Silver Fangs

Name:	Silver Fang
Plural:	Silver Fangs
Pronunciation:	sihl'-vur fangz'
Nicknames:
Totem:	Falcon
Faction:	Garou Nation

Rage card depicting a Silver Fang with an inbred disorder.

The "Alpha Tribe" of the Garou Nation, the Silver Fangs are traditional rulers and war leaders. These noble Garou are known for their physical beauty, courage, and honor. Sadly, many younger members of the tribe suffer from odd quirks -- absent-mindedness, mild hallucinations, somnambulism -- nothing overtly psychotic, but noticeable nevertheless. The powerful history of the tribe lays a heavy burden on the shoulders of its members, and many are too proud to ask for help. The plight of the Silver Fangs epitomizes the tragedy of the Garou in general. Although proud and outwardly strong, the Fangs suffer from diseases of the spirit and mind. Inbreeding and harano have weakened the foundation of the tribe, and although they strive to set things right, it may already be too late.

History

As with many tribal histories, it is difficult to separate fact from myth. Silver Fang myths give many different reasons for their ascendancy over the other tribes, some saying that Wolf himself rescued Gaia from death and was rewarded by their signature ivory coat, and others saying that Gaia, after creating the first Garou, designated the leaders with the white coat. It is known that Russia's Sept of the Crescent Moon, ostensibly the oldest caern in existence, was raised by Silver Fang Theurges and that it has been in existence for millennia. It is also known that the Silver Fangs tend to consider Russia their traditional homeland, and that they were involved with their royal and noble families since the days of Novgorod and Kiev Rus.

The Silver Fangs were active in human politics many centuries before that, though, having learnt of kingship and heredity from them millennia before. They were present in the royal families of Rome and proto-Europe, often battling vampires for control of nations and the Glass Walkers for dominance of the cities. As the centuries passed, they and their Kinfolk married into Europe's royal and noble houses, guaranteeing their tribe a ready position to work at turning kingdoms and empires to their desires.

According to Nagah, the War of Rage was instigated by a Silver Fang, Konstantos the Savage, who had been manipulated by Vinata, a corrupt Nagah.

Dark Ages

When Rome finally fell after turning into a melting pot for the worst of Weaver and Wyrm, the Silver Fangs prospered in the disparate nature of the remnants of civilization, using the isolated nature of fiefs and villages to impose their custody upon them, fueling feuds between lords to keep them distrustful from each other and unable to attend the needs of their citizens so that they would not despoil Gaia's treasures. The rise of the Church and its concentration on solely human affairs, as well as the rise of the mercantile class that began to amass enough wealth to compete with kings, severly weakend the hold of the Silver Fangs over mortal society.

Victorian Age

Following the discovery of the Pure Lands, many Silver Fangs headed over the Atlantic, eager to claim the New World for the Garou Nation. Struggles with the native tribes continued, but died down after the Storm Eater rose and the Tribes had to work together. The Silver Fangs were divided over the American Revolution, and began polarizing into American and European camps. Following the deterioriation of monarchy after the Enlightenment, many Silver Fangs turned from outright leadership of mortals to the oligarchic lineages that influenced occurences from behind the scenes.

The European camp would polarize itself in the 19th century; it is rumored that the Crimean War was instigated by rival Silver Fang houses. And while the Silver Fangs squabbled amongst themselves, their "subject" tribes began stretching their wings, and expanding beyond their niches. To be sure, there were notable Silver Fangs during this time period, such as American Theurge Isaiah Morningkill, who were more concerned with getting the job done than standing on tradition, but the tribe as a whole was slowly ossifying, and the only ones who didn't know it were them.

Modern Age

The 20th century seemed to be the final chapter for the Silver Fangs' traditional leadership of the Garou Nation. The English Silver Fang house of Austere Howl was plagued by Wyrm cultists among its Kinfolk, the Russian house of Crescent Moon took multiple hard hits from the overthrow of the royal family and the Communist rule, the Asian house of Blood Red Crest became plagued by low birth rates, and the American house of Wyrmfoe was, for decades, ruled by a king who grew more paranoid and insane each day. The other tribes were perfectly willing to go their own way, and the Shadow Lords were eager and poised to leap into the leadership vacuum. Then, during the 1990s, things changed a little. Two young and stubborn leaders came to the fore, and have thus far proven to be exactly what the tribe needs to keep from slipping into stagnation.

Baba Yaga, the powerful vampire that once plagued Russia, made a comeback, and brought the powerful Zmei with her. The Russian Silver Fangs were at the forefront of that war, rallying the other tribes and fighting as if heroes of old, despite taking horrid losses and the treason of one of their most respected war leaders. The war ended with the Russian Garou victorious, a young and strong-minded queen on the Crescent Moon throne, and a newly-reinvigorated group of Russian Silver Fangs. That queen is Tamara Tvarivich, descendant of the greatest Russian Silver Fang heroes and a master Theurge who fought on the war's front lines even after her uncle, the house leader, was slain.

