosis before rolling Dexterity + Mortla
at a difficulty 5 for an upcoming 'bite' attack.
If damage was dealt, then the attacker's
Gifts of Mortla
Permanent Gnosis score will determine the
number of turns for the following effect: The ● Fray the Spirit (Level two gift): The
defender's Stamina is lowered by 1. (5 Warrior thrusts their fingers (or paw) into
permanent Gnosis = 5 turns). The Stamina the opponent's body. The attack forcefully
penalty effect is cumulative, but cannot exceed injects Gnosis which spreads to various nerve
more than half of the defender's permanent points, causing involuntary muscle spasams, an
Stamina rating, rounded down. intense flow of pain, and disorientation.

Actions Required: 1 System: The attacker must first spend a

Banned Forms: Homid, Glabro single point of Gnosis, and roll Dexterity +
Roll: Dexterity + Mortla Mortla at a difficulty of 7. If successful, the
Difficulty: 5 attacker's temporary Gnosis will directly
Damage: Strength -1 (Aggravated) contest the defender's temporary spiritual
essence (i.e. Garou's Gnosis, or Mage's
● Blacken the Blood: While expending Gnosis, Quintessence).
the Warrior focuses the power of their claws
by thrusting their fingers in a spear-like In the case of vampires, only half of their
fashion. The attack leaves large puncture blood point pool is counted, rounded
wounds while the Gnosis 'poisons' the target's down: (i.e. 7 blood points = 3). If the
blood. As a result, the surrounding flesh attacker's temporary spiritual essence is
develops frostbite; more importantly it can higher than that of the defender's, the
hinder the power of vampires. defender takes a -2 wounded penalty and will

4 Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla

 only be able to act at the end of a round,
before rage actions are taken.

If the defender's temporary spiritual essence

ties that of the attacker's, then the tie goes to
the defender. The gift's effects will last for as
many rounds as the attacker has dots in
permanent Gnosis (5 Gnosis = 5 Rounds).

The effects override gifts such as Spirit of the

Fray, but the -2 wounded penalty does not
stack upon penalties from lost health levels.

● Body of Ice (Level Three Gift): The

Warrior allows their opponent to hit them,
giving the illusion of having been dealt a most
fatal blow. The process is instantaneous; as
the Warrior is struck, a body of ice is
summoned to take their place. The ice reflects
a mirage of the 'fallen' Warrior, and may fool
the target long enough to set up an ambush.

System: The Wendigo is automatically hit.

However, in response they roll Gnosis,
difficulty of the defender's Perception + 4.

If successful, the Wendigo takes no damage

from the defender's attack. A body of ice is
summoned, creating an illusion of the
Wendigo's death. They are then obscured
from the defender's detection until the
beginning of the next round. During this
period of obscurity, the Wendigo repositions
for a rear counter attack (reducing the
difficulty on their next attack by 2). Further
action can only take place at the beginning of
the next round.

If Failed, the Gift does not take effect and the

defender proceeds to roll for damage as per
usual. Successful or not, this gift can only be
done once per combat scene, and cannot be
done against an opponent who has seen it
before.

Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla 5

Windtooth
summoner should thus prepare by rubbing
himself with bitter or smelly herbs. Once
Windtooth is summoned, it is easy to turn
him against a desired prey simply by
Image: Windtooth cannot be seen, only felt. suggesting the foe would be a tasty morsel for
When he bites, the force of his jaws can the Great Cannibal. Off Windtooth will rush
knock people over, and his breath can freeze to taste the chosen target; if he is indeed tasty
limbs into ice. He is the wind itself, but he is (see Taboos, below). Windtooth will summon
an angry wind. Great Wendigo to devour the chosen one.
This does does not always bring Wendigo,
History: Windtooth was born when Wendigo however; if he is busy with another meal, he
sneezed, blowing three of his teeth out and will ignore the pesky wind spirit.
away across the tundra. These teeth gathered
together and became Windtooth, a spirit of Gift Lore: Cutting Wind and Invoke the
frostbite who wanders before Wendigo, tasting Spirits of the Storm.
all it finds. If the prey is sweet, it runs back
to Wendigo and tells him where the delicious Taboos: Windtooth only likes meals which
food is to be found. Woe be it to those who Great Wendigo would like to feast upon,
are tasty to Windtooth. Luckily, Windtooth which includes Wyrm creatures, cannibals,
does not like wolves, which includes Garou. murderers and people consumed with hate or
anger. Those who live alone are also tasty.
Whenever someone gets frostbite, the
Wendigo Garou say that she has been tasted Attitude: Neutral.
by Windtooth. For this reason, the Wendigo
protect their favorite Kinfolk with certain Chiminage: Windtooth demands nothing in
rituals before they go out into the blowing return for his aid except that he will taste
wind. anything he sees. His bite causes frostbite
(one Health Level of aggravated damage).
These rituals are designed to make the
Kinfolk taste bad to Windtooth, so that the
spirit will not summon the Wendigo. This
can include such extreme measures as rubbing
garlic all over the Kinfolk, along with other
foul-smelling herbs. If the Kinfolk is going out
hunting, she cannot accept such protections, for
the smell will drive away game. A protected
Kinfolk may still get frostbite, but the Garou
rest assured that, while Windtooth may have
bitten them, it did not like the taste.

