►The Illusperes◄ [Lore Thread | WIP]

The Illusperes

In the midst of a pristine mountain range, the craggy peaks dip low, giving way to an ancient basin. Twisted but hardy whitebark pines overlook the valley's upper edges, keeping watch over the spruce and fir that have spread farther down. From the north, west and south, there's a number of gravelly trails and cold mountain streams one can follow that snake down into the forests, towards the lake in the lowest point of the valley. From the east, one would enter into the valley steppe, marked by sagebrush and needlegrass. The stink of sulphur lingers on the wind in this part of the valley, and if one were to venture northeast of the lake, a strange land where water bubbles and even most plants refuse to grow could be found.

Be cautious when exploring this land, for you are not alone. And while the Illusperes can be sympathetic to a wanderer's plight, make no mistake -- this is their territory, for now, and they will defend it.

Table of Contents

1. Scouting Report & Surrounding Lands

2. Hierarchy

3. Culture (1, 2)

4. Ballads

Personal Gameplay Rules

Hello everyone! I'm not part of any challenge, but I wanted to give myself some rules to keep things interesting. I may add more or change existing rules to give myself more of a challenge down the road.

1. All wolves must have names and bios.

2. Sick wolves must be moved into the herbalist's den to be cared for. Additionally, no herbs/medicines can be bought or sold (unless with an established ally). For now, herbs may be exchanged.

3. All pack leaders must be related to one of the founding pair (Kaiza and/or Spectre).

4. Wolves cannot breed to cousins or more closely related individuals.

5. Pups and wolves cannot be bought or traded without lore reasons.

6. Wolves do not breed until two years of age.

SCOUTING REPORT

Places of note within the valley:

Surrounding Lands

Other packs have been spotted in the area!

Hierarchy

Herbalist: Dragga -- A serious wolf with a bit of a pessimistic attitude, Dragga is dedicated to the study of medicine and, despite their occasional tiffs, he also has the unofficial role of being Kaiza's advisor. His prior experience as a pack leader comes in handy for the young lead wolf, and his no-nonsense attitude commands respect in the pack, even from the more insolent members.

Hunters:

• Kipcha, head huntress -- Patient. Graceful. Agile. Clever. Kipcha is a much-needed dose of calmness and poise in an otherwise irregular pack. While she and Kaiza may not agree on everything, painful memories help them sympathize with one another, and their relationship is almost sisterly. Kipcha has a natural skill in both hunting and leadership, and is usually able to mediate between the hunting party's mix of dominant and submissive personalities.
• Glaehund, finisher -- This one isn't easy to get along with. Next to Cottonmouth, whom he clashes with often, Glaehund tends to generate the most friction within the pack. He has a malicious sense of humor which, combined with his natural strength and capability for stealth, can be a set-up for trouble. While Kaiza's not as extreme, her at-times morbid sense of humor is not wholly divorced from his, and Glaehund seems to respect her, perhaps drawn to what he senses is an underlying ruthlessness. He tends to needle just about everyone else in the pack, though, and picks on some more than others. Most of the time he doesn't take things too far, but... things seem to escalate when Cottonmouth is involved.
• Kaz, chaser -- A longtime transient, Kaz is probably the most submissive wolf in the pack. He keeps saying he'll probably move on soon, but so far he has stuck around, undoubtedly due to Kipcha's gentle encouragement and his growing attachment to Tyr. His observant nature and his speed make him a reliable chaser.
• Tyr, chaser -- From a far off land to the north, Tyr has some odd quirks compared to most others in the pack, but his reliable and humble nature has ingratiated him to most. His strong work ethic is highly valued. Though he dislikes some members of the pack, and has wondered at times if he should move on, he sees some good in this group, and is loyal to what friends he's made here.
• Cottonmouth, chaser -- The most recent wanderer admitted into the pack, many aren't sure if Cottonmouth's name was given by his parents or if it's a moniker he gave himself. Either way, it fits -- it seems like almost every time he opens his mouth, something venomous comes out. He's a bossy, self-centered, overconfident little cuss, despite showing no extraordinary talent in anything. He's been warned multiple times by Kaiza, to whom he always promises he'll listen, until he causes some other trouble. Even Spectre has had to use force to get some respect. What's worse is how often he provokes Glaehund, who is unpredictable at the best of times. Something has to give, and several whisper that Cottonmouth won't be around much longer -- but whether he'll depart alive or dead is anyone's guess.
• Azena, Kipcha's apprentice -- A hard worker and earnest admirer of Kipcha, Azena can often be seen shadowing her mentor when the older she-wolf isn't off leading a hunt. Even when Kipcha is otherwise busy, Azena will go off on her own to practice her own tracking skills. Young and inexperienced though she may be, she shows great judgement and a stalwart concern for the entire pack, whom she sees as family regardless of blood relation. In turn, she's become somewhat of a role model for her younger siblings, and who knows? In time, she may come to lead her own hunting party.

