Camazotz Player Guide

[Sakuryu]

Hello everyone, I'm an ST that's been running things for a while and with the release of the W20 supplement of Fera I was jumping for joy when I saw that my favorite lost breeds were brought into the fray. Namely the Khara and Camazotz. When I got the pdf and later the printed book I found myself disappointed. The section on both are very very lacking for renown, rites, fetishes etcetera. I'm leaving off Khara because they're naturally extinct and whatever. But I'm doing a Camazotz revival right now and the player whose becoming the first in this new age is wondering about renown, fetishes, delirium, and other stuff like that so he can be more complete. I've read over Shadow Lords Revised, past lives, and CB 20 to try and do the best myself but I'd like some more experienced STs and OPP people to help me out with their ideas. One I'm particularly interested in are Camazotz rites and rituals. I saw a few people trying to make the camazotz birthing ritual but the whole dracula neck biting thing was pretty ~eh~ for me, they're not vampires, and not wholly blood mages. I would also like opinions on Camazotz (classes) since I'm going to have some Zotz' coming from the dark umbra when their relative and totem come about.

[Laughing Hyena]

I would check out South American myths and folklore on Bats for one. Their connection with the Underworld would mean they would at least have a rite for entering the Shadowlands and dealing with Wraiths.

From the website I linked to:

Tobacco continues to be an important ritual plant in many places. Both bats and tobacco are associated with shamans (native priests). The Bororo, a tribe in Brazil, tell a story about men casually smoking one night. A vampire bat flew by and told them that, if they did not smoke reverently, they would be punished, "because this tobacco is mine." (Plants are often "owned" by animals in South American myths.) According to the story, the men who disobeyed the bat were turned into otters. Another possible aspect of the tobacco relationship is the fact that fire often occurs with bats in folklore (although it may also derive from observing large numbers of bats emerging from a cave at twilight, often appearing like a great cloud of smoke). In folk tales, supernatural bats often burn their victims or they are themselves destroyed by fire. In addition, natural fires in caves sometimes occur from spontaneous combustion of bat guano. Although bat depictions on Pre-Columbian artifacts do not hint at fire or smoke, the cultural association of bats with fire suggests that bats might have had similar connotations in ancient times.

A "Moon hatchet" could be stylized as "Luna's Ax or Hatchet", a fetish weapon made with silver.

[Vermiis]

I'm a big fan of the battybats. I too was a bit disappointed by the W20 KB when I saw the writeup they got. Still, it was nice to see some extended information about them. Maybe they can create another KS for a Camazotz Tribe Book, that'd be pretty sweet. Or tack it on as a reward for a future KS project, although the most fitting ones have already been done.

[Sakuryu]

I still want Changeling 20 and yes a Lost Breedbook for my Khara and Camaz. I looked into folklore and I'm using it. I like to draw from both the heritages of the Camazotz, not just the last remnants. I think they get an enter the dark umbra gift too don't they? If not I'll just let them use the Umbral Danser gift.

[Lyrics Of War]

In tails from trails mexico (part of the wild west line) it states that the last Camazotz died guarding aztec (mayan? can't remember) ruins. They are sacred sites to them, reminding them of their failure to maintain the human population.

[Sakuryu]

Yes that's the last place they were located but they were also located in Europe as stated in CB20. In fact I just basically used one of the many bat maps online and said "That's where Camazotz are.

[Laughing Hyena]

In tails from trails mexico (part of the wild west line) it states that the last Camazotz died guarding aztec (mayan? can't remember) ruins. They are sacred sites to them, reminding them of their failure to maintain the human population.

