Redfrost Pack
HISTORY
The beasts of this world are as old as the world in which they live and as unknowable as time itself; those who reside in the present can only begin to fathom those who may have resided in the past. In such a vein, the Redfrost Pack was created.
Vraskyr the Divine led his starving family across the land at great peril, enduring much resistance along the way, until he was about ready to lay down and give up. He believed all was lost, and his line would no longer continue despite his best efforts, but one day he was shown the shattered skeletons of a quadruped from days long past. The dirty bones protruded from a hardened, unforgiving ground, cold and unyielding, yet Vraskyr began to dig. His paws bled all over the soil, enriching it, allowing it to feed, as he bore persistently deeper to uncover the remains of a mighty beast.
There were six holes in near-perfect symmetry across the skull; six holes for six eyes to view the world in great detail. There was a gaping, hungry maw where its stomach should have been, the ribs jutting out angrily in all directions. In his great wisdom, Vraskyr saw the true form of the One; he howled for many days in response to the things he witnessed, the things he did. The flesh he gave to satiate the hunger of the beast proved only just sufficient, for as he crawled back to his den, a stampede raged just below, prime pickings for those able to hunt for them. Vraskyr's family ate well and regained strength. From that point on, so long as the blood and flesh was given, there were bountiful resources and immense good fortune for the growing pack.
HIERARCHY
Every member will have a place in the hierarchy, without exception. Redfrost makes sure that family knows that they belong here.
Head :: 1
The Head is the highest rank, the leader of the pack. Most consider this an "alpha" position - true, this rank inherently garners more respect - but the Head is much more than the ruler. The Head of Redfrost Pack participates just as much in the festivities and immerses themself in the traditions with the rest of the pack, and is expected to lead the pack further into a future of prosperity and fortune.
Eyes :: 6
The Eyes are the overseers and the main upholders of traditions. While they do hold a high position in the hierarchy, they are not necessarily what most packs call the "elders". The Eyes maintain constant vigilance, watching the inner workings of the pack to make sure the beliefs are remembered and the traditions upheld. They are the main vassals of the One, allowed to pass judgement about the Aspects presented to them.
Teeth :: Varies
The Teeth are the enforcers and they answer to the Eyes and the Head. They do what needs to be done to ensure the pack remains one cohesive unit. The Teeth are the secondary judges of the Aspects, primarily dealing with the Aspect of Flesh.
Paws :: Varies
The Paws are the guardians and foundation of the pack. They make sure everyone has what they need, and that the members are and feel safe. Basically, the Paws are the moral support of the pack. They also tend to deal a lot with witnessing of the Aspect of Mind.
Flesh :: Varies
The Flesh are the bulk of the pack, the lowest rank by default but by no means the least of the members. They are simply considered the regular members, those who have no specific place in the hierarchy and therefore have no additional inherent expectations of them.
ROLES
Each member may choose or be given a single or multiple roles or "jobs" within the pack family. Not every role is specifically delegated to a specific hierarchy, but each spot in the hierarchy may have some of the roles. Any exceptions are detailed below accordingly. Not every member will have a role, at all. Some may choose to simply exist and help where they wish or do what they can, without taking on a specific role. They are considered "
Unmarked", though the title is highly ironic.
Leader ::
Eyes - 2 : Teeth - 2 : Paws - 4 The leaders take primary roles in organizing and carrying out traditions. They are important to the structure of the ceremonies and are expected to be exemplary members of the pack.
Healers ::
Various # for all hierarchical positionsThe healers do what they can to aid the pack with their medicinal knowledge. They are essential to the aftercare for the Ritual of Pleasing particularly, to make sure no one falls ill and/or dies involuntarily.
Hunter/Gatherers ::
Various # for all hierarchical positionsWhile most of the members of Redfrost contribute to the gathering of resources, the designated Hunters and Gatherers are those whose main purpose it is to organize such things. They typically help keep inventory of the stock, collect more resources, and make up the majority of the hunting parties while others simply tag along.
Patrols ::
Eyes - 2 : Paws - 2 : Flesh - Various #As the name suggests, Patrols are those members who have taken up the mantle to keep the perimeter safe. Two Eyes and two Paws may be Patrols, but the role is primarily distributed throughout the general population of Flesh.
Chosen ::
Various # for any hierarchical positionsThe Chosen are those who will give up their Aspect life to become full sacrifices to the One. This is a very special role bestowed exclusively around the time of the Ritual of Pleasing so that the entire pack may recognize the bearer's contributions to the ultimate goal.
