Ranks are shared at the bottom/past these here traditions (:

 

A NEW LITTER
It is tradition- but not required of the mother/parents- to allow the pack to greet new pups.  For fear of exposing the new pups to mites or sickness, the pack greets them in the nursery area from a distance.  The pack will often bring the mother gifts as they are introduced to the litter.  Trinkets from the highway, flowers, prey so she doesn't have to hunt... New pups are a big commotion in the group!


DEATH CEREMONY
When a dog passes, the pack will hang their heads and say in unison, (yes inspired by watership down sue me)

 

"My heart lay with El Viejo, for my brother/sister stopped fighting today."  

The body of the dead- if possible - will be brought to Death's Clearing.  It is in this clearing where the dead will be left to be eaten by scavengers.  This is considered a dog's final contribution to the gang;  keeping predators at bay, keeping the pack safe from attack.

Afterwards, whoever brought the body will scratch Death Stone- a giant obsidian rock- to mark their death.  Dogs who died together will have crisscrossed scratches.  

 

The pack no longer holds full on funerals, after having seen so much death.  It is just considered part of daily life and something we must move on from and forget.  That being said, after the mark on the Death Stone, the "ceremony" is concluded.


EL ACABADO
When a dog severely breaks the law or code, the leader will call out for El Acabado. The pack member is forced to stand before the leader and is circled by the pack. Their crimes are brought fourth through the booming voice of the leader. El Acabado isn't a trial, for if you reach this point, your fate is already decided; you are either going to be exiled, or killed by your pack mates. The leader shall announce this once they have made known of your crimes.  The dog may or may not be allowed last words.  The ceremony is guided by the leader RPer.


EL AULLIDO
The pack will gather at the recently established Viejo Point, a ridge that is about a fifteen or so minute hike.  El Aullido occurs in times of fortune.  It is a feast and celebration.  Pack members will put aside differences and will not flank (for dominance at least!) for the remainder of the evening, beginning at dusk.  Other allies may join in El Aullido.  The leader will at some point call the pack to gather and go over recent happenings, the reason for celebration.  This usually occurs towards the beginning of the evening once everyone has arrived, and only lasts for a few moments.  The pack shares a group barking of excitement.

As the evening goes on the feeling of the night takes a bit of a somber turn as the group will begin to bring offerings (bones, flowers, herbs) to the very edge of the ridge, at the actual point.  These offerings are to those lost during the Rot, the winter, and to the wrath of the now fallen Rattlers gang.  The leader initiates the time of offerings by being the first to approach and place their offering.

Once all offerings are in place at the peak, the sun will begin to rise.  The group will share a pack howl/yapping, and then walk back to camp.


THE RITE 
When an officer has noticed a trainee becoming increasingly skillful and prepared for pack daily life, they will initiate their rite.  This will involve the officer asking the trainee to come with them, and at which time the trainee and officer travel to the Cave of Beginnings.  The officer will give forth the following oath which the trainee must accept.

"By El Viejo, our pack's True Leader, do you swear to uphold our law and stand with us even in times of bloodshed and starvation? Will you fulfill pack duties each day no matter the cost, until the time you shall join and run with El Viejo?"  (Wording may be changed depending on the dog but the basic concept is the same; the trainee is asked to swear by the pack's founder that they will uphold pack tradition and duties.) 

Once the trainee accepts, the officer will bite into their paw, and place it among the others before them in the cave.  Their blood pawprint now binds them to the pack, and if they attempt to desert it, they shall be killed.  The pair will walk back to camp as equals, and the leader will assign them their official, life-long ranking.


NAMING CEREMONY
A dog may opt for a naming ceremony if they want help forgetting their previous life.  This ceremony is simple; the dog wishes to feel more in tune with the life they have chosen, and so they go to the leader, who will then call for a meeting in which they give the dog a name based on their skill, appearance, etc.  This ceremony can only happen after the rite, as in the dog must be ranked to be renamed.  The name is within a dog's understanding of the world around them.  There is no specific wording for this ceremony, just that a meeting is held shortly after requesting a name change and the leader giving it some thought.
Names may include Greyjaw, Bluerunner, etc, or be based on an experience.  A dog who survived a bear encounter may be named Bearchaser. 

