Astoria University Shadow

Gauntlet Rating: 3 (-1 to interacting)

Area Features

The university Shadow microcosm is very much its own environment. Stone walkways cut a path through a wooded forest. Spirits of academia and learning, knowledge and eduction use these paths to move from site to site along the paths, but predator's eyes watch from the shadows of the dark wood between those paths. Wolf spirits linger and occasionally snatch the academic prey from the safety of their paths. Buildings are clearings, sided with stone buildings, but open to the air above, and with chinks that allow predators to slink into their spaces.

During nights of the full moon, a great bonfire will randomly crop up somewhere in the Shadows of the university, and wolves burst from their hiding places to feast. Once they have eaten, they retire to the fireside to howl and dance blood-spattered dances. There is no doubt on these nights: this may be a place of learning, but predators hold sway here.

The Quad Locus (Locus ••)

Academia Resonance

Effects: Gain +1 Willpower and -1 Rage when entering places of learning (maximum once per day). Spending Essence grants those around you with Resolve of your Primal Urge or lower gain one use of the Rote ability for an Intelligence-based Skill roll within the next day. Cause: Absorbing an amount of Academia Resonance Essence equal to Composure in a single roll. End: Essence pool drops to an amount equal to or lower than Primal Urge rating.

• Resonance: Academia (Artificial)
• Touchstone: In the center of the fountain stands a statue of a robed woman with an open book in one hand, and her other hand outstretched in welcome. This is the touchstone of the locus.
• Influence: The influence of this locus covers the majority of the quad, but nothing else beyond.
• Spirits: Nature spirits are rare, save for the predominance of raccoon spirits, as the Bandit is the university's mascot; the Little Bandit can always be found around the locus, as well. There are a great deal of Artificial spirits of those things associated with learning and education that flock around the quad locus. Conceptuals of hope, education, lust and competition are common here, as are the occasional mercurial Celestial. Considering the presence of werewolves, most powerful spirits give this locus a wide berth.
• Visions: Those that can use Essence may detect the locus' presence with a Wits + Composure test (-3 penalty):
  • A sudden near-panic at schoolwork yet unfinished. Regret for school work that wasn't up to par. Absent-mindedly extracting notes or textbook and beginning to peruse them.
  • Strange flickering beings, seen out of the corner of the eyes that seem to crowd around those who are studying. They also follow and menace those who stand around chatting or socializing.
  • Words seem to crawl across the ground, emanating forth from the Touchstone. It's a scrawl in a thousand different handwriting styles, creeping like subtle vines across the surface of the quad, eventually bleeding back into the environs.
• The center of the university, a locus heavily influenced by the caretaking of the Astoria pack.

City Center Spirits

• Typical Spirits:
  • Nature: Wolves, raccoons, pigeons, sycamores, douglas fir, oak, elm
  • Artificial: Building, data
  • Elementals: Rain, fire (on bonfire nights)
  • Conceptuals: Education, knowledge, learning, predation
  • Celestials: Lunar, mercurial (information, learning)

Unique Spirits

• The Little Bandit (Rank 3 Artificial Spirit): Originally one of the local raccoon spirits of the forest nearby, the Little Bandit has supped long and deep on the Academia-Resonanced Essence in the Quad Locus. He has taken on a strong identity with the university's mascot, and gained greatly in intelligence. He is now properly the place-spirit for the University of Astoria, although still a bashful one not prone to conversation.