Places

According to the Garou, the Earth lies at the heart of the Umbra — after all, it’s Gaia’s realm. Glass Walker Theurges have spent centuries compiling and comparing charts that detail the Near Umbral Realms orbiting the Earth, just as human astronomers once compiled proof that the Earth orbits the sun.

This world of physical matter is separated from ephem­ eral spiritual realms by a barrier known as the Gauntlet. Surrounding Earth’s physical reality, it separates the mun­ dane from the spiritual. Any traveler who would leave the physical world for the Umbra must cross the Gauntlet. Garou do this by passing through places where the veil is thin. This barrier between worlds makes it harder for otherworldly spirits to enter the physical world, although the most dangerous spirits are only delayed by it. When something is powerful enough to cross over from the spirit world to the physical world, the Garou must serve as Gaia’s protectors.

At times, the two worlds pull towards each other with a palpable force, but the Gauntlet keeps them isolated. It’s

not a constant, however. In some places, the Gauntlet is strong enough that the physical world is spiritually dead. To the Garou, a high-tech laboratory were the laws of science are scrutinized might seem sterile and sanitized beneath its humming fluorescent lights. In other places, powerful spiritual energy courses through the physical realm, making it seem as though revelation, transcen­ dence, or enlightenment is close at hand. Werewolves running through the depths of a thriving wilderness may feel as though they might pass through into the Umbra as easily as diving into the crystalline waters of a pure and tranquil lake.

The forces of the Triat — the Weaver, Wyld, and Wyrm — play their respective roles in this separation between the two worlds. As human civilization encroaches more on the wild and pristine places of the world, the webs of the Weaver contain the glory of the Wyld. The barrier between worlds then grows stronger, and the spirit world is pushed farther away.

In places where the Gauntlet is thin, the Garou pro­ tect the physical world by creating caerns: sacred places on Earth where the physical and spiritual worlds meet. Garou gather in caerns to enact rituals affecting their bodies and spirits. A caern is usually the easiest and most discreet place to enter the Umbra, although the world presents many alternatives to this.

Some supernatural creatures, including werewolves, have learned methods of crossing the Gauntlet from the physical world into the Umbra. All Garou have this Gaia-given ability — it’s their birthright, their legacy, and an intuitive ability they inherit from the time of their First Change. However, most werewolves are unaware of this talent, and they usually don’t attempt it until an elder shows them the way. Garou call this practice “stepping sideways.”

Traveling through places where the Gauntlet is thick is virtually impossible; crossing over where the Gauntlet is thin comes as naturally as controlling one’s breathing. Spiritualists can learn more exotic methods of crossing this barrier, such as circumventing the Gauntlet entirely by traveling to the spirit world in dreams. Mages and other willworkers have their own methods for crossing the Gauntlet; in fact, packs of werewolves may encounter such visionaries on their travels.

Walking Between Worlds

System

To step sideways, a werewolf needs to medi­ tate on a highly reflective surface, such as a clear pool of water or a mirror. When a character attempts this, roll that character’s Gnosis; the difficulty is the strength of the local Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is strongest near certain types of environments; every place on Earth has a Gauntlet rating between 2 and 9.

Some shapeshifters cannot attempt this or have different methods for crossing the Gauntlet. The time it takes to enter the Umbra depends on the number of successes on this Gnosis roll.