Wyld Ways:

Guide to Garou

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Politics

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Section 1 1
 Credits Special Thanks to:
Written By: Joe Weinberg Peregrine Winkle, Claus Emmer, NicCole Weinberg,
Developed By: Joe Weinberg Gerald Hunter, Jr., Robb Hollyday, Joseph Levine, Corey
Edited By: Josh Heath Karels, Lawrence Waechter, Clinton Boomer, Jack D.
Layout By: Josh Heath Walker, and all the players and storytellers who have
helped shaped my knowledge of Garou genre.
Cover Art By: Andrea Payne
Interior Art By: Andrea Payne and White Wolf Art Packs

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© 2020 White Wolf Entertainment AB. All rights reserved. Vampire: The
Masquerade®, World of Darkness®, Storytelling System™, and Storytellers Vault™
are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of White Wolf Entertainment AB. All
rights reserved.
For additional information on White Wolf and the World of Darkness, please,
visit: www.white-wolf.com, www.worldofdarkness.com and www.storytellersvault.com.

2 TITLE OF THE BOOK

 Wyld Ways:
Guide to Garou

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Politics

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Contents
Introduction 5
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Chapter One
Chapter Two
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Chapter Three 35
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Section 1 3
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 Introduction:

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The Rite of Passage

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As much as I wanted to tell a story the other night, I didn’t get the chance. Instead, I lived one. One I’m going to
share with you now. The story of my rite of passage.
We began as five cubs: Janie, Maddy, Jenn, Leaf, and me, Jack. Talking Crazy called us to sit in a circle to begin our
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rite.
Then a vision struck Jenn. I say struck because of the violence of it all. This I speak from second hand, but I will try
to do it justice.
The vision began with terror. The sept destroyed. Knights in glowing red armor wielding needle sharp spears, using
them to spear Smith, one of the last standing in the sept, through the head, killing him along with all the rest of the
sept.
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Then the vision pulled back in time, when a red light shot down from the sky into a tower standing in the city, a
light the same red as the glowing knights.
Then a man sat at a bus stop. Not a man. A creature dressed like a man. That was the present. And in the past, she
saw him handing a red lens across a gateway.
At her word, we rushed to the bus station. It was the only place she could identify. And sure enough, the man
sat there, waiting and mumbling to himself. He was a Metis, but one twisted by the Wyrm, as his entire tribe. We
surrounded him and grabbed him, hitting him with the car when he tried to run. It was a swift assault. Once we had
him bound and under control, I slipped my way into the chaos that is his mind. Together with the images of our dream
and the questions Janie and Jenn asked, we found that the gate was in the Foshay Tower. At the very top.
We began our assault on the tower quickly. We didn’t know how much time we had, but we knew there wasn’t
much; the survival of the sept depended on us getting in and getting to the top. While Janie and Maddie stopped the
Introduction 5
 Black Spiral Dancer Metis from running, I talked our way past the guard posing as a doorman and then past the desk
clerk, though the Metis did cause one of them to collapse. While the clerk called the paramedics, we slipped into the
elevator.
Leaf and Jenn followed on the other side, moving through the Weaver held building along with us, keeping us ready
for attacks from any side.
Atop the tower, the Metis and I slipped into the men’s room and used the mirror to cross over and join the others.
All in the Umbra, we began looking for the gate. But none of us could see it. Indeed, no servant of Gaia could see the
Wyrm gate hidden in this fortress of the Weaver. But our BSD friend could see it. And since he could see it, I could

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see it. It was difficult remaining in his head, and once he realized I could see the gate, he attacked me and swiped his
claw across my eyes. The others tackled him, but the damage was done. For a brief time, I was blind. But only briefly.
The blessings of Gaia healed my wound, and we prepared to go through the gate.
But before we could, the spirit of Foshay Tower came to speak with us. I felt it gathering strength and found myself

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awed by his power. We could not defeat him. Not there, not in his home. He demanded that we leave, as this was his
hotel and we did not have a reservation.
We told him about the Wyrm gate, but he dismissed it as a lie. The air crackled with power. Janie and Maddie
prepared to strike, and the Metis used the distraction to leap from the window. But he was no longer a worry; we had
to deal with Foshay.
The hairs on my arm stood up, and I worried the sept would fall. Even if we could somehow defeat Foshay, it would
weaken us too much to save the sept. It looked grim.
Then Jenn stepped forth and offered herself for a reservation; the price was her memory. Memory of her father. She

