Garou

Garou is another term used to describe a werewolf. It is most commonly applied to the Werewolf: The Apocalypse roleplaying game system published by White Wolf Publishing. It is the second storytelling system in the "World of Darkness" setting and was created following the popularity of White Wolf's inaugeral project, Vampire: The Masquerade.

The werewolves from Werewolf the Apocalypse are radically different from those seen in other forms of media. They are shape-shifters, but they are not cursed creatures, but rather, beings who are the chosen protectors of Gaia (Mother Earth) and are born to become werewolves through selective breeding. They are the sworn enemies of the Wyrm, which is the metaphysical essence of corruption and manifests itself in different forms such as evil spirits. Garou culture is broken up into thirteen tribes, all of whom have their own unique culture, ideology, heritage and abilities. There have been other tribes as well described in the various supplemental media; those which are either lost, extinct or have been irrevocably corrupted by the Wyrm, such as the White Howlers.

The basic premise of the original 1st and 2nd edition game systems is that the werewolves are dying out, and are struggling against the forces of the Wyrm in order to survive the coming Apocalypse.

The Original 13 Tribes

 * Black Furies
 * Bone Gnawers
 * Children of Gaia
 * Fianna
 * Get of Fenris
 * Glass Walkers
 * Red Talons
 * Shadow Lords
 * Silent Striders
 * Silver Fangs
 * Stargazers
 * Uktena
 * Wendigo

The Lost Tribes

 * Bunyip
 * Croatan
 * Siberakh
 * White Howlers