Rank is the measure of a Garou's social standing in the Nation, and (some say) in the eyes of Gaia. Like military officers, Garou of high Rank command those of lower Rank, while those of lower rank seek to prove themselves worthy of higher standing.

 Related Pages: Rank - Renown - Glory - Honor - Wisdom - Renown Loss and Punishment -  Sept's Temp Renown
 

Advancing in Rank

As a werewolf earns recognition for their deeds in the form of Renown, they become eligible to advance in Rank. Each Auspice has different minimum Renown requirements they must meet before challenging for the next Rank. Certain minimums of time must pass between rising from Rank to Rank as well. This page lists those requirements with the description of each rank.

Once a Garou meets the minimum requirements of Renown and time, they must challenge a higher-Ranking Garou to recognize their worthiness for the next Rank. The elder Garou chooses the nature of the contest – there are several traditional ones, but the challengee is free to innovate. The challenger must prove themselves worthy to the elder's satisfaction before they advance. A Sept's Master of Challenge oversees these contests to ensure they are fair and worthy tests of the challenger's capabilities.

The Ranks

Cub: Rank Zero

Cubs are young men and women thrown into the deep end of the war for Gaia. They've just recently had their First Change, which may be their first traumatic introduction to the world of the Garou. Other werewolves capture cubs and educate them quickly, both protecting them and indoctrinating them into their new role as Gaia's warriors. Cubs must learn quickly, leaving the trappings of their old lives behind in favor of mastering the basic skills of their Auspice. They must submit to the orders of everyone except their fellow cubs. They cannot fully participate in Garou society -- such as challenging, and being challenged -- until they prove themselves in a ritual called a Rite of Passage. Cubs do not begin play with Gifts; they can learn breed and auspice Gifts under the guidance of others , but access to tribe Gifts comes only after their Rite.

• Duties: Learn as much as you can about Garou society and your place in it.
• Privileges: None
• Gifts Available: Basic Breed and Auspice Gifts, with their Den Parent's approval. The first of each is free.
• Rites Available: May learn Basic and Minor Rites; may perform Minor Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 10
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 5
• War-Form Bonus: None
• Lore Allowance: None
• Time Requirement: None
• Renown Requirements: None Cubs do not earn renown

Cliath: Rank One

Cliath are the youngest members in full standing of the Garou Nation. They have fulfilled a Rite of Passage, which proves them worthy of joining the war for Gaia; they are welcomed into the extended family of a tribe. But now their responsibilities truly begin. Higher-ranked Garou expect Cliath to submit to their orders and to the demands of the Litany; Cliath who fail at these tasks can expect harsh judgment. While they are no longer watched by a Den Parent, Cliath must continue to learn, seeking out instruction from the elders of their Auspice and Tribe. When a cub becomes a Cliath, they gain for free one breed, auspice and tribal gift; for those who start as Cliath, these three gifts are gained for free when you build your werewolf.

• Duties: Serve your Sept however your elders require, including boring minor tasks like cleaning up the bawn or patrolling the perimeter. Seek out Garou to train you as the kind of warrior you want to become. Find a pack to join, or gather up some fellow Cliath and start one yourself.
• Privileges: You can ask your Sept leadership for justice when you are wronged, or challenge any Cliath, Fostern or Adren who wronged you. When your Renown is sufficient, you can challenge a Fostern or Adren for your next Rank. You might have a little license to fuck up thanks to youth, inexperience and stupidity -- but don't rely on it. It won't stretch far. Spiritually speaking, as long as they have invested in a relationship, Cliath may enjoy the full blessings of a Personal Totem.
• Gifts Available: Basic. Upon succeeding at a Rite of Passage, a cub who becomes a Cliath learns a tribe Gift for free (as well as breed and auspice, if they have not already done so as a cub).
• Rites Available: May perform Minor and Basic Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 11
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 5
• War-Form Bonus: A Cliath's war-form is strong enough to do lethal damage with their unarmed blows and with any weapon that would usually do Bashing.
• Lore Allowance: You may learn up to level 1 in Lore: Garou, Lore: Spirit, and your tribal Lore without a teacher.
• Time Requirement: Garou spend at least a month as a cub before becoming Cliath.
• Renown Requirements: These Renown are not earned as cubs, but gained upon completion of the Rite of Passage:
• Ragabash: Any 3 
• Theurge: 3 Wisdom 
• Philodox: 3 Honor
• Galliard: 2 Glory, 1 Wisdom
• Ahroun: 2 Glory, 1 Honor

Fostern: Rank Two

Fostern Rank is usually considered the minimum to hold true responsibility. Fostern have proved themselves on their own initiative, choosing how to make their mark and earning some Renown to show for it. They have taken risks and overcome challenges that killed some of the cliath they grew up with. Fostern are considered fully responsible adults, requiring no indulgence from their elders.

