Skip to main content
Main Content

Damar Lore [Do Not Post]

Damar Lore [Do Not Post]
Posted 2020-09-28 19:00:07 (edited)

Welcome to Damar

Resilient | Devoted | Reserved

Life in Damar has always been hard. With migratory prey and long winters, Damar has recently turned to offering true sacrifices of firstborn children to whichever god will listen to their plight. Though they do this in secrecy - it is only said that rogues or angry spirits are the perpetrators - word is slowly getting out that Damar has abandoned the original teachings of the gods and gone down a dark path. They have no choice; if they do not beg the gods with unorthodox methods, Damar will end for good.



Section 1

Information


Life in Damar has always been hard. With migratory prey and long winters, Damar has recently turned to offering true sacrifices of firstborn children to whichever god will listen to their plight. Though they do this in secrecy - it is only said that rogues or angry spirits are the perpetrators - word is slowly getting out that Damar has abandoned the original teachings of the gods and gone down a dark path. They have no choice; if they do not beg the gods with unorthodox methods, Damar will end for good.


Damar has not had a soothsayer or skinwalker in several generations, and though they still meet with their ancestors during full moons, their spiritual energies are entirely cut off for the better part of the year, unlike the other packs where they can call for their protection in dire circumstances.


Placed within a dangerous and unforgiving territory, Damar has struggled for generations but has been unable to find a better place to live due to the fortified borders of the other territories. Predators and monstrous spirits run rampant, and to keep them at bay, countless sacrifices have to be made. The older generations have accepted their fates; the younger has no choice.

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:01:02

Culture


New Commandments

  • Damar has a distinct hierarchy, and that pecking order plays a part in how prosperous one will be and their standing in the pack.

  • Murdering within the pack of Damar is punishable by exile. Murder outside of Damar during raids, however, is acceptable.

  • A kaah should never harm or kill those younger than themselves or those that are too weak or helpless to fight back.

  • Everyone in Damar that expects to be fed must work for it. There are no handouts, and ones' dedication and loyalty must be total if they want to survive the winter.

  • You may not freely defect from the pack. The pack took you in; and for that generosity, they expect to be repaid in full.

  • Mating with those outside of the pack is forbidden, and may lead to the death of the partner you took and any whelps you bear, and a complete demotion.

  • All firstborn children must be sacrificed for the greater good. If pups are hidden from the pack, the entire litter must be killed to appease offended gods, and the mother that hid them will be punished severely.



Raiding:

Damar kaah and naalkaah are a sight to behold, and a sight that is often one's last. Born to kill, every member is given greater training than any other pack gives to their own forces, with all well-equipped for battle. Brutally efficient, Damar makes quick work of other packs, and have caused a mass migration of wolves out of their valley. The few survivors of each attack believe the perpetrators are Bhazec's ill-fated Blighted, as Damar almost always attacks under the cover of night and is gone without a trace within the hour.


Coming of Age

Whelps are sent into the Godswood to meet their fate in the Maw of Monsters. Before each coming of age ceremony, the whelp will be thanked and allowed to pray before being escorted to the edge of the woods. What happens to them is unknown, but mysterious and hair-raising wailing comes from the forest when the sun goes down; if it is the wind on the trees or the lost pups themselves, it will never be known, as a curse falls upon those that speak of what they saw. Should a pup survive the trek through the Godswood, they will be met with a blessing from the Sachem and an honorable title; should they be lost to monsters, a vigil will be held for a night in the camp by the pup's family. After the whelp goes to sleep, they will meet their spiritual familiar, and when they awaken they will be known as a kaah or mogue.


  • The age that a whelp (pia) will go into the forest varies, relying on innate skills and their size. Typically they will be around a year old, with some waiting an extra month or even going into the forest as young as 10 months old.

  • The visions and sights that one will see in the forest varies, depending on the wolf’s drive to return to their families and their inner fears. The monsters play with a whelp’s weaknesses; the weaker they are internally, the less likely they are to survive, and they will be tricked off the path and vanish into the wilderness. As long as a wolf has prepared themselves to overcome seemingly impossible challenges, they will return to Damar as full-fledged adults.


