Rite of Keres~4~Seasonal~All~WtA~
The rite of Keres takes place on the night of the autumnal equinox. Keres
was a Garou bitch who lived in ancient times. Her tribe is unknown, although
the Black Furies readily claim Keres as their own. As legend has it, Keres
was so fiercely protective of her packmates that when she was trapped in
a cave, surrounded by the minions of the Wyrm, with only the bodies of
her fallen companions for company, Keres consumed them rather than let 
Wyrm-creatures contaminate the noble bodies with their foul touch. Keres
then charged into battle. Empowered by the spirits of her companions, she
slew nine time nine great Wyrm beasts before she herself fell. Such was 
Keres' bravery that Gaia allowed her and the collected spirits of her
packmates to run together in the Deep Umbra forever as spirit-Furies. To
this day, certain Garou mystics report brief encounters with the fiercely
beautiful spirit-pack.

The Rite of Keres is a solemn event in which the ritemaster leads the Garou
in a howling dirge for all those who have died in the service of Gaia. At
this time it is considered proper for even the bravest warriors to voice
their anguish, loss, and fear, and to take comfort in those companions
still alive. The gathered Garou sit in a large circle representing the
neverending circle of Gaia's embrace. Each Garou in turn tells a tale of
personal grief. As he finishes his story, the Garou flings a physical
representation of his fear and grief, known as a Talisman of Keres, into
the center of the circle. Before the ceremony, each Garou creates his own 
talisman out of some form of wood. A Black Fury might carve a representation 
of herself with bowed head, while a Silent Strider's talisman might consist
of a paper wolf with broken legs. The talisman need be meaningful only to
its creator.

The ritemaster is the last Garou to spin her tale and cast in her talisman.
As she casts in her talisman, she focuses the anguish of the tribe through her
body, calling out to the spirit of Keres to consume the talismans and
grant strength to the Garou. If the rite succeeds, the Garou will sense the
spirit of Keres as she consumes the talismans in a sudden blast of flames.
After the talismans are consumed, the Garou each taste the remaining ashes,
taking some small part of the strength of Keres into themselves. The
ritemaster then leads the Garou in a revel to celebrate the purging of the
Wyrm-taint they have cast forth.

Systems: Any Garou participating in a successful Rite of Keres may make a
Stamina + Rituals roll (difficulty 7). If successful, the participant
receives one permanent point of Willpower for casting forth her inner fears
and pain. Failure causes the ritemaster to lose Honor in the eyes of the
tribe; a botch may cause Keres to attack the sept instead of the bonfire,
for she abides weakness in no Garou.
