Greyfeather Pack Brainstorming | April Showers Lore Clan Event

My upcoming goal is to have the pack alpha be a "regular" member of the pack by game definition. That is, they will not be protected from death the way the game-designated lead is and will be able to get sick and die without me having to spend GC to make it happen.

To make it fit into lore, I've determined that when the time comes for a new lead to be chosen, the wolf being trained to take over will take over as far as game mechanics are concerned, but will "disappear" as far as the pack is concerned, requiring a regular member to step up and take over.

• Should they retain pack knowledge of the cures they've collected thus far? Ákiljöf has always been responsible for collecting herbs and making the cures, but it could stand to reason that other members of the pack might have grown familiar with the herbs and the process.
• They will definitely loose access to the Artisan's Hollow and any new cures as the location of the Hollow would have been known only to Ákiljöf and the pup he was training to take over for him.
  • For the sake of difficulty, this will be remedied (ha ha!) when Zahir is introduced to the pack since he currently resides at the Hollow.
• Who will take over?
  • As it stands, Khushi is likely to be the strongest adult member when Ákiljöf passes. She has a strong and dedicated personality and would make a commanding alpha--likely to quell any discontent and lead her siblings (with the exception of Reva?) through any uncertainty.
  • Her brother Darshan is growing stronger quickly, but his push for rank is preceded by his quiet and shy personality. While he would be likely to make wise decisions as the pack's alpha, he may not have the constitution to stave off a real fight for his place as alpha. (Dominance battles among siblings are generally not as cutthroat as I would expect a challenge for the position of alpha to be.) Darshan as alpha could create a period of chaos while the family adjusts to the new way of things, or he may give the position up entirely and allow the next best suited family member to take his place.
  • Kaveri is also lingering toward the top of the ranks with her siblings. She spent a good portion of her early years as first among her siblings and is familiar and comfortable with the idea of leadership. She is, however, known to be somewhat unbridled which I image translates, among other ways, as a bit of a loose temper. She has spent so much time during the last few seasons fighting for her rank and watching her siblings rise above that I think were she to grasp power again she would cling to it tightly. She would be a strong and effective leader but would probably deal with uncertainty or discontent harshly.
• Will the lead continue to have a role in lore?
  • My initial, loose idea was that the lead would remain a distant, outside figure. Going so far as to become mysterious and god-like to the remaining members of the pack. My wish for the lead is to continue to serve as a high-stat combatant I can use to hunt trophies in explore which means continuing to match him/her up with another strong wolf (trained as a scout for stat purposes). I considered allowing my lead's mate to reside with the pack, acting either as a member, or a sort of tolerated hanger-on who claims to be able to communicate with their lost family member/god-like figure.
  • Need to consider 1) how the family would react to the lead being out there, but not part of the pack, 2) what might prevent the lead from returning (something with the dreamlands?), 3) whether the lead will remain a character and if so, 4) how the lead will feel about the exile (self-imposed or not)

Ákiljöf is at the Artisan's Hollow seeking a cure for another unfamiliar illness his daughter has. Myrica will have to give him the news that there is no cure (per my game rules) and little likelihood she will recover on her own. Potentially important scenes: when Ákiljöf gets the news from Myrica, when/if Ákiljöf gives the news to Indu/the family, and Indu's or the families reactions at any point after. May be too triggering for me to write in-depth.

The strange greenless tree rose out of the edge of the tree line like a lifeless boulder overtaking plantlife. It was visible from a long way off, standing particularly naked among the lush greens of spring. Ákiljöf was overwhelmed by the scents of new life rising from the wildflowers where he walked and drifting on the still-cool lush winds that wafted down from the mountains. The smell of strange wood was masked by all the new growth, but it was still there, subtly lingering as an undertone like a wolf that didn't belong in the pack.

Rarely was a trip to the Hollow a pleasant journey--he was accompanied by the nagging concerns of a new illness in his pack.

(In progress)

• What might prevent the lead from returning?
  • Stuck in the dreamlands.
  • Captured by the researcher's team
    • To study the dreamlands (some external clue they exist)
    • Randomly chosen for reintroduction project, etc.

Changing ceremony done when the current alpha senses his time is close. Removing themselves from the pack, the silver crown is transferred to the new alpha. This ceremony would create a prime opportunity for the new alpha to disappear. "Proof" of his disappearance in the abandoned crown which would be carried by the pack's new designated alpha.