Ranks' duties
Remember, each rank has duties, but this doesn't mean they are restricted to only these duties. A Delta doesn't have to sit in camp all day doing nothing but organising things; if there's no war going on, there's no reason that the Gamma shouldn't head out and do some hunting; everybody helps each other, and your rank doesn't restrict you. Don't confuse a duty- something you've got to do- with a restriction- something which is the only thing you're allowed to do. Whilst it's your responsibility to do your duties, if you're not busy, you are expected to join in fighting and hunting just like any other wolf! Though of course, you do get some time off... we're not that cruel.
ALPHA- keeps the pack alive, organised, and working smoothly. Makes all the important decisions. Pack-changing decisions can only be made by her. Takes command in a battle or major hunt. Keeps herself mostly aloof, but respects everybody and puts the members before herself. Nearly always female. Must be dignified and have a good head on her shoulders, always icy-calm in a crisis and giving hope to her members. When she dies or steps down, the beta takes the position. She is the only wolf in the pack who cannot be challenged; the only exceptions are if she is challenged by the Beta or if three or more members agree she has committed a crime.
There's only ever one.
BETA- second in command. Keeps the pack alive, organised and working smoothly, especially when the alpha's not around. While the alpha makes the big decisions, the beta will take care of the day-to-day running of the pack, settling arguments, leading small hunting patrols and suchlike. Is sort of like the alpha's representative in the pack, explaining her decisions and bringing the views of the pack to the alpha, since often people are more willing to speak with the beta than the aloof alpha. Must be kind and caring but firm. Takes command when the alpha isn't around. Puts members before herself. She chooses and trains an apprentice from a young age; this apprentice will be the beta after her, and perhaps one day the alpha. The alpha will always advise them on this decision, but the choice entirely belongs to the Beta.
There's only ever one.
GAMMA- the head warrior and fighter, they must be extremely brave and a skilful fighter with honour, courage, talent, and perhaps most important of all, a reputation. They are in charge of keeping the wolves' fighting skills in shape, through regular practice sessions and suchlike. She is also in charge of the fighting side of all assessments and exams. In battle, she often leads the charge, and advises the alpha on battle tactics. In the event that both the alpha and beta are absent or injured or ill or otherwise unable to perform their duties, she will take up position as temporary third-in-command of the pack; however, she will never inherit the Alpha position unless she challenges for Beta. Uniquely in the pack, they can take the beta's place in a fight if the beta is challenged and he or she wishes them to.
There is usually one; very rarely, there can be two.
DELTA- the head hunter, she must be quick, stealthy and skilful. Because these positions are very similar to those required for the Epsilon position, this is the only wolf in the pack who may hold two positions; she can be both the Delta and an Epsilon. She organises most minor hunting patrols, often taking part in them herself or leading them. She does a lot in the day-to-day running of the camp, and advises and helps the Beta in those matters. She will sort out any hunting rota when necessary, check that a good mix of prey from all over the territory comes in, and make sure everybody's skills stay sharp through regular hunting practice sessions. She also is in charge of the hunting side of all assessments and exams.
There is usually one; very rarely, there is two.
EPSILON- the Epsilon wolf is the expert on other packs, the ambassador, representative, and diplomat. They must be stealthy enough to spy and scout, smart enough to talk their way out of wars and into alliances, and tactful. They need a healthy knowledge of other packs and to be curious and willing to explore and travel. They also need a good knowledge of their own pack, as well as others, as they are the representative of their pack and ambassador.
There is usually three to five.
ZETA & ETA- they are the wolves whose skills have never lain in hunting or fighting; whether they are crippled or simply physically weak, instead they use their minds. While they do not advise the alpha, they advise the pack. They are both, essentially, philosophers. The Zeta is a thinker, coming up with new ingenious plans and ideas and theories, making fiery inspirational speeches and instilling a fierce pack pride; the Eta is more down-to-earth, acting as a kind of agony aunt and helping out the pack when they need a little advice and comfort.
There will only ever be two, one Zeta and one Eta. Because both receive the same training and could do the other's job, they are considered pretty much the same rank, but one of each is still required. They are also the source of much of the pack's knowledge, and are the keepers of their history and lore.
Because their job does not require fighting, to challenge them one partakes in a riddle contest and a philosophical argument before the pack. The pack then votes on who should get the rank.
THETA- The healers and nurses of the pack, they are in charge of gathering herbs for medicines, curing the sick, healing the wounded, looking after wolves who are disabled or very old, and basically, in their quiet little way, keeping everybody alive. Because most everybody owes them their lives after they prevented them dying from some horrific injury or disease, they are well respected as well as honoured for the work they do.
There will be up to five. This position can be challenged for, but instead of fighting for it, the wolves take part in a series of challenges involving herb collection and identification and the senior Thetas testing them on healing knowledge. If they pass these tests and challenges, they can become a Theta, but none of the old Thetas will be kicked out to accommodate them unless there are already five, in which case the new Theta will only get their Theta position once there is a space- they are, to use the most easily understandable analogy, on the 'waiting list'.
IOTA- the senior members of the pack, those who excel in hunting and fighting. They are often the ones most likely to challenge for, and perhaps get, the high ranks when one becomes available or when one of them decides to pursue their ambitions a little more actively. They are selected for their skills, strength, speed and intelligence. They are the first into battle and can lead hunting and fighting patrols as well as taking a major part whenever the pack does something important. They can give orders to the less senior wolves and it is considered an honour to be given the rank of Iota. It is designed as a rank that is normally only bestowed by the alpha on wolves who are not only good at fighting but also distinguished, clever and loyal. This means that in order to challenge for the Iota rank, lower-ranked wolves do not fight other Iotas- they have to fight the alpha herself. If they win, they are awarded the rank; if they lose, the alpha can choose to grant it depending on how well they fought and how well they have served the pack in the past.
