Moot

Werewolves gather regularly in moots, events that serve a variety of social, political, and religious functions. These gatherings are part of what makes them Garou, communal creatures dedicated to common causes and sacred responsibilities.

Overview[]

The moot is one of the best-loved cultural institutions among the Garou. Although no tradition is universal among the werewolves, not even this one, it occurs in one shape or another across a vast variety of septs. The moot is a ritual celebration and a meeting of different packs, septs and individual Garou to decide upon urgent matters, reaffirm the caern’s ties to the Umbra, settle disputes and challenges, perform Rites, as well as share stories and drinks over an open fire.

For cliath, these gatherings are vital. When a pack returns from one of its adventures, one among them should tell the events that occurred at the next moot. The various werewolves in the pack can then earn renown. By contrast, Garou who avoid moots regularly are viewed with suspicion, often because of their unwillingness to aid their own kind.

Moots are held at caerns whenever possible, and powerful spirits are often summoned as part of the proceedings. Theurges perform great rites, Philodox attend to protocol and the "business" aspects of the gathering, Galliards organize the social and storytelling events, and Ahroun see to the defense of the assembly. Werewolves debate policies, discuss plans, send heroes off to perform great tasks, celebrate heroes who have returned triumphant, and revile criminals who violate the Litany. Matters are handled with decorum and weighed by the sept as a whole. When matters become too grim, Ragabash satirize foolish decisions, jape at pretentious elders, and taunt those who take themselves far too seriously. The most powerful moon bridges are opened during this time. Most importantly, the spiritual energy expended keeps the caern alive, for as the Garou prosper, so do the sacred sites they attend.

Roles[]

There’s a lot of local variation in what kind of roles appear at moots. The ones that aren't already filled full-time at the sept are often assigned by the Ringmaster for that moot only, but sometimes they’re performed by whoever happens to accept the job. Many Ringmasters have discovered that even among the Renown-hungry Garou, the prospect of having to actually do the job makes many aspirants vanish.

Ringmaster (alternate titles: 'Master of the Moot' and 'moot organizer'): The Garou who organizes the moot. If there’s money to be made on the moot, the Ringmaster pockets it, and they also assign other roles, or at least try to. The Ringmaster is often a well-known local Garou elder, but at the time of the Apocalypse, almost any Garou can step in and call a moot if the circumstances are right.
Caller of the Wyld: A role often related to specific, unusually important Rites which seek to strengthen the connection of the Garou to the Wyld.
Fool: A role typically given to a ragabash whose task it is to ridicule and question other Garou at the moot, especially powerful ones. Also sometimes known as the Defier, the Devil’s Advocate, the Challenger of Tradition, the Mocker, or the Satirist.
Master of the Howl: The Garou who initiates and leads shared howls.
Master of Challenges: If challenges are a big part of the local moot culture, there can be a Master of Challenges who’s task is to oversee them and make sure everyone plays fair.
Rite Master: Particularly larger moots may have a single Rite Master or even several whose task is to keep Rites running and make sure they’re performed in the appropriate way.
Truthcatcher: A serious political role, the purpose of which is to lead arbitrations and discussions of a more formal nature. Similar to the chair of a meeting.

Events[]

Opening Howl[]

Once everyone has settled in, changed out of their traveling clothes, or perhaps changed into a different form altogether, it’s time to open the moot. The Ringmaster gathers everyone in the same place, wishes them welcome, explains a few practical matters, and then introduces the Master of the Howl.

The Master of the Howl fills the area with a simple atonal howl to which the others can easily join. The pitch is soon raised or lowered, rhythm is added, and eventually, unearthly atonal modulations fill the area, echoed by dozens of Garou voices. Apart from beauty, the Howl has meaning. The Master of the Howl sings of past events, the history of the caern, and the spirits they must thank. The participants introduce each other, their voices rising one by one above the others in the order of hierarchy, until the lowest newcomer has had their chance. Then, the Master of the Howl sings of the reason for the moot and perhaps potential outcomes or portents for the future.

After this, the voices rise to a wolf-like pitch, many singers even changing into lupus form, until one by one, the Garou grow silent. The moot has been opened.