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sacrificed all memory of her parent, all the love and the support, for the good of the sept, to save her friends. She did
it willingly, she did it for the good of those who have been kind to her.
Foshay was appeased, and we were able to open the gate.
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On the other side of the gate we saw the telescope first. Four stories tall and warped by the Wyrm, it towered over
the huge room. The huge room filled with banes. We saw the knights of Jenn’s vision, though they did not glow with
a red light. The glow came from the base of the telescope.
Behind the knights were ranks of creatures. They were humanoid shape, but seemed to be made of giant eyeballs.
They were armed with guns, and they protected a spirit that was bound at the base of the telescope.
A Lune.
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There was no time to plan. But no words were needed. Maddie bolted for the telescope, Leaf for the Lune. Janie,
Jenn, and I charged ahead into the armored banes.
I have never seen Jenn fight so well, dodging blow after blow and clawing at the armor of the banes. I did as best
I could, clawing and biting, but Janie put us both to shame, laughing while she tore the banes apart with her hands.
All was going well. The banes fired their weapons at Leaf and at Maddie. While they burned Leaf, they could not
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stop him, and the bullets that flew towards Maddie seemed to divert their paths just before they would have hit her. It
seemed we would easily destroy the threat and save the day.
Then two things happened at once. First, the banes forced the Lune to turn the floor to pure silver. Second, one of
the spears thrust into my face. One inch to the left and I would have lost an eye. Two inches to the left and I would
not be here to tell this story.
The floor burned, but we had to remain in our war forms to fight the banes.
Jenn, Janie, and I tore the armor from their bodies and ripped the banes apart. Janie reached in to find something
squishy and vital within each of them.
With a mighty leap, Maddie crashed into the telescope. The gunmen, unwilling to destroy their equipment and
knowing that they couldn’t hit her anyway, turned their firepower on Leaf. He dodged, he wove, he ducked. But there
were too many, and though many shots missed, some landed. Enough for him to fall to the floor, a puddle of blood
forming around him.
6 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS
 Maddie snapped the lens in her powerful jaws. I ran towards Leaf. Jenn took off towards the Lune. She could save it.
That we all knew. Janie picked up one of the spears from the fallen and turned to face the three remaining monsters.
It was clearly not a fair fight, but the banes did not choose to run, so they fell, skewered one after another.

I reached Leaf and did what I could to stop his bleeding. I do not have the medical training some have, but somehow
I managed to plug his holes and keep him alive.

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Jenn fought her way through the monsters, tossing them to the side so that she could reach the Lune and free it from
bondage. I saw the symbol of binding, I scratched at it with my claws, but I do not have the blessings of the Theurge;
my touch was not enough.

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Jenn made a gesture, one I’ll not try to duplicate, and she spoke a word. They say that if you know the name, the true
name, of a thing, you can command it. She spoke the true name of the binding, and it shattered like the glass armor
of the banes we had spent what seemed like hours fighting.

Maddie and Janie, no longer encumbered by the silver floor, tore the few remaining banes apart. We tore the
telescope apart, destroying each of the lenses within.

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But before it was completely torn apart, the Lune looked through it and told us where it was pointed. The spirit
spoke to Jenn; I could not understand its words. But she reported the word of the Lune to me. “The red star,” she
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said. “The eye of the Wyrm.”

The Lune apologized to us for turning the floor to silver. It begged our forgiveness. Jenn gave it without question,
as any of us would do.

We limped our way out of the chamber, feeling proud knowing that the sept was safe, knowing that Jenn’s vision
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was not to be.

Jenn lost her memory. But she will seek it again; it is something worth finding. She is Lost but Seeking.

Leaf was burned time and again, catching the fire and not falling until long after any other would have fallen; had
he not taken as much punishment as he did, we may have failed. He danced with flames. He is Dances with Flames
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Janie tore the banes apart. She brought them pain. She is Brings the Pain.

Maddie destroyed the lens, and while the bullets tried to hit her, none could touch her. She danced with bullets.
She is Dances With Bullets.

And I. I helped as I could, making plans and talking our way past places. I shared a dream with the Metis, and it was
only through his eyes, only through our dream, that I was able to see the gate. I walked with dreams. I am Dreamwalker.

And that is how we became who we are. That is the story of our rite of passage. Instead of the death of the sept, five
new Cliath rose to serve Gaia, and a dozen banes fell to serve the Wyrm no longer.
Introduction 7
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 Chapter One:

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Life in a (multitribal)

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Sept
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“Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought.
To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears.
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To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.
To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen.
To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies.
To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery.”
- Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Talents

SEPT VS. CAERN

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As the Wyrm surges, it becomes more and more rare for

a sept to be established entirely by one tribe or another. It
still happens, but those days are mostly past. Most septs now
are multi tribal, by convenience as well as by necessity. Only
fossils keep their septs segregated.
But integration brings with it a lot of problems and
difficulties. After all, different tribes interpret the Litany
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A Sept is a permanent gathering/group of
Garou. It is like an overarching pack to which all
belong. These septs do not always have access to
a Caern.
A Caern is a position of spiritual power, a well-
spring of gnostic energy that serves Gaia. Caerns

