Red Talons

Introduction

This wiki is to assist in the background and understanding of the Red Talon tribe. While each tribe has its peculiarities, the Red Talons are even more set apart from the rest of the Garou nation. Theirs is a purely lupus tribe,which means that they have no human-born or raised, influences on their culture. The beginning of this wiki will give an overview of how Red Talons think and their breeds. After that will come the history of the tribe as they see it, starting with their version of creation. Next the totems or spirits they most interact with, where they can be located,their opinions of other tribes, the Triad, and other supernaturals. Finally,there will be a list of additional resources. This Wiki is written based on the Red Talon perspective.

As mentioned above the Red Talon only are born of wolves. From this state the Talons have established the human-mind at odds with their wolf heart. The human-mind is that which needs to classify the world, mold it into shapes, come up with abstract concepts such as time, money, greed, mercy, hope, possession, why, etc. From their human side comes the unnatural urges to bend the world to their will, to go against instinct, and force their unnatural opinions onto others.

From the wolf-heart comes everything that is nature. The balance of the seasons, the urges driven by instinct, the give and take between the hunter and prey. The wolf-heart doesn’t question and will take orders as they are given. It’s only after a Talon has spent time in homid form that they want an explanation for an order given or a bias held.

While Red Talons rarely learn to read or write, they are naturally inclined to understand and use glyphs. This may seem to go against logic, but glyphs are part of the Garou nature. It is part of their instinct, and so the Red Talons being more inclined to heed their instincts might have a better time utilizing glyphs. Also, unlike human language, glyphs do not mean just one thing. One glyph can mean many or all things depending on the context of the other glyphs.

Breeds

Homids: There are no homid Talons. That is not to say they kill homid born talons but rather that they do not mate with humans. They have no human kinfolk to produce homid offspring.

Metis: Talons do not treat metis as poorly as many tribes. While a metis will always be lowest in the pack, they still can earn honour for their fighting prowess. The Talons however, will not suffer the parents of a metis to live as they have done something supremely against nature, showing a blatant disregard of Gaia’s laws.

Lupus: Uniquely the Red Talons are very singular in which breeds are part of the tribe. One must be a lupus born to be a Red Talon. Talons see themselves as wolves first, Garou second, human never. They will take human form, but do not see themselves as being human. Some times younger talons will be sent to other septs to learn more about dealing with the human-mind and how to integrate all aspects of Garou nature, into a balance.

The Red Talons are even more wild than most lupines of other tribes. There are many that might not even go through a first change, or if the do it will be late in life, during their twilight years. This normally happens in territories where no humans live. Others may only ever encounter their brethren Talons, only hearing about human-born Garou but never seeing it’s effects. These talons inflict more control over the human population of their territories,not having other Garou interfering with their Gaia given task.

History of the Tribe

In the beginning there was Gaia. Gaia formed the world from the void and the Triad to be caretakers. Weaver chose rocks and earth, Wyrm went into the wind, and Wyld took its place in the plants.

With Wyld being the way it is, plants grew and changed and grew and changed, overtaking the world. They covered the earth, and their roots broke into the depths of the rocks. Their spores, and pollen, and leaves clogged the wind and blocked the sun. So Wyrm raged storms to clear the air, and Weaver shook the earth to try and dislodge the plants, but Wyld was nowhere to be found to put a stop to the plants.

Gaia became displeased with the complaints from Weaver and Wyrm, her world had been made cold and harsh. So she made animals when Wyld would not come out and put the plants to right. These new creations were to eat the plants and keep their growth in check. But then Wyld infused these plant eaters and the cycle started again. The animals burrowed into the earth, and flew on the winds. They bred and spread, across the whole.

Again Wyld could not be found to curtail the offspring of the animals, so Gaia decided to make more animals, to eat the ones eating the plants. This time though she would grant these new animals balance. They already had their gift from Wyld, to change and breed. From Wyrm they learned cunning, how to catch,outrun, pounce on the plant eaters so that they may catch them. From Weaver they learned patience, to wait for the right moment, for the weak, for the careless.

For a time there was peace and the world was in balance. But like any young, unruly siblings, Weaver and Wyrm could not stop from their bickering. Again the skies were full of storms, making the land cold and the earth shook, the rocks spewing fire. With anger Gaia looked down at her children and raged. If they would not hold the balance she had made then she would unmake all, including herself. With that the world quieted again, though the plants and animals had been changed. Smaller, faster, smarter.

