The Brotherhood -- or Shadowclan, as they sometimes call themselves -- is a nomadic band of cannibals. Believing themselves to be superior to all other wolves, this all-male pack travels in darkness and steals pups from unwitting parents to swell their ranks. Many from Telk know of them, though mostly in rumors and whispered stories. That they are surviving, and even thriving, in Tolas is sure to be an unwelcome surprise to any who had hoped their existence was a mere fairytale.
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:50 pm
No one knows, precisely, when the pack originated. It is old, perhaps one of the oldest packs in Telk, predating the memory of all who currently live. Before the current members, there were others like them -- other strong gammas, other sly omegas, other God Alphas mastheading the beasts of shadows.
Perhaps they were born from myth itself. For so long as there have been wolves in these lands, pups have gone missing...wolves have disappeared, or been murdered in the night...and howls of sorrow and rage have filled the air. In the pain and superstition of the tales spoken amongst wolves, shadowy demons took form. Perhaps, fueled by tales, the first of these apparitions stepped out into the world fully-formed, a ghost made flesh, the carnal image of collective fear.
Or perhaps they came before the tales.
Perhaps before there were stories...before there was myth, and legend, and whispered warnings to stay close to the den...the hunters already prowled in the darkness. Before language and civilization and time itself, they were there, lurking, waiting, biding their time.
Only one thing is certain. The Shadowclan have lived for an eternity - and though, sometimes, their presence may seem to fade, they will never disappear entirely.
Legends cannot be killed.
The origins of the Shadowclan are shrouded in mystery, and none now live who know the truth. Plenty of rumors are passed around, ranging from the fanciful ("They were demons born from darkness!") to more practical explanations.
What is known for certain is that, some years ago, a wolf named Danel was the alpha of this pack, and he was revered as a god by his followers. Danel was known to hear voices at times, but no one dared to suggest that he might be losing his sanity: they continued to follow him without question.
The pack had a storyteller at this time, a wolf named Rotiart. His taste for trinkets and female companionship led him to be ejected from the pack, and he retaliated by traveling through Telk, spreading tales and divulging the pack's secrets. Danel became obsessed with finding and silencing the traitor, and the hunt was nearly the pack's downfall -- many left on the search, but few returned.
The pack went through a period of chaos, leaderless and confused. Ultimately, an unexpected heir stepped forward: A young wolf named Zarathustra, who claimed to be guided by the same spirit as spoke to Danel, and who was able to successfully lead his people to safety in Tolas after the volcanic eruption.
Now, faced with a new world where their secrets have yet to be spread, the Brotherhood is poised to begin their lives anew in the secrecy they so treasure.
The Shadowclan
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:58 pm
.:OOC Announcements:. (What you should know)
9.2.14 Fenshae has assumed complete ownership of the pack, obtained an alpha, tried to sort out some dangling meta plots, and modified some things to fit the new shop lore. Everything is a little weird right now, I know, but try not to freak out! 5.16.11 - Fenshae and Elros Namasi have taken over ownership of the pack, rebuilt the mule and updated all the pack information. Busy, busy, busy! 7.10.11 -- Everybody welcome the new pack members: Arkadios (played by Nyx Argyros), Llikmeht (Miko Tadita), and Soren (Shadowfox-Sama)
.:Right Now, In RP:. (A few highlights of recent RP activity - most recent is listed on top)
-- A volcanic eruption pushes the wolves from their homeland and into a new territory. In the chaos, young Zarath proves himself as having a cool head and plenty of common sense, and he assumes leadership of the pack, prepared to lead it to new, great things in Tolas.
-- Evidence has been found that strongly suggests Danel and Rotiart had a battle to the death. Some are reluctant to believe this story, but many seem almost relieved to feel that the search is finally over, however heartbreaking the outcome might be.
-- A pair of pups are stolen in a raid. These grow up alongside Zarath, becoming his most trusted friends and confidants.
-- Rorret brings a new recruit to the pack, a pup named Zarathustra. Rorret insists that the pup is his half-brother, stolen away from his own mad mother, but there is some suspicion that it may not be the case...
