Character Creation

Sitting at the fire, Donnar is tinkering with a piece of metal. Standing up, it's easy to mistake the man for a football player. "I guess it's my turn to share. While I don't have the skald's talents, it's a simple enough story. I grew up as a ward of the state, and didn't know my parents at all. I was moved all over California, and was shuffled from foster to foster. I was a problem child, and didn't really fit in anywhere. Fighting all the time. Guess I figured that one out eventually." His eyes lose focus for a moment while a memory plays out in his mind.

"There was one family that took me in for a time, that really tried though. They wanted it to work, and I was eager to try. The only time I found peace was camping with Dave. Nice guy; taught me how to track and hunt, and to appreciate the wild places in the world. We were camping out in Yellowstone at the time. I was about 16 or so. Me, Dave, and Marcy (his wife). We were having a good time, and they seemed in a good mood. They wanted to take me somewhere nice, to spring the news. They were going to finalize the papers, and adopt me. We were celebrating in town when they showed up. I just remember a bunch of truly ugly guys in ratty clothes. Fomori. They attacked everyone in the little diner." After a heavy sigh, and a moment's hesitation, he continues.

"I woke up later, tired, covered in blood and worse. An Uktena found me, explained the basics to me, and helped me find my tribe. The only thing I knew for sure about what happened was that I wasn't what killed the only family to care for me as a kid. We hunted the remaining fomori down, and tore them to shreds. Finally releasing the Rage on something that deserved it. Fighting for something that needed fighting for. Turns out I was literally born for this war, and impressed something enough to gift me something." Shifting up to Crinos, he shows his claws, and the runes carefully carved into the copper bands around both wrists. Focusing for a moment, the claws erupt into flames. "A spirit of fire. I am not able to speak to the spirits, but this one liked what it saw in me apparently. The burning fire in me matches its own; at least that's what the Theurge told me during the process. But he was a sarcastic one, so he might have been full of shit, messing with the new kid."

Leaning back, he begins to tinker with the metal again. Slowly taking shape, it looks like it would fit his hulking form as armor. Eventually.

Justice-Fair-But-Swift

I was born a captive in the Tibetan Black Wolf exhibit at the Seattle Zoo. As a cub, the Weaver laughed as I was unable to hunt and be free. My pack did their best to teach me what they could remember, but they had grown fat and lazy. Even the strongest instincts left unused wither on the vine eventually. I watched the humans shuffle through with curiosity at first and anger over time. I came to realize that my sedentary life served only to entertain these ogling idiots for a passing moment before buying a hot dog or a plush version of myself. All of them squandering an opportunity to connect to the natural world that they forgot so long ago.

Mother often chided my disdain, reminding me that we are not as distant from them as it may seem. Telling stories of heroes from long ago both wolf and man serving as a bridge between two worlds. Preserving the the Balance of Gaia, the Weaver, and the Wyrm. Despite their corruption and putrification in to their current forms. Even these enemies of Gaia had a purpose.

My first change came on the night of the Half Moon. A zookeeper had gotten drunk and foolish. He tried to get us to fetch sticks and do tricks, but got angry when we refused. He kicked my mother and Gaia blessed me with the power to protect her. I rose to my feet as Garou for the first time and destroyed him. His warm blood giving me the pleasure of the Hunt for the first time. I awoke that morning not as wolf, but man. Stumbling and uncoordinated in this foreign body, I was captured and put in a different cage, naked and without my pack for the first time. Trespassing they said as they pointed but I knew not what that meant.

For a week, I sat in this jail I found myself in until Sifu came for me. He knew me somehow and convinced them to release me. He took me to the woods for the first time and I luxuriated in Gaia's ample bosom. Sifu explained what we were and taught me to be Garou. Taught me the ways of our tribe, the Stargazers, and explained our purpose and mission. With this new found understanding, I pleaded with him to allow me to return and save my pack. His response was Swift and violent, it was that day my training began.

All life is suffering and the only way out of suffering is the Middle Way. He taught me to endure the suffering as long as I might ever need to find the Middle Way.

Having taught me all that he can, he has brought me to this Sept to experience the Garou Nation first hand and put my teachings in to practice.