Patron Spirits are spirits, usually Incarnae, who offer to grant boons to followers in the material world in exchange for adhering to their bans and agendas. The term 'Patron Spirit' is typically used to refer to those spirits who offer their patronage to entire tribes of Garou, but other Patron Spirits exist who grant boons to non-Garou organizations (such as Fly to the Pentex Group), or who offer support to individuals or smaller groups, as is the case with Pack Patrons (Not to be confused with the less formal Guiding Spirits[1]) and the patrons of individual caerns. These smaller-scale patronages are the most likely to involve a Patron Spirit below Incarnae in the spirit hierarchy.
(The equivalents of Patron Spirits in older editions are totem spirits.)
Overview[]
Patron Spirits are generally the Incarnae most likely to interact with the material world, directly or otherwise. While this makes most of them sympathetic to the plight of the world in the Era of Apocalypse (Or they at the very least have a vested interest in its fate, as with Griffin), others are sworn to the cause of the Wyrm and seek to promote the Apocalypse wherever they can.
The 14 Patron Spirits of the Garou tribes are how those tribes are defined: The only thing that every member of a tribe can truly be said to have in common is that they are all sworn to the same spirit. Everything else simply stems from that relationship and what the spirit expects of its followers.
Favors and Bans[]
Favor and Ban describe the special aptitudes and behaviors that, to the Garou perspective, come as a result of a Patron Spirit’s support. Favor and Ban are systemic expressions of those values that relate directly to the tribe’s Patron Spirit — they’re the ways the Garou define their relationship to Gaia, by aligning themselves with the powerful spirits in her service. Favor and Ban are critical to defining what it means to be a Garou, a member of a tribe, and not just a slavering flesh-hungry monster.
A Favor is a particular aptitude that a Patron Spirit bestows upon its followers, usually when accomplishing some goal that the spirit finds pleasing or worth encouraging the pursuit of.
A Ban is a particular restriction that a Patron Spirit imposes on its followers, usually something counter to its goals or worldview. Garou who violate their Patron's Ban must provide taxing compensation and placation in order to remain in the Patron's good graces.
Additionally, having a Patron Spirit is a quick and easy way to persuade spirits who hold that Patron in high regard or who are subservient to it to teach the patronized Garou their Gifts, though chiminage is still often required to seal the deal.
Gaining patronage[]
Tribal Patrons accept prospective members into their fold when they are brought to their attention by existing tribe members, usually through the Rite of Passage or sometimes a particular Legendary Rite.[1] Although this can be a momentous occasion for the Garou in question, paying attention to the process is usually of a low priority to the Patron Spirit, and admission is quite likely so long as the prospective follower doesn't make an abysmal first impression.
Patronage can also be granted outside of this context via the Rite of Patronage. This Rite is used to solidify the accord between a Patron Spirit and a pack, or to convince a spirit to grant its favor to a caern or other sacred site. By performing the Rite, werewolves adopt a pack Patron, chosen from among the Patron Spirits of the pack’s member tribes. Some packs regularly rotate their pack Patron in lockstep with a similarly rotating title as leader. Others have a more pragmatic approach, beseeching the aid of the Patron Spirit most useful for their current task.
Patron Spirits not associated with individual tribes can also offer their favor in such regards, should a pack seek such specific outside aid, though these spirits are often harder to approach and beseech. Such a choice almost certainly involves a journey to find and court the spirit, and perhaps some proof of competency.
List of Patron Spirits[]
Tribal Patrons[]
- Bat (Black Spiral Dancers)
- Gorgon (Black Furies)
- Falcon (Silver Fangs)
- Griffin (Red Talons)
- Horned Serpent (Ghost Council)
- North Wind (Galestalkers)
- Owl (Silent Striders)
- Rat (Bone Gnawers)
- Spider (Glass Walkers)
- Stag (Hart Wardens)
- Thunder (Shadow Lords)
- Unicorn (Children of Gaia)
- Wolf (Cult of Fenris)
Other Patron Spirits[]
- Chimera (Stargazers, formerly)
- Cockroach (Glass Walkers, formerly)
- Fly (Pentex Group)
- Lion (White Howlers)
Minor Patrons[]
Trivia[]
- The use of the term "Patron" and "Patronage" goes all the way back to First Edition, and comes from each Spirit having a Patron that it owes its existence to.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 WTA: Shattered Nation
- ↑ WTA: Werewolf: the Apocalypse Rulebook, p. 145