When Garou screw up, their Sept will often punish them with a loss of Renown. It's a shameful moment, especially if a Rite of Punishment is involved, but it's not usually a career-ending event. The only high-Ranking Garou who have never lost Renown are those who have never made mistakes.

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

What It Means

When you lose Renown, the spirits no longer speak of your good stories. The character inflicting the punishment against you will usually choose which story is forgotten. On the bright side, you can prove yourself again: you can perform a similar deed to earn a tale to replace what you lost.

Garou of lesser Rank are usually given more leeway to screw up than Garou of higher Rank. Losing one's self-control to Frenzy, for example, might be overlooked in a Cliath who is still learning -- but Elders should plainly know better.

Those Who Sit in Judgment

Usually the philodox investigating the claim but often a character of athro rank can request a trial of elders where a elder of each rank sits in judgement. 

Auspice Roles

These auspices are also particularly involved in the politics of Renown loss:

• Ragabash bring others' scandalous actions to the attention of the Sept Alpha or Truthcatcher, who will call for an investigation that may result in Renown loss. Ragabash may question others' stories of Renown be they told over the list, performed on the game floor, or claimed during off-camera moots. Their questions hold particular weight during Rites of Accomplishment. They may attempt to tell stories of shame (below).
• Philodox sit in judgment over questions of scandal, deciding the correct punishments. They may block stories questioned by the Ragabash. They have an easier time performing rites of punishment.
• Galliards choose which positive Renown tales to tell, and are best at performing Rites of Accomplishment. They should never support a tale of Renown whose worthiness they doubt. Galliards may also tell stories of shame (below).

Stories of Shame

Galliards and Ragabash may attempt to publicly shame any Garou to cost them a tale of Renown by telling a story of their dishonorable, inglorious, or unwise deeds. The character must publicly tell the tale in front of the Sept -- either on the game floor or via email.  The Storytellers will handle the consequences via spirits or other NPCs. This type of Renown loss does not include a trial and ignores the typical rights of Rank; the Renown loss of Athro and Elders is decided by the Storytellers.

The Spirits and NPC Elders

While the Storytellers prefer that renown be managed through PC actions and politics, there is a need for oversight. Through spirits or NPCs outside of the Sept, the Storytellers may strip any character of Renown fitting to their actions, regardless of their Rank or position. Being of high Rank especially may come with great privileges, but it is not an invitation for abuse, and no character is untouchable. Renown stripped by the Storytellers may be instead of or in addition to any loses or punishments listed above. 

Unworthy Deeds

The following are the sorts of acts that are commonly punished with Renown loss and/or Punishment Rites: If you lose the renown that would be the minimal for the rank you would also lose that rank.

Losing Glory

A werewolf loses Glory when their acts make them seem like less-then-capable warriors. Inglorious tales may include:

• Displays of fear and cowardice
• Acts of incompetence in battle
• Bad tactical leadership
• Refusing to fight the Wyrm
• Refusing to accept a proper Challenge
• Decisions that cause unnecessary loss of life or damage to Gaia
• Losing one's self-control to Frenzy, outside of battle

Losing Honor

A werewolf loses Honor when they fail to fulfill their promises or make poor moral choices. Dishonorable tales may include:

• Disobeying orders
• Crimes of disrespect toward the spirits, other Garou, or kinfolk
• Failing to respect others' territory, mating with other Garou, eating human flesh, and other Litany violations
• Untrustworthy behavior to advance your own interests
• Setting a poor example for younger Garou
• Neglecting your Sept duties or performing them poorly
• Inciting conflict and causing strife

Losing Wisdom

A werewolf loses Wisdom when their actions show incompetence, shortsightedness, and a lack of caution. Unwise tales may include:

• Mangling the performance of a Rite
• Causing unintentional offense to the spirits or other Garou
• Damaging the Veil
• Failing to gather good information before mounting an attack
• Incompetent performance of your Auspice duties
• Trying to solve problems but making them worse
• Bringing Wyrm-taint onto the Caern 

Additional Punishments

Some incidents, such as major violations of the Litany, are serious enough to warrant more than the loss of a single Renown. The Sept may also inflict punishments like the following:

• A Punishment Rite.
• A quest to atone.
• Ritual scarring.
• Loss of privileges.
• Loss of Kinfolk.
• Loss of Fetishes.
• Forced service to the offended party.
• Banishment.
• Execution (typically through Punishment Rites)