Marriage Ceremonies

A tradition as old as time, marriage is a week-long affair where the pack will indulge in food, prayer, and song. Before being officially united, the couple would seek to gain guidance from Gadrin and hold vigil for two days and two nights while the naalmogue travels to the salt pools. During the ceremony itself, females would be adorned with the brightest flowers on the moor and given her family's blessing before the marriage took place. Though not all couples would ever consummate the marriage, it was expected by tradition that every male should have at least one son, and so it is most common for the couples to have one or two litters of pups in their lifetimes.


  • Marriage is seen as a binding contract. You are to stay loyal until one or both have passed on and are expected to remain devoted even in the case where a partner has died, and it is common to visit the graves of the departed.

  • Whelps born out of wedlock are known as bastards, and face intense scrutiny from the entire pack until they prove themselves in battle.

  • To speak with Gadrin, a couple (before they are wed) must ask the pack’s naalmogue to trek to the salt pools and they (the naalmogue) will drink a small amount of water. Pasus will send them a vision on behalf of Gadrin, and she will most often give the couples her blessing. If she does not, the couple is forbidden from wedding. When she disproves of a couple, it is most often because one or both have been dishonest with one another about their intentions in the marriage. Infidelity, hidden secrets, or secret disdain towards one’s partner may make her refuse to perform her blessing. The Mogue is forbidden from having any sort of bias when informing them of Gadrin’s decision.

  • Mothers are the ones that will typically adorn their daughters with wildflowers and accept their daughter’s fiance. If there is no mother or sister left in the daughter’s family, her father or brother will step up and find flowers for her.

  • Marriages always occur in the summer.

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:01:24

Appearance


Physical Appearance


Though all should be strong in spirit and as fit as they can be, Damar's difficult terrain and few prey animals have led to the pack becoming thin and scraggly in appearance. While superiors remain strong and more well-kempt, the rest of the pack eats less and has to fight for more for scraps. Still, they are commonly the tallest of all wolves in the Land, and are frightening to most due to their history and attitudes.


Familiars


Familiars in Damar reflect durability and strength. Meek familiars rarely exist, as their hosts are quickly weeded from the pack.


Meanings


(Common) Only found in the North American tundra

  • Bighorn Sheep: Headstrong

  • Male Deer/Elk/Pronghorn: Protective and loyal

  • Female Deer/Elk/Pronghorn: Gentle and intuitive

  • Birds of Prey (Owls, eagles, hawks, falcons, etc.): Independent, perceptive, or wise

  • Scavenger Bird (ravens, gulls): Clever, ambitious, or cowardly

  • Bobcat/lynx: Independent or adventurous

  • Fox: Playful, clever, or vain

  • Moose: Independent, aggressive, or physically strong

  • Bison: Aggressive, protective, or strong-willed

  • Wolverine: Fearless, aggressive, or physically strong

  • Mountain lion: Courageous or physically strong


(Uncommon) Only found in the North American tundra

  • Ice bear: Wise, patient, or physically strong

  • Grizzly bear: Aggressive, cruel, or family-oriented

  • Black bear: Gentle or affectionate

  • Reindeer: Fearful, friendly, or vain

  • Snow hare: Hardy, meek, or playful


(Rare) Only found in the North American tundra

  • Songbird (Cardinal/Bunting/Tern, etc.): Innocent, naive, fearful

  • Beetle: Stupid, cowardly, or meek

  • Medium-sized Rodent (Marmot/Ground Squirrel/Squirrel): Strong-willed, independent, or meek

  • Grouse: Proud or ambitious

  • Mouse/Vole/Shrew: Playful, reserved, or optimistic


(Extremely Rare)

  • Direwolf: Spiritual, ambitious, proud

  • Ancestor: Spiritual, passionate, family-oriented

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:01:33 (edited)

Ranks


Leaders


       Sachem - audition only

       Myo'n and Myo'kla - Meaning "beloved one" and "beloved many" respectively, these terms refer to the Sachem's favored packmates.


       Makade - limited, open

               Right hand of the Sachem.


Occult


       Naalmogue - limited, open

               Healers and ceremony leaders that have strong connections to their ancestors.

       Mogue - limited, open

               Must have a strong connection to their ancestors and their familiar. Apprentices of the Naalmogue.


Warriors


       Naalkaah - limited

               Earning their names by participating in difficult battles and hunts, naalkaah are respected leaders and teachers of the pack.