Once more the world was in balance, and Wyrm got to thinking. No creature great or small wants to end. This he believed of Gaia, and schemed for a way to make her despair enough to leave the world, and go create a new one, so that he might be left with this one. And even if she did destroy everything what was he if not the lord of destruction, surely he would be all that was left in the void.

With his goal in mind Wyrm looked down on the world to choose the tool for his ends. No one can say why he chose the humans. They were not the fastest, nor the strongest. They were not the most cunning nor the bravest. But choose them he did and they are proving his decision.

Humans are prey. All they know is how to consume and breed. And to them Wyrm gave cunning and taught them how to catch and eat prey, to add to the gifts of Wyld. But this left them out of balance with no patience. From their nature then, the humans consumed and bred. Now though, they consumed other prey, and consumed all the prey in the areas they lived. Predators know not to consume too much,know to limit their breeding, but humans as prey do not. Because they had not learned patience humans did not know when to stop consuming, when to limit their breeding. They consumed so much that soon the other predators had no food, and were forced to leave. Eventually even the humans ran out of food, and would move to the next area, to consume and breed more.

While other predators either avoided or continued to hunt(with more caution) this wrong minded prey, the wolves took an interest in the humans. Wolves thought humans might be like them, having packs and family structure. But when one wolf went among them to observe, the humans hunted her down killed her and they took her skin. The whole of the world was changed that day falling out of balance, and the first of Gaia’s despair was felt. While predators may fight and kill each other for territory, they did not hunt each other. To keep balance and humans in check Gaia made task for all the predators. Wyrm convinced Gaia that since humans were no longer prey and left without task, to let all other predators take human form and mingle with humans. A chance to teach humans about balance. Now Wyrm knew it had won with time, for from then until the end, all predators have a human mind battling their balanced heart.

In the beginning, Garou were all pure wolves, culling the humans as was their task. But then some, the ones near the largest human populations began to mate with the humans. As more were born of human stock so those Garou became more of the human mind. Banding into separate groups, becoming part of the villages. When the pure wolves came to those human villages the human minded Garou stepped forward proclaiming their protection, claiming the humans as theirs and promising to cull when necessary, though that was a promise rarely carried through on.

After a time, the tribe that had come to call themselves Silver Fangs called a great moot. They declared at that time the Impergium over. And a litany to be decided on. No tenant could be added to the litany without the approval of all the tribes. And yet, the pure-wolves were not part of the vote, as they were thought to be just the wild lupus born of other tribes.

When the litany was finally finished a pure-wolf, Fells-Trees, stepped up and called upon the Silver Fangs. He asked what of the control of humans, the task set on the wolves of protecting Gaia. The Silver Fang asked for the tribe that Fells-Trees claimed. Fells did not care about names, that was for Weaver work, and demanded the answer to the question of humans. But the Silver Fangs refused to recognize a tribe with no name, and so did not need to count their vote. Enraged by the human-minded behavior, Fells-Trees lashed out, gouging the Silver Fang with his claws, and declared this the name of his tribe, and so it would be until the question of controlling the humans was answered. It still has not been answered. Thus glyphs were born, and each other tribe decided to copy the Red Talons and take on glyphs to represent their tribe.

Because Talons do not keep a history the way the human-minded do, they are unsure about the start of the War of Rage or the end. Some say the Talons followed the Silver Fangs into the war, as a pack follows its alpha, others say the Silver Fangs tricked the Talons(a punishment for the breaking of the litany by eating human flesh?), who had not fought with the other predators yet. All that is known is that the Talons fought to the best of their ability. Many changing breeds are gone, never to walk the face of Gaia again. Other breeds are crippled. All of this adds to the despair of Gaia.

1200AD(only a decade ago in Shadow Accord history)- A Knowing-Moon by the name of Songs-of-Shadows, appeared out of the desolate northlands, during the winter solstice and went to every Talon Sept. His fur a dark blood red crimson with wisps of gray, strange as red wolves are in the Americas and not Europe at this time. He was an elder, but as per wolves since none knew him, they would not let him go unchallenged. Yet when they stared into his eyes there was something there that set a fear in their hearts. All of the caern spirits though greeted him warmly and had private words with Songs.

He gave the same message to each sept, ”I am Songs of Shadows. I bring ten prophecies for ten tribes. These matters affect all the Garou. Remember what you have heard and tell all the tribes. Each tribe must act on its own prophecy. Heed these words for Gaia’s sake.” After that he gave the prophecies. With his task done he walked out of the last caern into the night. Despite their superior hunting and tracking skills, the Red Talons were unable to find any trace of Songs.

A grand moot was called for the Talons. It was agreed by the elders that all the other tribes needed to hear the prophecies that were given for them. There were some Talons who still doubted and so a pack of athros was sent to find him, or any history of Songs. They traveled into the cold north looking for him. In an effort to follow Songs mandates, the Talons went to the other tribes, telling them of their part. But they were met with derision. They were rebuked by the Silver Fangs for being scared of an apparition. The Shadow Lords, by their nature, thought it was just a ploy to gain respect. The Fenrir in their bloodlust were ready to attack the Talons for being duped so easily. The Warders of Man took it into their heads to openly mock the lupus tribe.

After a year lapsed, another grand moot was called by the Talon elders. The topic of order were the other tribes and their refusal to listen. Many of the Talons were angered by the censure and there was turmoil in the tribe. The Talons were on the brink of tearing themselves apart,when the pack that had been sent to search of Songs returned haunted, exhaustion filling their eyes. Of a great journey they howled. They traveled through the umbra and the realm, fighting beats of Wyrm and unknown origins. Some of the pack started to distrust their quest, and infighting was starting. Out of the desolation Songs stepped.

Songs warned the pack that disregarding the prophecy would only end in the tears of Gaia. She was the one who had given him the legacy, that it was the Talons task to get the message to the other tribes. The pack was cautioned that the tribe would be on the threshold of disaster. Song consoled the pack, even though the other tribes might not believe them now, as they came to be, the prophecies could not be denied. In the silence that followed the end of the packs story, the Aurora Borealis lit up the sky in unnatural colors, over and over again, 10 times they flared. The Talons took this as a sign and for another year they howled for all to hear. They howled of the prophecies despite the laughter, or the attacks. But they wearied after a time. This was until Constantinople, the brightest gem among cities,fell four years -less than a decade ago, after the advent of Songs of Shadows message. To their sorrow, the Warder of Man’s was the first prophecy to pass. This staggered the Garou nation. Talon septs came under attack from some Fenrir for they were afraid of the apocalyptic nature of the prophecies. The tribes of the Silver Fangs, Black Furies, Children of Gaia, Warders of Man and Shadow Lords declared a grand moot open to any from the tribes.

Though the tribes agreed to stay united on this front, there is still some of the same dissent as ever. Packs are now searching for Songs, or into the Deep Umbra looking to spirits for answers. There are septs that are closer, while conflict is rising between others. Many Warder septs are being overtaken by the Lords, claiming that the Warders had not done enough to prevent their prophecy. The dynamic of the Talons is changing in the Garou nation now. The Silver Fangs are encouraging the other tribes to give more credence to the message, whereas the Warders ,ever at odds with the Talons, try to lay the blame of their catastrophes at the Talons feet. Every Garou is wary and watching for the signs of the next disaster and maybe how to avoid it.

Geography

The Talons, unlike their cousins in the Garou nation, do not have any set land that they claim. With their wolf kin they travel the wilds of all countries, or guard their caerns in the deep woods, away from human or vampire kind. The Red Talons have a large but spread out population. Some packs wander, traveling with their wolf-kin as they follow prey herds. Other packs stay in a territory guarding a Caern. They couldn’t guess at their numbers, nor would anyone else. Wolves are only being hunted by humans near cities with high populations. Otherwise humans are still afraid of meeting a pack of wolves,especially at night, pure or Garou.

Totems of the Tribe

It would be assumed that the lupus tribe would of course follow Wolf. But then, nobody follows Wolf, why is that? The Howling-Moons have a story about that too. Some time ago, when the changing breeds were new and figuring out their role in the world, the Great Wolf looked down on the Garou and saw their impurities. Only those that ran wild and kept their bloodlines pure of the human taint did he allow to follow him.

Because of the human-mind, the other tribes succumbed to jealousy, demanding to be recognized by the Great Wolf. So loud were their selfish laments that their totems started to turn their backs too. Even though the Talons tried to explain, that only Wolf could choose and they had no control over the totem, the other tribes insisted the Talons give him up. After much pressure the Talons went to Wolf to ask for a solution. Wolf to his anger and sorrow understood that as long as the Talons followed him there would be too much dissent among the other tribes. And so Wolf asked Gryphon to care for the Talons. To lead them in battle, keeping their claws sharp, their eyes clear, and their noses free from confusing scents. At that he left for the deep Umbra, swearing never to be a totem as pure Wolf to any Garou.

Gryphon: Combining all the best characteristics of the greatest predators, Gryphon is everything the Talons believe in. He has a similar hatred of humans and has little tolerance for homid born Garou.

Lion:Previously the tribe totem for the White Howlers, Lion was taken under Gryphon’s wing and now Her predatory side can act as a pack totem for the talons.

Mammoth: Gryphon is the champion of all animals, extinct ones especially. So while Mammoth will not lead any talons he does come to their aid in desperate times.

Typical Auspice Roles in the Tribe

Invisible Moon (Ragabash)

When the moon is dark and hiding this is the time for sneak attacks and stealthy tactics. With no light to see their prey, wolves must hunt by scent. The Invisible-Moons never lead their packs, but instead are there to challenge the alpha. This is rarely a challenge of dominance but rather a way of making sure there is a challenge presented, that the alpha is not weak and does not lead the pack into unmanageable danger with a wrong decision.

Listening Moon (Theurge)

With a dim moon the prey can almost been seen, but a wolf must hunt by sound to really track their prey. Listening-Moons are the quietest of the talons. They watch and listen and remember. As with most Theurges they have a natural curiosity, wolf tinted, especially in the Umbra. When in the Umbra they are always the beta and sometimes leader of the hunt, as the Talon Ahrouns understand that while they may be the alpha, the Theurge has the best skills for the situation. Dealing with the Umbra and spirits seems to make the listening moons more comfortable in incorporating their human-mind. This gives the Theurges a little more balance, and ability to act as diplomat to other tribes and tactics at keeping humans at bay. It does not mean Talon Theurges think any better of the human-mind; only more willing to use it as a tool against humans.

Knowing Moon (Philodox)

This is the time Talons will take to deliberate. The moots called to resolve a particular issue, as opposed to a moot called to honour spirits or commune with the Caern Totem. The Knowing-Moons can emulate humans the best. They pick up human behavior and language with ease. Never imply a Talon is going native though, unless you want a rather nasty fight. As often as not, a Knowing moon will be alpha of a sept, and be likely to decide whether a trespassing human should die, be wounded, or frightened off, depending on how that would effect the human problem around the sept. A Knowing-Moon might learn to write in a human language but more likely use glyphs to pass along any truly important information.

Howling moon (Galliard)

As a time of celebration the Howling-Moon is when the Talons revel. They play, hunt, howl and tell their stories. They have an interesting relationship with fact. While the Howling-Moons are depended on to know where the herds are for best hunting or a dangerous spot in a valley where humans might catch and kill lupine kinfolk, their stories of battle and “history” are more like fables or stories for teaching. The Listening-Moons listen to the spirits, so the Howling-Moons listen to the ancestors and what they have to teach. Since the wolves use all the senses to tell a story it is a different experience each time even if it is the same wolf telling. The Howling-Moons leave the writing to the Knowing-Moons.

Seeing Moon (Ahroun)

The moon is at its brightest and so is the rage of the Talon. This is the time to be seen and so their fury will come out full force. A Seeing Moon fights to live to fight. They do not fight to die in battle and glory. They do not fight to make great stories to tell and drink to. They fight to kill their enemy, the enemy of Gaia, and they must live through the fight to be able to move on to the next enemy. Since the Talons see humans as the greatest danger to Gaia, this mostly involves killing humans.

Seeing moons do not have rules of engagement, or honorable combat, and there are no acts of mercy. There is the death of their prey and the life of their pack. This also means that the Alpha who is most times an Ahroun must take on all the responsibility of any mistakes that are made, and any death her decisions lead to. Mournful is the dirge song an Ahroun howls at a dead packmates home sept.

Key View Points of the Red Talons

Humans: Talons have no qualms killing humans. In reality, Talons feel it is their Gaian given right and appointed task as the protectors of Gaia to kill humans. They do not have the human-minded conscience to make them squeamish about taking a human life. They do not feel any guilt, no more than a surgeon would removing a rotten limb, or a farmer slaughtering cattle for his liege lord. This is a fact of Talon thinking that many Garou can not wrap their heads around, even the lupines, as after their first change they are raised in proximity with humans or homid Garou. (Important Player Note: Red Talon Player characters must be tolerant of humans to play.)

Litany

Red Talons do not believe in the Litany. Not as a body of governing at least. There are tenants of it that the talons feel are just natural, and have a strong opinion regarding the fact that the other Garou have to be told and enforced to follow it. But for those other tenants the Talons do not feel they apply to them. They were not part of the vote when the litany was made so they do not have to follow it. The Talons are said to have a rite that lets them wiggle out of the Rite of Punishment.

Garou shall not mate with other Garou: Red talons do not have sex. They mate. That might not seem like a huge distinction, but to them it is. Sex is a human-minded urge, that is done on whim and out of season. To mate is at the natural time when there is heat or rut, depending on the species. To mate is to continue the species, and as such, willfully taking an action against nature to create a metis is seen as a foul act against Gaia. Red Talons can not understand why this needs to be said.

Combat the Wyrm where ever it dwells and where ever it breeds: Not something the Talons needs reminding of. But they don’t do it for the same reason that other Garou do. They see that the triad has become unbalanced, but place humans at the center of that problem. If humans were to be taken out of the picture both the Wyrm and Weaver would loose their best tools in this war and the Garou would have an easier time helping Gaia get the world back into balance. So they do this because they as Garou are tasked to protect Gaia.

Respect the territory of another: This is a point of confusion between Talons and the rest of the Garou. To the talons who are wolves, territory is hunting ground. As Garou they extend this to their Caern and are supremely protective of it as a holy place of Gaia. But they do not understand nor care about the human-minded application of this by the other Garou. Wolves do not have possessions. They do not own anything. Dens are meant for protection from weather for the whole pack, or birthing bitches and their pups.

Accept an honorable surrender: This seems like a tenant that the Talons would have no problem. And they don’t most of the time. They see a duel challenge akin to dominance play and movement up and down in the pack. After a fight to a Talon the matter is settled. But then the human-mind gets involved. A homid Garou might have wounded pride and hold a grudge. Or a Talon might be trying to apply homid rules she doesn’t understand. Fight when it’s time to fight and when a fight is over it’s over. Same as every other part of life for a Talon.

Submission to those of a higher station: This is very much instinct for the Talons to run on. Yet how a Talon acts on this instinct seems to confound others. This is the human-mind vs wolf heart again. Tales of glory and a rank earned among homids is going to mean little to a Talon if the Garou can’t back them up with present action. An elder Talon Theurge may lead a sept in matters of the Umbra, communing with their Caern Spirit, but during a battle she will have no qualms taking orders from a cliath Ahroun if that Talon is the best leader.

The first share of the kill to the greatest in station: This is one tenant the Talons have no problem following. Literally. They think the leader should have the best of the food that is around. They don’t apply this to any other kills, so a Talon won’t start a fight over looting a fallen foe. It might start a conflict when this tenant has to be pointed out to others claiming to be wolves.

Ye shall not eat of human flesh: Talons still see humans as prey. Prey are for eating. There is no way to convince a Talon otherwise. The best another Garou can hope for is to be bigger, stronger, or outnumber a Talon when trying to enforce this. And just know one can’t watch them all the time. It’s going to happen.

Respect those beneath ye- all are of Gaia: A case of human-mind and wolf heart again between Talons and the other Garou. Of course Talons respect every purpose a creature has under Gaia. Humans have forgotten their place, and thus their respect for Gaia, and from Gaia’s creatures. Talons are not going to respect a fallen foe who was a challenge to take down anymore than a prey they had for lunch. Dead is dead. A Talon will ignore attempts to gain respect based on foundless posturing, or tales of glory.

The veil shall not be lifted: Depending on the human to Talon ratio, dictates how much the Talons follow this tenant. And it has more to due with the safety of kinfolk and kin packs than it does with being a point under the Litany.

Do not suffer thy people to tend thy sickness: Wolves naturally will leave a pack and go off into the woods to die alone when it is their time. So too do Talons, and they see no issue with this. Yet if the sickness is something that can be cured, or fixed such as taint, or war wound, or harano then the Talons feel it is the duty of the pack, the family to be loyal and do all they can to fix.

The leader may be challenged at any time during peace: Another tenant that the Talons are ashamed has to be explained to the rest of the Garou nation. To them it is natural that the leader is challenged on a regular basis. If the leader is not the best then they are not the one for the position. And this can always change.

The leader may not be challenged during wartime: Again something that astounds the Talons that it has to be said. A pack will not succeed if there is dissent during a hunt, or a fight protecting their territory. Now of course the Talons don’t see wartime the way many other Garou do. For the talons it will only last for a brief time and then life goes on. Whereas other Septs will declare war on an idea, or a people or a place.

Ye shall take no action that causes a caern to be violated: Truly the Talons have it right. Does this need to be said? Of course the talons take it a step farther. Very few non-talons are allowed anywhere near a Talon cared for caern. Almost no homid-born Garou. And never a human. Or at least no human who has lived to tell any tales.

