Welcome to Gaia! ::

This here is an interest thread for a pack concept that Bombazine and I have been kicking around for months now, and which we've finally chatted up enough to be somewhat comfortable in opening up to the public!

Before we get started, a little OOC background. Bam and I have this weird thing where every time we say something jokingly, somehow it always ends up happening. So we were casting around for RP ideas one day, and I was like, "I want to play Aislin. What's Cue up to?" and she says, "Um...nothing at all." And I make a remark about how they'd make lovely stripey puppies together, and she said something about him being like a young Charles Manson, and one thing led to another until we realized what we really, really wanted to do was make an Amish-esque religious cult wolf pack.

So we did.

Now, since the pack is being built in "real time" as RP unfolds, everything is fluid and will depend a bit on the wolves that join and how things play out. I'll try to keep the thread updated with things as they happen, but until the pack is official and the subforum is all tricked out, just assume that any of this information is open to tweaking. Also everything OOCly is a bit tongue-in-cheek...but the wolves are very serious about all this. So this pack is srs bsns, okai?

Right. On with the interest thread!

The pack -- which we're tentatively referring to as SCB or "Society of Candor & Brotherhood" -- will be a small, close-knit community of wolves living in a remote territory with very little contact to the outside. They consider themselves to be an extended family. They celebrate a monotheistic religion, having what they believe to be a personal relationship with a great ball of light that gives them messages. Their specific beliefs and activities are subject to change on the whim of this deity as their understanding of his communication changes.

PACK LIFE:
-- SCB members live according to socialist ideals: members contribute according to their ability, and take according to need
--Alphas are intimately involved in the affairs of the pack members, and everyone takes an interest in everyone's business
--There are not ranks specifically as much as duties doled out according to need; hierarchy is earned through behavior
--Individuals hunt for the pack as a whole and are expected to share everything they catch; the pack eats together in the form of "family dinners"
--Pups are raised communally and are considered first and foremost the responsibility of the pack, above their parents
--Wolves may run into strangers on the pack borders, but are encouraged not to form relationships with them (friendship or romantic) unless they are willing to join. Details of pack life should not be shared with strangers.

RITUALS:
--Joining is considered a process of rebirth; for a wolf to join the pack, they must submit to the Rite of Rebirth (details to be solidified) and confess any sins of their former life. After they have been initiated, it's understood that they are no longer the wolf they once were, and their past no longer matters. Wolves are encouraged not to discuss their past with anyone.

--Pups born into the pack go on Rumspringa (name subject to change) upon their adolescence: they leave the pack and journey across Telk to get any rebellious activity out of their system.

-------If you choose not to return to the pack, you will be considered dead to the family and can never return.

--------Anything you do on Rumspringa stays on Rumspringa -- you don't talk about it to the others.

----Members are encouraged to recruit other wolves during their Rumspringa, but only if they believe the wolf can really embody the spirit of the pack. You are responsible for any wolf you bring into the pack, and you will be punished for their wrong-doings

--The pack relies heavily on indoctrination through stories. All activity is "normalized" through parables and the pups would be familiar from a very young age with these parables.

LAWS & CUSTOMS:
---No flings are allowed within the pack, life-mates only; wolves are encouraged to stay together and work out their differences for the sake of solidarity and the upbringing of the pups

--The exception to the flings rule is while on Rumspringa, if you breed with an outsider you may bring the pups back and they will be accepted into the pack; if they are young, they will go on their own Rumspringa when they reach adolescence. If they're older when they're brought to the pack, they will be subject to the Rite of Rebirth

--All mates are required to join the pack. Flings outside the pack will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis depending on the punishment the alpha sees fit, but such activity could result in expulsion

Pack Members
Cumulonimbus - One of the alpha duo, Cue is the more grounded of the pair. Nervous, neurotic, and plagued by hallucinatory migraines, he is the heavy-pawed lawmaker of the pack. He is the first to discover their unique "relationship" with their deity.

Aislin -- the softer side of the alpha duo, Aislin has one paw in dream-world at all times and often has a hard time distinguishing between dreams and reality due to her very vivid dreams. Since spending so much time with Cue, she now believes these dreams to be prophetic. She likes nearly everyone she meets and would never turn anyone away if they wanted to join their pilgrimage.

Novacaine -- He doesn't necessarily buy into the religion of the pack, but he's decided it's high time to get away from his crazy family, most of which he thinks are making fun of him behind his back. Having always been a bit jealous of his family who can see or hear things that aren't there, Nova's spent most of his life pretending things around him were hallucinations just to spice things up. He likes the idea of fitting in somewhere where objectivity is pretty much nonexistent.

Fubar -- Has been attached to his cousin Novacaine's hip since he was born, even though he doesn't really seem to like him. Then again, Fubar doesn't really like anybody. Constantly the voice of pessimistic criticism, he nevertheless tags along with the pack, maybe because he thinks nobody else will ever accept him.

Joining Application:
Interested in becoming part of this little band of Amish wolves? Fantastic! Just fill out this form, and we'll fire up a JRP for you: