Post by Oyon on Mar 12, 2007 13:05:37 GMT -5
The Ijaghurtan
Note: I put some general information about dholes in here as well. Check out the lioncrusher and Wikipedia entries for more information.
Premise:
The Ijaghurtan operate as a large, close-knit family. They are lead by the alpha pair, called the Fù-Mû. They are a nomadic pack, never staying for too long in one place. Their relationships with the various wolf packs is not overly friendly, not overly hostile – it is understood by all that when the come into a territory, they will not stay long, and so pose no real threat. The Ijaghurtan, like all dholes, have a special love for water. This dictates how they wander, for if there is not an adequate water source, the pack will keep moving.
The Ijaghurtan do most everything as a family unit, each fully aware of the other members’ strengths and weaknesses (as well as their individual whistles) so that they run like a well-oiled machine. Smaller prey can be hunted individually or in pairs, but for all of the large takes, the pack works together. As soon as a member is old enough (usually early adolescence), they are expected to participate in hunts. The first hunt of a Ijaghurtan youth is a happy occasion and used as a transition between childhood and adulthood, the position of that member in the pack’s hierarchy having already been established a short time before the event. The only difference between this hunt and the normal hunts of the Ijaghurtan is that the new “adults” are given leadership positions. Pups are not allowed to hunt prior to this initiation, but it is not uncommon for them to practice before hand in order to impress the pack.
After feeding, it is tradition for the entire pack to travel to a water source, if one is not already nearby, to drink together.
Dholes are brutal killers, gutting their prey before they kill them rather than snapping their necks or tearing at the throat of an animal like wolves and big cats normally do. They often drive them into water after a long chase; the dhole has incredible stamina, but will not exhaust itself in a hunt. The Ijaghurtan are not very hostile creatures, but will defend their family and their kills viciously, and have been known to kill bears and tigers.
Although a loving, familial bond binds all of the members of Ijaghurtan together, there are also strict rules. Disobedience is frowned upon and punished in an often severe manner. The punishment is left up to the Fù-Mû’s and usually has something to do with the crime. After a member disobeys the rules of the pack or the direct order of the Fù-Mû’s three times, they are expelled from the pack and treated as if dead.
Fights are uncommon in the Ijaghurtan in regards to determining hierarchy. Any member being injured is unwanted, since all participate in hunts and guarding dens and pups. There are generally more males than females in the Ijaghurtan, as there are in all dhole packs. Members may leave of expulsion or of their own choice, but if they leave without the blessing of the Fù-Mû, they are treated as if dead.
Ranks
Male Fù-Mû: the Ecige
The male Fù-Mû is the head of his family, and usually the father of many generations of true Baghacud in the pack. He leads the pack in its travels and decides when and where to sleep and hunt. The personality of the Ecige colors the entire pack. A strict Ecige may demand even more discipline than is traditional, while a more lenient and and softer one may let minor infractions slide or be more arbitrary in dispensing justice. Ecige are in power until they die. If a new Ecige is not chosen by the old before he dies, one rises out of the Arigh Baghacud, and is usually the oldest or most highly favored among them. A new Ecige, if he is a child of the Bayarmaa, will replace her with a female he is not related to within the pack, or find a female from another dhole pack. If he is not related to the old Bayarmaa, he will retain her until she dies, but produce no pups, and then seek a new mate.
Female Fù-Mû: the Bayarmaa
The female Fù-Mû is the only female who breeds, and it is usually with the male Fù-Mû. However, junior males who are not her biological children occasionally express interest once they become sexually mature, and may father cubs. Despite this monopoly on breeding, it is the male Fù-Mû who holds the majority of the visible power, though the female Fù-Mû has significant influence on his decisions. Because it is a family unit, dholes are careful not to interbreed – this is one of the things the Bayarmaa is in charge of overseeing, and so acts as matchmaker when needed, though this is rare. Bayarmaa are in power until they die.
Baghacud
Each member of the Ijaghurtan is a Baghacud (child) of the Fù-Mû, regardless of blood. They are expected to treat the Fù-Mûs with the same respect that a child would its parent. All of the Baghacud are considered equal in the eyes of the Fù-Mû, though they have an unofficial hierarchy among themselves. The Fù-Mû quietly recognize this when giving out assignments and jobs. This hierarchy is not a result of bloodshed, but skill, and is largely yet indirectly influenced by the attitude of the Fù-Mû toward their individual “children.”
Arigh Baghacud
These are “true children” of the Fù-Mû (direct children of both the Ecige and the Bayarmaa), and are reffered to as such. The title has no official preferential treatment or higher rank attached to it – the Fù-Mû could favor a Baghacud over a Arigh Baghacud, though they may incite some resentment from their Arigh Baghacud. The actions of the Arigh Baghacud are watched more closely by all the other members of the pack, and so they normally excel, not wanting to let down their family members. An older generation of Arigh Baghacud is seen as slightly lesser than a younger one, because so much emphasis is placed on raising and protecting pups.
The Ijaghurtan As it Stands Today
Oyon is the current Ecige, and his Bayarmaa, Qulan, has recently died after an antelope gored her during a hunt. Oyon was deeply grieved at this loss, and remained in the place where she died for an extended period of time. At the careful encouragement of the Baghacud, particularly the Arigh Baghacud, Oyon has decided to take a new Bayarmaa. The pack is on the move, albeit slowly, with the Arigh Baghacud actively searching for dholes who have left their natal packs. Any female Baghacud unrelated to Oyon may be vying for this position, trying to snag it before he finds some attractive foreigner. For more information, read the background section of Oyon’s pinfo.
What is Needed
- Arigh Baghacud (at least 3, preferably 2 males and one female)
- Baghacud (at least 5, preferably 3 males and 2 females)
- Lone females who can be found and added to the group (and potentially try for the position of Bayarmaa)