Post by Rain on Apr 2, 2015 9:45:54 GMT -5
EDEN
So! I thought I'd post a thread that will contain everything about Eden [Thanatos' pack]. The pack land will be Tiayr. I just want to see if there's people interested in it and it's easier for me to edit everything in this thread rather than sending it by PM. You guys can add/suggest/critique anything you want, and you can ask questions if you're confused. <3 Or, you can PM me in my Rain account.
Of course, this was Scout's pack idea, but she gave me the OK to change it and make it Than's pack. Many of the things you see here were based on her idea, but of course, they were changed to fit Than's character.
TL;DR VERSION DOWN BELOW.
Eden gets its name as a comparison to what happened in the garden of Eden in the Bible. The Spirit of God moved in the garden and had a relationship with Adam and Eve. In the same way, the Great Spirit that Than and his pack worships lives in their lands, blessing every wolf that inhabits it. The Great Spirit blesses those couples that have achieved perfection, and motivates those who aspire it. And, when I say perfection, I mean it in the sense of a symbolic point of view. It is not "We're better than you," but more like a prime example of what is honored and expected. Perfection is something sublime in the pack, and it is an aspect that should only bring feelings of humility and gratefulness. Perfection means that everyone sees you as an example to follow, and you should be honored to be considered a prime example, not cocky or arrogant. It is something sacred.About ElohimThis pack is ceremonial and their traditions are very important to them. Order of importance/rundown of the ranks:Elohim is the Supreme Being in Eden's eyes. He created everything we see, the earth and its earthlings, and He desires a bond with his children. He is everywhere, but he resides in Tiayr, according to Eden. He is loving, benevolent, patient and kind, but fierce and vengeful towards those who come against his children. He is wise, and he is known to provide when the pack needs food, and give rest to those in need. The wolves who enter Tiayr searching for a purpose, may find an aura of peace surrounding the lands, because of the intense devotion these wolves have towards Elohim.He is formless, but he manifests himself in the form of a white dove, a white, blue-eyed lion, and a white buck in dreams, and sometimes as an audible voice.There are prophecies of Elohim sending signals of his existence to his children, from extraordinarily colored eyes or abnormal colorings. They are considered a signal of Elohim's existence and these wolves are deeply loved and respected, often seemed as vessels of Elohim's Voice.His presence can be usually felt by an overwhelming sense of peace, followed by an intense desire to cry. It can even bring down the most hard of hearts.Once wolves pass on from Earth, they enter a beautiful realm called Elysium. It is a beautiful place, a paradise, in which you'll be surrounded by your loved ones for eternity, and you'll be surrounded by Elohim's eternal, comforting presence.
TIER ONE
Haimovi: The alpha. Supreme authority of the pack. What he says is final. He delegates all positions in the pack, and he is the one every rank must report to. He also takes care of teaching the younger males their place in the pack, like the Lead Female shows the females their place. His word is final, and he is the highest authority in the pack.
The term Haimovi would replace the word Alpha or Chief is all aspects. Instead of Thanatos being referred to as the alpha, or the high chief, those within Eden (because they are familiar with the packs terminology) would refer to Thanatos as their Haimovi.
Nosh, or Noshi, whichever you prefer, is more of a title of endearment. You wouldn't call your mother or father by their first name. And while Than and Nova aren't the biological parents of all the members of the pack, they are in essence the mother and father of the pack itself. Think of Nosh as more of a nickname, instead of an arrogant title that others refer to him as. If anything, it should make the wolves within the pack respect him more, and feel more connected to him because now they are looking to him as a guide, someone they can come to with their problems, someone to love - a father figure. Now the higher ranking members, the Beta/Shaman, War Chief and Chief Hunter, those would be his council, and more like his brothers. Therefore they would be the ones to refer to him most openly as Thanatos, because while he is their leader, he is just the most dominant brother whom they follow.
Shaman: This wolf takes the role of being the Alpha's right hand. It is the most trusted wolf in the pack by the Alpha. Not only will this wolf be the spiritual and official "doctor" guide of the pack, but also he will be in charge of the pack in case there is no appointed alpha, or if something happened to him. Second highest authority.
Warchief: The one wolf that trains the guards for battle. This wolf is in charge One male only.
Hunter Chief: In charge of the hunters. Will give directions and will be always looking out on the food supply of the pack.
Wikimak or Kimak: Wikimak, meaning "wife". While other females in the pack would eventual be mates/wives, only the alpha female would earn this term because she is the Haimovi's wife. The only wolf to use this name while directly speaking to Nova, would be Thanatos, and even then, it would likely be used in a formal setting.
