The Changing Breeds
Garou
Although in many places on earth, the population have wolves has dwindled to extinction, the Garou remain almost globally present. Even in places where other Fera are firmly entrenched (such as sub-Saharan Africa), one can still find Garou. This is a testament to the race’s adaptability and ferocity. The War of Rage may have stained their honor, but it also bequeathed them almost limitless territorial range. As millennia ticked by, however, most Tribes relegated themselves to certain regions or areas. Migration became less common for some Tribes (and more for others).
In the Far East, Garou are still the most common shapeshifter to be encountered. And despite the Beast-Courts’ generous influence, a number of Garou Septs exist aloof from the hengeyokai. Most maintain good or at least neutral relations with the Beast-Courts, granted, and most are aware of -- and tolerant of -- the eclectic range of Fera involved in the Beast-Courts. Asian Garou, hengeyokai or not, tend to hold themselves above (or at least aloof) from their Western counterparts. The presence of vast but fairly inhospitable landmasses and wide oceans helps this stay reality. Even by Moon Path -- not that many span all the way across the world -- do the Eastern and Western Garou stay apart.
Black Furies
Black Furies range wherever virginal wilderness is to be found. However, their reach into the Far East was largely checked by their Western-founded, feminist doctrines in what were often very chauvinistic societies. But the Furies do maintain a few caerns in parts of northern India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. These Garou have been there so long that they rarely use the Greek terminology in their culture anymore. The Black Furies in the East call Luna by the name of Chandra. They view the Celestine less as the Huntress and more as the Oracle. Sept policy often reflects this. Fortunately, these Eastern Furies have some tolerance for neighboring Fera, particularly the Bagheera and Makara. They have little contact with the actual Beast-Courts of Asia, but struggle fiercely against the wickedness that often seethes forth from the Southeast Asian jungles. As the shen begin to take back their longer ranged territories, such as India, the Black Furies have considered their options. At this point, most intend to approach encroaching hengeyokai with peaceful diplomatic actions. The hengeyokai refer to the Black Furies as Baoyue.
Among the Baoyue, these Camps are most commonly found: Amazons of Durga (instead of Diana), Candravamsa (instead of Bacchantes), Freebooters, the Sisterhood, and the Temple of Chandra (instead of Artemis). Despite the patriarchal nature of most East Asian cultures, neither the Avenging Mother or the Order of Our Merciful Mother have a place here. New Ager Moon-Daughters are very uncommon.
Black Spiral Dancers
Few Black Spiral Dancers have ever even visited the Far East. Those that have, namely in service to Pentex, have found its exoticism confusing and deadly. At this point, the Dancers have no formal intent to have anything to do with the hengeyokai. They’re much too busy at home in the West. The hengeyokai for their part are equally disinterested; let the Sunset People deal with Sunset People traitors.
Bone Gnawers
Bone Gnawers have long ranged worldwide. In the many vast urban sprawls of Asian cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Jakarta, the Bone Gnawers are ever-present. Though they may be known as different names in different regions, those in service to the Beast-Courts accepted a Chinese moniker: Wantong.
Among the Wantong, these Camps are most commonly found: the Swarm, the Hood, Rat Finks, and Road Warders. Deserters could exist but are unlikely to join any court, per their beliefs. Frankweilers can be found though often adjust their Camp's name to reflect their city/culture. A Beijing branch might be called "The People's Collective Archival Custodians". The Hillfolk could exist, found most often not only outside of cities but "between" nations, like among the ethnic Hmong of Southern China/Southeast Asia.
Children of Gaia
Children of Gaia are the most ethnically diverse Tribe of all. It certainly has memberships all over the Far East, and many of them are eager members of the Beast-Court institution. It is a chance to heal old wounds among the Changing Breeds (however, a few Children of Gaia are bound to still harbor old prejudices, particularly with all the propaganda regarding some of the more exotic lycanthropes). The hengeyokai of this Tribe go by the loose Chinese translation of their name, Dadi Ertong.
Among the Dadi Ertong, these Camps are most commonly found: the pacifist Anointed Ones, Seekers of the Lost Tribes (who expand their search to the Okuma), Servants of Unicorn (who often serve as ambassadors between Beast-Courts and Garou Septs), the Patient Deed, and Imminent Strike.
Fianna
The Fianna were originally from the British Isles, and migrated primarily to America. A few found their way into Africa or India, accompanying bold Irish explorers and hunters. But the Tribe has no holdings or blood ties to the Far East. The chance cub born of Indian blood would be so rare that the Children of Gaia would adopt him, or he would find his way “back home” to Britain or Ireland. The chance that a Fianna would natively member the Beast-Courts is very, very minute.
