W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

liance. They’re not always successful — it’s difficult formany Fera (particularly Simba, Garou, and Mokolé) notto look down on the tasks of certain of their brethren asless important or less weighty than their own. Of course,working to uphold someone else’s job is usually a goodway to discover just how vital and difficult Gaia’s variousmandates really are.In particular, many shapeshifters have a great deal ofdifficulty stomaching the task Gaia gave to the Ratkin.It will try the limits of this part of the Code when it becomesclear that the Ratkin themselves are planning towildly overstep the limits of their mandate, and commitgenocide on humanity.Trust Your Brother’s Strength, andMake It Your OwnThe one great commonality of the Changing Breedsis that they lack the numbers to carry out their Gaiagivenduties as they must. This element of the Codedoes not just make it permissible for a shapeshifter toseek aid from other Changers in the course of her duty,but mandatory if by neglecting to do so, she is in dangerof failing in her duties to Gaia.Reality: Nobody joins the Ahadi without acknowledgingsome truth to this tenet. The degree to whichan individual shapeshifter embraces it varies, of course,with some continuing to act out their traditional rolesand simply counting themselves as allies, while othersgo all the way and join a kganmadi.Many Roads Stretch Beneath One SkyThe Changing Breeds come from a wide array oftraditions and practices, both social and spiritual. Itis unseemly for one Changer to demand that anotherconform to his expectations and ways, or to demandthat she give up her own. This element of the Codeurges the Ahadi to instead seek common ground whilerespecting necessary boundaries. Moreover, this tenetof the Code enshrines aiding another shapeshifter inhis duties as a sacred act, and that profaning the natureof that duty — such as a Corax spreading a secret hehelped a Bastet ally discover and keep — dishonorsthe one who does it, just as though he had failed in hisown assigned tasks.Reality: The Senior Council pushes this tenet aggressively,and those kganmadi who actively uphold itgain Renown for doing so. There’s a certain tendencyfor the more pack-oriented Breeds (the Ajaba, Simba,and Garou) to want to run kganmadi according to thenormal dictates of their native packs; doing so withoutconsideration of the needs of their new packmates inevitablyleads to tension, and a concurrent loss of Renown.We Share One Mother,and One Enemy.Though the different Changing Breeds have differentmethods of offering Her reverence, all are ultimately ofGaia. Though the different Changing Breeds have differenttasks to perform in Her name, all are ultimately foesof the Wyrm. This tenet establishes the basic purposeof the Ahadi — to serve Gaia, and prevent the Wyrm'svictory, though it be by various and diverse means.Reality: This tenet clashes with the beliefs and dutiesof the Ananasi, who consider themselves the children ofQueen Ananasa rather than Gaia; the Hatar, in particular,work extensively with Banes. This leads few Ananasijoin the Ahadi, and those that do neglect to explainthe intricacies of their beliefs and roles to their fellows.Divided, We Have Fallen.United, We Will Rise.This tenet is the heart of the Ahadi — it isn't acommandment, rather the statement of purpose that theAhadi use to form multi-Breed packs, both temporary andpermanent. The Changing Breeds have spent centuriestrying to stand alone and apart from one another, andthey have failed. The Ahadi represents a new idea, a newway of doing things, which it hopes may yet stave offthe Apocalypse. Likewise, it presents the counterpart to“Trust Your Brother's Strength, and Make It Your Own.”A shapeshifter in need of help is obligated to ask theAhadi to give it; and if they are capable, the Ahadi mustrender that aid. Finally, this is the tenet that justifies theexistence and creation of new Gifts and rites.Reality: Again, nobody joins the Ahadi who doesn’tsee at least some sense in this tenet. How closely theywant to be united, of course, varies between individuals.All Are Welcome at the FireThe Ahadi welcomes everyone. It has significantnumbers of some Changing Breeds — the Ajaba, Bagheera,Bubasti, Makunguru, Mokolé, Simba, Swara,Silent Striders, and Kucha Ekundu — but ultimately ittries to be open to any shapeshifter who wishes to join akganmadi in the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood.If an Ananasi or Rokea seeks the aid of the Ahadi, it issupposed to at least try to accept them, so long as they arewilling to offer aid in return. This is a statement of intent,however, not a mandate — members should not let griftersand opportunists take advantage of the Ahadi’s goodwill.Reality: This is the tenet with which the Ahadistruggle the most. An ocean of bad blood remains betweenthe Ajaba and Simba, while all Fera continue towidely fear and distrust the Garou. And who wants aAPPENDIX ONE: THE AHADI263