Garou Terms and References

Some terms have been changed for use within the Darker Productions chronicle. Some new terms have been added as well. Please at least skim the entire list for any changes you might not be aware of.

Adren a pupil or student who learns from a mentor; the rank between Fostern and Athro; Rank Three Airts magical paths within the spirit world (i.e. Spirit tracks, moon paths, etc). Aisling a journey into the spirit world Anamae soul friend; most often a bond with a pack totem Anchorhead Elusive spirit gates between the Near Umbra and the Deep Umbra. -anrae - suffix added to a name, used when addressing someone of lower rank. This is considered by many Garou to be a pointless term, but more traditional Garou might still use it. Anruth an individual Garou or pack that travels from caern to caern but is bound to none of them Ape slang term for a Homid or human. Apocalypse the prophetic revelation of the end of times. In Garou mythology, it has come to mean the final battle with the Wyrm a battle many believe they are destined to lose. It is generally accepted that the present time is the beginning of the Apocalypse. Athro Teacher, mentor; The rank between Adren and Elder; Rank Four Auspice - The moon phase under which a Garou is born, and the path ("character class") that is imposed as a result. Garou generally fit into their auspices naturally, but not always. Awen the sacred Muse, the creative impulse; Moon Dancers periodically go on spirit quests for her, but she has never been found. Bane - A spirit in service to the Wyrm. Banes vary in power and abilities, but all are dangerous enemies of Gaia and the Garou. Bawn The boundary area around a caern which is patrolled and monitored against intrusion, even by other Garou. Black Spiral Dancers - A tribe of werewolves that serves the Wyrm. Once the noble White Howlers, the Black Spiral Dancers represent the frightful danger of corruption. Many have batlike features, such as long ears and membranous wings under their arms, and their tribal totem is Whippoorwill. Blight a corrupted area in either the material or spirit world; these tainted areas spawn Banes. Breed - The species to which a Garou was born. Lupus Garou are born among wolves, Homid Garou are born among humans, and the infertile Metis Garou are born of the forbidden union between two Garou. Brugh any sort of mystical place whether a Garou caern or a Wyrmhole. Often a glade or cave located deep within the wilderness Cadaver derogatory term for a vampire Caern - A sacred location of much spiritual power and significance. A caern is usually defended by a sept of Garou, and is dedicated to a totem. Charach A Garou who sleeps with another Garou or has done so in the past; often used as a word of anger or as an insult as to do so is to violate the first law of the Litany.

Charms - spirit powers; the natural abilities of spirits. Chiminage a form of favors done for services renders; a Garou might perform a task a chiminage in order to repay a spirit for the teaching of a Gift, or to repay a sept for allowing him to use a caern. Celestine the greatest of all spirits, god-like in power. Those worshipped include Gaia (the earth), Luna (the moon) and Helios (the sun). Cliath a young Garou, preceding the rank of Fostern; any Garou that recently accomplished their Rite of Passage. Concolation The largest of Garou moots; the matters discussed at these great gatherings concern the entire Garou Nation. Concord, the The compromise reached by the tribes of the Garou Nation which ended the Impergium; its traditions are still enforced today. Corruption the Wyrms power of destruction, twisted into decay and depravity; also the resulting of the Wyrms actions. In the present age, it is common to refer to pollution and ecological ruin caused by humans as corruption. Crinos the legendary half-wolf, half-man warrior form worn by Garou. Cub A very young Garou, not yet of any standing rank and almost unable to fend for themselves. Deep Umbra The Umbral world beyond the protection of the Membrane. The further a Deep Umbral traveler ventures into the Gaia Realm, the more tenuous reality becomes. Delirium the ancestral memories of humans which cause madness and memory loss in those who look upon a Garou in Crinos form. Domain a mini-realm in the Umbra, usually connected to a larger realm in the Deep Umbra. Fera - slang term for the Changing Breeds, short for "feral";considered an insult to the Sanga (now commonly known as Bete). Feral slang term for a Lupus Garou Fetish - a physical object with a spirit bound within it. Fetishes are highly valued by all Garou regardless as to tribe, and they often have special powers (called Charms) bestowed by the spirit within. Fetishes can be compaired to "magic items" from many other RPGs. Flock, the - all of humanity, particularly Kinfolk Fomor - A Wyrm-tainted human, possessed by a Bane and granted weird, often disgusting powers by the dark spirit. The plural is fomori. Fostern A Garous pack brothers and sisters; those who are between the ranks of Cliath and Adren, Rank Two Gaffling a simple servant spirit; Gafflings are rarely sentient. Gallain the Kinfolk of Garou those humans and wolves who are relations to the Garou but do not suffer from the Delirium, but are not actual Garou. Gaia - The Earth Mother; Nature; the world; the Goddess. "Gaia" can mean the personification of abstract ideas, or literally the world including its parts. The Garou seek to protect Gaia from the Wyrm, whose destructive power threatens to destroy Her. Garou - Werewolf; more specifically, a werewolf who serves Gaia. "Garou" can be singular or plural; as the plural, it can mean many werewolves, or all werewolves as a whole. Black Spiral Dancers are usually not included as Garou. Gauntlet the barrier between the physical realm of Earth and the spiritual world of the Umbra. The Gauntlet is strongest in cities and areas of technology and weakest near caerns. Gifts spiritual powers granted to the Garou through their connection with the spirits of the