Were there any Fianna in the Beast-Courts, these Camps might be found: wilderness-protecting Children of Dire, lore-gathering Songkeepers, fae-friendly Tuatha De Fionn, and Roma-related wandering Whispering Rovers. The Brotherhood of Herne has no interest or place outside of the UK.
Get of Fenris
Like the Fianna, the Get of Fenris were strictly European in origin. Unlike the Fianna, the Get of Fenris had few Kin explorers to accompany into Asia (the Germans and Scandinavians were late in the great Western expansion rush, and only grabbed pieces of Africa). And besides, even if the Get had visited the Orient, they would have treated it with the same respect they gave the Pure Land Garou: a new War of Rage. The presence of multi-Fera Beast-Courts would have perplexed and enraged this rather narrow-minded (if powerful) Tribe. No Get would ever join the complex (and the aggressively Western-minded werewolf wouldn’t be much welcome either).
Were there any Get in the Beast-Courts, these Camps might be found: the Valkyria of Freya, the hunters of humanity's Wyrm-tainted minions the Hand of Tyr, the tireless berserkers against the Wyrm called Mjolnir's Thunder, Impergium-nostalgic Glorious Fist of Wotan, and the crafty theurgic Loki's Smile. The Swords of Heimdall joined various Western efforts to colonize or crush the hengeyokai; they failed miserably (the Vietnam War included their last, embarrassing gasp in East Asia--the Nezumi alone kicked their asses) and would never be found here. The potential interbreeding with Wendigo Kin means that Ymir's Sweat is distinctly American. Finally, the Fangs of Garm might be the only valid reason Fenrir find their way to the Beast-Courts, the better to fulfill their diplomatic duties.
Glass Walkers
Like the Bone Gnawers, wherever urban domains may be found, so may the Glass Walkers. Rising independently from their Mesopotamian brethren, however, the Glass Walkers of the East call themselves Boli Zouiszhe. Though they share much in common with their Western counterparts, they are fiercely proud of their human Kinfolk. These Garou may be found especially in the most advanced cities of East Asia, like Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Seoul. There they propagate their financial holdings among corporate conglomerates and crime syndicates alike. So involved with their own research and development are the Boli Zouiszhe that they have little time for the hengeyokai. However, they maintain strong diplomatic ties if not ancient alliances with the Beast-Courts. The Boli Zouiszhe are quite tolerant of the non-Garou in the East. The only shapeshifters they regularly have problems with are, in fact, fellow Garou. In Japan, samurai family-based Hakken compete in board rooms with Boli Zouiszhe over control of zaibatsu and yakuza interests alike. Some Asian Glass Walkers have taken up the Great Burden and joined the Beast-Courts, where the gai’nan value their insight (if nothing else) with the ways of the Weaver.
Among the Boli Zouiszhe, these Camps are most commonly found: the Internet-savvy Random Interrupts, Corporate Wolves, Wise Guys (among Triads, tongs, yakuza, jopok, and premans), City Farmers, the Sixth Age-minded doomsday mercenaries Dies Ultima, and CyberDogs. Umbral Pilots can exist among the Boli Zouiszhe but are unlikely to take up the Great Burden.
Red Talons
The Red Talons may be found anywhere in the world that the Wyld can sustain them. In the Far East, where much of the land is still underdeveloped rural community at best, these human-haters still thrive. In fact, the Asian Red Talons are most common in Southeast Asia. There the Red Talons prowl the tropics in vicious, deadly packs -- for there is much to account for in this war-torn region. The Beast-Courts refer to the Red Talons as Honglang. For the most part, they are not welcome among the hengeyokai, for the Honglang were vicious opponents in the ancient War of Rage -- and they are still hateful warriors. However, Beast-Courts located in the wilderness, away from humans, and with few non-Garou among their mix, welcome Honglang. For the most part, Honglang are like Red Talons throughout the world. Human culture is irrelevant.
Among the Honglang, these Camps are most commonly found: the moderate Warders of the Land and the liberal Anti-Extinction Faction. The Lodge of the Predator Kings has no place in the Beast-Court and wouldn't survive in East Asia at all, as their hateful arrogance would extend past humans to the non-Garou Fera who, teamed up as hengeyokai, would cream such War of Rage-fantasizing Talons.
