FATE Werewolf
From Gothpoodle
Animist world where only natural things have spirits, artificial thing's spirits are dead. When men lived in the natural world, their spirits mingled with those of animals (often through ritual consumption of kills) and shape-shifter tribes were born. Most have thinned out to the point that shape-shifters are born as throwbacks except to pure bloodlines, though intermarriage is becoming problematic as populations dwindle. The most prolific tribe in the northern hemisphere are the werewolves. Various tribes of were-cats are the most common in the southern hemisphere (tigers in Southeast Asia, lions and leopards in Africa, and jaguars in South America). Every other tribe is small and local and many have died out (though individual members may change from much diluted bloodlines).
The Pure are werewolves who side with the natural world, practicing shamanism and often fighting against human incursions into wild areas. They consider the war a fight for their existence and humans as a threat, a plague upon the world. They have an excellent relationship with the spirit world. They generally favor their animal nature over their human side and live as wolves. Basically, wolves who can take human shape. Their legends often say that they gained the ability to take human form by devouring humans. Those who truck with human myth claim to descent from Fenrir (Fenrir).
The Forsaken are the werewolves which side with humanity. They see the need to adapt to humanity and the changing world, often focusing on trying to find a balance. They often struggle against destruction of natural areas, as well, but also protect humans from incursions by nature spirits and the Pure. Those that are urban have often lost touch with their spiritual practices and are considered traitors by the spirit world. They are the more traditional humans who can take wolf shape. Their legends tell of them descending from Romulus (Romuli).
The jackal tribe calls itself the Anapa and has a long history with the Ubesti in Egypt. Warring with werewolves over territory has diminished their numbers and now they keep to the deserts of North Africa, for the most part. They gather in mated pairs rather than packs to defend their territory. In mindset, they are closest to the Pure.
The lion tribe calls itself the Ubesti and is obsessed with dominating human civilization, tracing their bloodline back to Bastet and bemoaning their fall from prominence in Egyptian culture. They tend to in-breed with African royal lineages but aren't beyond setting themselves up as dictators through coups. They are the only primarily social were-cat, forming family dynasties around male leaders, and their females are the warriors. They generally have an antagonistic relationship with werewolves of both factions.
The tiger tribe is scattered and has no single name or mythology. It exists in small family units with their own traditions and culture.
The bear tribe calling itself the Berserkir is composed of isolated, solitary folk. They have no unifying principles, each having their own agenda, but are known to work for pay as mercenaries, bodyguards, or other roles that take advantage of their immense strength.
Because of the rarity of shape-shifters, there is a strong cultural prohibition against killing one another.
