What’s Your Moon?
Written by Harry
September 27, 2008
Most of us are familiar with astrology. It’s said that the various signs of the zodiac influence our personalities.
The Forsaken werewolves have their own kind of astrology related to the phases of the moon.
A werewolf’s auspice is the phase of moon that rules them. In Forsaken rules, it’s a little vague as to whether this is a moon the character is born under or one that happens to be in the sky on the night of the character’s First Change.
Escaping Reality’s house rule state a character’s auspice is the moon phase the character was born under. (Yes, your character needs a birthday. We feel that traits and duties associated with each moon phase shape that person’s life subconsciously until the day of the Change.
Then everything comes to life.
The Auspices
The best way to choose an auspice for your character is to figure out his or her personality and see which moon association fits best. In game play, other factors such as a waxing or waning phase affect your character in different ways.
If you want a real challenge, give your character an auspice that is the opposite of what he or she is like.
Here is a quick look at the five auspices as described in the core system rules:
Irakka (No Moon): The Irakka are the tricksters. These Forsaken were born when the moon was dark. They are often carefree, which many times comes off as irresponsible to their packmates. But like the Coyote in the Native American tradition, the No Moons often teach through humor or riddles.
Ithaeur (Crescent Moon): These folks are the mystics and shamen. They deal in the spirit and walk the line between worlds. They are the rite keepers.
Elodoth (Half Moon): Elodoth are the truth seekers and keepers of the Law. They can’t lie and often rival Irakka when it comes to creating and finding loopholes in agreements. The Elodoth are the negotiators and the peacekeepers.
Cahalith (Gibbous Moon): The Calahith are the artists, storytellers and musicians. They are the dancers and performers and the keepers of Forsaken and pack lore. They are also the prophets and visionaries.
Rahu (Full Moon): Rahu are the warriors and many times the alphas of their packs.
One interesting trend that James and I have noticed through playing is that the auspices we chose for our first characters were ones that matched our own personalities almost identically. I dug a little deeper into our astrology and looked up the moon phases on the dates of our birth.
Sure enough, both of us had the same auspices as our characters had.
If you want more information on each of the moon auspices and the Forsaken, pick up a copy of Tribes of the Moon
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Nice Cliff’s Notes version. I have Lizzy narrowed down to two pretty easily. Now I’m wondering if I should figure out what I myself would be, and see if that sway her one way or the other. Star charts and auspices and moons, oh my!
Nicoles last blog post..Gary: 2002
Well, gee. I had already picked a birth date for Nat before we started the game, so I just went to look up the moon phase on her birthday and on mine. Turns out, we’re the same. Total coincidence. Thing is, it’s not the moon phase (according to the personality types you listed) that I would have expected for either of us. Very interesting.
I’m Irraka. I dare anyone to contest that.
I also dare anyone to figure out which moon Johnny is. *grin*
@Allison: Now you have to tell us what moon it is.
@James: Aw, that’s too easy, you’ve mentioned it before in posts
@Nicole: Cliff notes are great for a taste, now you have to dig a little deeper and see what fits.
100 Internet Points to anyone (except James) who can guess my auspice!
Yeah Johnny’s so hard to read.
@Harry Hmm… Ithaeur? I have a second guess too.
Nicole Brunets last blog post..Gary: 2002
@Nicole: What’s your second guess?
@Harry Elodoth. For the VoR in you.
Nicole Brunets last blog post..Gary: 2002
@Nicole: DING DING DING! We have a winnah!
Woo! I shall take my internet points and save them for a rainy day.
Nicole Brunets last blog post..Gary: 2002
@Harry - Any guesses?
LOL. I just figured out what moon I was born under, and suddenly my difficulty in deciding what Lizzy should be makes all the sense in the world. Man, I love when things click.
I’ll give you all a chance to guess before I tell you though. I’m betting only one might get it right.
Nicole Brunets last blog post..Gary: 2002
Oops, seems I was wrong. According to the birth date I had picked for Nat, she’s full moon (Rahu) which is what I had thought we both were, but it turns out I’m just barely past full moon, so I think I’m Cahalith. Which is totally what you’d expect for me.
[...] In last week’s post “What’s Your Moon” I mistakenly said the book “Tribes of the Moon” was about the auspices. [...]