An auspice is the sign of the moon that you are born under. It is set at birth, not at first change (vs W:tF). The various auspices have traditional roles in garou society, and that changes which spirits are friendliest with the individual garou and how they interact.
However they are not absolutes, they are a role you have in addition to your character's background. You can be musical without being a galliard, you can be a combat character without being an ahroun, you could be interested in the spirits without being an theurge. Additionally, much like the divisions between what constitutes one moon phase and the next are a bit blurry, sometimes auspice duties also blur together - a pack that has a galliard and no philodox might find that the galliard starts to take on some of the aspects of a philodox.
Ragabash - No Moon: breaker of the ways
Ragabashi are traditionally scouts, sneaky or stealthy. They
are born under the dark of the moon and that influences their role.
They are also sometimes comic figures - the omega of a pack that
is 'allowed' to make fun of the elders. Ragabash also have a role
doing things "wrong" - in a tribal situation they might wear the
other gender's clothing, or try to do the impossible things.
The role is there to find acceptable new ways to do things.
D&D Mockery: Rogue
Theurge - Crescent Moon: seers, spirit magics
Theurges are traditionally the auspice that knows the most
spirit magic, or knows the most about interacting with the Umbra (spirit
world). They are not necessarily the best at interacting with spirits,
but they are the auspice who is expected to learn the
Rites of the garou. They often end up seeming a bit crazed due
to spirit geases.
D&D Mockery: Mage
Philodox - Half Moon: judges, diplomats, advocates
Philodoxen are traditionally the garou expected to be best at standing
between two different situations and forming the bridge. They might be
the human-facing member of a pack, or be the Elder in charge of interacting
with the spirit world on behalf of a sept. They stand between the
darkness and the light, to paraphase bab5.
D&D Mockery: Cleric
Galliard - Gibbous Moon: lore keepers, artists
The Galliard is expected to be able to partake in traditional
activities such as poetry and singing in order to convey the stories
of their pack, but other artistic expressions are often regarded
as being valid, including physical arts such as dance or sculpture.
They are expected to remember the history of the Garou.
The galliard remembers precedent, the philodox makes judgement.
D&D Mockery: Bard
Ahroun - Full moon: warriors, war leaders
All garou are warriors, but the ahrouns are meant to be the war
leaders, the exempleary fighter at the front of the pack delivering
the vengeance of gaia to her enemies. Its not just jamming the claws
in, its knowing tactics and strategy and using the strengths of your
pack as a single unit.
D&D Mockery: Fighter
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