-- Firdaws, while pursuing the alpha, was sidetracked by hunting a female. She fought back fiercely, however, and maimed him in the process. During his long recovery, Firdaws began to experience hallucinations that convinced him that the God Alpha has truly become a god.
-- Loki, the old thiefmaster, has returned with a new recruit, Perun. Rorret, sensing a kindred spirit, has sought friendship with the older wolf, and has agreed to personally mentor the pup
-- The new recruits have chosen their rank and begun training; Soren is following the path of the warrior, while Llikmeht and Makya have chosen to be hunters
--Xihuitl has taken the position of pack storyteller, and is eager to share his knowledge with the new pups
--Xihuitl, Arkadios, and Rorret have banded together to place Danel back on the alpha throne; to this end, Xihuitl is searching for him
--Rotiart ran into a fellow former packmate, Coccidio, who had abandoned the pack in favor of forming a family
--Rorret has formed an alliance with Xihuitl, and together the two have decided to do what it takes to hold the pack together, even if it takes some unorthodox actions.
--Rorret made the dangerous decision to breed with a female from Antianeira (the amazon pack), under the agreement that he will take any male pups and she won't ask any questions.
--A fox, Jasper, has proven himself to be useful; Rorret has taken him on as a companion and spy for the pack.
--Far from Shadowclan territory, Danel has made a rather interesting discovery of an amazonian pack that keeps males as slaves or exiles their unwanted males.
--Murmurs of Danel's existence have made way to pack ears...along with the apparent complete disappearance of Rummy and a number of his loyal followers. There's a nasty rumor going around that Rummy (some call him The Usurper) was torn down by fate itself for having the gall to take the God Alpha's place.
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:00 pm
Territory
Fearing discovery by outsiders, the Brotherhood lives a predominately nomadic lifestyle. They tend to follow the rivers when traveling, preferring to stay in the forested areas for superior cover, and spend more time in the eastern side of the mountains than the west.
They tend to stay clear of the larger, established pack lands, having little interest in an all-out confrontation. They will, however, approach the boundaries of packs in search of a single wolf or wayward pup that can make for an easy target. Otherwise, they prefer to choose prey from among lone wolves or small family groups that they come upon.
When traveling, the pack will seek temporary shelter, with a few wolves posted as guards when they have to sleep in the open. They prefer not to dig dens, instead opting to take over those left by other creatures (including wolves they have recently killed). They spend much of their time in the swamps, which remind them of home, and the human ruins, which intrigue them.
Culture
The Brotherhood is comprised entirely by males, and its culture is both militaristic and reminiscent of a fraternal society, with much in the way of ceremony.
Every wolf has a job to do, and those who are slack in their duties will swiftly meet the teeth of their enforcers.
Because every wolf in the pack originally came from somewhere else, there is a heavy focus on the "rebirth" element of pack life. Many wolves take new names upon entering the pack. Pack ceremonies reflect the rebirth of these wolves as well.
In general, the Brotherhood view themselves as superior to other wolves. The others -- the "lessers" as they call them -- are said to be no better than a common prey animal, while they themselves are something transcendent. They view females in particular as being worthless (at best) and villainous tricksters (at worst).
Although their practices are villainous, among themselves the members are quite close, truly regarding each other as brothers. Relationships among brothers range from good-natured fraternity-like hazing to close-knit "bromance." Sexual bonding between males is not forbidden or even frowned upon, but it is generally something kept quiet -- fellow wolves would see it as none of their business, but would also tend to discourage "womanlike" open displays of affection.
The Shadowclan
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:05 pm
The Brotherhood revere their alpha as god, believing him to be guided by a divine spirit of authority as the chosen one to lead the pack.
It's a common practice when a pup is stolen during a raid to make that pup eat the flesh of his dead kin. This does not always happen, but it's frequent. This is meant to symbolize the cutting of ties to the pup's old life, and also to break his spirits so he will more easily submit to pack life.
