the ROLEPLAY guide @ 'SOULS

Behavior

A Luperci pack is made up of five to twenty five members. Luperci maintain the same sized territories as non-Luperci, though prey may be scarcer in Luperci territory due to their increased ability to hunt. Luperci boundaries are clearly marked, very similar to wolf territories. In addition to scent marks, Luperci may also carve pack symbols or just slashes into the bark of trees ringing their territory. They've also been known to put up sign postings and fences.

Like wolves, Luperci maintain structural hierarchies, though the specifics of these depend largely on the individual group. As some populations have adapted more human lifestyles, the structures may be less strict than their ancestors. Usually, an alpha or alpha pair still maintain dominance over the rest of the pack. The Luperci will still participate in the showy dominance of a wolf, but they may jump into physical confrontation faster, usually shoving and pushing, which also very quickly escalates to slashes and bites. Unlike wolves, Luperci squabbles are occasionally deadly. A Luperci who severely violates the pack's rules may find him or herself killed, as opposed to merely reprimanded or exiled.

A Luperci's hierarchy is determined much in the same way as a non-Luperci's. Posturing is an important part of the heirarchy. Dominant behavior is usually expressed in a completely erect stance, a raised tail, erect ears, and eye contact. Submissive behavior is expressed in a hunched stance, tucked tail, and folded ears. Lower ranking Luperci display due respect to their higher ranked fellows.

Luperci hunt slightly differently than wolves. Both Optime and Secui are more likely to hunt alone, as their physical superiority to a Lupus form allows for it. The Secui form can easily outrun and overtake prey, while the dexterous Optime form allows for easy use of weapons such as knives and bows. Like the typical wolf, however, even Luperci prefer the sick and old to the young and healthy. Luperci packs are more successful than the average wolf pack at hunting in groups, even when all the Luperci are in Lupus form -- while a pack may hunt with only one successful hunt in twenty, werewolves and halflings may take prey every five or so attempted hunts. In keeping with wolf tradition, werewolves may be nomadic, and follow herds or prey throughout their territory.

The eating habits of Luperci also differ. Some enjoy cooked meat, although their digestive systems do not lose the ability to handle raw meat. Most eat in the same manner as wolves -- gorging on as much as twenty pounds of meat in one sitting. Like the wolf, the Luperci is capable of going long periods without eating substantial amounts of food. No matter how the meat is prepared (if at all), the alpha(s) will still usually eat first.

Clothing is entirely optional to the Luperci -- whether he chooses to wear a leather trenchcoat or walk around with nothing, either is acceptable. Luperci can wear anything that fits; most cut a tail-hole in pants and shread them beneath the knees to allow for their shorter lower legs and digitigrade feet. Luperci should remove their clothing before shifting back to smaller forms to avoid being tangled in too-large clothing once in a smaller form. Clothing doesn't magically appear or disappear when shifting!

Luperci may wield many human weapons. Swords, staffs, and other non-explosive weapons are most common, though very advanced and learned Luperci may have knowledge of firearms. Most do not carry around weapons, as their claws and teeth are sufficient enough against any natural enemy they may encounter.

The extent to which a Luperci has adopted a human-like lifestyle depends entirely on the individual. At 'Souls, there is a pretty even mixture of Luperci who remain true to their wolf heritage and those that have chosen to live more advanced lifestyles, and this disparity can be found even amongst members of the same pack or clan. Many Luperci still den primarily underground and are most comfortable in their Lupus forms; others prefer to live in houses or cabins, whether human-built or newly-built, and wear clothing.

The human lifestyle has become widespread in Europe and Russia. As such, Luperci originating from those areas may be wholly accustomed to living under roofs, reading and writing, using currency, tending livestock, and using tools and weaponry. They may also be accustomed to a broader hierarchy similar to that of a feudal system. Slavery and systems of servitude have also popped up in those areas. Many of the more humanized Luperci at 'Souls cite European and Russian heritages.