Wolf Society and Customs
Touch is an extremely integral part of all lycan societies, but especially so for wolves. They crave touch; it is almost a vital need. Therefore, it's not surprising that a large amount of communication and social signals are transmitted by various forms of touch.
When furred and quadruped, the social rituals between Wolves look very much like interactions between bestial wolves, although for Wolves these interactions are driven by intellect and emotion as well as instinct.
All social customs have two and sometimes three variations, depending not only upon rank but also upon bodily form and whether or not there are any non-Wolf onlookers.
Greetings: The all-purpose Wolf way of saying hello is to slide one's cheek against the other Wolf's, along the cheekbone back to behind the ear, and then to inhale deeply there. That is the point of the purest, strongest personal scent. Usually, the Wolves grip each other by the tops of the shoulders, if in bipedal form.
When around non-Wolves, this gesture is altered into a rather European exchange of kisses to the cheeks, hands on shoulders or upper arms.
Alphas greet subordinates first.
When two alphas greet for the first time, the one who is dominant will often bite the other's neck after the cheek rub/ear sniff. This is to cement the ranking between them. In front of non-Wolves, the bite is altered to a "playful" gripping of the back of the neck, with a little shake. A back of the neck grip often follows the bite also if the Wolves are in furry but bipedal form, regardless of onlookers.
Betas will often rub against an alpha's chin and lick across their lips before doing the cheek-rub/ear sniff. This is an appeasing gesture that goes back to the way pups will lick and rub their parents' mouths, begging for disgorged food. It tends to trigger the protective instinct in a psychologically healthy alpha, or at least to mollify any current foul mood.
In front of non-Wolves, this extra appeasing gesture will often be altered to a light kiss at the corner of the mouth.
When Pack members meet while in quadruped form, their greetings are merry and uninhibited: nose to nose, wagging tails, whole body wiggling in joy.
Even while in humanoid form, friendly greetings between Pack members are always more effusive than those between most human friends or family members. Only Wolves on unfriendly terms would pass with merely a monosyllable or the flick of a hand exchanged between them.
Dominant Postures, Quadruped form:
Dominant Postures, Bipedal form:
Submissive Postures, Quadruped form:
Submissive Postures, Bipedal form:
A submissive seeking the protection of a dominant will press themselves against the other Wolf, who will either step in front of them or at the least, touch them if in front of non-shifters, if the dominant is willing to take on the role of protector.
Active Submission- A friendly display towards a dominant. This is usually when the lip-licking behavior is used.
Passive Submission- The response of a lower ranked wolf when approached by a dominant, especially a disgruntled dominant. A more submissive display is usually used here, using body posture and a hesitant approach.
Subordinates often solicit responses from more dominant pack members in order to reaffirm their status and position in the Pack.
When furred and quadruped, the social rituals between Wolves look very much like interactions between bestial wolves, although for Wolves these interactions are driven by intellect and emotion as well as instinct.
All social customs have two and sometimes three variations, depending not only upon rank but also upon bodily form and whether or not there are any non-Wolf onlookers.
Greetings: The all-purpose Wolf way of saying hello is to slide one's cheek against the other Wolf's, along the cheekbone back to behind the ear, and then to inhale deeply there. That is the point of the purest, strongest personal scent. Usually, the Wolves grip each other by the tops of the shoulders, if in bipedal form.
When around non-Wolves, this gesture is altered into a rather European exchange of kisses to the cheeks, hands on shoulders or upper arms.
Alphas greet subordinates first.
When two alphas greet for the first time, the one who is dominant will often bite the other's neck after the cheek rub/ear sniff. This is to cement the ranking between them. In front of non-Wolves, the bite is altered to a "playful" gripping of the back of the neck, with a little shake. A back of the neck grip often follows the bite also if the Wolves are in furry but bipedal form, regardless of onlookers.
Betas will often rub against an alpha's chin and lick across their lips before doing the cheek-rub/ear sniff. This is an appeasing gesture that goes back to the way pups will lick and rub their parents' mouths, begging for disgorged food. It tends to trigger the protective instinct in a psychologically healthy alpha, or at least to mollify any current foul mood.
In front of non-Wolves, this extra appeasing gesture will often be altered to a light kiss at the corner of the mouth.
When Pack members meet while in quadruped form, their greetings are merry and uninhibited: nose to nose, wagging tails, whole body wiggling in joy.
Even while in humanoid form, friendly greetings between Pack members are always more effusive than those between most human friends or family members. Only Wolves on unfriendly terms would pass with merely a monosyllable or the flick of a hand exchanged between them.
Dominant Postures, Quadruped form:
- Head held high
- Eyes directed towards another Wolf's
- raised hackles
- growling-side swipe or body slam to subordinates, sometimes pinning them to the ground
- bared teeth
- upright ears
- tail partly erect
- rigid posture, almost on 'tiptoes'
Dominant Postures, Bipedal form:
- Head held high
- Eyes directed at another Wolf's
- Raised hackles, if furred and bipedal. Alphas in skin often speak of feeling their hackles raise, as a tingling, itching or prickling across the back of their shoulders, even if their pelt is not visible. When nude, goose-pimpling of the skin covered by the hackles can be often observed.
- Growling, outright or as a deepening and coarsening of the individual's normal vocal range.
- Shoulder-checking to outright body-slamming, control holds.
- Bared teeth, very different from a normal smile. Often some degree of fang and/or dental shifting is evident, depending on the alpha's degree of control over both their emotions and their body.
- Eye color altering to that of their lupine form. This is the most common reaction to strong emotion, and is often not entirely under an individual's control. Most are aware of it because of a shift in visual acuity— color vision fades to near grey-scale, but perception of contrast and movement is greatly enhanced.
- Extremely erect "military" posture, shoulders thrown back and chest fully expanded.
Submissive Postures, Quadruped form:
- Lowered tails (very submissive: tail tucked between the legs)
- Folded ears
- submissive grin, peeling back of lips
- crouched or lowered body position
- Subordinates will lick a superior Wolf muzzle or lie on its side raising one hind leg to expose the groin to the dominate.
- may bend head back to expose the throat
Submissive Postures, Bipedal form:
- Bowed head
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Whimpering or whining
- Slouching to full prostration and crawling
- Licking at dominant's mouth or hands
- Exposing the throat
A submissive seeking the protection of a dominant will press themselves against the other Wolf, who will either step in front of them or at the least, touch them if in front of non-shifters, if the dominant is willing to take on the role of protector.
Active Submission- A friendly display towards a dominant. This is usually when the lip-licking behavior is used.
Passive Submission- The response of a lower ranked wolf when approached by a dominant, especially a disgruntled dominant. A more submissive display is usually used here, using body posture and a hesitant approach.
Subordinates often solicit responses from more dominant pack members in order to reaffirm their status and position in the Pack.
Pack to Pack Interaction
Wolves are fiercely territorial creatures. A Pack-less Wolf had better contact the ruling pair of any territory he wishes to cross, or he may pay for that breach of etiquette with his life.
Pack-to-Pack interaction can range from an alliance (normally an uneasy arrangement) to armed hostility. Territories have been known to be annexed by outright war between Packs, though this is less common now that human encroachment and more reliable law enforcement is widespread.
Pack-to-Pack interaction can range from an alliance (normally an uneasy arrangement) to armed hostility. Territories have been known to be annexed by outright war between Packs, though this is less common now that human encroachment and more reliable law enforcement is widespread.
Pack to Nonshifter Interaction
Unless you're related to or very intimate friends with a Wolf, you'll never know of their other life. You better hope you never know, because anonymous meetings between humans and Wolves often end like the Lady of Niger's ride on the tiger-- you'll return from the encounter on the interior of the Wolf.
Lycanthropes may have a precarious legality now, but a few new laws don't do away with millennia of mutual suspicion and hostility between Homo sapiens nudus and Homo sapiens lupus.
Werewolves are a bit more open with other shifters, as they both are assumed to have equally dangerous secrets to keep from humans. This varies according to the individuals involved, of course.
Lycanthropes may have a precarious legality now, but a few new laws don't do away with millennia of mutual suspicion and hostility between Homo sapiens nudus and Homo sapiens lupus.
Werewolves are a bit more open with other shifters, as they both are assumed to have equally dangerous secrets to keep from humans. This varies according to the individuals involved, of course.
Terms of Rank
Lycaon – King of the Wolf pack. His Loba is an equal power, but the Lycaon has final authority on most issues. His term is taken from the name of the King of Arcadia, who due to a horrific act of sacrilege and parental violence, was turned into a Wolf. Over the centuries, the King was more remembered for his better deeds, and his name lost its stain to become the highest term of rank in the lycanthropic race that he was said to have spawned. The Lycaon is usually male, but this is not always the case, and the term does not actually carry a gender meaning.
