the brass litany

The Brass Litany

- Deride Not the Lovers Forged in Battle, Nor Children Wrought Not Of Their Choice, But Shame Those Who Would Willfully Birth Misery From Thy Womb
Love doesn’t discriminate, and in such a desperate hour, Garou should not be exiled and killed for growing close with themselves. Nor should they be defamed as perverts and sinners for that deep and pure affection. Just as well, the Metis does not ask to be brought into this world, and certainly not with the deformities that they were cursed with. They are just as capable as a human- or wolf-born Garou to be a hero against the Wyrm, and should not be looked down upon as second-rate just due to the circumstances of their disabilities and heritage. Those found abusing any metis, shutting them away, or torturing them will suffer the same punishments as those who would do such acts to a homid or lupus. However, where possible, the creation of Metis should still be prevented, because no one deserves to come into the world as disabled as many are.

- Combat the Wyrm And Weaver Wherever and Whenever They Breed, But Do Not Destroy Those Other To You Simply For What They Are
The world is much more nuanced than many Garou choose to believe it is. Regardless of whether they would like to admit it, vampires of particular virtue, mages not wrapped in Quiet, and demons seeking refuge on earth are not inherently a threat to Gaia simply for being. The vampire can slide into debauchery, the mage can be gripped by the Pattern Web, and the demon can slide into her torment, but none are inherently destructive simply because they exist. The truth to calcification and taint lie in much more tangled fields than our kind wish they did. The Black Spiral Dancer, the Fomori, the Bane and the Drone are enough of a deadly threat on their own.

- Respect The Territory Of Another, No Matter Their Tribe or Breed
Some tenets remain as vital as they ever have been. In light of the Garou’s history, though, this tenet requires an addendum. The Silver Fangs stole the territory of the Wendigo and Uktena, and even the White Howlers. The Red Talons incited the war that slaughtered the Bunyip. The Shadow Lords destroyed the Camazotz. And every Garou, each and every one, wears the sins of the War of Rage. If a territory belongs to another, that’s that. Be they Fera or Garou, that land is not yours. The exception, of course, is the Pits of the Black Spiral Dancers. Such Pits should be taken without mercy and cleansed in the name of the Emerald Mother without delay.

- Accept An Honorable Surrender
And some tenets, of course, never change. Respect the rule of the exposed throat, though your Rage may make it difficult to do so.

- Submit To Those Higher In Station, But Tolerate Not the Folly of the Senile
A reasonable rank and order is expected in those fighting a war, and such is represented by Renown and Rank. But one should never suffer the higher command of a senior officer proven repeatedly to be incompetent and malign. Those who claim status by blood alone must also be placed under scrutiny. Actions speak much louder than pedigrees and words.

- The First Share of the Kill For the Greatest In Battle
Rank does not mean priority in the spoils of war. The first choice of powerful fetishes should go to those who would get the most use out of them above any high status. To play to the strengths of every soldier is to win a war.

- Ye Shall Not Eat The Flesh Of Humans
Seriously don’t do this.

- Respect All Those Beneath Ye – All Are Of Gaia
This tenet is taken much more seriously among the Wings of Brass than it ever was in the Nation at large. Any Garou who decides this law applies to any creature not clearly Wyrmish faces prominent and harsh punishment rites.

- The Veil Shall Not Be Lifted
Through the mistakes of our ancestors, we made the human population fear us on an instinctual level. Now, thanks to that, we wear our veil in shame as the descendants of murderers. But it also offers us a protection from the maddest of imbued and the worst of the wyrmthings. That we work in secret serves to keep our dwindling sacred spaces safe from chaos and corruption. For some, the Veil will be forcibly lifted should they so much as look at you or whatever you do battle with. It is your job to foster good relations with these scattered individuals.

- Do Not Suffer Thy People To Tend To Thy Sickness
It is better to die with your dignity than it is to be kept alive until you are nothing but a hollow shell. I cannot change the culture surrounding death and dying no matter how much I would wish to, but I don’t think I do. Long ago, I would fight for the individual’s right to choose as the elderly and dying would otherwise be torn to shreds by their fellows, but now, I simply forge the right to choose into writing. Though, one must bear in mind, the Black Spiral Dancers take this tenet much more seriously than the Garou Nation ever has. Are we really worse than them? I don’t think we are. Thus, any abuse of this tenet will be met with severe punishment.

- The Leader May Be Challenged At Any Time During Peace
This remains the same as it ever was. However, do not ever suffer a tyrant. Should he be too powerful to defeat in battle, seek to humiliate him.

- The Leader May Not Be Challenged During Wartime
As before. Do not question a leader when the forces of the Wyrm stand at your horizons, unless they have been proven to be unfit to lead.

- Ye Shall Take No Action That Causes A Caern To Be Violated
You might face the Teeth. You might be turned to silver from the inside out. Or, depending on the severity of your action, you may find yourself brought to tribunal before me. The Dragon Queen. And you don’t want to know how I plan on punishing this heinous act.