If there is a negative attachment to your name, perhaps consider asking to be renamed by the leader.
(You may choose a name OOC, or ask for the leader to name you.)


TO BE AN OFFICER (Required to be roleplayed in order to get the rank.)
A dog who has been in the pack a long time, a dog who seems to have an influence, and/or a dog who has worked their way up through flanking, the act of a legal fight for dominance, will be asked by the leader sooner or later to become an officer.  At which time, the dog and the leader will travel to Viejo point with a fresh kill that the to-be officer must beforehand hunt themselves.  They arrive at the peak by dusk.  The leader will ask if the Officer is ready to commit to the pack by training it's future, and protecting it's members, new or old.  Upon being accepted, the leader will use the prey's blood to make a clear pawprint on either the face or shoulder of the officer.  This is a physical baring of the ranking, and throughout the officer's life, will need to be touched up by the Tender rank.  The pawprint is made especially bright before battle, hunts, etc; it is a good luck symbol, a status symbol.  Deranked officers, officers who have broken the law, will not only have it wiped away but the leader will bite and tear into the printed area to scar where their pawprint once was.  
The pair will howl and bark as the sun sets, before departing together towards camp.  It is implied, but not required to be RP'd, that on their journey back they discuss training ideas or other potential officer duties.

                                                RANKINGS

 

LEADER
The leader is fought for and can be challenged at any time and flanked over.  A leader may stay a leader, unchallenged, if the group is generally pleased with their leadership.
(If interested in challenging for leader, you should ask out of character. A vote will be held on discord to determine the winner, and then the fight will take place with the OOCly voted winner to win the fight and claim the rank. So technically, the leader can be determined through an OOC vote. Leader does not automatically make you a mod or someone of higher privilege, it simply means you now RP as the leader.)

OFFICER
Teaches new-comer dogs, and fulfills places where they're needed. If a scout is needed to accompany a patrol, an officer may be there to lead it. Officers can take the place of guards as well. Officers are usually dogs who have proved loyalty or have a notable amount of dominance. Dogs are asked into the officer rank by the leader. Officers ranks are shown by a bloody, painted on paw print, which a leader gives to them upon asking them to serve as such.  This pawprint is touched up by tenders throughout the officer's time in the pack.
(Must roleplay as a scout or guard for one week before asking for an officer rank, and be an active/committed member.  You may then ask OOC, and we can RP the leader ranking them.  Remember, you train new people!)

SCOUT
Patrols, territory marks, and hunts. The most basic rank of the pack, and most vital.

GUARD
Watches over camp, settling themselves at different posts. Guards trade out throughout the day and night with other guards, so that there is always someone on duty. If a guard would like to leave their post to hunt or tend to other affairs, they must let the leader or another guard know.

TENDER
Newer rank, as the pack previously believed in just "letting dogs tend to themselves, whatever happens happens." 

 

Tends to the sick, injured, and helps delivered pups.  New dogs usually see a tender to get a health assessment and check for signs of disease like rabies.  Tenders hold basic herbal knowledge since being trained by the skilled healers of the Howlers pack, who the pack has since parted with but left their mark on Los Sabuesos by teaching them their ways. 

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/124L7NV5fpRpf3W-wPAalq_bWYET2uTXona7zvFCZMFA/edit?usp=sharing

^ All about healing in the pack ^  Tenders should only be using these methods as they should be limited and realistic with what they are able to do and heal.

TRAINEE
A new dog or a young dog that is 5 months or older. 
Trainees train for around 12 months (2 weeks IRL), learning territory boundaries, the law, hunting, how to gather water, etc. After they seem prepared, a trainee is brought to the leader by whichever dog/s primarily trained them. The leader then brings the trainee to their rite of passage.

SCRAPER
Scouts out rabbit, snake, and rat burrows, digs into them, and brings back any findings. Small game hunters, essentially.  They also tend to the camp grounds and dens and in general try to scavenge salvageable and usable items.  This could be things for healing, food, or just nesting for the camp.  Scrapers are typically small dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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