Uratha

The Uratha are werewolves, territorial apex predators with an instinctive compulsion to hunt. They are able to shapeshift, assuming the forms of humans or wolves or one of several intermediate forms, shrug off even the most grevious of injuries, cross easily between the material world and the Shadow and call upon strange powers that draw on the animistic nature of that otherworld. They are creatures of strong and turbulent passions, eternally struggling with a burning, limitless rage that simmers close to the surface and may explode into violence without warning.

First Change

Any human with werewolf heritage, referred to by uratha as kinfolk or the wolf-blooded, may become a werewolf though it is not known what triggers such a change. This transformation is referred to as the First Change, a chaotic and stressful period of up to a month during which the werewolf-to-be experiences emotional instability, changing senses and alien sensations, psychological changes and rising instincts, and even hallucinatory visions of spirits or the Shadow. The impending Change churns the Shadow like a storm, drawing the attention of nearby packs and spirits cunning or foolish enough to try and take advantage of a new wolf. The nuzusul - the First Tongue word for a werewolf during this time before their Change - often feels that they are going insane, as the stresses continue to rise until they finally Change. This is usually an outburst of suddent violence and Rage as the new werewolf is overwhelmed by the full force of their instincts to hunt and kill. Many wake to their new existence with the blood of those they cared about under their claws.

History

Werewolves have an oral history, passing stories and legends through packs, protectorates, and tribes. While that’s a wonderful tool for keeping their culture alive, it does mean that when fact and narrative conflict, fact falls by the wayside.

Even so, almost every werewolf hears at least one tale of the time before, and how the Forsaken lost paradise. Just as many cultures and religions have a myth of the flood or the myth of how humans gained forbidden knowledge, werewolf history has a common theme. The worlds of Flesh and Spirit used to be so close that one could touch the other, then the werewolves came and brought ruin upon it. Among the Uratha, this typically bears a lesson along the lines of “they fucked up so now we have to do better.”

The common elements of these stories come together to tell of the Sundering, the story of the creation of the Uratha and of their fall from grace.

The Sundering

This story is true. In ages past, the worlds of flesh and spirit freely mingled in Pangaea. Humans could cross the Border Marches into the Shadow, while spirits could enter the world of Flesh to gather Essence. The great wolf, Urfarah kept the balance of the worlds through predation, hunting spirits that grew too bold, thinning the herd of humanity when they grew too numerous, and warring with other great spirits who would exploit the border for themselves.

The Sundering - the end of Pangaea, and the great crime of the People - began with love. Luna, Amahan Iduth, the Warding Moon who protects the Shadow from the void beyond, saw in the Wolf a kindred spirit and the two greatest guardians of the Shadow fell in love. From the Moon's ever-changing protean nature and the Wolf's guardianship and predatory instinct came the People. Bound to the earth and unable to join their mother in the skies, the first werewolves joined Wolf's pack and recieved the Moon's Gifts from the Lunes.

Yet this act of creation weakened Wolf and he grew slow and weak, and both worlds suffered for it. Spirits set themselves up as deities among human tribes, Essence and resonances surged uncontrolled as humanity spread unchecked, and the great spirits escaped Wolf's slowing jaws by shattering themselves into uncountable shards that infested the worlds. The Uratha and their wolf spirit cousins knew that strong young hunters must replace a weak elder, and Wolf's ban forbade him from surrender. Only in death could another take his place. So the Uratha and the greatest wolf spirits fought their father and killed him.

Urfarah's death howl shattered the Border Marches, raising a Gauntlet between worlds and forever dividing Flesh and Spirit. Luna saw what Wolf's children had done and, stricken with grief, cursed the People with madness and to burn at the touch of silver. Pangaea was lost and the world grew into that which we see today.

The Sundering still divides the People. Some, led by the Firstborn wolf-spirits who joined the battle against Urfarah, took up Father Wolf's role and pledged themselves to Luna to carry out his duty to guard the divide between Flesh and Spirit. They recieved Luna's forgiveness and call themselves the Tribes of the Moon, or Urdaga, or simply the Forsaken in memory of their patricide. Others believed that killing Urfarah was a mistake and follow the Firstborn who did not join take part in the murder. They call themselves the Pure Tribes, or Anshega, and hate both Luna and their brethren who swore themselves to her.

Society

Werewolf society is a loose and fragmentary network of alliances and ties born of dedication to patron spirits. The base unit of that society is the pack. Packs enable werewolves to hunt greater prey or to protect larger swathes of territory, but primarily to have companions who understand their struggles in ways mere humanity cannot. A pack will generally claim a specific area of territory as their own, though not always as some choose to roam, and will form a bond with a totem spirit as a way to unify themselves into a common cause.

This page is a work in progress and in need of some love. If you know anything that can be added to it, please feel free to so.

Werewolves in Blackmouth

This page is a work in progress and in need of some love. If you know anything that can be added to it, please feel free to so.