☘️ folklore of the wayfarers

- The Northern Kingdom -theme - dominic's interlude
"the towers in your world are sinking"

- territory -



the Northern Kingdom rules the glaciers, a vast expanse of land made mostly out of ice. they also own some territory in the tundra which they constantly have to defend from a neighboring pack they call the Second Savages. living in a complex system of ice tunnels in the heart of the glaciers, the kingdom has managed to thrive in these harsh conditions.



- religion -
the First Wolves weren't used to the cold climate of the glaciers. they didn't have anywhere else to go though, as they had been chased from their home in the tundra by the Savage Ones. these wolves were bigger, stronger, faster and seemed to enjoy killing them for the simple fact that they could.

so, the First Wolves fled. they arrived in the glaciers during spring, and managed to survive all the way till winter. but they had underestimated just how unforgiving the glaciers could be. the few pups that had been born died of cold, their mothers died of hunger and to make things worse, they had been found by their rival pack.

their numbers dwindled until there was only one wolf left: Silver Storm.

she wandered the glaciers, living on scraps and blending in with the snow with her silver-white fur. she managed to survive the winter, and then the next one, and the next one. but she was always alone. fear of the Savage Ones had made her wary of any pawsteps crunching on the snow, any breeze chilling her fur, any shadow moving in the corner of her eye.

she wandered the glaciers alone. surviving. learning. running.

until she heard a scream. it was a Man. she had seem some of Them before. They walked on two paws and yelled at each other in some language she did not understand. some kept smaller wolves with them and tied ropes around their necks in a way that made her loose her breath just looking at them.

she should've stayed away, really. but something compelled her to go forward. find that Man. maybe it was the way Their screams were so filled with anguish, so hopeless. maybe it was the way she could hear barking and whimpering and, as she got closer, smell the Savage Ones. maybe it was because she did not want that Man and Their dog to die in the same way her packmates died.

whatever it was, she ran across the glacier until she could see an old Man and His wolf. He had His arm stuck in one of the Savage Ones' mouth while the wolf tried to keep three others away, but it was clear they would not survive if Silver Storm did not intervene.

so, she jumped in.

wippp!!!!

me writing: no storytelling! only worldbuilding!!!!

harsh winter
pack dies
one wolf lives
man almost dies
wolf saves man
man is grateful
man heals wolf back to health
man's dog tells stories of men
man gives wolf magic
wolf kicks enemy wolf ASS
wolf creates a pack
pack thrives cuz magic
wolf tells stories of men
wolf worships men
man = god


there are five steps to life:

still animals  ↦  lesser animals  ↦  lesser wolves  ↦  wolves and wolfdogs  ↦  dogs
  (trees, rocks)       (bears, snakes)      (coyotes, foxes)                                                                

if an animal is good in life, it will be reborn on a higher step. if an animal is bad, it will be reborn on a lower step. because still animals cannot do anything, they cannot move up the steps.

the steps are not linear. if a lesser animal lives a particularly good life, it can be reborn as a wolf or even a dog. similarly, if a wolf or dog commits a heinous act, such as killing a Man, it will be reborn as a still animal. the final goal is to become a dog, so they can be as close as possible to Man.

it is not possible for an animal to become a Man because Men are divine. when a Man dies, it will always be reborn as Man. Men can act in ways that harm or aid wolves, but the wolves are not allowed to judge them. they must simply accept Men's will, for they know better. 



