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Dominance
Dominance is a key element in werewolf social organization. The pack is structured in a clear hierarchy, and pack members move up or down by winning or losing challenges against other pack members.
--Although most dominance battles end when one participant backs down, leadership of the pack is only transferred by a battle to the death.
--A dominant pack member may issue any order to submissive member, provided that the dominant does not order the submissive to do anything illegal.
--A pack member may offer or receive "protection" to or from another member. A pack member must accept all challenges on behalf of any person to whom he or she has offered protection.
--Non-werewolves may be classified as "dominant" to certain members of the pack, but may not typically be considered "alpha" or full members of the pack.
Lukoi
Each Lukoi pack has a special place of power called the Lupanar. During the full moon the pack assembles there and celebrates by shifting into their animal forms and hunting. The Lupanar is their primary gathering place, where meetings are held, traditions observed, formal challenges are made and succession fights are held. Each Lupanar is distinctive depending on the terrain and the pack personality. The Lupanar is also sacred ground, a place of magic, tradition, and where the Munin draw together and share power.
The Scarred Oak Pack's Lupanar is not the cabin Goldynwolf owns, but an impossibly large white barked scarred oak tree just up in the woods a way, where the feeling of power eminates from the ground. This was where the first of our Pack died, and transferred his power, and his protection to the rest of us.
When a pack member dies, the other members eat him or her. The dead wolf then joins the Munin, whose spirits act as guides, providing wisdom and sometimes power through those who possess the rare ability to channel them. Thus the dead are not truly gone as long as the pack remains. (According to Norse legend Munin was the name of Odin's raven. Munin means "memory".) Occasionally, a member of the pack is excluded from this ritual either by accident or by design and this results in their memories being excluded or lost to the pack.
Submissive - Dominant
Pack standing is established by being dominant over other wolves. Dominance is established by challenging and either fighting or backing down other pack members. Dominance fights are rarely to the death and sometimes are psychological battles. If the werewolf being challenged does not wish to fight, they simply acknowledge the challenger's dominance and the confrontation is over. The victor rises in rank and assumes the spot vacated by the defeated.
To ask for protection, a wolf can petition a dominant by brushing up against the dominant. If it is granted, the dominant will touch the submissive which then signals to any other lycanthropes in the area that he or she will protect that petitioner from their enemies/pursuers. When a werewolf asks someone for protection they are admitting the other is dominant to them. If the wolf is given this protection, they are in effect fully under the command of the person giving the protection. All other wolves will either simply acknowledge this protection and move on, or challenge the protection.
Packs usually appoint sponsors to new wolves to teach them about the change, control, and how to walk successfully in the two cultures. Normally the sponsor will teach new wolves about sex as a Lukoi. In some cases if the sponsor is unable or unwilling, the Eros or Eranthe may be assigned to act as sexual surrogates.
Sex or in some circumstances lust, can release the beast against the will of the Lukoi. Which is why its been referred to as the "Killing Dance". Sex with humans can result in their death when at the moment of orgasm the wolf shifts and tears their partner apart. Older wolves can control and resist this, however not shifting during sex among wolves is considered holding back and is almost like saying it wasn't THAT good.
Powers
The typical lycanthrope powers include:
-- Enhanced senses, even in human form, being able to smell the mood of nearby humans; what other abilities carry over to human form is uncertain.
-- Heightened hearing, agility and endurance; they are significantly stronger and faster then normal humans and move with a scrambling, slinding grace.
The following are mostly unique lycanthropic based powers of the werewolves that have been described in the books.
-- Change forms in a more rapid time-frame - some strong alphas can return to human form quickly after assuming the animal shape. This often comes at an energy cost, though. Richard can do this.
-- Control the shifting of others. The ability to force others to change or stop them. Not common, and one needs a LOT of power to do this.
-- Heal Others. A rare ability, Goldynwolf has it and though it is often linked with sex, really only the touch of skin on skin is needed.
-- Partial shifting. The ability to change only certain parts of the body, such as only hands to claws - only the strongest alphas can do this
-- Share power. The power to share power with/through their blood - a rare gift
Dominance
Dominance is a key element in werewolf social organization. The pack is structured in a clear hierarchy, and pack members move up or down by winning or losing challenges against other pack members.
