Laws

The Litany

The litany is obviously held in high regard and is the founding for garou law. For severe circumstances a garou council will be called to hear cases, although mainly punishment is handed out by either the Guardian (Warder), Caern leader or the Head Theurge. Some laws are punished more harshly depending on the tribe and sept, while some even go unpunished. 

Garou Shall Not Mate With Garou

Because of the deformities and psychoses displayed by metis werewolves (and the age old prejudice correspondingly levied against metis), garou are forbidden to mate with their own kind. Werewolves must instead seek mates among either human or wolf societies. This tenet embodies one of the great garou tragedies; Moon Dancers often move audiences to tears with ballads of garou who could not express their passion - or who did and were torn to pieces by their outraged tribe.

England: The law is upheld, however metis children still appear, many of which reject their old tribe and join the Children of Gaia because of their more tolerant view on metis. Punishments for this offence can be severe, but there have been no recorded deaths recently.

Combat the Wyrm Wherever it Dwells

The garou were spawned, say the bards, to fight the Wyrm, and much of their early history comprises battles between great heroes and the Wyrm's minions. Most garou pay at least lip tradition to this tenet.

England: At present this law is held up high by the present ruling Get-of-Fenris. There are tribes that find exceptions with this rule, but this is normally kept quiet from main stream discussions.

Respect the Territory of Another

The practice of this portion of the Litany has changed over the last few centuries; humans have spread to the extent that urinating ones territorial markings has become impractical. Instead a garou visitor or immigrant must first ask permission by singing a Howl of Introduction, reciting name, sept, lineage, totem and tribe.

England: Any announcement is accepted, even sometimes by mobile phone. A visiting garou can be expected 48 hours rest, food and water and maybe expected to do some sort of duty, help with defenses, or tell a tale during his stay. Some septs remain closed though to visitors, and will refuse even these basic necessities. There have been some hostile take overs in recent years, the Get are of the opinion that the strong will rule, the weak do not deserve their caerns and leave them at risk of the Wyrm.

Accept an Honorable Surrender

The garou realize that they are a dwindling race and that interspecies duels commonly occur. Realizing that continuous battles to the death would only advance the Wyrm's cause, the Children of Gaia and Fianna incorporated this element into the Litany. In theory, a garou combatant may end a duel by exposing her throat; the opponent is then honor bound to accept the surrender. the loser suffers no reduction in renown, although the winner may certainly gain renown. 

England: The Get understand the importance of this law and on the whole respect it. It is respected among the younger garou challenges but during important duels such as Caern leadership and for the Crown of England death is seen as the only outcome. Enemies should never be left.

Submission to Those of a Higher Station

Garou's wolf nature practically enforces a hierarchical structure within their society. Thus the garou have implemented the concepts of rank and renown. Within reason, any request by a garou of higher rank is to be obeyed.

England: Many young garou scoff at their elders and much of the intertribal distrust is due to certain garou having a higher station, as none but Albrecht is higher than the King of England. Many grumble about the order of things and some of those that grumble have knives.

The First Share of the Kill to Those of Highest Station

This portion of the Litany is much favored by the garou elders, as well as such tribes as the Silver Fangs and the Shadow Lords; it is grudgingly acquiesced to by the rest. The 'kill clause' also applies for spoils of war - thus, in theory, the prey's most powerful fetishes and the like may be garnered by the garou with the highest renown. 

England: The pack mentality can do away with this tenant and decide on a more diplomatic way of sharing spoils. However this tenant can be apparent on a sept level or particularly on a tribal level. 

Ye Shall Not Eat The Flesh of Humans

This portion of the Litany was first sung in the post-Impergium days; the Stargazers are believed to be responsible for its insertion. They noticed that garou who routinely consumed human flesh often grew Wyrm tainted; furthermore cannibals hard a pretty hard time stalking and killing more challenging prey, such as wooly rhinos or banes. Additionally, in these modern times, this rule serves as a function similar to the 'kosher' laws of the Hebrews; modern humans' chemistry cal-laden diet makes their flesh bitter and unhealthy. 

