Maskiku

Maskiku or the Omen Grinder is a spirit.

Background[]

The Omen Grinder does not think in terms of then. The past has no meaning and the future is but the vague promise of more of the same. Luckily for Maskiku, that means more slouching in the dark corners of dreams and chewing on the edges, which is precisely what it desires. The creature exists in the now, with little to no concern for its past.

Maskiku recognizes that it is incredibly old, that it nibbled on the first dreams of the first dreamers, but that others hunted it for its crimes, and trapped it in a realm with no minds and no dreams. Half a century ago, the dreams of mankind reached out to it, to its prison, freeing it to return from its long banishment. Now it has focused its predations on the descendants of the creature that imprisoned it so long ago: the Uratha.

Description[]

The Omen Grinder has no constant form. Instead it adapts itself to whatever dream it has invaded. It often takes on a form that is predatory in nature, whether that of a vicious woodland wolf, a hazy cloud of mosquitoes or even an avaricious, crisp-suited banker. It occasionally adopts the form of accepted dream monsters such as the mare, the hag, or the succubus or incubus, especially if the dreamer seems inclined to fantasize about such entities anyway. Oddly, Maskiku won't (or perhaps can't) take the form of or claim to be Father Wolf or Mother Luna.

Storytelling Hints[]

While Maskiku has a rudimentary ability to communicate in the First Tongue, its mind is an almost solely instinctual construct. Hunt, feed, rest, repeat. Its primary imperative is survival, and it will do whatever is necessary to do so. The Omen Grinder communicates in a manner more-or-less appropriate to its chosen form (The above-mentioned banker will simply speak, while the cloud of mosquitoes may form words in the air or buzz out a halting speech.) Maskiku can easily adopt frightening forms in order to intimidate its enemies and will not hesitate to do so.

Stats[]

Name: Maskiku
Concept: Omen Grinder
Rank: 4
Attributes: Power 8, Finesse 12, Resistance 6
Corpus: 0 (see Willpower)
Willpower: 14
Essence: 50 (max)
Size: N/A
Speed: N/A
Defense: 12
Initiative: 18
Armor: 6
Influences: Dreams ****
Numina: Dream Eating, Harrow, the Nightly Dance, Shapeshifting
Ban: The Omen Grinder cannot exist outside of dreams. While it has a limited ability to travel between dreamers (see below), this weakness can be used to trap it in a single mind. If Maskiku were somehow torn from the realm of dreams, it would become a weak and flailing thing, its Attributes reduced to 1.
Notes: Maskiku is a non-physical entity and cannot be harmed through normal combat. It can be fought in dreams, however. The following changes apply to dream combat:

• Attack: Highest of Intelligence, Strength or Presence + Combat Skill of choice. Maskiku uses Power + Finesse.
• Defense: Highest of Wits, Dexterity or Manipulation. Maskiku uses Finesse.
• Armor: Equal to highest of Resolve, Stamina or Composure. Maskiku uses Resistance.
• Health: Willpower.

If the Omen Grinder is reduced to zero Willpower it loses the mental fortitude necessary for cohesion and ceases to be. If the character is reduced to zero Willpower, she immediately awakens (devoid of Willpower). A character that regularly falls in dream combat to Maskiku may develop a derangement.

Supernatural Powers:
Dream Control: Maskiku becomes master of a sleeper's dreams, controlling each aspect of them as a director does a film. This necessitates an instant action and a successful Power + Finesse roll.
Dream Eating: After hijacking a sleeper's dreams with Dream Control, the Omen Grinder can consume the dream to regain Essence. It rolls Power minis the subject's Composure. If the Omen Grinder succeeds, it immediately regains one Essence per success; furthermore, the victim gains no Willpower for having rested. While the roll is an instant action, Maskiku requires three hours to fully absorb and digest a dream (during which time it must remain in the dream being consumed). The entity may eat a single sleeper's dreams only once per night. The ability to change dreamstuff into Essence seems to be unique to Maskiku.
The Nightly Dance: Maskiku can, as an instant action, spend one Essence to leave one sleeper's dreams and travel to the dreams of another sleeper within two miles. If no other dreamer is available, the Omen Grinder is trapped.
Shapeshifting: Maskiku changes its form as an instant action by spending one Essence and rolling Power + Finesse. This change may grant bonuses on rolls appropriate to the change. Maskiku may, for example, change into a being of angelic beauty, effectively gaining a bonus to all Social rolls; conversely, it may shift into a terrible monstrosity with ragged claws, gaining a bonus to attack rolls. This bonus s equal to the number if successes rolled on the Shapeshifting roll.

What is This Thing?[]

The Uratha that have had the misfortune of being haunted by Maskiku only know three things for sure: that it claims to be incredibly old, that it can reap Essence from the slumber of the Uratha, and that it boasts great power. Unlike normal spirits, however, which are defined by the Aspect of the world they reflect, Maskiku seems defined by a lack of such stasis.

While the Storyteller is encouraged to define the Omen Grinder's background for herself, this chapter assumes that it is one of the formless idigam (p. 37, Werewolf: The Forsaken). Maskiku has tied itself to dreams, exposing itself to attack through dreams. Its ability to consume dreams for Essence (and massive Essence pool) and its shapeshifting prowess are functions of its nature. The Storyteller needs no further information than that provided here to use Maskiku in a story, but those with an interest in the idigam can find a wealth of information on these most alien of spirits in Night Horrors: Wolfsbane.

References[]

• WTF: Signs of the Moon, p. 199-200