From the White Wolf Wiki:

The Camazotz became withdrawn from their brethren after the War of Rage, mistrusting any Fera who still consorted with the wolves. Their relation with the Mokole, however, was congenial. The Camazotz of the Eastern hemisphere withdrew from their allies among the Beast Courts short time after the War of Rage. Although they still served the Emerald Mother, the Asian Camazotz became even more insular and secretive. As time went on, the Camazotz began to strain their alliances with other Changing Breeds. In Asia, the Camazotz refused to accept that the Hakken and Stargazers were not complicit in the murder of werebats across Europe and North America. Driven and obsessed, they shunned the Beast Courts for tolerating the Garou’s presence and vanished when Bat himself became mad after the massacre in South America to the Australian colonies of their kind. The Mokole and Bunyip accepted them and tried to ease their pain, but could not help them, as the Camazotz failed to soothe their patron. The last Camazotz colony had vanished into the Umbra by the time the first European garou set a foot on Australian soil.

So in addition to South America: you have Asian, European, North American and Australian bat myths/folklore to draw from. Wiki has the short version of World Myths on Bats here. As well as Bats Magazine.
For my area (Chumash), there's some stories on Bat in December's Child edited by Thomas C. Blackburn. The stories usually involve Coyote and Bat together. Bat is noted for using a Bow and arrows. The Maidu also have a story about Bat-man.

[Laughing Hyena]

The section on both are very very lacking for renown, rites, fetishes etcetera.
But I'm doing a Camazotz revival right now and the player whose becoming the first in this new age is wondering about renown, fetishes, delirium, and other stuff like that so he can be more complete..

On Delirium: You may have missed it on page 217 for W20 Changing Breeds, but it states that the Camazotz's Crinos form incites full Delirium.
On Renown: Each of the different breeds value different renown depending on their roles. Since the Camazotz were similar to the Corax in being messengers: Then they value Glory, Honor, and Wisdom. With Wisdom being highly valued.
On Fetishes: Page 241 of W20 Changing Breeds has Shadow-Curse Doll (Level 4, Gnosis 8).

Other Fetishes to create/make:
Luna's Claw (Hatchet/Ax/Sacrificial knife. Similar to a Great Klaive or Klaive, here's an image of what one looks like, either used in rituals or stealth combat depending on what spirit is used in it's making. For combat, it causes aggravated damage and is more successful to hit if you aim for someone's neck).
Hunahpu's Blowgun
Bat's Bow (Can use Bane Arrows and other types of arrows. Camazotz probably make arrows with a spirit of silence or stealth in them.)
Gifts:
Thousand Fangs of Stone: A Camazotz can bite into a piece of stone or obsidian and then spit out a bunch of sharp arrowheads at their enemy.
Ideas for Talens:
Darts
Arrows
Luck Charms
Tobacco

Also at one point, Camazotz and Nuwisha were known for sometimes working together.

[Yakecen-Sings]

I love you, LH. You're like a living Werewolf index.

[Sakuryu]

On Delirium: You may have missed it on page 217 for W20 Changing Breeds, but it states that the Camazotz's Crinos form incites full Delirium.
On Renown: Each of the different breeds value different renown depending on their roles. Since the Camazotz were similar to the Corax in being messengers: Then they value Glory, Honor, and Wisdom. With Wisdom being highly valued.
On Fetishes: Page 241 of W20 Changing Breeds has Shadow-Curse Doll (Level 4, Gnosis 8).

Other Fetishes to create/make:
Luna's Claw (Hatchet/Ax/Sacrificial knife. Similar to a Great Klaive or Klaive, here's an image of what one looks like, either used in rituals or stealth combat depending on what spirit is used in it's making. For combat, it causes aggravated damage and is more successful to hit if you aim for someone's neck).
Hunahpu's Blowgun
Bat's Bow (Can use Bane Arrows and other types of arrows. Camazotz probably make arrows with a spirit of silence or stealth in them.)
Gifts:
Thousand Fangs of Stone: A Camazotz can bite into a piece of stone or obsidian and then spit out a bunch of sharp arrowheads at their enemy.
Ideas for Talens:
Darts
Arrows
Luck Charms
Tobacco

Also at one point, Camazotz and Nuwisha were known for sometimes working together.

