Oath of the Moon
The Oath of the Moon is a code of behaviour that werewolves of the Tribes of the Moon swear to uphold as a means to control their Rage. The Oath is sworn following the completion of a Rite of Passage and is an essential part of a werewolf being recognised as one of the People, not simply an unlearned cub or wild animal lost to their instincts. The Oath serves as both a religious creed and a code of law, acting as a silver chain binding the monster within and a bulwark against the rising Rage that burns within each Uratha's soul. By their Oaths are Uratha lifted above half-blind humans and mere wolves and spirits, and through it they gain strength, a creed, and an outlet through which to express their dedication.
Mother Luna watches over her children still, and they know it through the presence of Lunes, the mad moon spirits. Lunes judge the Oath, exalting its champions and condemning its transgressors. Each of the Lunes is as bipolar as its mother, and while one might decry a werewolf for not upholding the Oath strongly enough, it might also barely react when she achieves a great success. No one said adhering to a creed of primeval hunters and capricious spirits would ever be easy.
Werewolves who break the Oath are punished by their fellows, because to shirk the Oath or allow a sin to go unanswered is as good as breaking it anew. Such failures may also draw the ire of the Firstborn or the Lunes, whose punishments for oathbreakers - Sanghba'zir in the First Tongue - are often subtle and terrible indeed.
Parts of the Oath
Several tenets comprise the Oath. Each Tribe, Lodge and pack places greater importance on some laws than others. Some pay only lip service to one tenet, while others fervently hold to each law as sacred. In the end, not even her packmates can determine how a werewolf approaches the Oath; it is a decision that they must make for themselves.
Each Tribe, Lodge and Pack also adds its own additional tenets to the Oath, obligations sworn to their patron totems as a price of the kinship and power that they offer.
Even the Pure Tribes hold to their own versions of the Oath, sworn in the name of dead Urfarah rather than hated Luna.
Urum Da Takus
The Wolf Must Hunt. No werewolf can transgress against this tenet, for it is the beating heart of their existence. The People hunt. They revere Siskur-Dah as their most holy purpose. To them, it is not just a way of life; the hunt is life. It is Father Wolf’s greatest legacy. To the People, the hunt is both a veneration and sustenance, a bond that extends beyond flesh to encompass spirits and threats encroaching upon their domains. Its faithful observance binds packs, yet it's also a source of contention, sparking rivalries and territorial disputes among those who dare neglect its primal call.
Imru Nu Fir Imru
The People Do Not Murder the People. The specific phrasing of this law goes back to the oldest forms of the First Tongue. It does not say “Uratha do not kill Uratha.” It says “the People” or “the Tribe” or “the Family.” And the verb is “murder” in the oldest form, not “kill.” As a result of this ambiguity, it has spurring many debates and blood feuds among Uratha. Nearly as many interpretations of this law exist as there are packs in the world. Open challenges of dominance resulting in accidental death might be considered acceptable to some, while murder of an unaware victim is a heinous crime. Some consider kinfolk and human pack members part of "the People," making their lives equally sacred, while others contend that it only applies to uratha sworn to the Oath. Lunes offer little help interpreting the law, their words every bit as contradictory as clashing ideals. Open challenges leading to accidental death divide opinions, but most agree that slaying a defeated foe is murder, while unnecessary killing — be it prey or fellow werewolf — is a sin.
Sih Sehe Mak; Mak Ne Sih
The Low Honour the High; the High Respect the Low.Rooted in the understanding of dominance and submission, this tenet acknowledges the inevitable existence of hierarchies in both human and spirit realms. The law of the wild dictates that stronger packs prevail, and the elders enforce this law, commanding respect from the younger werewolves. While some see it as a means to wield power, wise elders recognize their duty to show respect for the less experienced kin. Werewolf society is not a democracy, and defiance of one's station reveals dangerous hubris. Among the ballads of the Cahiliths are those that illustrate the consequences of disrespecting this tenet, with young Uratha facing brutal lessons or well-respected werewolves struggling with madness before finding redemption.
Ni Daha
Respect Your Prey. Humans' abandonment of this law has led to their suffering, a lesson not lost on the werewolves who understand the perils of imbalance. A precarious equilibrium exists where strong prey shapes formidable predators, and vice versa, a principle ingrained in the core of the Uratha's existence. Callous killings mar this balance, inviting the scorn of spirits, while indifference to life erodes the sanctity of the hunt itself. True predators act out of necessity, not desire, and by respecting their prey, they command reciprocal respect as rightful predators. The wise earn the Shadow's begrudging acknowledgment, underscoring the savage nobility of the Uratha in the natural order. For some Uratha, this respect extends further, as they acknowledge the weight of the lives sacrificed for their own survival. For most, killing is simply about necessity, and even humans can become prey when circumstances demand it.
