Wolf of the Woods

Not to be confused with Old Wolf of the Woods from Werewolf: The Apocalypse.

The Wolf of the Woods is a Hunter in Darkness Irraka.

Background

He is the werewolf who defines "werewolf" to much of the world. He is the hungry beast from the darkness, the superlative hunter, one of the deadliest creatures on the planet. He is the symbol of nature's vengeance, the monster that stalks men's dreams. He is the Wolf of the Woods.

Who was the Wolf when he was born? Was he even human? It's hard to say. The Wolf of the Woods assumes Hishu form only rarely, and those few Uratha who have met him say that he looks subtly different every time he does. Rumors abound about this mysterious creature. Some say that he wasn't born of humans, but of wolves, and learned to change into a human being when he reached maturity. Some say that he is a werewolf, but learned to subsist on wolf-spirits for sustenance, and in so doing became something of a fleshy magath, an amalgam of Uratha and spirit. Others trace his power to spirits in a different way, insinuating that he was born from the union of a werewolf and a wolf-spirit. One seldom-related tale claims that he is the child of Black Wolf herself.

Whatever the truth, the Wolf of the Woods has been around for at least two centuries. His territory is vast, and he cannot hope to protect it all, but he must keep constantly on the hunt or risk falling into a deep sleep (see p. 76 of Werewolf: The Forsaken). When he meets other Uratha, especially Meninna, he expects nothing less than total deference to a superior predator and a mighty Uratha. If he does not receive this kind of welcome, he teaches the upstarts a lesson, but he does so in a manner befitting a New Moon - disappearing and waiting until each pack member is alone before dishing out her comeuppance. No matter what, he des not kill Uratha, and will not extend his aid, advice or friendship to a werewolf who does so or claims to have done so (Bale Hounds and the Pure included). He has occasionally acted as mentor to Hunters in Darkness, and even entire packs, but he doesn't stay still for long and so anyone wishing to learn from him needs to keep up. Eventually, his protégés lose him, and the Wolf of the Woods vanishes back into the forests. He never enters the cities. The closest he comes is small, rural communities, and even then he shuns humanity because of the effects of his Primal Urge on people.

The Wolf of the Woods doesn't take human form often. When he does, he looks like a man in his late 50s. His hair is gray, and he is hale and healthy despite his age, with nary a scratch on him. He displays all of the classic werewolf "tells" - eyebrows grow together, index and middle finger the same length, almond-shaped eyes, etc. In his preferred Urhan form, he is a large gray wolf with oddly tinted blue eyes. The Wolf speaks in First tongue to werewolves, even if humans are present, although he can speak English (and probably many other human languages).

Stats

Auspice: Irraka
Tribe: Hunter in Darkness
Lodge: None
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 6, Resolve 4
Physical Attributes: Strength 4 (5/7/6/5), Dexterity 5 (5/6/7/7), Stamina 4 (5/6/6/5)
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 4
Mental Skills: Crafts 2, Investigation 2, Occult (Spirits) 2
Physical Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Urshul) 4, Stealth 4, Survival 7
Social Skills: Animal Ken (Wolves) 4, Expression (Howls) 2, Intimidation (Feral) 3
Merits: Direction Sense, Fast Reflexes 2, Fleet of Foot 3, Fresh Start, Language (First Tongue), Quick Healer
Primal Urge: 8
Willpower: 8
Harmony: 9
Essence Max/Per Turn: 30/7
Virtue: Prudence
Vice: Gluttony
Health: 9 (11/13/12/9)
Initiative: 11 (11/12/13/13) - with Fast Reflexes
Defense: 5 (5/6/6/6)
Speed: 17 (18/21/24/22) - with Fleet of Foot
Renown: Cunning 4, Glory 4, Honor 3, Purity 5, Wisdom 3
Gifts: Call Water, Feet of Mist, Partial Change, Speak with Beasts, Wolf-Blood's Lure, Anybeast, Father Wolf's Speed, Manipulate Earth, Plant Growth, Slip Away, Command Fire, Distractions, Forest Communion, Primal Howl, Running Shadow, Blend In, Invoke the Wind's Wrath, Shadow Flesh, Ghost Step, Lament of the River, The Hunter's Bounty
Rituals: 5; Rites: Banish Human, Banish Spirit, Bind Human, Bind Spirit, Blessing of the Spirit Hunt, Cleansed Blood, Drawing Down the Shadow, Mark of the Black Wolf, Name the Quarry, Rite of Fair Warning, Rite of Hikaon's Trail, Rite of Initiation, Rite of the Chosen Ground, Sacred Hunt

References

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