Corax aren't Lupines, thanks.

Everyone is familiar with werewolves, or at least the concept: an otherwise normal human metamorphasizing into a savage wolf-creature, full of rage and just looking for a fight. Were-ravens, however, are not merely winged werewolves. They do shift from on form to another like werewolves do, but that's about where the similarity ends.

Corax are creatures of curiosity and laughter. They would sooner fly than fight, and they hunt secrets rather than man. When werewolves are in their lupine (wolf) form, they tend towards the hungry instincts of the wolf, but a corax in corvid (bird) form, tends towards the curiosity of the raven. They are flighty, mischievious, and have an insatiable lust for knowledge.

Where the lupines are Gaia's teeth, the corax are her ears and eyes. They watch, spy, listen, and learn. Their ways are not tooth and claw, but watchfulness and speed.

The corax often work with the werewolves, though, since both groups are dedicated to Gaia's service. Of the 'bete' tribes (the non lupine shapeshifters), they are the ones most likely to remain on good terms with the garou, and may even attend their moots and join their packs. Don't mistake this for unqualified friendship however - the differences between the races are sufficient that each remains wary of the other.

There's a few more differences between the corax and lupines... the corax Crinos is not a favored form (unlike some garou who seem to spend most of their time in half-man, half-wolf form). Corax rarely enter their Crinos form, but when they do, its serious stuff. When the adrenaline kicks in, and you get the 'Fight or Flight' response, the garou crinos is all Fight. The corax crinos is geared towards Flight. It is an awkward creature, half human, half bird, and does not have the huge bulk which a crinosed werewolf has... it stays about the same size as a human. It does, however, have a sharp beak and talon-like feet, both of which can do aggravated damage. Once a corax has broken free of entanglement, it will usually fly off into the open air (Yes - they can fly in crinos form, albeit awkwardly). Oddly enough, corax still have 'hands' on the end of their wings, and can manipulate objects in precisely the way which birds can't.

There are no corax metis, either. Corax reproduce through a ritual, not by mating alone. This makes it difficult to trace lineage within the corax tribe, so there are no 'purebreeds', and none of the haughty-taughty superiority which Silver Fangs love to pull.

Speaking of silver, corax are immune. Yes - that's right. Corax take no aggravated damage from silver! None! Corax usually flaunt this fact by wearing silver jewelry and carrying silver weapons (a habit which does little to endear them to the werewolves). Of course, there's a bit of a trade-off. Gold, alas, will affect corax as silver does the garou. (Don't go blabbing this to all your garou friends, either - we like to keep a few secrets, hey?)