Welcome to Gaia! ::

Some Common Activities:
Training: The racers are usually training Spring through Autumn to prepare for the Winter racing season. The teams each have their own straight tracks to run on to practice speed, endurance and strength. Training is usually taken as good fun by most of the racers, although some may be annoyed if anyone takes it as too much of a joke. Nika and the lead dogs are often coaching the others.

Racing: Formal, informal, the Gang lives to race! The teams often race against each other informally, not only for practice, but for bragging rights. Non-racers like to place casual bets on these informal races and cheer and playfully jeer from the sidelines. During the Winter, the teams may go to compete in formal races, or deliver materials such as medicine, clothing and mail across snowbound areas.

Delivery: Not all of the members were made to compete in the competive races. If they do not take on a regular position, these members can join the delivery team. Although this team trains, and may compete in the informal races if they want, their main focus is delivering packages from one area to another in the Winter. The delivery team frequents human settlements more than the other members do, as they are a known team for their quick services.

The Four Teams:
Because there's so many sled dogs, one team doesn't really make sense! Racers can join one of two teams, and others can also join the one delivery team.

The Kodiak Crew: Headed by Denali, this team is known for winning. They train hard, and Denali doesn't tolerate too much goofing off. A good motto for the Kodiak Crew is "Play Hard, Race Harder". If the team doesn't win a race, they're usually training hard at sunrise the next morning, changing failed strategies and improving other ones. It should be noted that the Crew plays a clean game. They look down on cheating and manipulation, and want to only race teams who play on the same fair field as them. If a Crew member is caught cheating, they will be warned the first time, suspended the second, and kicked off the team (but not, by extension, the tribe) for the third.

The Ketchikan Coalition: The Coalition is generally more for racers who think racing is fun, but not worth being super upset over in the event of a loss. The Coalition wins races as well, but prefer informal racing to the pressures of formal races. A mean-spirited racer might not be the best match for the Coalition.

The Buckland Band: The third racing team, the Band is made up of the meanest of the Gang's racers. While the Crew thrives on being their best, and the Coalition on having fun, the Band is all about winning. A good motto for the Band would be "Win at whatever cost, take down whoever you have to to get there." Some Band members are prone to violence, although the team leaders shut this down before anyone loses a limb. Violence against the other teams, per Nika's wishes, is strictly prohibited. The Band maintains civil, if at times strained, relationships with all other members of the Gang. A member who tries to manipulate or injure another Gang member is subject to banning from Nika.

As a result of their less than friendly nature, the Band functions best with as a few members as possible. Consequently, there are no Team positions in the Band. Each member must be strong enough to haul the sled and make up for that lost power Team racers can provide.

The Skagway Syndicate: The Delivery Team: This team is for members who love to pull a sled, but don't love competition and high action racing. They are hard workers, pulling laden sleds over long distances. This team may work with mushers (for the purposes of Modi world, won't be played) so they can get packages to deliver. They work close to the tribe, often delivering mail in the winter. If another tribe wishes, they may also deliver supplies between tribes. Spring through Autumn they may train, raise families or help non-team members.

Note: A fox doesn't have to be one of the edited sled dogs to join a team.

And yes, the team names are all alliterations based off places in Alaska ;D

Tribe Beliefs:
The Yukon Gang worships Hermes, Deity of Messengers. Even the non-racers and non-delivery teams worship Hermes, remembering the sled dog's roots as a deliverer and supply carrier for the Inuit people. The Gang believes that without Hermes, they would not be together as a unified tribe and family.


A Mini FAQ:
Does my fox have to be a sled dog to join?
Nope! In fact, a fox doesn't even have to be one of the sled dogs to be on a team! Sled dogs can be regular members or racers as well.

How is this different than Kousetsu?!
Simple: The Yukon Gang is not based around snow. Sure, their sport coincidentally takes place in the snow, but that's not the same. The Gang does not live in eternal winter and experiences all four seasons. The main concept of the Yukon Gang is competition, racing, their roots as work animals, and loyalty.

Can a fox/dog be on one of the four teams and also be like a gatherer or hunter, or if you're on a team is that your sole responsibility?
It depends on the fox/dog. Lead dogs should be focused primarily on the the races/deliveries. However, other members of the team can function as regular members of the Gang, especially Summer through Autumn. During the Winter, members on teams will usually be given a break from their duties as regular members to work on the sled. A member who wants to be both on a team and have a regular position should be prepared for hard work, as the teams are training hard often, and the regular positions are demanding up on a mountain. But yes, it is possible. :3

Credits:
~Spazzy_the_Wolfie~ TrophyHubby for the sled dogs and banners <3
Juliette06 for the added concept of deliveries
Sapphire Lazuli for the shop concept and lineart
Me for the basic concept, layout and team names.