Triad

The Talons look more to Gaia and the Triad than they do to Luna. To them she is another powerful spirit fighting the good fight. The Talons also understand that the Triad are greater than they or any mortal can imagine. They can only know what a wolf can know, but the greater spirits are forces of nature, only one step down from Gaia. A wolf can only know a storm for the water and wind in it’s fur. It can not know what drives the storm.

Wyld: Talons are able to understand the difference between THE Wyld and the wyld of the nature. In nature there is a mix of freedom and control. The seasons follow a pattern, death come after life and life of one comes at the death of another. Wyld however is the embodiment of chaos. There is so structure, no control, no predicting. Because it can not be defined, the talons do not try to. Wyld is, they honour that. The wyld, they revel in as they are a part of the balance.

Wyrm: At the root of every problem is a connection to Wyrm. At least that’s what the Talons believe. Wyrm is of destruction. It was made by Gaia to destroy. To wear away at everything, and so it does. There is no corruptor wyrm, destroyer wyrm or decay wyrm. They are all the same. Wyrm is no more insane now than it was when Gaia brought it into being, nor will it be when Gaia remakes the world. At the heart of corruption are the humans. Corrupted spirits are human spirits, or based on human ideas. Greed, hate, lust, envy. The human cities are starting to corrupt the rivers they dwell near. Talons feel that humans have a strong enough link to Wyrm that the humans are the source of the taint Wyrm uses to spread despair through Gaia, into the world. The only way to weaken the Wyrm enough to save Gaia and restore balance is by killing every last human, this includes human kinfolk. Remove the source of Taint and there is no more Taint.

Weaver: The hatred Talons feel for Weaver is neck and neck Wyrm. Where Wyrm destroys to excess, Weaver confines to excess. In truth there is a pattern in nature, but that pattern was dictated by Gaia and allows change, growth, and decay. Weaver on the other hand would have everything tied down in a pattern and the whole world would be static. Since humans, to the talons eyes, seem to be a pet project of Weaver also, using her gifts to make cities and tools to disrupt the natural order, the Talons have just another reason to lower the human population

Garou Nation

Many times a talon will base her opinion of other tribes depending on the stories of her sept, or her first encounter with one.

Silver Fangs: They are the Alphas of the Garou. There is almost no debate in this among the Talons. Of course they will not follow a blatantly weak or insane Fang, but all a Fang has to do is howl and the Talons will follow her into battle.

Shadow Lords: There is a great mistrust that the Talons hold for the Shadow Lords, despite being the Betas of the Garou Nation. Talons have no use for lying or politics. Minor slights or “necessary” betrayals may be passed down in howl-songs over tales of battle and glory. But if there is a Lord that understands lupus ways, they may be able to get a Talon to follow them as devotedly as following a Silver Fang.

Black Furies: They see eye to eye on many levels. Both tribes are defenders of the Wyld and the Talons respect the effort the Furies put towards protecting their lupus kinfolk. However there is a point of contention, the Talons disagree with the Furies policy of protecting humans.

Fenrir: With a sometimes uncontrollable bloodlust and berserker rages, the Talons look on the Fenrir with the same disdain of excess that they do the Fianna. Fighting for glory and fame, is the human way. But a lupus Fenrir and a Talon will have no problems in establishing a chain of command.

Fianna: Talons have a very hard time understanding them. Their love of excess and pleasure, drink, food, etc. Talons do not do anything more than is necessary, they eat when they are hungry for as much as will keep them alive. So much gluttony and debauchery are seen as too human. The Talons do have an admiration for the songs and howls that the lupus Fianna can produce. Bone Gnawers: Talons tend to look down on the Gnawers, feeling them more dog than wolf. Other talons though see Gnawers as closer to wolf than many other tribes after seeing their loyalty and courage to a pack.

Silent Striders: Because the Striders are so singular, traveling alone for no purpose but to wander, the Talons look on them as more of scavengers than predators on equal standing. Many times the Talons see the Striders as harbingers of troubled times to come

Children of Gaia: Talons despise the Children of Gaia almost as much as they despise the Warders. Most times the Children harp on about keeping the peace. Which means humans live. However there is the occasion with a fanatical Child, trying to restore the purity of Gaia who is willing to, if not help in the culling of humans, sometimes look the other way. Some are courageous in their fight against Wyrm.