Loba- The mate of the Lycaon and (if a female) the only Wolf normally allowed to reproduce. The Loba is equal in power and authority in most ways with the Lycaon, though both have areas under their direct control. As with the term Lycaon, it does not carry a gender meaning, though the majority of Lobas have been females.
Romulus/Remus- Second and Third in command below the Lycaon and Loba. They usually have Lieutenants under their command in larger Packs, with the word of the Lead couple final on all things.
Trainers- These positions are always held by a male and a female. Trainers are the Pack members responsible for educating newly infected wolves about control during lovemaking and other emotionally intense situations.
Destroyer – One challenging the current Lycaon. Most rank challenges are to submission, but a challenge for Lycaon can lead to death.
Avenger- Vengence personified, especially to those who harm the innocent. Avengers are almost always female and are bloodthirsty once their ire is up. This is one of the only positions in the pack that will have the spirits of those gone before run with them on their hunt. It is what they do. They are the ones who hunt down wrongdoers both in their home pack and away. They are the only wolf in werewolf society to be able to travel indiscriminately through any and all Packlands. Once they come into their own, they are known by a whip like marking which curls about their left wrist and thumb.
Nemesis- The wolf who does the Pack's dirty and sometimes legally shady work. This can be anything from subtle intimidation to outright lies, trickery and murder. A Nemesis' role can encompass anything from gadfly to the equivalent of a mob enforcer, depending on the Pack's leadership and its needs. There is usually only one Nemesis, though he/she can recruit lieutenants, referred to as Phobos and Deimus.
Counselor- is in charge of the more bureaucratic contacts with humans, such as managing the Pack's common finances and dealing with human law enforcement on the behalf of the Pack. A Counselor is usually someone with experience in law, finance, or both. A Pack can have more than one Counselor, according to its size and needs. Often the role is split between law and finance.
Teachers- The are the wolves, usually a mated pair, who help rear the children of the Pack. Normally, this means the children of the Lycaon and Loba, but if other Pack members have children, those children may be cared for by the Teachers as well. Teachers are unique in that they are never gained by Challenge, but are granted by the Lycaon and Loba. To be asked to take on this position is considered one of the highest of all possible honors, but there is no stigma in turning it down. The rearing of the Pack's children is too important to be entrusted to someone who resents the job or doesn't feel capable. Those who teach academically hold the title "Instructor," which is also never taken by Challenge.
Steward- The rank of Steward does not exist in every Pack. For those Packs that practice some measure of communal living, in Pack Houses large enough to demand full-time domestic management, the rank of Steward is very important if not of particularly high status. The Steward is the majordomo of the Pack House, and/or in the home of the Lead Pair. He or she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home and their list of responsibilities varies widely according to each situation. A thrifty and skilled Steward makes life run more smoothly for all in their charge, so they are highly valued as assets of the Pack. Males or females can hold the rank, as it is a role assigned according to aptitude rather than gender.
Omega- Omega is more a personality description than a rank. An Omega is the most submissive beta of a Pack. Most Omegas have the misfortune of serving as the scapegoats and punching bags of their Pack, but some fortunate few are instead treated more like coddled youngest siblings or mascots, the object of everyone's affection and leniency.
Loba- The mate of the Lycaon and (if a female) the only Wolf normally allowed to reproduce. The Loba is equal in power and authority in most ways with the Lycaon, though both have areas under their direct control. As with the term Lycaon, it does not carry a gender meaning, though the majority of Lobas have been females.
Romulus/Remus- Second and Third in command below the Lycaon and Loba. They usually have Lieutenants under their command in larger Packs, with the word of the Lead couple final on all things.
Trainers- These positions are always held by a male and a female. Trainers are the Pack members responsible for educating newly infected wolves about control during lovemaking and other emotionally intense situations.
Destroyer – One challenging the current Lycaon. Most rank challenges are to submission, but a challenge for Lycaon can lead to death.
Avenger- Vengence personified, especially to those who harm the innocent. Avengers are almost always female and are bloodthirsty once their ire is up. This is one of the only positions in the pack that will have the spirits of those gone before run with them on their hunt. It is what they do. They are the ones who hunt down wrongdoers both in their home pack and away. They are the only wolf in werewolf society to be able to travel indiscriminately through any and all Packlands. Once they come into their own, they are known by a whip like marking which curls about their left wrist and thumb.
Nemesis- The wolf who does the Pack's dirty and sometimes legally shady work. This can be anything from subtle intimidation to outright lies, trickery and murder. A Nemesis' role can encompass anything from gadfly to the equivalent of a mob enforcer, depending on the Pack's leadership and its needs. There is usually only one Nemesis, though he/she can recruit lieutenants, referred to as Phobos and Deimus.