Nu Hu Uzu Eren
Do Not Eat the Flesh of Man or Wolf. Despite the allure of power and pleasure it offers, consuming the flesh of their closest kin remains a grave sin for the Uratha. The act binds werewolves to their most base instincts and lures them toward the spirit realm. Its origins remain shrouded in mystery—whether a cruel gift from the moon-goddess or a scar from Father Wolf's demise—yet its threat to the soul is constant. Regardless, this act threatens a werewolf's soul, especially in the throes of Kuruth, where even the most disciplined can succumb to the temptation. While the flesh of humans and wolves carries spiritual nourishment, its consumption exacts a terrible cost to the werewolf's very soul. Though most Forsaken are raised with a taboo against cannibalism, the temptation lingers, leaving them cautious and fearful of the path to power that lore speculates upon.
Nu Bath Githul
The Herd Must Not Know. While werewolves surpass humans in might, they are not invincible. The law's purpose is to protect the Uratha, not humans, for angry and determined humans pose a threat, armed with guns and knowledge of werewolf weaknesses. Cunning werewolves hunt covertly, avoiding human scrutiny that could lead to devastating consequences. The Lunacy's terrible effects on humans make it vital to keep their existence hidden, preventing humans from becoming pliable vessels for abusive spirits. The rise of the Internet complicates this law, but also grants a curious protection, as online rumors are easily dismissed, shielding the werewolves' secret and preventing large-scale conflicts with humanity.
Uratha Safal Thil Lu'u
The Uratha Shall Cleave to the Human. Uratha mate among themselves and humans. They count humans among their packs, including the Wolf-Blooded. While they feel kinship with wolves, they crave socialization among humans. It grounds them, keeps them in touch with humanity, helps them maintain balance. Werewolves cannot forsake their human sides, lest they become remorseless monsters as selfish as spirits.
Violations of the Oath
The People are fallible. Transgressions happen. Creatures as passionate as Uratha lash out in anger or the throes of desire. They fall prey to temptation. All too often, they willingly break the Oath. To do so invites punishment, ranging from atonement to disaster. An oathbreaker must answer first to her own pack, especially if her packmates did not take part in her crime. Breaking the Oath reflects poorly upon the rest of the pack. Most werewolf outcasts are rejected because of such blasphemy. Lone werewolves — already a sorry lot — answer to the pack most grievously injured by their transgressions. Custom forbids breaking laws in retaliation, but werewolves can certainly stretch the limits to their breaking point.
Less serious crimes still merit serious consideration. When one werewolf harms another pack, that pack has the right to call for judgment. If left to them, the pack so aggrieved might respond with overly brutal punishment. Bloodshed often results if the offender’s pack still stands beside her, as is the case for lesser offenses. Elodoth of both packs might settle on a judgment. Failing that, the packs might turn to their neighbors, elders, Lunes, or even tribal or lodge totem spirits for counsel.
Crimes range from minor to unforgivable. Foolishly challenging an alpha’s authority or defacing the property in another pack’s territory warrants light penalties. This might include minor injuries that are painful but temporary, like a broken leg or a ritual cutting. A harsh rebuke from an elder or the wronged pack can cut deep, staining the offender’s honor as those who were wronged sing of her transgressions for several nights. Temporary denial of some basic desire also serves as punishment, like denying the werewolf the right to see a human loved one or to leave her territory.
Willingly breaking the most important tenets warrants harsh penance. Cannibalism, slaying other werewolves for petty reasons, and betraying the Oath to satisfy personal urges all invite grievous punishment. Offenders may be cast out of pack and tribe, or have a limb cut off with a silver blade; the former is often a greater punishment to a werewolf.
Defiling the honor of the Forsaken and the Oath’s very meaning earns the heaviest of all sentences. Only the worst sins count: Deliberately exposing the People to humanity or the willing betrayal of the werewolf’s pack to the enemy stand as examples. Punishments can be death, exile, or imprisonment by Lunes. No werewolf dares guess what the wrath of Mother Luna inflicts upon oathbreakers.