• Duties: Continue serving your Sept. You may be entrusted with greater duties now that you've got experience under your belt. Take responsibility for the safety and success of your fellow Garou. Attend Sept moots. Keep learning, becoming a worthy example of your Auspice, Breed and Tribe.
• Privileges: Your freedom to move from Caern to Caern is heightened. You're reliably allowed onto your own, and you can even ask the Gatekeeper to open moon bridges for you to travel to to other Caerns, provided you have a serious reason. 
• Gifts Available: Basic
• Rites Available: May may perform Minor and Basic Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 12
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 6
• War-Form Bonus: A Fostern's war-form gains a free retest (often called the "Might" retest) on all Strength-based Challenges, in addition to all prior war-form bonuses. This is the last retest the player can call for in the challenge.
• Non-War-Form Bonus: A Fostern is strong enough to do Lethal damage with their unarmed blows, and with any weapon that would usually do Bashing in all forms.
• Lore Allowance: You may learn up to level 1 in Lore: Garou, Lore: Spirit, and your tribal Lore without a teacher.
• Time Requirement: Garou spend at least three months as Cliath before becoming Fostern.
• Renown Requirements:
• Ragabash: Any 7
• Theurge: 1 Glory, 5 Wisdom 
• Philodox: 1 Glory, 4 Honor, 1 Wisdom
• Galliard: 4 Glory, 2 Wisdom
• Ahroun: 4 Glory, 1 Honor, 1 Wisdom

Adren: Rank Three

Adren are the first rank of true leaders among Garou. Few Garou survive this long, but those who do tend to be especially competent, carving out a niche where they are well-known for their service to Gaia. Athro and Elders scrutinize Adren and train them in the duties of Sept positions. Ragabash scrutinize Adren as well, eager to increase their own standing by pointing out the Adren's flaws.

• Duties: Spend most of your time training under an older Garou for new duties. If you're tapped for one of the Sept's lesser duties -- Keeper of the Land, Gatekeeper, Guardian, Den Parent or so on -- carry out the role with distinction. Train younger Garou, sharing the wisdom and insights you have earned along the way. You may not have as much authority as you have responsibility, so you'll need ingenuity to excel at your duties.
• Privileges: Lesser-Ranked Garou must address you with the respectful suffix "-rhya," or else you can call judgment down on them for insulting your honor. You have a high degree of freedom to create Talens for yourself and for others. You can require that your Sept provide living space for you, though if your demand seems small-minded, you'll probably be given nothing more than a cot and a corner. You may petition the Sept for justice in a decision rendered by the Sept Alpha or Truthcatcher, or by a philodox or council they appoint.
• Gifts Available: Basic and Intermediate
• Rites Available: May perform Minor, Basic, and Intermediate Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 14
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 7
• War-Form Bonus: An Adren in war-form can throw the Bomb symbol (fist with thumb upraised) in Strength-based Challenges. The Bomb beats both Rock and Paper, but loses to Scissors. Adren retain all prior war-form bonuses as well.
• Non-War-Form Bonus: An Adren gains a free retest (often called the "Might" retest) on all Strength-based Challenges, in all forms. This is the last retest the player can call for in the challenge. In addition, retain all prior Non-War-Form bonuses.
• Lore Allowance: You may learn up to level 2 in Lore: Garou, Lore: Spirit, and your tribal Lore without a teacher.
• Time Requirement: Garou spend at least six months as Fostern before becoming Adren.
• Renown Requirements:
• Ragabash: Any 13
• Theurge: 2 Glory, 1 Honor, 7 Wisdom 
• Philodox: 2 Glory, 6 Honor, 2 Wisdom
• Galliard: 4 Glory, 2 Honor, 4 Wisdom
• Ahroun: 6 Glory, 3 Honor, 1 Wisdom

Athro: Rank Four

Known widely in the Garou Nation, Athro have achieved true respect and authority. Other Garou seek them out for leadership and advice. Few Garou live to earn this rank.

