I am a werewolf hunter...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I am a werewolf hunter.

Let me guess. You're about to say 'but you don't look like a werewolf hunter'.

You're right. I don't. Werewolves hunters are traditionally big with the macho. They are everyone's favourite stereotype. Scars, guns, and a hat is normally expected. I've no idea why the hat, but everyone expects one.

Me? I'm 5'3", like pretty jewellery, and still sleep with a stuffed pig that an ex-boyfriend gave me when I was in college. He's called Pigmond, by the way. Don't laught at his name. He'll get upset.

But anyway, where were we?

Oh, yeah. I don't look much like a werewolf hunter. I mean, how the hell did a nice girl like me get into this anyway? And why would I do that? Werewolves aren't that common, and I know a lot of people think they are kind of on the soft side of supernatural anyway. They aren't vampires, who'll suck you dry or enslave you, mind and soul, as soon as look at you. They aren't demons, or possessed humans, who destroy for the joy of it. No, werewolves are just people who turn into wolves. They want to save the world, some of the more knowledgeable of my acquaintances say.

I nod and smile, and then I open the folder of stories I've got, and I know that that's all bullsh*t. Werewolves are monsters, as much as vampires, as much as demons. They aren't furry eco-warriors. They are killers. I know this. I've seen the scars.

It all started a year ago. A friend of mine was killed. Her name was Shelly, by the way. She was a nice girl. She worked as an administrator, dyed her hair a different colour every six months and was a big fan of blues music. She had just got a new job, working for some kind of government operation. She wasn't able to talk about it a lot, but she was really excited by it. She had a decent pension plan, really good holidays, and proper sick pay. As she'd been temping for eight months before she landed this job, it was a big deal.

She died on her first day.

'But what's that got to do with werewolves?' I hear you say.

Well, it's like this. Shelly wasn't the only one who died that day. Her whole office did. The official reason given was a terrorist attack, but I spoke to her mother just before the funeral. Apparently Shelly's body had been ripped apart. The undertaker had never seen anything like it. There was no chance of an open casket funeral - christ - Shelly's family never even got her head back.

Shelly, my harmless bouncy goth PA friend, died, and I wanted to know why.

I began poking around. I managed to get some statistics on how many people died in that office. It was over eighty. I poked around, and discovered that not one of those people had an open casket funeral or a viewing. That's pretty unusual. I asked questions. I got a lot of dirty looks and requests to shut up, but found out that Shelly wasn't the only one to be ripped apart by claws and teeth.

And that got me hunting.

Since then, I've got a lot of stories. I've sat and watched an old man cry. His wife had her head ripped off while arranging flowers at her local church. It was literally ripped off - as if by some massive force. There were clawmarks on the body, though, and a couple of crazy reports of giant dogs in the area. Nine people were killed in that church. No one was ever charged. One man was arrested, but the charges were mysteriously dropped.

Werewolves aren't just feral forces of nature, you know. They are smart as well.

I've talked to the family of two Catholic priests who were kicked to death, by a girl of amazing strength, who was never charged with anything, but was quietly removed from a hospital by mysterious doctors. They have never been given any answers about what happened to their brother, or to their uncle.
Outside of London, I've sat in a mental ward, and heard the faltering testimony of the squaddie who still maintains, in the face of everything, that he saw his platoon ripped apart by giant monsters - half man, half wolf - during routine exercises. I've also been to Reading, where the rumours in the right places are that the fifteen girls that went missing in the last year may well be the victims of werewolf kidnappings, their bodies twisted from human to wolf, now kept as slaves to be used as breeding stock.

I've seen the survivors. I know what the body count is.

And you know what I think the worst thing is?

The closer I get to them, the more I realise that they don't think they are doing anything wrong. I've managed to track down a couple of people - not actual werewolves, but those who are related to them - and I've heard them talk. The werewolves think they are doing something too important to worry about humans. They have no rules amongst themselves which say that human life matters. Oh, they are big on secrecy - I've had the threats and the dire warnings for even asking questions - but human life doesn't matter to them at all. Even vampires know, on some level, that what they are doing is wrong. I've met a couple of vampires. Most of them didn't chose to be what they are, most of them would rather not drink the blood of the living, but they don't have much choice.

Not werewolves. They chose to fight. They chose to kill. And they don't feel a shred of remorse.

So I won't feel that bad when I take them out as well.

Comments

[kathminchin.livejournal.com]

and somewhere, Lucy winces ...

"I never thought of that bit ..."

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Nine people were killed in that church.

I went to their funerals!

...err... that's not a good thing, right?

I've also been to Reading, where the rumours in the right places are that the fifteen girls that went missing in the last year may well be the victims of werewolf kidnappings, their bodies twisted from human to wolf, now kept as slaves to be used as breeding stock.

