~Greeting
Formal:
One lycanthrope rubs cheeks with another, burying their nose in the other's hair.
Submissive(public):
A soft kiss, fingers lightly holding their face.
Submissive(private):
The submissive runs their tongue along the dominant's lower lip.
~Bestial Energy
Every lycanthrope has an energy, an aura, that is most easily described as an astral expression of their beast. More powerful lycanthropes have more powerful beasts.
For true alphas (i.e. Ulfric, Lupa, Nimir-Ra, Nimir-Raj, Rom, Oba, Rex, etc.), this bestial energy can be wielded. This can grant a number of abilities: the ability to resist transforming better than other weres; the ability to partially shapeshift (for example shifting hands into claws), or even "cosmetic" shapeshifting (shifting bones or flesh simply to alter appearance); the ability to force other shapeshifters to change form, or to prevent them from doing so; the ability to share their power with others by allowing them to feed on their blood (this ability is rarer than the others); the ability to heal others, by a variety of means (for example, Raina was able to heal through sex); and the ability to shove that energy through someone else, whether for pain or pleasure.
Pain:
When alphas of two different species bring that energy into play against each other, especially when heightened by physical contact, the two beasts fight each other. It feels like metaphysical claws ripping through insides, but no physical damage is done. This fight can be either until one wins, or to a standstill.
"When two such different beasts meet, and they are both strong dominants--such as a true Nimir-Ra, and a true Ulfric--the two animals must fight and test each other... it is a type of taming of one beast by the other."
-Merle, Ch. 35 of Narcissus in Chains
Pleasure:
When lycanthropes are in more amiable frames of mind, their beasts can be used as sexual stimulants The process is described as 'running my beast through you', and can bring orgasm without any other stimulation. In this case, the beast feels like a huge, velvety fur glove that brushes places deep inside. Only when both partners are true alphas can the energies respond to each other.
Formal:
One lycanthrope rubs cheeks with another, burying their nose in the other's hair.
Submissive(public):
A soft kiss, fingers lightly holding their face.
Submissive(private):
The submissive runs their tongue along the dominant's lower lip.
~Bestial Energy
Every lycanthrope has an energy, an aura, that is most easily described as an astral expression of their beast. More powerful lycanthropes have more powerful beasts.
For true alphas (i.e. Ulfric, Lupa, Nimir-Ra, Nimir-Raj, Rom, Oba, Rex, etc.), this bestial energy can be wielded. This can grant a number of abilities: the ability to resist transforming better than other weres; the ability to partially shapeshift (for example shifting hands into claws), or even "cosmetic" shapeshifting (shifting bones or flesh simply to alter appearance); the ability to force other shapeshifters to change form, or to prevent them from doing so; the ability to share their power with others by allowing them to feed on their blood (this ability is rarer than the others); the ability to heal others, by a variety of means (for example, Raina was able to heal through sex); and the ability to shove that energy through someone else, whether for pain or pleasure.
Pain:
When alphas of two different species bring that energy into play against each other, especially when heightened by physical contact, the two beasts fight each other. It feels like metaphysical claws ripping through insides, but no physical damage is done. This fight can be either until one wins, or to a standstill.
"When two such different beasts meet, and they are both strong dominants--such as a true Nimir-Ra, and a true Ulfric--the two animals must fight and test each other... it is a type of taming of one beast by the other."
-Merle, Ch. 35 of Narcissus in Chains
Pleasure:
When lycanthropes are in more amiable frames of mind, their beasts can be used as sexual stimulants The process is described as 'running my beast through you', and can bring orgasm without any other stimulation. In this case, the beast feels like a huge, velvety fur glove that brushes places deep inside. Only when both partners are true alphas can the energies respond to each other.
~Dominance
Lycanthropes, particularly werewolves, have a deep sense of dominance and submission. Alphas are the most dominant (and powerful) weres; the stronger/more powerful you are, the more dominant you tend to be.
In a disagreement, the more dominant of the combatants asserts their dominance. The more submissive combatant will usually back down, or seek aid from a more dominant pack member. If the two are fairly close in dominance, it could lead to a fight.
~Fighting Pack leaders must fight all challenges to their dominance personally, or forfeit leadership.