       Kaah - unlimited

               Simply subordinates that partake in raids or hunts, the kaah make up the bulk of the pack.

       Pia - unlimited

               Whelps (6 mo/+) that watch hunts and learn basic survival skills from their superiors.


Helpless


       Akanyom - earned through RP

               Literally meaning "broken," akanyom are wolves that have debilitating injuries or illnesses.

       Atse - limited

               Elders.

       Ita - limited, earned through adoptions/RP
               Whelps that are too young to learn survival skills or travel long distances.

       Mahena - unlimited

               The lost, deceased, or runaways of the pack.




Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:01:54 (edited)

Section 2


Territory & Borders


Description

Barren and rocky, with tough grasses and few trees. Arctic foxes and eagles make the most of the territory. It is cold and dark almost year-round, with the one exception being summer, and it snows throughout autumn, winter, and spring. Hardy muskox and caribou migrate through the valley at certain points during the year, and the pack becomes nomadic to accommodate. The territory is divided by a wide, frothing river that can only be crossed during the dead of winter when it has completely frozen over on the northern end. If someone crosses and the ice melts, they will be separated for the pack until winter unless they make the 80-mile trek through Bryne’s territory to cross back through their marshes, so caution should always be taken when crossing into the western or eastern territory.


The Godswood rests to the cardinal north, one of the only true forests in the territory, but carries terrible spirits and is said to be the border between the wolves' territories and Eden. As such, it is only approached during the traditional coming of age ceremonies, and should always be respected and revered.


The Hrokkan pack rests to the southeast past a long mountain range known as Gidhin's Spine, while the Bryne lie directly southwest in the boglands. For the most part, the borders do not overlap unless the packs have declared war on each other, but some individuals may wander into the various territories by accident.


Places of Note:


Withering Plains: Geysers and scorching, acidic hot springs make the plains incredibly dangerous and rarely traveled.


Gidhin’s Spine: Mountainous and hostile, Gidhin’s Spine acts as a natural border between Hrokkan and Damar. The packs rarely meet, except for the occasional encounter high in the mountains.


The Great Expanse: Before one reaches Gidhin’s Spine they must pass through the Great Expanse. Abundant with migratory animals in the spring and summer, it is well-known and well-traveled, though it is barren and freezing in the autumn. In winter, wolves run the risk of dying of exposure if cold winds blow in from the mountains - to stay warm, the pack must always stay together.


Brine Muskeg: Salty and difficult - and for the most part harmless - to travel through, the muskeg has frightening hidden places to fall into, and most travelers know to avoid the muskeg. It takes double the time to go through it than to go around it. Wandering pups and whelps have drowned here, and with that knowledge it makes for an eerie trek.


Gadrin’s Salt Pools: A lifeless expanse of salt-crusted ponds, they are an entry to Pasus’s dream realm. Mogues and naalmogues often make the journey here to hear prophecies and greet their ancestors. Mogues will undergo their final task in the dream realm at one of the salt pools.


Cobalt River: Striking through Gidhin’s Spine and halving Damar’s territory, the cobalt river is at its strongest at the end of summer after melting snowcaps feed into it. It can be incredibly dangerous to cross, and there are few points that are shallow and calm enough to be waded through. One should never swim through it, as hidden underwater currents have dragged many a wolf and deer to their deaths. To be safe, most wolves know to only cross during winter time at the northern end, which completely freezes over.


Godswood: Believed to be the border between the living and Eden, the godswood is a mysterious place that is not as hospitable as it appears. As one enters the forest, they will have a feeling of being watched, and may subconsciously note that the birds have gone eerily quiet. Indescribable monstrous spirits reside here, though charitable nature wisps will guide the lost traveler where they believe they must go. The Godswood extends into Hrokkan’s territory, and there it is known as the Hrokwood.


Maw of Monsters: An ancient cave system with innumerable twists and turns located deep in the Godswood, the Maw of Monsters is dangerous to those that are easily distracted or influenced by outside forces. When entering, one must know that there is no going back once you have started, and you must see the cave all the way through. Pia are taught to think of only one thing: home. If they lose their focus, they could wither away within the damp interior, fall into a crag, or drown if they answer the calls of the Whispering Lake.