Tributes ::
Various #, Flesh positionMuch like the Chosen, Tributes are those whose entire Aspect identity will be laid bare before the One. However, those who are given this role are not sacrificed at the altar during the Ritual of Pleasing, but instead provide their bodies to the pack, first. Only Flesh may receive this title, and sometimes even non-pack are offered as Tributes.
Pups ::
Various #, Flesh positionPups are exactly who you'd think this role is referring to. They are the youth, from birth to two years. They are still in development phase, and are here to learn and grow into their own to become fully functional family members.
TRADITIONS
Free-Run ::
A day and night of pure chaos and shirked duties. Every Full Moon, anyone wishing to participate lines up along the pack borders and when the sun comes up, they're off. While all members are allowed to leave the lands on any day, they must come back before sundown. However, on Free-Run day, they may go anywhere, do anything, and are only required to come back by the next sunrise. It is also a day when most members do their recruiting.
Circle of Acceptance ::
An official invitation to the pack.Those who wish to join the family will be brought together after their wait in the Ring. Everyone crowds in a circle around them and the Teeth Leaders leave one physical mark upon them, whether it be by tooth or claw. They are then accepted into the pack. They will wear this mark proudly.
Naming Ceremony ::
The choosing of a name and a coming of age celebration.Each young member gets a Name around the first anniversary of their birth, something which they may choose themselves or let others choose for them. It symbolizes their official growth into the pack, as a full member. Everyone gathers and the younglings stand in a line to greet the Head. They then give their name, which is remembered and noted by the Paws, and take their place amongst the rest. Afterward there is revelry.
Ritual of Pleasing ::
The offering of body or blood for Fortune and PropserityEvery other New Moon, all members prepare for the Ritual of Pleasing by identifying their transgressions and presenting them to the Eyes. Those who volunteer to be shorn of their sins will be taken to the Skull Altar where all six Eyes will bite them, ripping off small bits of meat to drop at the base of the altar. These sacrifices are left as offering to the One to be witnessed as Aspects of Flesh, and are off limits for consumption.
Group Therapy ::
A time of communication and healing amongst the pack.Creatures both bold and meek need help sometimes to understand their problems and work out their issues. This is not a required convention, but many may choose to attend these meetings where they're free to open up to the rest. The goal is Understanding and Emotional and Mental Decompression. It is also a streamlined way to allow for the Aspect of Mind to be witnessed, which is why usually at least one or two of the Eyes will lead Group Therapy.
Reverence ::
Several days of remembrance and celebration for the dead and the sacrifices we've made along our lives.Coinciding sometimes with the Naming Ceremony, this is the longest event of all the traditions in Redfrost, and the main avenue for presenting the Aspect of Essence to be witnessed. After the Naming, there is Reverence, a time to honor those who have passed and uplift those who have just begun their journeys. Everyone is encouraged to set out their trinkets and present their scars, and each night for about three nights straight, there is collective music making and dancing, and fire.
BELIEFS
Vraskyr the Divine :: The very first member, the creator of the Redfrost pack. Vraskyr the Divine saw the remains of the One and beheld their power as he gave his body, mind, and soul. In return, he was blessed with great prosperity until the end of his days, during which he founded the pack we all now call family. He will be forever remembered for his sacrifices to save his family.
The One :: Every sacrifice goes to the altar of the One, the single most important entity in this pack's spoken lore. Legend has it that before there was man, there were only beasts, and they were even more magnificent than they are today. Among these beasts, there lived the One, who could see into the minds of the rest and who could sense the very soul that these creatures held within them. The One was a fearsome beast, with six eyes - each pair seeing a different aspect of any living creature. The fall of the One is associated with the Great Famine which comes every twenty years.
The Aspects :: These are the three most important parts of any sentient organism, things which separate creatures such as the wolf and the bear from things such as trees and insects. Even the smallest organism can have these Aspects, but if it doesn't, it is not considered to have the sentience required for sacrificial consent - nor is it considered to be capable of transgression.
Mind - The mental and psychological Aspect of a sentient creature's being; this Aspect determines whether a creature is worthy of the fortune they seek of the One.
Essence - The soul, if you will, the spiritual energy that makes up a creature's existence and defines how they fit into the great puzzle.
Flesh - The physical Aspect of any creature, their body and the most tangible Aspect to be witnessed.
The Great Famine :: Every 20 years, a large-scale epidemic sweeps the land and brings with it a shortage of resources. Despite being called simply "The Great Famine", this event refers to a mass dwindling of all things. The ultimate goal of Redfrost is to end the cycle of bounty and famine by appealing to the One and offering their Aspects to be witnessed.