Scouts:

• Spectre -- A lost soul if ever there was one. He's not sure what drives him to wander so much, only that he has never felt at home anywhere. He would have had no issue passing Kaiza by and never looking back after their first meeting, but she was persistent in following him, and the more time he spent around her, the more used to her presence he became. She didn't push him to be anything other than himself, seeming only to enjoy his presence, and he has found himself returning to her time and again.
• Kaira -- This sullen pup is never more happy than when she's alone. And even then, she's not very happy. She seems to have inherited the restlessness of her father, and like him, she has taken to wandering far and wide, a dark shadow that flits from place to place, searching for something that might fill an emptiness in herself she cannot understand. Though she does have occasional run ins with other packs, she isn't the kind to become attached; she's emotionally distant, even to her own kin, and her sister Azena has often wondered, quite sadly, if one day Kaira may decide not to return to them at all.

Pupsitter: Sikla -- One of the most dutiful members of the pack, Sikla has a soft spot for pups -- and a soft spot for Kaiza. His comforting presence is distinct, even compared to Kipcha, which has made him a great help in raising pups. Knowledgeable and patient, he is an excellent teacher, and his even temperament has also distinguished him as an acting "judge" for interpack affairs with the neighboring Thunder Gorge Pack.

Pups:

• Izara -- A charismatic master of playing pretend. Izara is the de facto leader of her litter, even if she does face the occasional challenge from her younger brother, Taziak. She is usually leading her brothers off on some adventure or another in the territory. She's a big admirer of her two eldest sisters.
  
• Sai -- There's something off about this pup. He doesn't seem actively malicious, but Sikla has noted a pattern of manipulative behavior regarding his siblings that is worrying. Sai has certainly shown a self-serving side, and many feel he is almost never entirely genuine in his words or behavior.
• Eziel -- He's almost as quiet as his father, but Eziel is notably more pack-oriented than some of his siblings. A gentle but brave soul, he has a good heart, and while Izara may be the so-called 'leader' of their litter, Eziel is without a doubt the guardian or mediator between them all.
• Taziak -- An excellent little singer, but highly prone to jealousy. He demands a lot of attention, and when he doesn't get it, he tends to act out. That, or he takes his frustrations out on his more charismatic sister, Izara. He's easily prodded into trouble by his brother Sai, and when he's caught, blames almost everyone but himself.
  
  

Culture

As a new pack, the Illusperes have no definitive traditions or beliefs just yet, but the various founding members will help shape the future of the group. For now, they present a mix of beliefs and traditions.

SPIRITUALISM and BELIEFS:

Most members of the Illusperes hold some belief in unseen forces or spirits. While belief in certain spirits varies depending on the individual's background, two spirits in particular are almost universally recognized within the pack. Tala, described by most as a black wolf, has a similar role for most in the group. Some know her as a simple spirit who helps the lost, while others believe she is the wandering spirit of the First Wolf, who occasionally meddles in her children's affairs. Most in the pack have not seen her, but claim her influence in some aspect of their lives. Another well-known spirit is Herbert, the wise old bear. Though details can vary, most pack members grew up with a story of how wolves learned the art of herbalism by watching a patient bear, and believe that Herbert helps guide aspiring herbalists and healers to this day.

Strangely, Kaiza was not familiar with either of these spirits -- or at least, not in these forms. She grew up with stories of shadow canines (she has never used the term wolves for these creatures) who were stranded on earth when the bridges to the sky were shattered. She believes these beings may help or hinder someone as they see fit, though in the stories of her family, they tended to be more malignant than benign; and she hasn't been very open about it, but she's certain one was following her in the early days of the pack.

