The Packs
The dashboard melted but we still have the radio
LAST EDIT: Feb 7, 2022 15:18:35 GMT -5 by Zesha
The dashboard melted but we still have the radio
Post by Zesha on Feb 4, 2022 14:20:47 GMT -5
Heaven’s Peak Pack
Current Leader: Ghost of the Valley
Current Deputy:
Current Healer(s):
Current Healer Apprentice(s):
Past Leaders: Frost
Past Deputies:
Past Healers:
Past Healer Apprentices:
About
Soon after the area had become a wildlife refuge, a pack of wolves traveled over the mountains to seek shelter from humans that had been killing them off in their old home. This was 240 moons (20 years) ago. They scaled a mountain that touched the clouds—Heaven’s Peak—and traversed down the other side to settle at the base of the soaring summit. They wanted nothing more than peace and prosperity for their pups, a safe haven for them to grow up in. There was fear that humans would follow them here, but after a few moons of not seeing a single one, they began to relax.
They knew of Hugo, the Rottweiler that lived in Sawtooth Forest. He was good company and the pups loved to run around his legs. He was the only other canine around for quite some time, until around 12 moons (1 year) after the founding of the wildlife refuge. Then he began bringing a Dalmatian named Lydia around with him, and she too was good company. The pack of wolves, the Heaven’s Peak Pack, came to respect these dogs. Even their leader, Frost, did not mind these creatures once touched by man.
Peace often comes to an end, however. Thirty-six moons (3 years) into their lives at the refuge, another pack crossed the mountains. The pack was vicious, descending on Heaven’s Peak in the dead of night and trying to murder the pups first. But the pups were tucked in a cave deep inside the base of the mountain, and a Packmate on guard noticed them and raised the alarm. Wolves poured from the caves and attacked. The noise traveled all the way to the other packs, but by the time Hugo and Limber arrived Heaven’s Peak stood victorious—but with only half of their members left.
Frost saw them and snarled, “Do you think we’ve been weakened? We have not! We’ll fight you too if we have to!” The two other pack leaders tried to explain, but Frost would not hear it. The attack had broken her, and she now only desired the safety of her pack from everything. She leaped, growling at the two, chasing them as they called their packs back to their own territory. She made sure they were gone before returning to her ruined Pack. She couldn’t understand what they had done to deserve so much carnage.
She sent out a few wolves from the pack to go find stray dogs, wolves, heck, coyotes so long as they would be loyal to the Pack and help defend against these invaders that wanted to take over her land. Since then the canines of Heaven’s Peak became colder, more aggressive, more than willing to fight over the tiniest of things. Anyone outside of the pack is viewed warily. The Pack has no friends except those within it. Loners and rogues that show up are given very little time to explain their presence before they’re chased off, canines from other Packs even less.
Culture
- Winter births are preferred over other seasons. It is said that if a pup can survive Heaven’s Peak’s harsh winter, they are strong enough to be part of the pack.
- Soft furs, usually in white, are gathered for the pup bearer to make their nest as comfortable as possible while birthing.
- Food with white fur is preferred but not completely necessary for the pup bearer to eat.
- Pup bearers (dames) are allowed to continue their duties within the pack until they become too heavy with pups to work, and are frowned upon if they take that time any sooner than they absolutely have to.
- Only strong pups are celebrated within Heaven’s Peak.
- Sickly pups will be left out in the snow. If they survive the night, they will be seen as strong enough to be part of the Pack.
- “Unclean” blood is frowned upon. The parents of the pups should be from Heaven’s Peak, not another Pack and not a loner or rogue.
- Only the healer and the parents of the pups may be in the nursery during birthing. If there are other dames with pups in the nursery at the time, they must find somewhere else to go.
