Editing LeviathanTempest:ChapterTwo (section)

=== Step Five: Assign the Leviathan Template === 

Until this point, the traits that have been assigned have been primarily the markers of the natural responses and tendencies of the Leviathan. While the distinction between “before” and “after” transformation is unreliable for the Tribe, the line between the markers of their normal and monstrous lives is a touch more distinct. The Leviathan template provides those elements of the character that are unique to his experiences as a member of the Tribe. 

Templates cannot overlap, and the inherent nature of the blood of the Tribe is such that most supernatural templates won't even take hold of a Leviathan that has begun undergoing his transformation. A Leviathan is considered to have the template as soon as the change begins – additional supernatural influence on his life at this point will not change the course of his life, and may prove fatal, even for the intercessor. Especially if a protective family of Lahmasu are grooming their new demigod for his ascension. 

==== Strain ====

Of all the traits of a starting Leviathan, his Strain is the factor that is most out of his control. A Leviathan's Strain is a function of his bloodline, and a given family line of humans is likely to only produce a single Strain of Leviathans (Fringe cases exist in which closely-related Strains may arise in the same family tree, however). A Leviathan's Strain determines which of the primary Progenitor bloodlines expresses itself in his being, and which of the traits of the Tribe that he is most naturally inclined to exhibit. A family that is aware of its Tribe blood will likely have been shaped by the interference of previous generations of Leviathan – its structure and beliefs might well be reinforced with hazy understandings of the Primordial Seas, and family members might be marked with the taint of Leviathan blood, potentially even Lahmasu. Some Leviathans are born in lines that are far removed from the original exposure to the blood of the Tribe, however, and must find their own way into the world of the Tribe. 

Strain determines which Vestiges a character favors. The focus on specific Vestiges is a function of genetics, and it is possible to trace the “relationship” between Strains by marking the closeness of their preferred Vestiges. The ability to favor certain Vestiges does have a slight effect on how the Tribe views a given Strain – each group is stereotyped as the users of their preferred Vestige, as most Leviathans take a “I have a hammer” approach to problem-solving. 

==== School ====

Schools are the modes of thought that direct a Leviathan's exploration of their inhuman lineage. With their history lost, and their lack of control over their own divine bloodlines, members of the Tribe are faced with a hostile world and an inability to conduct a normal human life. The focus on some method of making sense of their changing world, and of defining a place for themselves, determines a Leviathan's School. They are not formal associations, but modes of thought – not unlike “critical methods” in academic discourse. A Leviathan's choice of School is perhaps the most meaningful decision he will make regarding how his life will be conducted from that point forward. A Leviathan's choice of School provides him with a free Specialty in one of three Skills linked to that School, and provides him with a discount when investing in Adaptations of certain Vestiges. 

The process of induction to a school is simple: the character must learn its tenets and attempt to apply them to her own life. There are no ritual initiations, hazings, or pledges of loyalty; Schools are philosophical viewpoints, not religions or political organizations. How the character was exposed to the School can be a character-defining moment. Did she receive instruction at the scaly foot of an elder Leviathan? Was she simply handed a heavy, crudely printed book, its pages stained with sea salt? Or did she receive a terse email and a .pdf file summarizing the viewpoints of the known Schools? As Leviathan society has few stable institutions, all of these are possible. It's also more than likely that a young Leviathan will enter Tribal society with some serious misunderstandings about Schools not her own.

Some Leviathans, especially those most new to their lineage, are without a School. Most do not maintain this position for long – while they do not suffer socially for this choice,  the lack of at least a flimsy pretense of a life plan is extremely dangerous to the fragile psyches of a rootless member of the Tribe, and isolation and doubt are quick routes to the descent into madness. A School-less Leviathan may take a free Specialty in either Brawl, Stealth, or Survival – their focus is on the day-to-day struggle, not a long term plan. They do not favor any Vestige. A School-less Leviathan can move into a School later – this, and the possibility of changing one's School, is discussed later.

==== Sheol ====

Your character's refining of his Progenitor's bloodline, the degree to which he has delved into his ancestry, is measured by his Sheol. It represents the crackling potential of his immortal lineage, and his ability to manage and direct that blood – the divine Ichor. As Sheol grows more pronounced, the Leviathan's Wake becomes stronger – he casts a shadow of greater magnitude on the psychic landscape. High-Sheol Leviathans border on the status of god-kings that the Tribe once were, but find it impossible to live in the world of men – they distort the minds around them far too much to simply exist, and are inevitably going to be the subject of much unwanted attention from the Tribe's enemies. A low-Sheol character is fresh to the blood or simply uninterested in (or frightened of) pursuing a refinement of the lineage's power.

All Leviathans begin play with a single dot of Sheol. This rating may be increased at a cost of three merit points per dot, to a maximum of three dots. 

==== Vestiges ====

Vestiges are just that – the lingering traces of the power of the Tribe's bloodline, markers of their demigod nature and the dominion they once held over the sea and perhaps all of creation. By exploring facets of this power, Leviathans exhibit powers as they change into more monstrous shapes. Each Vestige is accompanied by a Birthright, a small exercise of the Vestige's power that can be invoked without transformation – the markers of the divine mandate of the Tribe over their form and the power of their Ichor. Vestiges are divided into channels that represent certain elements of that breed of power – these channels may be Ancestor channels, which are passive expressions of power and refined biology, or Descending channels, which use Ichor to create more pronounced and amazing effects. 

A Leviathan favors two Vestiges. One of these is set by his Strain, and the other is selected from a set that his Strain contains a predilection for. Once chosen, this selection is set in stone. A starting Leviathan then may select three channels to have knowledge of, at least one of which must be from a the Vestige set by his Strain, the second comes from either of his favoured Vestiges and the third channel may come from any Vestige. They must first grasp an Ancestor channel of a given Vestige before they can explore its Descending channels, but mastery of any Ancestor channel also grants access to that Vestige's Birthright.

==== Swimming ====

Leviathans are aquatic creatures, and even in their human form they have a natural affinity for water. All leviathans have a free Athletics speciality in swimming.