- society -
the royal family are direct descendants from Silver Storm and thus know how to wield magic. they are the rulers of the kingdom and, due to their magical abilities, defend it from large threats such as enemy wolf packs and sometimes bears. pups start learning how to control their magic at 1 year old. because their magic fades a bit with each generation, the most they can do is usually create a few sparkles from their paws to distract their enemies. when they reach 6 years old though, their magic suddenly gets much more powerful and they are able to heal wounds, inflict damage, enhance parts of their bodies (such as legs to run faster, jaws to bite more powerfully) and more depending on how much they train and how much magic they were born with. there isn't one singular wolf who leads the kingdom, instead they all rule it as a group, though the elders' opinions are more respected. 

the royal servants, usually wolfdogs, are common wolves chosen by the royal family to protect the kingdom from lesser dangers such as lone wolves. they patrol the territory daily and occasionally accompany the hunting parties. because their number one priority should always be protecting the kingdom, they are not allowed to have pups until they retire, which can only happen in three occasions: if they get wounded so badly they get cannot continue with their duties,  if they reach 7 years of age, or if they perform an act so heroic the royal family rewards them with early retirement.

the common families make up most of the kingdom. at six months old, pups can decide whether they want to become hunters or royal servants. they will then train for six months until they become adults. wolves who want to become royal servants must be approved by the royal family; if they're not they will have to train for six more months to become hunters. hunters must bring back all prey caught to the royal family, who will then distribute it to the rest of the kingdom. occasionally, members of the common families will go missing, but because they are forgotten about so quickly, no one thinks much of it.



- culture -
to be able to survive in the glaciers, these wolves have learned that, first and foremost, they must work together.  because of this, they are an extremely tight-knit group despite their great numbers. they look out for and take care of each other: first, pups and elders eat, then sick wolves and nursing mothers, and then all other adult wolves.

to keep warm in the ice caves, they all sleep together. this is no longer necessary as the royal elders have learned how to use their magic to control the temperature inside their home, but the practice stuck. before sleeping, one wolf will sit on a higher rock and tell stories to the entire kingdom. this was originally a way to help pups fall asleep and to pass on their traditions, but is now a ritual that is treasured by all. this storyteller changes every night and whoever gets to the rock first gets to lull the kingdom to sleep. adolescents are specially eager to boast about their achievements to older wolves.

names are extremely important to them: first, this just started as a way to strengthen their bonds, but now, names are seen as an extension of a wolf's Soul. to forget a wolf's name is to say that their entire existence is insignificant.

 their names are divided into two parts: first, the name of which family they come from, and then their individual name. as such, all royal family members start their name with "Silver". the parents of a pup can choose whichever family name to give to their young, as long as that family is currently part of the kingdom. pups with both families in the kingdom will usually receive the name of whichever family is of a higher status: retired royal wolfdog servants, wolfdog hunters, retired royal wolf servants and wolf hunters, in that order. for aesthetic reasons, this isn't always followed.

a wolf's family and loved ones may refer to them simply by their given name; to direct a wolf by their given name without permission is considered extremely rude.

although dogs are above wolves in the life steps, they are not allowed to be part of the kingdom for their place is next to Man. the common families are, however, encouraged to breed with dogs since wolfdogs are seem as superior to wolves.



- members -
monochrome wolves, their pelts vary from the darkest black to the purest white to better blend in with the rocks and snow from their territory. different colored wolves are always wolfdogs or their descendants, as the kingdom does not take kindly to strangers.

Silver Moth (former)
went missing when she was 7 months old. even now, years later, the royal family is still looking for her. the other wolves of the kingdom find it weird that they're wasting so many resources looking for a pup who is so easily replaceable, but none dare voice their suspicions.

Frozen Lakes (royal servant)
sent by the royal family on a mission to find Silver Moth, Frozen Lakes has been gone for a month, and her family eagerly awaits their return.

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- The Pack of the Golden Sun -
theme - obstacles
"someday we will foresee obstacles through the blizzard"

- territory -



this pack owns territories in the deciduous forest and riparian woodland, as well as some in the coniferous forest. they spend most of their time by a waterfall amongst the broad-leaved flora, sunning in the rocks around it, refreshing themselves in the cold river, or sleeping in the caves hidden by the falling water.



