Post by leda / carolina on Mar 20, 2019 19:18:24 GMT
You are by no means required to follow this to a T, this is just here for people who are confused or want to stay completely true to lore.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The Three Types of Pack Members
2. The Life of a New/Non Packborn Hound
3. Common Pack-member Traits/Factors
4. Body Language
5. Diet
1. THE THREE TYPES OF PACK MEMBERS
In the pack of Los Sabuesos, there are three general types of dogs you may see.
First, we have the True Sabuesos sorts of dogs. They uphold the code of the pack, even when it means doing rash things to protect it. Often these are packborn dogs, or dogs who greatly respect the pack for providing a sanctum for them in their time of need. True Sabuesos may flank to defend the pack or it's code.
Next, we have what could be called a Neutral. Neutrals often are not packborn and may have had trouble adjusting to pack life. Or maybe they are packborn, but grew up with a leader or other pack members that made them question the code. Neutrals hunt and will defend their pack, but they may disobey in the name of what they think is right. This can get them into trouble and cause them to question leaders orders, but they have their hearts in the right place.
Third we have the Domineering. Domineering pack members uphold their own version of pack law. They tend to think that dogs of defect or small size are weak and not 'true Sabuesos' and that they must be put in their place. They believe that El Viejo, the pack's first leader, would be ashamed of what the pack has become, and that he wanted his pack to be strong and successful. They can get into a lot of flanks for their attitude or belief.
Of course each little category there tends to vary, but if you try to sum it all up, it comes down to that. The path you make your character follow will determine how the rest of the pack views them, and their experience as a whole in their story of being a pack member.
2. THE LIFE OF A NEW/NON PACKBORN
When a dog joins, they will be brought to camp and allowed to feed and drink water. They'll regain their strength, strength they likely lost from walking the highway alone.
When their strength has returned, some dogs will leave and carry on in search of the owners they lost or something of the sort. But most dogs will remain, and with their strength returned they are given a Blood Brother/Sister.
A blood sibling simply guides and mentors a dog. They get their name because they become the new one's main connection to the pack, a bond like a family tie. Blood siblings are usually of similar size to the one they're mentoring, because a great dane would be of little use in training a chihuahua. When a blood sibling pair is established, they'll bite each other's paws to draw blood, then rub the affected areas together. Just a small tradition that establishes their bond, which will only grow from that moment.
They will mentor them, from teaching them how to scavenge, hunt, and avoid predators, to where to patrol, to where to get water, and they'll recite and teach them the code.
Every blood sibling/mentor is different. Some will be aggressive and expect you to be the best. Others just want you to know the basics. When a mentor believes their lower is ready to be an official pack member, they will inform the leader. The leader will then, often immediately, begin their Marking (also known as their Blooding, or Rite of Passage). During a Marking, the leader attacks and aims to (not fatally) wound a new one. They try to scar them, a scar that is known as the Mark of Sabueso.
It can take as little as a month to as much as a year and a half, depending on a new one's skill and their mentor's expectations. Once marked, they are no longer a new one, but a Sabueso. They can be attacked and chased if they try to desert the pack now, because they are one with them, and should never abandon them.
A new one may still struggle to fit in and find their place even after their marking, many pack members may have distaste for their lack of packborn ties. But this is a shortened version of the experience you may have taking the route of a new dog.
3. COMMON TRAITS AND BELIEFS
Although pack members come from all different sorts of backgrounds and varying stories, many hold the same common traits within them.
(What your character truly thinks or believes is up to you, this is an RP preference and for those interested in the lore)
A few common factors include...
- Dominance. Many dogs believe and seek to uphold dominance, from the little russel terriers to the grand caucasian shepherds. Because in the pack, dominance is what will get you first pickings on fresh meat, the first cooling drink of water, the nicest pelt to lay on... of course, some dogs care not for such things, and are okay with a lower or less than satisfying pack life. Others believe that they didn't come this far just to sleep on an old sack and eat rotting rabbits. It really depends on the dog. Non-dominant dogs don't face physical abuse, usually, but only slimmer pickings.
- El Viejo. All or most dogs believe in some form of El Viejo. Some smaller dogs may think he was a terrier. Bigger dogs may think he was a wolfhound. There is no true form of him, but most pack members seek to follow his code and word, for it has kept them alive and allowed them to bare their harsh wilds for as long as they have. Some dogs do believe stories of El Viejo are falsified or glorified, in that they think El Viejo may be "disappointed" in the pack today because of it's "weakness" (small dog population.)
