Allies are people who help and support you, either out of love or common interest. They can be family, friends,

or even organizations that are friendly to you. Some allies have useful skills — doctors, hackers, and soldiers, for example — while others have community influence, with contacts or resources they can use on your behalf. Although allies aid you willingly, without coaxing or coercion, they are not always available to offer assistance; they can only ignore so many of their own concerns for the sake of your relationship. Except in special circumstances, your allies don’t usually know you are a werewolf (that knowledge would probably alter the relationship for the worse), but they may know that you have contacts and skills that most people don’t, and they will come to you for favors. After all, friends help each other out, right?

You’ve got a closer relationship with your allies than with contacts — they’re your friends, and they’ll listen to you. Convincing your fishing buddy that a local refinery is spilling toxins into a major fishery can do wonders for your cause when he’s an aide in the governor’s office. Of course, just as your allies are more loyal and directly useful than your contacts, they can also require more in return. But you’d help your buddies out, right?

You should work out who your allies are at the beginning of the game, as well as how you know them. Maybe they’re old brothers-in-arms or friends from a local environmental society. Maybe (if your Allies rating is 5) you’re an old hunting buddy of the governor.

Allies may be pooled among a pack. • One ally, of moderate influence and power (doctor or veterinarian, local activist) •• Two allies, both of moderate power (district ranger, deputy sheriff, popular blogger) ••• Three allies, one of them quite influential (news­ paper editor, local philanthropist). •••• Four allies, one of them very influential (city councilman, military base commander). ••••• Five allies, one of them extremely influential (mayor, senator’s aide)