Seriously \o/ Awesome! If you can think of more I'd love it. Like We're at the point where the player is going to have the rite done and I need to have the rite enacted and I'm still kinda blanking on it! >_<

[Derzhuzad]

For rites and rituals for the Camazotz I would consider looking at Corax rituals as they are just the solar opposite but same purpose. So some basic rites from the Corax tribe book worth considering are Talisman Dedication (1), Creation Rite(2)*, Rite of Becoming (2), Memory Theft (4); The Hengeyokai book also notes that the Tengu are pretty good with punishment rites, and as holders of secrets as well I would consider Stone of Scorn (2) and Satire Rite (3) from the WtA Core appropriate. Also from the WtA core Descent into the Underworld (3) may be appropriate because they seem to have an affinity with the dark umbra but can't really access it otherwise unless they have a level 5 gift.

Rites you may want to give them access to from the Gurahl book include Rite of Finding the Ancient Cache (3), which basically comes from the Gurahl hiding things in caves before the war of rage. The rite allows them to find these hidden things after so many successful uses of the rite. The Camazotz could use this to find those things once they come back from Umbra. Basically play on the storyline that they always planned to return and this was their insurance policy, gives you an easy reason to have your players moving around a lot. Another rite the Gurahl have is Rite of the Ban (4), which I also use for the Khara in one game, which allows the user to put a mental block on someone with regards to a specific piece of information.

There is one rite from the Nagah book I would also suggest you consider, Invocation of the Spirit Messanger (1), because of their secretive nature and the fact that sometime they need to get information out quickly and securely. The rite allows them to summon a bat spirit that will carry a message to any colony of Camazotz the caster wishes. With a return game, communication between reestablishing colonies will be huge and it suits them. (I normally give my Corax players access to this rite as well just with raven spirits)

I use a variant of Rite of Claiming(3) from the Bastet book to forge a permenant Umbral Cavern but in the case of the Creation rite I would consider allowing them to forge a temporary Umbral Cavern as well, in the case that while on the move they came across another potential Camazotz, they would still be able to perform the rite. This temporary Umbral Cavern could be fashioned by adding 3 hours to the casting time of the Creation Rite when an establish Umbral Cavern is not near by.

*On the creation rite, which I call Rite of Embracing Darkness but you can call anything you like, it is noted that they use a rite is much like that of the Corax so that is what I use for the system. Using an already established or temporary Umbral Cavern it takes one hour for the new Camazotz to pass through the physical cavern into the its umbral counterpart, thus binding him with the spiritual energy of the cavern. As mentioned all of the costs and rolls are identical to the Rite of Fetish Egg.

For Backgrounds I suggest access to the Secrets brackground, and I would play with a Den-Realm or Umbral Glade like background for the Umbral Caverns they are mentioned to have had in the CB20 book.

For a fetish I draw again from the Corax tribe book, Silver Claws (1, 5 gnosis), is a combat fetish which is also kind of blood rite-ish which the Camazotz were known for and it can be worn in all of their forms.

Merits and Flaws I would consider; Garou Campanion (3, Merit) from the Gurahl book, most likely a Shadow Lord ally from the Children of Bat Camp. Strong Claws (4, Merit) from Corax Book, bats hang upside when they sleep, and Vertigo (5, Flaw) also from the Corax book, you weren't born a bat so flying may suck for you.

I am sure I have more fetishes and talons somewhere in my notes but this is all I could remember off the top of my head, I hope it helps.

[Zeke Hubris]

There was a lot of Camazotz information here: http://www.shadownesssence.com/forum.../221-camazotz/

[Windthin]

This is my take on it al. I have five flights named, and will note that in my setting they were recently returned (a few years ago) as part of a LONG-running plot: http://wodcityofangels.com/page.php?218.5

[Damian May]

Maybe also check out the Werewolf: The Savage Age series on Storytellers Vault for more Khara and Camazotz material.

[grimjaws]

Maybe also check out the Werewolf: The Savage Age series on Storytellers Vault for more Khara and Camazotz material.

Tribebook Khara is here, or part of two different bundles, an Intro to the Savage Age or the War of Rage; and Camazotz is currently being written. There is a Discord channel where we writers and fans hang out and discuss the Savage Age. We definitely take fan feedback into account in our writing, so fans of the bats should weigh in soon as I think the book is fairly close to done.