The roots of the horse-changers go back as early as the first human to tame a horse, and the bond that grew up between them. In the early days, Gaia sought that bond and made servants for herself to more closely tie humans to her, since she clearly foresaw the days when humans would seek to divorce themselves from her as an entity and treat her as chattel. She hoped that a link of love between humans and other creatures would serve to stave off those days, perhaps forever.
So arose the horse-changers, those humans who could become horses, and horses who could become humans. And they were part of every horse-borne culture to walk the Earth. They began among the tough, stiff-maned ponies who were the early horses, and as horses grew into larger, more powerful breeds under the skilled hands of the humans, the Changers themselves grew in power.
The Children of the Wind, they were called in early times, but later, as war between humans became more frequent and horses became a more integral part of that strife, they became known as the Children of the Storm. The Changers were the steeds of the mighty heroes, bearing them into peril for the love they bore those and all humans. Between their associations with war and storms, the Changers came to be known in Eastern Europe as the Steeds of Perun, god of lightning and war, and thence came the name Perunka.
As the world shrank under the domination of technology, however, the Perunka grew fewer. Humans grew away from Gaia, and so the power of these Changers waned, and their blood grew thin. The last Perunka of the old lines vanished sometime in the 1940s.
Yet some humans clung to their memory and preserved the bloodlines where the Perunka had lingered longest in the hopes that they would rise again. Near the end of the twentieth century, a Progenitor became enamored of the legends and went hunting for those of Perunka heritage. He found both humans and horses said to be of that descent, and began to analyze them carefully.
At long last, he recreated a Perunka. She was subsequently rescued by two Garou, and with her freedom, the hidden blood of the Perunka stirred again across the Earth. For the Perunka were ever the saviors in the storm, and the storm of the Long Night was coming.
During the years of the Long Night, the Perunka rose, unexpected, from the lines of both horses and humans. They ran errands and bore messengers and warriors throughout the darkness, tireless in their efforts to free enslaved humanity. With the return of the Sun, they have risen to take their place beside the other great Changing Breeds as those who will reclaim the Earth from long years of abuse. They
have as their particular passion the return of humans to the fold of those who are tied to Gaia.
Groupings:
The Perunka are made up solely of those Changers who share human and horse genes. So far as anyone knows, there have never been donkey-shifters, nor any changers who come from a mating between donkey and horse. There are, however, rumors of a tribe of zebra-shifters who are hardly ever spotted and are presumed to be extremely rare. One story names this group the Ntulege, although this word simply means "zebra" in Luganda, so it may be inaccurate.
There are a few definable groups within the Perunka, based mostly on physical appearance and using late 20th century equestrian terminology, since the Perunka culture of old is gone. The Coldbloods are those Perunka derived from draft horse stock, the massive farm horses whose origins go back to the days of knighthood. The Warmbloods are the "normal" horses, those that are slighter of build, but swifter of foot and more agile, with roots in Arabian stock. Those who, in their equine form stand less than 14 hands (56") at the shoulder are considered to be of the Halflings (or Ponies), and tend to be hardy, and quick of hoof in the mountains and hills. Lastly are the Muli, the "primitive" horses who resemble the ancestors of all horses, arising from the last dregs of the herds of Przewalski's Horse hidden in Mongolia. They are less aesthetically pleasing than the blooded horses, and small enough to be a Halfling, but enduring beyond all others.
The human stock associated with each of these are fairly general and European-based, except for the Muli, whose ancestors were mostly of Mongolian extraction, although the horse-clans of Eastern Europe are also in evidence.
Perunka and their Kin attempt to breed out flaws and incorporate some of the other bloodlines, although they try to breed within the physical conformation groups.
Perunka have no real ranking system, although young, unproven Perunka are called "Unaga" (Mongolian for "foal") until they succeed in their Rite of Passage. Individuals may find terms that they choose to utilize to demonstrate respect for their elders, leaders, students, and teachers from any language.
There are homids and equines in terms of breeds. Like the other Changers, the breeding of two Changers is less fruitful than out-breeding, but successful breeding will often produce a stronger Perunka of rare gifts, a champion of sorts. There is no special term for this event, since it hasn't managed to happen yet.
Perunka are unique among the Changing Breeds in that they have only three usual forms: human, equine, and a much larger equine (Stormrunner). There seem to be only rare reports of a half-man, half-horse form, and the shape of these seem to vary from an integration of the two,like the Garou's crinos shape, to a centaur shape.
Two hundred years is a very short time to build a culture, much less acquire a pool of Gifts and Rites, so every Perunka is eager to learn anything he or she can, so as to adapt it for the needs of the Perunka and add it to the learning. They do, however, have some Gifts and Rites, mostly preserved by their Kin or by kindly spirits, and a large proportion of Perunka Gifts are derived from Lilith.
Gifts and Rites
* indicates a Gift that may be learned by a Perunka Kinfolk.