Upon reaching adulthood, all members of the pack are required to go on a quest to prove their dedication. On this quest, they must find and kill another wolf. They are accompanied by a packmate to ensure the quest is completed, but the older pack member will not step in to help. If a recruit dies during this quest, he is written off as a lesser who was not worthy of being in the pack.
Assuming his quest is successful, the recruit will return with the corpse of his prey. The bones will be dried in the sun, with the vertebrae strung up on ropes stolen from human settlements to serve as a necklace. All fully-fledged members of the pack wear one to signify their membership.
Additionally, all members bear the pack's symbol on their forehead, drawn in clay paint. They also bear a more permanent mark -- a scar on their underbelly, given to them by their alpha himself as their ultimate symbol of subservience to him and a permanent reminder of their lifelong commitment to the pack. Laws
-- No wolf shall reveal his identity to a lesser
-- The alpha's word is law; to defy him is blasphemy
-- Breeding with a female is strictly forbidden
-- Your brothers are your family, and you will treat them with the appropriate respect
Otherwise, there are few firm laws in place. Wolves are expected to do their job and abide by the duties laid out for them, and they can be punished by their superiors for being lazy or otherwise not fulfilling their obligations.
The pack's alpha is the final judge and jury for all serious matters, and he hands out punishments according to what he deems fair.
At one time, it was common for rulebreakers to be banished from the pack. After the fiasco with the traitor, this practice has been suspended. Wolves will generally be punished within the pack, up to and including execution if the severity of the crime warrants it.
He is the god of the pack, and his word is law. At any time there is only one alpha, and he chooses his betas, his heir, and appoints the leaders amongst the lesser ranks. All decisions are ultimately the alpha's to make, and once he has spoken to defy his law is to invite punishment - possibly banishment or death. The alpha will accept no treachery, disloyalty, or selfishness amongst his pack. The alpha rules his brothers with a firm paw, but he is fair and just -- never cruel or arbitrary. His is a tough love, but it is love, and all members feel blessed to receive it.
Betas:
There are two beta roles within the pack, both chosen by the alpha. They are both inseparable from the alpha, and serve as his advisors and guards. If an alpha is ever displaced, new betas may be chosen by the new alpha.
----The Shield(Right Paw) (available): The most trusted and loyal of all servants, the Right Paw is the alpha's shield and bodyguard, but also his confidant. If there is a single wolf whose opinion is capable of swaying the mind of the alpha, it is this wolf.
----The Weapon (Left Paw) (available): The strongest warrior within the pack, the Left Paw is the alpha's weapon, his teeth and claws for all jobs requiring the use of brute force. Any dirty jobs the alpha sees fit to be done, are accomplished by this wolf, and he is dedicated 100% to the safety and well-being of his God.
Heir: (Position reserved for contest winner)
The wolf chosen by the Alpha to take his position if he were to die or step down. Usually chosen during puphood and raised close to the alpha and his betas, the heir is groomed with a life-long education towards ownership of the pack. Bear in mind, however, that the heir's position is never guaranteed -- at any time the hierarchy may be challenged, and the heir will need to either fight or stand aside and be stripped of his title.
Gammas:
The lifeblood of the pack, these are the members that make up the bulk of the members. Gammas hunt for prey (both of the wolf and non-wolf varieties, depending on availability), patrol their borders, destroy any invaders and train their members to be strong and to practice the ways of the pack. Among the gammas, there are sub-ranks, each with their own leader, but bear in mind that all gammas are expected to fulfill every duty when demanded -- some are just more specialized than others.
----Huntmaster (Firdaws): The wolf in charge of securing a food supply for the pack. This wolf would be cunning, athletic, and possibly quite creative in his technique...as the prey of the Shadowclan is different from that of other wolves.
-----Warmaster (Arkadios): it is not often that the Shadowclan is faced with a true enemy, but sometimes a pack is able to track the murderer or thief of their member, and it is in these situations that the Warmaster excels. The wolf who leads the training for the others, and who is the head warrior in times of altercations with other packs as well as defense against threats during their travels. This wolf has many qualities desired in a Left Paw, and may be considered for the position if it were to become open while the Warmaster is active.
