✨ 🌾🍄 Oasis Stalker's Lore 🍄🌾✨

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. basics
ii. etymology and terminology
iii. history
iv. government and politics
v. culture and heritage
↳ arts
↳ music
↳ cuisine
↳ fashion
↳ superstitions
↳ beliefs
↳ rituals
↳ festivals
↳ public holidays
↳ greetings
vi. miscellaneous

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Pack Name
The Pack's name is currently The Oasis Stalkers though the founders of the pack were originally a nomadic pack of loners who went by Sandstorm Wanderers due to the fact that they were wandering traders in the desert. They received the name "Oasis Stalkers" after Erik, the first patriarch of the pack revealed his aspirations to his fellow wanderers. He wished to rebuild the guild that his ancestors were ever so loyal to, "The Seekers of Paradise."

Motto
" May your road lead to warm sands and crystal waters. "

A common motto stated by the locals in order to wish travelers well when they visit.

Language(s)
The Stalkers speak in an olden norse dialect, often speaking in broken sentences with nordic words mixed with english. The reason for this old speech is due to its familiarity with dessert packs. Similarly to a thieves' cant, a secret language that thieves speak to each other in, the old norse is the common language of desert and mountain nomads. It is also preferred by wolves who go by the old ways and dabble in witchcraft.
Religion(s)
The Oasis Stalkers believe in three main deities, Qhiella, Nithos, and Kibris. Qhiella is the goddess of death, rain, cold, mercy, serenity, and peace. Nithos is the god of life, son, heat, war, glory, rage, and pride. Kibris is a wildcard of the gods, the god of trickery, deceit, knowledge, wisdom, wishes, karma, and exchange. The gods, while differing in strengths and agendas tend to live in harmony relatively speaking. In ancient tomes, Nithos and Qhiella were said to have their respective rivalries. When one god would create something, the other would create the opposite out of spite. This lead to the original believers of the gods to form a divide, some siding with Nithos and some with Qhiella. This division was said to be what brought about Kibris, who delighted in the chaos and bartered with either side. Qhiella's followers were mercilessly attacked to spite their goddess by the Nithos followers, much to Qhiella's dismay. After helplessly watching her peaceful followers die by following her will or live by straying from her sent her to a breaking point. She stood against the next raid of Nithos' warriors to protect her followers, directly interfering with the mortal realm. Kibris, who witnessed the feat, was quick to tell Nithos, stirring the tension. Nithos was outraged, and his wrath scorched the land, forming the vibrant lands into a merciless desert. This wasn't his intention and this hasty decision was an eye-opening moment for the gods, a moment were peace had to be achieved, regardless of difference. And so the "Singe Pact of the Gods" was created by the mischievous Kibris himself. The Singe Pact was a form of testament in order to clearly guide the mortals to live harmoniously. Most of the mortal realm's flora returned with the pact's creation; however, the land that once served as the capital for Qhiella's worship and the location of her interference, never recovered and remains a desert to this day. Some believe it serves as a reminder of what times were during the clash. The afterlife is referred to as the Eternal Hunting Ground, or Phinara. It is described as a forest of ivory trees and spectral prey, where souls gather to run in freedom, never growing tired. The wolf souls that go to Phinara join the pack that is led by the three gods.


Government
The pack is a monarchy, being led by a singular patriarch and their respective mate or beta. Rulers are typically decided by lineage and power is given hereditarily. However, other families are allowed to challenge the patriarchal family. The head of each family must commit to a three-round duel; the severity of which is dependent on the challengers. The current patriarch, Valhalla's, bloodline has maintained the title of royalty for around 6 years.

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Etymology and Terminology
The Stalkers have various slang words for common things but here are the most commonly used:

Hirða - Nomad
Karling - Homestead/Cave
Kriki - Creek, Stream
Flokkr - Herd/Group of prey
Mötunautr - Companion


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History
The Oasis Stalkers are the reformation of an ancient pack, The Seekers of Paradise. The Seekers of Paradise were a large kingdom of desert wolves who created their homestead around a great crater in the desert that they fittingly named, the Abyss, due to its depth. During a particularly hardy dry season the pack was slowly dying from hunger and dehydration. Hunting parties were becoming less and less successful and tension began to brew between the king, Hroki and his older brother Ragnar. Ragnar was an ambitious, power-hungry wolf who desired the throne, claiming that he was more capable of leading and providing for the pack. He claimed that he could lead the pack south towards the swamp and take over the territory by force. Hroki, however, was more peaceful, wanting to form an alliance with the swamp wolves. Additionally, he did not want to abandon his ancestral homeland, due to a bad season. Due to this disagreement, the brothers dueled for the throne, a duel to the death. The battle lasted for many moons and many hunts. By the end, Ragnar tossed his brother into the great Abyss, killing him and claiming the throne. The pack however, did not accept this, they mourned their true king and begged the goddess Qheilla as their ancestors did long ago. But the goddess could not directly interfere with the mortal realm without risking tragedy. So, the goddess, Qhiella, wept and wept for the kingdom. Her tears filled up the great Abyss and formed what is now known as Oasis. Oasis was said to be the most crystal clear and clean water. Ragnar's dethroning is unknown, his fate lost to time. Some say that he was too caught up in his victory to notice the rising water of Oasis, and he drowned. Others believe that the pack he took over drowned him in the Oasis. Regardless, a new leader was appointed and The Seekers of Paradise would live on for generations before their mysterious disappearance.