differently. As such, septs have by necessity come to require
the same kind of focus as a pack. The sept must know what
its purpose is, what it will focus on doing. How it will fight
the Wyrm, wherever it dwells and breeds.
Septs can be forged for any number of purposes. It could
be a war sept, whose sole purpose is to hunt the Wyrm and
fight in a direct and physical sense. It could be an intelligence
gathering sept, focusing on getting information so that
attacks can be made with minimal losses, either by that sept
or by a war sept. It could be to gather knowledge, to train
cubs and cliath, or to protect ancient fetishes until they are
needed again. It could be to hold territory while surrounded
Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept
that are not protected by Garou inevitably become
Nodes for mages, Hives for BSDs, or homes of
other spiritually powerful creatures. Any Caern that
continues to exist does so because it has a sept of
Garou to protect it.
So not all septs have Caerns, but all Caerns
have septs.
The Caern provides spiritual power and a good
base of operations, easy access to the Umbra, and
support for the spirits that protect it. It feeds the
Garou, and the Garou protect the Caern.
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 by the Wyrm, always fighting for defense. Whatever the
purpose, building a sept around a common goal helps the
various tribes work together.
TRIBAL CONFLICT
Some tribes will not get along no matter how much
you try to make them. No Glasswalker is going to happily
hang out with a Red Talon, or vice versa. The Wendigo
and the Get of Fenris rarely get along. Uktena and
Shadowlords constantly eye one another with distrust.
These conflicts lead to great roleplay. However,
many septs will do their best to limit that conflict as
much as possible. This may be as simple as giving the
tribes different territories within the sept’s control, or
as complex as making sure that both dominant tribes
have an equal say in everything.
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Regardless of why a sept has formed, or what tribes
claim membership, there are some things that never
change, like the main positions of a sept. Generally, each
of these positions is held by a different Garou, but in
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smaller septs, it is possible for one Garou to hold multiple
positions. This is best avoided, however, as with multiple
jobs it is difficult to do all of them well. An exception to
this are Moot positions (below).
Positions
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Sept Alpha
I am Alpha, and my word is law.
Description
The Alpha of the sept is the leader. What they say goes,
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so long as it does not violate the litany. The territory
of the sept is theirs, and they are considered the eldest,
regardless of rank. To them goes the first share of the kill,
as is proper.
Authority
The Alpha has total authority. They may do as they
wish, make laws as they wish, and enforce those laws
how they wish. However, an alpha must be careful not to
alienate those who follow her, or she might be challenged
for her position.
10 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS
Privilege
First share of a kill is a nebulous idea. It could mean
that when members of the sept hunt, they must literally
bring back the animal they hunt and give the Alpha her
choice of meats. In the minds of most homid Garou, it
means that when enemies are defeated and loot obtained,
the Alpha gets first pick of the swag.
This is largely ceremonial for most Alphas. After all, to
get to be Alpha, they have already proven themselves in
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the eyes of Gaia and may not need anything new. Or, at
the very least, they may find that those who made the kill
earned whatever they find. Usually, then, the share of the
kill becomes more of a show. The Alpha may, instead of
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taking things and keeping them, take something and then
give it to another, to honor their achievements in battle.
Responsibility
Just as the Alpha has total authority, so too does she
have total responsibility. As a Glasswalker would say, the
buck stops here. The Alpha is responsible for protecting
the Caern, the sept, and everyone in it. This does not
mean she has to do so single handedly; it only means that
it is her responsibility to be sure that it is handled.
She is the one who has to deal with tribal conflict,
should it become serious enough. She is the one who
must answer a challenge from an outside force, such
as one trying to take the Caern. She is the one who is
responsible for all the actions taken in the area.
STEALING CAERNS
Sometimes, Garou who don’t get along will make
the attempt to take a Caern away from an established
sept. This can happen when one tribe decides that
they want the sept for themselves, for their tribe. It
can happen because a group does not believe that the
current sept is strong enough to hold the Caern, and
so they must take it away for the protection of Gaia.
When this happens, there is rarely all-out war.
Usually, the Alphas will decide something on their
own. Often times, this takes the form of a duel. In
some cases, this is a duel to the death, but that is not
necessary. The Garou know that Gaia needs all the
soldiers she can get and killing the strongest among
any group is unwise.
If not a duel, sometimes these disputes are settled
with words, or with compromise. Contrary to what
many think – particularly the fera – it is possible for
the Garou to settle thing without violence.
 Types
From the Homid: The Alpha is meant to be the
strongest, though that does not always have to mean the
best in combat. Sometimes, the Alpha is the strongest
tactician, or the wisest Theurge. Sometimes, he is the best
duelist. Sometimes, he is the sneakiest member of the
sept. Whatever the case, the Alpha represents the sept,
and if the Alpha is weak, the sept is weak.
From the Metis: Alphas are the keepers of tradition and
THE LITANY
The words of the litany survive more or less in-
tact. But the litany can be interpreted many ways. It
is up to the Philodox to make this interpretation. But
keep in mind that these are always interpretations.
There is no single right answer. Some Philodox may

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try to claim that there is or claim that ‘all tenets of
of law. They keep everyone honest, holding to the Litany
the litany are equal,’ but simple logic will prove this
and standing above reproach. When they allow someone
is not true. Which doesn’t stop the Philodox from
on their territory, they take responsibility for that one’s
having this opinion, nor from trying to claim it.
actions, which means they make sure that everyone,

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resident and visitor alike, follows the law.
From the Lupus: Alpha is the leader. This means that
the Alpha protects. The Alpha eats first because he must
remain strong. But that strength is always to protect the
pack. Or the sept. The Alpha must protect the sept from
invaders, but also from itself. The Alpha makes sure that
everyone eats, that everyone is safe. Those who join the
sept become part of the Alpha’s pack, and part of Alpha’s
I. Garou shall not mate with Garou
II. Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and
whenever it breeds
III. Respect the territory of another
IV. Accept honorable surrender
V. Submit to those higher in station
VI. Respect those beneath ye; all are of Gaia

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territory. Alpha protects, first and foremost.

Power corrupts. With the Garou, who often must deal

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with the temptations of the Wyrm, this is doubly true.
The Alpha controls the sept, but he also serves the sept.
When the power goes to the Alpha’s head, he may need
to be replaced. In fact, sometimes it comes to the point
where the only way to keep the Caern safe is to remove the
Alpha. In these cases, it is virtually always both violent
and permanent.
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VII. The first share of the kill goes to the
highest in station
VIII. Garou shall not eat the flesh of man
IX. The veil shall not be lifted
X. A leader may be challenged at any time
during peace
XI.The leader may not be challenged during
wartime
XII. Ye shall take no action that causes a
caern to be violated

For discussion of these tenets, see the section

on Garou Law (P 27)

