Garou have three breeds: homid (human-born), lupus (wolf-born), and Ostraka (crinos-born).
The breed is determined by the natural form of a child’s mother. If the mother is a human or homid Garou, then the child is born as a homid. If the mother is a wolf or a lupus Garou, then the child is born as a lupus. If both the parents are garou, the child is born as a ostraka.
A Garou’s true nature is shaped long before his First Change. If one of their parents is human, they will grow up in human society, learning the ways of people. If one of their parents is a wolf, they will be raised by wolves, and human society is a mystery to them. It’s also possible that a Garou might he born to two human parents or to a mated pair of wolves, if the werewolf blood is strong enough in his family. Though such an occurrence is extremely rare.
Below are the rules for each of the different breeds.
Homid (Human Born)
Already the most common breed, though not by a wide margin. The Homid of the Garou nation have by far the easiest time integrating with Human Society.
Their connection to humankind and having to deal with that society for as long as they can remember has forced them to develop more willpower; however at a cost to their spiritual connection - which is still very new.
All Homid start with: Willpower 4, Gnosis 2
Ostraka (Crinos Born)
Forbidden children, Ostraka are born when two Garou mate - against the dictates of the Litany. Such a child is born in Crinos form, and further always has a deformity of some kind. As the child is born in Crinos, they are a guaranteed shifter from birth; however, they are also completely sterile, and because the birthing of an Ostraka can often result in the death of the mother it is viewed by most of the nation as both a spiritual rule as well as a practical one that should be avoided.
Ostraka Garou are raised in the Garou society: until their first change they only exist in Crinos form, and so letting the Ostraka wander into human society would be a direct violation of the Veil. Their unique circumstances allow for Ostraka to have among the most balanced of connections both to their own will, but also to the spiritual world.
All Ostraka start with Willpower 3, Gnosis 3
Further, all Ostraka have an Ostraka Deformity that cannot be cured in any way, below are several deformities that you may have. If you have an idea for one, or want to use one from a White Wolf book not listed below please run it by staff and we will discuss.
- Awkward Mobility: You have difficulty moving or keeping up with those around you. You might be short, possess a club foot, have a hunchback, or walk with a limp. You take one less step per movement action, typically resulting in taking two steps instead of the standard three.
- Derangement: Work with staff on the precise nature of your derangement.
- Monstrous: There's something unworldly and monstrous about your appearance that makes you hideous to your fellow garou. The exact manner in how you differ from the garou ideal is up to you. You suffer a -4 to all social tests involving Garou, further you may not ever develop the merit Striking Looks.
- Albino: You have no melanin in your body, in any form. Your skin is faintly pink, and it burns easily. Your hair is stark white (not silver) and your eyes are pinkish to blood red. You suffer a -4 on any challenge related to perception while within bright light.
- Blind: Whether you have two eyes in the right place that don't work, or no eyes at all, you are totally blind. You fail any challenges related to vision automatically. However, your other senses are slightly sharper, you gain +1 on any other challenge related to perception. You are still susceptible to Blinding Attacks, but instead of clearing your eyes, you must spend the two simple actions trying to make sure nothing happened to your face (or make use of the Fighting Blind maneuver).
- Hairless: You have no hair or fur in any of your forms. Suffer a -2 penalty to all mundane social challenges with anyone as your hairless look is unsettling even to non-garou.
- Horns: You have a pair of horns in every form. They may be like those of a ram or goat, or like a small pair of antelope antlers. You might even have a single short horn like a unicorn's. Whatever the form, you suffer a -2 penalty to all mundane social challenges with anyone. Passing as a human is especially difficult. You may attack with your horn; however, doing so is fighting as prey does, not as a predator. The horn's base damage is 2 lethal; however, any scene you use such an attack costs a glory renown.
- No Sense of Smell: Your sense of smell is nonexistent, even in Lupus form. You fail at all challenges relating to smell automatically, and you suffer a -4 penalty any time you attempt to track an individual.
- No Tail: Not having a tail creates serious communication problems with others of your kind. You take a -2 penalty on all social challenges while in Lupus, Hispo, or Crinos forms. Further, you sense of balance suffers while in any of those forms, as such you also suffer a -2 penalty on all Dexterity challenges.
- Seizures: When you're under pressure, you lose control of your body. Whenever you lose an important challenge (subject to ST discretion) you must immediately make a static Willpower challenge, difficulty 8. If you fail the willpower challenge you writhe uncontrollably for 1 whole turn (in combat) or 5 minutes (out of combat) at which point you make another Willpower challenge, difficulty 8. You stop writhing once you succeed on this challenge. You can take no other actions while suffering a seizure.
- Tough Hide: Your skin is tough as old leather, and considerably less attractive. You have no coat to speak of, merely a few patches of fur here and there across your wrinkled, dry hide. You may not develop the Striking Looks merit, and suffer a -2 on all mundane social challenges. On the positive side, you gain +1 on all soaking challenges.
- Wasting Disease: Your constitution is notably weak. You cough and wheeze, and have extreme difficulty with long-term hunts and endurance runs where humans, wolves, and Garou normally excel. You suffer a -3 on all Stamina challenges (including soak challenges). Further, you lose 2 health levels from your maximum.
- Weak Immune System: Garou are normally very resistant, even immune, to ordinary disease. You lack that level of supernatural constitution, and in fact are more vulnerable to ailments than most humans are. Because of your condition, you are treated as a normal mortal should you be exposed to any disease, further, you lose 2 health levels from your maximum.
Lupus (Wolf Born)
The second most common breed, right after the Homid. Lupus are connected with nature and feel their animal instincts strongly. Such a connection tends to exclude them from easy human connection and they can find themselves drained and irritable extremely quickly. Their connection to the wild however allows for a strong connection to the world of the spirit much more easily.
All Lupus start with: Willpower 2, Gnosis 4