W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

Cunning is gained through discovering secrets, manipulatingrivals, crafting riddles, and self-advertising.Ferocity is gained through demonstrations of personalprowess, performed with elegance.Honor is awarded to those that are loyal and honestwithout giving up their pride.Advances in rank generally occur at a taghairm,though it isn’t unusual for solitary cats to demand anincrease in rank by petitioning local spirits, who thenbring word to Bastet elders. Bastet advance in rank moreslowly than most Fera; cats are hard to impress.CoraxCorax follow Glory, Honor and Wisdom as do theGarou, though they value Wisdom most of all.Wisdom is gained by uncovering secrets and passingthem on to others; acting with “wisdom” as non-Coraxdefine the word doesn’t get a raven noticed at all.Honor, valued less highly than Wisdom, is gainedthrough actions that benefit all Corax, particularly selflessactions.Glory, least important of all to the wereravens, isawarded for fighting the good fight… when necessary.Corax never reward rashness or rage, however.Rank is given through acclamation rather than ceremony,though Helios ultimately makes the final call.Inveterate rumormongers, wereravens find it as easy tofall in Renown as to rise.GurahlWerebears value Honor, Succor, and Wisdom.Honor is awarded through showing devotion to theCode of Ursa and from dealing respectfully with others,assisting Kinfolk in need, acting selflessly for the greatergood, as well as for ignoring counterproductive feelingsof vengeance and hatred.Succor Renown is given for acts of healing and purification,giving aid to those in need, and saving lives.Any other act of attempting to preserve or save Gaiaand Her children can also be rewarded with Succor,which is considered to be the most important Renownby many Gurahl.Wisdom follows similar precepts. It is generallyawarded when the Gurahl performs actions that helprestore or preserve knowledge and insight, such as ancientrelics or old stories, or through the study of legends andlore. Gurahl who attempt to gain deeper understandingof who and what they are may also gain Wisdom.While Gurahl don’t stress status, they do acknowledgerank and respect their elders. In general, when a Gurahlprogresses through each auspice, she also gains in rank.Gurahl gain rank through the recommendations oftheir elders, either at the Council of Autumn or at othermeetings. A Gurahl wishing to advance in rank mustrelate her deeds, usually in song or story, and win theapproval of her elders. If she cannot attend a meeting,she can claim the rank for herself and attempt to gainconfirmation later.KitsuneThe three categories of werefox Renown are Chie,Toru, and Kagayaki, roughly corresponding to Cunning,Honor, and Glory. The Kitsune put little stock inRenown; it mostly seems useful when dealing with theother Breeds — although, the Kitsune reason, if theother Changers have been keeping track of the stuff formillennia, there must be something to it.Chie (Cunning) is awarded for exhibiting superiorcleverness; the ideal of Chie is to trick two enemies intodestroying each other, while the Kitsune watches safelyfrom a distance.Toru (Honor) is awarded for living one’s life in accordancewith Gaia and Luna’s rules, preferably by livingas a Kitsune without compromise while still achievingone’s goals.Kagayaki (Glory) is awarded for perfection. Kitsunecare less for accomplishments themselves than for howthose accomplishments make them shine in the eyes oftheir Changing Breed cousins. Also, Kagayaki is awardedfor doing “good deeds” in the sight of those that matter.Rank, on the other hand, is both eagerly sought afterand revered — particularly since foxes gain additionaltails, magic, and longevity each time they advance.Mokole’Mokolé gain Renown and advance in rank in largelythe same manner and categories as Garou.NagahThe Nagah don’t follow a set of Renown categories.The Sesha (and the Storyteller) decide when a Nagahadvances in rank.Nagah advance by reporting to the Sesha, the highestgoverning body of their kind. This takes place in Nandana(the Sesha’s Ananta). Afterwards, the petitionermay rest for one week while their case is judged. Themembers of a nest usually report together.NuwishaNuwisha value Humor, Glory, and Cunning. They’renot very status-conscious, as Changing Breeds go, butdo appreciate having a system in place for measuringbragging rights.218CHANGING BREEDS