- religion -
once the Sun's light touched the earth, It turned twigs into forests, dirt into grass, wind into wolves, elks, bears. but then the Moon came and created the night: without the Sun's warm light, creatures would die from cold by the thousands. horrified, the Sun retreated behind the clouds, turning the days gray with grief, and It cried, and cried, and cried. the forests were filled with tears and the few wolves who survived the chill of the night now drowned in the day.

but then one wolf decided that that was enough, and she climbed the highest mountain she could find. at the very top, she howled so loud and strong the clouds were scattered and the Sun was revealed once again.

the wolf, angry at It for abandoning them, bared her teeth and commanded It to look down at all of the bodies that littered the forests, all of the wolves that died because of Its tears. consumed with guilt, the Sun realized It had to do something. It took the souls of the deceased wolves and hung them up in the sky to light and warm the night and, using Its own heat, It dried most of its tears, leaving behind lakes and rivers.

grateful for helping It overcome Its misery, the Sun turned to the wolf and asked for her name. although she did not have one, she answered confidently: Light that Awakens.

satisfied that the Sun would no longer turn Its back to them, she went down the mountain and founded the Pack of the Golden Sun with the surviving wolves. the Sun decided it would never cause the death of a wolf again, and set out to destroy the Moon. It is still trying, and every month, It almost succeeds, but the Moon always finds a way to return.



- society -
the sol is the leader of the pack. they are referred to as (the, my) sol not because they are divinity, but because their importance is comparable to the Sun. 

when it is time for a new leader to be appointed and the current one to be retired, the Sun will send a message that can come in the form of sundogs, cloud iridescence, anticrepuscular rays and other atmospheric optical phenomena. they will then choose a wolf who was born at midday to be the new sol. this wolf will abandon their current job to focus solely on the pack.

if a sol dies before appointing a successor, the pack will come together and choose one before the Sun sets.

all other members of the pack have the same rank. they may have different jobs (hunters, scouts, herbalists etc) but, hierarchily, they all occupy the same position.

dawn hunters leave the pack right after watching the Sunrise. they hunt to feed the elders, nursing mothers, sick wolves, puppies and the sol. prey caught while the Sun is rising is believed to give them more strength than prey caught while the Sun is setting

dusk hunters leave when the Sun is at the highest point in the sky. they used to leave just before the Sunset, but because they didn't have time to catch prey before nightfall, they started leaving earlier. they hunt to feed themselves and all other adult wolves.



- culture -
they wake up at dawn and the entire pack sits on the rocks on the top of the waterfall to watch the Sun rise together. this is an extremely important ritual that may only be skipped by extremely sick wolves and pups and their moms. during their free time, wolves will usually groom each other in the Sun to strengthen their bonds; this is called "sunning". at night, all wolves retreat to the caves to sleep. it is frowned upon, though not prohibited, to leave at night.

the first time a pup leaves the cave, they choose their own name based on one of the first things they experience: a sound, a sensation, a sight. because they usually shorten their names and refer to each other by the first word, they are not allowed to pick names starting with "Sun" nor "Light", as that would be disrespectful to the Sun and Light that Awakens. they are allowed to have those words elsewhere in their names.

pups born during the day are believed to be blessed the Sun, while pups born during the night will usually be excluded from the rest of pack. this is also influenced by the seasons: summer pups are more valued than winter pups.

because Light that Awakens was a female, it is believed that only females are strong enough to protect the pack, even against divinity if needed, and males are considered a burden. only a couple of male adults are allowed to be part of the pack at any given time. male pups must be chased or willingly leave when they reach one year old, tough they are allowed to visit for short periods of time.



- members -
the wolves from this pack are usually red or brown, ranging from average to extremely dark. wolves with different colored pelts are generally outsiders.

Moth with Silver Wings (sol, formerly Silver Moth)
found confused and exhausted by the pack's former sol, she quickly became a valued member of her new family. no one knows much about her life before she joined them for she says she can't remember anything, but with the arrival of a silver wolf claiming to be from the Northern Kingdom, this may soon change.