The Kodiak Crew
Lead Dog: Denali
Swings: No spots
Right Swing: Caprice
Left Swing Mitternacht
Team: 6 needed
Wheels:
Ayame

The Ketchikan Coalition
Lead Dog: Mika
Swings: 1 spot
Right Swing: Cari
Left Swing 1 needed
Team: 5 needed
Maiko
Wheels: 2 needed

The Buckland Band
Lead Dog: Amaroq and Leigh
Swings: 2 spots
Right Swing:
Left Swing
Wheels: 2 needed

The Skagway Syndicate (Delivery Team)
Lead Dog: Kamu
Swings:
Right Swing: Reserved for Rois when she grows up.
Left Swing Andere
Team: 6 needed
Wheels:
Ferlin


Regular Positions
Shaman: 2 needed
Gatherer: 1 needed
Arrin
Scout: Sonya
Carer: 2 needed
Hunter: 3 needed
Member:

Rank Descriptions

Elder: Nika is a retired sled dog whose left eye was damaged in fights in her youth. She is fair-minded and does not give preference to any member of the Gang. She expects everyone to get their job done. Nika is tough, but is willing to listen and give advice, and perhaps even tell a story or two from her racing days. She is the oldest of the sled dogs, and is the only one who can one day contact Hermes. Although her expertise is racing, Nika oversees all work in the Gang and will help when she can. She often sleeps on her own, and is known not to be incredibly social and outgoing. No member should disrespect her; Nika is an ex-lead dog, and will put anyone back in their place. She is as accepting of regular foxes as the sled dogs.

Lead Dog: A lead dog is smart, fast, and a good leader. They must be able to think on their feet, have great navigational skills, and make the rest of their team want to follow them. They cannot be afraid to put their team in place with nips and growls. The lead dogs are directly below Nika in rank. A lead dog should be respected by all members, even if they are on a different team or aren't on a team at all. Lead dogs are the only members besides Nika with a rank of authority; however, no lead dog can disobey or disrespect Nika. Lead dogs are not encouraged to pull rank on members outside their team except in exceptional situations, such as fights and disagreements.

Swings: The swings are responsible for the steering of the sled and helping to set the pace; the right swing helps turn the sled right, and the left swing helps it turn left. They are directly behind the lead dog on the sled line. Swings should be upbeat and hard workers, but not so silly that they do not take their job seriously.

Team: Team racers are between the Swings and the Wheels. For our purposes, each team has six Team racers. They are workhorses, used primarily for their speed and endurance.

Wheels: The two racers right in front of the sled. Wheels are generally the strongest on the team, pulling a significant amount of the sled's weight. They must be hardworking and determined, and not prone to complaining.


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Becoming a Member
PM this Code to Katachii, with the title "Born to Race!"

The Gang lives high up on their mountain, with rugged terrain for practice Spring through Autumn and high snowfalls in the Winter. There are several trails leading down off the mountain; the Kodiak, Ketchikan, Buckland and Skagway trails. Each one can be used by any member at any time, although each team usually trains on their namesake trail. An abandoned cabin on the mountain serves as a storehouse for food, as well as shelter for any sick/injured members and a warm place for kits to sleep. A stream originating at the peak of the mountain serves as the main source of water; in the Summer, some members are known to go swimming in the lake at the base of the mountain.

In the Summer, members sleep in the open in grassy meadows. When the snow starts to fall, members will dig their own snow dens to sleep in. Families may sleep in the same large den, or in the cabin if they have young kits.

These images link to labeled images:

Mates:
Nika and Kamu

Relationships With Other Tribes:
None right now~

Reserved

Caprice bounded through the snow, kicking up large puffs of the loose flakes. Everyonce in a while, she'd turn herself sideways for a skid and kick up a veritable wave of snow. She was lonely, and bored, but mostly lonely. Caprice was a vixen that needed to be around others, so she was wandering around and looking for them. She wasn't doing too good of a job, either. Caprice was not what you would deem a 'leader'. She would get a goal in mind and just go, no plan, no nothing...which was why she was currently out in the snow being crazy. She really needed some structure, somewhere to put her excessive energy reserves to good use.

Another bound brought her to a blood trail. Blinking, Caprice looked at the drag marks, then at the paw prints adjacent to them. Well, she had been looking for others. Caprice followed the prints until she caught sight of a cabin and a very bright, pink vixen.

At a much more sedate pace, Caprice padded up the trail she was still following. Tongue lolling out in a grin, she approached the pink vixen. "Hello. I'm not intruding, am I?" She asked, one ear going down to show she wasn't here for a challenge.

Ayame yawned and stretched. While not exactly lazy she liked to sleep in later than most, at least until the sun had been up for an hour, and just went to bed later than most. Thus far Denali had yet to take her to task for it, though she'd probably have to change her sleeping habits once the training for races kicked into full swing.

Her tri-colored head popped out from the small hole in the snow that made the entrance to her den. It was a source of amusement to the sillier foxes, to see the muscled and sturdy vixen pull herself in and out through a den entrance that looked far too tiny, but Ayame prefered it so there was less wind and cold getting in her shelter. She'd dug that thing to stay warm, so darn it she was going to stay warm!

Ayame shook herself off to rid her coat of stray clumps of snow that clung to her fur after she crawled out of her den, then looked around. Denali was probably up and about, and Nika was always up and about. Ayame swore the bright-colored vixen never slept! Out of Nika's earshot, of course. So as long as her Elder and Leader where up that usually meant Ayame could expect work of some kind. Dragging any heavy kill around, usually, since Denali insisted it was good strength training.

She set forward, following the faint smell of blood that meant there probably was something for her to do. Unless someone else got that honor today, which sometimes happened. Not that she'd get a break, Denali was a stickler for daily training.