Renyan

BACKSTORY

Maliketh and Renyan were a pair of steadfast friends, and the founders of the Wandering Vagabonds. They had been close to each other since puphood, finding common grounds in their experiences as orphans both. Together they had roamed the mountains and the lands, heeding no call but that of their own freedom.

However, as Renyan grew older, she slowly became aware of another call - that of family and kin. She longed to have a family of her own, to wake up with pups trampling under her feet and to have hers and Maliketh's children grow up together like their mothers had.

As the day passed this longing inside Renyan only grew and grew, and she no longer find as much joy in wandering the lands as she had before. Unlike Maliketh whose orphanhood was by choice, Renyan's parents were killed by a rivalling pack in a fight for territory when she was a young pup. A maternal bear took pity on her and brought her in, but even in the company of the many other pups in the orphanage Renyan never could find the warmth of family - not until she met Maliketh. The two of them together had been enough for a long while, but now she started to crave for something more. A big family made of their children and the pups that came after them. A strong pack where the two of them could grow old together and watch over their pups; to see them growing up safe and strong, protected from all harms and never having to suffer the pains of orphanhood like she had.

Heeding her pleas, Maliketh finally agreed to find a place to call home and settle down, hesitant as she was. However, because of Maliketh's bad past experience with big mixed packs, they vowed to keep their family small and tight, limited to their mates and next of kin only. Other wolves may come and go, but wanderers they shall remain, to prevent the pack from growing too large and unwieldy, . Most of their children and those who came after them will have to set out once they are on steady feet - but for the firstborns and the exceptional, who may stay with the main pack and carry on their legacy. That was the first and most important rule of the Vagabonds, to keep their pack tight and strong for many generations to come.

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SOCIAL HIERARCHY

Unlike most other packs where the wolves all belong to the same family, the Wandering Vagabonds are essentially two family lines living alongside each other in harmony. The highest positions in the pack are Pack Lead and Pack Advisor. These titles are held by one wolf in each family line, interchangeable between generations.

Renyan was one of the Founders of the Vagabonds, and all pups in her bloodline belongs to the Second Line of the pack. They may attain a title once they come of age or carry out a deed of great merits.

The Second line is separated into a Main Branch and a Side Branch.
The firstborns (pups from the first litter) of Renyan and their firstborns obtain their titles as members of the Main Branch upon birth and are guaranteed a place in the pack. However, only one pup from each generation may pass down these titles to their first litter - this pup is considered a worthy offspring of choice (a Heir) from Renvan's direct bloodline. In this way, only the most exceptional members of the pack may stay and further the bloodline. The pups of any other firstborns who did not become Heir are considered members of the Side Branch upon birth.

Any other descendants who are not born of the first litter usually are asked to part ways with the pack once they are old enough. However, occasionally stronger pups are also allowed to stay and call themselves members of the Side Branch. Members of the Side Branch do not have a permanent place in the pack and might be asked to split if the pack grows too big. A wolf from the Side Branch who has proven themselves by performing an act of exceptional merit might be invited to join the Main Branch. Pups and young wolves who managed to join the Main Branch in this way before the Heir of a generation is picked may also compete for the title of Heir.

Wolves from the same Line may not take each other as mates to prevent inbreeding. Wolves from different Lines may intermingle and take each other as mates, but their children will be deemed Mixed Line and carry no title. Additionally, Mixed Line wolves might be forced to never take a mate or have to leave the pack to prevent inbreeding in later generations, ensuring a strong bloodline.

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TITLES

This wolf is a Founder of the pack.
This wolf is a member of the Main Branch of the Second Line.
This wolf is the Pack Advisor.


- Pack Lead: Leader of the pack, top of the social hierarchy and makes the final call on important pack decisions. The Pack Lead and Pack Advisor are a pair of closely bonded wolves - but they are not a breeding pair. A new Pack Lead is chosen from Heirs of all generations upon the death of the previous Pack Lead.

- Pack Advisor: Second in command of the pack, advise the Pack Lead on important decisions and lead the pack in the absence of a Pack Lead. The Pack Lead and Pack Advisor are a pair of closely bonded wolves - but they are not a breeding pair. A new Pack Advisor is chosen from Heirs of all generations upon the death of the previous Pack Advisor.

- Elder: A Pack Lead or Pack Advisor who have retired due to the death of their counterpart. The Elder is a well respected member and is held in high regards in the pack only under Pack Lead and Pack Advisor, but it is an advisory position and may not make the final call on matters of the pack.

- Heirs: The title of Heir is contested among all eligible Main Branch pups of the same generation. For each generation two Heirs will be chosen, one from the First Line and one from the Second Line. These wolves will be bonded as a pair and if chosen, will replace the pair of Pack Lead and Pack Advisor upon their death or retirement. As several generations of wolves might coexist, so there might be several pairs of Heirs in the pack at any one time, differentiated by their generation (i.e. G3 Heir). The top positions of the pack is chosen from the strongest pair of existing Heirs. Heirs of a lower generation, if not chosen, remain Heirs and may contest for the top positions when it is once again open. Heirs of a higher generation who got skipped will earn the titles of Honoured Ones instead.

- Honoured Ones: Heirs whose generation got skipped in the running for new Pack Lead and Pack Advisor, which only happens in the case of a younger generation providing Heirs more exceptional and better suited for the positions of leaders. These wolves hold an advisory position in the pack, and in the social hierarchy they are considered lower than an Elder but higher than Heirs.

- Unique Titles: Unique titles might be earned by performing an exceptional feat (i.e. Founder titles are granted to only the two wolves that first formed the pack). These titles cannot be inherited, but some might be re-granted to the wolves that live up to that feat after the predecessor who originally earned that title has passed away.