Serves more as an example/guide to all the females. She is the epitome and embodiment of the perfect female and all females are expected to follow her example and guidance. She is the alpha's mate. She teaches the young females the ways of the pack, teaching them their place and function within it. She may also assist in births if the female in question desires.
Guardian: The wolf that strives for the security of the pack. He leads the pack guards, and he will be the one to distribute them across the borders. He has to report to the Alpha.
TIER TWO
Warriors: Of course, the warriors of the pack. Males only. Large/trained females accepted but rare.
Hunters: Males preferred, but females can be hunters too. Both are equally welcome.
Guards: They are in charge of patrolling the territory borders and watching for the safety of the pack. They respond to the Guardian. Males only.
Sheikha's Heir: She aids the lead female in anything she needs and she acts in her name when she is not present. Usually given to the lead female's chosen heir
Sacred Healer: Usually the Shaman's mate, but not necessarily. Leads all the nurses in their tasks and works
Healers: They are less than the Shaman, but they are important. They take care of the more simple tasks, like caring for the elderly, nursing sick wolves back to health, caring for sick pups, small injuries, malnutrition, dehydration, and everything that it can be easily cured. In bigger health problems or emergencies, the Shaman, Sacred Healer, healers and gatherers team up and work together, following the orders of the shaman.
Caretakers: They help the new mothers with the raising, birthing and caring of the pups.
Gatherers: They keep the herb supply for the Shaman in great shape. They constantly add in new plants, throw away the unused/old ones, and help the shaman just in case of an emergency. Females and males equally welcome.
Elite Blood: One-year old pups of the leading members. Again, their behavior must be worthy of their title. They are taught to be an example for others, and much is expected from them.
Newblood: Newly accepted members and one year old pups.
Elite Legacy: Pups born to the leading members. If pups in the legacy are treated with high expectations and standards, pups here are treated with even higher ones and much more is expected from them. They are in this rank until they are one year old, then move up to Elite Blood.
Legacy: Pups.
TIER THREE
Blackbloods: Wolves that have committed a crime, or that have betrayed the pack's honor and the trust of the Alpha, will be sent to this rank. They will eat last always, and they are awaiting judgement or redemption, depending on the case.
This pack's purpose exists around spiritual purpose, family and strong spiritual bonds, and it seeks to encourage and promote the perfect family and pack unit, believing that the Great Spirit blesses those who follow this guidance. Their goal is to form not only a pack, but a family in which everyone is a part of, and no one gets left out. Since Thanatos was adopted by Kuruk, Than also believes that family is not only that one that procreates, but the one that raises as well.
There is only one Chief or Haimovi, but he can have a mate, which will be the Kimak, or the Haimovi's wife. The alpha's mate will have special functions and tasks, but she will not be more powerful than the Alpha. She will embody what is considered the perfect female and what is expected from females in the pack, and she will be an example for other females to follow, often serving as a guide for them. She will also become a motherly figure to the pack. She is regarded with the highest respect, but she would never go as far as give a command, unless it was to her own born children or the females of the pack. When it comes to power, though, what the male alpha says is final, but he can listen to her advice.
Males and females of all ranks are allowed to mate with the Alpha's permission. [Only one mate per male. Than believes in being faithful, so.. yeah. I don't see him with multiple mates, and I'm sure he won't allow that in the pack.]
The pack is more relationship/family/bond oriented, meaning that females are not seen only as property or as birthing machines. A relationship between a male and a female is seen as sacred, and long-lasting pairs are held in high regard and are seen as a blessing from Elohim.
And now for the explanations of a couple of important ceremonies/traditions.
MATING CEREMONY/CEREMONIES
- In Eden's culture, any mating must be ultimately approved by the alpha. Should a male wish to be mated to any female in the pack he must speak with the alpha for approval. In Eden culture, once a pair falls in love, they come to the Haimovi for approval for their marriage, or Aiyanna, the wedding ceremony. Once the Alpha approves, he will give an order for the wedding preparations to begin. All couples would then have to seek alpha's permission to produce young.
Example of a wolf asking permission to marry a female:Thanatos: Arizona, come walk with me a while.
Arizona: Yes, nosh. (Arizona strides alongside Thanatos, keeping his head and tail low as a sign of respectful submission to his Haimovi.)
