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 ••)

• 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: Astoria's long history of being settled and its proximity to both woods and rivers inform the kinds of spirits to be found here.
  • Nature: Seagulls, fish (river), cats, dogs, raccoons (particularly near the University), rats (near docks), pigeons, blackberry brambles, sycamores, douglas fir, oak, elm
  • Artificial: Car, street, building, ship (on river), data
  • Elementals: Water (near river), rain, cloud, aluminum and tin (near canneries)
  • Conceptuals: Despair, apathy, drug abuse, alcoholism
  • Celestials: Lunar (esp tidal, reflection of moon in water), mercurial (shipping industry), saturnine (misery)

Unique Spirits

• The Columbia Maiden (Rank 4 Water Elemental): Though only seen rarely, the Columbia Maiden can occasionally be seen moving up and down the length of the Columbia in Shadow. She has the beautiful bronze skin of a Native American woman, and her barge is crafted of cedar planks, with old, nearly-banished iconography of the tribes. She is wrapped in chains, however, the links of which are emblazoned with symbols for money from the world over, and her body is wrapped in packing tape, save for her sorrowful brown eyes. She is chained to the barge, and various packing crates are piled around her.
• Cedar Promenade (Rank 3 Artificial Spirit): The spirit of Astoria's boardwalk appears as a child balanced atop a sea lion, its fist full of saltwater taffy, and wearing a necklace of shells. It is a very cheerful spirit, but constantly demands money (Essence) for its attention and aid.