In America, the paranoid and insane King Jacob Morningkill of House Wyrmfoe was killed by Lord Arkady Iceclaw, a famed Russian Silver Fang and secret Wyrm agent, who plotted to assume the throne himself. His plot was thwarted by Jonas Albrecht, exiled great grandson of Jacob Morningkill, whose years of exile among the "common" tribes had taught him humility and toughness. With the aid of his packmates, Albrecht recovered the lost Silver Crown, the tribe's greatest fetish, and used it to oust Arkady from the Oak Throne. Since his ascension, he has been a hands-on leader, and more interested in getting things done and restoring his tribe's respect among the other tribes than standing on ceremony.

Organization

Originally, the Tribe was divided in 13 Houses that formed back in the Russian Tundra. In the Modern Nights, however, only seven remained. Each Silver Fangs belongs to one of the remaining Houses, most join one of the two lodges after they have completed their Rite of Passage. Each House is headed by a King, who in turn answeres to the High King. each King is served by various Lords, who are usually Elders in their own right, and stewards, who aid them coordianting Packs in their territory.

Lodges

• Sun Lodge, who is tied to Helios and is concerned with worldly matters
• Moon Lodge, who is tied to Luna and is concerned with spiritual affairs

Houses

• Clan Crescent Moon - The oldest and most prestigious house, located in Russia.
• House Wyrmfoe - The youngest house and appropriately the most brash, located in the north-eastern USA.
• House Gleaming Eye - Internal police for the Sliver Fangs, they hunt those who have been corrupted by the Wyrm.
• House Blood Red Crest - In Southeast Asia however in decline due to drastically low births.
• House Wise Heart - Eastern mystics.
• House Unbreakable Hearth - Ambassadors and emissaries for the Sliver Fangs they are often the middlemen between the tribe and the rest of the Garou nation, located in Canada and the Midwestern United States.
• House Austere Howl - A house in reclusion, said to be tainted by the Wyrm by House Gleaming Eye because along the way they shared Kinfolk with the Picts (traditional White Howler/BSD kin). Their Queen and Court has found sanctuary at the Sept of Tri-Spiral the Fianna Tribal Caern.

Camps

Even royalty has factions, and the Silver Fangs are no exception. While mostly united in their desire to remain "top dogs", the tribe is divided on how to go about it. The following camps are the most polarized factions within the Silver Fangs:

• Royalists - The tribe's traditionalists, the Royalists wish to return the "good old days" where all other tribes bent the knee to the Silver Fangs. For obvious reasons, the Royalists do not get along well with the Renewalists.
• Renewalists - Home to the tribe's "young Turks", the Renewalists advocate the integration of new ideas and, perhaps, new blood into the tribe, to stave off stagnation. For obvious reasons, the Renewalists do not get along well with the Royalists.
• Ivory Priesthood - Less a faction than the tribe's self-appointed arcane researchers, the Ivory Priests research the secrets of death and life.
• Grey Raptors - Perhaps best described as an extremist sect of the Royalists, the Grey Raptors take it upon themselves to deal judgment upon those who defy the Silver Fangs.
• Masters of the Seal - The tribe's most secret camp, the Masters of the Seal are thieves, dispatched to steal the most damaging and most useful secrets from the other tribes.

Tribal Culture

The Silver Fangs put a strong emphasis on family and are heavily dominated by homids, believing that only those can properly wield power that are raised near to it and have the necessary noblesse oblige. To this end, they disdain any signs of impure breeding and even go so far to chose the mates for their Kinfolk in order to maintain blood purity. Their overprotectiveness of their Kinfolk may have contributed to their inbredness and the madness that plagues the tribe. The tribe also puts heavy emphasis on tradition and tribal history, each House possesses it own distinct customs that express themselves in the various ceremonies that formalize ways to get things done.

Caerns

• Aral Sea Caern (Russia)
• Sept of the Crescent Moon (Russia)

Political Culture

Although the tribe (according to their own legends) has the divine mandate to rule their brethren, many Silver Fangs have found out that their attitudes are met with ridicule and scorn by the other tribes. As such, the Tribe is forced to rely on realpolitik, managing to preserve whatever influence is left to them in the modern world and forging alliances with the other tribes to secure themselves against rivals like the Shadow Lords.

Religious Culture

The Silver Fangs have ties to both Celestines, as their Totem ties them to Helios and the nature to Luna. They constantly have to mediate between both extremes in order to find equilibrium and to rule true.

Individual Silver Fangs

Ancient

• Konstantos the Savage
• Petros the Unyielding

Dark Ages

• Masha Bitter-Wine
• John Fitzwilliam
• Foma
• Georges of Armenai

1200s

• Boris
• Sophia Tvarivich
• Yuri Tvarivich
• Utra
• Vassili

Late 1700s

• Earl Blaze
• Greymane Sleekfur

1800s

• Isaiah Morningkill

Modern

• Montgomery Abercorn
• Jonas Albrecht
• Arkady
• Kolya Blood-of-Iron
• Loba Carcassone
• Chases-Street-Demons
• Collette Delacourt (died at an unspecified time at the hands of an unknown assailant)
• Crazy Gregor
• Cries-of-Death (former Silver Fang, became a Black Spiral Dancer)
• Grimfang
• Harold Goodston (Abomination)
• Jacob Morningkill
• Roshen One-Arm
• Nicolai Predatelski
• Danica Rimbaud
• Vasili Shuisky
• Sings-for-the-Beast
• Darius Winchester

Individual Silver Fang Kinfolk

• Princess Anastasia
• Dmitriy I
• Ivan III
• Kenneth McAlpin
• Vasili II
• Felix Yusupov

Timeline

• 2000 BCE: Though the exact date is unknown, this is a likely time period for the first War of Rage. It begins because Vinata, a corrupted Nagah, slays Petros the Unyielding, a Silver Fang Ahroun who was carrying a message to Konstantos the Savage of the Silver Fangs to the west to stop harassing the other Fera. Konstantos blames a Bubasti for it, and kills him. Konstatos then demands that the Gurahl resurrect Petros, but the Gurahl refuse, believing that the Nagah acted properly, and the Garou frenzy and attack. The surviving Guhrahl of the attack beg sanctuary from the Grondr. The Gurahl and Grondr attack the Garou in retaliation, and the conflict spins out of control. Apis and Grondr become extinct. Fianna wipe out the Nagah in Ireland and kill every single snake there. Bastet are decimated. The Gurahl Gift of Prophetic Vision saves some Gurahl, although some misinterpret or ignore the warnings that it gives. Gurahl create the Rite of the Ban to protect themselves against inadvertently giving information to their enemies.

• 980 C.E.: Vladimir I wins the throne of Russia with the help of the Varangians. Warders of Men appear in Kiev during this period.

• 988 C.E.: Vladimir I converts to Christianity in and quickly established Christianity in Russia which opened the way for Tzimisce, Shadow Lords, and Ventrue from Europe. The church flourished despite Garou efforts, and as Vladimir was a Get of Fenris Kinfolk the Silver Fangs blamed the Get for the new church.

• 1169 - Irish Fianna and Silver Fangs reach an accord as to Ireland itself; the Silver Fangs swear that they shall take no caerns in Ireland, and in return the Fianna would stay out of the way of the Silver Fangs' Norman Kinfolk.

• 1240: The mighty Silver Fang heroes, the twins Yuri Tvarivich and Sophia Tvarivich lead a number of werewolves against the Zmei Sharkala the Cruel, including five Silver Fangs – Georges of Armenai, Boris, Foma, Vassili, and Utra. They were also accompanied by Pyotor, he of the Glass Walkers; Ulu, he of the Stargazers; the Bone Gnawer Igor Valkof; Mehmet, he of the Silent Striders; Katja, she of the Black Furies, and the Get of Fenris hero Ragnor. Utra, Ragnor, Boris, and Katja all died in the battle, as did Sophia, and Yuri was crushed by Sharkala as he delivered the final blow.

• 1425: Czar Vasili II, a Silver Fang Kinfolk, ascends to the throne of Russia.

• 1462: Czar Vasili II, a Silver Fang Kinfolk, dies. Czar Ivan III, also a Silver Fang kinfolk, ascends to the throne of Russia.

• 1600s: A Wendigo caern in the Adirondacks is seized by Silver Fangs and becomes the seat of House Wyrmfoe.

• 1604: Samuel Chaplain founds Acadia in Nova Scotia. Some Canadian Silver Fangs later claim that their ancestors arrived in Canada at this time, but the other tribes doubt this.

• July 19, 1610: Silver Fang Czar Vasili IV is deposed from the throne of Russia.

• May 1787: England's First Fleet sets sail from Portsmouth for Australia; some Garou sneak aboard, including Silver Fangs, Bone Gnawers, and possibly some Fianna.

