Cernonous

Cernonous is a Metis Theurge Child of Gaia. He lives in Australia.

He has succeeded in cloning the Bunyip, but something seems off about them and he doesn't notice the madness in their eyes...^[1]

Biography[]

Cernonous was born of two Children of Gaia. His mother was of Serbian descent, his father Filipino. They believed that their love was not unnatural, for surely it came from Gaia, not the Wyrm. Cernonous was raised without guilt, and it came as a shock to him when he first experienced the prejudice and scorn most metis experience. For many years he lived bewildered and frightened, gradually coming to know shame. Cernonous perceived that his horns were what marked him out to other Garou as unnatural, and so he swore to enter human society and learn all he could about genetics, in order to free himself of his metis taint.

Years of study taught Cernonous much, and, under the name Curwen Nostrum, he became one of the rising stars in Australian genetic research. The answer to his quest still eluded him, however, and Cernonous began shunning humans and Garou alike in favor of furious research and heavy drinking. Late one night, while staggering along Bondi Beach singing drunkenly to the stars, Cernonous received a vision of Gaia. He saw the Goddess dancing down a path of moonlight reflected across the waves, a thylacine fawning at her feet.

Since that day Cernonous has devoted himself to the task of bringing back the Bunyip. He believes that he might find the Bunyip gene in a thylacine, if any still live in Tasmania's wilderness, or failing that, viable cells in bones or hair from museum specimens. With his knowledge, Cernonous hopes to extract DNA and clone the Bunyip, reintroducing them to the world. To date he has had no success, but Cernonous perseveres. He keeps his research secret from other Garou. Were the Red Talons to discover that he sought to return the Bunyip to the world, Cernonous believes that Mamu and his tribe would not hesitate to kill him. The only Garou Cernonous has entrusted with his secret is Darius Winchester, the Silver Fang king, who has funded his research. Unknown to all, Cernonous's research is monitored by the Progenitor Convention of the Technocracy. Its members have not acted to prevent his discoveries, hoping to claim the results as their own.

His dedication to the Goddess and his strength of spirit caused Cernonous's election by his tribe as the Nimbin Protectorate's Arm of the Goddess, and thus a part-time representative on the Jindabyne Council. The time he is forced to spend away from his true work chafes at Cernonous's patience. So does Innana, Voice of the Goddess, whom he considers hopelessly optimistic and naïve. Having experienced the bigotry of his fellow Garou firsthand, Cernonous knows well the evil they are capable of and believes it a waste of time seeking to guide them toward Gaia's love. He expresses his bitterness by constantly reminding his fellow Garou of the War of Tears.

Appearance[]

Cernonous' Homid form appears as a thick-set man of late middle age, with a faintly Polynesian cast to his swarthy features. His dark hair is receding, his eyes are grim, and his expression is dour. He is capable of kind words, and his occasional smiles are like the sun shining through clouds on an overcast day. His Lupus form is that of a gaunt, gray wolf with small horns growing from his forehead. These horns, his metis deformity, are evident in all of his forms save Homid. It is because of this disfigurement that he bears the name Cernonous, after the Horned God of Celtic myth, consort of the Goddess. When dealing with humans he calls himself Professor Curwen Nostrum.

Stats[]

Position: Jindabyne Council Member (Part-time) and Arm of the Goddess
Breed: Metis
Auspice: Theurge
Tribe: Children of Gaia
Nature/Demeanor: Fanatic/Curmudgeon
Attributes: Strength 4 (6/8/7/5), Dexterity 3 (3/4/5/5), Stamina 5 (7/8/8/7), Charisma 2, Manipulation 3/2, Appearance 1 (0/0/1/1), Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 3/2
Abilities: Athletics 3, Brawl 3, Dodge 3, Expression 4/3
Skills: Animal Ken 4/3, Leadership 3/1, Stealth 1
Knowledges: Computer 2, Enigmas 2, Investigation 4, Medicine 3, Rituals 3, Science 5
Backgrounds: Contacts 3
Gifts: Create Element, Mother's Touch, Resist Pain, Sense Wyrm, Curse of Hatred, Reshape Object, Gift of the Echidna (Porcupine)
Rank: 4/3
Rites: Rite of Contrition, Rite of the Totem, Rite of Ostracism
Fetishes: Shard of Despair, Vulcan's Interface
Metis Disfigurement: Horns
Rage 4, Gnosis 4, Willpower 5