- The fear, distrust, or hatred of lobos or coyotes, or dogs who appear vastly similar to them. Lobos and coyotes have for so long been known as potentially rabid, beastly things of the desert that will steal from the pack or take their young given the chance. Whether this is true or not doesn't matter, it's simply the widespread belief of the pack, that trusting a lobo or coyote could lead to your demise. Coyotes do tend to eat and scavenge off of the pack's dead carcasses, and have been found to be rabid in the past. In the pack's history, the first leader of the pack was taken advantage of and abandoned by Lobos whom he sought for help and protection.
- The fear, distrust, or near hatred of very wolf-like or coy-like dogs. Despite their fear, they follow the code of 'there is no breed, only Sabueso blood.' This is why wolf and coy dogs may still be seen in the pack, because the pack seeks to follow their code. This unfortunately doesn't stop some, even most pack members from treating hybrids poorly. Some dominant or stronger pack members have even been known to not let wolf or coy mixes into Shantyplace.
4. BODY LANGUAGE
It is recommended and preferred that, to keep realism, dogs tend to use body language alongside their dialogue. If you're interested in doing that, here's a few notes to really get into that pack mindset and behavior. You are not required to know this by heart or practice it in every single RP session. This is just for those who are curious or want to implement it.
TO DEMONSTRATE DOMINANCE
- Have the dog hold their tail high, waving to the left when they feel challenged. Left waving signals unpleasant feelings.
- Having a constant ready stance to demonstrate alertness
- Short growls as a warning that grow longer when a challenger nears.
- Snapping or barking when one nears something they do not want them to touch, something they believe is their's.
- Hair and muscle tenses and raises between the shoulders. Most describe this as a dog 'getting a mohawk.' When a dog gets a mohawk, they are angry or trying to be challenging.
TO DEMONSTRATE ANGER
- Tail waving to the left
- Lips pulling back
- The obvious snarling and barking, lunging forward.
- Arched back, hair and muscle tenses and raises between the shoulders. Most describe this as a dog 'getting a mohawk.' When a dog gets a mohawk, they are angry or trying to be challenging.
- Ears are back.
TO DEMONSTRATE FEAR/ANXIOUSNESS
- Tail tucked or low, wagging very quickly especially when fear is nearing.
- Licking nose constantly.
- Arched back, head turning away from threat.
- Cowering down.
- Ears back.
- When fear or anxiousness subsides, a pelt shake is a clear sign of trying to 'shake off' stressful feelings.
TO DEMONSTRATE FRIENDLY/PLAYFUL
- Wagging of tail at mid to high height.
- Wagging of tail to the right.
- Playful bow with ears perked or relaxed.
- Jumping, chasing, playful nips.
- Curved body with bum facing their friend (back turns mean 'I trust you to watch my back')
TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT OR SUBMISSION
- Lowered head and tail in presence of dominant dog.
- Back ears, licking nose in presence of dominant dog.
- Walking away from a situation instead of challenging.
- Sitting down.
- belly exposed without tail wagging in excitement.
- Eye contact avoidance from dominant dog.
5. DIET AND PREY
You may have learned a bit about what a desert dweller may eat through the locations page, but here's some more information on diet and prey.
SMALL DOGS tend to hunt mice, rats, lizards, possibly prairie dogs, chipmunks, cottontail rabbit, vole and gopher; ground dwelling rodents that large dogs could miss.
MEDIUM / HUNTING DOGS tend to hunt rabbits, prairie dogs, javelina, wild pig, crows, seagulls, quail, occasionally and in packs they may hunt deer or bobcat.
LARGE DOGS can have trouble hunting because of their hefty weight. But they will hunt javelina, deer, bobcat, rabbits, and help bring back large scavengings, like remains of wild mustang.
MAIN/COMMON DIET : lizards, javelina, rabbit, rats, prairie dog, scavenged food.
A SUMMARIZATION....
Los Sabuesos dogs have sought to keep their name alive for many years, after their first original leader known as El Viejo established a code and way of life for their survival. They strongly seek to uphold it and don't seek to change this way of life. Many dogs in the pack have a firm belief in establishing dominance over others, a natural dog behavior that is enhanced and brought out when trying to live life among several other dogs. However, dominance in the end only really means better pickings on food or places to sleep. Abuse generally isn't allowed in the pack, as they believe that all dogs are equal regardless of strength or ability.
This belief can be contradicted sometimes, particularly in the way most pack members will view and treat dogs who look too much like coyotes or wolves. Wolves and coyotes have for so long been an issue with the pack, since it's creation. They're seen as vile, diseased, rabid, cannibalistic and thieving. Of course this isn't true for most wild canines, it's still the belief that many have been brought up on. For this reason, most wolf or coy dogs find themselves in El Estrago instead.
The pack trains all new and young pack dogs by giving them another dog of their similar stature. They establish a blood bond, and every dog in the pack five months or older is given a Blood Brother.