England: The Red Talons of Manchester scoff at this tenet and many a strange murder at Manchester can be tracked back to the Talons. Some garou often frenzy and regain consciousness with a strange taste in their mouth. It is normally not discussed or kept secret, and if it is not, only a minor punishment will be leveled. 

Respect for Those Beneath Ye - All Are of Gaia

Garou tend to think of themselves in communal terms, and they thus realize that most creatures have some sort of contribution to make toward the whole. When all is said and done, garou were created as the World's protectors. The chivalric ideal is much in vogue among some septs, and garou who display a great deal of noblesse oblige may gain renown. 

England: Most garou pay only lip service at best to this tenet and if they could it would be likely to be removed. Few garou at a sept would chastise a young garou who slew a deer or human in frenzy.

The Veil Shall Not Be Lifted

This is perhaps the most inviolate portion of the Litany. There is no change of law here for England - garou are aware that both the Wyrm and the Inquisition hunt for them. Garou who disobey this edict die at the claws of the brethren.

Do Not Suffer Thy People to Tend Thy Sickness

In the ancient days, an injured, infirm or aged garou was simply torn to pieces by his peers. As time went on, however it came to be considered more dignified to let such a garou end his own life.

England: There are some notable examples of how this law has been ignored during recent years. The creation of 'Firepower' to name one, and the survival of 'Father Wimbish' as he is succumbing to Harano. Old garou can still be considered useful, providing they can still function as a valid defender of a caern. Crippled garou often are left to combat the Wyrm, rather than to commit suicide.

The Leader May Be Challenged at Any Time during Peace

Though garou are known for their pack mentality, this does not mean they must slavishly obey their leaders. If no immediate threat is pending, garou of sufficient standing may challenge another's position of leadership. A contest of some sort is usually staged. If the challenger wins, she assumes the mantle of leadership; if she loses, she must accept the leader's dictates with good grace.

England: Active pack challenges are often common among the lower ranking garou and is actively encouraged. A system of challenges are set up and any theurge or philodox may oversee the dispute. Repetitive challenges are seen as poor form and a new or defending leader should be given some grace before a repeated challenge. The three accepted contests are combat, game craft or stare down. The choice of challenge is made by the person being challenged, and he will also win any draws. High ranking challenges are unique in their own right and should be individual treated on circumstances. Technically speaking all moots are a perfect time for challenges to take place, and some garou can even gain renown for following this forum. 

In some New Age packs a more diplomatic roll of leadership is also more common, in these packs the leader is merely a figurehead and decisions are made as a group. In these cases this law can be considered out dated and a new way of deciding leaders by election was formed among some of the Children of Gaia.

The Leader May Not Be Challenged at Any Time during Wartime

Certain creatures of the Wyrm are monstrous in size and power, and no one garou can beat them. Pack tactics are vital to the garou's survival against such creatures, and obedience is vital to successful pack tactics. In battle, the word of the leader is immutable law. A garou who disobeys a superior will be destroyed as soon as circumstances permit.

England: This rule on the whole is followed to the letter and previously some Shadow Lord's have taken advantage of this rule saying that the garou are always at war with the Wyrm. Philodoxs may still over rule a leader's decisions if they are deemed to be under influence of the Wyrm, unpack like or of unsound mind. 

Ye Shall Take no Action That Causes a Caern to Be Violated. 

Like the preceding clause about the veil, this rule is fairly ironclad. The caerns are Gaia's lifeblood, and if they are destroyed, the garou will cease to exist. Even a garou who accidentally leads an enemy to a caern is often severely punished. 

England: The seriousness of this law is not wasted. Some recent witch hunts have resulted with garou who were put to death and later found to be innocent. Some black-hearted garou see this law as a faultless way to deal with their enemies.