KAPPA- the foundation and bones of the pack, any member who has finished their training will be given this rank unless they are promoted to Iota or higher and will remain a Kappa, unless promoted, until they retire. These wolves' duties include fighting, hunting, guarding camp, doing regular chores around the camp, day-to-day camp upkeep, scouting and patrolling the territory, running errands for higher ranks if a lower rank isn't available, and getting on with each other so the Thetas
don't have to put your skin back together after you had a little disagreement with another Kappa. They must obey the higher ranked wolves, but they are always respected and valued, because they are the backbone of the pack- as all wolves are respected in the Alliance.
LAMBDA- they are the wolves who look after the Xi and Nu wolves. They protect, keep safe and look after the Xi and Nu; they can also take a hand in the Nu training. Females who are expecting cubs or whose cubs are still very young will become Lambdas until their cubs become Nu, at which point the mother returns to her normal duties.
MU- the apprentices of the pack, they are wolves in the second half of their training. They have a 'mentor', who can be anybody in the pack who has finished their training- from the Alpha to the most junior Kappa. The mentor will usually be selected by the Alpha, and if both potential mentor and the Mu agree, then they will become mentor and apprentice. The mentor teaches the Mu all the information regarding
their own position- so the apprentice of the Alpha would learn about tactics, persuasion, strategy and leadership, whilst the apprentice of the Zeta or Eta would learn about philosophy and history, the apprentice of the Epsilon would learn about spying, scouting and the other packs, and the apprentice of an Iota or Kappa would learn advanced techniques for hunting and fighting. Once these wolves pass the Final Assessment, they are a full member of the pack- a Kappa- and if they were the apprentice of another rank, such as Theta or Epsilon, they will often challenge their former mentor for the rank, or the Alpha will give them a rank where there are spaces (for instance, if there were 4 Epsilons and an Epsilon Mu passed their test, then the Mu in question could be given the fifth space in the Epsilon rank.) However, since most Mu are apprentices to Kappa or Iota wolves, they often simply take the Kappa rank, especially as it's hard for them to succeed in a challenge when they haven't as much experience as the older wolves.
They are often used to run errands for their mentors or do odd jobs around camp, and are expected to come on some patrols and hunt a little, though not as much as the adults are.
NU- the trainees of the pack. They are wolves in the first half of their training. They do not have an individual mentor and do not specialise in any certain skill. While they are still Nu, these wolves merely get a basic grounding in
all skills- hunting, fighting, scouting, tracking, basic diplomacy, basic info on other packs, basic tactics and strategy, ethics and suchlike from the Zeta and Eta's philosophy, basic herbs and first aid, stealth, and everything else a wolf needs to know as a Kappa or Iota. They are taught some things by the Lambda; other times, they will be given training sessions by Kappa who have nothing better to do, or a higher rank will take some time out of their day to show them some skills. They are expected to come on some patrols and hunts, and keep up, but not as much as older wolves. Once they pass the Midway Test, which is a test set by the Alpha to challenge some of these skills, they can become Mu.
OMICRON- the very young cubs or the pack. They have no duties. They play all day and are looked after and protected by the pack. Once the alpha deems them mature enough, they can become Nu. However, they do not have to become Nu if they don't want to until they are six months old, at which point the pack deems them to be big enough to start pulling their weight, or at least some of it.
PI, RHO, SIGMA, TAU, UPSILON, PHI- all of these ranks have fallen into disuse, probably because their jobs were fussy little tidbits that didn't actually need doing (and nobody wanted to do). It is forgotten what most of them represented, and they are a throwback to the days when the pack was larger. When a wolf does not seem suited to any of the ranks, one of these ranks will be revived, assigned whatever levels of authority and duties the alpha sees fit, and given to them. Occasionally, the wolf will have a successor to the rank, and the rank will become a more accepted and generally used rank.
CHI- This is a wolf who, having been given the rank of Psi or Omega, has begun to work their way [back] up into the ranks by showing their trustworthiness and loyalty. If they continue to display such qualities, they can be given the rank of Kappa (or for a younger wolf, Mu or Nu.)
PSI- A wolf of the Alliance who has committed a bad crime is sometimes stripped of their rank and given the Psi rank. It is one of the lowest in the packs and even the cubs can have Psi wolves scurrying to fulfil their every whim. They are 'on probation' as such; Psi wolves who do wrong are often exiled from the pack. A Psi wolf is treated as a prisoner and is not allowed to leave camp. They are sometimes on trial for what they did, in which case a full trial will be held at a pack meeting and until then they are a guarded prisoner and not allowed to leave camp without an escort and a guard. However, they are never treated like dirt; to the Alliance, even the lowest of wolves is still a wolf, and deserves enough food and shelter to live, and not to be humiliated or hurt without due cause.
OMEGA- this rank is given to prisoners from other packs, or wolves of the Alliance who have committed truly terrible crimes. It is the lowest of the low. However, they are never treated like dirt; to the Alliance, even the lowest of wolves is still a wolf, and deserves enough food and shelter to live, and not to be humiliated or hurt without due cause.
