Little Rajan
Bellows Rain

Talchwi of the River Keepers
Uzmati of the Sleuth of Two Trees
Honorary of the Court of Bamboo Talons

Description


Homid: ~Quietude tempered this soul. A tall drink of water at six feet, most of this fellow's heavy build is disguised with generous attire. Wrangler jeans sweep down over leather Wolverine boots. A zipped-up flannel jacket is pulled over the man's full torso. An attached hood is usually drawn up over his head. That hides all but that his hair is black and loose, maybe three inches in length. It shadows but not hides the man's creased, weatherworn features. Dark eyes are hidden enough by the hood that the Oriental slant would not be noticed unless the hood is cast off. Easily presumed as your typical Midwestern local, Little Rajan speaks very little. Maybe he listens instead.~

OOC: Appearance 2; Succor 6, Honor 10, Wisdom 8

Arthren: ~The clothing the man wears strains, even tears, as his large build increases immensely. He gains almost two feet in height, and his muscles bulge through whatever he's managed to keep wearing. His hair is more wild and his flesh is quite hirsute, though the dark hair is fine not coarse. His fingernails harden and deepen in hue to a stiff yellow, and his teeth seem just a little too sharp for human. Little else changes besides the steely glint in the Rajan's eyes.~

OOC: Appearance 0; Succor 6, Honor 10, Wisdom 8

Crinos: ~And now in this massive shape, Rajan springs from eight feet tall to eleven feet tall and gains hundreds of pounds of musclebound weight. All pretense of humanity falls away save for the tendency to stand on two giant paws -- not that this is unusual for an outraged bear! His entire body is sheened now in a smooth layer of dark brown fur. Unlike most bears, it is not shaggy or bristling. But the ursine head bristles -- his muzzle practically frothes. Those glinting eyes now shine with bestial ferocity, the massive paws tipped with long, wicked, iron-like hooks. On his chest, interrupting the sleek brown fur is a horseshoe-shaped yellowish marking. Like a badge of honor, it represents the sun bear from which Rajan descends. And like the sun, in this war-form Little Rajan is prepared to shed the light of justice and righteousness on all creatures of darkness.~

OOC: Appearance 0; Reduced Delirium; Succor 6, Honor 10, Wisdom 8

Bjornen: ~While not quite as huge as his Crinos form, Rajan acquires a notable gain in weight and length compared to his breed form. The werebear's claws are longer and his teeth much sharper, and he is probably twice as big as his breed form. Besides these primal differences, Rajan looks much like he does in Ursus: same fur -- if a tad thicker, same "rising sun" marking. Whether loping forward towards an enemy or prey or towering high and issuing a blood-freezing bellow, this cave bear throwback is terrifying to behold.~

OOC: Appearance 0; Succor 6, Honor 10, Wisdom 8

Ursus: ~Rajan's smallest but most exotic shape is his natural breed form. As a Malay sun bear, Rajan would seem most out of place anywhere in America but a zoo. Of course, that's where he escaped from! Nevertheless, sight of a sun bear in the Midwestern wilderness can cause trouble; Rajan is cautious when stalking the forest and riverbank. Of course, naturalists know: the sun bear is small, no more than four feet in length and 100 pounds in weight. Its thin layer of fur and sloth-like claws and paws equip it well for an arboreal life best suited in a subtropical climate. But in spite of its "inoffensive" berth compared to the great grizzly, the sun bear is just as notoriously bad-tempered. Feed at your own risk, bucko.~

OOC: Appearance 2; Succor 6, Honor 10, Wisdom 8

"Do not test the Earth's patience, there is still much to learn."

History


Youth

The first few years of a bear's life can be hard to recall with clarity. Little Rajan remembered only that it was filled with tall, lush trees and flora that was good to munch on. There was a beautiful river for which Rajan was named. It almost always felt hot, even when it rained. It was Borneo. Rajan was born in 1988 in these woods, and he recalls his parents. As sun bears, the smallest bear in the world, there was not much reason for men to fear. But Rajan knew what happened to his parents. He heard the bangs. He knew they were dead and he despaired. Not long later, he heard another bang, and then a great pain in his flank. He toppled over, trying to see what bit him so roughly, but his sight grew shaky and his legs wobbled. Dizzy, the cub fell over and fell into the deepest sleep he ever could recall.