Inner Sky[]

An almost mandatory element in moots held at caerns is known as the Inner Sky, where the connection to local spirits and the Umbra is renewed. The Caller of the Wyld usually leads the participants in the Rite of the Living Caern. When a moot is only for the sept members, this is the most common reason to have it in the first place and will happen on a monthly basis, perhaps on the first day of the full moon or the second Monday of each month. Foregoing this Rite can cause the caern to decay and attract unwanted spirits.

Sometimes, the Inner Sky is a mere formality at the start of each moot, but it can also be a grand ritual, depending on the wishes of the Ringmaster.

Cracking the Bone[]

One of the key reasons to call a moot is to discuss some topical matter and make a ruling on it. This is called Cracking the Bone because it’s difficult, but the hard layer conceals the sweet marrow of truth or justice. The Truthcatcher oversees this part of the moot. If there is no Truthcatcher, sometimes the same role is performed simply by a sept leader. At smaller moots, this may be a fairly quick procedure where only one or two matters are decided upon. At larger moots, a game of political intrigue, bribery, blackmail, threats, and barter revolves around the various decisions, and several figures may try to sway the Truthcatcher to choose a method of arbitration favorable to them.

At many septs, this is when policy is decided upon, grievances are aired and settled, personal conduct is addressed, and judgments are pronounced. Even when the sept is led by a single individual, they may wish to open a subject up for discussion at a moot to gain broader acceptance for whatever decision comes out of the process. The Truthcatcher calls for all Garou to speak their mind on these matters, but a single elder may represent a whole sept or tribe at larger moots. (A younger member speaking against their elder risks losing face.) A decision is then made in a manner decided by the Truthcatcher. The ruling of the moot cannot be disputed, even if it would seem unfair to some.

Typical ways of arbitration include asking the spirits to guide or decide, choosing a judge (usually a pack leader, elder, or the Truthcatcher themself), a formal challenge, or the whole moot raising their voices in howls for first one party and then the other.

Rites[]

Most moots feature a series of Social Rites performed over their course, with the precise schedule usually determined in response to recent events.

Challenges[]

Main article: Challenge (WTA)

Various challenges between werewolves are common events at any Garou gathering. They can range from deadly duels to friendly competitions. They often include a performative element, and dance contests, storytelling competitions, or tests of strength can be part of the moot’s entertainment rather than challenges of deadly seriousness.

Just as often, the challenges can be formal judicial events used to resolve minor crimes and disputes that do not violate the Litany. The conflicting parties engage in a challenge where the defending party chooses the type of contest. The loser may be ordered to perform restitution to the victor, but usually, basking in the glory of victory is enough.

Stories & Songs[]

Stories are told around the campfire, jokes are shared in the line for dinner, ballads are sung under the moon, important news revealed on the podium, and gossip whispered in the forest. Moots are a great place to trade knowledge and lore, with most of it happening informally. Tales can also be told in flyting competitions and news shared at opening or closing howls, but this is just a fraction of all the storytelling that happens at moots. Some moot participants may record these stories for their podcasts or social media channels or simply to preserve an important part of Garou culture. Sometimes, such efforts may lead to censure because they endanger the Veil.

Silent Striders are known to occasionally organize moots focused completely on storytelling. These narrative moots are for epic tales of the past and cautionary moral fables but also for boisterous, rollicking tall tales told simply for the pleasure of it. One Silent Strider begins their story with, “I realize you might find this hard believe, but it’s absolutely true,” and the next Garou continues, building on the yarn and attempting to surpass the previous speakers. Eventually, the entire moot is roaring with hysterical laughter.

Parties & Feasts[]

A moot is more than an excuse to party, but a moot with no party feels cold indeed. Parties can range from sharing a beer and listening to rock on the radio after an energetic howl to dancing the night away in various physical forms as the hottest Garou DJs lay down their beats. Some Ringmasters are known for their well-planned parties or delicious feasts, while others prefer to let the participants organize their own. What precedes the party is vital in determining the nature of the party itself. The party after a fertility ritual may be a beautiful orgy. The party at a war moot will be frenzied and aggressive. The elders’ moot features classic hits all the way from the '80s as the grizzled elder Garou try to relive their youth.