Howl that Echoes at Night (herbalist)
Owl that Sleeps at Day (scout)
Grass that Grows in Sunlight (pupsitter)

Fox that Sleeps Under Tree (dawn hunter)
Red Sky at Dusk (dawn hunter)
Bee that Buzzes in Ear (dawn hunter)
Lake of Calling Fish (dawn hunter)
Mist Where Sunlight Shimmers (dawn hunter)

Breeze that Sways Flowers (dusk hunter)
Cloud on Blue Sky (dusk hunter)
Moss that Grows on Rock (dusk hunter)
Pigeon of White Sky (dusk hunter)
Rain that Drips from Leaves (dusk hunter)



- dynasty -
these wolves now warm the night and help the Sun in Its endless battle against the Moon

Light that Awakens (former sol, founder)
Bird that Sings at Dawn (former sol)
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Silver Moth had always been afraid of the elders. it wasn't because they were old and ugly, their once shiny pelts now so dull and matted, their claws so long you could hear them clinking against the ice a mile away, their eyes glassy and droopy as if their skin was melting off their faces - well, actually, it was mostly because of that.

her mom always scolded her whenever she mentioned how grotesque her relatives looked, saying she'd be one of them too. but no, her horrible, disgusting-looking fate wasn't the only reason the elders terrified her.

it was because they could wield magic.

and, sure, every descendant of Silver Storm could do that, her included. but their powers were nothing compared to her little lights show.

she had heard stories of how they could make an adult polar bear stop and retreat with just a flick of their tails, heal fatal wounds with a blink of their eyes, send enemy wolves running back home with a tilt of their head and - ok, maybe some of them - or most of them - were just exaggerations, but they were, without a doubt, the most powerful wolves in the entire kingdom. it was like once a royal wolf was so old it was practically dead, Silver Storm granted it all of Her powers.

and so, Moth's plan was to simply stay away from them. they were creepy, and gross, and she didn't want to be anywhere near them. and that would've worked out fine, if it hadn't been for that stupid game of hide-and-seek.

see, Moth was a proud wolf. so when she heard the kingdom's pups were having a game of hide-and-seek, she instantly joined. she had to prove them she was the best, after all! but not only was she proud, she was forgetful; it took only a few turns before she realized she was completely lost in the kingdom's cave system.

but, that was probably for the better, right? if not even Moth knew where she was, there was no way anyone else would ever find her! with that in mind, she ventured even deeper into the caves, until the ice walls instead of a light blue color, were a deep, deep navy.

when she found a small room, hidden away like it was supposed to be a secret, she knew she had to turn away and find her way back. she knew that, but then she heard voices, and they sounded like they were in pain, and then there was a flash of light and she saw a wolf - she recognized him, he was from the common families, she knew his daughter was a royal servant, she had seen him bringing in a seal carcass once, but she couldn't remember his name - and he was looking at her and his eyes were pleading for help until they weren't looking at anything anymore and what- what was his name again?

but then she looked up and she only caught a glimpse of bright yellow eyes, no longer glassy and droopy but full of life, full of magic, before her instincts took over and she ran.

she ran faster than she ever remembered running, faster even than that time she was playing tag with her sisters and brothers, so fast she imagined not even their best chaser would be able to beat her in a race.

when her paws finally slowed and her heart begged her for a break, she couldn't see anymore snow. she was in a forest, but this one was different than the one back home, the one she stared at from the mouth of the kingdom's cave while her mom told her she was still too young to go outside. no, this one was brighter. warmer.

she heard pawsteps behind her, and turned to see a wolf emerge from behind the bushes. she seemed to glow yellow in the sunlight - the sunlight? that was her first time seeing it. she had heard stories of its warmth, but the kingdom spent most of the time in darkness - but what really caught her attention were her green eyes. they were so calm, so sure of herself, just a little bit curious, such a contrast to the common wolf she had seen in the caves, and - why couldn't she remember his name?

"what's a pup like you doing out here?"

that had been one of the first lessons her mother had taught her - a wolf's name is who they are, it represents their Being, their Essence, their very Soul - to forget another's name is the biggest insult imaginable.