Thanatos: (Noting the male's submissive posture, Thanatos dips his head and smiles genuinely. Arizona was always a good lad.) You are growing Ari, and you have proven yourself on the hunting ground. Soon will come the time when all aging youth in Eden partake in the Aiyanna (marriage) ceremony. (Thanatos let his words weigh on Arizona before he continued. Gazing at the young wolf from the corner of his eye he spied Arizona looking in the opposite direction, hiding his emotions from Than.) Are you prepared or are you going to stay an eligible bachelor for another year?
Arizona: Does he know? Is that why he asked me to walk with him? There's no sense on hiding it any longer... Sir, I love Kiara. (His eyes went wide, surprised himself that he had said it so bluntly.) I mean.. I uh... I have admired her for a long time. She is beautiful and intelligent and funny--
Thanatos: (Than only smiled slowly, have laid witness to the pairs budding admiration towards one another.) Ari- Ari... I know son. I know.
Arizona: ...Then... You know I am not fit to be her mate. She is the daughter of the Haimovi and Kimak, while I am an orphan of unknown parentage... She deserves Aiyanna with a chief...
Thanatos: You are right Ari. Kiara, as special as she is, deserves a mate of higher status than a hunter... But do you think that would make Kiara happy?... You forget that I am of unknown parentage and was adopted by the wolf that would become my nosh. And Kiara was found by me, an orphan... Your bond with Elohim has grown stronger, just as you have, within your time with Eden. Never forget that we are all His children before we are children of the flesh. And Elohim would be pleased, as would I, to see His children join in Aiyanna. Arizona, you have my permission to court Kiara, and when the time comes, participate in the Aiyanna ceremony if she will have you.
Arizona: Oh nosh! Thank you so much for your blessing!
-Chastity is a treasured aspect of a female--it is highly admired, and it is highly sought after. Females born in the pack are taught chastity; they have to wait to be mated officially before losing their virginity.
- Once the okay has been given by the Alpha, the Aiyanna, the marriage festival, begins. Hunters are assigned to kill prey in order to have a feast. In this ritual, the females and pups form a large circle in the center of which four or five singers begin howling in beautiful harmony, and the mated pair stand in the middle. The alpha male joins the circle and stands in front of the pair, and he makes a prayer to the Great Spirit, Elohim, asking Him to bless the pair, and he declares them mates. All the wolves howl in unison, the newly mated pair embrace, and they all begin to celebrate. They eat the feast, and they guide the pair to their den so they can have their "honeymoon." They give their congratulations to the newly mated pair and they proceed to leave. They leave the pair alone.
Coming of Age:
- Once the females turn one year old, they are trained by the Kimak and other lead females about different tasks, such as herb gathering, hunting and nursing pups. They are taught about all of the events and rituals they'll face next year, and they are prepared for what is to come. Once they turn two years old or go into heat for the first time, the Kimak, along with the adult females she selects, continue teaching them how to be a female in the pack in a more intense way. They solidify the teachings the mothers raised their daughters with, teaching the females the tasks of being a female in the pack--they are taught that they are seen as beautiful and sacred, yet they must remember their place in their pack hierarchy. They are taught their roles, their importance and their duty within the pack, from caretaking to keeping the dens clean. They are also taught how to keep their family well fed and properly cared for and all in all, being a submissive and caring female in the pack. They are also taught about chastity. However, mothers must have been preparing them since they are old enough to understand. It is a duty all mothers are expected to do.
-When a male turns one year old, their training begins, depending on what they want to be in the pack. Those who desire to be warriors will begin to train with the Warchief; those who desire to be hunters will be trained by the Hunter Chief, and so on. When a male turns two, his training intensifies depending on what he desires to learn; they are trained by the some of the Leading Wolves [Warchief, Hunter Chief]. They are taught how to be strong but wise warriors, skilled hunters, and strategic thinkers. They are taught the rituals of the pack, their function, etc. They must have been taught at least the basics by their fathers prior to being a year old. They are also taken to other regions to train, especially to fight against the forces of nature, strong enemies and they are taught how to survive on their own, along with a leader to guide them. Again, the fathers must have taught them the basics since they are old enough to understand. It is a duty all fathers are expected to do.
- Though Eden wolves are great warriors, family is at the center of their lives. Pups are at the center of attention.
- Females are most respected just after coming of age and before having a mate. This is the time when all eyes are on them.
- When pups are born, it's a very big deal within the pack. The celebration lasts all day long, and the happiness they bring lasts a lifetime.
-They are disciplined by their parents, and if they go out of line, by the alphas or any leading member. However, love is taught in the core of the family, and it is something completely encouraged. The pack is bond, family and relationship oriented, so they believe that the most sacred bonds are formed in the family.
