It's simple: you bring your Wolverine (or in these cases Nova Cat) force to the board, whip out the banner, raise it high, and dare all challengers to best you. If you lose... meh you held on to your Clans honour to the very last. And if you won theirs a generous amount of waving it in their face for years to come (or the inevitable rematch).
Just because I despise the WoB as a faction I don't ridicule their players: their faction yes, players not a chance.
What the Nova Cats, the Wolverines, and all the other factions that have died off have, is loyal followers who embrace them beyond that death. And loyal members who can't wait until they come back... stupid Fidelis... couldn't be Wolverines... *grumble grumble* ;)