Herbalism had a completely different origin for Kaiza's family. It was said one of their ancestors had been walking the desert trails one day, too distracted by the scent of a female to hear a rattlesnake's warning. He was bitten, and as the snake disappeared into the scrub brush, he loudly lamented his coming death. It was then that a chuckwalla offered to save him. The snake had been hunting the chuckwalla, and as thanks for scaring the serpent off, the lizard created an antidote using mashed chaparral. When the ancestor lived, he became curious about the power of plants, and traveled the world learning (and stealing) the knowledge of herbalism from other creatures.

Interestingly, though they have no formal spirits named for them, snakes are universally regarded as quest givers and weavers of fate -- though sometimes, the quest they send you on is to the next life. Bears are to be respected, both for their obvious power and for their perceived wisdom as relatives of Herbert.

The pack members have different theories on what happens after death. Dragga, Kipcha and Kaz all believe in an afterlife of some sort, though when pressed, they don't seem to have specifics. Maybe they just hope for a peaceful place to go after they die. Tyr believes wolves go to a great hunting ground, where the game is plentiful and songs fill the air. Sikla believes in rebirth, and so preaches the importance of caring for one's surroundings, believing everything is interconnected. Glaehund and Cottonmouth agree on one thing, and one thing only -- that there is no afterlife, or even rebirth. They believe death is the end, and all that matters is now. Kaiza's beliefs about death are more complicated, and are tied to the most important story of her mother's family.

They believed that, long ago, the earth and the sky were connected by great bridges. In that time, her people were immortal. They could climb these bridges to explore the skies beyond, the strength of their spirits lighting the way, and when they wished, they could return to the earth. But other canines of earth and the shadow canines of the sky were jealous of this ability, and tried to stop them. Together, they managed to shatter the bridges, leaving behind great mountains and mesas. The family was broken, with some back on earth and others wandering the sky beyond. Yet it was said that the family's enemies had only broken the physical bridges. Upon death, her people would still see the bridges intact, and could freely choose to wander the earth or climb the paths lit by their ancestors up to the sky.

As Kaiza and her siblings were of mixed blood, whenever they asked their family if they could climb the sky bridges too, they got mixed answers. For as long as she can remember, she's always wondered what it would be like to explore the skies, and hoped that someday she could -- but part of her now wonders if that would mean leaving her new family behind.

Culture (con't)

DIALECT and ACCENTS:

The Illusperes have not been together long enough to create their own slang just yet, though undoubtedly as the years go on, their own sayings and words will begin to take shape. Most in the pack do not have any strange language ticks or accents as of now, but two -- Kaiza and Tyr -- do have unique vocalizations or tics.

Tyr has a variety of sayings and anecdotes that aren't entirely familiar to the others, but it seems to lend a certain charm to him. The others could very well end up passing along his words and phrases, even if they may miss some cultural context behind them.

Compared to the rest of the pack, Kaiza's voice is somewhat high, her vocalizations generally clipped and quick. Dragga and several others have noted this strange "accent" of hers, but have not asked her about it. When the group howls, her voice is one of the most recognizable.

Ballads

In such a diverse group with differing beliefs and personalities, it can be a struggle to find common ground, yet one tradition has quickly become a favorite method of pack bonding: singing and storytelling. Voices of the past can live on through the voices of the present, and words and stories can bring wolves together, if only for a time. As generations pass, some of the pack's history may be passed on as well...

Table of Contents

1. The Will of Shadows

2. Go

3. Here

The Will of Shadows

Pre-pack | How Kaiza came to meet Spectre

It was still behind her.

She could not smell it on the wind, nor hear the telltale footfalls as it followed. It did not disturb the underbrush as it moved, slinking along after her, nor did it leave tracks in the snow. Yet despite the lack of tangible evidence, she knew the creature was there. The persistent tingling at the back of her neck and the feeling in her gut were proof enough for her. No doubt if she bothered to glance behind her, she would see it -- a black spot in the distance, probably inching its way up the lower rocks.

Pest, Kaiza thought, ears pinned backward as she continued her cautious ascent. The slope was steep here and she did not need any distractions, but she could focus on nothing else. She was tired of this game.

The shade had been stalking her since the first snowfall, back when she had still been trying to make a life for herself on the open prairie. Winter was not the time to explore new lands, especially for one so unused to this kind of weather -- as bright as the sun was today, it did nothing to lessen the bite of the wind, nor made a dent in the snow. Yet here she was, driven north by her incessant new friend.