Formal challenges must be made in the lupanar.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
~Possessions
In some packs, the pack leader receives a tithe from every member. Our pack does not follow this rule, but does expect everyone in the pack to help support their packmates, if the need arises.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
Lycanthropes, particularly werewolves, have a deep sense of dominance and submission. Alphas are the most dominant (and powerful) weres; the stronger/more powerful you are, the more dominant you tend to be.
In a disagreement, the more dominant of the combatants asserts their dominance. The more submissive combatant will usually back down, or seek aid from a more dominant pack member. If the two are fairly close in dominance, it could lead to a fight.
~Fighting Pack leaders must fight all challenges to their dominance personally, or forfeit leadership.
Formal challenges must be made in the lupanar.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
~Possessions
In some packs, the pack leader receives a tithe from every member. Our pack does not follow this rule, but does expect everyone in the pack to help support their packmates, if the need arises.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
~Aid
To ask a pack member for their protection is to acknowledge they are of higher rank without having to fight them. The pack must then accept that person as a dominant.
The petitioner moves in closer to the one they want protection from, without actually touching them.
Accepting/Declining:
To accept the plea and offer protection, the protector reaches out and touches the petitioner. If they do not, their protection is not granted.
~Touching/Nudity/Marking
Touching:
"A healthy pack or pard is built up of a thousand gentle touches. A million small comforts. It's like building a relationship with a boyfriend. Every touch builds and strenghtens it... It is like building your relationship with a newborn baby. Every touch, every time you feed him when he's hungry, change him when he's wet, comfort him when he's frightened--the everyday intimacies forge a bond between you. True parenthood is built over years of interdependency. The bond between the pack is built much the same way."
-Marianne, Ch. 37 of Blue Moon
Marking:
To mark someone - in lycanthrope terms - is basically to give them a hickey. Lukoi see this as the mark-er considering themselves higher in the pack than the mark-ee. Among the pard, however, "a wound on the neck from a Nimir-Ra is a sign that the sex was good."
-Micah, Ch. 11 of Narcissus in Chains
When a lycanthrope wishes to seal their word, they offer their neck (it's roughly the equivalent of "I swear on the soul of my father Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive"). It's an act of trust; in wolven terms, the offeree has the chance to tear the offerer's throat out. The one the throat is offered to then kisses or bites gently over the offerer's pulse. The harder they bite, the less they trust the offerer, or the more dominant they see themself over the offerer.
Lycanthropes of different species don't generally like touching each other the same way they like touching their own kind. Pard and lukoi, for example, don't touch unless in an emergency, or a situation that would normally involve touching (for example, when a werewolf and wereleopard are dating).
To ask a pack member for their protection is to acknowledge they are of higher rank without having to fight them. The pack must then accept that person as a dominant.
The petitioner moves in closer to the one they want protection from, without actually touching them.
Accepting/Declining:
To accept the plea and offer protection, the protector reaches out and touches the petitioner. If they do not, their protection is not granted.
~Touching/Nudity/Marking
Touching:
"A healthy pack or pard is built up of a thousand gentle touches. A million small comforts. It's like building a relationship with a boyfriend. Every touch builds and strenghtens it... It is like building your relationship with a newborn baby. Every touch, every time you feed him when he's hungry, change him when he's wet, comfort him when he's frightened--the everyday intimacies forge a bond between you. True parenthood is built over years of interdependency. The bond between the pack is built much the same way."
-Marianne, Ch. 37 of Blue Moon
Marking:
To mark someone - in lycanthrope terms - is basically to give them a hickey. Lukoi see this as the mark-er considering themselves higher in the pack than the mark-ee. Among the pard, however, "a wound on the neck from a Nimir-Ra is a sign that the sex was good."
-Micah, Ch. 11 of Narcissus in Chains
When a lycanthrope wishes to seal their word, they offer their neck (it's roughly the equivalent of "I swear on the soul of my father Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive"). It's an act of trust; in wolven terms, the offeree has the chance to tear the offerer's throat out. The one the throat is offered to then kisses or bites gently over the offerer's pulse. The harder they bite, the less they trust the offerer, or the more dominant they see themself over the offerer.
