introduction
the sky is seemingly perpetually black, shaded by the thick trees above. the air is warm, regardless of the season in the world beyond. the path before you is beaten by foot, a lantern to light the way every hundred or so feet. you brush passed a sign, wolf territory ahead written in black, the picture of the animal above the text, paint a little runny, leaving streaks down to the base of the sign.

it doesn't stop you, though.

but the border is clear and distinct when you near it, a red spray painted line that extends in either direction, across the grass and the trees, clearly older but well kept none the less. you know what it is, what it means; a warning. blood is spilled freely beyond this line, and crossing puts you in harms way. but there's no going back now.

---

the wolves are a group of exiles from the rest of society. these are people who have been hurt, who hurt the world back. perhaps they harbor vendettas, perhaps they're ill, perhaps bad is all they know to be. there are no hearts of gold here, kindness doesn't prevail, light does not overcome the darkness.

this is the land of the broken,
of the wolves who can no longer hide under the facade of sheep.

these are the sheep who grew teeth.

code
though the wolves are often thought of as a group without honor or morality, there is, in fact, a code to abide by. failure to follow this code will result in punishment, as actions have consequences.
— show respect where it is due; superiors should be treated as much.
— loyalty to the wolves comes before bonds of blood or friendship. while you may associate with those outside of the group, the wolves should always be your first priority.
— while harming outsiders is allowed, no harm should come to small children, the elderly, pregnant women, or people otherwise incapable of defending themselves without good reason.
— trespassers may contained, but not immediately killed unless otherwise necessary. if they pose no threat, than questioning will suffice.
— while not explicitly forbidden, you may not harm another member of the wolves out of anger without good cause. training is, however, encouraged to replicate the traditional energy of a battlefield, and injuries are inevitable there.
— you may not leave the territory for any reason without permission from the alpha, and your duties should be covered by someone else while you're away.
— upon joining, a member will have their palm cut with intent to scar. failure to participate in this process is an indication of disloyalty and will be treated as such.
— disloyalty to the wolves or the alpha may be punishable by death. once leaving, under rare circumstances will a member be allowed to return.
— no one person is more valued than the group itself. as such, if a member comes across trouble across the border, the groups safety will not be jeopardized to save one person.

traditions
palm scar upon introduction to the wolves, a members palm is cut by the alpha as a physical pledge of loyalty, indicating that they're willing to bleed for the group. until this wound heals, usually within a week, this member is considered to be an omega, and though mistreatment isn't encouraged, they're often treated as lessers, a form of hazing some members participate in. it should be noted that this can be skipped with the use of liquid time if a roleplayer wishes. these scars are also sometimes given to outsiders considered friends of the group, including leaders of allied groups if they so chose, though not required.
tree fighting due to the heavy forestry in the wolves territory, members are trained to navigate the trees above them, particularly for fighting and stealth. while not all members participate in this, its the most common method used. they often hide in trees to drop from above on enemies, as well as use the thick coverage to travel without being seen from below.
hand fasting traditionally used in place of weddings, this is a ceremony binding two members together in the form of a marriage. a ceremony occurs, in which vows are exchanged, and one hand from either side of the couple is tied to the other, making them "one". this is usually kept in place for the rest of the day, and removed that evening.

frequently asked questions
how do i apply to join the wolves? that one is easy - you don't! all you have to do is make a thread with your character joining, most likely showing up at the border!
can i play a high position? right off the bat, you can't. however, we do have a high position try outs thread located here, where you can state your interest in a position and i'll consider it for the future! i promise, they're not hard to acquire - just be active and have a character dedicated to the group!