Umbra. Gremlin - a malevolent spirit. Harano a state of bitter depression that afflicts werewolves. Garou in the grips of Harano are debilitated and often die if they do not recover. Hispo the near-wolf form of the Garou Homid Garou of human ancestry. Occasionally used disdainfully by Lupus Garou. -ikthya - "of the Wyrm"; a suffix added to a name; a greeting among Black Spirals someowhat equal to the Garou term "yuf". Impergium, the in prehistory, the period of 3000 years during which strict population quotas were enforced on all human settlements. Incarna A class of spirits that ranks below the Celestines in power and includes the totem spirits of the 13 tribes. Jaggling a spirit servant of the Incarna or Celestine; often sentient. Kenning the empathic calling some Garou perform when howling. Kinain the relationship among Garou who are related by blood through an ancestor; this is a term of endearment and pride never used when referring to a metis. Kinfolk humans or wolves related to the Garou; preferred mates and the most likely to give birth to Garou cubs. Klaive a fetish sword or dagger, usually of great spiritual power and always made of silver. Leech slang term for a vampire. Litany - The set of laws that all Garou are expected to follow. Lupus A Garou of wolf ancestry Membrane, the the barrier between the Near and Deep Umbra. Travel through it must be done at an Anchorhead. Alternatively, the Garou can bypass the Membrane through the Dream Zone. Metis sterile and deformed offspring of two Garou; generally reviled by Garou society. Moon Bridge a path established between two caerns; it must be renewed with spiritual energy during moots and called open with either a Gift or a Rite when needed for travel. Moot a gathering of Garou for any social, political, or religious function; often takes place at a caern Mule slang term for a Metis Near Umbra the spiritual world surrounding the Gaia Realm, just beyond the Penumbra. Pack a small group of Garou bound together by ties of friendship and common goals; the basic unit in Garou society Penumbra Earths Shadow; the spirit world directly surrounding the physical world. Many, but not all terrain features have reflections here. Pericarp the Near Umbra around each Realm Phoebe an Incarna of Luna, representing the Moon Praenomen the guardian spirit of a pack Protectorate territory or individuals under the protection of a pack or sept. -rhya greater in station; a suffix appended to a name Rank one of five stages of social standing for Garou society. Those without rank are cubs, Ronin, or Legends. Reaching traveling to the spirit world Realms the worlds of consistent reality within the Tellurian. Renown method of achieving rank in Garou society; the more Renown a Garou has, the higher rank they are.

Ronin Garou who have chosen to leave Garou society or one that is forced out. They are not acknowledged by tribe or sept and must walk the realms alone. Run a ritual hunt that takes place at the end of a moot; slang term used by younger Garou only Sanga Garou term for shape shifters other than the werewolves, many thought to be extinct. The term is somewhat archaic in nature and rarely used. Sept - A large group of Garou devoted to one purpose, often defending a single caern. Sheep - humans Stepping Sideways entering the spirit world Spirit - A "creature" of spiritual matter, dwelling within the Umbra. Spirits generally serve either the Wyld, Weaver, or Wyrm, and their power and abilities vary widely. Talen - a kind of temporary Fetish that can only be used once before the spirit within the item is released. Tellurian the whole of reality Throat to best another in ritual combat, used as a verb (and as slang, as in I throated his sorry butt!). Totem - A powerful Incarna spirit that has adopted a group of Garou. Totems may adopt packs, septs, or entire tribes. Totems do not generally visit Garou directly, but send representative spirits called avatars. Trait, the the Wyrm, the Wyld, and the Weaver; the trinity of primary cosmic forces Tribe - A cultural unit of werewolves. There are thirteen tribes of Garou, and the Black Spiral Dancers are the fourteenth. Every tribe has its own totem. Nearly all werewolves fit into a tribe; those that don't are called Ronin. Umbra - The spirit world; the Shadow; the mystic inner workings of reality. Spirits dwell in the Umbra, and Garou may enter it at will by passing through the Gauntlet, the barrier between the Umbra and the physical world. Urrah Garou who lives within a city; also translates to the tainted ones Veil, the a poetic term for the Delirium and the protection it affords Garou Ways, the the traditions of the Garou Weaver - The personified force of order, structure, stasis, and technology. The Weaver is considered an unwitting ally or a slave to the Wyrm by most Garou, and so is a sort of blameless cause of Gaia's trouble. Consequently, most Garou view the Weaver with suspicion, a useful but dangerous aspect of Gaia. At worst, the Weaver is responsible for the Wyrm's madness. Wyld - The personified force of creative chaos. The Wyld is associated with freedom, wilderness, randomness, and uncontrolled energy. It can be dangerously chaotic, but its diminished power in the modern world is considered even more dangerous by the Garou, as the Weaver and Wyrm have overpowered it. Wyrm - The personified force of death, decay, disease, and corruption. The Garou consider the Wyrm to be evil, driven mad by entanglement in the Weaver's webs, and threatening to Gaia. Wyrmhole a place that has been spiritually defiled by the Wyrm, invariably a place of great corruption -yuf honored equal, a suffix appended to a name.

