Halakha

(Heb. word for Divine Law, but it's her name).

By Jessica McGeary, for the People of the Law tribe.

Background cost: 9

Halakha was, long and long ago, a Garou, but her powers and leadership during her lifetime led her to a different fate from the common run once she died. Halakha grants Law 3, Investigation 1, and Rituals 3. All Rites and Gifts involving these abilities have two extra dice added. Halakha is partial to Philodoxes, and all of her Philodox Children have their Gifts' difficulties reduced by one, save for Wisdom of the Ancient Ways, which Halakha's patronage reduces to a 5 difficulty regardless of Past Life background. (Unless, of course, the Philodox in question has 5 points in Past Life.) Halakha's Children may also purchase Philodox Gifts at the same price as Gifts of their own auspice, but only Philodoxes have the difficulty dropped. Halakha WILL NOT adopt a pack that has a metis in it, and will instantly withdraw her patronage from any Child who is involved in the conception of a metis offspring.

Ban: Halakha's Children must adhere as closely as possible to the Litany, and are bound by her Code as well. The Code was a form of modified Impergium, designed to keep from breeding in the fear and the Delirium found in other parts of the world, as well as to form closer ties between the tribe and the homids. In major part, it runs thus:

1. Any human who attacks and kills another human shall be killed.
2. Any human who brags of killing another shall be killed.
3. Any human who kills a wolf or wild dog, or brags of killing a wolf or wild dog, shall be killed.
4. Any human who fights another in self-defense or in the defense of another shall be spared, or assisted if possible.
5. Any being who violates another, whether their body or their property or something else, shall be tracked down and made to give restitution equal in magnitude to the violation. If such restitution is more than they can give, or if those to whom it is owed are dead, a Court shall convene and determine sentence.
6. Defense of humans present shall be performed in Lycaon or Lupus form. Punishment of humans, or defense of humans not present or not conscious, shall be performed in Homid form.

There are other portions to the Code, but these are the oldest portions, the very first given by Halakha to her pack. Opportunities to follow the Code need not be sought out, though some do; however, any of Halakha's children who neglect to follow the Code or the Litany when presented with the opportunity to do so will be cut off from all her support.