Minor Rites
Accomplishment
This is as simple or grandiose a ceremony as you wish for the person completing the Challenge of Rank. The winner is taken before the assembled sept by the benefactor to be recognized as the new Rank. The ronin glyph can be removed by this rite as well only after he has proven his worth to the sept.
The Badger Burrow
this rite bonds a Shifter to the caern as a promise to protect those within its borders. The one performing the rite gazes into a bowl of water, or a mirror, while the other shifters pour scented water on the ground (lupus usually just go urinate in a bush). The garou participating end this rite with a low (non-angry) growl. [OOG note: if/when this is done please visit ST camp so that the storytellers can inform the player of the Caern spirit. Those who participated in the ritual with Feast-for-Clouds which made Tempest the Caern Spirit can assume to already feel this bond.]
Birthing Plague (Ratkin Only)
As an option for players of human character who have submitted a card to become Ratkin. When the human players card is drawn, the Storytellers will send out a spirit NPC to a Ratkin player who can perform this rite, or ask another Ratkin perform it. After saying an introduction to the Tribe (or some indication to the target player that he is expected to shift to Crinos), the Ratkin ‘bites’ the prospective human that causes her to shapeshift to Crinos for as long as she wishes. This will work best if coordinated between the human player, the Ratkin player and the ST. This will not force a First Change as this is meant for role-play with a player who has already decided to turn their human character into a Ratkin.
Breath of Gaia
This simple rite is used to calm oneself and think clearly. Breath 13 long, deep breathes of clean fresh outdoor air.
Exile (Bastet Only)
If any bastet has betrayed the other bastet, a vote is called to throw them out. this rite revokes the grooming rite and involves the recitation of the offender's crimes. The bastet glyph for "oathbreaker" is marked upon their forehead (use an eyeliner pencil). afterwards the offender is chased away from the gathering. if the offender is caught, they are beaten severely, but never killed, so that they may live with their shame. only the forgiveness of the host can make this bastet once again included in bastet society.
Festival of Dreams (Bastet Only)
Bastet rite to remember, involves the burning of incense and scented wood in a fire. As they sit around the fire they breathe deeply of the scents from the burning incense or wood. The purpose of this rite is to gain wisdom or insight for future plans or before a battle. The assembled bastet maintain a feeling of peace throughout the ceremony. The last Bastet to leave the fire is given gifts of water and affection from the others.
Gathering for the Departed
This is a rite for the newly dead, most often performed by a Galliard or a packmate of the departed. The rite varies from tribe to tribe, [for example the Fianna prefer to tell stories both heroic and witty about the fallen garou, while other tribes prefer something more solemn, and others go to the highest point on the bawn and shout out their pride and grief to speed their companion onto their next life]. Commonly this rite ends with a Howl to send the spirit off with respects and reverance.
Grooming the Newcomer (Bastet Only)
Bastet rite for welcoming new bastet into their group. the one performing the rite, questions the stranger (often using gifts like Aura sight and Sense taint). Others are asked whether the newcomer is known among other Bastet present. Once the questioning meets the satisfaction of those present, the newcomer is offered food and drink, and all bastet present greet the newcomer with gestures of affection (brusing their hair, massaging their shoulders etc. with OOG permission for physical role-play of course). once completed, the new bastet is considered "always welcome".
Hanshii (Bastet Only)
This is a trial by combat performed at bastet gatherings to settle a grudge. Whoever is hosting the meeting determines the rules.
- Celican: Contest of Wit
- Bageera & Bubasti: respect tests of Judgement
- Swara: a Questing challenge (that can be concluded within a single event)
- Khan & Simba: Trial by Combat
The use of gifts is not allowed and neither is the use of outside help, the rite ensures both sides play fair, and cheating is viewed as automatic failure. The rite begins with the ritualist reciting the bastet litany (to remind the participants that those rules always take precidence), then the rules of the challenge, and finally an observer is assigned with each side of the dispute to make sure neither one cheats but is not allowed to help or offer advice in any way (sort of like a referee).
Moon Bridge
This rite opens a mystical gateway between two caern’s known as a Moon Bridge. To open the bridge, you then need to know the name of the caern you are traveling to. Only caern’s named on a caern map or in Dark Ages Werewolf, can be traveled to unless restrictions apply for the desired Sept. You and the participant(s) who wish to travel must walk, chant and drum around, or in front of, the caern heart for 10 minutes. This will appease the spirit who will then open the bridge and allow the traveling participant(s) to step through the Umbra and onto the Bridge. The traveling characters are expected (but not required) to miss an event or two while they are "away at another sept". This rite if performed at event, will remove the character from event for the rest of the event (changing characters durning an event is not allowed), so it is only reccomended to be used on Sunday of event, or if you need a convienient IG reason to leave game to go to work Etc.. Characters will not gain any items from the other places they visit and information can be exchanged with the Storytellers between events via email.