Food at moots can be just pizzas ordered online or spaghetti made by the Ringmaster’s packmate, or it can be an important cultural feature in itself. Many feasts involve roasting recently hunted game over an open fire — or ripping raw flesh right off the carcass. Moots hosted by hard-line Galestalkers or Red Talons can require that the guest hunt their own prey and eat it raw, while feasts offered by urbane Glass Walkers or Children of Gaia might provide a full selection of beers, wines, non-alcoholic drinks, bread, cheeses, salads, sauces, fruit, cakes, ice cream, hookahs, and digestifs, with dietary preferences taken into consideration, be they halal, FODMAP, kosher, low carb, or vegan.

Legendary Rites[]

Main article: Legendary Rites

The climax of a moot usually features either the performance of a Legendary Rite or a Revel (see below), but the largest multi-day moots typically feature both.

Revel[]

The greatest moots typically end with a revel, in which Garou transform into Crinos form and run madly about the area to clear away anything that may pose a threat. This rampage is often so strenuous than some elders fall behind the cubs and cliath, or even die trying to keep up the pace. Packs do not always run together during a revel. Instead, most of the sept begins the run as one, then fragments into smaller groups as the night proceeds. Individual werewolves may work themselves into a frenzy, possibly becoming a danger to themselves and others — the revel is not performed without risk. Most run themselves to exhaustion. The staunchest and strongest Garou continue until dawn, immediately gaining renown for their great stamina and fervour.

The revel is not performed every time the sept gathers, but is instead reserved for special occasions. Urban caerns begin it with great trepidation, fearing that cliath swept up in the moment may destroy portions of the caern others have pledged to protect. An urban sept may find other ways to unleash this chaos and frenzy at the end of their moots. Martial tribes like the Get of Fenris and Red Talons are shocked to hear about tribal moots ending in (what they consider) sad substitutes for a traditional revel. Examples of modern revels include Fianna pub-crawls, Bone Gnawer feasts, Glass Walker "fragfests" on networked computers, and Uktena drumming circles.

Closing Howl[]

Everyone is exhausted after the Revel, and the event ends at noon the following day at bigger moots. But at smaller ones, the tired Ringmaster and Master of the Howl will do a quick ending ceremony just after the Revel. Whether big or small, the Closing Howl is conducted by the Master of the Howl with the Ringmaster and is a simple Rite closing the mythical and official parts of the moot. Some Rites may still be performed during it. After that, the Ringmaster may give practical advice on when the bus leaves, what time to check out of the hostel, where the lost-and-found is, and when and where the next moot is. Moots may be mystical events attended by supernatural predators, but they still require practical organizing. The Ringmaster may also introduce any volunteers in charge of decoration, food, and so on so the participants can howl their thanks.

One of the older participants often also decides to thank the Ringmaster and the other key personnel, and there’ll be an even louder howl in their honor. Assuming everything went well, that is. If things went badly, the moot may instead end with recriminations, protests and even challenges. The Ringmaster is often blamed for everything, even things outside their control.

Eventually, the Garou exchange contact information, hug their old friends, pack their belongings, and begin to head home, feeling tired but filled with purpose and a sense of connection.

Types of Moots[]

Hearings, where a pack has the possibility to report to Elders about their adventures and gain renown

Sept moots, that are often held every month, usually during the full moon. Although only necessary in order to perform the Inner Sky, most sept moots have a large number of ancillary activities as well. This meeting is more than a simple voicing of complaints; it often resolves with a raucous celebration that no cliath would dare miss.

Grand Moots, in which things are discussed that are very important for

Tribal moots, in which Tribe matters are discussed

Concolations, where decisions of extreme importance for the whole of the Garou Nation are made and which are extremely rare.

Werewolves of specific auspices, packs, caerns, septs, religions, ideologies, and orientations are also known hold their own, considerably smaller moots.

Gallery[]

References[]

WTA: Werewolf Players Guide, p. 99-103
WTA: Werewolf Players Guide Second Edition, p. 92-97, 100
WTA: Players Guide to Garou, p. 115-121
WTA: Shattered Nation, p. 89-104