Aunt Tess

From Gothpoodle

Iron Master Rahu Alpha (Lodge of Scars)

Tess was the head of the Phelan family and alpha of its joint packs. She is aunt to Gary, Janice, Michael, Sean, Lynn, Michelle, Jack, Martin, Kelly, and Jennifer. She was killed on Friday, September 14, 2007 by Phillip Hellstrom, disguised as Mike Phelan. She is interred at the graveyard near the Phelan Cairn.

Description

Hishu

A slight woman who looks to be in her 50s (actually 73) with short grey hair, clouded grey eyes, and freckles. She has numerous small scars on her face, neck, and both hands. On her left shoulder is a tattoo of a hummingbird. She appears to be very healthy and has a commanding presence that belies her short stature. She wears loose blouses, generally with the sleeves rolled up, jeans, and sturdy low boots. Her knife is kept in a sheath in her boot or, rarely, on her belt.

Urhan

A small, white-furred wolf. When using Anybeast, she appears as a white hound. In all forms, she has clouded eyes.

Storytelling Hints

Tess is a strong-willed, confident woman with a frank manner and a kind smile but a quick and fierce temper. To those who aren’t Uratha or wolf-blooded, she’s a terrifying old woman. She is utterly devoted to her family and takes her duties very seriously. At times, she gets a bit wistful about the past and those whom she’s lost. She expects obediance and doesn’t brook disrespect or pointless arguments.

Stats

• Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3.
• Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3.
• Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3.
• Mental Skills: Crafts 1, Investigation 2, Medicine 1, Occult (Spirits) 3, Politics 1.
• Physical Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Grapple) 4, Drive 1, Stealth 2, Survival 2, Weaponry (Knife) 3.
• Social Skills: Animal Ken 1, Empathy 1, Intimidation (Stare Downs) 3, Persuasion 2, Streetwise 1, Subterfuge 1.
• Merits: Danger Sense 2, Fast Reflexes 2, Fighting Style (Tooth and Claw) 5, Languages (First Tongue) 1, Quick Draw 1, Resources 2.
• Primal Urge: 4
• Willpower: 6
• Harmony: 7
• Virtue: Faith
• Vice: Wrath
• Health: 8
• Initiative: 9
• Defense: 3
• Speed: 11
• Renown: Cunning 4, Glory 5, Honor 2, Purity 5.
• Gifts: (1) Clarity, Know Name, Left-Handed Spanner, Warning Growl; (2) Anybeast, Attunement, Luna’s Dictum, Mighty Bound; (3) Death Grip, Sagacity, Taste of Flaws*, Voice of Command; (4) Know the Path, Rage Armor, Savage Rending; (5) Luna’s Fury, Might of the Full Moon.
• Rituals: 5; Rites: All gifts in the main book and Rage plus (4) Claws of Ashes.
• Fetishes: Fury Fang (Reflexive; +4 when using all-out attack) 4, Gnawdowser (Instant; find weakest point in gauntlet) 2, Hummingbird’s Heart (Tattoo; Instant; +2 Speed and Defense for two turns) 2, MasterKey (Reflexive) 2.
• Flaws: Poor Sight (-2 to sight perception rolls).

Combat

Type	Damage	Hishu	Dalu	Gauru	Urshul	Urhan
Bite	2 (L)			12	11	9
Claw	1 (L)			11	10
Grapple	0 (B)	8	9	11	10	8
Knife	2 (L)	7	8	10

Background

Tess Keegan was a wild red-haired tomboy in her youth who grew into a strong woman with an unshakeable will and hot temper. She was always utterly devoted to her father and was his favorite. He helped her through the difficulty of her early First Change and was one of the few who did not fault her somehow for her inability to have children. She became her father’s champion, the strong arm to his even judgement. When he died in 1968, she went into a Death Rage and slew the spirit which did it single-handed. Afterwards, she took control of the pack and has been at its head ever since. When Damien murdered her brother, she was the one who found him out but was prevented by Glynna from killing him, which has been part of the reason for the coolness between the two Phelan packs ever since. During the Castro War, she led her pack against the Pure and the Beshilu, but when the wound beneath the street was discovered, she entered it alone, unwilling to lose another of her kin. When she emerged, the Plague Seer was dead and the wound was closed but she was blind, sick to the point of death, and mangled beyond recognition. In time, her wounds healed and her fever broke, though her vision never fully recovered. Shortly afterwards, she was inducted into the Lodge of Scars.

Recent Events

The injury of her nephew Sean prompted her to challenge Lee for control of her pack but Tess was defeated. Once word of this got downtown, Hugh declared himself head of the family, though this was short-lived as Tess soon showed up and defeated him in single combat. At the urging her her niece Michelle, she has moved downtown to take control of the entire family and made her the new alpha of the Tree-Speakers. She retains a house in Inner Sunset but is currently living in an apartment near the Financial District.