But... but Claw of Gaia isn't even in Zeitgeist...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely convinced that either of these responses convinces me that my NPC is totally wrong in her views on the Garou Nation. :p

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

She's not. Katrina would agree with her.

Except about Kira, who doesn't exist :)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Technically Kira is the heir to the Silver Fang king, you know.

Her father may be Nikitinivich, but her mother is a Drake, and she's probably the oldest ahroun in the country other than the King of Austere Howl himself.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I worked that out a year ago, yes :)

The main problem is that she's female. And doesn't exist.

Stellus is Ahroun, and male, but not of the royal lines. Ah well.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Stellus is too old, really. He's lupus, he's in his seventies, and he's mad as toast. That, and he's barely got the purebreed to count as a Silver Fang full stop.

Female isn't impossible to take werewolf positions of power, I think.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I didn't know he was that old.

Mad as toast has never been an obstacle to kingship before, though :)

With the Silver Fangs, I think that females only get positions of power when there really is no-one else. Kind of like the Royal Family.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

Bollocks, the Fangs are all about the family, they don't give a damn about gender. Kings and Queens are both equally valid.

Direct line, pure breed and badassery will win you the throne. Whether or not you need to be Ahroun depends on the ST call, some stuff says yes, others have Theurge kings.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I've always seen the SFs as pretty male-dominated.

Direct line, pure breed and badassery will win you the throne.

Hmmmmmmmm....

<plots>

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

There's nothing in source setting the Fangs as patriarchal, it's just part of the bad press they get. (power mad = patriarchal woman-haters)

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

But for large portions of history, being patriarchal wasn't bad, it was just the way things were. Especially in Russia.

They don't hate women, any more than they hate Galliards or Philodox. It's just that a male Ahroun is the one for the job, just as it takes a male to perpetuate the bloodline.

Katrina's thought processes scare me.

[portilis.livejournal.com]

So...

How does Katrina feel about the idea of being the next ruler?

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

<grins>

But... she's not a man... or an Ahroun. It wouldn't be right.

On the other hand, she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to.

[nadriel.livejournal.com]

Paul would think this idea is just dandy :-)

Randomly...

[adze.livejournal.com]

Is toast particularly mad?

Are spoons, for that matter?

*sigh*

[adze.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling that there'd be nothing I could do about this one, except prove her right...

Re: *sigh*

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

That's coz she does have a valid point.

This entire line of thought on my part, btw, was triggered by you and a couple of other of the garou players explaining to me that the main difference between garou and sabbat were that garou were the good guys, whereas sabbat were bad.

It got me thinking about what garou actually look like from the outside.

Re: *sigh*

[adze.livejournal.com]

Yeah - she isn't wrong. There's not one thing where she's not absolutely right. She just doesn't quite see the bigger picture. It's just that the goal justifies the means.

But, what if they were wrong?

I really like this, though. Especially Pigmond.

It's got me thinking, and there's a post trying to break free in my mind at the minute.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

"Sure a few people die. That sucks. But you want to take time out for trial and punishment for every one of these deaths? Hand the Wyrm its victory on your way out. Sometimes nice humans have to die, they are collateral damage in a war for the world. We're not monsters, we just have a higher purpose. We don't kill for no reason, we kill so you can live. Quit your foul whining and either back off or be considered part of the problem."

- Anonymous Werewolf

"That's terrible. Werewolves are monsters. They kill and maim and destroy for a cult. each of them is inducted into the cult to not only maintain their secrecy but to give them a purpose that stops them from turning on each other. Unfortunately you don't have the power to stop them, only another werewolf can really take one on... though I have heard tales... no, I shouldn't say... Ok, but don't spread this around. I've heard tell that there's a group out there who knows how to take this power from them, the power of werewolves given to those of us with a moral compass, not in the cult. But you wouldn't be interested in that."

- Anonymous kinfolk

"Werewolves? You want some addresses?"

-Anonymous Black Spiral Dancer

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

There no one quite like you, Ben, for getting the werewolf point of view across.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

That's because it is so damn simple.

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

"You know what? One of these days I'd really like to hear one of these supernatural hunters start blaming humanity. People do some really evil stuff completely on their own without any help whatsoever, and you never hear anyone complaining about how Humanity should be wiped out for its crimes. It's totally unjust."
--Tolly, werewolf apologist

"Absolutely. You are completely right - they should be wiped out before they obliterate humanity in an absolute blaze of bloody tooth and claw. I applaud your crusade. In fact - well, is there anything you need? I'm not really field material but I have plenty of funds, and I have a few friends in manufacturing jobs who could probably assist you.. Here's my card; please do give me a call. Only.. perhaps after working hours, hmm?"
--James Grey, businessman

