"We will be known by the tracks we leave."
Dakota Proverb
Now fewer in number, the Children of Gaia struggle against titanic odds
to preserve the balance of creation. Their struggle against the ascendant
Wyrm is fraught with peril and glory. But in their fight, the garou must
contend not only with their own ancient enemy, but against others as well,
not the least of which is their own hunger and rage that gnaws inside them.
Come run with the wolves and hear the primeval songs of nature and taste
the blood of prey hunted in darkness.
Active Player Characters:
Anita Wanderer, by Beth Savage Charles DeRama, by James Hertsch III Erin Bailey, by Kenneth Melvin Kate Jackson - Chapter 1, by Jennifer Lochabay Kate Jackson - Chapter 2, by Jennifer Lochabay
Non-Player Characters -
About a hundred and fifty years ago, numbers of the Fianna, Silver Fangs,
Shadowlords, and Get of Fenris arrived in the Santa Cruz mountains. Finding
the area already inhabited by Wendigo and Uktena, they set about in a savage
war to win the land for themselves, aided by their kinfolk and, unknowingly,
by the anglo settlers. Driving the Wendigo south, the newcomers set about
establishing their septs around powerful cairns in the mountains. Black
Furies, Bone Gnawers, Children of Gaia and Stargazers soon arrived, to help
in the process of building. The Children of Gaia helped put an end to the
war, leaving the Wendigo to remain in the Ventana Wilderness above Big Sur.
The Uktena, encouraged by words of peace and wisdom, settled in both areas,
those that could accept the newcomers and forgive, coming back to their
homes, those that could not, settling with their anger amongst the Wendigo.
Long have the Garou of the coastal mountains protected their lands, preventing
overdevelopment and encouraging peace and respect amongst the people and
protecting the land from the Weaversons of the Technocracy in Silicon Valley.
But now, Black Spiral Dancers have appeared, though where their dark cairn
lies is unknown. Wyrm spawned vampires from San Jose trespass on Garou lands.
And Magi have begun raiding the cairns, to steal their essence, battling
the garou and robbing them of their strength. Decrying that the Silver Fangs
and Children of Gaia have led the tribes to weakness, the Shadow Lords agitate
for change while the Get of Fenris wish to seek open war. A small group
of the Get and most Bone Gnawers have left their septs to dwell in the city,
leaving the fight to found their own septs. And now, the harvest of the
War Assumption is truly sown as the Wendigo of Ventana and Big Sur, now
grown strong again, lend deaf ears to any cries for help or aid. As young
garou, come to the mountains, your Rage and frustration call to you. Will
you succumb or is their another way?
As has been said, the garou are the dominant power in the region. Organized
in seven septs, not counting the defection of some Get of Fenris and Bone
Gnawers, the cairns of the Garou were once well protected, but predation
by human Magi and attacks by the Technocracy (who view the garou as an obstacle),
Black Spiral Dancers and various Wyrm spawn have put the cairns at risk.
Through kinfolk and other contacts, the garou have manipulated the creation
of state and county parks around their cairns to better protect and hide
them.
Sept of the Three Waters - This sept is centered around three powerful cairns
located in Big Basin State Park. The majority of the sept is made up of
Fianna, followed by Get of Fenris, Uktena, Shadow Lords, Silver Fangs, Bone
Gnawers, Stargazers and even a couple Silent Striders, in that order. Though
the Silver Fangs are a minority, they are the leaders of this, the most
powerful sept of the region. This sept is allied with most of the septs
in the area, and it is the focus for coordinated defence with other groups.
This system has worked well in the past, but infighting threatens to destroy
the stability of this sept. The Get of Fenris, and the Shadow Lords are
both unhappy about the actions of ravaging human magi stealing power from
cairns. They want a war and are pushing the Silver Fangs to either agree
or step aside as leaders of the Sept. The Uktena of this tribe have close
links to their brethren, even to those of the Sept of the Western Eye and
the Sept of the Raging Storm. This sept follows the totems of Falcon, Stag,
Coyote and Dana.
Sept of the Ancient Voices - This Sept is centered around a powerful cairn
located in Cowell Redwoods State Park. The members of this sept come from
the Fianna, Children of Gaia, Black Furies, Stargazers & Silver Fangs
in that Order. The Children of Gaia are the dominant group in this peaceful
sept. However, if force is called for, the howls of the ahroun of this sept
can be heard in the night as battle is waged on the summit, under the trees.
