The Scheme of Things
Ranks
High Ranks
Eska'Shelerana/Eska'Sheleran
Home Matriarch/Home Patriarch
This leader pair deals with anything relating to inside the pridal borders. Often a mated pair, but sometimes siblings, parent/child, or just a single leader.
Ettelen'Shelerana/Ettelen'Sheleran
Foreign Matriarch/Foreign Patriarch
This leader pair deals with anything relating to outside pridal borders that still has to do with the Aegnor. Often a mated pair, but sometimes siblings, parent/child, or just a single leader.
Badhron
Judge
A neutral leadership position, held by the God of Leadership, the Badhron is not only in charge of determining the worth of a lion or lioness to be a Chil, they also help ensure the other two sides of leadership don't forget to work together, for the good of the pride.
Chil
Heir
Those with blood from the current or past leaders who choose to acknowledge their potential for leadership. They are to approach Primitus, the god of Leadership, to have their potential acknowledged. He, in turn, will make the results of the meeting known to the current leaders. [Though the RP with Primitus is not a required one, noting their status as a chil from the start is a must!] Even when leadership changes, a chil does not lose their status.
Shalori
Darling
The leaders are allowed to have one consort, male or female, that is their favored non-leadership partner [especially in cases of leader pairs being related]. They don't have to do much...but sometimes have a little sway in what the leaders' decisions will be. This is the ONLY rank besides 'sador' that a sador can have, and will be a rare occurrence. This is simply because this rank is more ceremonial than anything else.
Himy'ainur
To abide by the holy ones
The priests of the pride, they are ALWAYS seers. They act as advisers to the leaders, facilitators of multiple ceremonies, and are called upon when blessings are needed in the name of a god. They do not follow just one god, instead striving to act as a voice for all gods followed by the Aegnor. When cubs are born, the himy'ainur keep their eyes open for those who have the gift of seerhood. Should one they view as suitable arise, they will take the cub under their wing for training. [OOCly, if you have a seer cub, there is a chance you'll receive a PM from the mule asking about the potential of the cub becoming a Himy'ainur! If you're up for the plot and rank, then one of the current Himya'ainur owners will plot with you!]
Cor'osta
To lead defenders
The elite of the guards, the cor'osta organize and lead the mori'osta, and take turns defending those chil who are still cubs. They are also the ones to report anything troubling found by the mori'osta to the Ettelen'Shelerana and/or the Ettelen'Sheleran. There are 5 Mori'osta to every 1 Cor'osta. [This rank is currently closed until the number of Mori'osta balances out.]
Noldo'raa/Noldo'ravenne
Wise lion/Wise lioness
Those lions and lionesses the leaders have agreed upon to council them, who settle matters that are more complicated than the meiv'seere can handle. They are few in number, and have shown great intelligence or wisdom and a loyalty to the pride. [This is a rank for older pride members, and those who have shown great wisdom. If you are considering a rank change for a member due to old age, shoot the pride mule a PM about Noldo potential! Other situations aside from age will be us contacting you.]
Hir'erthad
Find union
The diplomats of the pride. They are rare, but with the growing size and stability of the pride, it was determined that voices for the pride were needed beyond the Ran'ar'ma. Voices who could bring the pride allies and resources. It is not a rank given lightly, as much experience with the world outside the pride and an understanding of how to deal with non-demons is needed. This is one of the two ranks a sador can hold aside from 'sador'. [5 RPs out-of-pride are required to apply for this rank. Final approval is dependent on the pride owners.]
Mid Ranks
Far
To hunt
The hunters of the pride. Male or female, they provide the pride with food. They are a cunning bunch, having multiple types of terrain within the pridal lands.
Mori'osta
Dark defender
The defenders and warriors of the pride. They maintain scent markers, patrol the borders, and escort If there is ever a confrontation with outsiders, they are the first to respond.
Ran'ar'ma
To wander and look
These are the seekers of the pride, those who wander the world looking for fresh blood to add to the demons, new sador, and new allies. They act as diplomats, often the first taste of the Aegnor outsiders get.
Seasa
Pleasure
There are those in the pride who seek to provide pleasure in the lives of themselves and others. And not just in the 'carnal' sense, either. Some are bards, others create works of art that don't fall under the domain of the kurwaer, and some are simply a wonderful conversation partner and confidant. And then, of course, there are those who are after the carnal pleasures. Many also learn the craft of a healer, for varying reasons.
Kurwaer
Craftsman
Those members of the pride who make most of the trinkets used by the pride. Some are also skilled in making armor and weapons for the members, like claw 'extentions', and others are knowledgable in that deadly art of poison-making.
Kiirar
Lorekeeper
These are the historians of the pride. It is from them that the laito learn the history of the pride. And it is they who are the keepers of the tales of the pride, along with one thing they managed to keep safe during the exodus from the two-leggers: the budding 'written' language of the demons.
Tir'hini
To watch over children
The 'nannies' of the pride. They watch over the laito, teaching them the basic skills of hunting, fighting, and the traditions of the pride. They also often organize mass play sessions or games for the laito.
Dina'gurtha
Silent death
When silence is needed, and a death of a problem to the pride (internal or external) is required, it is the dina'gurtha who are called on. Trained to be silent killers, they are known as 'assassins' outside the pride.
Nwalm
To torment
When a punishment is needed, or a test of strength or pain endurance required, it is the nwalm who administer it. They are essentially the torturers of the pride, and they tend to either revel in their role or treat it as a sacred duty to be handled with respect and care.
Meiv'seere
To balance peace
The mediators of the pride, who ensure rules are followed and the day-to-day issues are settled. They preside over ritual fights, and clarify pridal law when needed. If they feel a matter is too complicated, they refer it to the Noldo'raa and Noldo'ravenne.
Raukoelle
Little demon
The adolescents of the pride. It is during this time that most of the training for their chosen role in the pride takes place. Only confirmed heirs do not take this title.
Laito
Baby
The cubs of the pride. All cubs except sador hold this rank, and are kept a close eye on...even if they don't know it. They are the future of the pride, and valued greatly.
Low Ranks
Sador
Faithful One
The non-demons of the pride. Those who may have once been called 'slaves' in the Aikanaro, now have a role that is one of coexistence than forced servitude. Sador, in exchange for their service in non-combat roles, are guaranteed food, shelter, and safety, leaving the demons to worry about other things. Some sador help with hunting, some are crafters, some aid demons with their cubs when not with a tir'hini; the possibilities outside of combat for a sador are nigh-limitless. They run the gamut in species and coloration, and have certain protections. If a demon is caught abusing a sador, the consequences are harsh and swiftly dealt: depending on the severity of abuse, the punishments range from the abuser being kept from drinking the blood from a meal to becoming a nat.
Nat
Thing
The slaves of the pride. They are those who have committed severe crimes within the pride that the leaders want to keep a eye on, or former enemies from battles or wars. They have no rights, and are kept fed and cared for only so they do not die from starvation, thirst, or sickness.
Prefixes
Jötunn
Giant
Added to the front of a rank for any who are former Dvergr or those cubs of Dvergr who have no demon, and is also used to refer to those Dvergr and Dvergr-blooded in the pride. Eventually, this prefix may be phased out, but not for a long time...
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