Habitat: Windtooth can only be summoned in

a winter storm, and it will always taste those
who summon it (giving them frostbite). The

6 Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla

 too far away...proving to be yet another tasty
“Why...Gnosis?” meal. An occurrence such as this...is quite
rare...and passing up ether is not an option."
Born under the full moon, an inexperienced This time, he doesn't let the young Warrior
Wendigo sought training from the strongest sit and wait for the climax, and speaks a
fighters of his sept. The most celebrated rather nonchalant tone: "So...Great
Warrior in the sept however...was a theurge. Wendgio...came up with a solution: he touched
When asked what was his secret...he told the the Vampire, and went off after the Wyrm
young pupil that it was the power of Gnosis Beast." Of course the young Warrior is
that gave him the edge in combat, not his perplexed. "Touched?...what do you
Rage. So the young Warrior couldn't help but mean...touched? Great Wendigo simply does
ask: “Why...Gnosis?” The old theurge, covered not..."Touch"."
in battle scars looked over to the young one.
Patience and wisdom shown clearly in his This of course made the theurge smile: "Oh
eyes: "Why Gnosis you ask? Simple. Gnosis ho...but you do not understand. Great
can do what Rage cannot." Wendigo's touch...was fueled with his
intent...charged with his spiritual essence...his
The young Warrior looked confused, as he Gnosis." The young Warrior was clearly
should. He knows just about as much as any intrigued. "Please...explain..." The young one
other Garou in regards to what Luna has was on the edge of his seat and of course, the
gifted her chosen; but his expression begged a theurge obliges. "Well...Great Wendgo's
more thorough explanation from his teacher. touch...is so cold...that it will freeze the
Of course, the old theurge continues: "Perhaps soul...and in that Vampire's case...it's entire
this tale will explain..." he clears his throat being! Rage is a force that can be directed but
and begins slowly. "Great Wendigo...just like doesn't have the essence to be shaped. It
any being, experiences hunger. As part of his merely 'is'....however Gnosis is something that
usual routine, he traverses the great tundras can be crafted...molded...formed for a specific
in search of his next meal. He then catches purpose...and in this case...Great Wendigo
the scent of a rather tasty morsel...a Vampire turned it into a weapon...something to keep
that had the nerve to trespass into his his meal from getting too far away."
domain. The Vampire reeks of taint...as it
slaughtered a small village the night before." It's clear the young Warrior is enthralled, but
not quite understanding; so the old theurge
The old theurge nods a few times, continuing tries to explain further: "When Great
"So Wendigo persues...and finds this Vampire. Wendigo touched the Vampire, it's body
He finds that it indeed looks appetizing...but a ached...giving it a pain the likes of which it
problem arises..." He drops his sentence, had never encountered. Its suffering was so
letting the young Warrior before him become great it couldn't move...it couldn't think. This
antsy. "What happened?" the young one asks was Great Wendigo's plan...as he simply
impatiently, curious to know what kind of wanted to save that meal for later, keeping it
situation could possibly cause Wendigo fresh."
“trouble”. The old theurge's eyes widen, as he
raises the pitch of his voice...for dramatic
effect: "A great Wyrm beast awakened not

Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla 7

The old theurge sits back grinning"And would need to actively concentrate, but rarely
indeed, the Vampire was consumed, corrupt would it require more. Conversion requires
heart and all. Now do you understand? Gnosis active concentration, as the individual would
can do...what Rage cannot." need to control the directional flow of Gnosis
within their own body along with the changes
of it's properties.

Great Wendigo's Gnosis is inherently

“flavored” with great cold, so by learning
Mortla the Garou learns to emulate that
effect. The host Garou's converted Gnosis
takes on more weaponized properties
becomming something akin to a spiritual
version of liquid nitrogen. The Gnosis is still
more or less intangible, but it is able to be
transferred from the host Garou to any other
object or being through physical contact.
Converted Gnosis is harmless to the host
Garou, as long as it's their own Gnosis. Of
course, the converted Gnosis of others would
inflict harm as usual.

A interesting side effect of the Gnosis

“conversion” is that the temperature around
the host Garou will drop. Therefore,
particles of water and ice may become visible
when the host Garou exhales. The
temperature drop does not create any sort of
advantage or disadvantage in battle. The
temperature drop becomes more and more
dramatc as the Mortla practicioner advances
in their knowledge. With 5 dots in Mortla, a
cold mist may surround the Warrior at times.
The effect is purely theatrical, and up to the
player if they wish to use it.

Logistics and Flavor... Created by: Adam Wise aka Winds of Silver aka Vincent
Rustov aka Crack the skye
These are all the people I bugged and annoyed, they helped
give me ideas…also, thanks to Whtie Wolf and Axis Mundi,
Converting Gnosis is akin to using Gnosis for as I borrorwed Windtooth from it's pages.
a Gift; however the process is slightly Muezick aka Ixy, Daniel, Jason`Rhode, Meifeng, Azreal`,
different. When being used for a Gift, Gnosis Max,WestAvenue, Rob, Mike (|Jay|), Jon (Papamike), Jen
(alina-miles), Jason (ragnar), Circe, White Wolf Forums,
is merely spent to activate a knowledge that Batjutsu, Mr. Gone, Shammie, Quistar, Ghostlin,
is inherent. It acts more or less like a reflex, AmbientInspiration, Erinye, sofacoin
something primal. On ocassion a Gnosis user
8 Werewolf the Apocalypse: Mortla