• January 1788: England's First Fleet arrives first in Botany Bay, and then discovers Sydney's Cove, at which they found Sydney town on January 26th. Some Garou (secretly, of course) accompanied the voyage (mostly Silver Fangs and Bone Gnawers, possibly Fianna as well), and so this is the first known presence of non-Bunyip Garou in Australia. When it was established that the Bunyip existed in Australia, much to the surprise of the rest of the Garou, King Earl Blaze declared them agents of the Wyrm due to their refusal of all attempts at contact. Raymond Hawkins was exiled when he objected to this. See the article Earl Blaze for more detailed information.

• 1798: During the Castle Hill uprising (which involved some Fianna Kinfolk), a pack of Fianna, let by Bridget of the Flashing-Eyes go to King Earl Blaze of the Silver Fangs to air their grievances; they are attacked by members of King Blaze's court, but manage to kill the king himself before they die. Greymane Sleekfur will succeed Blaze as king of the Silver Fangs in Australia.

• 1860s: Silver Fangs begin moving into Wadbilliga, Australia in force.

• June 8, 1908: Tunguska event takes place in Siberia. This occurred because the Zmei Trevero broke free from the Rite of Draconic Binding, and the resulting battle with Uktena, Silver Fangs, and a mage resulted in the explosion. The Zmei was eventually rebound. A completely alternate explanation for this event comes from Mage: the Ascension canon: the explosion was caused by Void Engineers crew trying to investigate curious alien ship, dubbed ‘The Vivo’ by them, and accidentally causing it to generate miniature black hole.

• 1916: Felix Yusupov, a Silver Fang Kinfolk, (allegedly) kills Rasputin on December 29. Various canon books describe Rasputin as being a member of several different vampire clans, a Shadow Lord, an Ecstatic, and a Puppeteer. The truth remains murky. See the Rasputin article for full information.

• 1917: Silver Fangs and other aristocratic clans move to stop the impending revolution in Russia, but their methods prove unable to stop what has begun, especially since the revolution proves to be backed by a number of forces, including Brujah and Bone Gnawers. Minions of the Wyrm take advantage of the chaos to launch attacks against the Garou; the Silver Fangs rally the divided tribes together to make a series of counterattacks, but it ends in failure when they encountered the Zmei Shazear while raiding a Black Spiral Dancer caern at the behest of the Children of Gaia. The carnage will weaken the Garou of Russia literally for years, and also cast doubt on the leadership abilities of the Silver Fangs. The failure may also have sown a seed of resentment in the Silver Fangs toward the Children of Gaia.Agents of the Wyrm end up in control of Russia's government.

• July 17, 1918: Silver Fang kinfolk Princess Anastasia escapes execution by the Bolsheviks when Silver Fangs escort her out of Russia via moon-bridge.

• 1949: Kolya Blood-of-Iron of the Silver Fangs is born in Saint Petersburg; he will eventually become a mighty warrior and Master of the Rite.

• August 29, 1949: The Soviet Union detonates an atomic bomb in Kazakhstan, horrifying the native Garou. Overcome with Rage, the Red Talons blame the Children of Gaia (who had been trying to foil the nuclear efforts through subtle and political means, and obviously failed) and turn on them. The Silver Fangs do nothing to stop the bloody designs of Griffin's tribe, perhaps still bitter over the poor advice of the Children of Gaia in the battle of 1917 that led to defeat at the talons of the Zmei Shazear. The Children of Gaia will suffer grave casualties and will be forced to go into hiding; officially they are in exile from this point onward. (Note: The massacre of Children of Gaia may have taken some time to gain steam; refer to year 1956 for another potential date when this all occurred.)

• 1994: Arkady, a Silver Fang, escapes Russia to seek aid from House Wyrmfoe. He was denied.

• 1995: Russian Wendigo leader Blood-on-the-Wind is slain on his way to an embassy to the House of the Crescent Moon. The Wendigo refuse to have anything to do with the Silver Fangs and the other Garou of Russia from then on.

• 1995: Late this year, the Silver Fangs and their allies manage to build a foundation for survival and a counter-offensive in Russia. Piotr Volk obsesses over the Firebird Crystal, and is overcome by its power when his niece Tamara Tvarivich manages to secure it, and is reduced to a comatose state. His niece is forced to step up to the role of leadership.

• 1996: Kolya Blood-of-Iron is badly wounded defended in the Aral Sea Caern from attack.

• October, 1997: In late October Baba Yaga's forces attack the Sept of the Crystal Mind (of the Stargazers) and the Aral Sea Caern (House Wise Heart, Silver Fangs). By the end of the month every single member of the Silver Fang sept had been destroyed, ending the line of House Wise Heart Silver Fangs in Russia. The Stargazer caern barely survives through guerrilla tactics. At the same time, the hag sends forces into Siberia to deal with the Wendigo who had fought her back in early 1995.