Warders of Man: The Talons have the most contention with this tribe. The Talons feel that the Warders are abandoning their wolf side to become more fully human. With this rejection of Wyld and what seems to be an embracing of Weaver, Talons have little to say to the Warders.

White Howlers: There is little that the Talons hate more than the humans unchecked, the corruption spread by Wyrm and the schemes of Weaver. The Howlers come very close though. The Talons understand that humans are just following their nature as confused prey that were tricked by powers greater than they. But it is unforgivable what the Howlers did, to willfully as a tribe turn their back on Gaia. There is also in the back of the human-mind of many Talons, the gnawing fear that they too could fall to temptation. That the rage against humans could push them past necessary balance and down the path of destruction and corruption for Wyrm.

Fera

Fera: Normally the Talons do not encounter many of the Fera, having been a tribe to throw itself fully into the War of Rage. As such many of the Talons views are based on long ago battles or the biases of the Alpha tribe. The few Talons who encounter any of the other changing breeds first see the Fera as opposing predators and act accordingly depending on the type.

Ananasi: They are weaver-kin. This is all the Talons need to know. A meeting between them rarely ends well. That is if a spider were ever to let themselves be seen. As wolves Talons also understand that spiders are singularly better hunters.

Bastet: Talons have no place for the games of cat-and-mouse that the Bastet play. This is because the Talon is no mouse and she will do what needs be against another predator in her packs territory.This usually includes responding to any challenge, to prove that wolves as fellow predators, are not to be played with.

Corax: One of the few Fera that get along with the Talons. As scavengers born and scavenger acting, the Talons have no quarrel with the bird-kin and are perfectly willing to use any information the Corax might give to tips the scales of battle. The only complaint a Talon might have is a Corax talking too much, but usually both shifters will make allowances for the others faults.

Gurhal: There is no love lost on the Gurhal by the Talons. Depending on how much time the Talon spend around a Shadow Lord or Silver Fang, their distaste for the bear-clan can range from a deep distrust to a killing fury for the wyrm-bears. A Talon knows though that it takes a strong pack of wolves to take down a healthy adult bear.

Ratkin: Depending on where a Ratkin lives dictates how well they get along. Ratkin of the cities might not hold much esteem with a Talon. As lovers of Wyld, country dwelling Rats however might be able to team up with a Talon or two to “take care” of any human problems in their area. When it all comes down to it though, a hungry wolf has no qualms on eating a rat if other prey are scarce.

Other Supernaturals (Vampires, Wraith, Sorcerers, Mages, Fae)

Vampires: To the talons the vampires are a thing against Gaia. The ultimate embodiment of the humans embracing the Weaver. As such the Talons do not suffer a vampire to live that wanders into their territory. Which isn’t often as the vampires stay holed up in their cities. There are some stories, told by the Howling-Moons, of Talons who might on occasion lead a foolish vampire in the woods to a human settlement as a way of lowering the breeding human population.

Mages/Sorcerers: Talons see magic wielding humans no differently than any other human. Prey to be kept in check, and dealt with for the protection of Gaia.

Wraith: A dead human is a good human. Despite the respect Theurge talons will show to Gaian spirits, they have no need, or desire, to interact with a dead human. Surely if the human was meant to move on to Gaia’s breast they would. If not then, maybe a final little help to move them along to the Weaver or Wyrm, whichever they follow, if the Talon has some idol time.

Fae: Talons see the Fae as something other. The Fae don’t inhabit the spirit realm often, yet are closer to most spirits and the guiding of Gaia(even if the Fae refuse to acknowledge it) than most anything a Garou will encounter.

Other Resources

It should be noted that these wikis are meant to help with the world of Ushaw Moor in the Shadow Accord setting. Please be sure to do other research on both the World of Darkness, and Real Dark Ages history. Keep in mind though the game diverges from cannon, both real and fictional and adjust accordingly. White Wolf World of Darkness Books Ways of the Wolf Tribe Book: Red Talon(revised) Dark Ages Werewolf(2003) Glyphs: http://www.badgersden.com/MT/GarouGlyphs/Garou.html

Prophecies of Song-of-Shadow

Red Talons- I saw humans staggering sick, clutching their throats and scratching at sores. Even in their pain they found the strength to curse the wolves. But the wolves ran and hunted in the forest and outnumbered the humans. I saw many packs of wolves and I saw great red wolves on the edge of the forest and they called timidly to their fellow wolves to slay the humans in their weakness. But the red wolves called so meekly that none of the other wolves paid attention even as the humans sickness faded. And as the humans regained their strength I saw them sharpens shining blades and look hungrily to the forests. I heard a scream as if from a great bird of prey and I knew all was lost.