The reforging of the ancient pack was started by a charismatic wolf named Erik. Erik was born in the relentless desert, cradled in the dunes. He was born into a nomadic life, learning the trade from his merchant parents, who also enlightened him of his ancestors. Reforging the pack that protected Oasis was Erik's dream since his childhood, though he would not put his dream into action until he was a young adult. By this time, the young wolf had a ragtag group of nomadic traders that he had coerced into helping him form a pack. He thoroughly explained his ideals to the small group, which ended up driving all of them away except for two. The trio would act as the founders of the Oasis Stalkers, making it their mission to protect the pure waters of Oasis.

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Culture and Heritage
Arts
The Oasis Stalkers pride themselves on their creative and artistic minds. They are a very artistic and philosophical pack; even the most brutish warriors enjoy the fine arts. A majority of the wolves in the pack of Oasis are much like bards, always having stories to tell. Even their underground dens have thoughtful, detailed architecture. Many of the wolves wear jewelry and other apparel to indicate their role or rank.
Music
As well as being artistic, the pack of Oasis also dabbles in music. Music and merriment is a crucial part of their culture. They often sing in traditional Norse tongues, detailing events of the past, glory to the gods, or simple tunes. It is very common for the pack's females to gather together and sing to a she-wolf who has fallen pregnant. They do this in order to request safe passage into the living world. Additionally, when it rains, the pack typically celebrates by singing to the moon, the common depiction of Qhiella. Before trying times, such as war or drought, the pack sings to the sun, Nithos's depiction.
Cuisine
The Oasis Stalkers even have a particular way of eating. Meals are often presented with a helping of aloe, a bitter herb that is said to illuminate the meat's flavor. Additionally, the Oasis Stalkers are not wasteful, they eat every part of the animals they hunt, even the bones. Anything that is not eaten, is buried and preserved by the herbalist. A common delicacy that is reserved for celebrations is the delicate fish meat. Rattlesnake and other various reptile meats are the most common meat served, an oddity for foreigners. Controversially, The Oasis Stalkers are not against cannibalism as long as it is not a pup, or a part of the pack.
Fashion
Apparel is often reserved for wolves with higher status in the pack. For example, golden jewelry is given to the Patriarch or Matriarch upon their crowning. Their mate and heir are given quartz or gemstone jewelry. The herbalist in the pack is commonly given a crown made of pink or purple flowers. The lead hunters in hunting parties are given silver jewelry. The main stud, and any expecting females are given flower crowns made of arnicas. This does not mean that other wolves are prohibited from wearing apparel, however those are the most traditional approaches

Rituals
The Oasis Stalkers are a pack of many rituals due to their background in the occult and witchcraft. When a pack member dies, their body is laid in the oasis by loved ones, in order to cleanse their spirit in the God's essence scent, so that they are recognized when they go to Phinara. They believe that if the dead are not cleansed, they will not be recognized and therefore won't be able to move to the afterlife. This is why this ritual is so important. Though the pack of Oasis strives for peace and pacifism, they are not above war. During times of war, they howl and sing for Nithos' protection and strength before going into battle. After a successful hunt, the Oasis Stalkers pray to Nithos to show gratitude and Qhiella to request safe passage for the prey. 
Festivals
Frost Favor is a time in the winter season where The Oasis Stalkers embody a generous attitude. They embrace a giving spirit by giving gifts to each other and neighboring packs. They do this due to the fact that winter is a hard season for everyone.

When it rains, the wolves of Oasis celebrate with a festival to show their allegiance and gratitude to the rain spirit, Qhiella. They celebrate by racing across the desert, and "running with the lightning". There is singing and merriment during these festivals and it is common for the pack to eat fish meat if it is available. There is to be no violence on during these celebrations, to avoid disrespecting the goddess.

Just before the summer season, The Oasis Stalkers gather for a grand celebration and feast called Nithos' Banquet. As expected, it is a festival to celebrate Nithos, the god of sun and heat. The wolves of Oasis perform this ceremony and celebrate in order to attempt to appease the sun god so that he may grant them a lenient and prosperous summer. The summer is by far one of the more challenging times for the Oasis residence due to the desert's sweltering heat.

Greetings
Formal (between strangers): A bow of the head, "Hail" (A formal yet simple greeting)
Informal (Between friends or pack mates): Brushing bodies, touching with tail, "Skruva" (A playful greeting"
Lovers (Affectionate/shared between partners): Touching the neck or nape

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Miscellanous
How do they treat magic?
They are very welcoming to it and practice it themselves. They often use witchcraft to bless their hunts and foraging, as well as birthings.
How open are they to strangers?
They are very friendly and welcoming for the most part, as long as you aren't a threat. They are very open to talking about their ancestry and culture and are very willing to barter and trade with outsiders. Some members of the pack have even been known to teach the trade to outsiders.

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