Counselor- is in charge of the more bureaucratic contacts with humans, such as managing the Pack's common finances and dealing with human law enforcement on the behalf of the Pack. A Counselor is usually someone with experience in law, finance, or both. A Pack can have more than one Counselor, according to its size and needs. Often the role is split between law and finance.
Teachers- The are the wolves, usually a mated pair, who help rear the children of the Pack. Normally, this means the children of the Lycaon and Loba, but if other Pack members have children, those children may be cared for by the Teachers as well. Teachers are unique in that they are never gained by Challenge, but are granted by the Lycaon and Loba. To be asked to take on this position is considered one of the highest of all possible honors, but there is no stigma in turning it down. The rearing of the Pack's children is too important to be entrusted to someone who resents the job or doesn't feel capable. Those who teach academically hold the title "Instructor," which is also never taken by Challenge.
Steward- The rank of Steward does not exist in every Pack. For those Packs that practice some measure of communal living, in Pack Houses large enough to demand full-time domestic management, the rank of Steward is very important if not of particularly high status. The Steward is the majordomo of the Pack House, and/or in the home of the Lead Pair. He or she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home and their list of responsibilities varies widely according to each situation. A thrifty and skilled Steward makes life run more smoothly for all in their charge, so they are highly valued as assets of the Pack. Males or females can hold the rank, as it is a role assigned according to aptitude rather than gender.
Omega- Omega is more a personality description than a rank. An Omega is the most submissive beta of a Pack. Most Omegas have the misfortune of serving as the scapegoats and punching bags of their Pack, but some fortunate few are instead treated more like coddled youngest siblings or mascots, the object of everyone's affection and leniency.
Other Terms To Know:
Most of these terms aren't in everyday use, but would be used in formal and official announcements and pronouncements.
Outcast: A Wolf who has been ejected from the Pack for some dire misbehavior. This is usually equal to banishment from Wolf society entirely, as very few Packs will take in one ejected as Outcast. Some Packs brand an Outcast to the bone with silver, which makes a permanent disfiguring mark any Wolf will see and understand.
Loki- Born-wolf cub below breeding age, regardless of gender. An affectionate term akin to the word "kid" in English. Loki is both the singular and plural form of the word.
Lupercal- Originally referring to the cave wherein a compassionate wolf nursed the abandoned babes Romulus and Remus, the term now refers to any place Wolves gather for their rituals. Stone Mountain's Lupercal is a large, circular clearing in the nearby forest. An outcropping of weathered granite forms a human-head height natural balcony where the Lycaon and Loba stand to survey their Pack. The term is also used to refer to the meeting itself. Lupercals are usually in a wilderness area, and most have been utilized for generations if not centuries. They are protected with earth magic, which makes it almost impossible for any being but a Wolf to trespass when there is Pack business in progress. A human could walk through a Lupercal in full swing and never see or hear anything out of the ordinary, though most are unconsciously repelled from entering the sacred space without perceiving any oddity at all.
Lykoi- The word Wolves use among themselves to refer to their own kind. It is never spoken to outsiders. It is from the ancient Greek word for wolf.
Pack- The general term for Wolf organized societies. Most Packs are a tightly bonded collection of born-Wolves who may or may not be related, along with those infected Wolves invited or allowed to join.
Secessus- The literal meaning is 'hiding place.' It's the formal term used to refer to the dwelling utilized by the Lycaon and Loba, and by extension, much of the rest of the Pack. In every case except the highest of formal occasions, however, that dwelling is referred to simply as the Pack House.
The Shadow Pack- Spirits of the dead Wolves. The memories can be accessed by the Lycaon and Loba, who have the ability to speak with them during a Blue Moon Lupercal. Only the Lead Pair have this ability, and only during this particular moment.
Most of these terms aren't in everyday use, but would be used in formal and official announcements and pronouncements.
Outcast: A Wolf who has been ejected from the Pack for some dire misbehavior. This is usually equal to banishment from Wolf society entirely, as very few Packs will take in one ejected as Outcast. Some Packs brand an Outcast to the bone with silver, which makes a permanent disfiguring mark any Wolf will see and understand.
Loki- Born-wolf cub below breeding age, regardless of gender. An affectionate term akin to the word "kid" in English. Loki is both the singular and plural form of the word.
