This ancient ritual has long been used to protect choice mortals against the depredations of the Shadow Realm. Werewolves do not choose these mortals by virtue of worldly importance. Rather, werewolves aim to deny active spirits those humans the Shadow denizens desire in the endless game the two factions play. Bestowing the Shadowblind Cloak conceals a mortal behind a veil of uninteresting normalcy. Spirits that once hungered after the human’s body or soul now ignore her completely, and even those desperate and hungering after a mortal vessel pass over the person in favor of anything — or even nothing — else.
Performing the Rite
The ritualist makes a wreath out of any vine (ivy is most common) and hangs it with six iron bells. The construction of the object is done at night under the new moon, when Luna averts her gaze from Earth, and is part of the ritual. The ritual’s subject need only be present for the very end of the ritual, and it can actually be taken to her: the ritemaster seals the ward by placing the wreath over the subject’s neck. Subjects of this rite are only rarely in the know, and the ritual’s conclusion is usually disguised as part of some celebration.