Traits
- Aggressive
- Brave
- Clever
- Devious
- Independent
- Loyal
- Proud
- Reckless
- Skeptical
Prey
- Alpacas
- Bighorn Sheep
- Birds
- Chamois
- Chinchillas
- Eagles
- Falcons
- Fish
- Grouse
- Ibex
- Llamas
- Marmots
- Mountain Goats
- Otters
- Ptarmigan
- Weasels
- White-Tailed Deer
- Yak
Predators
- Bears
- Cougars
- Foxes
- Lynx
- Vultures
LAST EDIT: Feb 7, 2022 14:42:32 GMT -5 by Zesha
The dashboard melted but we still have the radio
Post by Zesha on Feb 6, 2022 14:08:28 GMT -5
Sawtooth Forest Pack
Current Leader: Lumeria
Current Deputy:
Current Healer(s): Akela
Current Healer Apprentice(s):
Past Leaders: Hugo
Past Deputies:
Past Healers: Lydia
Past Healer Apprentices:
About
Sawtooth Forest was once a place where lumber was farmed by a lumberjack and his dog. But 240 moons (20 years) ago, the area was turned into a wildlife refuge, and the lumberjack had to give up his life cutting down trees in the forest. His age had caught up to him, however. He laid down one final night in his bed and did not wake up the next morning, leaving his Rottweiler, Hugo, alone in the vast woodland. Hugo would become known as the “first civilized wild dog” of the refuge.
About 12 moons (1 year) later, a car drove by on the rumbling stones (road) and dropped off a pretty little Dalmatian by the name of Lydia. Hugo helped her free of her leash that her former owner had used to tether her, and suddenly the number of dogs in Sawtooth Forest was two. This was the beginning of the actual pack, now that there was more than a single dog. Lydia was wonderful with plants and quite knowledgeable about what they did, so she became the very first healer in the Pack. She was a lovely dog to be around, and her and Hugo’s kind personalities shaped the Pack into what it is today.
Not much is known about Hugo anymore, but the tale of how the lumberjack saved him from the pound still circulates through the Pack. He had been on death row, about to be put down by the shelter when the lumberjack appeared and decided yes, this was the perfect dog for him. While not all humans are this kind, Hugo wanted that same energy to be what drove his Pack to greatness: giving canines a chance to be their good, authentic selves. It would be a while before Hugo learned not all all dogs are “good” at heart.
Being so close to the rumbling stones, Sawtooth is usually the first pack a dropped off dog encounters. There have been countless former pets abandoned by the side of the rumbling stones, left there to die by their former owners. Some take it better than others. Some dogs become skittish towards people, others indifferent, and the last usually have an incurable hatred for mankind. But this Pack is meant to be a haven of sorts for lost souls, and no humans have set foot there in many, many moons. The refuge allows cars to drive through it, but not for people to stop and take a walk around.
This pack aims to be a friendly, safe place for all, so while they’ll take in former pets and dogs escaped from puppy mills and even former “exotic” pets that want to return to the wilds, they will not accept rogues. Rogues, they say, are too aggressive and volatile to be trusted within the Pack, and are a danger to all those within. Anyone that is labeled a rogue will be chased from the area. As welcoming as they are, they simply cannot risk it—especially after what happened to Heaven’s Peak.
Culture
- Spring and summer births are preferred, but all births are a happy occasion no matter what.
- Soft furs, feathers, trinkets to decorate the nest, all these things are gathered for the pup bear by friends and family.
- It doesn't matter what kind of food is eaten so long as the pup bearer is getting enough of it.
- Pup bearers (dames) are allowed to continue their duties within the pack until they become too heavy with pups to work, but they are also allowed to take a break from their duties as soon as they find out they are pregnant if they wish.
- All pups are celebrated within Sawtooth, regardless of their heritage or health.
- Sickly pups will be given the best of care. If it turns out they cannot be cured and will suffer until they die, they will be killed quickly and mercifully so that they do not live in agony.
- Half-Pack heritage isn't seen as much of a problem in Sawtooth, though they request all pups be allowed to stay within the Pack until they are old enough to decide which parent they'd like to live with.
- Only the healer and the parents of the pups may be in the nursery during birthing, along with the other dames and pups living there at the time. Though it is spacious, they wish for the dame to be able to concentrate without a million faces looking upon them.