"Oh yeah - there are amoral werewolves. But the moral werewolves are trying to wipe them out! Except for the amoral werewolves who are in charge of the moral werewolves, then it gets complicated..."
--Tolly has a thought

"Really? That's truly shocking. I had no idea... Such a shame that you're so outclassed.. Have you considered ways to raise yourself to their level? I believe I can help you out. No, it's not very pleasant, but few things that are worth it are, hmmm? Here, try it - there's no cost, I promise you."
--Jonathon Black, mysterious figure in the shadows

"Oh, and another thing - hey! Wait, come back!"
--Tolly

"Oh? Yes, they're totally savage but they are really animals, you know? From what I've seen they're just a bit backwards. Mark's trying to reform them, I think. But have you seen them go? They're really impressive - horribly bloody of course, but you have to admire the lines, and their fur has such a range of colour! Brilliant textures.. actually, excuse me, I just want to pursue this whilst I'm still thinking about it.
--Daniel Fletcher, artist

"Oy! I'm not done talking at you yet!"
--Tolly

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I have a few friends in manufacturing jobs who could probably assist you...

Oi!

By the way, I can't remember; has Natasha been offered money to sort out some kind of protective thing for Christian? It affects my priorities :)

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you can communicate with my household if you require an understanding to be met, rather than simply accepting the appropriate raise in my esteem and the positive light that it will place your mistress in.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Natasha would rather accept sufficient money for these items to take a fortnight off work to create some more defences to put her mistress in :)

[nadriel.livejournal.com]

It seems you can take the Corax out of the Tolly, but you can't take the Corax out of the Tolly...

[castorlion.livejournal.com]

That's either a typo, or pretty clever. Wonder which one you'll claim? :-D

[nadriel.livejournal.com]

Given that I spent 5 minutes debating whether to add "Yes, that's exactly what I meant", I'll bid clever :-)

[ksirafai.livejournal.com]

James Grey, businessman

*snorts*

[anysbryd.livejournal.com]

Humans are evil, not quite as bad as the wyrm, but you know, getting there, if a couple of them happen to get in the way, well who am i to stop the killing.

On that note, perhaps we could do some role reversal, and we could sit in helicopers with guns shooting thier families who can do nothing but run.

Give me a reason Humans deserve any kind of mercy?

Anon Lupus.

[portilis.livejournal.com]

Hmm...that reminds me horribly of the intro-text to many of the Laurel K. books!

"Werewolves? What do you mean werewolves? There's all sorts of legends about them, but real? They are an article of mythology built around the fears inspired by the howling of wolves at night..."
Dr. Stephen Jordan (PhD Nordic Theology), a.k.a. Faithful Vengeance

"Dangerous, but noble in their beliefs. Who are you or I to say whether they are correct, for though I lament their killing, what is to say that your beliefs, or my own, are more valid than theirs? They seek an ideal and try to prevent to influx of that they see as evil - how is that different from you or I, even should our methods differ? In time they will find their way, but for now, the very young do not always listen to those with age and wisdom."
Akenheru

"Show me these monsters, creatures of the devil, and with strength granted by God on high shall I strike at them and bring them before his judgement."
Alain de Montpellier, Vatican "Diplomatic" Representative



...and deep beneath the ancient homelands, an ancient god's dreams are disturbed...

A flash of light in the water deep underground as three figures, man yet more than man, leap out towards the one through whose eyes he sees. They swim closer with such speed, velocity of motion that reminds the sleeper of time awake, of a city long forgotten to all but a few, where beings of power unimaginable ruled over the slaves, the children of Abel.

A searing pain as a shaft of brightest light, a spear of his brother's power, pierces the side of the one through which he sees. A sword strikes at him, piercing his defenses, such as has not happened in a thousand years. Claws rake across his cheek, and he draws forth his will, releasing it at the spear-bearer. To his shock, the power fades to no effect, and he feels pain as his next attempt , against the woman bearing the blade, shatters against a shield of faith.

He calls out to his god, screaming in agony as they strike again and again, knowing that he has not faced such foes as these in millenia, and that alone he will loose.

A glittering strand of darkness comes to his mind, and he realises that his call has been answered, but not how he would have wished, as his knowledge is drained from him.

His god will not save him, for with every death he can draw power. The ancient foe is torn down and scattered, and with his absence darkness can claim the power of it's own.

Finally, as the sword pierces his heart and he slips towards death, he laughs. He sees the halo of power as a fourth figure, a figure not of this world, but known to him anyway, approaches. He may be lost and he may face torment, but his god, the god who left him to die, would not gain power, would not gain strength from his death.

Blackness. Emptiness.

Three sparks, once strong, now fallen and irretriveable.

Not to his ancient foe, but to others, those with whom he sought no quarrel.

They would pay...


...as he stirs in his nightmarish anger, beings long forgotten gain awareness and strength, seeing the beacon of their deity and following it to his realm.