Lupercal- Originally referring to the cave wherein a compassionate wolf nursed the abandoned babes Romulus and Remus, the term now refers to any place Wolves gather for their rituals. Stone Mountain's Lupercal is a large, circular clearing in the nearby forest. An outcropping of weathered granite forms a human-head height natural balcony where the Lycaon and Loba stand to survey their Pack. The term is also used to refer to the meeting itself. Lupercals are usually in a wilderness area, and most have been utilized for generations if not centuries. They are protected with earth magic, which makes it almost impossible for any being but a Wolf to trespass when there is Pack business in progress. A human could walk through a Lupercal in full swing and never see or hear anything out of the ordinary, though most are unconsciously repelled from entering the sacred space without perceiving any oddity at all.
Lykoi- The word Wolves use among themselves to refer to their own kind. It is never spoken to outsiders. It is from the ancient Greek word for wolf.
Pack- The general term for Wolf organized societies. Most Packs are a tightly bonded collection of born-Wolves who may or may not be related, along with those infected Wolves invited or allowed to join.
Secessus- The literal meaning is 'hiding place.' It's the formal term used to refer to the dwelling utilized by the Lycaon and Loba, and by extension, much of the rest of the Pack. In every case except the highest of formal occasions, however, that dwelling is referred to simply as the Pack House.
The Shadow Pack- Spirits of the dead Wolves. The memories can be accessed by the Lycaon and Loba, who have the ability to speak with them during a Blue Moon Lupercal. Only the Lead Pair have this ability, and only during this particular moment.
Alpha, Beta, Omega and Ranks: What Does It All Mean?
Like everything else in this game, we take what real wolves and other social predatory animals are observed to do, plus all the varied and sundry varieties of werewolves and lycanthropy in literature and folklore, throw the assorted chunks into a blender and add our own preferences and twists.
In this game, alpha/beta/omega are more descriptions of personality than Rank. A strong beta can be given a rank that puts them above an alpha judged unsuitable for the rank (or any rank), and the alpha must submit to the authority that particular rank conveys.
Alphas are usually born, not made. Although sometimes, in the case of an infection, a real milquetoast of a person can find their inner alpha, that's exceedingly rare. Usually, the personality type one was as Homo sapiens nudus dictates what personality you'll have as Homo sapiens lupus.
Rank on the other hand, is often passed by Challenge. You can be appointed, say, Romulus by the Lycaon, but if someone formally Challenges you for that rank and whips your behind during said Challenge in front of the entire Pack, then you become Romulus-- though you might have to prove your worth for that role with the Lycaon, and the former owner of the rank might be gunning to take it back (gunning used strictly figuratively!)
Please note the capitalization of Challenge in that regard. Any ol' fight won't do it. A formal Challenge must be issued during the Lupercal, accepted by both contestants and the Pack and settled by combat. The Challenged ranker gets to choose the bodily form the battle begins in, and the Challenger must not shift from that form until/unless the Challenged ranker does first. Otherwise, the fight stops instantly, the rank-holder wins by default, and the Challenger basically has covered him/herself in social poo.
In our version of Pack conflict, only the battle for Lycaon typically ends in death, and not even that is a given. An elderly or burned-out Lycaon may arrange a staged Challenge with a hand-picked successor, or a losing Lycaon may go belly-up to an unchosen Challenger and would then be allowed to escape with his life, if not his dignity.
In lesser rank battles, fatalities are rare, and are considered a tragic accident at best, really bad sporting form at the worst.
In this game, alpha/beta/omega are more descriptions of personality than Rank. A strong beta can be given a rank that puts them above an alpha judged unsuitable for the rank (or any rank), and the alpha must submit to the authority that particular rank conveys.
Alphas are usually born, not made. Although sometimes, in the case of an infection, a real milquetoast of a person can find their inner alpha, that's exceedingly rare. Usually, the personality type one was as Homo sapiens nudus dictates what personality you'll have as Homo sapiens lupus.
Rank on the other hand, is often passed by Challenge. You can be appointed, say, Romulus by the Lycaon, but if someone formally Challenges you for that rank and whips your behind during said Challenge in front of the entire Pack, then you become Romulus-- though you might have to prove your worth for that role with the Lycaon, and the former owner of the rank might be gunning to take it back (gunning used strictly figuratively!)
Please note the capitalization of Challenge in that regard. Any ol' fight won't do it. A formal Challenge must be issued during the Lupercal, accepted by both contestants and the Pack and settled by combat. The Challenged ranker gets to choose the bodily form the battle begins in, and the Challenger must not shift from that form until/unless the Challenged ranker does first. Otherwise, the fight stops instantly, the rank-holder wins by default, and the Challenger basically has covered him/herself in social poo.
In our version of Pack conflict, only the battle for Lycaon typically ends in death, and not even that is a given. An elderly or burned-out Lycaon may arrange a staged Challenge with a hand-picked successor, or a losing Lycaon may go belly-up to an unchosen Challenger and would then be allowed to escape with his life, if not his dignity.
In lesser rank battles, fatalities are rare, and are considered a tragic accident at best, really bad sporting form at the worst.
It's Not Bad To Be A Beta
Beta in our game is a personality designation, not a rank. Betas can't become alphas, though they can outrank alphas. There are high, mid and low betas. Most ranking betas are high betas, mainly because their personalities may make them desire to lead and be fit to lead in some capacity. The majority of any Pack is made up of betas, just as the majority of any random group of humans is made up of followers rather than leaders. (And the ratio is probably almost exactly the same.)
Alpha/beta/omega tendencies aren't gender-specific, or even gender-weighted. There's a pretty even division among the genders in personality-tendencies, along a bell-curve, with omegas at one end and extreme high-alphas at the other.
There is some conjecture that perhaps lycanthropy favors those with alpha tendencies, but that could just as easily be argued from the point that those who engage in the sort of risky behaviors that led to many of the cases of infection, are alpha humans.
And then there are the realists who point to that bell-curve and the big bump of mid-betas it depicts. Too many alphas and not enough betas do not a Pack make; a pretty good bar brawl, maybe, or a riot—but not a stable Pack.
Omega is again, a personality trait more than a rank, although in our game it does gain an official "rank" recognition. Omegas are the pushovers of the wolf pack, the individual whose personality puts him at the bottom of the assertiveness scale. The tenor and psychology of each individual Pack determines if its Omega is the Pack's "mascot" and a protected and spoiled snuggler or if they're 'everyone's meat' and the recipient of every "kick the dog" (or worse) urge.
As for alphas, there's the Lead Pair aka Lycaon and Loba (the Lycaon is alpha by definition, though the Loba may be a high-beta). There's the other ranks, from Romulus to Remus and on down to Omega, which may be held by either alphas or betas (usually high/mid betas). The only exception, is the Omega who is always the lowest beta. Some preteranthropologists go so far as to give the Omega the same designation as a personality description.
Being an alpha doesn’t automatically mean that one will also be a ranker. In fact, most of the real troublemakers in a Pack are alphas at loose ends. Alpha is a personality trait—like introvert/extrovert, or dominant/submissive for example-- not a rank, like CEO or Vice President. An alpha personality can be a bully or blowhard, a charismatic charmer or a cruel cad. James Dean, to Joan of Arc to Jim Jones to John F. Kennedy… all forceful, all alpha humans, but far different personalities.
The only traits all alphas have in common is the need to be acknowledged by others and to get their own way. Alphas tend to be control-freaks and extroverts. It’s almost an impossibility for an alpha to be a wallflower or a loner—unless in being a loner, the alpha feels as though he’s totally in control of everything, or that he/she’s chooses to be a wallflower because no one else is fit to associate with.
This is why it’s almost unheard of for any but a high-alpha to be Lycaon. The Pack is not a democracy, but a dictatorship, benign or otherwise, and when it comes down to the bottom line, the Lycaon is King/Queen of Everything. Only someone with a forceful personality, supreme self-confidence and perhaps a hunger for absolute power or a crusading nature goes after such a position.
Alpha/beta/omega tendencies aren't gender-specific, or even gender-weighted. There's a pretty even division among the genders in personality-tendencies, along a bell-curve, with omegas at one end and extreme high-alphas at the other.
There is some conjecture that perhaps lycanthropy favors those with alpha tendencies, but that could just as easily be argued from the point that those who engage in the sort of risky behaviors that led to many of the cases of infection, are alpha humans.
And then there are the realists who point to that bell-curve and the big bump of mid-betas it depicts. Too many alphas and not enough betas do not a Pack make; a pretty good bar brawl, maybe, or a riot—but not a stable Pack.
Omega is again, a personality trait more than a rank, although in our game it does gain an official "rank" recognition. Omegas are the pushovers of the wolf pack, the individual whose personality puts him at the bottom of the assertiveness scale. The tenor and psychology of each individual Pack determines if its Omega is the Pack's "mascot" and a protected and spoiled snuggler or if they're 'everyone's meat' and the recipient of every "kick the dog" (or worse) urge.
As for alphas, there's the Lead Pair aka Lycaon and Loba (the Lycaon is alpha by definition, though the Loba may be a high-beta). There's the other ranks, from Romulus to Remus and on down to Omega, which may be held by either alphas or betas (usually high/mid betas). The only exception, is the Omega who is always the lowest beta. Some preteranthropologists go so far as to give the Omega the same designation as a personality description.
Being an alpha doesn’t automatically mean that one will also be a ranker. In fact, most of the real troublemakers in a Pack are alphas at loose ends. Alpha is a personality trait—like introvert/extrovert, or dominant/submissive for example-- not a rank, like CEO or Vice President. An alpha personality can be a bully or blowhard, a charismatic charmer or a cruel cad. James Dean, to Joan of Arc to Jim Jones to John F. Kennedy… all forceful, all alpha humans, but far different personalities.
The only traits all alphas have in common is the need to be acknowledged by others and to get their own way. Alphas tend to be control-freaks and extroverts. It’s almost an impossibility for an alpha to be a wallflower or a loner—unless in being a loner, the alpha feels as though he’s totally in control of everything, or that he/she’s chooses to be a wallflower because no one else is fit to associate with.
This is why it’s almost unheard of for any but a high-alpha to be Lycaon. The Pack is not a democracy, but a dictatorship, benign or otherwise, and when it comes down to the bottom line, the Lycaon is King/Queen of Everything. Only someone with a forceful personality, supreme self-confidence and perhaps a hunger for absolute power or a crusading nature goes after such a position.
Conflicts
Fights occur during Challenges, during simultaneous estrus between females who are suffering PMS like no human can imagine, or just between two Wolves who really, really piss each other off past the point of words taking care of the situation. There may be friction between an alpha and a beta, or between two betas or whatever, personality wise, but in this game, rank trumps personality type. These are sentient human beings, after all, not animals.
There isn’t a set "pecking order," other than stratification of the same sort any human group works out for itself, outside of Rank considerations. Remember, these are humans who intermittently take on animal form and bestial tendencies. Wolves, in either form, are not animals, so formalized rank and a complex social structure would be more prevailing than the strictly instinctual, linear stratification that occurs in animal groups. Human societies are built on all manner of customs, rituals, rules and taboos and these carry over even into the genetic Wolves’ society.
A lot of men and women blow hot air, but when you call them on it with evidence or your own strength they back down. If a charrie throws their weight around and is abrasive, then they'll clash with the others of equally strong or stronger personalities, regardless of personality designation.
In reality, mundane humans like you and I can sense the relative force of each other's personalities to a great extent. It's a (perhaps hard-wired) reading of body language, posture, personal space encroachment, speech patterns and a whole host of other signals we aren't even consciously aware of, like the widening or narrowing of the other person's pupils.
In shifters, these interpersonal perceptions would be heightened, with the added fillip of the sense of smell being at the forefront, informing on the other's emotional status and their hormonal signals.
Like any personality clash, a lot is bluff and bluster and what you can get away with.
Similar to the Westermarck Effect, which is theoretically said to largely inhibit incest among cohabiting siblings, there is an unnamed effect among born Wolves that inhibits rank conflicts between siblings. It is stronger between litter-mates than between siblings of separate litters, and the inhibition isn't as strong as the Westermarck Effect. This inhibitory effect may fail to activate between siblings if they are not in close cohabitation during the first six years of the younger sibling's life. It does manifest more strongly in the elder siblings, even without early cohabitation.
The inhibition isn't total, nor is it life-long, or even certain to appear. Siblings have been known to seriously injure, or even kill, one another in battles for the higher ranks.
There isn’t a set "pecking order," other than stratification of the same sort any human group works out for itself, outside of Rank considerations. Remember, these are humans who intermittently take on animal form and bestial tendencies. Wolves, in either form, are not animals, so formalized rank and a complex social structure would be more prevailing than the strictly instinctual, linear stratification that occurs in animal groups. Human societies are built on all manner of customs, rituals, rules and taboos and these carry over even into the genetic Wolves’ society.
A lot of men and women blow hot air, but when you call them on it with evidence or your own strength they back down. If a charrie throws their weight around and is abrasive, then they'll clash with the others of equally strong or stronger personalities, regardless of personality designation.
In reality, mundane humans like you and I can sense the relative force of each other's personalities to a great extent. It's a (perhaps hard-wired) reading of body language, posture, personal space encroachment, speech patterns and a whole host of other signals we aren't even consciously aware of, like the widening or narrowing of the other person's pupils.
In shifters, these interpersonal perceptions would be heightened, with the added fillip of the sense of smell being at the forefront, informing on the other's emotional status and their hormonal signals.
Like any personality clash, a lot is bluff and bluster and what you can get away with.
Similar to the Westermarck Effect, which is theoretically said to largely inhibit incest among cohabiting siblings, there is an unnamed effect among born Wolves that inhibits rank conflicts between siblings. It is stronger between litter-mates than between siblings of separate litters, and the inhibition isn't as strong as the Westermarck Effect. This inhibitory effect may fail to activate between siblings if they are not in close cohabitation during the first six years of the younger sibling's life. It does manifest more strongly in the elder siblings, even without early cohabitation.
The inhibition isn't total, nor is it life-long, or even certain to appear. Siblings have been known to seriously injure, or even kill, one another in battles for the higher ranks.
Other Terms to Know
Outcast. A Wolf who has been ejected from the Pack for some dire misbehavior. This is usually equal to banishment from lycan society as most other Packs will not knowingly accept another Pack's troublemaker. A lone Wolf is not necessarily an Outcast, though there is usually some serious issue that prevents an Loner from joining a Pack.
Loki- Born-Wolf cub below breeding age, regardless of gender. An affectionate term akin to the word "kid" in English. Loki is both the singular and plural form of the word.
Lupercal- Originally referring to the cave wherein a compassionate wolf nursed the abandoned babes Romulus and Remus, the term now refers to any place Wolves gather for their rituals. Stone Mountain's Lupercal is a large, circular clearing in the nearby forest. An outcropping of weathered granite forms a human-head height natural balcony where the Lycaon and Loba stand to survey their Pack. The term is also used to refer to the meeting itself. Lupercals are usually in a wilderness area, and most have been utilized for generations if not centuries. They are protected with earth magic, which makes it almost impossible for any being but a Wolf to trespass when there is Pack business in progress. A human could walk through a Lupercal in full swing and never see or hear anything out of the ordinary, though most are unconsciously repelled from entering the sacred space without perceiving any oddity at all.
Pack- The general term for Wolf organized societies. Most Packs are a tightly bonded collection of born-Wolves who may or may not be related, along with those infected Wolves invited or allowed to join.
Secessus- The literal meaning is 'hiding place.' It's the formal term used to refer to the dwelling utilized by the Lycaon and Loba, and by extension, much of the rest of the Pack. In every case except the highest of formal occasions, however, that dwelling is referred to simply as the Pack House.
The Shadow Pack- Spirits of the dead Wolves. They can be seen and touched by the entire Pack during Blue Moons, but only the Lead Pair have the ability to telepathically speak with them, and only during that specific time and place.
Loki- Born-Wolf cub below breeding age, regardless of gender. An affectionate term akin to the word "kid" in English. Loki is both the singular and plural form of the word.
Lupercal- Originally referring to the cave wherein a compassionate wolf nursed the abandoned babes Romulus and Remus, the term now refers to any place Wolves gather for their rituals. Stone Mountain's Lupercal is a large, circular clearing in the nearby forest. An outcropping of weathered granite forms a human-head height natural balcony where the Lycaon and Loba stand to survey their Pack. The term is also used to refer to the meeting itself. Lupercals are usually in a wilderness area, and most have been utilized for generations if not centuries. They are protected with earth magic, which makes it almost impossible for any being but a Wolf to trespass when there is Pack business in progress. A human could walk through a Lupercal in full swing and never see or hear anything out of the ordinary, though most are unconsciously repelled from entering the sacred space without perceiving any oddity at all.
Pack- The general term for Wolf organized societies. Most Packs are a tightly bonded collection of born-Wolves who may or may not be related, along with those infected Wolves invited or allowed to join.
Secessus- The literal meaning is 'hiding place.' It's the formal term used to refer to the dwelling utilized by the Lycaon and Loba, and by extension, much of the rest of the Pack. In every case except the highest of formal occasions, however, that dwelling is referred to simply as the Pack House.
The Shadow Pack- Spirits of the dead Wolves. They can be seen and touched by the entire Pack during Blue Moons, but only the Lead Pair have the ability to telepathically speak with them, and only during that specific time and place.
More Information
Due to the sheer amount of information on Wolves, some of the information is split into the different pages listed below.
Due to the sheer amount of information on Wolves, some of the information is split into the different pages listed below.