Traits
- Benevolent
- Determined
- Empathetic
- Fair
- Friendly
- Loyal
- Moralistic
- Outspoken
- Progressive
Prey
- Bats
- Beavers
- Birds
- Boar
- Chipmunks
- Deer
- Elk
- Fish
- Frogs
- Hares
- Hedgehogs
- Mice
- Moose
- Otters
- Owls
- Rabbits
- Squirrels
- Toads
- Weasels
Predators
- Badgers
- Bears
- Bobcats
- Cougars
- Coyotes
- Foxes
LAST EDIT: Feb 7, 2022 14:42:14 GMT -5 by Zesha
The dashboard melted but we still have the radio
Post by Zesha on Feb 7, 2022 15:17:57 GMT -5
Limberlost Swamp Pack
Current Leader: Squall
Current Deputy:
Current Healer(s): Rue
Current Healer Apprentice(s): Soraia
Past Leaders: Limber, Baskon Gloria
Past Deputies:
Past Healers:
Past Healer Apprentices:
About
Roughly 216 moons (18 years) ago, a wolfdog by the name of Limber was abandoned by the rumbling overpass. This was much closer to the swamp than to the forest, so they were not greeted by Hugo or Lydia. As they wandered, fear tingling their pelt, they came to realize they were horrible lost within the strange-smelling swamp and night was falling fast. Panic drove them to run off in a random direction, only getting them more lost. But as the darkness came, so did a little glowing light: a firefly. They stared at the strange creature as it circled them, then moved away. Did it want them to follow it?
As it turned out, yes. The firefly lit the way out of the swamp, leading Limber back to the road. They wagged their tail and thanked the little creature, which blinked as if to say, “You’re welcome.” Limber slept by the side of the rumbling overpass that night, but no one returned for them. They were stuck where they were. Glancing back to the swamp, they wondered… would it possibly be a good place to live, if they learned the way around? The ground was wet and soggy, but it was somewhere to live. They would name it “Limberlost,” to remind themselves of how they had gotten lost within and were helped by the firefly.
It was within the swamp that Limber learned of spirits of past creatures as they passed among the mushrooms and other plants that grew within the mist. They did not speak to them, but they could see them, hear the noises they made. Eventually Limber found another canine like them, this one a coyote, who spoke of the ghosts that lived within the swamp and the memories that were imprinted into the ground, the trees, the very air they breathed.
Over time, more canines came to live within the swamp. They too had visions, they most had them while they slept, dreaming of creatures long dead. It was from this that Limberlost learned to respect the place they lived, revering the plants and the animals that gave them sustenance. This was the circle of life, so to speak: the prey ate the plants, the canines at the prey, the canines eventually died and enriched the soil so that more plants may grow. Plus, most of the canines within the pack could contact the dead through dreams. What was there to fear in death?
Out of all the Packs, Limberlost is certainly the most spiritual and connected with the Ancestors. It is not so that every canine that lives within the Pack can see or hear ghosts, even in their dreams, but most seem to have picked up on the superstitions of the Pack regardless. They’re a bit strange according to some, but they are friendly to all those that present themselves as a friend—though they will not hesitate to chase an enemy from their lands, and those chased often are plagued by nightmares for weeks after.
Culture
- Nursery nests are decorated with hides of swamp rabbits and painted with protection symbols using crushed up berries. The colors are bright and vibrant, as darker colors are thought to encourage evil spirits.
- Dames must not have any contact with spirits while pregnant, and often they eat plants that help suppress dreams so that spirits cannot contact them in their sleep. While most Ancestor spirits wish only the best for the dames, there are some ill-willed spirits within the afterlife that may try to harm or possess the unborn pups.
- Spring and summer births are seen as joyous occasions, while fall/autumn and winter births are surrounded by fear that the pups won’t survive and that darker spirits will more easily be able to get them.
- Pup bearers (dames) are allowed to continue their duties within the pack until they become too heavy with pups to work, but they are allowed to take a break as soon as they learn they are pregnant.
- Only the healer and the parents of the pups may be in the nursery during birthing.
- Family and friends of the parents gather outside and howl to the Ancestors, asking them to come protect the pups being born.
- If fang marks are found on their neck, it means they have been possessed and must be exorcised. Not all pups are able to survive the exorcism.
- Pups born under the full moon are thought to have a future in healing.
- Pups are welcomed wholeheartedly into the pack. The only time they would be killed is if they had an incurable illness and they are suffering.
Traits
- Contemplative
- Creative
- Dignified
- Mystical
- Passionate
- Obsessive
- Stubborn
- Superstitious
Prey
- Birds
- Crawfish
- Egrets
- Frogs
- Fish
- Herons
- Muskrats
- Newts
- Otters
- Snakes
- Storks
- Swamp Rabbits
- Toads
- Water Fowl
Predators
- Bears
- Panthers
LAST EDIT: Feb 23, 2022 15:27:57 GMT -5 by Zesha