"where's your family, kid? where did you come from?"

she knew the names of every wolf in the kingdom, every royal servant and hunter and newborn pup - why couldn't she remember his name?

"hey, are you okay? what happened?"

"i-i don't know. i can't remember"



the wolf, who introduced herself as Bird that Sings at Dawn, was kind enough to let Moth stay with her pack until she recovered. she hadn't realized just how tired she'd been until she finally laid down and slept.

when she woke up, she didn't know what to do.

she couldn't go back to the kingdom. the elders, they already terrified her, but now that she saw one of them killing a wolf, there was just no way she was going back. what else could they be capable of?

"you're finally up"

Moth looked up and saw Bird at the entrance to the cave. back in the forest, her pelt had glowed in the sun, making her look almost like divinity. here, in a dark cave behind a waterfall, she just looked like any normal red-orange wolf.

"come on. you missed the Sun rise"

Moth got up and followed Bird out of the cave. she'd thought it would've comforted her, reminded her of home while she slept. but this cave was nothing like the one she grew up in. the walls were made of stone. the waterfall made it cold and humid and her ears were already ringing form the constant noise. her paws felt constantly wet from the numerous puddles inside.

the ice caves back home were always so warm. her mom had told her the elders used their magic to keep it a comfortable temperature, but Moth believed it was the warmth of all of the wolves in the kingdom that did it.

that was another thing that was different. as she walked through a narrow dirt and stone path that took her from behind the waterfall and around the lake toward what seemed to be a gathering place for this pack, she noted how few wolves there were. didn't they ever get lonely? Moth had grown up with dozens of pups her age to play with, not to mention all of their younger and older siblings. this pack looked like they only had one, maybe two litters at a time maximum.

as Bird laid down on the shore, the lake lapping at her paws, Moth could feel the few wolves around them looking curiously at her. she did her best to ignore them and sat in front of Bird, wondering if she should say something first.

"if you're hungry, the dawn patrol should be back soon. you'll have plenty to eat then"

she was glowing again. Moth bowed her head respectfully, "thank you"

"of course. like i said last night, you are welcome to stay with us for ho-"

"can i live here? forever, i mean. if, if that's okay with you..."

Moth spoke before she could think. she moved her paws uneasily. although the spot Bird had chosen for them to rest was directly in the sunlight and her pelt felt comfortably warm, they were still very near the lake. her paw pads were wet, and the sand underneath was soft. it was such a foreign feeling.

Bird blinked at her. "as i was saying, you are welcome to stay with us for however long it takes you to recover. if you'd like your stay to be permanent though, you'll need to learn some things first. our costumes. our culture. our religion. you'll need to prove yourself"

Moth dug her claws in the sand. it was cold, so different from the warm ice back home. everything here was so different.

"i understand"

Bird nodded. "the first thing you need to learn is that our pups name themselves after one of their first experiences once they leave the cave. i heard a bird singing, so my name is Bird that Sings at Dawn. Light that Awakens saw the Sun bring life back to the forest and chose her name after that"

"Light that Awakens?"

"we will get to that later. for now, your name?"

Bird looked at her expectantly. nervous, Moth moved her paws again. they were soaking wet by now, and she looked down at them. in the water, her reflection caught her eye. and she still looked the same. somehow, she still looked the same.

sure, the ice caves back home didn't ripple and move like the water here, but her eyes were still blue. her fur was still gray-brown. she was still Silver Moth.

"my name is Moth with Silver Wings"



Moth with Silver Wings adapted quickly to her new home. she learned of the Sun and how It created the forest and everything in it, she patrolled the pack's territory with the scouts and memorized their borders, she watched the hunters and studied how they fed their families and she didn't think of home ever again.

when Bird made her an official member of the pack and of their dusk hunting patrol, she didn't think of how she would've (should've) been training to defend the kingdom had she never left. she didn't think of what her mother though happened to her, if her siblings ever wondered where she was and she especially didn't think of the yellow-eyed elder and what he had done.

she didn't think about it, and so she forgot about it.