+++++Warriors - any wolves training directly below the warmaster Dustiel, Soren, Betzalel
-----Storyteller (Position currently available): all packs need a member to pass down the traditions and history of a pack, and the Shadowclan is no different. These wolves are usually very smart and good with words; many may have begun their life amongst the Omegas, and earned their higher rank through value to the morale of the pack.
-----Crafter: (Position currently available) The wolf responsible for stringing together bone necklaces, touching up war paint, leaving their symbol behind in mysterious locations, etc. He's also responsible for obtaining materials, which involves careful raids on human settlements for things like rope.
Omega:
Ignored by many, the omegas nevertheless play a crucial role in the pack, as without them there would be no future generations. Omegas are responsible for bringing in new puppies to indoctrinate into the pack. They also raise the young pups until such a time as they are old enough to begin training with the gammas.
-----Thiefmaster (Loki & Rorret): the most skilled of the pupnappers, the Thiefmaster is the wolf who brings in the most and the best pups. Devious, cunning, and dedicated, this wolf probably gets a certain perverse pleasure from the deed beyond the happiness of simply refilling the pack's ranks...
++++++Thieves & Caretakers - those involved in the nitty-gritty of locating and raising the youth of the pack until they are old enough to train as warriors or hunters. Satoru, Elapse
Initiates:
New recruits to the pack -- nearly always puppies -- who have not yet earned their cloaks. Nothing much is expected of these wolves: only loyalty and a willingness to learn the ways of their pack. Those who fail to absorb these lessons will soon find themselves destroyed..... Arcturus, Perun, Zarathustra, Ashur
The Shadowclan
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:11 pm
.:RP Requiremements for Obtaining Ranked Members:.
RP is not required among regular members of the pack, aside from a joining RP and initiation RP to receive your lineart edits. Named ranks, however, require an RP commitment, and it's possible to lose your position in the pack due to inactivity.
There's no specific required minimums of RP in order to gain a rank in the pack -- it's more a general activity level and enthusiasm for the pack, as well as what you and your wolf can bring to the table. I will however say that more RPs will always equal greater chances.
In order to be considered for a promotion to one of the named ranks (Storyteller, Huntmaster, Warmaster, Thief Master, Heir, Right Paw, Left Paw, Alpha) your character must display IC willingness or desire to fulfill a role within the pack, and prove their worthiness. This can happen in a single RP or throughout the course of multiple RPs, but there must be some IC basis for your desired promotion.
Then, all you have to do is post the required Promotion form, and if your application is approved, your new rank will be made public knowledge within the pack and you may begin RPing in that role immediately.
The only exceptions to this rule are if you are applying for Alpha or Heir status. In order to be considered for the new alpha position, you must state your case in an Alpha Succession Thread (created in the plot section of the guild), and receive a majority vote from all pack members. In order to apply for heir status, you must first be approved OOCly by the alpha AND the pack owner (if they are not one in the same at the time of application) and then you MUST post a full RP between your wolf and the alpha showing that the alpha has chosen you for the position.
Of course, regardless of the rank you're applying for, that rank must be available. You can't just barge in and try to take over somebody's job (although your character is welcome to try it if he wants, though I can't guarantee it will end well for him).
.:Maintaining Your Rank:.
Just because you've earned your rank doesn't mean you can now skip merrily away into the sunset, never to be heard from again! Ranked members are crucial not only to the IC running of the pack, but also maintaining an OOC activity level. So, once you get that rank, you gotta keep in touch.
Activity will depend a bit on what's going on in the rest of the pack -- if there's a big active plot going on and you're falling behind, it'll be a bigger deal than if everybody's slow to post -- but as a ranked member we're counting on you to help generate plot and activity. So with that in mind, I'd like to see at least one post a month OR one completed RP every three months.
If you're going to be on hiatus, please let us know so we can work out a logical IC explanation of where your character is and what the others are doing in your absence. If you disappear without warning, or fail to have this conversation with us, or just don't post anything in the pack, then you will get PM'd an activity check - "Hey, dude, where's your wolf? is everything OK?" - after three months of silence. If you don't respond to the PM, then your wolf will be demoted. Upon your return, you are always free to make an appeal and try to fight for your position back.