Kaiza knew the stories. The shadow beings were not always a threat, but nevertheless her family had stressed avoidance of them. When she’d first glimpsed that unearthly black coat, a shiver had run down her spine, but she had not immediately faltered. The wolves of the plains came in many colors, and so long as she kept her distance, there should have been no trouble. But when the wind shifted and Kaiza caught no scent... when the creature dogged her steps, creeping steadily closer, with eyes that shimmered like starlight watching her every move... she had done what she’d always been told to do. She had run.

And now, weeks later, she was sick of it.

She had made her way across the plains and great rivers, had traveled through forests where the trees closed in around her and towered overhead, blocking her view of the heavens. She was far from her once-home, much farther than she had ever hoped to be, and still the shade persisted in its pursuit.

There was no outrunning it, nor outmaneuvering it, she was beginning to realize. Whatever it wanted, it would have. Maybe… she should just give in.

If it’s m’life it wants so badly, I’ve half a mind to turn ‘round and give it to’em, Kaiza thought, taking another ginger step up the snow-covered slope. Might be doin’ me a favor that way.

The thought had crossed her mind that perhaps the creature was a herald of death. Maybe her time had come, and she would be wise to stop resisting. She would only be trading one plane of existence for another, after all. At least in the next world, she could wander unburdened and find her way across the sky bridges… Maybe she’d actually see her family again.

But Kaiza snorted, breath turning to mist in the frosty mountain air. Even if it was inevitable, some stubborn part of her chafed at the idea of simply laying down to die.

As if I could make it that easy for’em.

Her legs felt ready to give by the time she reached a flat stretch at the top of the slope, but she feared if she laid down now, there would be no getting up. She was not used to this weather. She was not used to this kind of strain. She’d wandered so far on minimal rest and what little food she could grab along the way, and it was wearing on her. Panting, head low, she finally turned to peer down the slope, looking for her ever-present companion.

The shadowy cur stood out against the white landscape. It had been gaining, apparently unbothered by the deep snow or the incline, using the path she’d forged. The sight made her lips curl, a snarl bubbling up in her throat, and the thing stopped, ears perked and those glimmering eyes staring up at her.

It was big -- she could see that at this distance. Its legs were longer, its body bulkier. Even its jaws looked wider, stronger. But its potential strength wasn’t what unnerved her the most. The intelligence in its gaze was.

Despite that, though, she stood her ground, fur bristling. She was tired. She was hungry. She was at her limit. And whether or not she was meant to die here -- alone on some snowy peak far from home -- it was as good a spot as any in her mind.

One way or another, she would be free of this shade.

“Ya got nothin’ better t’do?!” she barked down at it, lips still curled in a defiant sneer as she took slow steps along the flattened ledge. “Some powerful, important being you must be, to spend yer days tailin’ me!”

The thing stared at her before its stance seemed to relax. Its mouth opened, a dark tongue-shape lolling out in a carefree pant. Despite the cold, there was no mist to mark its breath.

“Is this funny to ya?!” Its tail wagged ever so slightly, giving Kaiza her answer, and she huffed. Circling around to pace in the tracks she’d left on the ledge, Kaiza growled again, unsure if it was more to herself or the creature. “And I thought I had a bad sense of humor.”

It did not respond. Instead, it slowly resumed its climb towards her, only stopping when Kaiza gave another loud warning snarl. She could imagine how silly she must have seemed to the creature, to stand before it with gnashing teeth and muscles tensed, ready to spring. As if a tiny thing like her could hope to win against a walking personification of the void.

But it was not in her to cower. Not even now.

“Get back!” she snapped, poised on the ledge. The thing’s head tilted, those accursed eyes blinking at her. Evaluating her. Was it toying with her, or was it genuinely confused by her hostility?

Either way, I’ll make it clear where we stand!

“Ya ain’t wanted, and the attention ain’t flatterin’! If ya won’t scram, then speak!” she demanded, glaring back at it. “Say what ya want from me, or take it already, but stop wastin’ my time!”

No sooner had she finished that, quick as a rabbit, the thing lunged forward, a black blur that seemed to float over the snow. Kaiza flinched at the movement, momentarily gripped with dread as it charged her. Her basic survival instincts were still telling her to flee, begging for her to save herself. But what was the point of that? She had no home, and no one who needed her. This thing would follow her to the ends of the earth, it seemed, so there was no escape. She just hoped that, even in her weakened state, she could still put up a half-decent fight.

