Post by Tami on Feb 11, 2007 14:22:52 GMT -5
Hierarchy
Every gathering of garou, from the smallest pack to the largest septs, has a few remarkable similarities. Part of the being a werewolf is knowing the way of wolves. Instinct plays a big part in how they relate to each other. Like wolves, Garou establish a pecking order almost immediately. One among them must become alpha, and all must obey. In most small gatherings, an alpha proves his dominance by brute force. In larger gatherings, however, doing so is impractical. If a ruler has to fight of rivals constantly, he will soon be too weak to govern properly.
Garou society establishes hierarchy through a system of renown, a measure of a heroes’ deeds and service to her sept. Constant infighting wounds and weakens a sept, but this system channels such energies in a positive direction. (“If you want to show your strength, cub, then show us how well you hunt. I know a spirit that intrigues me…”) This “caste system” may seem disturbing, but a werewolf’s instincts and thousands of years of tribal conditioning reinforce it. Pack instincts demand hierarchy. Every werewolf has his place. Elders rarely need to demonstrate power by abusing their lessors, and vassals are usually content to serve.
Based on their renown, each werewolf also holds a certain rank in garou Society, and he is often addressed by his proper title. For instance:
- Cubs are at the bottom of the pecking order, treated as little more than children. They’re eager to learn, and the ask many confusing questions.
- Once a cub completes her rite of passage, she becomes a cliath, a young Garou enlisted continually to perform all sorts of tasks for her sept. Because packs of Cliath know that they are in demand, some travel all over the world to learn about Garou society.
- As cliath continue to gain renown, they eventually become fostern. These garou are educated enough to act as esteemed emissaries between septs. At this stage in life, an entire pack may undergo a period of fosterage in a distant and seemingly alien caern
- Adren outrank fostern, often taking some of the lesser political positions in a sept. By this time, a pack of adren usually limits its travel to a handful of caerns. Political rivalries develop over time.
- Athro outrank all these commoners. They are typically swept up ion some of the most perilous and compelling adventures their tribes can offer. Silent Strider messengers have been known to travel around the world to summon the right pack of Athro for critical adventures.
- Only the most esteemed and highest-ranking and highest ranking Garou are addressed as Elders. Even is an elder does not currently serve as a tribal elder, as a sept leader or in some other esteemed position, a werewolf with enough renown is still treated with the greatest forms of respect
Every gathering of garou, from the smallest pack to the largest septs, has a few remarkable similarities. Part of the being a werewolf is knowing the way of wolves. Instinct plays a big part in how they relate to each other. Like wolves, Garou establish a pecking order almost immediately. One among them must become alpha, and all must obey. In most small gatherings, an alpha proves his dominance by brute force. In larger gatherings, however, doing so is impractical. If a ruler has to fight of rivals constantly, he will soon be too weak to govern properly.
Garou society establishes hierarchy through a system of renown, a measure of a heroes’ deeds and service to her sept. Constant infighting wounds and weakens a sept, but this system channels such energies in a positive direction. (“If you want to show your strength, cub, then show us how well you hunt. I know a spirit that intrigues me…”) This “caste system” may seem disturbing, but a werewolf’s instincts and thousands of years of tribal conditioning reinforce it. Pack instincts demand hierarchy. Every werewolf has his place. Elders rarely need to demonstrate power by abusing their lessors, and vassals are usually content to serve.
Based on their renown, each werewolf also holds a certain rank in garou Society, and he is often addressed by his proper title. For instance:
- Cubs are at the bottom of the pecking order, treated as little more than children. They’re eager to learn, and the ask many confusing questions.
- Once a cub completes her rite of passage, she becomes a cliath, a young Garou enlisted continually to perform all sorts of tasks for her sept. Because packs of Cliath know that they are in demand, some travel all over the world to learn about Garou society.
- As cliath continue to gain renown, they eventually become fostern. These garou are educated enough to act as esteemed emissaries between septs. At this stage in life, an entire pack may undergo a period of fosterage in a distant and seemingly alien caern
- Adren outrank fostern, often taking some of the lesser political positions in a sept. By this time, a pack of adren usually limits its travel to a handful of caerns. Political rivalries develop over time.
- Athro outrank all these commoners. They are typically swept up ion some of the most perilous and compelling adventures their tribes can offer. Silent Strider messengers have been known to travel around the world to summon the right pack of Athro for critical adventures.
- Only the most esteemed and highest-ranking and highest ranking Garou are addressed as Elders. Even is an elder does not currently serve as a tribal elder, as a sept leader or in some other esteemed position, a werewolf with enough renown is still treated with the greatest forms of respect