Astrological Terms
All terms below are taken from Rage Across the Heavens by White Wolf and are used here only as reference. Aphelion - the point of orbit in the solar system when a body is farthest from the sun. Asteroids - rocky objects located in the outer reaches of the solar system, forming a belt in space that ranges between the inner and outer planets. Many scientists beleive asteroids are the remains of planets that once existed. Astrology - The study of stars as a means of predicting future events or understanding past and present situations. Astronomy - The scientific study of stars, planets, and other phenomena of space. Ecliptic - the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. With the exception of Pluto, the other planets also orbit close to that plane. Equinox - The time of year which the position of the earth and sun result in equal durations of day and night. This occurs twice a year, at the beginning of spring (vernal equinox) and the beginning of fall (autumnal equinox). Eshtarra - the name of the planetary Incarna of Earth that represents the second month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Hakahe - the name of the planetary Incarna of the hidden planet Vulcan, the sixth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Horoscope - Literally, a picture or chart that depicting the sky at a particular moment. Izarra Tarana - the Garou name for the Pleiades star cluster. Katanka-Sonnak - the name of the planetary Incarna of the Sun that represents the fifth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Light Year - the distance that light travels in one year; equal to about 10 million kilometers. Lu-Bat - the name of the planetary Incarna of Saturn that represents the tenth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Magnitude - a term used to describe the relative brightness of objects in the sky. The greater the magnitude, the lower the "number"; thus, stars with a magnitude of 1 are much brighter than those with a magnitude of 8 or 9. The human eye can see stars with a magnitude of up to 7. Anything greater can only be seen with a telescope. Matagar - the Lord of Beginnings, another name for Sirius the Dog Star. Meros - the name of the planetary Incarna of Pluto that represents the eighth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Meteor / Meteor Shower - a cluster of small particles travelling through space. When the earth passes through a meteor field, the planet's atmosphere causes them to burst into flame, leaving a firey trail across the sky. Some meteor fields, like the Leonids, provide spectacular shows of light and fire on a regular basis (every 33 years or so). Mitanu - the name of the planetary Incarna of Mercury that represents the third month of the

Garou lunar zodiac. Nerigal -the name of the planetary Incarna of Mars that represents the first month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Orrery - a reproduction of the solar system (usually) as an aid for study or meditation. Some orreries are small, while others are large enough to walk around inside. Perihelion - The nearest point to the sun in the orbit of a celestial body. Rorg - the name of the planetary Incarna of associated with the asteriod belt and the unoffical "thirteenth" sign of the Garou lunar zodiac. Ruatma - the name of the planetary Incarna of Uranus that represents the eleventh month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Shantar - the name of the planetary Incarna of Neptune that represents the twelfth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Sidereal Year - one full revolution of the Earth around the sun. based on the position of the stars. This is the year used by astrologers for the purpose of casting horoscopes. Sokhta - the name of the planetary Incarna associated in the Garou lunar zodiac with the Moon. Solar Year - one complete orbit of the earth around the sun measured by the relationship of the Earth's axial tilt, thus measuring the Earth's relative position with regards to the sun. The Western calendar uses the solar year instead of the sidereal year. Solstice - the time of the year during which the Earth is either at its nearest or furthest point from the sun. The summer solstice marks the nearest approach of the earth to the sun and signifies the beginning of summer; the winter solstice occurs when the earth is furthest from the sun and heralds the onset of winter. Songan - the name given by the Garou to the comet Chiron. Tambiyah - the name of the planetary Incarna of Venus that represents the seventh month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Vergarda - Another name for Polaris, the North Star. Yakecen -the name given by the Garou to a black hole in the far edges of the galaxy. Yaraan-Doo - the Dying One; the name given by the Garou to the Southern Cross. Zarok - the name of the planetary Incarna of Jupiter that represents the ninth month of the Garou lunar zodiac. Zenith - that point in the sky immediatly and vertically above an observer. Zodiac - a belt of stars that roughly parallels the elliptic of the earth and is thus visable in both northern and southern hemispheres. The sky field contains all twelve "signs" used in many astrological calculations.