Category:Gurahl

Setting
Many Gurahl are old, some are so old they witnessed and survived the great atrocities of both the War of Tears and the Last War of Rage. Many are bitter at the Garou in general, only tolerating the Wendigo, Uktena, and Red Talons who they knew from the past, these three tribes and the Gurahl were once strong allies, until the War of Rage’s whispers reached the Gurahl of the Americas, their cousins in Europe and Asia slaughtered by the hundreds by the Garou Nation. The Survivors of these events are often very distrusting of Garou, some outright refuse to aid them for any reason. As the War of Rage was sparked over the Gurahl not resurrecting one of the Silver Fang’s who was slain.

In modern day the young Gurahl often end up as game wardens, or living in the forests of Alaska or the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains. They eschew human society a great deal, not wishing the Weaver’s influence or the Wyrm’s taint to affect them. They heal forests, planting new trees, defending the forest against logging, and those who do deal with cities do so carefully.

The Gurahl have strong ties to the Mokolé who taught them their ability to slumber for ages, the Mokolé do the same from time to time, and it has let many of them build strong alliances over the years. Many of the Gurahl still within the Emerald Courts still maintain these on behalf of their cousins across the seas, if no other reason to ensure the Gurahl do not face the Garou again without strong allies to help prevent a third War of Rage.

The youth of the Gurahl more often than not are more forgiving to the Garou, choosing to let the past be the past, and that has caused them tension with their elders, however it has gained them entry into the Garou Nation’s territories and their own Caerns giving them ties to the Spirits that were once allied to the Gurahl. This has brought some relief to the tribe as a whole as the Spirits still have favor towards the Gurahl, but both they and the spirits know the Garou are needed in this time as the Apocalypse is around the corner.

The Battle of Crescent Moon
When the Dark Brigade formed many of the Gurahl still slumbered, those who woke begrudgingly helped the Garou. Healing them in the battle of Crescent Moon because they were the lesser evil, and most went right back to their solitary lives if they survived; to mourn their losses.

Gurahl Lexicon
The following terms have been adopted for use in the current chronicle. They are optional for PC use.

Forms
 * Homid - Human form.
 * Arthren (ARE-thrun) - Near human form.
 * Crinos (Kri-NO-s/Cry-NO-s)- War Form.
 * Bjornen (Bee-YORE-nen) - Cave Bear form.
 * Ursus - Bear form.

Ranks
 * Arcas (ARE-kus) – The New Moon (Ragabash) stage of a Gurahl’s life.
 * Uzmati (Ooz-MAH-tee) - The Full Moon (Ahroun) stage of a Gurahl’s life.
 * Kojubat (KOY-yu-baht) - One who speaks the truth; The Gibbous Moon (Galliard).
 * Kieh (KEE-yuh) - Doctor or Healer; The Crescent Moon (Theurge)
 * Rishi (REE-SHEE) - Denotes a Wise One or Peacemaker; The Half Moon (Philodox)

Social Lexicon
 * Bhernocht (Bear-noct) - Overwhelming sadness and despair, Harano.
 * Buri-Jaan (BOO-ree-ZHAWN) - A Gurahl who serves as a mentor to a new werebear; also a period of mentorship from the mentor’s point of view.
 * Council of Autumn - Great Council of all the Gurahl tribes; the most important of the Gurahl gatherings.
 * Fests - Informal meetings among the Gurahl.
 * Gallivant - The early period of a Gurahl’s post-Change life; a time of wandering and wondering.
 * Geth-Rura (GETH-ROOR-uh) - The place of dark combat, a realm on the edge of the Dark Umbra where a Gurahl goes to fight the Death Bear.
 * Hibernation - For Gurahl, this is a period of suspended animation, attainable through a Gift, and resembles the deep winter slumber of normal bears.
 * Kovi (KO-vee) - Literally, “bear-child”. Used on occasion for Arcas (derogatory) or Cubs.
 * Mangi (MAN-GEE) - Death Bear, one of the three aspects of Bear.
 * Matae (Mah-TIE) - An honorific title used by those referring to the Rishi rank, without using the name Rishi.
 * Pattern Breaker - The Wyrm.
 * Powwow - Intertribal Gurahl Celebration, aka Moot.
 * Rar-Azgai (RAHR-azh-GUY) - The name of the Gurahl language.
 * Regalia - Tribal gatherings where Gurahl of the same tribe discuss common concerns.
 * Sorna (SORE-nuh) - Caring One; usually refers to a Gurahl Den Parent or Kojubut who cares for others in her tribe or pack.
 * Talchwi (TALL-chewee) - Honorable Parent, title for Kieh when not referring to their auspice. Seen as parents among the tribe.
 * Tapestry Maker - The Gurahl’s name for the Weaver.
 * Ursa Major - The Great She-Bear, one of the three aspects of Bear.
 * Ursa Minor - The Little Bear, one of the three aspects of Bear, also First Cub.
 * Verden (VURR-din) - Full Grown, the title used to refer to the Uzmati stage of life when Gurahl are considered adults allowed to make their own decisions.
 * Yarn Spinner - The name the Gurahl give to the Wyld.