Den Parent
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It takes a village to raise a child. But someone has to make the

lesson plan.
Description
When Garou go through their first change, it is not
uncommon for them to have no idea what they are or
what happened, especially in recent years, when Gaia
is choosing Garou from further and further afield.
These new Garou, the cubs, must be taught and must
be protected until they are ready to go through a rite
of passage. The central organizer of this training and

Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept 11

 protecting is the Den Parent (often called Den Father or
Den Mother).
CUBS AND NEW PLAYERS
The beauty of cubs is that they allow new play-
ers to come into the game with their feet on the
ground. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know the
world; the den parent is there to teach them. In a
LARP, the player of the Den Parent doubles as an
ambassador for the game. It is their responsibility
to involve the new player in the game, to ensure
that they are having fun and to make them want
to keep playing. As such, it is important NOT just
to lecture, but rather to give the cubs things to do,
such as talking to other members of the sept, going
on small missions, and asking questions.
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The Den Parent has authority over all cubs, and over all
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Cliath who are not in packs. In effect, the Den Parent acts
as the pack alpha for all the unpacked. For this reason,
many Den Parents will make deals with or even follow
either the spirit Mouse or the spirit of The Pack (p 35),
in order to maintain connection with all those who are
unpacked.
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Privilege
The Den Parent decides what is best for his cubs. This
means that cubs need the Den Parent’s permission to
leave the bawn or go on a mission with an existing pack.
This permission is almost always granted, save when the
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Den Parent believes that leaving would be too dangerous
for that cub.
It is also the Den Parent’s privilege to determine how
cubs learn. While some Den Parents share the teaching
load among the sept, others insist on overseeing the cub’s
education personally in all aspects. They can do this to
make sure the cubs are all learning at the same pace, but
this method is not really practical once there are more
than one or two cubs.
Responsibility
The Den Parent is responsible for all the cubs in the
sept. Cubs are given great leeway in what they can say and
12 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS
PACKLINK
When Garou join packs, they are forming a
bond closer than any other they will have in their
lives. Packs are closer than families. Part of the
reason for this is the packlink bond. While it has
been described as a sort of unspoken connection,
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eventually the link that packmates form passes be-
yond the realm of the unspoken. The connection
between packmates is robust, and Garou only need
to learn how it works to be able to use it effectively.
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Once a Garou has been in a pack for a while,
they gain a basic understanding of this link, and can
then use it more effectively. Every day that passes
with a Garou in a pack, make a Wits+Primal-Urge
roll, difficulty 9. Once the Garou has achieved 10
successes, they have understood how to use pack-
link. These days need not be in a row. (In MET,
win -not tie- a simple challenge every night until
you accrue 5 successes)
This understanding of packlink allows a Garou
to send and receive images, sense impressions, and
even limited speech across the link. While not all
that useful for conversations, it is possible to share
memories across the link, with great effort (spend
a willpower). Using words across packlink is always
in High Tongue (see sidebar on p 27) for Garou.
do without consequence, but there are times when the cub
crosses the line with the wrong Garou. In such a case, the
Den Parent has the ability, privilege, and expectation to
accept a challenge on the cub’s behalf. This provides extra
protection for the cub, allowing them to ask questions and
learn the social morays of the Garou without constantly
being beaten into submission. It is possible for the Den
Parent to refuse to take the cub’s place, but this is almost
always seen as a dishonorable action.
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Riddles Through Death, Bone Gnawer Ragabash: My
Den Parent was very hands off. He kept pushing me to see
what I would learn on my own, what questions I would
ask people. It left me feeling like I was walking a tight
rope all the time. But at least he was my net, there to catch
me when I went too far. I didn’t like him at the time,
particularly not when he sent me on a rite of passage that
I probably shouldn’t have survived. But looking back, I’m
glad he was as hands off as he was; it taught me to be
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Speaks with Profanity, Glasswalker Theurge: When
I’m a Den Parent, I try to make sure that the cubs all
have the same base of knowledge. The Litany, the tribes,
the auspices, that sort of thing. I’ll test them sometimes,
just to make sure they’re not total fuckwits. But most
of the time, I give them plenty of leash to play with. I’ll
send them to ask specific people specific questions, then
make sure they weren’t assholes when they’re done. The
RITE OF PASSAGE
A Rite of Passage is any Garou’s first story of
renown. The ritual brings the attention of totem
spirits, who watch the coming story and determine
which of them will adopt the Garou into their tribe.
These events should be challenging, but surmount-

kiddos are safe with me, but that doesn’t mean I coddle
the fuckers.
Isaac Babbit, Nuwisha: I’m a great den parent. I love
taking cubs to weird realms and letting them – hey, put
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able. Every Garou earns three permanent renown
on the Rite of Passage, so it should be a feat worthy
of such a story. The challenge may be given by the
Den Parent, or it may have a more mystical source,

me down! I have a right to be here! I—
Cleaving Tongue, Get of Fenris Galliard: My Den
Parent was no joke. We had to sit still and listen to the
lectures, and we had to memorize the Litany. We’d get
tested on what he had learned, and we’d get beaten
sometimes if we didn’t have the right answers. There was a
lot of fighting, but everything was very strictly controlled.
We were told when to eat, where to sleep, and what to
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such as a vision from Gaia. Whatever the challenge
is, the cubs must undertake it with only their wits.
Only cubs are allowed to take part in this chal-
lenge. Any interference from others breaks the ritual.
Some Den Parents will still come along, observing
and ready to step in if things get too dangerous. But
as soon as they take any action other than observing,
the cub or cubs fail their challenge.
Ideally, cubs are sent on their Rite of Passage in