Mostly though, this sept councils peace where possible, except with minions
of the wyrm. Many local garou are angry with the Children for suggesting
that an accord might even be reached with the magi. The Children council
that if war is declared indiscriminately, the Garou will find themselves
besieged on both sides, and certainly the vile wyrmspawn vampires will also
take the opportunity to harm the garou in any way they can. Pack totems
are Sequoia, Stag, Rat, & Chimera.
Sept of the Angry Earth (formerly the Sept of the Girdle of Stars) - the
new name of this sept hails from the 89 earthquake, which was centered in
the sept's main area of Nisene Marks. This sept is really more like two
septs, one consisting of Black Furies and a few Uktena, the other consisting
of Red Talons who live farther back in the mountains. Both groups are relatively
small in numbers, but each defends its area furiously. Each half has its
own cairn and ritemaster, but both act in concert when war is called for,
though the Red Talons will often not gather for moots instigated by the
Ancient Voice Sept. It is rumored that if things don't go well in the Three
Waters Sept, some Shadow Lords and Get of Fenris have been talking about
taking over part of the Nisene Marks area, feeling the land held is too
large for such small groups. Of course, such an act could split the garou
in the area irrevocably. Pack totems are Pegasus, Wendigo
Sept of the Green Hills - this sept has virtually ceased to exist due to
fierce attacks by human magi hungry for tass. Once centered in Fall Creek
State Park, the survivors of this sept wander lonely and dazed through the
hills, or have joined other septs. The loss of the Green Hills Sept has
torn a hole in the defensive line of the garou and more pressures are now
born by those of the Three Waters, Ancient Voices and Stone Sea to plug
the gap.
Sept of the Stone Sea - This small sept is centered around a cairn in Wilder
Ranch Park and consists of a peaceful group of Bone Gnawers, Children of
Gaia, Stargazers, and Fianna. The Children lead this sept.
Sept of the Salt Wind - This sept is located around a minor cairn in Mount
Madonna State Park. The members of this tribe are mostly Uktena and Stargazers.
In war, they count on support from the Sept of the Angry Earth.
Sept of the Fire Within - This sept is supposedly led by an ancient Silent
Strider, who is so old he can stride no more. The members are mostly Uktena,
Bone Gnawers, and a few Glass Walkers. In war, they count on support from
the Angry Earth Sept. Their minor cairn is centered somewhere in Uvas Canyon
County Park.
Sept of the Silver Fury - This warlike sept is one of the first to feel
the brunt of attacks from the Weaver and Wyrm spawn from "over the
Hill." The members of this sept are mostly Get of Fenris, Fianna, Silver
Fangs, Uktena and Shadow Lords. Many of the members of this sept are Ahroun.
The minor cairn of this place is in Sanborn Skyline County Park. Little
do the humans that come to this place by day realize the war that rages
here at night. The sept is closely supported by the Three Waters Sept and
is likewise led by Silver Fangs.
Sept of the Raging Storm - This large sept holds sway over a great area
of the Ventana Wilderness above Big Sur. Its members are primarily Wendigo
and Uktena and though they do not wage war against the European garou septs
of Santa Cruz, they will not help these septs in their current struggles,
remembering the War of Assumption that drove them from the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Though both the Children of Gaia and the Silver Fangs warn that the Raging
Storm Sept will be the next victim should the Santa Cruz garou fall, the
Wendigo will not listen. Minimal contact with the Santa Cruz septs is maintained
through Uktena contacts.
Glass Walkers - Most of the Glass Walkers in the area and a number of Bone
Gnawers make their home in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area. Because they
make use of technology and live in a technological world, other tribes are
suspicious of them. Much of the trouble that the Santa Cruz septs face are
from sons of the Weaver. Are not the Glass Walkers friends of the Weaver?
Nevertheless, the Glass Walkers of the Santa Clara Valley have been known
to aid the mountains septs in times of need. However, contacts between the
mountains and the Glass Walkers are few. And, can they be trusted? There
are believed to be a few Glass Walkers living in the City of Santa Cruz.
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