Level 1
Perfect Stride*
The Perunka will not misstep into a hole, bog, or otherwise unsafe turf, no matter how fast she is traveling.
Wingfoot*
Allows the Perunka to run at a speed determined by her normal speed times her endurance.
Windsped*
The Perunka can run at normal speed for an entire day without rest or refreshment. Afterward, however, the Perunka must be able to drink her fill of water and will eat five times the normal amount of food.
Unbar*
This allows the Perunka to undo any bar, strap, lock, or bolt in the equine form which would otherwise require a shift to human and use of human hands to undo.
Leap the Gate*
Allows the Perunka to leap Strength times normal height in any form.
Leap the Chasm*
Allows the Perunka to leap Strength times normal horizontal distance in any form.
Firm Seat
The Perunka can make sure that her rider(s) has a firm seat no matter how bad a rider s/he is.
Ford
The Perunka can ford a river without having to struggle against the current, no matter how swift or deep the water may be.
Heightened Senses*
The Perunka can raise her perceptions to supernatural levels in any form. Particularly acute are hearing and smell.
Hoofhands
A 'partial shift' that forms a hard callus on the Perunka's hands while in homid form. Useful for pulling things out of (normal) fires without getting burnt, and for doing slightly more damage with a punch (+1, like Razor Claws)
Mindspeak
Rider only.
Find Companions*
Allows the Perunka to sense the location (direction and distance) of other horses within a 300-mile radius, with some indication of size of groups. Perunka are not indicated as different from horses with use of this gift, and the direction indicated is absolute (i.e. will not necessarily correspond with the best way to arrive at the group - barriers are not indicated). This gift was also preserved and used by Perunka equine-kinfolk.
Watercall*
Allows the Perunka to divine the direction and distance of the nearest locations(s) of drinkable water. Another kinfolk Gift.
Posiedon's Bounty*
Allows the Perunka to drink salt water as if it were fresh. Level Two of this gift extends its influence to a herd of companions.
Graze-Finder*
Allows the Perunka to divine the direction and distance of the nearest location(s) of possible food.
Level 2
Firefoot
Allows the Perunka to move nearly at the speed of sound, leaving a quickly fading trail of fire behind her (which does not have the ability to start any regrettable conflagrations). Communication between the Perunka and her riders or between the riders is impossible (except with Mind Speak) while this Gift is in use.
Shadowfoot
Permits the Perunka to move into the Umbra while running. It appears, to the runner and any she carries, to be a gradual transition from the real world to the Umbra. Works at normal speed or with any of the speed gifts. (Some versions of this cause an extra, shadowy pair of legs to appear on the Perunka using it).
Iron Hooves
Adds +2 to damage when a Perunka kicks or stamps on an opponent.
Earth Thunder*
The Perunka can use this gift to project the sound of a herd of horses galloping over a nearby land or structural surface (plains, desert, beach, concrete, asphalt). Can be useful for intimidation and surprise. The sound projects through the ground, so that anyone listening to the ground for pursuit will hear the herd, not just the hoofbeats of a single Perunka.
Pooka's Ride
The Perunka can glue her rider(s) to her back so that even if they want to leap off, they can't.
Water Hooves*
The Perunka can run across the surface of water, quicksand, or any similar wet surface, as if it were dry, firm earth.
Desert Hooves*
The Perunka can run across sand as if it were dry, firm earth.
Unlock*
This allows the Perunka to undo any lock in the equine form which would otherwise require a shift to human and use of human hands to undo.
Level 3
Endurance of Gaia*
The Perunka can utilize one of the speed gifts for an entire day without rest or refreshment. The Perunka will, at the end, collapse and must be fed and watered by someone else to her fill, or she will die.
Thunder Hoof
When the Perunka uses this gift, a single stamp on the ground can shake everyone around her from their feet. Rickety buildings, unsafe caves or mines, and similar structures may also be knocked down with this gift.
Summon Equines*
With this gift, the Perunka lets out a loud, powerful neigh that summons all equines within hearing to her side at their best speed. Other Perunka who hear the call perceive the basic need behind it and may then decide whether to respond or not.
Level 4
Olympus's Gift
Allows the Perunka to sprout wings and fly, however unlikely the mass-to-wingspread ratio is. Requires a lot of /room/ as the wings are porportionately large. Available in all forms.
Command Equines*
This gift allows the Perunka to coordinate an entire herd of equines for attack or evacuation, or, in fact, any other purpose. Overrides natural herd dominances.
Seahorse
The Perunka can transform herself so that she can breathe underwater and swim in deep ocean with perfect facility. Usually transforms the back half of the equine form (and the bottom half of the human form) to a fish- or dolphin-like tail.
Centaur's Legacy
These high-level Perunka can transform half their body, creating a centaur form. The ability to gallop and fire arrows at the same time uncannily useful, sometimes...