- Males are taught to hunt or fight by their fathers. Females are taught their place and duties by their mothers. But both show love and care to their offspring, and both are crucial in their duties as parents.
Punishment:
Most of the members obey the laws without issue but for those who decide that they are too good to follow the law, there are punishments. This is not an exhaustive list of all punishments for every crime imaginable. These are just a few for the more common ones.
- Murder: It is strictly forbidden to kill other members of the pack and/or their allies. It is highly frowned upon to kill loners. The only situation where murder is acceptable is in self defense, and that is if the contender threatened to kill the wolf in question. If a wolf is convicted of murder, one of the following things will happen.
1). They are demoted to Blackbloods. They will eat last, and they will have no power at all in the pack. They will have to work their way back up the ranks.
2) They will be kicked out of the pack and left to live on their own. All allied packs will be informed and instructed not to allow said wolf to join any of their packs.
3) They will be given a chance for redemption. This one depends on the circumstances, and it will happen after they finish their punishment.
- Stealing: This is almost unheard of within the pack. However, should something be taken from one wolf by another, that wolf must make restitution with the victim by supplying the victim with everything he needs for a year.
COLORS
In Eden, color is important and certain colors represent certain things. Below is a list of important colors and what they mean for the pack.
Black: Victory, Success, Power, Aggression, Strength.
Red: Faith, Beauty, Happiness, War, Blood, Violence, Energy.
White: Sharing, Peace, Purity, Light, Mourning, Perfection.
Yellow/Orange: Intellect, Determination, Willingness to fight to the death.
Green: Nature, Harmony, Healing, Endurance, Vision.
Blue: Wisdom, Intuition, Confidence, Ease of Mind.
Purple: A sacred color that symbolizes power, mystery and magic.
Any of those color could mean any of the things listed behind them. As an example of how one would use this knowledge would be: If a character was sick and your character wanted to wish them health, they might bring the sick wolf something that was green.
Now, for the custom ranks: an overview. I'll be detailing/changing names for these later.TL;DR VERSION:TIER ONE
Haimovi: Thanatos
Shaman: Open [UP FOR ADOPTION] [Must be gained IC]
Warchief: Open [Must be gained IC]
Hunter Chief: Open [Must be gained IC]
Kimak: Nova Aviana Ulysses
Guardian: Open [Must be gained IC]
TIER TWO
Warriors: Open
Hunters: Open
Guards: Open
Sheikha's Heir: Open [Must be gained IC]
Sacred Healer: Open [Must be gained IC]
Healers: Open
Caretakers: Open
Gatherers: Open
Elite Blood: Pups of leading members only.
Newblood: Open
Elite Legacy: Kiara
Legacy: Open [Pups]
TIER THREE
Blackbloods: Open [Only available if your wolf did something unforgivable/punishable.]
Eden gets its name as a comparison to what happened in the garden of Eden in the Bible. The Spirit of God moved in the garden and had a relationship with Adam and Eve. In the same way, the Great Spirit that Than and his pack worships lives in their lands, blessing every wolf that inhabits it. The Great Spirit blesses those couples that have achieved perfection, and motivates those who aspire it. And, when I say perfection, I mean it in the sense of a symbolic point of view. It is not "We're better than you," but more like a prime example of what is honored and expected. Perfection is something sublime in the pack, and it is an aspect that should only bring feelings of humility and gratefulness. Perfection means that everyone sees you as an example to follow, and you should be honored to be considered a prime example, not cocky or arrogant. It is something sacred.
This pack's purpose exists and gravitates around spiritual purpose, family, tradition, rituals and strong spiritual bonds, and it seeks to encourage and promote the perfect family unit, believing that the Great Spirit blesses those who follow this guidance. Their goal is to form not only a pack, but a family in which everyone is a part of, and no one gets left out. Since Thanatos was adopted by Kuruk, Thanatos also believes that family is not only that one that procreates, but the one that raises as well.
The pack is more relationship/family/bond oriented, meaning that females are not seen only as property or as birthing machines. A relationship between a male and a female is seen as sacred, and long-lasting pairs are held in high regard and are seen as a blessing from the Great Spirit. Chastity is a treasured aspect of a female--it is highly admired, and it is highly sought after. Females born in the pack are taught chastity; they have to wait to be mated officially before losing their virginity. Again, the alpha pair are called the perfect example of the perfect or blessed pair.
- Reserved by Newbie