His captors hauled their tranquillized victim from the rainforest and onto a ship. He was kept drugged on the freighter and even now Rajan could not remember what happened. He knew only that he was delivered to America, to the San Diego Zoo. He was given into the care of a gentle human woman. But as gentle as she was, Rajan wanted his parents. He cried and struggled, even clawed and bit, but the humans wore hard rock (metal gloves) on their hands, and leashed and lassoed him into submission. Miserable at first, the gentle caretaker nourished the cub and named him Rajan for the river he was born by. Rajan never learned her name. Never quite domesticated as any wild animal is ought to be, he nevertheless calmed down and gave in to the captivity. He had no choice. The cages were too strong and the walls too high. His pen was nice, filled with trees and bushes and flowers mostly like home. But it was not the same. Rajan yearned for freedom, but he was just a little bear.

People came and gaped at the exotic sun bear from near and far, but Rajan refused to give them a show. He slept in his little fake cave, coming out mostly at night when the people were away. Muzzle to the sky, he wondered as only animals do about the moon and stars. They seemed so bright and beautiful, but so far away and untouchable. Looking up at the sky one night was what made Rajan smell the ripe coconuts hanging from a palm tree in his pen. Oooooooh...he wanted. He wanted now! Rajan leapt at the tree, sloth-like claws trying but failing to drag himself up that tree. He tried to even ram himself into the base of the tree to make it shake the nut free, but that failed, too. It only succeeded in him banging his head hard enough to give a rotten headache. Whimpering, the bear lay down at the foot of the tree and slept.

First Change & Tutelage

And Rajan dreamed. He dreamed of the coconut tree swaying in the wind, taunting him with treats he could not reach. He dreamed of the moon shining brighter like a spotlight on that tree. And then the stars shone so bright, each one, that he was nearly blinded. The stars began to swim in his dream, floating all over the sky, before finally forming...pictures. Two bears -- were they his mother and father? -- and they spoke to him as one voice but he could not remember what they said.

When the stars went away and the coconut tree stopped swaying, it was morning and Rajan woke up. He looked directly up that tall tree, eying those aloof coconuts. And his efforts were renewed. He leapt up and tried to climb. He barreled into the tree. It wouldn't work. Human voices he began to hear at the perimeter of his pen. Frustrated, Rajan rose up on his hind legs and roared at the tree. And to his shock, and the startled humans' dismay, his bellow was heard as loud as the lion, shaking through the entire zoo. And Rajan was growing...bigger and bigger. Eyes glossed over with angry intent, the terrifying (crinos!) bear swatted the top of the tree. The sound thwack sent every coconut flying clear out of the pen. To the scattering men and women's horror, the werebear crashed through the stonewall of the pen, chasing his snack -- and rushing his way from freedom. Naturally, the Delirium set in soon after. Animal control was dispatched but they never recovered Rajan.

Someone got to him first.

Holds-the-Bridge was an old Gurahl of great peace and indomitable spirit. Where he stood guard, none passed. Where conflict threatened, his resolution came to be. Of California brown bear descent, he was an old River Keeper, a friend of redwood trees, and as rumor had it an ally of the local Garou. He sensed the First Change coming in Rajan and sought the new Gurahl out. He met the confused youth in the nearby forests in his natural Ursus form. Without explanation, Holds-the-Bridge wrestled Rajan down and hurried he and the cub into the Penumbra as animal control closed onto their location.

Once in that serene realm, the explanations and Rajan's Gallivant began. At first, Rajan was angry with the older, gruff Rishi. But it soon faded as he realized what Holds-the-Bridge was -- and what he was. Their fellowship came as a natural necessity and eventually blossomed into brotherhood. Rajan devoured all the knowledge Holds offered, eager to learn more but demonstrating more and more patience as his training went on. Holds-the-Bridges took Rajan all through the sequoia forest as he taught the cub. Rajan felt smaller, more humble, and awed before these true giants. Within a year, Rajan learned all he needed to know and the Gallivant was coming to a close.