Lycanthropes of different species don't generally like touching each other the same way they like touching their own kind. Pard and lukoi, for example, don't touch unless in an emergency, or a situation that would normally involve touching (for example, when a werewolf and wereleopard are dating).
~Death
Pack Death:
When a pack member dies, his/her body is eaten by the rest of the clan in order to preserve the munin.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
"Ye may kill for yourself, and your mate, and your cubs as they need, and ye can; But kill not for pleasure of killing and seven times never kill Man!"
-Rudyard Kipling, "The Law of the Jungle"
~Rituals
Choosing of a Lupa:
The Ulfric introduces the Lupa as such to the pack, allowing them to circle and scent her on all fours. The Ulfric says something to this effect: "This is my lupa. Know her scent, know her skin. She has shed our blood, and shed her blood for us. She stands as protector for those weaker than herself. She will kill for us, if we ask. She is your alpha." At this point, any who wish to challenge her as lupa stand, moving out of the circle. This challenge is brought not because they want the position, but because they do not acknowledge her as dominant to them. If they are willing to accept her as their leader's alpha female, they retract the challenge and join the circle. The Lupa fights any who don't retract their challenge to first blood, human form only (no shifting or guns allowed). If she wins, they are forced to acknowledge her as dominant and alpha, or fight the rest of the pack.
Lupa to Frejya:
Done in the presence of the whole pack. First, the Lupa slices both the Ulfric and herself over the heart with a knife, enough to draw blood but not to truly injure either of them. Then she says these words, "Your heart to mine, mine to yours. Lupa to your Ulfric. But not to your bed, nor you to mine," and throws the knife into the earth. From, this point, she begins giving off a scent, much like a female wolf in heat. She says, "Claim me again if you can, my Ulfric," and runs from the pack. All of them fight until one of them takes her.
Challenge of a Lupa:
There is a special ceremony among the lukoi to completely sever the ties between Lupa and Ulfric, and it involves the Ulfric choosing a new mate. If the Lupa refuses to step down, she has to defend her right to be Lupa, either by one-on-one combat with any dominant who want the job, or by annointing the throne - having a physical and metaphysical union with the Ulfric in the center of the lupanar, with all the pack there to see.
Pack Death:
When a pack member dies, his/her body is eaten by the rest of the clan in order to preserve the munin.
If one lycanthrope kills another in a hand to hand fight(no guns), they receive the loser's belongings and property.
"Ye may kill for yourself, and your mate, and your cubs as they need, and ye can; But kill not for pleasure of killing and seven times never kill Man!"
-Rudyard Kipling, "The Law of the Jungle"
~Rituals
Choosing of a Lupa:
The Ulfric introduces the Lupa as such to the pack, allowing them to circle and scent her on all fours. The Ulfric says something to this effect: "This is my lupa. Know her scent, know her skin. She has shed our blood, and shed her blood for us. She stands as protector for those weaker than herself. She will kill for us, if we ask. She is your alpha." At this point, any who wish to challenge her as lupa stand, moving out of the circle. This challenge is brought not because they want the position, but because they do not acknowledge her as dominant to them. If they are willing to accept her as their leader's alpha female, they retract the challenge and join the circle. The Lupa fights any who don't retract their challenge to first blood, human form only (no shifting or guns allowed). If she wins, they are forced to acknowledge her as dominant and alpha, or fight the rest of the pack.
Lupa to Frejya:
Done in the presence of the whole pack. First, the Lupa slices both the Ulfric and herself over the heart with a knife, enough to draw blood but not to truly injure either of them. Then she says these words, "Your heart to mine, mine to yours. Lupa to your Ulfric. But not to your bed, nor you to mine," and throws the knife into the earth. From, this point, she begins giving off a scent, much like a female wolf in heat. She says, "Claim me again if you can, my Ulfric," and runs from the pack. All of them fight until one of them takes her.
Challenge of a Lupa:
There is a special ceremony among the lukoi to completely sever the ties between Lupa and Ulfric, and it involves the Ulfric choosing a new mate. If the Lupa refuses to step down, she has to defend her right to be Lupa, either by one-on-one combat with any dominant who want the job, or by annointing the throne - having a physical and metaphysical union with the Ulfric in the center of the lupanar, with all the pack there to see.
