Kinfolk

Kinfolk are human beings or wolves who have some Garou ancestry, but are not werewolves. The relationship of kinfolk with Garou varies wildly from tribe to tribe, with some treating them as near-equals, and others as chattel property. Kinfolk are usually seen as belonging to one particular tribe, especially if they are of one of the pure lineages of the Garou.

Garou are dependent on kinfolk, in that the kinfolk can interact more normally with human society. Kinfolk are also highly prized as mates, as the offspring of such a liasion has a 1 in 10 chance of being Garou; the rest of the offspring will be kinfolk. The other reason that kinfolk are desirous as mates is that they are immune to the Delerium, the mental state of abject fear that most humans experience when they see a werewolf in their war form. Kinfolk are also highly resistant to the Curse, and do not slowly go insane while in the presence of a Garou whose Rage is higher than the human's Willpower. Kinfolk are also able to take the Pure Breed background, meaning that any Garou progeny will be blessed with a particularly pure bloodline.

That said, one might think that the kinfolk would get a little respect. Not necessarily! Many of the more traditional tribes expect every Garou to follow the dictates of the tribal elder, and also expect that kinfolk will do the same. The history of the Hidden Walk is rife with tales of tragedy when a kinfolk fell in love with a Garou outside his or her tribe.

Though the focus on GarouMUSH tends to be on the human kinfolk, there are wolf kinfolk as well, particularly in the national park lands.

The Sept of the Hidden Walk has several standing rules regarding kinfolk--that they may only be punished by the Elder of their tribe, and that they are not allowed to carry silver weapons. How well enforced these rules are varies with from tribe to tribe and depending on the current Sept Alpha.

GarouMUSH also has two house rules that depart from White Wolf canon:

• The offspring of a kinfolk with the Pure Breed background are not more likely to be Garou
• Kinfolk are not allowed Gnosis, or to perform rites or use gifts. Sorry.