I reserve the right to change these activity requirements as I see fit to meet the needs of the pack.
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:12 pm
New blood is acquired through one of two means. Pups may be stolen in a non-violent manner; for example, they may be found alone and brought home, or their parent may be tricked into handing them over (though this is very rare). Alternatively, the pup might be stolen in a raid. A raid is a major event, usually involving most if not all of the pack, and it frequently leaves many dead wolves in its wake.
If you're joining with a puppy, you can choose what type of method led to his arrival in the pack. I promise we won't kill any family members without your consent!
It is very rare that an adult wolf would join the pack. The most common reason for this is if a Brotherhood wolf were to hunt a fellow male and be struck by something in him that made him seem like more than a Lesser. If he were to show promise, the Brotherhood member might consider inviting him into his ranks -- but again, this is rare. They are simply too concerned with their secrecy to risk sharing too many details with strangers.
You can also join as a preexisting member. If you already have a wolf on the original Brotherhood lines (cloaked), you can be grandfathered into the pack as having always been here, no questions asked. If you have a wolf who was not an original member of the pack, but you really want him to be for some reason, PM me (Fenshae) about it and we can work something out.
So now that you've read all of the pack info, you've decided you definitely want to join, right? Great! Now you just have to fill out this spiffy form and post it below.
[size=18][color=darkred]I Am Worthy To Join The Shadowclan![/color] [/size] [b]Your Name: [/b] [b]Wolf's Name & Uncert:[/b] [b]Chosen rank: [/b](please note that named ranks are earned through Rp - you can join as a hunter, but will need to RP into the Huntmaster rank, for example) [b]Brief History: [/b] [b]Personality: [/b]
If you are a current member who is interested in getting a promotion, please fill out the following form.
[size=18][color=darkred]I Am A Loyal Servant, O God. [/color] [/size] [b]Your Name:[/b] [b]Wolf's Name & Uncert:[/b] [b]Current Rank:[/b] [b]Desired Rank:[/b] [b]Why Does Your Wolf Deserve This Position?[/b] [b]What Unique Skills Or Plots Will YOU Bring to This Position[/b]?
The Shadowclan
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The Shadowclan
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:13 pm
I have a plot idea! That's not a question XD But -- awesome! I love plots. If you have some idea for how you want your character to develop, have some ideas for a meta, whatever, drop me a line. I can't promise I'll be able to accommodate every request, but I'll try!
What if I want my wolf to leave the pack? Given their tightly knit, clannish structure, it's generally assumed that all members are committed for life. After the fiasco with the traitor, most of the Brotherhood is very wary of letting their brothers out of their sights. It was once pretty common for a brother to go ranging far and wide on his duties, but this has been curtailed somewhat now that they travel as nomads. That said, there's still some room for your wolf to slip away and potentially get away with it. If you want to leave the pack for any reason, again, drop me a line and we can work something out on a case-by-case basis.
What if I want to breed my wolf? IC actions have IC consequences. From an IC perspective, breeding is strictly forbidden, and if you're found out, it's quite likely that you will be punished severely. OOCly, I would really rather you didn't breed your Brotherhood wolf without talking to me about it. If there's a relevant plot reason (and "pretty puppies!" is not a reason), and you're willing to accept IC consequences, we can work something out. But by and large, assume that you cannot breed your wolf.
Can my female join the pack? In short, no. It would be very inhospitable, to say the least.
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:16 pm
Special Notes
Although the Brotherhood is a pack I love and have spent a lot of time working on, the original concept belongs to InkHound, a previous colorist at Shao who ran an epic contest to launch the pack.
In the spirit of sticking to her rules as laid out in the pack creation, this is a wolf pack that can be taken over by anyone if it falls inactive. In other words, if I leave Gaia without explanation and y'all want to continue the story in my stead, you are free to do so. I only ask that you come to the decision democratically, choosing the new alpha and OOC leader(s) through majority vote. When a new leader is chosen, submit proof of the vote to the shop mule so that ownership can be passed over accordingly.