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do with every hour of our day. It was like boot camp.
It was absolutely awful, but by the time I was done, my
Rite of Passage was simple, and I’ve never found myself
unprepared as a Garou. I know how to do my duty, and I
groups of three to five, to simulate the pack nature
of the Garou. But when there are too few cubs, it
is possible to send them in pairs, or even alone.
Just be sure not to set too difficult of a challenge
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know what others are supposed to do. I can focus on the
if the cub is alone.
fight for Gaia, because I learned all the basics when I was
young and impressionable. Cubs DO die on their Rite of Passage some-
times. But when PCs are playing the cubs, they
Dangers should all expect to survive. While it is true that
The biggest danger of a bad Den Parent is that they will cubs can die, most modern Den Parents do their
cause harm to the cubs. Whether this be sending them on best to ensure that they don’t; Gaia needs all the
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a Rite of Passage before they are ready, neglecting to teach warriors she can get.
them important lessons about being a Garou, or even
physically abusing them, a bad Den Parent’s influence
can be seen for longer, sometimes, than that of a good
Den Parent. The Garou going forward are judged on
their own merit, but the Den Parent is also judged based
on their actions and understandings of the basic pinning
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of Garou Society.

Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept 13

 Elder Council
With age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes responsibility.
Description
The Elder Council in a sept is, in theory, comprised
of one Elder from each of the auspices. These Elders
advise the Alpha, and take responsibility for those of their
auspice, making sure that the sept is prepared and that
they are all working for the good of Gaia, according to
the Alpha’s plans.
In practice, the Elder Council is usually the eldest of
each auspice, and not necessarily Elders. In this way, the
term Elder is used as an adjective, not a noun. They are
elder than the others of their auspice.
It remains their job to make sure that the members of
their auspice are prepared, trained, and knowledgeable.
The auspice elder, sometimes called auspice alpha, is
responsible for making sure that their auspice operates
at peak efficiency. This often means teaching lores, rites,
and even combat tactics to the younger members of the
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auspice. It is also the responsibility of the elder to know
the members of their auspice, as well as the packs they
are part of. This is so they know who to send on what
mission.
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Sometimes, the Elder Council extends beyond the
auspices. It is possible to have a council of the eldest
of each tribe represented in the sept. It is rare that the
council be both auspice and tribal elders, but such things
do occur in larger septs.
Authority
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In cases where those of sufficient rank (Athro or higher)
need to be judged by a council of elders, this council will
qualify to do so.
Within the limits of the council member’s purview,
be it the members of their tribe or the members of the
auspice, the alpha has near total authority. They cannot
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supersede the words of the Alpha of the sept, nor (often)
the Alpha of a pack. But on matters relating to the auspice
(or tribe), their authority is total. The eldest Galliard may
decide who gets to tell what stories. The alpha Ragabash
may decide what information to seek when scouting. The
eldest Philodox may decide how a certain tenet of the
Litany will be upheld within the territory.
Privilege
The elders of each auspice have the privilege of being
able to command all members of their auspice. They can
demand submission from the members of the auspice and
can dictate certain behaviors. Of course, they can only
14 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS
hold Garou to what they can enforce, but the members of
the Council are usually those the Alpha of the sept trusts
the most.
While the members of the Council may not be Elders in
rank, they are considered to be Elders among their auspice
(or tribe). This brings with it all the privilege of being an
Elder, but only among those of their auspice.
e
OPTIONAL RULE: AUSPICE BENEFITS
If you want to make the Auspice mean more
than just the set of gifts the character has available,
fil
you can make the auspice have real effects on the
character. This is best done with both a benefit and
a detriment to being that auspice. For example:
Ragabash: All Ragabash gain a free level of
Stealth, which can take them above 5. However, as
they are scouts rather than fighters, they take a one
level penalty to Brawl – they must purchase the first
level twice before they can purchase the second.
Theurge: All Theurges gain a free level of
Rituals, which can take them above 5. However,
they are so infused with the spiritual nature of the
Garou that their rage is considered one higher for
the purpose of Delirium.
Philodox: All Philodox gain a free level of Law,
which can take them above 5. However, as the
Philodox are known to consider all their options,
they take a penalty to initiative, making them always
equal to the lowest initiative of their pack.
Galliard: As the keepers of Lore, Galliards gain
one level of Occult, which can take them above five
(For MET, the Galliard gets one free Lore, and can
go up to 6 in ONE Lore type). However, as they are
always seeking tales, Galliards must make a Willpow-
er challenge (difficulty determined by Storyteller)
to avoid the chance to learn a new story. This acts
like the flaw Curiosity, though in a tamer form.
Ahroun: The leader of Gaia’s warriors, Ahroun
gain one free level of Leadership, which can go above
5. However, as they do not like retreating before a
battle is done, and Ahroun must make a Willpower
challenge (difficulty determined by Storyteller) in
order to flee/withdraw from any combat.
Responsibility
As elders of their auspice, the members of the Council
 are responsible for the activities of their auspice. This is
not just making sure that all members are behaving; the
Council are not babysitters. What they are responsible
for are the duties that are traditionally theirs, given their
auspice. So, the Ragabash will handle scouting. The
Theurge will deal with the spirits. The Philodox will
interpret the Litany. The Galliards will keep and tell the
stories, and the Ahroun will plan and lead the way into
battle.
more important than being able to kick my ass.
Dangers
An Elder Council can grow both complacent and elitist.
Some Councils will try to push the Alpha of the sept to
take certain actions. Some will roll their eyes at the Cliath,
not wanting to bother with them until they have proven
that they are worth bothering with. They see themselves
as the epitomes of their auspice and will look down on

Types
Ragabash: My alpha makes sure that we all know what
missions we are taking. He compiles the information and
makes reports, making sure that the sept Alpha – and
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anyone who does things differently than they do. Pride is
the way of the Wyrm, when taken to an extreme. And the
Elder Council members need to keep that in mind, lest
they fall victim to the Wyrm’s influence.