So Holds-the-Bridge took Little Rajan to his first Great Council, held in Wyoming State Park. Rajan felt out of place as the only sun bear there. He felt smaller than a cub might normally feel, but the other dozen or so Gurahl made him feel right at home. He watched the preliminary rituals take place, keeping out of the way. Then, with one other cub named Vincent Longhorn, Rajan stepped forward before the four representative elders. Both cubs gave their names and thanked their Buri-Jaan, then recited the Code of Ursa; Rajan did so more haltingly due to his still weak grasp of human language. Then the cubs proceeded to the Dance of Centuries. Unfortunately, Rajan was not a dancer at all. He managed the steps as Holds-the-Bridges taught, but fell out of sync to the drums often. Perhaps he was just a poor dancer, but the elders did not seem to mind. Holds-the-Bridges -- presiding for the River Keepes in fact -- was whispering to his brethren during the Dance. What he said Rajan did not know. But when it was all over and he was returning to the sequoia with Holds-the-Bridges, he now held the office of Kovi and Arcas. He did not yet know what his Lifework may be, but he was ready and open to learn. But his Buri-Jaan made it clear: the Klamath River was his protectorate. Rajan needed to find his own, as it did no good to have two River Keepers for one river.

Early Years

So Little Rajan set out his own, exploring the woodlands into Oregon and Washington State. He became better acquainted with humankind and their ways. Indeed, he overcame his original shyness with a very keen and disturbingly curious appeal. He began to nose into trailer parks and backpacker camps -- often in his natural form. Usually, he was wise enough to do so when no one was around. But he was caught a few times and chased off with bear mace or just fearful shouts. He never took it personally, but often left a few entertaining (at least to his mind) surprises in the humans' tents or on their porchsteps. His trek took him along the Williamette and then by 1996 to the Columbia River, where he met another River Keeper, called Ages' Flow. This old Kieh was pleased to meet Rajan, having heard of him from Holds-the-Bridges himself -- the two were old friends apparently.

Rajan listened to Ages' Flow's tales in her log cabin for a time, bringing the gray-haired woman a fresh fish everyday in exchange for her hospitality. He asked about himself, about sun bears and Asian Gurahl. To this the Kieh frowned and admitted she had no answer, but she would ask others at the next meeting. Indeed, it was almost due for Rajan's first spring Regalia. A year had gone by on his own, and he had seen and learned much of the world around him. He traveled to the Midwest with Ages' Flow to the Mississipi where other Keepers were gathered. He looked over the artworks his brethren were making, and sat with Aunt Lucy Whetstone to learn a bit of leather-working. His human form that he had assumed also made him feel out of place; they were all Caucasian or Native American or a blend thereof, but he was clearly Asian. Rajan donned the white mask he painted for the Dance of Creation, but both the mask and his steps were just not up to par. He was really not an artistic bear, it seemed. Ages' Flow remarked this with other older Gurahl presented. Perhaps he had other use for Ursa and Gaia, they mused. Ages' Flow called Rajan before the Gurahl elders present and told him to ask the questions he asked her before.

So Rajan asked. And they asked him in return. They asked him about his dreams. So he told them what he saw in his dreams: great gatherings of many Changing Breeds. Great wars of many Changing Breeds -- wars fought together, not apart. These were in his dreams, he answered. And that is when Buries-the-Past told him of the lost Okuma and what very, very little he knew of the hengeyokai. Perhaps, Rajan wondered, his Lifework was to reestablish this connection with these Oriental shapeshifters and possibly even revitalize the Okuma. "Perhaps" was the elders' answer to that. But first, they told him, he had to prove himself worthy as a River Keeper. They said he should find a small waterway; the Blue River tributary of the Missouri River was suggested.

After the fest, Rajan thanked the elders again and traveled north to the Kansas City region. As he always traveled by foot, this took some time. But Rajan was never in a rush, quite able-bodied to survive on his own off the land. And that is what he did and continued always. When he reached the Blue River, he was mortified at its polluted condition. He sought audience with spirits of the river but he tangled only with corrupted demons. He searched newspapers and people and city records for possible pollutants, but he was not wise enough in human ways, and the perpetrators covered their tracks too well. He watched the Garou and was saddened; they did not care enough for the river. They cared only for their woods, and were beset with internal sept politics. They could do nothing. They could hardly even protect the woods from the Pattern Breaker.

So where he could, Little Rajan protected. He spoiled poachers' traps. He protected campers from monsters in the night. He tended to wounded humans and animals alike as they fell victim to wickedness -- even when it was their own. Rajan found that there was much to be done here. And he found himself embattled more and more often, and he maintained a very secretive den secluded under stones near a wooded stream. He left his protectorate in 1998 to go to the Autumn Festival held in Manitoba, there to explain why he had missed every festival since that Regalia and why he needed to take up the path of the Uzmati. The Rite was performed and Rajan returned to his new home as a guardian of Gaia.

