Fangs of Sangin
The Fury of Fenris
Scandinavia is home above all to one of the finest killing machines the world has ever known: the Get of Fenris. These Viking-esque werewolves have long dominated their homelands and strike fear into all who dare contest them. The Wyrm treads carefully here, for the heroes are fearless, mighty, and ruthless. Even modest, technologically-innovative Oulu provides little exception. The Garou of this land care little for that city or any other. But as the humans expand their habitat, the wolves’ territory shrinks, such that the forests always border the metropolises.
So it is in northern Finland. The river Oulujoki feeds many great woodlands. Here the Fenris and the allies who can tolerate their rule make their home. The frigid winters do not suffer the weak, of course, nor the coldblooded. Besides the Garou, few other Fera tread these lands. Of course, Corax, in the tradition of Odin’s ravens, may flutter across the skies. Gurahl stalk the cold countryside but always give their old Garou rivals a wide berth. During the War of Rage, the Get of Fenris were the Silver Fangs’ front-line champions against the werebears, after all.
The Get of Fenris are a hardy stock of Scandinavian descent. The Sámi did not have a good relationship with the Fenrir Kin and, in fact, other Garou commingled with those peoples. Still, for all the bigotry and conceit of the Fenrir, few can deny their ferocity and deadly fervor. When it comes time to fight massive Thunderwyrms, ancient vampire crones bent on putting out the sun, or the shadows of the Zmei, no one stands taller, prouder, and braver than the Get of Fenris. For good or ill, for better or worse, they have always been the tip of the spear.
Rules
The Garou do follow the Litany here. The Get of Fenris are harsh in their punishments for violations. Still, exile (not execution) is usually the most severe punishment inflicted (unless the crime is truly heinous). Of course, ronin Garou do not do well in these frigid lands…
Other Shapeshifters
Corax and Gurahl are the only other Changing Breeds frequently found here. The Get of Fenris and Corax have an understanding and are relatively friendly. The Gurahl know the Garou still hate or at least resent them and so sadly avoid them as much as possible. The land is far too cold for Mokolé to tolerate. Even most Bastet avoid the region; the occasional curious Qualmi wanders through. If there are Nagah (Nemontana, particularly of cold-adapted European asp breeds) here, they are especially silent and very well-hidden. The few Ratkin who live here flock to the city (see the urban Werewolf TUG for them). Other Fera might wander through as Qualmi might but few stay, and none ever feel welcome.
Sept of the Blood of the Bear
This ancient Sept is centuries old. It bears traditions and ancestors and a grave of heroes testifying to the Garou’s battles since the Dark Ages. It predates the Christianization of the area by hundreds of years. Beneath the bravado and brutality of Fenris-dominated Garou life, there is a spiritual beauty to the place. For all the talk of blood, death, and honor, the Garou truly love their lives and their land. They tend to it with adoration and reverence. It is when that worship of all that is pure and good is threatened that the Rage is triggered, as it has always been.
The Sept earned its name from the tragedy of the War of Rage, which the Get of Fenris still do not view as a tragedy. They see it still as a righteous victory. By bleeding the Gurahl, the great totem of Bear was brought to submission in the Garou pantheon. Naturally, they refuse to worship Bear in the way he appeared to the Gurahl: the compassionate healer and teacher. Instead, they follow the savage Warbear totem, who was only one face of great Ursus. But Warbear has stood by the Sept since the old times. It’s better to be appreciated in part than not at all. The Fenrir (and truly, all Garou) share the sentiment. Many peoples, other Fera, even their own Kin, see the Garou as berserkers and liabilities. But even those who hate them still appreciate them for their valor in the end. The Garou are the front line shock troops of Gaia. Who would stand there instead? Raven’s children? Some arrogant werecat ten thousand miles away on the other side of the globe? No, this is what the Garou were made for, and in this Sept, they embrace the role.
Location
The Sept of the Blood of the Bear claims the entire Sanginjoki Forest, which encompasses almost 200 square miles of light to thick forest. It borders the Oulujoki River and claims the large wooded island of Korhosensaari, too. The area lies about 12 miles west upriver from Oulu proper. The forests are typical for a boreal region: coniferous, with many pines and spruces. Lichen and moss blankets the forest floors. Snow often covers the area, which the trees endure, and so must the wild inhabitants. Game is sparse but cherished and human hunters are often frightened away.
Bawn
The “outer woods” of Kalimeenlampi permits camping and hiking and has lighter tree growth. The soil is a bit more nutrient-rich as the land approaches the banks of Oulu River. The Isokangas Trail winds through these woods and connects to resort shelters, many of which are little more than wooden lean-tos intended for brief breaks from the shrill wind.
Caern
The heart of the Sept’s caern is found in a nearly impenetrable grove of ancient pine heartwoods. Humans must crawl under the prickly boughs of those old trees to access it. Entering in Lupus form is expected. There, a small, old bog persists. The bog has long be carefully cultivated and curated so as not to be stifled with too much decomposing material, such that the trademark stench of rotten eggs is not present. Instead, a heavy earthy scent lingers, almost intoxicating when first scented (especially with heightened wolf senses). Rituals keep the bog clean, even after war sacrifices are dipped into the peat to preserve forever. Small kame and other natural earthen mounds serve as seats for moots.
This is a Level 4 caern of War and Endurance, and Warbear is the totem.
Other Landmarks
The Grave of Hallowed Heroes exists in a separate, similarly enclosed grove adjacent to the caern heart. The Pathstone meanwhile is buried in the heart of the bog itself. Many old tree hollows and elevated ridges provide shelter for Garou and their wolf-kin.
Tribal Structure
Get of Fenris dominate the entire structure. Other Tribes are tolerated if they submit to traditional Fenrir rule, which has gone unconquered since the Sept’s founding in the 8th-century. This does not mean other Tribes have not tried, including Silver Fangs and Shadow Lords. Those Tribes do dwell here still, though rarely in large enough numbers to mount an even remotely serious challenge to Fenrir rule. Sámi people were long ago adapted by the cosmopolitan Old World branches of the Uktena tribe. However, they do not feel welcome in this Sept and most stay to the north in Sápmi, their stronghold still. Other Tribes are rarely found here. Like Oulu itself, diversity is not this place’s particular strength.
Guardians
As old as the enclosing trees themselves, the caern heart is watched over by powerful Glade Children. Though not appointed as guardians, Wolverine and Bear-spirits frequent the woodlands. Otherwise, the Get themselves provide more than enough defense for the caern.
Special Events
Special events are annual (or more frequent) holidays or special ritual days that the main group or groups observe as a whole community. Attendance and participation are often expected of all members, and sometimes required.
Karhunpäivä
The Spring Equinox brings a unique tradition to Finns and Get of Fenris alike: the Day of the Bear Hunt. This celebration for the Garou celebrates their victory in the War of Rage. It honors Garou courage and ferocity (while ignoring the injustice of the war in the first place, of course). It involves a hunt of a particularly dangerous Engling that takes the form of a Bear-spirit instead of deer or elk. Afterwards, a feast follows.
Laurinpäivä
In August, the Perseids light up the twilight skies in the polar region. The Garou have long viewed meteor shows as ill omens and signs of the Wyrm. That they should fall every year only proves the threat of the Wyrm is always eminent. The day is celebrated with frenzied ritual combat and tests of courage in the face of evil.
“Ragnarok draws near. Are you ready to fight or are you just going to lie down and die?”
-- -- Urho Rantala, Jarl of the Sept of the Blood of the Bear