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our whole auspice – always knows what is going on in the
territory. I haven’t seen him go on his own missions, but
what he does is just as important.
LINE OF SUCCESSION
Theurge: It is important to our elder that we know how
Garou life is dangerous. Nasty, brutish, and most
to respect the spirits. He ensures that we all know some
of all short. At any given time, any member of the
of the basic rituals of accord. He understands that we will
sept may fall in battle. As such, it is important to
make mistakes, so he teaches us to apologize to the spirits
have a line of succession. Generally speaking, this
and to make things right, so that we can learn to be better
only matters when it comes to the leadership of the
in the future.
e
Philodox: I don’t like my elder. He is bull headed at
times, and he thinks that his version of the Litany is the
‘right’ one. He doesn’t listen to arguments, at least not
sept as a whole – Garou are not given positions that
they are unfit for.
Should the Sept Alpha die, the Sept Beta
clearly takes over.
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around what constitutes a violation of the Litany. So,
Should the Beta die, the traditional next leader
most of us just accept what he says, then go off and do
is the Warder, as protector of the Cairn. Next comes
our own things. We know we can go to him for advice,
the Keeper of the Land, as they protect the bawn
but most of us also know what that advice may be.
of the sept. Should the Keeper fall, the Den Parent
Galliard: Any time you want to find the elder Galliard, takes control, as they are the wise teacher and have
just look for the sounds of laughter and celebration. She hopefully led the Cliath of the sept. Should all of
m

loves to tell a story and loves to listen to them just as them fall, the Gatekeeper, then Master of Challenge,
much. She will sit in a bar and swap stories with kinfolk then Master of the Rite.
all night long, if we let her. It’s worth listening, though, Of course, if it goes that far, chances are the
as she usually has bits of wisdom in her stories. Lore, entire sept is about to fall.
legend, parable, and advice – while she never seems to
stop talking, she doesn’t waste her words.
Sa

Ahroun: The biggest and the strongest is not always

the best. My alpha is a tactician, not a killer. She doesn’t
go for direct combat, but rather for making sure that the
odds are in her favor, so she knows she can win with
minimal casualty. A lot of Ahrouns live with a constant
death sentence hanging over their heads. We know that
we, especially at the lower ranks, get used as cannon
fodder. And she is having none of it. A job where Gaia
doesn’t lose a soldier is a job well done. She likes to take
the information provided by the Ragabash and really plan
out our attacks. A lot of us could take her in a fight, but
no one wants to challenge. She’s good at what she does,
and she does her best to keep us all breathing. That’s way

Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept 15

 Gatekeeper
You. Shall. Not. Pass! No, I’m kidding. Come on in!
Description
One of the ways Garou travel quickly is by way of Moon
Bridges. While these can be taken for short jaunts (such
as the Galliard Gift Bridgewalk), Moon Bridges can also
be used to ferry large numbers of Garou great distances.
Often times, this is done when a sept is intending to
attack a Hive. A Hive Dive will often draw warriors to the
sept, warriors who want to make a name for themselves
and gain glory by destroying a bastion of the Wyrm.
In order to make the trip, though, the Bridge must be
opened, and a Moon Bridge must be tethered on at least
one end to a Caern. Connecting at both ends makes the
Bridge more stable, and less likely that the Garou taking
the trip will run into anything on the way. But to connect
to a Caern is dangerous. Bridges are not one way. So,
the Gatekeeper is charged with making sure that these
bridges are safe, that they open when they are supposed
to, and that they close when they are supposed to.
Authority
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The Gatekeeper has the authority to close the Caern,
preventing travel to or from the Caern itself. This is usually
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only done in times of emergency, or in times when the
sept is hunkering down, preparing for an assault. A closed
Caern cannot be accessed, by enemies OR by allies.
The Gatekeeper can, if she so chooses, decide to close
off the Caern from Bridges in one direction. She can
decide that Bridges go out, in case the Garou need to
retreat from overwhelming force (something done only
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as a last resort, as that is allowing a Caern to be violated).
She can also decide to only allow Bridges in, bringing
allies and supplies to a besieged Caern.
In game terms, the Gatekeeper can close the Caern by
spending a Gnosis for each direction they wish closed.
Caerns closed in such a way can only be opened by the
Sa
Gatekeeper who closed them, or by way of a rite such as
Open Caern.
Privilege
The Gatekeeper decides who can use the Bridges. This
means she can decide if someone is worthy of the risk and
the responsibility.
Responsibility
It is the Gatekeeper’s duty to protect the Caern
from unwanted Bridges. It is also the Gatekeeper’s
responsibility to act as a welcoming party for any visiting
dignitaries, or members of other septs who travel by way
16 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS
of Moon Bridge. Hers is the first face they will see, and
so she represents the entire sept as far as first impressions
are concerned.
Types
There are really only two types of Gatekeeper: the
permissive and the restrictive. Either a Gatekeeper is
willing to let people use Moon Bridges, or they are not.
There are always exceptions – no one is so permissive as
e
to allow anyone to use Bridges willy-nilly, and no one is
bull headed enough to refuse reasonable requests to use a
Bridge. At least, no one acts in either way without swiftly
facing challenges for the position, removal, and likely
a loss of either Wisdom or Honor, depending on their
fil
reasoning.
Dangers
Personal grudges could cause a Gatekeeper to refuse the
use of a Moon Bridge to certain members of the sept,
or even entire packs. The total authority they have over
the Bridge allows them to pick and choose who can and
who cannot use them, and they generally do not need to
explain their reasoning to anyone.
HOW FAR CAN A MOON BRIDGE GO?
A Moon Bridge can reach great distances, but
not infinitely. Usually, to travel around, a Garou
must move through several Moon Bridges, should
they need to go far enough.
A Moon Bridge stretches up to 1000 miles
per level of the Caern where the Bridge originates.
Therefore, from a level 5 Caern, Garou can travel
nearly anywhere (Earth’s Diameter is 7,917.5 miles),
though smaller Caerns are much more limited.
Should there be a need for neutral ground, two
septs can each open a bridge to somewhere roughly
in between, allowing them to meet while far from
either sept’s territory.
Keeper of The Land
This land is your land, this land is my land. But mostly, this
land is my land.
Description
The bawn is the area surrounding the heart of the
Caern. This is the central territory of any sept. A sept may
 claim dominion over a large area, such as the local city
nearby, but that is where they hunt, not where they live.
The Garou live on or around the bawn. More importantly,
the bawn is where the defenses are, where the shrines are,
and where the Caern Heart is.
Someone needs to take care of all of these things. And
while the actual defense of the bawn is left to the Warder
(below, p 22), the rest of the bawn is cared to by the
Keeper of the Land.
Authority
The Keeper is responsible for the spiritual balance of
the bawn. It is her responsibility to make sure that there
aren’t shrines of warring spirits too close to one another.
She must be sure that Rat does not have a shrine next to
Owl, that Fenris does not have one next to Unicorn, and
that Wendigo does not have one next to Almighty Dollar.
SHRINES
e
Spirits can appear anywhere they like, but they
tend to like spending time near shrines. A shrine
is anything that appeals to that spirit. They vary in
size, scope, and complexity in accordance not just
pl
with the spirit, but also with whoever wishes to set
up a shrine.
Most septs have shrines for each of the tribal
totems represented in the sept. Frequently, there is
one main shrine, with smaller shrines for the vari-
ous spirits in that totem’s brood. So, you may see a
shrine to Grandfather Thunder in the middle of a
m
clearing, and find smaller shrines to Crow, Typhon,
Bat, and Mother Night (P 36) spread out around it.
When courting a personal totem, many Garou
will build a shrine to that spirit, either near its brood
or in a location pleasing to the spirit. Packs may do
the same for their pack totem.
Sa
Some totems like to have their shrines hidden
among the shrines of someone else. Coyote, for
example, is always pleased to have shrines to him
hidden among other shrines. Raccoon may want his
shrine tucked away among the Silver Fang shrines,
because he is that much more likely to be able to
find shiny objects near those.
This can lead to difficulties, as spirits are both
territorial and easily offended.
Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept
Privilege
As it is the job of the Keeper of the Land to make sure all
the shrines are in balance, it is her privilege to decide what
shrines are allowed to be built on the bawn. Too many
shrines make for too many spirits. Fickle and combative
in nature, having too many spirits with conflicting
desires can be almost as dangerous as having none at all.
(See Warring Totems, P 27). A Keeper may insist that
only tribal totems have shrines or may use complicated
e
reasoning to lay out where all the shrines need to be in
order to keep the spiritual Feng Shui balanced.
Responsibility
fil
The Keeper’s job is to make sure that the spirits on the
bawn are as close to harmony as is possible. In addition
to making sure that spirits who dislike one another are far
away, the Keeper is also responsible for making sure that
the shrines that do exist are well taken care of. Letting a
shrine fall into disrepair is extremely disrespectful to the
spirit and will almost always earn that spirit’s ire. This
can be problematic for the sept, as spirits tend to be petty
and spiteful, and may take actions to make life harder for
everyone in the sept.
This does not mean that the Keeper needs to take care
of the shrines herself; she must make sure that it is done.
And if there are no more followers of a spirit on the bawn,
if there is no one willing to take care of a shrine, then it
is the Keeper’s responsibility to carefully and politely take
down the shrine in such a way as to not offend the spirit
more than is absolutely necessary.
Types
Walking Westward, Lupus Uktena Theurge: Spirits
fight. I keep them far from one another. No one can spy
on other tribes; if they are caught, they have no excuse.
There is no way they were seeking their own totem. Other
shrines are kept small, and few and far between. If they
want a shrine to their spirit, they can build it off my bawn.
There will not be a glut of spirits here. The spirits will be
respected for the good of the Mother. And the shrines
will be protected. Some even hidden. You cannot find the
shrine to East Wind – I have hidden it.
Wyld Walker, Homid Black Fury Theurge: Spirits do
not follow the same laws as the rest of us. They find their
own equilibrium. When a new shrine is to be built, you
look at the balance as it stands, and see where best to
place it, or even if it should be placed at all. Most shrines
can be placed and should be – all are of Gaia. So long as
someone takes care of the shrine, the spirit will thrive.
The umbra should be an open field where the wandering
searcher can find answers to his problems wherever they
may be and may interact with any spirit that wishes to
17
 speak with them. Who am I to refuse a spirit its right to
live among Garou, or vice versa?
Empty Palm’s Path, Homid Stargazer Ragabash: The
bawn must be in balance. Less is often more. By placing
the shrines at key points, we open the shakras of the
bawn, allowing the Caern to grow in power. There must
always be a balance, and it is my duty to maintain that
balance. If a shrine falls into disrepair, I will care for it
myself. If a new shrine is to be built, so too must a shrine