Renunciation
A punishment rite for those who have lost the respect of the Rank they earned by actions or inaction deemed inappropriate by the sept. The person’s deeds are announced in front of the assembled sept and are recognized to have lost a level in Rank.
Rite of Contrition
This rite is a "formal apology" often used to prevent discord between spirits or Garou, whom the shifter has annoyed, or to prevent War with other sept or tribe. The rite (for the Garou) involves dropping to ones belly and sliding forward (whining and/or licking ones hands or paws is optional) but oftentimes raising ones head and exposing your neck to the person or spirit you are appeasing is best. At its conclusion a small gift is offered to the offended party, which should honor the one whom you seek forgiveness from. (All non-garou tribes have their own version of this as well, the main difference is to show a sign of submission to the one which you are apologizing to, and to offer a gift, no matter how trivial.)
Rite of Ostracism
A minor punishment rite where the shifter is treated as a non-entity. The sept is to completely ignore the person. No hostile action is taken against the person. the only exception to this is life-or-death situations where others are allowed to help the one who is ignored. this punishment usually only lasts 1 day, but sometimes has lasted longer if the crime is more severe (up to one cycle of the moon).
Rite of the Questing Stone
This rite is to track someone or something that is lost. A small stone is tied to a short length of string or thread; the name of the person or object must be known and a posession of the person must be kept throughout the rite while concentrating on the person or item. [this rite has no in-game effect, but for Downtime RP scenes the rite will lead you to whoever you seek, but never directly to the person, and almost always leads to some sort of adventure. Storytellers have no obligation to get involved with the RP of this rite.]
Rite of the Ronin
This punishment rite is used on a were-animal who committed a crime that does not deserve but was heinous enough to be cast out of the sept. Usually performed by a Philodox, the criminal is brought before the Philodox in front of the assembled sept. The crimes are stated by the Philiodox who ‘brands’ the inner wrist of the criminal with the Ronin glyph (use black make-up). All members of the sept turn their backs to the now ronin, except one wereanimal who escorts the ronin out the sept. From then on, the ronin is not considered to be a were-animal, barred from entering the caern and left alone to fend for himself. Any were-animal found to be assisting the ronin may be subject to becoming ronin themselves. The ronin player must make sure to wear the ronin glyph every event from then on until otherwise removed by Accomplishment IG. Note: this does not remove the character from the game, but means that he is not allowed access to the caern and he is not to be protected by any were-animal (or face their own punishment) who is considered a member of the sept.
Rite Of Passage
Typically performed by the Ritemaster, inscribe the Rite of Passage glyph upon the wrist of the ‘cub’ and gives him a task to complete. If he completes the task, then call a moot and announce the recognition of a new Garou. Tasks vary from Tribe to Tribe, person to person. Cubs are encouraged to complete their Rite of Passage with other cubs to learn how to work together in a pack. The task should take no longer then one event and when completed, the cub will be recognized as Cliath.
Rite of Spirit Awakening
This rite is used to awaken spirits within an fetish. The one performing the rite beats a drum or plays an instrument to the fetish while other garou walk or dance around the one playing the instument growling or humming in rythm to the music. [Upon its completion come to ST camp with the fetish and the spirit within the fetish will be named if it is not already named. This rite provides no other effect than adding a name to the spirit within the fetish, Fetishes which have a name of the spirit on them are already considered "Awakened".]
Rite of the Winter Wolf
This is performed by old or sick Garou who have not died in battle and wish to die with honor and respect. At a moot, announce that you are now a Winter Wolf. Take as much time as you need to tell everyone good-bye and ask them to howl and/or drum for you as walk out of the sept and into the woods to die. This is a great method of willingly ending a character IG.
Rite of Wounding
This rite celebrates the first battle wound received by a Garou. Ash is rubbed in the wound to create a scar of rememberance; the get of Fenris follow up this rite with a night of drinking and sparring. [OOG note: it is up to the players to follow this up with adding the scar to their makeup for RP of their character.]
Spirit Egg (Corax Only)
As an option for players of human character who have submitted a card to become Corax. When the human players card is drawn, the Storytellers will send out a spirit NPC to a Corax player who can perform this rite, or ask another Corax to perform it. After saying an introduction to the Tribe (or some indication to the target player that he is expected to shift to Crinos), the Corax simply gives an egg inscribed with the Corax glyph to the prospective human that causes her to shapeshift to Crinos for as long as she wishes. This will work best if coordinated between the human player, the Corax player and the ST. This will not force a First Change as this is meant for role-play with a player who has already decided to turn their human character into a Corax.