Pack Application - Laurelpack - Part Two: Traditions, Territory, Rules, and Other

Instructions

[Continued from this project: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1098947192/ ] [TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES] One of the most important customs in Laurelpack is the Entrance Exam. The Entrance Exam is exactly what it sounds like- whenever a new wolf wants to join Laurelpack, they will be required to take an exam. This is not to determine whether or not they are “worthy” of joining the pack, but to get an idea of their skills and what they’ll need to work on once they join. Sort of a placement test, if you will. Every exam in Laurelpack has three sections, based on that of the three Mentors' classes- Survival Skills, Hunting, and Self-Defense. There may be more of a focus on one section than the other, depending on the individual. Two other very important ceremonies in Laurelpack are the Celebration of the First Hunt and the Celebration of the First Victory. These ceremonies are both celebrations of important benchmarks in a young wolf’s life, meant to raise pack morale and increase the confidence of whichever wolf it is centered around, hopefully giving them more motivation to keep growing and learning. The Celebration of the First Hunt begins whenever a pup or a Trainee catches their first prey. Rather than being eaten immediately, the animal that was caught will be saved until the next day. In the meantime, Laurelpack wolves will gather as much food as they can, so that they may have a great feast in celebration of the young wolf’s success. And at the center of this feast, the young one’s catch, whether it be the hugest of stags or the tiniest of mice, will be the main course. The Celebration of the First Victory is slightly different: it begins when a young wolf wins an official spar or battle for the first time. While the Celebration of the First Hunt is a quieter celebration centered around talking, eating, and relaxing with packmates, the Celebration of the First Victory is much more raucous, with many wolves partaking in friendly spars and howling to the stars together. The wolf at the center of the celebration will often teach others (usually those younger than them) the moves that helped them win their battle, and participate in playful fights with their higher-ups. My personal favorite Laurelpack tradition is the Naming Ceremony. When puppies are born to or adopted by wolves in the pack, they will not receive names immediately, and their parents will instead wait for a week or two to name them. When the parents have finally chosen names for the pup or pups, they will let the High Regent of the Laurels know, and a Naming Ceremony will be held. The celebration will begin at sunrise, to symbolize the “dawn” of a wolf’s life, and it will last until noon. When the sun is highest in the sky, the parents will bring the pups into the center of camp and officially name them, after which the other members of Laurelpack will greet the little ones by their new names. If an older wolf ever wishes to change their name for any reason, they can have a Renaming Ceremony, though this is not mandatory. A Renaming Ceremony is basically the same thing as a Naming Ceremony, except that the wolf changing their name would most likely be the one announcing it to the pack rather than their parents. When a wolf of Laurelpack dies, a Farewell Ceremony will be held. A Farewell Ceremony is pretty simple; basically just Laurelpack’s version of a funeral, with some wolves close to the deceased delivering eulogies if they wish to do so. Everyone in Laurelpack will get a chance to approach the deceased’s body and say a final goodbye to their packmate, and will usually talk about what they were like, as well as their good deeds and successes in life. Farewell Ceremonies are usually held at dusk, though sometimes exceptions will be made. Laurelpack wolves are traditionally buried close to the campground, so that their spirits will always remain close to home, and the living can visit their loved ones’ graves whenever they’d like. The only exception is if the dead wolf had asked to be buried in some other location while they were still alive. [PACK CAMPGROUND] Laurelpack’s camp will be located in the Pine Woods, as it is a dense and lush place with a very rich history. There are plenty of spots in these woods that make for good training spots, and enough resources to support a pack. It's close to the New River, so the wolves of Laurelpack will have quick access to water and fish, and it is right next to the Forest of New Growth, which is Eleftheria’s favorite place in Dusk Valley. She believes that the Forest of New Growth is a representation of growth, change, new beginnings, and hope, all things that she values greatly. The Forest of New Growth will be considered a sacred place by the wolves of Laurelpack, and many exams and training sessions will be held there, as well as important meetings between the high-ranks. [CONTINUED BELOW]