• Duties: Lead your fellow Garou -- not just your pack, but your auspice, your tribe, even your Sept. Organize other Garou on quests and missions that you deem necessary for the good of Gaia. Gaia may even prompt you to do so with visions; do not hesitate. You set the example by facing danger and taking risks yourself -- you will not ask another Garou to bear a burden you're unwilling to carry.
• Privileges: When accused of wrongdoing, you have the option of being judged either by a single Philodox of the Sept, or by the Sept's council of elders (typically including Auspice Alphas and the Sept Alpha). You can reliably get your choice of the best missions available to your Sept. Younger Garou defer to you as a proven teacher (don't prove them wrong).
• Gifts Available: Basic, Intermediate
• Rites Available: May perform Minor, Basic, and Intermediate Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 16
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 8
• War-Form Bonus: You may bid "Athro" in place of a Strength Trait, that may not be lost. You may not bid this unlosable trait on a called shot or any other challenge where you initially bid three or more traits. This is not a Trait, and as such does not add to a character's trait pool.
• Non-War-Form Bonus: Athro can throw the Bomb symbol (fist with thumb upraised) in Strength-based Challenges. The Bomb beats both Rock and Paper, but loses to Scissors. In addition, retain all prior Non-War-Form bonuses.
• Lore Allowance: You may learn up to level 2 in Lore: Garou, Lore: Spirit, and your tribal Lore without a teacher.
• Time Requirement: Garou spend at least nine months as Adren before becoming Athro.
• Renown Requirements: 
• Ragabash: Any 19
• Theurge: 4 Glory, 2 Honor, 9 Wisdom 
• Philodox: 3 Glory, 8 Honor, 4 Wisdom
• Galliard: 7 Glory, 2 Honor, 6 Wisdom
• Ahroun: 9 Glory, 4 Honor, 2 Wisdom

Elder: Rank Five

Elders are paragons among werewolves, the leaders of septs and tribes. Their long and impressive service to Gaia earns them respect from all the spirits of the Nation.

• Duties: As the elder of a tribe or auspice, you take responsibility for the well-being of all fellow tribe and auspice members of your Sept. See to it that they are well-trained, led, and advised. Represent them when they're in trouble and discipline them when they fail. Adopt worthy new members into the tribe, and expel those who act heinously. Take a role managing the local human population if you're a homid, and dealing with the local wolf packs if you're a lupus.
• Privileges: When accused of wrongdoing, you may choose whom to be judged by: an Adren or better from the Sept in question, the Sept's council of elders (typically including all major Sept offices), or a council of fellow Elders of the Nation. You may veto a Renown nomination if you feel a story hasn't truly been earned, but you should not employ this privilege lightly. You're largely free to do as you like, as long as you're carrying out the duties above.
• Gifts Available: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced
• Rites Available: May perform all levels of Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 18
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 10
• War-Form Bonus: An Elder in war-form, in addition to all their prior war-form bonuses, does an additional level of damage with all their Strength-based attacks. The type of damage is appropriate to the weapon used.
• Non-War-Form Bonus: You may bid "Elder" in place of a Strength Trait, that may not be lost. You may not bid this unlosable trait on a called shot or any other challenge where you bid three traits. This is not a Trait, and as such does not add to a character's trait pool. In addition, retain all prior Non-War-Form bonuses.
• Lore Allowance: You may learn up to level 3 in Lore: Garou, Lore: Spirit, and your tribal Lore without a teacher.
• Time Requirement: Garou spend at least twelve months as Athro before becoming Elder.
• Renown Requirements: 
• Ragabash: Any 25
• Theurge: 4 Glory, 9 Honor, 10 Wisdom 
• Philodox: 4 Glory, 10 Honor, 9 Wisdom
• Galliard: 9 Glory, 5 Honor, 9 Wisdom
• Ahroun: 10 Glory, 9 Honor, 4 Wisdom

Legend: Rank Six

Legends come along only once or twice in a generation. Garou do not challenge for this Rank, but are chosen for it by Gaia herself. They do not serve one Sept or territory, but serve Gaia in unique ways that no other Garou could accomplish. Legend Garou are not player characters, but Storyteller-controlled NPCs of the Garou Nation organization.

• Duties: As Gaia wills.
• Privileges: Other Garou are foolish indeed to contravene the will of Gaia expressed through her servant.
• Gifts Available: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced
• Rites Available: May perform all levels of Rites
• Maximum Traits per Category: 20
• Maximum Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower: 10
• War-Form Bonus: A Legend in war-form, in addition to all their prior war-form bonuses, gains +10 traits in Strength-based Challenges.
• Non-War-Form Bonus: A Legend does an additional level of damage with all their Strength-based attacks. The type of damage is appropriate to the weapon used. In addition, retain all prior Non-War-Form bonuses.
• Lore Allowance: What need have Gaia's Chosen for puny Lores?   
• Time Requirement: That's up to Gaia.
• Renown Requirements: That's also up to Gaia. 
• Additional Requirements: Player Characters only attain legend upon an organization-wide Storyteller vote, at which time they are retired to NPC status. The original player of the character may still be called upon to portray the NPC.