Creating a Garou character

A garou is defined not only by who they are as a person, but also by what sept they are part of, their tribe, their pack, their auspice and breed.

Sept

A Sept is a group of werewolves who protect and defend a caern. The Sept Elders are in charge of the various packs who make up part of the sept, and have a certain amount of authority over them.

Your characters are all part of the Sept of the Sleeping Lore, centered on the caern in the Melbourne general cemetary. More information.

Breed

Being a Garou is not transmitted through bite, but is a genetic and spiritual part of you. Garou may be born from human or wolf parents (although the usually also have other Garou relatives, perhaps even on of their parents).

Homids

Born to human parents, usually grow up almost like anyone else, although the humans around them realise there is something wrong or odd with them and they don't quite fit. Homids undergo First Change (shift forms for the first time) sometime during puberty (10-18).

Lupus

Lupus characters are born to wolf parents, and grow up like any other wolf(tm). At about 2 years old, undergo first change. Very different outlook on life to homids. I have more info on paper. Lupus have a much more thorough and instinctual grasp of the spirit world.

Metis

When two Garou mate and have a child, the result is always a garou. Unfortunately the result is also always a metis. Metis are often socially stigmatised, are always sterile and have some deformity or affliction of some sort. Part of Garou law (The Litany) includes the tenet "Garou shall not mate with Garou."

Tribe

There are 13 tribes, each with their own history, culture, traditions and interests. You do not have a full choice of tribes due to the the sept you are part of, and to the constraints of the story, but I am always willing to listen to a character idea.

The more *'s a tribe has, the more likely it is you are from that tribe, but you can choose any of the ones listed below - it just requires more explanation of how you got there.. ie: choose what interests you ;) I've put them in most common to least common order.

The following give a quick description of the tribe - individuals in each tribe can be wildly different from the stereotype.

Bonegnawers - *****

The Bonegnawers are the lowest in the social standing amongst Garou. They live in the cities, protecting the normal residents of the city. Sleeping Lore is a part Bonegnawer sept.

Glasswalkers - ****

The other city-tribe, the Glasswalkers have their claws dipped into corporations, organised crime and computers - the mechanics of a civilisation rather than the people involved. They are traditionally all homid Garou.

Fianna - ***

The Fianna all hail from Ireland, although they also have a presence in Scotland, Wales and the European continent - anywhere there are Celtic or Gaelic peoples. They are renowned for their bardic ability and grasp of the history and stories of garou. They also have a connection with the sidhe or fae.

Shadowlords - ***

Shadowlords originally came from the Baltic regions of Europe. They are political animals, heavily involved in the politics of the Garou

Stargazers - ***

Eastern mystics and philosophers.

Black Furies - **

An all female tribe, the Black Furies derive from Greece and the Mediterraenen originally. They are protectors of the Wyld and wilderness as well as women of all cultures.

Children of Gaia - **

A Tribe of hippy werewolves, the CoG believe in peace and cooperation amongst the Garou and all creatures of Gaia. Mooohahahhahaa!

Silent Striders - **

Originally from Egypt, the silent striders are cursed to wander the earth, looking for a homeland. They are regarded as being a bit weird and are reputed to have knowledge of the ways of the dead and ghosts.

Silverfangs - **

The nobility of the Garou, the leaders, the most proud and above all, well-bred of all the werewolves - or was that in-bred? They are natural leaders, there as an example of purity to all other Garou... or if you talk to many of the other tribes, ancient hangovers from medieval times, all inbred and mad.

Get of Fenris - *

Norse and Germanic originally, the Get are traditionally great warriors, brave and resolute. Everyone else thinks they are unthinking psychopathic killers.

Uktena - *

The Uktena are one of the three Native american tribes of werewolves. They now mix their heritage with other native peoples who have been marginalised, and as such there are a large number of aboriginal Uktena.

The other tribes are Red Talons (all lupus) and Wendigo (native american only). There used to be more tribes, but Bad Things happened to them.

Auspice:

The final strong influence on your Garou character is the moon phase under which they were born - each phase has a traditional role in Garou society:

Ahroun	- full moon. The Warrior
Galliard	- gibbous moon. The Bard.
Philodox	- half moon. The Judge.
Theurge	- crescent moon. The Shaman
Ragabash	- no moon. The Puck.

The closer to the fullmoon your auspice is, the more Rage your character begins with. Rage is a destructive energy you can focus in combat.