By Thom Scott (thscott@indiana.edu)
Erin had tracked the strange garou for close to three hours and was sure she was within close proximity to them. She was on a dock in northern Scotland, an area oddly not known for Dancer activity. One of the few in Scotland since the fall of the howlers.
She got the scent again. Good. She was having a bitch of a time tracking in the pea soup mist in the dark. Soon she was at another dock about a mile away from before. There were three of them, Garou she didn't know, in Homid form. They were talking to her caern's theurge.
"I know not why I was invited. We've ne'er been on verra good relations wi' yuir tribe, Jimmy. What's so big that the alliance wants a Fianna present?". Michael Limerickspell had been a loyal friend since Erin was a cub. She couldn't believe he'd conspire with these unknowns without a reason. She switched to ape form and snuck in closer to listen.
"THEY've returned Mike. And they're willing to forgive. Think of it Mike, a four way strikeforce to clean out our ancestral lands of both Wyrm and 'Mancers.", the stranger said.
"Aye, it'd be wondrous, but the Fianna council'll never go for it."
"We've got to try, Mike. This late in the game it could be our only shot as a race."
Erin had snuck up close enough that she could see the three garou with Mike. The leader, Jimmy, was in his late forties and all muscle. He had a kind, good face and was dressed in an S.A.S. uniform with officers' gear, with one exception. There was a whacking great sword in a jeweled scabbard across his back. The two with him were dressed like local roustabouts but also were carrying swords. One of them was of oriental features and armed with a katana and the other looked like a classic celtic warrior crossed with a pub-crawler.
Erin couldn't help but think that the leader looked just like that actor in the Bond movies, Timothy Dalton, but older. The four were preparing to board a trawler. She had to move and confront Mike now.
"And where are you off to with these strangers Michael?" She walked forward confidently, not betraying her unease. "What plots are you planning to unleash? Who's returned? Tell me, Mike."
The two Guards looked at their leader for any signal. Jimmy signaled them to stay cool and look to Mike. "The aforementioned stubborn lass who'd be perfect for me, Mike?" He drew his sword but stood pat. Mike put his hand to his forehead and shook his head.
"Aye. Lass, I told you to stay at the caern. Now you'll have to come with me or you'll have the entire tribe in arms over nothing. In answer to your question girl, we're of to the Isle of Skye to try and expand the alliance. I'll explain on the way. Come on."
She knew that if they wanted to kill her they wouldn't have waited. Erin was curious as well. She figured that she might as well go and if there was any attack she'd take as many with her as possible.
Once the girl was onboard Jimmy cut the mooring rope with his sword and they were off to the caern on the Isle.
"Erin, haven't ye e'er wondered why we ne'er get any Dancers in this wee bit of Scotland?" She shook her head. "It's'cause of Jimmy and his, 'at's why.
A long time ago, 'fore the Impergium, Scot land was under the White Howlers protection. When the Impergium came not all the Howlers supported it. Some thought it was as bad as turning to the Wyrm. They left the tribe and chose the Isles of Skye and Man as their strongholds. These are their descendents,the Skye Manes. They are fewer than most tribes, but stronger too. They've spent these centuries as guardians and protectors, fighting evil wherever they find it. They be kind of like the Knights of old or Robin Hood's Merry men but secretive. We try to keep it that way as well. Since nobody but a few theurges and the council knows they exist, they have more freedom tae get the job done and not have to deal with politics or that shite. The swords are their symbol, their mark that they fight more than just the Wyrm, that they can do real good in this world.
"We've a secret alliance, the Fianna and them and the old Blacksmiths on the Island.."
Erin's eyes lit up. She was a Scots Fianna and knew well the legendary Blacksmiths, touched by Scatha herself. Warrior-mages as well as craftsmen, it was told. "The 'Smiths! They're real?"
"Aye, lass. As real as you are. And why they're so few scabs in the High-lands. They keep the Damned technomancers the hell out. A's why magic is easier in the highlands, the people still have their belief. The 'Mancers haven't taken it from them yet. The whole area's a haven for Traditionalists and pagans.
I remember when I first saw a Smith in action, against the Dancers, they were blown to bits by that damned mattock of 'is. They still train on Skye and still hold Scatha's favor."
Erin was suddenly filled with a new respect for her elder and friend.
"But you had said someone was returning. Who?" she asked.
Mike sighed. "Have you any knowledge of where our tribe get's it's name, Erin-girl? No? I'll tell you.
"Wayyy back when, legend has it, back when Eireland was still home and kingdom to the Tuatha, man came to the Island. The humans had two classes of warriors. One were the clan warriors, who lived alongside the people. The others were the spirit warriors, clanless warriors who dwelled between the worlds, the Fianna Eirinn.
Our tribe thoUght they were only legend, and took the name out of reverence for the legend. We didn't realize they were real until after the Impergium was over.
When they saw what we had done in their name, they were enraged and swore that there that there would ne'er be peace 'tween our peoples. Now though, things have gotten so bad that they may be willing to ally with us. To give us a chance to make it up in their eyes. I only pray that we can make the alliance work.
Erin was struck speechless by the revelations. She had always been told that apocalypse was here. That despair was to always be with her. Yet now, in the ashes of presumed betrayal, was a a precious fragile glimmer... of hope.
The Manes are the last true vestige of the White Howlers. A splinter tribe that split from the howlers just before the Impergium, the Manes believed the Impergium to be the height of evil, limited genocide.
Since then the manes have dedicated themselves to covertly fighting all evil in this world. They seek few tribal connections with the rest of the Garou race save the Fianna and the occasional Howler lost cub, prefering to be able to operate without the inter-tribal politics that parylyze other tribes efforts to make a difference.
The Manes are marked by the swords they all use as both weapon and badge, prefering to fight with sword rather than claw when it is an option. The vast majority of Manes are Celtic or Japanese as the tribe's kinfolk are typically from former warrior races, heavily favoring the Picts and Samurai in the past. Manes are taught to be honorable warriors to honorable foes and merciless to those without honor. This code has led to a shadow war against the Shadow Lords that the Lords are largely unaware of since assasination is considered a viable action against the honorless.
The Manes typically masquerade as Silver fang lost cubs when they must operate in other lands and maintain the secrecy of their existence almost fanatically.
The number of garou of other tribes who know of thier existence is less than 100, all carefully chosen for trustwortiness.
They respect the Children of Gaia and Stargazers for their efforts to avoid or lessen the Impergium and despise the Red Talons and Shadowlords. They have a tentative alliance with the Fianna council but are otherwise neutral on the other tribes. They also have a solid alliance with the north Scotland Mage community, including the Wika, the Fianna Eirinn, the Verbena, the Runecasters, and the Blacksmiths.
Totem: Mist Wolf
Initial Willpower: 5
Backgounds: 3
Wolf form: Silver, almost metallic or a dark stormcloud grey with black markings in both cases.
Organization: loose clan structure, although most Manes operate autonomosly when off the Isle of Skye.
Habitat: Based on Isle of Skye and Isle of Mann. Operate worldwide as solitary agents however.
Protectorate: Traditionally, any who strive against evil or injustice. Ie: Knights, Robin Hood types,Good cops,rebels,peasants.
Gifts
Resist Pain (level one): As Children of Gaia power
Curse of Aeolus (Level two): As Black fury power
Luna's Armor (Level two): As Children of Gaia power
Faerie kin (Level three): As Fianna power
Invisibility (Level three):As Uktena power.
Cry of the Direach (Level four)
Invoke Spirits of the Storm (Level five): As Wendigo power
View Mist Wolf totem