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:02:16

Section 3

Combined History of Fornhame and Damar


Founded by unrelated wolves from the west, Fornhame used to hold half of Bryne’s territory and safely hunt in the Godswood. Fearsome but not cruel, strong-willed but not stubborn, they were a far cry from what they are now. They were allied with a pack that has now long dispersed, and together they were both able to easily conquer Bryne and frighten off any wanderers. At their peak, they held nearly 100 miles of land and had well over 40 members, but a curse befell over half of the pack as they raided without care or concern for innocent lives. After slaughtering countless Bryne pups and their mothers, they were struck down by Bhazec in his fury, and made to live the rest of their lives without sight, hearing, families, or even death. Today, it is said they wander Bryne’s northern marshes, decaying and frightening to behold, but they protect innocent travelers from harm while doing away with those with dark intentions.


At some time between the change, the Maw of Monsters unleashed dark spirits into the Godswood, when they had once been kept at bay within the caves. When wolves began to disappear at an alarming rate when going to the Godswood, all were forbidden from returning to it, though pia would still have to prove themselves within the Maw of Monsters.


To prevent the pack from falling to darkness once more, new commandments were put in place that one should never kill or harm a mother and her family without reason. However, with the new stresses that the pack was put under and their northern isolation from all other packs, Bryne retook their territory and pushed Fornhame further into the tundra. Weakened by starvation, half took to stealing into Bryne’s territory quietly to make kills and return to the pack, while the other half traveled to the mountains to hunt the dall sheep found in the heights. The pack was split for many moons, and dispersed entirely to form two new packs, the Damar that remained in the tundra and the Throkkan that claimed the mountains.


Fornhame had disbanded, and the Damar rose in their place, while Throkkan went further east to merge with the Hrok, becoming known as Hrokkan. Tales of Fornhame’s strength from its descendents kept their history alive; they were one and the same, of course, and their Fornhame ancestors were still within their blood. Damar had the same struggles, though, and when the pack returned to strength in the summer they were able to push further into the south, regaining the Brine Muskeg and salt pools, and pushed Hrokkan completely through the mountains to reclaim the Great Expanse. Damar would never again be seen as weak, and their new patron god makes sure of that.




Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:02:46

placeholder

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-09-28 19:54:32 (edited)

Section 4



Current Ranks

  

                                    Leadership                                                                                                                                         


           Sachem

               Falling Rain - a stoic dinar brown wolf with hazel eyes, and a mottled gray-brown coat


           Myo'n

               White Moth - a pewter wolf with black eyes, and brown and beige mottling


           Myo'kla

               Little Badger - a stoic dinar brown wolf with hazel eyes, and a mottled gray-brown coa

               Leaping Bobcat - a stoic dinar brown wolf with hazel eyes, and a mottled gray-brown coa

               Quick Spider - a stoic dinar brown wolf with hazel eyes, and a mottled gray-brown coa

            Makade

               Standing Oak - an observant marengo she-wolf with ice eyes, and a white back

                                    Occult                                                                                                                                                 

            Naalmogue

               Cold Sleet - a friendly gray and honey wolf with blue eyes

            Mogue

               Unchosen

                                    Warriors                                                                                                                                         

            Naalkaah

               Black Bison - an aggressive marengo wolf with gray eyes                Laughing Bird - a sullen howlite she-wolf with white eyes, and honey points


            Kaah

               Roaring Wind - an observant gray she-wolf with gray eyes, and a white mask                Fishing Heron - a pessimistic marengo she-wolf with gray eyes and honey markings

               Growling Bear - a reliable black wolf with brown eyes and beige undersides

               Dry Brook - a keen dark cream she-wolf with olive eyes

               Crane Feather - a sociable ashen gray she-wolf with brown eyes

               Singing Voice - an aggressive glaucous gray she-wolf with gray eyes, and tan shading

               Half Moon - a capable dinar she-wolf with ice eyes

               Unsteady Fawn - an anxious dust she-wolf with white eyes

               Sweet Honey - a stoic obsidian she-wolf with white eyes, and white markings


            Pia (6 mo. to 1 yr.)

