This rite stands as evidence of the Uratha’s millennia of conflict with the spirit world. The lore of the People states that this rite was first taught by Father Wolf himself, so that his half-flesh descendants could hunt spirit prey alongside their Father and the Firstborn. The rite blesses the teeth and fangs of a werewolf, so that he can catch and rend an ephemeral spirit as if it were solid flesh. The ritemaster invokes allied wolf-spirits or spirits closely allied to the brood of his totem, for few other spirits could be compelled to empower this rite.
Performing the Rite
The ritemaster cuts either herself or her subject with a claw, and uses the blood to mark a glyph on the forehead and on the back of each hand. As she does so, she intones a blessing in the name of Father Wolf and the Firstborn. The bloodstained glyphs remain visible for the duration of the rite’s blessing, which may strike fear into any spirits who recognize them.