Hart Wardens

The Stewards of the Wild

The Hart Wardens are the dedicated keepers and stewards of Gaia’s sacred places. While other Garou might fight to destroy the Wyrm or adapt to urban life, the Hart Wardens seek to nurture and protect specific regions, whether they are pristine wildernesses or blighted areas in need of revival. They are the Garou who have one foot in the modern world and another in the myths and legends of their own making.

Their story begins in an ancient time, when their ancestors pursued a magnificent hart through the primeval forests. The hart, revealing itself as the mighty spirit Stag, offered them a pact. In exchange for their loyalty and dedication to a specific place, Stag granted them a home and the sacred duty of tending to all the lands they had crossed. Since that day, the Hart Wardens have taken this pledge to heart, dedicating themselves to a region, a purpose, or even a person, and tending to it with fierce loyalty.

They see the world as a bounty to be cultivated and shared, but also as a fragile thing that must be protected from those who would exploit it. The Hart Wardens have a curious blend of old and new ways, honoring a hierarchy based on duty and obligation rather than wealth. They are fiercely loyal to their tribe, their pack, and their Patron, and they will defend their home with a ferocity that few can match. Woe to any who abuse their hospitality, for a Hart Warden will turn from a gracious host to a terrifying avenger in an instant.

The Patron Spirit of the Hart Wardens is Stag, the father of the forest and a spirit of great influence over nature. Stag and his tribe are associated with Glory, and the Hart Wardens take immense pride in their role. They celebrate their history through songs and stories, with their Galliards earning great respect for their ability to stoke the fires of their legends.

Stag bestows a powerful Favor on his followers, granting them a bonus die to any dice pool involving Survival, Animal Ken, or nature-related Craft. This spiritual guidance fuels their ability to protect and cultivate the natural world. However, Stag demands strict adherence to the ancient traditions of hospitality. The Ban of the Hart Wardens is clear: if harm comes to someone while they are under a Hart Warden’s care, that Garou may only recover a single Willpower at the start of the next session. This rule reinforces their sacred duty to be both a protector and a gracious host.

Whether a pack’s Huntsman is a modern warden of the wilds with intimate knowledge of the land, a Digital Caern Strategist is using modern game theory to protect a sacred space, an Emcee is spreading their tribe's legend through defiant songs, or a Local Legend is using their terrifying reputation to keep a sacred place safe, every Hart Warden is dedicated to their sacred duty. They are a testament to the fact that Gaia's fight is not just about battle, but about building and nurturing a new home for the future.