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The Caerns

Caerns, great places of power are now nothing of what they once resembled, the Gauntlets thick, strong as steel webbing is impenetrable. Now Caerns are akin to Den Realms; places that are created as their own pockets in the Umbra with only a thin gauntlet that separates them from the mortal realm. They serve as safe havens to spirits and Garou alike, and are used by Septs to conduct Moots and Rites. These places do not necessarily reflect their physical location, but are reflected by the nature of spirits that inhabit it and is created by the Grand Elder (Garou) that governs it. It is quite possible that at the whim of the Grand Elder the landscape of a Caern can and will change, and can do so overnight. These new places of power are just as closely tied to the Wyld as the Caerns of old and can often be quite troublesome for a Garou trying to navigate through a potentially chaotic realm.

The Gauntlet of a Caern is much like the old World of Darkness, each Caern has its own difficulty to enter and players should check with the Storyboard or ST for confirmation. Please note that these places are protected and treated just the same as any other Caern in the World of Darkness and are referred to in much the same manner, and anyone caught violating these places are subjected to Garou Laws.

The Septs

The term "Grand Elder" has taken on a new meaning. Where once they were part of an election process, a governing body of the most experienced in Garou, and had to fight tooth and claw in Challenging circles until the most dominant prevailed, now a Grand Elder is chosen. They are not chosen by the Garou Nation, nor do they prove prowess on the battlefield. These Garou are not necessarily born leaders, nor are they the wisest of the bunch, but there is some innate quality that they possess that draws others to them.

A Grand Elders life is not an easy one. They are connected to the land, spirits and others in ways that some Garou cannot comprehend. It is through a Grand Elder that a Caern exists. Totem(s) of a Caern pick a Garou to govern it (though some say Gaia herself sends these spirits in her place). Sometimes this happens long before a Caern is established, and the Garou is forced on restless journey until they find the appropriate place. There are others that inherit a Caern when the current Grand Elder is no longer compatible. But often, should tragedy strike, a Caern will fall with its Grand Elder, and as the Elder dies, so too does the Caern. A Grand Elder is so acutely bound in their role to protect a Caern, and those that have pledged alliance to it, that and Elder is able to shape and maintain these places of power by their will alone. He or She, regardless of age, rank or Auspice, is the key element to a Caerns existence.

There are many theories when it comes to the purpose of a Caern and the nature of a Grand Elder. But as with all things metaphysic there is no concrete evidence to support any theory. There are a few things that are for certain; the immediate connection between a Caern and the Grand Elder, and the connection between the Grand Elder and the Sept.

If a Garou pledges his or her protection to a Caern, the Garou is offering to protect the one that governs it. When this Rite is performed, there is an bonding between the Garou and the Grand Elder. With this acceptance the Garou has become part of the Sept and is bound to the Grand Elder and the Caern in spirit and flesh. Every Garou that partakes in the Pledge of Alliance, creates a link between him/herself and the Grand Elder serving the Sept. And as such, any Garou that is tied to the Sept will instinctively know when their Grand Elder is in danger and is able to communicate with the Elder using mind-speak (so long as the Garou is in the borders of Sept territory). Likewise, the Grand Elder is able to communicate with all Garou of the Sept and will know who, in the territory, is under threat. The Elder is then able to send out a call to all Garou in the area, giving specific locations to any nearby packs that can come to aid.

Leading a Sept in the End Times comes with more responsibility then ever before. With the dramatic changes that have occurred the Garou, as a whole, are forced to lean on one another. There is a sense of unity out of necessity and need. Packs are no longer bound by Totems, but are bound by instincts and survival. A Sept of Garou is no longer divided by Tribes, Spirit alliances or purpose. They come together to ensure the survival of a Caern, and through that they offer protection, advice and concerns to the Grand Elder. In turn the Grand Elder acts as an Alpha and has the Septs best interests at heart (and mind) at all times. Grand Elders do not go to war or on a hunt, it is through them that the Garou of a Sept is able to survive, thrive and be connected to their spirits.

The Packs

A Sept is the Grand Elders pack, and he/she does not join few individuals to create their own. The Grand Elders territory is considered anywhere that the Garou of his Sept gather, but it's the packs that make up the Sept that patrol it. Other Garou may become packs amongst themselves and this is done far more easily then it had once been, as there is no quest for a Totem. Spirits rarely bind themselves to the Garou. Instead Garou become pack-mates by spending time with one another. It can be both a conscious or primal decision. Packs have been created out of necessity, reaching out in the heat of battle to brethren close by, while others are formed by becoming familiar with one another in more relaxed social settings.

To active Mindspeak, players must spend a point of willpower and the effects will last the duration of a scene.
Please check the forums for essential House Rules regarding Packs.