e
to that spirit’s counterpart and opposite. No one brood
can dominate. All must work in harmony. This is The
Way.
Dangers

fil
A bawn with too many shrines in bad positions can
be incredibly dangerous. Conflicting spirits might get
in the way of communication, of protecting the Caern,
of travel, and even of the sanity of both the Caern and
the members of the sept, particularly the theurges. When
spirits can be heard and understood, it can be confusing
and maddening to hear them constantly complaining
about one another, or even fighting with one another.

e
Similarly, a Caern with no spirit defenders is a Caern
doomed to fall. Spirits require chiminage. Shrines are
the best continuous chiminage that can be provided to
a spirit, short of a constant stream of gnostic energy.
pl
Having the spirits in balance makes the entire sept safer.

BETAS
In large septs, many positions will declare
m

betas, the backup for a position. The beta Keeper

of the Land may take on the responsibilities and
authority of the Keeper whenever that Keeper is
gone. Positions in a sept are not an excuse to stop
fighting for Gaia, after all.
Often, betas are put in place as a type of appren-
Sa

tice/master relationship. As beta, they are trained

to someday take over the position, either when
the alpha dies or when they wish to step down, or
just when the beta feels ready to challenge for the
position.
These positions are perfect for the lower ranking
Garou (Cliath, Fostern, and sometimes Adren),
giving them a chance to learn the job before thrust-
ing them into it. Many of them end up thrust into
it anyway – Garou life is dangerous, after all. But
they at least have some idea of what they are doing.

18 WYLD WAYS: GUIDE TO GAROU POLITICS

 Master of the Challenge
I’ll be the judge of whether or not this fight is fair.
Description
Garou are contentious and violent beings. When things
happen that they do not approve of, they are permitted
to make their feelings known by way of a challenge.
Challenges can be over anything – insults to a Garou’s
honor, territory, the ownership of a Fetish, membership
into a pack, etc. In order to make sure these challenges are
fair and honorable; an impartial judge must be present.
This is the Master of Challenge.
TYPES OF CHALLENGE
Most challenges are violent. Garou fight to
submission. This submission can take any number
of forms, from one challenger actually submitting,
to the first blood drawn, to incapacitation, even
e
to death. Duels to the death, however, are rarely
considered to be honorable, save when the duel is
meant to carry out a sentence of death but allow
the Garou in question a chance to die well.
pl
While there can be challenges that are non-vi-
olent, these are few and far between. One Garou
may demand that the challenge be one of strategy,
such as a chess game, or one of knowledge, such as
a comparison of lores.
The way a challenge works is simple. One Garou
challenges another. The one who is challenged sets
m
the terms. These terms can be anything and can
give the one challenged a significant advantage. For
example, a Lupus could demand that the fight be in
Hispo, with no use of gifts, fetishes, or talens. While
fair for both of them, the Lupus has experience on
their side. Similarly, a Homid challenged by a Lupus
Sa
could demand the battle be a duel with Klaives, or
with knives, or with pistols at dawn. Whatever the
case, the one challenged sets the terms. If those
terms are deemed to be honorable, the challenge
proceeds. If not, the terms are adjusted.
Authority
The Master of Challenge has authority over all
challenges made or taking place in the sept. While it is
possible for two Garou to go outside of the sept territory
Chapter One: Life in a multitribal sept
to settle a dispute without interference, this is considered
extremely dishonorable. To keep things on the up and up,
all challenges are approved by the Master of Challenge,
and all ongoing challenges (such as rank challenges) are
also registered with the Master of Challenge.
There are two reasons for this last part. One is to make
sure that the Garou who gave the challenge doesn’t try
to move the goal posts. If the one challenged thinks
that they challenger isn’t worthy of rank, they may set
e
a task that is near impossible, then come up with extra
conditions if the task is somehow completed. A Master of
Challenge puts a stop to this. The other, more practical
and more common, reason is in case the one who issued
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the challenge is killed or disappears for a significant
length of time. That way, the Garou who challenged can
still gain the rank they challenged for.
Privilege
The Master of Challenge can deny challenges that are
dishonorable. She can make sure that the challenges are
honorable, or at the very least fair. When she doesn’t
think the challenge fits these criteria, she can nullify a
challenge, and may even remove temporary honor from
the one challenged for coming up with such a ridiculous
challenge. So, the Master of Challenge is the most up to
date Garou in the sept in so far as knowing who is in
challenge for rank, who has challenged various actions or
decisions, and what ongoing challenges there are.
CHALLENGE RESULTS
Garou are very black and white. Once a chal-
lenge is issued and answered, the matter is closed. If
someone does not like the orders of their superior,
they can challenge those orders (if it’s a time of
peace). If the superior then soundly defeats them,
they have to let the issue drop.
If the challenge is to determine a debate or
argument, then whoever wins was correct. If it is a
matter of territory, the winner owns the territory.
In addition to these challenges being the final
word, they are also the end of the issue. If someone
challenges a punishment they are dealt, and they win
the challenge, then the punishment is considered
served. This is similar to how once a punishment
is carried out, there is no lingering guilt for the
party who committed the crime. At least, there’s
not supposed to be.
19