Garou society establishes hierarchy through a system of renown, a measure of a hero's deeds and service to her sept. Constant infighting wounds and weakens a sept, but this system channels such energies in a positive direction. ("If you want to show your strength, cub, then show us how well you hunt! I know of a spirit that intrigues me....") This "caste system" may sound disturbing, but a werewolf s instincts and thousands of years of tribal conditioning reinforce it. Pack instincts demand hierarchy. Every werewolf has his place. Elders rarely need to demonstrate power by abusing their lessors, and their vassals are usually content to serve.

um xamã durante uma reunião em um caern...

And a Man sat alone, drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said, “We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it.” The Man said, “I want to have good sight.” The vulture replied, “You shall have mine.” The Man said, “I want to be strong.” The jaguar said, “You shall be strong like me.” Then the Man said, “I long to know the secrets of the earth.” The serpent replied, “I will show them to you.” And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals, “Now the Man knows much, he’ll be able to do many things. Suddenly I am afraid.” The deer said, “The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop.” But the owl replied, “No. I saw a hole in the Man, deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day the World will say, ‘I am no more and I have nothing left to give.’“

But your relatives — your tribe — are under attack. The enemy chose to assault them and you at the same time; I guess they hoped to separate you from your tribe so they could capture you. They always capture if they have a chance. A young werewolf's worth much more to them alive than dead.