Silver Fangs- I saw Falcon and heard his voice in my mind. He gave warning of a knife that glinted in the belly of a king. Behind Falcon lay a pool of blood and he left read footprints on the cold and smoking ground. Forces gather and clashed in small battles of swirling dust and silver fur. They tore apart the darkness with swords an claws, shields shattering, men dying in a noble yet pointless cause. Finally a grown rose up above the field of battle and all fighting stopped, until shadows consumed the moon and the crown fell into the darkness.

Shadow Lords- I saw a hand reach out and grasp the night sky and i saw each silvery star wink out one by one. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. Black armies gathered in the snow mountains and threatened all the world with their rage until the moons light parted the cloud and quieted the thunder itself. Luna plucked the squirming darkness from the heart of the lightning flash and twisted it back upon itself leaving the armies to battle each other. One shadow however was late for the gathering and did not fall into the trap. It continued on its way to complete its fellows mission.

Black Furies- I saw a dying mother birth her child in lands that wept black tears. Maiden, Mother and Crone all stood by and watch the mother die at the hands of a great frozen darkness, their choice echoed in the hallways as hallow footsteps on marble. When the blood on the floor dried, the death-play ended, leaving only the children and their sisters to pick up the bones and ligaments and weave them back together again into a semblance of life. The lady of bone and sinew deserted the Furies then, leaving them to shift their faces, one to another. All must change before the great night falls.

Fenrir- I saw the Northernlands bathed by the bile of a black beast, and the dead humans who feast on blood tore at each other’s throats in fear or rage. And then from the sullen, stark skies, a hanged man laughed, and I saw his red-robed rogues luring on sinister paths. I saw the blood on an innocent boil and and as the smoke wafted over the snow, I saw a legion rise from the ashes and dust and the fate of the Fenris-wolf was signed, softly unto stone.

Fianna- I saw a red wolf and a black wolf both running in the mist. They called and sang to one another, then they both became lost. As they ran, panicked, each trying to find the other by howls and by scent, I saw other things moving in the mist with them, but I could not see them easily. These things jumped upon both the wolves and the wolves fought the unseen things tearing their throats and scattering their bodies. Then the mist cleared and both the wolves were alone in a great valley, surrounded by bodies of those they had killed, some foe, but mostly other wolves both red and black. And the wolves howled together in unison, in shame, and regret from what they did.

Bone Gnawers- I saw a man reaching out begging for food, and with the same hand he offers help. He offers his hand to all those who live below notice, to the beggars and the diseased. He offers is hand freely and forgets that his tail is visible, and the people come for him in the night with fire in their eyes. But the man hold his other hand behind his back and in it hold a black rat that he strokes and keep warm and sage. When the people with the fire come for him, he drops the rat and it scurries off into dark places, bruised and angry.

Silent Striders- I see a pure land that opens up before the jackals, yielding to their wandering feet. They explore it as they do all the other roads walking roads of dirt and stone, obsidian and turquoise. Into their hands falls moonlit metals and silvered fetishes, and their smiles turn to ash. They traverse new roads of steel. They see sight that will blind their children’s children. They step on brilliant lines of dust and crush painted shells beneath their feet. Foul shadows rise up out of the ground, and a white tide rises out of the ocean to wash away the purity of the earth. The shape of the land is forever altered.

Children of Gaia- I saw a werewolf struggling with human clothes, trying to wear the garb of human priests. But the vestments did not fit the werewolf and she ragged tearing them from her body, only to regain her calm and try again. She struggled with the cloths of many different colors and many different human-cities, but she could find none that fit her. All the while, a unicorn pranced behind her trying to catch her attention, but she could not turn from her task. All the while the humans around her were dress in the garb she tried wear but never changed them. they wore their clothes as the years wore on until when the werewolf finally found human-cloths that fit her the humans were nearly naked themselves.

Warders of Man- I saw a wolf in a great maze of stone and glass but he was unafraid. He knew the maze completely as he had been there when it was built and so he hand no fear of the spiders that clung to the walls and drank the blood of the humans who dwelt there. The wolf strode proudly in the street sure that the spider could not see him, ignoring them and their webs. And then the great shadow in the shape of a cross fell over the maze and the ground shook and the spiders leaped at each other and tore one another limb from limb. And the humans fought as well and the maze burned and fell, and the wolf could do nothing but sit and howl.

-As found in Werewolf Dark Ages:Core Rulebook 2003