Adren: A rank 3 werewolf, adren are expected to take positions of responsibility and to teach their knowledge to those beneath them.

Ahroun: A werewolf born under the full moon. The Warrior, The Protector of the Ways. While all Garou are warriors, the Ahroun excel in war. They have the highest Rage of all the auspices, making them particularly unstable at times.

Athro: A rank 4 werewolf. An athro has been around for a long time and is revered for their wisdom. They often hold positions of high authority in the sept.

Auspice: The job a werewolf has in the society, determined by what phase of the moon they were born under. (See: Ragabash, Theurge, Philodox, Galliard, Ahroun)

Bane: A spirit that serves the Wyrm.

Bawn: Place on the outskirts of a caern.

Black Furies: A tribe consisting of primarily women,  forming an amazon-like society. They fight primarily for equality and woman's rights. Tribal Totem: Pegasus. Example: Hera's Wrath

Black Spiral Dancer (BSD): Once the proud tribe of White Howlers stalked the Wyrm to its lair. Most of them died. Those that didn't became the BSD's - corrupted, evil Garou that follow the Wyrm. BAD. Tribal Totem: Whip-poor-will

Bone Gnawers: The lowest tribe on the totem pole, they have little money or material goods. They concern themselves with the welfare of the lower class in the cites. Often percieved as smelly, honorless cowards. Tribal Totem: Rat. Example: Snow, Smith, Pip

Caern: A place of spiritual power where Garou can go to recharge themselves. Septs are often built around caerns. No, Janie's sept does not have one.

Children of Gaia: The "hippie" tribe - mediators and peace lovers, their goal is to have all the Garou working in harmony. Tribal Totem: Unicorn. Example: Guides the Cycle, Vibhuti "Monkey's Revelation"

Cliath: A rank 1 werewolf, equivalent to a teenager. A cliath has little responsibility, and a lot left to learn.

Crinos: The war form of the Garou, a 7-9 foot tall killing machine.

Cub: A rank 0 werewolf, practically a child. Cubs are expected to learn about the Nation, become stronger, and pass through their Rite of Passage.

Elder: A rank 5 werewolf. The Garou that makes it to this rank is a rare and powerful one. They generally hold the highest positions in the sept and are sought after for their wisdom and knowledge.

Fianna: A tribe of mostly Irish descent, they drink a lot, fight a lot, and live life to the fullest. Famous as bards across the Nation. Tribal Totem: Stag. Example: Padraig, Rowan

Fomori: A human that has been contaminated by the Wyrm.

Fostern: A rank 2 werewolf, fostern are seen as adults in the eyes of the Nation, and begin to get positions of responsibility in the sept.

Gaia: The earth mother, and the greatest Garou goddess.

Galliard: A werewolf born under a gibbous (3/4) moon. The Bard. The Lover of the Ways. They are the story tellers who keep the oral tradition of the Garou alive, memorizing all facets of the history of their people.

Garou: The werewolf's name for themselves. Can be pronounced GA-roo or guh-ROO

Garou Nation, The: The alliance of the thirteen tribes of the Garou

Gauntlet: The barrier between the real world and the Umbra, the spirit world.

Get of Fenris: A tribe decended from Viking stock, they are a tribe of war. They prize strength over all, and are infamous for testing their other Garou cousins. Tribal Totem: Fenris. Example: Gunter

Glabro: The stereotypical "wolf-man" form of a werewolf, the form half way between homid and crinos.

Glass Walkers: A tribe that specializes in modern times and technology, the Glass Walkers are just as likely to fight in a board room as on a battlefield. Like the Bone Gnawers, they are sometimes scorned for being happy to live in the city. Tribal Totem: Cockroach. Example: Cleric, Speaks with Spiders, Actions Louder Than Words

Hispo: The form between crinos and lupus - a really big and ferocious wolf.

Homid (breed): A Garou born as a human. Example: Janie

Homid (form): A Garou in homid form appears totally as a human.

Legend: A rank 6 werewolf. This rank is very rarely given after death for only the most honorable, wise, and glorious of Garou.

Litany, The: The code of laws that all Garou must follow.

Luna: The great spirit of the moon who granted the Garou with her powers.

