Wolves are creatures of dominance and submission, mastery and servitude. The Shadow Lords take this quite literally and strive to master all they survey. Shadow lords see the Garou as the ultimate life form on the planet. Therefore, the Garou are the obvious rulers. Furthermore, as far as they're concerned, there is no tribe greater than the Shadow Lords. With that in mind, it doesn't take a genius to figure out the tribe's agenda. In the end, the only thing the Shadow Lords respect from Garou of other tribes is power. Even so, they are always ready to displace their rivals at the slightest sign of weakness.

Though some argue that knowing too well the lures and seductions of the Wyrm beats a quick path to corruption, the Shadow Lords cultivate a unique perspective on the Wyrm that few Garou share. After all, how better to understand its method and madness than to skirt around its edges, learning its scent? Experience not withstanding, the Shadow Lords recognize the enemy's face and understand is intentions better than most Garou - a strength of immeasurable value when resources are slight. Moreover, from their insights stem truly terrifying Shadow Lord Gifts. However, the Shadow Lords must be careful not to drink too deeply of the Urges, lest their dark strengths can become their greatest weaknesses. Their pride and arrogance is easily warped by the Wyrm into full-blown megalomania.

The Shadow Lords boast a chain of command that would make any corporate division proud. No member is ignorant of his position, power, or more importantly, responsibilities. At the lower end, eager young pups stand ready to fill any vacancy that opens up in the ranks, including vacancies that they sometimes create. Those already in positions of power are constantly on guard against capable upstarts. All in all, the Shadow Lord drive for dominance creates a constant current of change and uncertainty, as those in power inevitably miss a step sooner or later and are brought down. The Shadow Lords' believe in the right to rule through outmaneuvering, outgunning, overpowering, backstabbing and/or assassination - and the right to keep a position in the same ways.

It is the custom among them to undergo a tribe/pack Rite of Passage beyond that normally instituted by the Sept. Such ordeals are usually designed by the alpha of the pack to put the young Garou in a compromising situation in effort to acquaint him or her with the darker emotions of desperation.

When it comes to dealing with the Wyrm, the Shadow Lords use deception and trickery first, only putting themselves in physical harm when it seems that all other options have been expended. This strategy allows them to develop and maintain some indirect relationships with those elements that are close to the vampire and Black Spiral Dancer communities, manipulating them so that they may encourage the Wyrm's resources to destroy itself. They also possess a more intimate knowledge of Wyrm spirits and Banes and are usually best at noticing and tracking their scent. However, when Shadow Lords do resort to direct confrontation, they tend to organize very complete and deadly raids, designed to leave little trace of their involvement (which helps them maintain their contacts for future use.

The Shadow Lords of Sept of the Naiad's Buried Heart comprise their own pack, although more out of the suspicion of others than by choice, called the Children of Thunder. By normal standards, the Children are a perverse lot, competitive and proud. But their influence among the mundane world is surprisingly (but intentionally) extensive and diverse.  The Children of Thunder are the longtime rivals of the Silver Fangs. Their competition with each other is said to have begun when the first Shadow Lords arrived in the Sept in the 19th century, though didn't get started in earnest until the early 1900's when the Shadow Lord wrested control of the sept leadership from the Silver Fangs and held on until issues with the erection of the Quabbin reservoir dam caused their downfall.  Since then, the two tribes contested with each other for overall influence - by and large, the Shadow Lords have dominated during times of war and the Silver Fangs during peace. However, there have been notable exceptions.

Among the Sept, no tribe or pack controls their families as strictly as the Shadow Lords. Though their brutal treatment of Kinfolk at times has raised the attentions of the Sept leaders, the Shadow Lords have maintained (albeit it not well received) obedience and submission. Problem elements within the family are quickly subdued most often through physical or social means. It is well known that the Shadow Lords have been trying for many years to produce as many offspring as possible. To this end, as soon as Shadow Lord Kinfolk become fertile, they are arranged to mate with members of the tribe.

The Shadow Lords dominated the Sept of the Salamander's Soul in Worcester throughout its existence, until they were killed when the caern was lost to the Wyrm.  It is said that they fought nobly before their deaths - the Shadow Lords sing of this loss on each anniversary.  In Boston, the Shadow Lords have been gaining influence in the Sept of the Zephyr's Mind, though they have the smallest number of any tribe in the Sept.

Within the last year, the Children of Thunder have been driving the successful efforts to reclaim territory from the Black Spiral Dancers in the northeast and central regions of the state. The disposition of the territory is unclear, however. So much territory has been liberated that it is unlikely that the Children, given their current strength, will be able to maintain an effective hold on the area without assistance.

Attitudes towards other Garou:

Black Furies: There is something respectable in their taking control of their lives and making their world as they wish it to be. Their politics, however, can be used against them all too easily. One could argue that their gender bias against men is not practical in this twilight time before the Apocalypse.

Bone Gnawers: We have little respect for Garou who cannot stand by their Septmates when things begin to go afoul. Though they are indeed survivors, they tend to appreciate helping humans before helping Garou. It is difficult to reckon on an individual basis whether their concern for others is genuine or a cover for lack of accountability.

Children of Gaia: Action through inaction. Do not underestimate these Garou, for their agendas are just as ambitious as any you'll find. However, none are so pitiful to see fall to Harano - a Child of Gaia without hope is an irrecoverable soul.

Fianna: Their passion and history is rich and none are so close to the Fey. Outside of their own, they are often remarkably open-minded. But they hide their fiery tempers poorly, especially from each other.

Get Fenris: Of all the tribes, none are so single minded of purpose and adherent to their honor as the Get. But all too frequently, they put their own ideals against those of the Sept. But once set upon a task, they will not stop until it is completed.

Glass Walkers: As foreign to most Garou as the easterns are to the western world, these Garou understand that to overcome one must learn to adapt to the situation at hand. There just might be something in their obsession with the Weaver, too.

Red Talons: Mysterious and alien, these lupus Garou seek not the trappings of human society. They do not speak loudly against Eating The Flesh Of Humans, either. But territory...that is a subject very close to their feral hearts.

Silent Striders: Unreliable and vapid, but occasionally wise when it counts, the Garou of this tribe are never satisfied to establish a domain of their own. It is both a blessing and curse to have no roots - trusted by few but beholding to no one.

Silver Fangs: Arrogance defined. Much like the British royal family, their inbreeding is to blame for the myriad of genetically based quirks they exhibit. However, their efforts to rally Garou into action can carry a persuasive momentum. Those who have earned their nobility, however, are strong Garou, indeed. It is not so much ambition of power they desire - they crave the regard of their fellow Garou most of all.

Stargazers: These Garou look as much into their souls as they do into the night sky for answers. Their search for "truth" is an easy path to admire; however, do not underestimate them. Their effectiveness stems from the all too common prejudice that inner peace comes at the cost of denying violence.

Uktena: Secretive and untrusting, the Uktena seek to learn all their is to know about the world so that they will be prepared for when their knowledge is needed. They view us with a careful eye due to our understanding of the Wyrm (second only to ours), though they should scrying their own hearts to discover what corruption lurks within.

Wendigo: They do not like us for our European heritage. And indeed, the crimes against them have been great. At times, one wishes to distance one's self from history. Alas, it seems the rift is too great. But like all groups born of political ideals, their sensibilities can blind them into being more easily manipulated.