Later Years

And Rajan was a fierce warrior for his people. Easily underestimated due to his smallish ursine stature, few could withstand the werebear's wrath. Though wounded himself often, he took strange delight in returning blow-for-blow. He could take a hit; few of his opponents could say the same. He interceded on an innocent's behalf several times in the Smithville/Kansas City region, stepping into strikes meant for someone else and taking the punishment with a disturbing grin. He was known to grab his flailing opponent into a nasty head-lock and in spite of all thrashing and smashing, bring the poor sap down to a submissive state.

It was also during this period in his life that Rajan first encountered the cursed vampire. Of all the demons in the world, Rajan found that the vampire was far from the worst, yet somehow one of the most bothersome. It was one night he stalked the woods and observed a park ranger demand a couple to extinguish their campfire -- which was quite illegal. The woman did nothing but the man sprung up into a mad and what was clearly a bloodthirsty state. He rushed the ranger who fired his sidearm hopelessly into the man's chest. The man would have sunk fangs into the ranger's throat had Rajan not lunged forward from the brush with that terrifying bellow. The girl fled screaming; the man was soon swatted senseless and dragged away...where the werebear made mincemeat of undead flesh with iron claws. Rajan returned to the wounded ranger and healed him. He befriended the good-hearted ranger, Paul Johnson, but kept his distance thereafter. Rajan knew he call on favors from Paul if need-be in the future, but the solitary bear never yet did.

Eventually, a vision interrupted Rajan's sleep one night in 2000. It was from Holds-the-Bridge, his old Buri-Jaan. He had missed two many fests and it was time to visit with his people again. So Rajan left his protectorate once again and traveled to the Ozarks for an Autumn Council. The talk of the Apocalypse had grown more fervent among many werebears, it seemed, but Rajan remained unafraid. His many achievements while in Kansas City proved, to his mind and how he related it to his older brethren, that Gaia's children were equipped to be victorious. Yes, it would be a hard fight. Yes, there was a lot of work to do. No, despair was not necessary. While many werebears clucked their tongue at the inexperienced Kovi's brash statements, Holds-the-Bridges and Ages' Flow both smiled. He was promoted to the Rank of Verden and given warrant to explore and protect the Blue River and area thoroughly. All that he discovered should be reported at every year's Autumn Council that he would not miss anymore. Rajan, humbled, agreed and the festival's joy began anew. Ages' Flow gifted the Verden with some healing balm she had prepared and Holds-the-Bridges complimented Rajan's fighting skills and scolded his undeveloped artistic potential. Rajan took all with modesty befitting a Gurahl and returned home.

However, to his horror, everything was worse than when he had left. The river was literally choked with garbage and drive-by litterers tossed more filth on the roads and grasses near the river. He even found corpses, people murdered, floating down the river. Enraged for the first time since the First Change, Rajan fell upon his duties with renewed sense of intent. Many monsters died, as Rajan found less and less mercy to offer the enemies of Gaia. His reputation as Uzmati spread far and wide, and he became known as Bellows Rain. The metaphor had multiple meanings, to be sure.

Recent Years

And then it all abruptly stopped. The carnage, the pollution, the evil -- it all lessened to an acceptable level so quickly that Little Rajan was in shock. He poked his nose into town to discover what had happened, and wandered near Garou lands to see if they had changed something. They had not, and the city was outwardly unchanged. So it was thought until Rajan discovered Little Asia. Once a small district of quiet Asian ethnic communities, it had literally exploded into life and activity. He wandered its streets and marveled. And it was becoming quite the tourist attraction.

For the next few years, Rajan studied Little Asia from a distance. New peoples were there. He was not sure what kind and why, but it seemed that they were directly responsible for the clean-up in the city. Even the river was cleaner than ever, and Rajan was pleased to see that spirits were well-nourished and treated by these Asian folk. He reported this progress to the fest and was encouraged to stay watch. Always rather shy even if curious, Rajan never approached any of these peoples. He saw the pagoda, the place called Yamahasu, and how most of these people seemed to center their life here. And Rajan knew many of these people were shapechangers themselves. No Gurahl were among them, but there were Wolves and Ravens and Cats and even Foxes, and so Rajan thought these must be the hengeyokai. Why were they here? He didn?t know, but it was very auspicious!

