The Protectorate is a binding document signed by all Garou Elders within West Virginia on February 23rd, 1922.  It came about as a result of the teeming hordes of Wyrmcreatures that were massing all throughout West Virginia.  The Garou within West Virginia were not powerful in and of themselves, and their numbers were not near the numbers needed to defeat the Wyrm in their territories.  An Elder Shadow Lord, Screamer of Wyrmdeath's Song, suggested that they ask for aid from the Vampires of Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Screamer managed to convince a large number of the other Garou that the Vampires he would asked would not be of the Wyrm, and that they could trust his judgement in these matters.  The Garou grudgingly agreed, although the Get of Fenris and Black Furies among the West Virginia Garou voiced their heartfelt revulsion at the idea.
    As payment for his services, the 5th Generation Ventrue Vampire Albrecht Blake secured  mining and logging rights in the Mountain State.  In return, the Garou would be aided in their struggle with well-trained and efficient soldiers with the added bonus of an assurance that the War in the Woods would not be noticed by outsiders.  The War was successful for the Garou and Blake wasted no time in taking advantage on his new holdings.
    Years passed.  Blake became rich.  West Virginia became poorer and poorer.  Screamer lay dying of a fatal blow struck by a challenger to his position as leader of the Sept of the Saving Hands when he admitted a frightful secret: the infestation had been real, but highly exaggerated by Theurges bribed by Screamer and Blake.  The entire War was an elaborate hoax perpetrated by a handful of Garou and Leeches with the intent to give Screamer and the other conspirators what they wanted (power and rank) and to give the Vampires what they wanted (money).  The Garou who fought in the war and who had lost brothers and sisters to the Wyrm were pushed into a homicidal anger.  A wave of palpable rage swept the state.  Garou flooded in from all corners of the United States.  The largest Leech Hunt in history completely rid West Virginia of vampires.  The Garou consiprators were similarly murdered in the largest Rite of Gaia's Vengeful Teeth ever enacted.
    Despite the horrible events, it was immediately apparent (after the blood stopped pouring) that what remained of West Virginia was a treasure to be protected.  There were no Leeches to worry about and the Wyrm was all but banished.  It was decided that the only way to maintain the relative peace of West Virginia was to unite the Tribes under a single banner and dedicate themselves to keeping the Wyrm out of West Virginia.  So the Protectorate was signed and enacted, and has remained a solid force against evil and corruption.

(recently, attempts have been made to expand the "Territory of Peace," what the Garou call the land within the boundaries of West Virginia, piece by piece, Wyrmhole by Wyrmhole.  These attempts have been somewhat successful, but the few attempts have occurred within theh last five years and have not reaped any rewards.  Many on the Council are afraid of expanding too rapidly in fear of the Wyrm taking advantage of Gaia's thinned defense.)