The Litany is the great song of ages containing the traditions, codes, and laws of the Garou. All Philodox are required to lean it by heart and most good Moon Dancers learn a significant portion of it. The Fianna are the true Masters of the Litany, and even their Ragabash know most of its intricacies-- ideal for extricating themselves from various situations.
The following are some of the basic tenets of the Litany, there are many others, often varying by sept or tribe.
1. Garou Shall Not Mate With Garou. Because of the deformities and psychoses displayed by Metis werewolves (and the age-old prejudice correspondingly levied against metis), Garou are forbidden to mate with their own kind. Werewolves must instead seek mates among either human or wolf society. This tenet embodies one of the great Garou tragedies; Moon Dancers often move audiences to tears with ballads of Garou who fell in love and could not express their passion -- or who did and were torn to pieces by their outraged tribe.
2. Combat the Wyrm Wherever It Dwells and Whenever It Breeds: The Garou were spawned, so say the bards, to fight the Wyrm, as much of their early history comprises battles between their great heroes and the Wyrm's minions. Most garou pay at least lip service to this tradition. (Reality Check: In recent ages, many Garou have forgotten or simply ignored their mission. In creasing political tension, competition for living space, and the general complexity (and unattactiveness) of the homid world have taken their toll.)
3. Respect the Territory of Another: The practice of this portion of the Litany has changed over the last few centuries; humans have spread to the extent that urinating one's territorial markings has become impractical. Instead a Garou visitor or immigrant must first ask permission by singing the Howl of Introduction, reciting name, sept, lineage, totem, and tribe. (Reality Check: The Glass Walkers and other urban garou consider howling in public uncouth and will accept a telephone call or fax from a visitor. Many younger Garou ignore this portion of the Litany altogether, considering it "fascist.")
4: Accept an Honorable Surrender: The Garou realize that they are a dwindling race and that intraspecies duels commonly occur. Realizing that continuous battles to the death would only advance the Wyrm's cause, the Children of Gaia and Fianna incorporated this element into the Litany. In theory, a Garou combatant may end a duel by exposing her throat; the opponent in honor-bound to accept the surrender. The loser suffers no reduction in Renown, although the winner may certainly gain Renown. (Reality Check: In practice, this element is not commonly invoked. Certain tribes consider losing to be shameful, and damn the Litany if it says otehrwise! Wendigo, Silver Fangs, Shadow Lords and, especially Get of Fenris lose considerable respect among their peers by surrendering. Additionally, Get of Fenris are notorious for "accidentally" ignoring a surrender, instead tearing out the offered throat.)
5: Submission to those of Higher Station: Garou's wolf nature practically enforces hierarchical structure within their society. Thus the Garou have implemented the concepts of Renown and Rank. Within reason, any request by a Garou of a higher Rank is to be obeyed. (Reality Check: Many of the younger homid Garou scoff at the idea of kowtowing to a bunch of blunt-fanged, mangy, crusty, broken-down old alphas. The Bone Gnawers all but ignore this portion of the Litany (otherwise, they argue with a sneer, they would have to spend their entire lives submitting.) The Silent Striders, Children of Gaia, Stargazers and other egalitarian werewolves espouse personal choice in the matter of whom to respect. The Silver Fangs and Shadow Lords, of course, enforce this edict with iron claws.)
6: The First Share of the Kill for the Greatest in Station: This portion of the Litany is much favored by the Garou elders, as well as such tribes as the Silver Fangs and Shadow Lords; it is grudgingly acquiesced by the rest. The 'kill clause' also applies to the spoils of war -- thus, in theory, the prey's most powerful fetishes and the like may be garnered by the Garou with the highest Renown. (Reality Check: By their nature, packs subject all tenets of Garou soceity to interpretation. Very few packs allow one member to keep all the best loot all the time. A garou who tries too hard to enforce this edict will probably be obeyed, but should be prepared to accept the consequences of her selfishness.)
7: Ye Shall not Eat the Flesh of Humans: This portion of the Litany was first sung in the post-Impergium days; the Stargazers are believed to be responsible for its insertion. They noticed that garou who routinely consumed human flesh often grew Wyrm-tainted; furhtermore, cannibals had a hard time stalking and killing more challenging prey, such as wooly rhinos or Banes. Additionally, in these modern times, this rule serves as a function similar to the "kosher" laws of the Hebrews; modern humans' chemical-laden diet makes their flesh bitter and unhealthy. (Reality Check: Red Talons scoff at this section of the Litany; indeed, they often make a point of hunting and devouring humans. though they do not like to admit it, many Garou who succumb to frenzy later awaken with a strange taste in their mouths.)
8: Respect for Those beneath Ye -- All Are of Gaia: Garou tend to think of themselves in communal terms, and they thus realize that most creatures have some sort of contribution to make toward the Whole. When all is said and done, Garou were created to be the world's protectors. The chivalric ideal is much in vogue among some septs, and Garou who display a great deal of noblesse oblige may gain Renown. (Reality Check: The Shadow Lords and Get of Fenris pay lip service at best to this edict and would strike it from the Litany if they could. The Bone Gnawers cynically jest it because no one is beneath them instation, they need respect no one. Most tribal gatherings will ignore a younger Garou, frenzied and in Crinos form, who thoughtlessly slays a lesser being such as a deer or human.)
9: The Veil Shall NOT be Lifted: This is perhaps the most inviolate portion of the Litany. There is no "reality check" here -- Garou are aware that both the Wyrm and the Inquisition hunt for them. Garou who disobey this edict die at the claws of their brethren.
10. Do Not Suffer Thy People to Tend Thy Sickness: In the ancient days, an injured, infirm or aged Garou was simply torn to pieces by his peers. As time went on, however, it came to be considered more dignified to let such a Garou end his own life. (Reality Check: The Children of Gaia adamantly believe in natural death and defend their old against the depredations of other tribes. Some older or wounded Garou, particularly those too weak to shapeshift, accept the shame of returning to human or wolf society to die.)
11. The Leader May be Challenged at Any Time during Peace: Though Garou are known for their pack mentality, this does not mean they must slavishly obey their leaders. If no immediate threat is pending, Garou of sufficient standing may challenge another's position of leadership. A contest of some sort is usually staged. If the challenger wins, she assumes the mantle of leadership; if she loses, she must accept the leader's dictates with good grace. (Reality Check: An extremely tough and skilled leader is often virtually immune to challenge. Some unscrupulous packs have challenged a leader one after the other, wearing down the leader and thus ensuring that at least one among the pack wins the leadership position. Certain cunning leaders among the Bone Gnawers and Shadow Lords have declared continuous states of martial law.)
12. The Leader May NOT be Challenged during Wartime: Certain creatures of the Wyrm are monstrous in size and power, and no one Garou can beat them. Pack tactics are vital to the Garou's success against such creatures, and obedience is vital to successful pack tactics. A Garou who disobeys a superior will be destroyed as soon as circumstances permit. (Reality Check: If it is evident that the leader is incompetent, Wyrm-corrupted or under magical control, Half Moon judges often ignore the "insubordination" of a Garou whose disobedience saves a pack or sept. Unfortunately, any renown said subordinate would have otherwise recieved is negated by the technical violation of the Litany.)
13. Ye Shall Take no Action That Causes a Caern to be Violated:Like the preceding clause about the Veil, this rule is fairly ironclad. The caerns are Gaia's lifeblood, and if they are destroyed, the Garou will cease to exist. Even a Garou who accidentally leads an enemy to a caern is often severely punished.
Source Material taken from Werewolf: The Apocalypse Third Edition; Copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing and Gaming Studios, Incorporated.