(updated April 24, 2006)
The local packs have banded together for the greater good and to pool scarce resources. This structure is called the League (or Den).
Any local pack can petition to join the League and accept their authority. Likewise, the League can determine if they want to accept a new pack into their ranks. This process can often involve a test of some type. Joining a pack that is part of the League includes joining the League. Once a pack joins, there are dire consequences for leaving (to be determined).
Packs remain the base unit of Uratha society. Your pack is your family and your territory is your home. Packs are responsible for patrolling (and exploring) their own territory, each of which has a varying number of resources. Territory boundaries are defined and generally undisputed. Occasionally a pack may make a case to the League for shifting the territory boundaries (for example, if another pack lacks enough members, or is neglecting a particular area).
The League meeting is hosted by a different pack every month. The host pack is expected to provide a suitable place to meet, and in return expect a certain amount of courtesy from the visiting packs.
It is possible that a Uratha can be a member of the League without having a pack. These members are often looked down upon because they do not contribute to patrolling or maintaining the territory. If packless members of the League wish to form a new pack, they must petition to the Auspice Council for entry.
A League member is not required to choose a tribe, but they are required to swear the Oath of the Moon if they decide to remain a Ghost Wolf.
League Facilitator – Acts as a mediator to the Moon Pack, and fills in for a position if there are no attendees of the appropriate auspice. This is the person most knowledgeable in the laws of the League. Acts as Chair for the Moon Pack, but does not normally get a vote.
The Moon Pack is not a literal pack. Members still belong to their own packs.
Instead, the Moon Pack acts as an Auspice Council. This Council effectively acts as a Blessed Pack, with leadership falling to the appropriate auspice depending on the situation. The Moon Pack often discusses all aspects of the situation and each Lead is wise to listen to the advice of his fellow Leads.
The Moon Pack is comprised of the Lead Uratha of each auspice. They are responsible for making sure that the goals and purposes of their auspice are being fulfilled. By default, this position is first offered to the Uratha of the appropriate auspice with the highest renown in their auspice category. Ties are decided differently for every auspice. Common ways include challenges of some type or using other renown as a tie breaker.
In the cases where there are no League members of the appropriate auspice to fill a Lead position, a Uratha of a different auspice may be selected by the Moon Pack to fulfill that role. Often this is a Uratha with a good deal of Renown in the favored category of the auspice in question (ex: Cunning for the Irraka).
In addition, each Lead position has a set responsibility that they are expected to fulfill or to delegate to someone competent. Each member of the Moon Pack is expected to serve as a mentor for other members of his auspice and to exemplify the qualities of their auspice. In addition, each Lead has final say on matters pertaining to their jurisdiction.
Lead Full Moon (Rahu) – Leads the Warrior troop. The Lead Full Moon is expected to know the combat strengths and weaknesses of each member (particularly the other rahu) of the League. He is also expected to contribute heavily to battle plans and has final say in matters of strategy and combat. He can serve as a mentor for new Rahu and ideally should exemplify the qualities of Purity. He serves as or appoints the War Leader.
War Leader – (often but not always a Rahu) is in charge of appointing a Troop Alpha for every expedition. He often decides who should go and how resources are best used in combat. He doesn’t decide when to fight, simply how best to fight.
Lead Gibbous Moon (Cahalith) – Leads the Dreamer ring – Cahaliths of each pack track and report their pack’s glorious activities to the Lead. The Lead Gibbous Moon organizes (or sometimes performs) a recitation of the League’s recent accomplishments, or other news of interest. She sings of their glories and lessons learned. Has final say in matters of the Newly Changed. She is expected to keep up with the dreams of the local Cahalith and bring anything significant before the Council. She also serves as the Envoy, or public face of the Council. She serves as or appoints the Met Fac.
Change Mentor (better name?) – searches for new changes and helps to train them (Often a Cahalith). Newly changed Uratha are a very valuable resource, if only to keep them out of the hands of the Pure. Every ally that can be trained while young is one less enemy they will have to face later. She also looks after new arrivals and ensures they understand the rules of the League.
Pack-Kenner – Tracks the wolf-blooded and sets up matches. Helps new changes find packs.
Lead Half Moon (Elodoth) – Leads Council of Judges – The Council of Judges is comprised of all the Elodoths of the League. The Council of Judges is called upon to hear, debate and decide on any matters of violations of the Oath of the Moon. The Lead Half Moon has final say in matters of Uratha law. He serves as or appoints the positions of Master of Challenges and Spirit Keeper.
Master of Challenges (usually an Elodoth) – Serves as a neutral party when two members of the League issue a Challenge. He helps both sides negotiate terms for the challenge, ensures that the agreed-upon rules are followed by both parties and officially declares the winner.
Spirit Keeper – Always a Uratha with a significant number of Honor renown. The Spirit Keeper is responsible for maintaining the relations with the local spirits. He negotiates spirit deals on behalf of the League. He also ensures that the League Uratha are not excessively abusing the local spirit population. Deals that affect only a local pack can usually be handled without the Spirit Keeper. The Spirit Keeper works closely with Lead Crescent Moon.
Lead Crescent Moon (Ithaeur) – Leads the Circle of Mystics – The Lead Crescent Moon is the master of the Spirits and the Hisil. She decides the best approach to handle spirits. While the Elodoth is the one chosen for peaceful negotiations, and the Rahu chosen for violent negotiations, the Ithaeur is the one who plans the strategies and makes the final decisions in matters of Spirits. She serves as or appoints the Master of Rites.
Master of Rites (Often a bone shadow or Ithaeur) – Either performs the appropriate rites as required, or otherwise coordinates the people who can perform them. The Master of Rites is expected to keep track of the members of the League who can perform rites and which rites they have or lack.
Lead New Moon (Irraka) – Leads the Stalker (posse?) – The Lead New Moon is expected to coordinate any required recon or intelligence gathering missions. To this end, he usually knows the stealth / recon strengths and weaknesses of each Irraka, and often of the entire League. He servers as or appoints the Guardian.
Guardian (often an Iron Master or Irraka) – watches the mortals for signs of trouble. Often has allies & newspaper contacts. Any ripples in the web of the Guardian nearly always indicate trouble brewing. The Guardian watches the human news for unusual activity that could indicate trouble.
It is possible to become a member of the Moon Pack by successfully challenging the current Auspice Lead. Each Auspice Lead should recognize a Beta to stand in their place if they are unable to attend a meeting. Again, this can be a member of another Auspice if there aren’t any of the traditional Auspice available. Missing too many meetings is an excellent way to find yourself ousted from the position.
If any given meeting of the league lacks a certain Auspice, the League Facilitator temporarily fulfills this role.
The Tribal council is secondary to the Auspice council and often much more informal. It is comprised of the eldest League member of each tribe. This council is often more informal as not all tribes are always represented. The positions are filled by the Eldest of each tribe. These positions are accorded to the most respected by members of their tribe (most tribal renown), and decided differently for each tribe. While they rarely meet as a council, the Eldest are most often called on to handle matters of breaches of a Tribal Oath, or new initiates petitioning to join their respective tribe.