She didn’t want to make it easy, after all.

With another loud snarl, Kaiza hunched low and braced herself, ready to meet her fate.

I’ll find you soon, mother.

The black blur leaped, and Kaiza rushed to meet it with a snap of her jaws. She could swear her teeth caught something, but it was unlike anything else she’d felt -- one instant it was cold and firm, the next it was slipping out of her grip as fluidly as water. The blackness seemed to lose its canine shape and instead spread around her, engulfing her vision. She yelped and tried to back away, to get out of this nothingness--

Then, from the darkness, something pushed her back, launching her away. Kaiza slid through the snow and scrambled for purchase, stunned, but the shade rushed her once more, overtaking her and expelling her outward once again. After the second time, Kaiza was able to recover faster, and in regaining her bearings, she noticed something: the shadow was knocking her uncomfortably close to the opposite ledge.

“Wha-” Her alarmed bark was cut short when the shade lunged again. She just managed to sidestep it, but the shape curved, and before she could do anything, it was on her once more, blinding her. She tried instead to run through it, but it was like she was stuck in tree sap, the effort only causing the darkness to tug uncomfortably at her fur.

When the thing pushed her back again, Kaiza’s heart sank as she felt herself slipping over the ledge. Her tumble was softened by the snow, but the frozen, gravelly rock underneath still battered her with every hit, jabbing into her ribs, her legs, her stomach as she rolled down the mountainside.

By the time she came to a stop, cushioned by the deeper snow at the base of the mountain, all she could do was let out a short, soft whine.

A dignified end, for sure, she thought bitterly, not even bothering to open her eyes. She was tired, mind groggy, and she knew now why her pack had always insisted on avoiding the shadow beings. How did you fight something that could shift its form and move like a cloud?

She was cold, so cold, but she would wait for the end, as she should have from the start. No doubt the thing would be on her soon, having realized its mysterious job was not yet complete. In fact, she could already hear the crunch of snow as it approached, could make out the… wait.

The shade makes no mark nor sound…

Kaiza wasn’t sure how or why her exhaustion suddenly seemed to dissipate, or why her body, which had been aching only moments ago, seemed to forget its abuse. When she opened her eyes, she saw white. Something was on her, and it took her a moment to realize she was covered in a thin layer of snow. Surely she hadn’t been laying there that long… But she could ponder that later. A beast of some sort was coming for her. And though she had been ready to die only an instant before, something in her told her not to give up.

When the thing sounded close enough, she sprang to life. Lunging up out of the snow with a snarl and a snap, she felt her teeth tear into something that quickly lurched away. It was cold, much like the shade had been -- but unlike the shade, it did not change shape as it slipped from her grip. And there was something else, too. Unlike the shade, she tasted the slightest tang of blood.

Her legs felt wobbly, but sitting up out of the snow, she could see. She could smell. At first, she might have mistaken the wolf before her as the shade, but... that wasn’t right. He was dark, with parts of his legs and face almost as black as the shadow’s had been, but his coat held other hues, too -- a strange, bright red, and dark brown. His yellow eyes did not shimmer and shift unnaturally, and he did not float over the snow, but sank into it, just as she did. His musk was the final confirmation -- a sure sign of an earthly being.

But then, where is the shade?

Kaiza chanced a glance away from the wolf, who had retreated a respectable distance away, watching her stoically while licking his torn, bleeding nose. There was no dark figure at the top of the mountain she had fallen from, and as she swiveled her head this way and that, she could not see its familiar silhouette skulking about between the nearby trees.

She didn’t like this. Surely it wasn’t done with her yet. Why would it have pushed her all this way only to end the chase here?

It must be around here somewhere. Kaiza lowered her head, her tongue rolling out slightly in a short, nervous pant. Then, she turned back to the wolf. She may have just traded one threat for another. He was an imposing brute to be sure, and if he was part of a pack, she would have to think fast to save her skin. But he ain’t tryin’ to shear me yet. Maybe that’s a good sign.

So, ignoring the wobbliness in her legs, she stood, shaking out the rest of the snow from her coat. Keeping her head low, she gave a demure wag of her tail, watching the male carefully.

“Hey now, big fella,” she barked, and the wolf’s ears perked. “Dontcha know ya shouldn’t sneak up on a lady?”