Shadow Lords
Though Western Shadow Lords can claim the Balkans as their homeland from which they have spread far since, their Eastern counterparts often stmy these manipulative Garou. Who are they and where did they come from? The Hakken, native only to Japan (though some have moved elsewhere in the Middle Kingdom), are a mystery to the elders’ lore. Some hypothesize that Shadow Lord pioneers entered Japan hundreds of years ago. Naturally, human historical accounts deny this -- and so do the Hakken. In fact, the Hakken claim their part of the Shadow Lord Tribe is by coincidence and auspice, nothing more. They rose independently, and while they many share common roots in ancient times beyond reckoning (such as pre-Impergium era), the Hakken are a different animal. Though they share many of the same traits of the Shadow Lords, they evolved around the clannish lifestyles of their human Kin. Though they are just as clever, scheming, honor-bound, and fierce, the Hakken owe much allegiance to their hengeyokai allies.
Indeed, since the rising of the Hakken Clans (which coincided especially with the rise of the most ancient samurai families), the Hakken have worked with Tengu and Kitsune tirelessly. Their relationship with these Fera is not unlike the relationship between the Pure Land Garou, Nuwisha, and Corax. Many Hakken belong to the Beast-Courts, though a good number remain loyal only to their clans. But most are willing to aid hengeyokai at any time (particularly since most Japanese Beast-Courts consist only of Garou, Tengu, and Kitsune, with the occasional Same-Bito habatsu or Nezumi war-packs). Major Hakken Clans that survived the wars until the modern day include the Taigetsu, Kyokin, Osa, Kogaku, Suinichi, Joseki, and Zokusho. These Clans in turn host a number of smaller families; metis typically just take the Clan names as their surnames. Some of these ancient Clans stay true to the path of bushido as purely as possible. They live in secluded estates purchased centuries ago and generate wealth only from their invested family monies: true blue bloods. Other Clans have turned to big business, involving themselves in the zaibatsu corporations with as much zeal as their Glass Walker competitors. And at least one major Clan has suspicious interactions with the yakuza... The Taigetsu, Osa, and Kogaku all maintain the ancient clan estates in the "boonies" of Japan. Their wealth is old and blue-blooded, but they command much respect among the Beast-Courts. The Kyokin, Suinichi, and Zokusho have "modernized" with the zaibatsu corporations, while the Joseki are rumored to control at least three major crime syndicates in yakuza territories.
Among the Hakken, these Camps are most commonly found: Yomi-redeeming Bringers of Light (often focusing on Kumo), cunning retainer-styled Children of Crow, the self-scarred Litany and Mandate-enforcing Judges of Doom, and the metis-supporting Kannon-no-Ugoki (instead of Lazerite Movement). As stereotypical Western Shadow Lords, the Lords of the Summit Camp has no place among the Hakken.
Silent Striders
Though widely-spread since the Diaspora, and exotic in thought, the Silent Striders are a testament more to African, Middle Eastern, and Egyptian mysteries than Far Eastern. Many Striders find their way through Asia at some point in their lives, and what they find tends to both confound and please them. A few stop and take up the Great Burden, but these are cases of a few “convinced” Westerners. The Striders have no homeland, least of all in the Far East. Though their Gypsy relatives were originally from India, the Romani still in that sub-continent have blood ties to other shen (such as the Bagheera-related Banjira family).
Were there any Striders in the Beast-Courts, these Camps might be found: the Yomisign-seeking Harbingers, the knowledge-tracking Seekers, the curse-resisting Dispossessed, and the mercenary Wayfarers. The Daggers of Nut, seeking to liberate Egypt from Set, have no reason to be this far to the east. The forbidden Eaters of the Dead would find little respite in East Asia.
Silver Fangs
The “royal” Garou, proud and mighty, once ruled all of the territories of the Garou. Though their greatest era of their rule waned with the end of the Impergium, the Fangs maintain many of their greatest strongholds still. However, most of these strongholds are found in Western Russia, not the Middle Kingdom. Even the Siberakh remain aloof from their East Asian neighbors. It is thought that the Silver Fangs once commanded vast fiefdoms in Korea and China. If it was so, that has long since passed. There are no native Silver Fangs in the Middle Kingdom. The recent concerns with the Baba Yaga have helped the Fangs get over their pride and reach out for help. At China and Mongolia’s border, the Baba Yaga’s evil armies were held in check. A force comprised of Silver Fangs and hengeyokai -- particularly several Zhong Lung warriors -- repelled the Baba Yaga’s minions, and slew one of the Zmei. But for the most part, the Fangs have nothing to do with the Beast-Courts or vice versa.
