Within the Pines : Pack Lore [DNP/WIP]

gameplay rules

laws of the pines

territory

ranks

relationships

the generations past

leader

The leader of the pack, tasked with guiding the pack and securing its future. Though they may take the advice of the krihuhosar and the oolaursar, all final decisions are up to the leader alone. This role is the most difficult one; only the best will ever attain it.

krihuhosar

The krihuhosar are the highest ranks beneath the leader themselves. It encompasses the leaders of each individual sect within the pack – scouts, hunters, and denminders – and the pack's herbalist. Each sect leader has command over their own members, and they can use these members almost however they wish. They answer only to the leader. The herbalist could be considered the most high-ranking of the high ranks, as they can put a wolf of any sect on sick leave without contention, but otherwise any distinctions are negligible.

oolaursar

The eternal – those who have lived a thousand days. Despite their name, age is not a requirement of this rank, or at least not as important a requirement as the wisdom that got them there. A particularly insightful youngling may rise to this rank ahead of time, and some wolves may never reach it no matter how long they live. The spryest elders might continue as a scout or hunter if that was their role in the past, while others may remain at the camp to teach and tend the next generation, though they are considered higher-ranking than the average denminder and on equal terms with the sect leaders.

hunters

The wolves tasked with providing the pack's food. They are separated into hunting parties of up to five: one stalker, between one and three chasers, and one finisher to end the hunt. Although they have a sect leader just as the other uluhosar do, each party also has its own leader, who chooses which scent to follow and decides which hunting strategies will lead them to success. Hunting parties tend to develop an intensely close friendship and loyalty to one another.

scouts

Some wolves are born with a wanderlust, an irresistible urge to travel far and wide. At the same time, no wolf finds it easy to live entirely alone. The role of the scout is the perfect compromise between both instincts – they are tasked with exploring the surrounding biomes, deeming areas to be safe enough or too dangerous for the rest of the pack to visit, seeking out good hunting grounds and the places that herbs grow. They are also usually the wolves sent to talk with other packs.

denminders

Those of gentle hearts, even if some do not immediately seem it. The denminders spend most of their time in or around the camp, cleaning out built-up debris, managing stocks of prey, and helping the herbalist with minor tasks such as watching the sick or sorting herbs and medicines. Their most important task is watching over the pack's young, instructing them in the ways of the pack and about the world around them. Each denminder is assigned their own group of pups to tutor.

trainees

Young wolves between six months and one year of age. Though not considered old enough to perform duties unsupervised, they are ready to begin training their strength and stamina, and to accompany the fully-fledged members on their tasks. Each trainee is assigned a mentor from each sect, and these mentors will work together to ensure that their trainee is prepared to become an adult of the pack. The exception to this is the herbalist's trainee, who is chosen as a pup and at six months of age begins learning herbalism alone.

pups

All members of the pack younger than six months. Their only responsibility is keeping themselves out of trouble, as best as a curious young wolf can manage to. They spend their time not otherwise entertaining themselves under the tutelage of the denminders, who instruct them on the ways of pack life and the history of the world around them. Most of the pack regards them with a distant fondness; it is best not to become too attached to the youngest of the pack, as their rate of death is notoriously high.