(or at least, she tried)

and even though none of her new packmates knew where she was from, what she'd seen, they still trusted her. slowly, at first, but as time went on they understood she was someone they could depend on. she became the lead hunter of her party and, when Bird retired, the new sol of the pack. 

a few were opposed to it. "how do we know she was born at midday?" they'd ask. but Moth led them with confidence, and when it was time for Bird to fight alongside the Sun, she did so with no regrets. 

Moth was happy in her new life. she really was. and if she flinched every time she looked at one of her yellow-eyed packmates, no one commented on it.

she thought that was how she'd spend the rest of her life. the pack of the golden Sun took her in, gave her a new family, and she was prepared to lay down her life for them. that was how things should've gone, if the bushes by the cave entrance hadn't shuffled one night. if it hadn't woken Moth up. if a light colored wolf hadn't appeared from the leaves, seeming to glow blue in the moonlight, and if she hadn't growled and asked who the mystery wolf was.
 
 and if she hadn't answered, "i'm called Monday"
 

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Frozen Lakes always knew he wanted to be a royal servant. he knew that because his father had been one, had even saved a human child from the cold and earned early retirement. he knew that because that's what everyone thought he should be. he knew that because that's what his father thought he should be.

so that's what he became. and even though his job wasn't very exciting, he was happy he had been able to please his kingdom. his father. but for some reason, he still felt so empty. everyday was the same: he'd patrol the kingdom's borders, eat and sleep. whenever his father talked about his days as a royal servant, they seemed so full of adventure and danger it made his heart beat faster and his paws shift with the need to go out and do something, fight a polar bear, chase an eagle, kill a bison on his own. 

in reality, it was nothing like that.

so when a royal elder took him aside and asked him to go on a mission to find the missing royal wolf Silver Moth, he was ecstatic. finally, some action! finally, he'll be a hero, just like his father!

the fact that he would get almost no help didn't put a damper on his mood. apparently the royal family had already sent out too many servants after Silver Moth and none had been able to find her; some came back with serious injures from crossing the Second Savage's territory, some didn't come back at all. they thought it would be best to send just one wolf that could more easily sneak through enemy land.

before he left, the elder came back with more advice: on the day she went missing, Silver Moth's scent was found to be heading south and the royals sensed traces of magic.

"be careful when you find her," the elder told him. "something must've happened that caused her to unlock magic way too young. without proper training, that magic can be extremely dangerous. bring her to us as soon as you come back. talk to one of the guards outside the cave, they'll make sure no one else sees you arrive"

Frozen Lakes was a royal servant. his job was to serve, not ask questions, so he dipped his head in respect and took off.



when Moth woke up from her nap, the cave was empty. she could just barely hear the chatter of wolves talking beyond the falling water. the dawn patrol must've just arrived.

her stomach growling, Moth got up and left the cave. once she reached the sand, she saw Monday near the lake, asleep, her legs in the cold water and blue pelt glowing.

when she'd first met the previous night, Moth had thought Monday was just another red-brown wolf, and that the blue tint to her fur was a result of the Moon that shone high in the sky. as Monday explained that she was injured and needed a place to stay for a few nights, Moth could've sworn there were stars glowing in her fur.

wippp i dont wanna write this 😭😭😭


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uhh monday and moth interacting here. maybe some of frozen lakes trying to convince moth to go back. some more moth n monday. lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus vehicula mollis egestas. Integer a ipsum quam. Donec ullamcorper malesuada ex vitae placerat. Curabitur at mauris ut dui efficitur rutrum. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Nam aliquam rhoncus diam. Nullam suscipit dapibus eros at euismod. Aliquam volutpat turpis sapien, eget finibus libero lobortis eget. Curabitur lacus justo, pellentesque nec molestie eget, interdum quis est.


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