Were there any Silver Fangs in the Beast-Courts, these Houses and Camps might be found: House Wise Heart (found in Near, Central, and Southern Asia), House Blood Red Crest (found in Southeast Asia), progressive Renewalists, the death lore-preserving Ivory Priesthood, and the secretive lore-stealing Masters of the Seal. Royalists and their Grey Raptor allies would not find East Asia hospitable to their arrogance. Meanwhile, the prestigious House Crescent Moon (Russia), Wyrm-hunting House Gleaming Eye (Northern Europe), the Celtic House Austere Howl (British Isles), the diplomatic House Unbreakable Hearth (Canada/Midwest), and brash House Wyrmfoe (eastern US) are all endemic to their native regions. The two Asian Houses are struck by low birth rates, which consequently means their Septs have largely been disbanded and they fall under the governance of other Garou.
Stargazers
Traditionally of the East, the Stargazers know the Middle Kingdom and the Beast-Courts well. The East Asian portions of the Tribe has long been a part of the hengeyokai, and even when they maintained independent Septs, they sustained ancient pacts with their hengeyokai friends. The Stargazers of the East usually refer to themselves as Xing Kanmengou. Although no more common in Asia than the rest of the world, most of the Stargazers in Asia do member the Beast-Courts. They can be found throughout, but are strongest in China (and Tibet especially).
Among the Xing Kanmengou, these Camps are most commonly found: the vampire-hunting Heavenly Successors of the Demon-Eater, the alpha-hearted political-minded Inner Path, the oracular Klaital Puk, the human-teaching Sacred Thread, the physical meditating Trance Runners, the cosmopolitan wisdom-seeking World Tree, and the kailindo-mastering Zephyr. The Metastic Birth believes the Demon Emperor who rises in the Sixth Age will herald a new world that the hengeyokai must learn to survive in, not mindlessly try to prevent. Ouroboroans believe that Yomi Wan is a natural state of metaphysical existence and must be purified to its original and necessary purpose. The latter two Camps are no more trusted among hengeyokai than they are among the Garou.
Uktena
Long ago, when the continents of America and Asia were connected by an “ice bridge”, a great migration is thought to have occurred. Asian peoples are believed to have migrated over, later to become various Native American tribes. While it is doubtful that all Native Americans came from Asia in this manner, the connection is still there. This is proven by the presence of Uktena in the Far East. They are found today especially among the more primitive peoples of Mongolia, Indonesia, and various Pacific islands. They can also be found among the Ainu people of Japan, most of whom were relocated to the northern island of Hokkaido. There they maintain a shaman-styled presence. Normally aloof from the Beast-Courts, the Asian Uktena remain aware of the hengeyokai and are quite tolerant of the ecletic Breeds found therein. Some, drawn by their Tribe’s innate curiosity, flock to the Beast-Courts. Those that serve the Beast-Courts were termed Yanlanjinshen. The Asian Uktena are much like their Native American brethren, except that the culture they include is more akin to their local native Kin. They continue to follow the Uktena Totem, but know him by a different name: Tua-O.
Among the Yanlanjinshen, these Camps are most commonly found: Bane Tenders (many a mega-Mukade lurks in the Middle Kingdom), Earth Guides (specific to their ethnic Kin, like Ainu), Path Dancers (who work as closely with Kitsune as they may), Raiders (who also work closely with Kitsune and/or Tengu), dragon line-running Scouts, and spirit-binding Yang World-trekking Skywalkers. Weaver-minded Web Walkers are unlikely to take up the Great Burden and Wyld Children prefer lone wolf lifestyles. Ghost Dancers are an American phenomenon.
Wendigo
Though there is as much reason for Wendigo to be found in Asia as “ancient counterparts” to their American brethren as there is for Uktena, there are no Wendigo in the Far East. Perhaps, in ancient times, some of the Uktena stayed behind, while all of the Wendigo and Croatan ventured to the Pure Lands. Who knows? The matter is clouded in history, and the Wendigo are limited to America to this day. Few travel beyond that hemisphere to Europe, Africa, or Asia, for any reason.
Were there any Wendigo in the Beast-Courts, this Camp might be found: the tradition-keeping Sacred Hoop. The Warpath is too xenophobic to join the hengeyokai and the Ghost Dancers are an American phenomenon.
(Note that the Storyteller may be incorrect on certain points. He owns all of the Changing Breed resources, but very few of the werewolf Tribe supplements. Thus, there probably are obscure references in some Tribal manual somewhere contradicting my claim that, for example, there are no Get of Fenris or Fianna native to, or interested in, the Far East. However, the Storyteller is currently content with the above statements.
Additionally, certain Camps listed were drawn from Revised or even 5th edition/20th-anniversary materials. Unless noted otherwise, however, assume all Camps' status and description is as 2nd edition.)