The pack primarily eats lizards, javelina, rabbits, rats, prairie dog, and anything that can be scavenged among their harsh desert environment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The Three Types of Pack Members
2. The Life of a New/Non Packborn Hound
3. Common Pack-member Traits/Factors
4. Body Language
5. Diet
1. THE THREE TYPES OF PACK MEMBERS
In the pack of Los Sabuesos, there are three general types of dogs you may see.
First, we have the True Sabuesos sorts of dogs. They uphold the code of the pack, even when it means doing rash things to protect it. Often these are packborn dogs, or dogs who greatly respect the pack for providing a sanctum for them in their time of need. True Sabuesos may flank to defend the pack or it's code.
Next, we have what could be called a Neutral. Neutrals often are not packborn and may have had trouble adjusting to pack life. Or maybe they are packborn, but grew up with a leader or other pack members that made them question the code. Neutrals hunt and will defend their pack, but they may disobey in the name of what they think is right. This can get them into trouble and cause them to question leaders orders, but they have their hearts in the right place.
Third we have the Domineering. Domineering pack members uphold their own version of pack law. They tend to think that dogs of defect or small size are weak and not 'true Sabuesos' and that they must be put in their place. They believe that El Viejo, the pack's first leader, would be ashamed of what the pack has become, and that he wanted his pack to be strong and successful. They can get into a lot of flanks for their attitude or belief.
Of course each little category there tends to vary, but if you try to sum it all up, it comes down to that. The path you make your character follow will determine how the rest of the pack views them, and their experience as a whole in their story of being a pack member.
2. THE LIFE OF A NEW/NON PACKBORN
When a dog joins, they will be brought to camp and allowed to feed and drink water. They'll regain their strength, strength they likely lost from walking the highway alone.
When their strength has returned, some dogs will leave and carry on in search of the owners they lost or something of the sort. But most dogs will remain, and with their strength returned they are given a Blood Brother/Sister.
A blood sibling simply guides and mentors a dog. They get their name because they become the new one's main connection to the pack, a bond like a family tie. Blood siblings are usually of similar size to the one they're mentoring, because a great dane would be of little use in training a chihuahua. When a blood sibling pair is established, they'll bite each other's paws to draw blood, then rub the affected areas together. Just a small tradition that establishes their bond, which will only grow from that moment.
They will mentor them, from teaching them how to scavenge, hunt, and avoid predators, to where to patrol, to where to get water, and they'll recite and teach them the code.
Every blood sibling/mentor is different. Some will be aggressive and expect you to be the best. Others just want you to know the basics. When a mentor believes their lower is ready to be an official pack member, they will inform the leader. The leader will then, often immediately, begin their Marking (also known as their Blooding, or Rite of Passage). During a Marking, the leader attacks and aims to (not fatally) wound a new one. They try to scar them, a scar that is known as the Mark of Sabueso.
It can take as little as a month to as much as a year and a half, depending on a new one's skill and their mentor's expectations. Once marked, they are no longer a new one, but a Sabueso. They can be attacked and chased if they try to desert the pack now, because they are one with them, and should never abandon them.
A new one may still struggle to fit in and find their place even after their marking, many pack members may have distaste for their lack of packborn ties. But this is a shortened version of the experience you may have taking the route of a new dog.
3. COMMON TRAITS AND BELIEFS
Although pack members come from all different sorts of backgrounds and varying stories, many hold the same common traits within them.
(What your character truly thinks or believes is up to you, this is an RP preference and for those interested in the lore)
A few common factors include...
- Dominance. Many dogs believe and seek to uphold dominance, from the little russel terriers to the grand caucasian shepherds. Because in the pack, dominance is what will get you first pickings on fresh meat, the first cooling drink of water, the nicest pelt to lay on... of course, some dogs care not for such things, and are okay with a lower or less than satisfying pack life. Others believe that they didn't come this far just to sleep on an old sack and eat rotting rabbits. It really depends on the dog. Non-dominant dogs don't face physical abuse, usually, but only slimmer pickings.
- El Viejo. All or most dogs believe in some form of El Viejo. Some smaller dogs may think he was a terrier. Bigger dogs may think he was a wolfhound. There is no true form of him, but most pack members seek to follow his code and word, for it has kept them alive and allowed them to bare their harsh wilds for as long as they have. Some dogs do believe stories of El Viejo are falsified or glorified, in that they think El Viejo may be "disappointed" in the pack today because of it's "weakness" (small dog population.)
- The fear, distrust, or hatred of lobos or coyotes, or dogs who appear vastly similar to them. Lobos and coyotes have for so long been known as potentially rabid, beastly things of the desert that will steal from the pack or take their young given the chance. Whether this is true or not doesn't matter, it's simply the widespread belief of the pack, that trusting a lobo or coyote could lead to your demise. Coyotes do tend to eat and scavenge off of the pack's dead carcasses, and have been found to be rabid in the past. In the pack's history, the first leader of the pack was taken advantage of and abandoned by Lobos whom he sought for help and protection.