[anonymous-james.livejournal.com]

to jump on the bandwagon somewhat...

"Werewolves? Wow you must be on some good shit man, rock on!" *starts humming 'Of Wolf and Man' (Metallica)
Allan Green, Drummer - Turbulent Days.

"Werewolves eh? Yes I'm sure they probably do exist, I've heard things about them, I wouldn't mess with them if I were you. Sure they may cause problems, but which terrorist movement doesn't? All the better to leave well alone, especially a pretty young thing like you, hmm?"
Dr Johnathan Frazier, Professor of Physics, UCL. aka Aldrick Buttington-Page.

[wraithwitch.livejournal.com]

The werewolf hunter is right - as far as it goes. But she has uncovered the smallest corner of the picture and believes she can see it all.

Saying werewolves are the good guys (generally speaking) in WoD doesn't mean they don't cause damage and doesn't mean they aren't bastards. They do and they are, even the most pacifistic Child of Gaia knows that.

Vampires can choose humanity. They can exist without killing and without causing undue damage. It's hard work, but possible - several factions within their society will even help them do it.

Werewolves cannot choose humanity. They are created as warriors for the spirit of the world: their brains are hardwired to hear the song of the spirits and channel their righteous anger. Perhaps one in each caern can get away with being the chaplain instead of the squaddie - someone who never raises a hand in violence. But the others can't.

Garou are the teeth of the world - a world that has been battered and twisted over the centuries until it's at point break. Individual humans in WoD deserve justice and mercy, but humanity as a whole does not... and, well, Gaia was never very good at finesse of subtlety, was she?

Dazzle the bitch and let her feel what the wolves feel. Then ask her if she still thinks the garou cause to be unjust. If she still wants to kill them after that, fine.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

*desperately hopes that this comes across as polite enquiry and not snarking*

On a random note, you're quite fond of your characters being the good guys, or at least the heroes, as far as I can tell. I don't think I've ever seen you play in a venue/social setting/mindset where your PC doesn't have a reason for being on the side of the angels.

This observation based on the above piece of prose, and a couple of recent comments about the Sabbat as demon hunters, fighting to save the world, which made me blink for I have pretty much always viewed vampires as being the bad guys. Maybe the bad guys with some individual redeeming features, but mostly they do drink blood, frenzy, kill people, and are all going to hell in a handbasket as their beast slowly scrabbles into their brain more and more.

In fact, I think most of WoD is about bad guys who are trying to maybe scratch some kind of moral justification out of the air in order to keep going. Is very odd to hear Raven views on such things.

The above is intended as discussion and not sniping in any way.

[wraithwitch.livejournal.com]

In fact, I think most of WoD is about bad guys who are trying to maybe scratch some kind of moral justification out of the air in order to keep going.

Yeah, I think it is, hence why it became a fast favourite for all the angsty goths =)

*laughs*
I managed to play a mage who was my malice-side for all of one game, after which I felt thoroughly sick with myself and so dropped her. I don't like being unpleasant to people, not in real life or a game. Oh, arguments and tension and chaos is all to the general good, but I dislike being just base nasty.

I doubt my characters are actually heroes, but they all have a vaguely moral code and they certainly think and hope they're doing the right thing.

As for the whole 'who's good who's bad in WoD?'... I've seen Sabbat played as a true 'Sword of Caine', killing demons and the unworthy of the blood, viewing themselves quite fairly as vengeful angels. And I've seen them played as slavering monsters, obsessed with their 'freedom' and thinking head-onna-spike rugby is fun. Likewise I've seen very caring garou who believe that humanity is to be protected... and I've seen garou packs behave worse then any vampire I've ever met.

I think it all depends on the ST and the players as to who will have the tattered remenence of nobility and righteousness on their side at the end of the night when all the blood has dried =P

[(Anonymous)]

First off i want to say i'm sorry that your friend died she sounded nice. So i dont know you so dont take offense to this if you aren't but you sound like you stereotype people. The reason I think this is because you say that all werewolves are bad and killers and all the same but they aren't some are nice some are mean some just hang out with wolves some hang out with humans some kill humans and many others we are all different. If i was to stereotype humans i would say they are all killing the earth hunt for fun are all mean and all want to kill us and animals and are disgusting creatures. but i know that isn't true i know humans that help the earth never hunt and aren't disgusting at all see you are all different too. See i like nice humans but there aren't to many anymore so it is quite sad but i know some are nice but don't show it. werewolves do have rules and if one breaks the rules and gets caught they could get in big trouble. I have never killed anyone but i have hurt them pretty bad but i had a good reason to. so before you judge werewolves why not see how there life has been having to hide for a long time so before you do kill one why not see how he or she is if they are one that kills for fun or never killed.