Lupus (breed): A Garou born as a wolf. Example: Talking Crazy, Rides the Falling Waters

Lupus (form): A Garou in lupus form appears as a wolf.

Metis: A child born when two Garou mate. It is always born in Crinos (half man, half wolf) and deformed in some way. Example: Snow, Padraig

Philodox: A werewolf born under a half moon. The Judge. The Keeper of the Ways. It is the job of the Philodox to settle desputes between the Garou, to interpret the finer points of the Litany, and to pass judgement on those who have erred.

Pure Ones, The: The three tribes that lived in North America before the Europen settlers came: the Uktena (Older Brother), the Croatian (Middle Brother), and the Wendigo (Younger Brother)

Red Talons: A separatist tribe that only accepts Lupus, the Talons have a fierce hatred of humanity. They view humans as a cancer upon the earth, one that needs to be brought into check. Tribal Totem: Griffin. Example: None. They don't like cities.

Ragabash: A werewolf born under the new moon. The Trickster. The Questioner of the Ways. Ragabash are constant questioners, bringing to light flaws in their society and illuminating things that should be changed.

-rhya: A suffex put on the end of names to show respect.

Sept: The official name for a place where Garou meet, live, and work. Example: The Sept of Shadow's Dream.

Shadow Lords: Sneaky masters of diplomacy and intrigue, this tribe has an uncanny ability to exploit other's weak spots. Their main goal is to knock the Silver Fang tribe from power. Tribal Totem: Grandfather Thunder. Example: Whisper in the City

Silent Striders: A tribe of nomads, it's said that they were banished from their home land of Egypt long ago. Now they are restless messengers, always traveling from sept to sept with news. Tribal Totem: Owl. Example: Breakneck.

Silver Fangs: The tribe that traditionally rules the Garou Nation, Silver Fangs have possibly been practicing too much inbreeding - they have a modern reputation for madness and stubbornly clinging to faded traditions. They're not totally fallen from grace, however - some new leaders have emerged that speak of hope for the Silver Fang tribe. Tribal Totem: Falcon. Example: Falcon's Screeching Beak.

Star Gazers: The thirteenth tribe, the Star Gazers once left The Garou Nation when their homelands were heavily attacked by the Wyrm. There, they allied with beast peoples of Asia for a time. They rejoined the Nation sometime after. They're very introspective and zen-like. Tribal Totem: Chimera. Examples: None yet.

Stepping sideways: The act of moving into the Umbra, the spirit realm.

Theurge: A werewolf born under a crecent moon. The Shaman.The Searcher of the Ways. A Theurge is tasked with dealing with spirits - they dive deep into the spirit world to discover its secrets, and use those secrets to help their fellow Garou.

Tribe: A group of Garou all watched over by the same spirit, known as a tribal totem, and sharing roughly the same set of ideals. There are 13 Gaian tribes that have joined together to form The Garou Nation: Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, Children of Gaia, Get of Fenris, Glass Walkers, Fianna, Red Talons, Shadow Lords, Silent Striders, Silver Fangs, Star Gazers, Uktena, Wendigo.  The last tribe isn't Gaian, but of the Wyrm and evil: the Black Spiral Dancers.

Uktena: The "Older Brother" of the Pure Ones, this tribe accepts animistic, minority peoples from all over the world. They're primarily shamans and mystics, delving deep into the secrets of the mystic realm. They don't give up these secrets, either. And heaven help you if they discover that you have a secret they want... Tribal Totem: Uktena. Example: Talking Crazy, Rides the Falling Waters

Umbra: The spiritual realm that Garou can cross into with general ease, depending on the location.

Weaver: One of the Triat, the primal force of order and organization. Has no restraint and tries to order everything - drove the Wyrm to insanity. Patron of all technology.

Wendigo: The "Younger Brother" of the Pure Ones, the Wendigo are a tribe that will accept only Native Americans. They still hold a grudge against the Garou that came with the European settlers, naming them as Wyrmbringers. They tend to be frosty, unsociable, stubborn, and fierce warriors. Example: Pax, Stalks the Forest.

Wyld: One of the Triat, the primal force of chaos and nature. The only one left true to Gaia.

Wyrm: One of the Triat, the primal force of destruction, balance, cleansing. Driven crazy by the Weaver - now looks to destroy everything.