Wolves are social creatures that instinctively require hierarchy among their packs, and werewolves inherit a portion of that instinct. The spirits of the Shadow recognize an order of rank and power, and werewolves are connected to that structure. A werewolf might find himself compelled to increase his personal standing among werewolves and spirits alike, earning the right to control more territory and learn greater Gifts. The measure of the recognition he craves is Renown.
Renown represents a werewolf’s reputation among the People and among the denizens of the spirit world, but it isn’t merely a measurement of social standing. The trait is attained through ritual acknowledgment of one’s deeds, and it’s as visible as a brand to spirits. In fact, when a werewolf enters the spirit world, her Renown becomes clearly visible to any observer as a series of bright, silvery brands. The patterns and designs the brands take detail the type of Renown the character has earned, while the extent of the branding quantifies the amount. Indeed, a werewolf with high Renown outranks many spirits, as if he were an Incarna himself.
Renown does not imply any other sort of fame or status, like the Merits of the same names. A powerful werewolf might be a hermit whose name is known to no human, but he could be widely known among spirits and Uratha for a lifetime of sacrifice and courage.
There are five categories of Renown, each of which is tracked separately. Each type of Renown is tightly associated with an auspice and tribe, representing the ideals to which those affiliations aspire. The Renown categories associated with your character’s auspice and tribe are his primary Renown types. At no point may a character have more dots in another Renown than he does in his highest primary Renown. An Elodoth Hunter in Darkness with Honor ••• and Purity •• can have up to three dots in any other Renown category, but cannot raise any other to •••• without first increasing his Honor or Purity to ••••.