               Clear Water - a dedicated brass she-wolf with gray eyes

               Stoat Belly - a neutral dark brown wolf with hazel eyes, and a gray face

               Morning Cloud - a pessimistic saffron wolf with white eyes

               Burning Tree - an anxious auburn wolf with gray eyes

               Crashing Thunder - a capable jet she-wolf with brown eyes, and a white face

               Black Bird - a sneaky chocolate wolf with brown eyes

               Heavy Gust - a sullen willow wolf with hazel eyes

               Little Chief - a stoic dinar wolf with green eyes, and honey agouti

               Snarling Face - a conceited arkose wolf with white eyes, and a white blaze

               Prairie Flower - a charming shell she-wolf with gray eyes, and brown merle

               Rustling Leaf - an anxious dark cream she-wolf with hazel eyes, and gray ticking

               Wily Mouse - a bossy apricot she-wolf with ice eyes, and a blue underbelly

                                    Helpless                                                                                                                                         

            Ita (less than 6 mo.)

               Flying Goose - a sullen chocolate brown she-wolf with olive eyes

               Growling Lynx - an aloof jet she-wolf with gray eyes, and honey underfur

               Butterfly Wings - a malicious skarn wolf with hazel eyes, and cream agouti

               Shallow River - a conceited dark brown wolf with hazel eyes

               Sly Fox - a sneaky ashen gray she-wolf with olive eyes, and a honey cape

               Swaying Grass - a sullen nocturne gray wolf with brown eyes, and a brown saddle

               Swooping Wren - a dishonest khaki green wolf with hazel eyes, and brown markings

               Drifting Snow - a precise cocoa gray she-wolf with ice eyes, and brown and white merle

               Gleaming Fish - a capable pecan brown wolf with black eyes, and brown and white merle

               Cloudy Sky - a sneaky jet wolf with white eyes, and brown and yellow merle


            Akanyom

               None


            Atse (7+ years)

               None

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-10-30 18:15:28 (edited)

Pack Relationships

  

            Key:

               Relationships: * = married, * affair with

               Family: * = parents, * = siblings, * = children, * = unrecognized children

               Other: * = mentor of, * apprentice to

No

Ziemara
#2175

Posted 2020-10-30 18:47:23 (edited)

Naming System


When a pup is born, they are usually given a name that works as a good descriptor - so for instance, a mousy-brown colored wolf may be called Mouse - and once their personality begins to become apparent, a prefix is given. After this wolf ages, they will be given a new name that reflects on their personality or prowess only, referred to as the Spiritual Name. The wolf will receive this name after the Maw of Monsters, sent to them in their dreams. In rare cases, when the appearance is just as notable, i.e. an extremely beautiful she-wolf or a deformity such as a scarred face, a second name reflecting the appearance may be given at the same time as the first, or later on in their life when the Spiritual Name no longer fits. This is known as the Prideful Name. In these cases, a wolf may have had three names throughout their lives.


Prefixes

  • Bighorn Sheep: Headstrong

  • Male Deer/Elk/Pronghorn: Protective and loyal

  • Female Deer/Elk/Pronghorn: Gentle and intuitive

  • Birds of Prey (Owls, eagles, hawks, falcons, etc.): Independent, perceptive, or wise

  • Scavenger Bird (ravens, gulls): Clever, ambitious, or cowardly

  • Bobcat/lynx: Independent or adventurous

  • Fox: Playful, clever, or vain

  • Moose: Independent, aggressive, or physically strong

  • Bison: Aggressive, protective, or strong-willed

  • Wolverine: Fearless, aggressive, or physically strong

  • Mountain lion: Courageous or physically strong


Suffixes

  • Sheep Aggressive, Stoic

  • Herbs, Flowers, Shrubbery, Trees: Friendly, Romantic

  • Fruits, Seeds, or Nuts:

  • Locations (rocks, rivers, mountains, seas):




(Rare) Only found in the North American tundra

  • Songbird (Cardinal/Bunting/Tern, etc.): Innocent, naive, fearful

  • Beetle: Stupid, cowardly, or meek

  • Medium-sized Rodent (Marmot/Ground Squirrel/Squirrel): Strong-willed, independent, or meek

  • Grouse: Proud or ambitious

  • Mouse/Vole/Shrew: Playful, reserved, or optimistic


(Extremely Rare)

  • Direwolf: Spiritual, ambitious, proud

  • Ancestor: Spiritual, passionate, family-oriented

Ziemara
#2175

Search Topic