The Dark Litany

- Serve the Wyrm in all its forms -
The Thirteen Tribes continually war with each other, but the forces of the Wyrm must be stronger. This mandate enforces the tribe's unity, allowing their alliance with such diverse societies as PenteX and the Sabbat. Service to the Wyrm is more important than a philosophical debate.

- Beware the territory of another -
This dictum allows separate Hives to maintain separate territories. Competition for land is usually not a problem, since most new Hives are created from distant Garou caerns. This law also applies when Black Spirals from different Hive encounter each others within the tunnels of the underworld. A Black Spiral may travel through the tunnels of another Hive as long as he does not endanger it. If he does, the transgressor is tortured and devoured by the offended werewolves.

- Slay those who will not join you -
Offering a Garou the chance to walk the Spiral is a signal honor. Prisoners are sometimes offered the chance to transmogrify instead of submitting to hours of messy torture. Those treated with such esteem should show proper deference. Those who reject such overtures are destroyed.

- Respect all those who serve the Wyrm -
This stricture allows Hives to consider ideas advanced by humans with PenteX and Sabbat vampires. Though they may choose to disregard the Veil or extol the use of technology, they both serve the Wyrm. Black Spirals may also accord a modicum of respect to Garou who are on the long dark path toward corruption. One might argue against slaying a Shadow Lord cultist or Uktena occultist outright if they believe the cur is destined to walk the Shattered Labyrinth.

- The Veil shall not be lifted -
This idea is not only upheld by Garou and Black Spirals alike, but by most supernatural creatures. By enacting their schemes silently and discreetly, Black Spirals can hide from the Garou who hunt them, infiltrate human society more thoroughly, an employ the advantage of surprise. In a more general context, this dictum becomes a point of contention between Black Spirals and the Sabbat. The werewolves don't care for plans that force them to compromise the secrecy of their Hives, but also don't mind if Sabbat vampires bring human retribution down upon themselves.

- Do not suffer thy people to tend to thy sickness -
Unlike some Tribes of the Garou Nation, the Black Spirals uphold this dictum religiously. A weak cub should not grow old enough to poison the tribe's gene pool. A weak elder is a liability, and if he can't defeat challenges to his position, he should be destroyed. As a corollary to this, some Black Spirals are so insane that they pose a threat to the security of the Hive. In this case, they are either made ronin or torn limb from limb in sacrifice to dark powers.

- The leader may be challenged at any time during peace -
This stricture has remained in intact since the days of the White Howlers. Defeating Black Spirals of renown is an effective way to gain infamy and power. If a leader can not defeat his own followers, then he has no right to lead them against their enemies.

- The leader shall not be challenged in times of war -
Once battle begins, the forces of the Wyrm must be united. This is the Black Spirals chief advantage over the Thirteen Tribes. Admittedly, arguing this point of the Dark Litany is difficult, as the tribe is always involved in some sort of conflict, but it's usually reserved for when an outright skirmish has begun. There are few notable exceptions, such as when a vampire or Nephendus is attempting to lead Black Spirals into battle and does so poorly.

- Ye shall take no action that causes a Pit to be violated -
The interpretation of this guideline usually applies to secrecy and security. If anyone that is not a Black Spiral Dancer or Wyrm-spirit enters a Pit, he must be killed swiftly. Prisoners are never brought back to a Pit, nor does anyone speak of the sanctum outside its boundaries. If prisoners are honored with an invitation to the Shattered Labyrinth, the Rite of the Black Spiral must be performed away from the Hive's sanctum.

(Taken from Werewolf: the Apocalypse Book of the Wyrm 2nd Edition, pages 94 - 96)

The Path of the Dark Spiral