- The fear, distrust, or near hatred of very wolf-like or coy-like dogs. Despite their fear, they follow the code of 'there is no breed, only Sabueso blood.' This is why wolf and coy dogs may still be seen in the pack, because the pack seeks to follow their code. This unfortunately doesn't stop some, even most pack members from treating hybrids poorly. Some dominant or stronger pack members have even been known to not let wolf or coy mixes into Shantyplace.
4. BODY LANGUAGE
It is recommended and preferred that, to keep realism, dogs tend to use body language alongside their dialogue. If you're interested in doing that, here's a few notes to really get into that pack mindset and behavior. You are not required to know this by heart or practice it in every single RP session. This is just for those who are curious or want to implement it.
TO DEMONSTRATE DOMINANCE
- Have the dog hold their tail high, waving to the left when they feel challenged. Left waving signals unpleasant feelings.
- Having a constant ready stance to demonstrate alertness
- Short growls as a warning that grow longer when a challenger nears.
- Snapping or barking when one nears something they do not want them to touch, something they believe is their's.
- Hair and muscle tenses and raises between the shoulders. Most describe this as a dog 'getting a mohawk.' When a dog gets a mohawk, they are angry or trying to be challenging.
TO DEMONSTRATE ANGER
- Tail waving to the left
- Lips pulling back
- The obvious snarling and barking, lunging forward.
- Arched back, hair and muscle tenses and raises between the shoulders. Most describe this as a dog 'getting a mohawk.' When a dog gets a mohawk, they are angry or trying to be challenging.
- Ears are back.
TO DEMONSTRATE FEAR/ANXIOUSNESS
- Tail tucked or low, wagging very quickly especially when fear is nearing.
- Licking nose constantly.
- Arched back, head turning away from threat.
- Cowering down.
- Ears back.
- When fear or anxiousness subsides, a pelt shake is a clear sign of trying to 'shake off' stressful feelings.
TO DEMONSTRATE FRIENDLY/PLAYFUL
- Wagging of tail at mid to high height.
- Wagging of tail to the right.
- Playful bow with ears perked or relaxed.
- Jumping, chasing, playful nips.
- Curved body with bum facing their friend (back turns mean 'I trust you to watch my back')
TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT OR SUBMISSION
- Lowered head and tail in presence of dominant dog.
- Back ears, licking nose in presence of dominant dog.
- Walking away from a situation instead of challenging.
- Sitting down.
- belly exposed without tail wagging in excitement.
- Eye contact avoidance from dominant dog.
5. DIET AND PREY
You may have learned a bit about what a desert dweller may eat through the locations page, but here's some more information on diet and prey.
SMALL DOGS tend to hunt mice, rats, lizards, possibly prairie dogs, chipmunks, cottontail rabbit, vole and gopher; ground dwelling rodents that large dogs could miss.
MEDIUM / HUNTING DOGS tend to hunt rabbits, prairie dogs, javelina, wild pig, crows, seagulls, quail, occasionally and in packs they may hunt deer or bobcat.
LARGE DOGS can have trouble hunting because of their hefty weight. But they will hunt javelina, deer, bobcat, rabbits, and help bring back large scavengings, like remains of wild mustang.
MAIN/COMMON DIET : lizards, javelina, rabbit, rats, prairie dog, scavenged food.
A SUMMARIZATION....
Los Sabuesos dogs have sought to keep their name alive for many years, after their first original leader known as El Viejo established a code and way of life for their survival. They strongly seek to uphold it and don't seek to change this way of life. Many dogs in the pack have a firm belief in establishing dominance over others, a natural dog behavior that is enhanced and brought out when trying to live life among several other dogs. However, dominance in the end only really means better pickings on food or places to sleep. Abuse generally isn't allowed in the pack, as they believe that all dogs are equal regardless of strength or ability.
This belief can be contradicted sometimes, particularly in the way most pack members will view and treat dogs who look too much like coyotes or wolves. Wolves and coyotes have for so long been an issue with the pack, since it's creation. They're seen as vile, diseased, rabid, cannibalistic and thieving. Of course this isn't true for most wild canines, it's still the belief that many have been brought up on. For this reason, most wolf or coy dogs find themselves in El Estrago instead.
The pack trains all new and young pack dogs by giving them another dog of their similar stature. They establish a blood bond, and every dog in the pack five months or older is given a Blood Brother.
The pack primarily eats lizards, javelina, rabbits, rats, prairie dog, and anything that can be scavenged among their harsh desert environment.