With the Council's blessings, Rajan finally made plans to approach the hengeyokai in the summer of 2003. Hopefully at last he would find the answers he needed. Hopefully at last he would create something lasting and great for all of Gaia. Hopefully, he was beginning his Lifework.

Past Life


Little Rajan has only dim memories of his ancestors. The memories usually come unbidden in his dreams. But most inspiring and startling is that he seems to be connected however distantly to one of the now extinct Okuma -- the werebears of the East. His Breed form as a Malaysian sun bear might seem to only add more weight to these passing dreams. For the time being, the only clue he has that the ancestor was Okuma is the presence of other exotic shapechangers surrounding her. By contacting the Court of Bamboo Talons in Little Asia, Rajan hopes dearly that the hengeyokai can help him remember more clearly -- and perhaps the Zhong Lung can. The question is, will they?

Umbral Glade


~The Bawn of Silver Lake and the Hirasaki Preserve are seperated by a strip of many acres, "no man's land". However, this is not quite true. Cutting through this section of the woods, acting as a natural border, is a stream from the Blue River. Along this stream are many rocks. Some are piled high like a beaver dam. Some are simply tumbled into vast outcroppings and crevices of stone covered in natural growth of flora and ferns. Within one of these crevices only ten yards from the stream lives the Gurahl, Little Rajan. The sun bear has made a modest dwelling in his cozy little Den. It is shelter from rain and wind alike, a simple cave extending back and only slightly down into the ground by about 15 feet squared. The walls of the dark cave are marked with a combination of claw sharpening and Gurahl glyphs marking this as Rajan's territory. At the very most rear of the cave, the lightlessness becomes almost suffocating for the unaware. But for Rajan, it is a sort of peace, because this is where the pain of Gaia gives way to serenity of his tiny Umbral Glade. Stepping here converts one directly into the Shadow, where the cave remains dark but the hint of a soft light -- the light of Luna -- shines at the very end. The cave is warm and peaceful, alluring to rest. Beyond the cave lies a simple grove. It is almost picture-perfect clear-cut imagery, distinguishing it from the rest of the Penumbra in its natural beauty. The vegetation is lush and soothing to breathe. The stream trickles by gaily, and tiny fish hop out of the water excitedly. The air itself is so aery it almost feels like one could float. Most Umbral voyagers walk right by the tiny Glade, for they see only this part of the Penumbra as the rest of the Penumbra. Only by entering through the back of Rajan's cave can one enter the Glade without incredibly powerful magics few would waste on such a humble realm that isn't more than 20 square feet altogether.~

Fetishes


Ursa's Healing Balm (talens)
Gnosis: 3
Origin: This balm was a parting gift from the elderly Kieh, Ages' Flow.
Description: A small opaque glass container holds this honey-like balm, charged with a nurturing aspect of Bear. Two fingertips' worth is enough for one application's worth. His jar has only 3 applications left.
Effects: 1) heal minor wounds and stop bleeding
Activation: When a shapechanger spreads the balm over a wound, the magic can be activated and take effect.

Significant Other


The River Keeper protected the exotic Emalina "Emma" Meztli whose heritage includes Gurahl bloodline back in 2003. The woman was pursuing her career of natural photography when a pair of Red Talons intent on culling a "foolish human" met with an angry werebear instead. Emma thanked Rajan with a kiss. That kiss became more later on as Rajan visited Emma as often as he could. Eventually, the two moved in together. Rajan attaches himself to Emma to learn more about humanity and care for an excellent mate. While unmarried (the concept is not lost on Rajan, but he feels no urgency), the two are definitely united as one. In fact, on January 30th, 2008, Emma gave birth to their first son, a strong-blooded Kinfolk they named Takoda. Surely more joy would be on its way for the Meztlis!

Emma

Weakness
Fighting Spirit


Little Rajan -- perhaps out of some sort of inferiority complex -- fights more than the average Gurahl should. Or perhaps it's better said that he spends more time fighting than he does developing more civilized skills. He achieved the Rank of Verden but may never go higher if he does not expand his horizons as most Gurahl do.

Likelihood of Corruption


Low.

Let's face it. Rajan faces the same danger most shapechangers do -- the Wyrm corrupting their hearts through improper Rage. But he's Gurahl. They are slow to anger, slow to Rage, and almost never frenzy. Rajan still has not frenzied, even if he's gotten close to it. The risk is there to be sure, but Rajan is brave and true.

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