--Although most dominance battles end when one participant backs down, leadership of the pack is only transferred by a battle to the death.
--A dominant pack member may issue any order to submissive member, provided that the dominant does not order the submissive to do anything illegal.
--A pack member may offer or receive "protection" to or from another member. A pack member must accept all challenges on behalf of any person to whom he or she has offered protection.
--Non-werewolves may be classified as "dominant" to certain members of the pack, but may not typically be considered "alpha" or full members of the pack.
Lukoi
Each Lukoi pack has a special place of power called the Lupanar. During the full moon the pack assembles there and celebrates by shifting into their animal forms and hunting. The Lupanar is their primary gathering place, where meetings are held, traditions observed, formal challenges are made and succession fights are held. Each Lupanar is distinctive depending on the terrain and the pack personality. The Lupanar is also sacred ground, a place of magic, tradition, and where the Munin draw together and share power.
The Scarred Oak Pack's Lupanar is not the cabin Goldynwolf owns, but an impossibly large white barked scarred oak tree just up in the woods a way, where the feeling of power eminates from the ground. This was where the first of our Pack died, and transferred his power, and his protection to the rest of us.
When a pack member dies, the other members eat him or her. The dead wolf then joins the Munin, whose spirits act as guides, providing wisdom and sometimes power through those who possess the rare ability to channel them. Thus the dead are not truly gone as long as the pack remains. (According to Norse legend Munin was the name of Odin's raven. Munin means "memory".) Occasionally, a member of the pack is excluded from this ritual either by accident or by design and this results in their memories being excluded or lost to the pack.
Submissive - Dominant
Pack standing is established by being dominant over other wolves. Dominance is established by challenging and either fighting or backing down other pack members. Dominance fights are rarely to the death and sometimes are psychological battles. If the werewolf being challenged does not wish to fight, they simply acknowledge the challenger's dominance and the confrontation is over. The victor rises in rank and assumes the spot vacated by the defeated.
To ask for protection, a wolf can petition a dominant by brushing up against the dominant. If it is granted, the dominant will touch the submissive which then signals to any other lycanthropes in the area that he or she will protect that petitioner from their enemies/pursuers. When a werewolf asks someone for protection they are admitting the other is dominant to them. If the wolf is given this protection, they are in effect fully under the command of the person giving the protection. All other wolves will either simply acknowledge this protection and move on, or challenge the protection.
Packs usually appoint sponsors to new wolves to teach them about the change, control, and how to walk successfully in the two cultures. Normally the sponsor will teach new wolves about sex as a Lukoi. In some cases if the sponsor is unable or unwilling, the Eros or Eranthe may be assigned to act as sexual surrogates.
Sex or in some circumstances lust, can release the beast against the will of the Lukoi. Which is why its been referred to as the "Killing Dance". Sex with humans can result in their death when at the moment of orgasm the wolf shifts and tears their partner apart. Older wolves can control and resist this, however not shifting during sex among wolves is considered holding back and is almost like saying it wasn't THAT good.
Powers
The typical lycanthrope powers include:
-- Enhanced senses, even in human form, being able to smell the mood of nearby humans; what other abilities carry over to human form is uncertain.
-- Heightened hearing, agility and endurance; they are significantly stronger and faster then normal humans and move with a scrambling, slinding grace.
The following are mostly unique lycanthropic based powers of the werewolves that have been described in the books.
-- Change forms in a more rapid time-frame - some strong alphas can return to human form quickly after assuming the animal shape. This often comes at an energy cost, though. Richard can do this.
-- Control the shifting of others. The ability to force others to change or stop them. Not common, and one needs a LOT of power to do this.
-- Heal Others. A rare ability, Goldynwolf has it and though it is often linked with sex, really only the touch of skin on skin is needed.
-- Partial shifting. The ability to change only certain parts of the body, such as only hands to claws - only the strongest alphas can do this
-- Share power. The power to share power with/through their blood - a rare gift
