Xassa

Xassa. It is.

## History

As long as stories and living memory can tell, wolves have lived in this region. They have followed the laws of Xerxes Peace to the best of their ability, with some generations being quite peaceful, and others more chaotic. But the title has always, without fail, passed from one leader to the next.

The lofty goal of the Xassans is known as Xerxes Peace. Xassa wants to establish a world where wolf packs do not quarrel over resources or religion, but work together and thrive as a larger community, where travel is free and aid is generously bestowed. Xassa became known for its skilled diplomats over the generations. But the pack would retreat into an isolationist period, known as Hassan's Silence, and Xerxes Peace was shattered.

Hassan's Silence

While a diplomatic party led by the Cyrus traveled towards a pack far to the south, they were ambushed by members of the pack who distrusted Xassa’s policy of open travel and Xerxes Peace. They fell upon the party with ferocity. It was a small party, and all but the youngest of the wolves were killed. They spared this last wolf to bring a message back to Xassa: this southern pack was closed. If they returned, there would be war.

This messenger fled back to Xassa, and tearfully informed her packmates that the Cyrus was dead. The Cyrus’s son, Hassan, was next in line. Mortified by this news, Hassan announced that Xassa would no longer attempt to enact Xerxes Peace. “From now on,” he announced gravely, “Xassa protects its own.”

And the isolationist period known as Hassan’s Silence began.

For two generations, Hassan’s Silence continued. His daughter and her son continued this policy. And when Zagros became the Cyrus, he had no intentions of changing this policy.

Under Zagros’s rule, disease struck Xassa, causing the number of wolves to dwindle considerably. The pack was at its smallest, and weakest, when Zagros himself contracted the sickness.

In the fever-dreams on his death-bed, Zagros was tormented by messengers of Xerxes, who cursed him for his failure to return to Xerxes Peace, insisting that they had asked the same of his father, and his grandmother, and Hassan himself, with the same results. Fearing that his predecessors were being forever tormented in the afterlife by their failure to follow their god’s wishes, Cyrus Zagros called his heir to his side, and as he died, breathed his last wish.

Open Xassa once more.

## Foreign Relations

Having been isolated for so long, the wolves of Xassa are uncertain of what to expect/believe of other packs. Diplomatic parties are being sent out frequently to get a feel for the situations with other packs. These diplomatic parties are encouraged to introduce themselves to the With a supreme goal of uniting all wolves under one empire, Xassa views all packs as eventual “satrapies”. Satrapy is the Xassan term for another governing body outside of Xassa, led by the Satrap. The goal of the Xassans  is for all packs to be satrapies, allowing for wolves to travel the Domain without fearing crossing borders or being attacked by their own kind.

That being said, the Xassa know sometimes the only way to establish such a widespread peace is to wage war on the dissenters.

And they welcome the fight.

## Culture

Xassa is a noble pack which has lived in considerable isolation for generations.

The wolves of Xassa seek a united Domain, where warfare between packs doesn’t occur and wolves may travel freely. However, they know this is an unrealistic goal, and will not hesitate to engage in battle in order to achieve their goal, by removing dissenters.

These wolves possess a keen interest in sciences, particularly natural sciences. They are most proficient in meteorology, having had to learn to read the weather and keep tabs on the time of year in order to predict annual flooding and avoid being disrupted by dangerous weather. These wolves understand even the subtle warning signs which precede weather phenomena and have trained themselves to react accordingly. They have additional keen interest in stars, under

Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of Xassa culture is their development of record-keeping. In their remarkable underground system of caves (called The Caves), they have created a means of record-keeping which allows easy reading for the Melchior.

The wolves of Xassa are passionate and enjoy entertaining and being entertained. They have a variety of ceremonies which they perform with regularity, special chants and songs to go along with them, and festivities like feasts, ornamental decoration, and games for ‘prizes’.

## Laws

* **The Law of Xerxes’ Peace:** “We are One.” Treat all equally.
* **The Law of Retaliation:** “Blood paid in blood.” (also, “An eye for an eye.”)
* **The Law of Combat**: “Fight when necessary, fight when fair.”
* **The Law of the Natural World:** “Respect nature.”
* **The Law of the Cyrus:** “The word of the Cyrus is final.”
* **Laws Concerning the Caves**: Only wolves with tasks may enter the Caves. Punishment for breaking this rule is DEATH.
* **Laws Concerning Courtship:** You must have a task to have a mate.
* **Laws Concerning the Cyrus and Royal Family:** The title of Cyrus falls to the next oldest in the Susa bloodline.

For a more in-depth description of the Xassan Laws and punishments, see here.

## Religion

Diversity in religion is welcomed, even encouraged, in Xassa, as long as Xerxes is worshipped as well. Xerxes is the creator god, who created all other gods to govern different aspects of his creation, the world. When wolvenkind went to war against itself at the beginning of time, Xerxes bestowed the white wolf Susa with divine wisdom, in order to guide the wolves to peace in a single pack. Though she died before this goal could be realized, every Cyrus from Susa to Hassan continued to exercise this goal, offering kindness to loners and often absorbing or allying itself with other packs. Only after Hassan did isolationism occur (see History).

All wolves of Xassa are expected to believe in Xerxes. Should they believe in other gods and goddesses, that is perfectly fine. Rituals and ceremonies that are linked to different gods and goddesses may be performed as long as they do not break the pack’s rules.

## Tasks

* **MAGI:** Priests and spiritual leaders. The Magi are the spiritual guides of the pack, who lead ceremonies and guard the sacred caves. Though a wolf does not need to be a Magus to enter the Sacred Caves (they need only hold rank), the Magi are responsible for taking care of the caves. This includes simple tasks such as removing dried, dead flowers from gravesites, and removing bats and vermin from the premises, along with tasks of higher importance such as keeping records.
	+ The highest-ranking member of the Magi is called the **MELCHIOR**, also known as **THE GREAT SCRIBE.**
* **MARDUK:** Warriors and guards. Their name comes from the Babylonian god Marduk, a fierce dragon-like figure and defender of Babylon. These are the muscle of the pack. These wolves are highly trained. The best Marduk are able to render their opponents virtually helpless without bestowing major injuries.
	+ The highest-ranking Marduk is known as the **DARIUS.** They are part of the Council.
* **NABU**: Diplomats. Their name comes from the Babylonian god Nabu, “The Announcer”. This is an important task which is usually the greatest desire of many young wolves who want to get away from home. It is one of the most respected and coveted ranks, as they are actively pursuing Xerxes Peace.
	+ The highest-ranking Nabu is known as the **EA.** They are part of the Council.
* **GULA:** Healers. Their name comes from the Babylonian goddess of healing. The Gula have an intense focus on the art of healing, from a scientific point of view. They do not rely on rituals in their healing - there are no chants or prayers when they administer medicine or treat wounds, except the silent prayers on the breath that their patient will pull through. They understand healing not as the will of the gods, but as the effectiveness of their own abilities. The more spiritual of the Gula, when losing patients, will often try to console themselves with the idea of fate and the rejoining of the gods, but they know it was the patient’s body or the failure of their medicines that cost a wolf their life.
	+ The highest-ranking Gula is known as the **BABA.** They are part of the Council.
* **SU’EN:** Hunters. Their name comes from the Babylonian god of cowherds and the moon. The Su’en are responsible for organizing pack hunts, particularly of large prey like pronghorn and, most importantly, bison. Their responsibility is to strategize before the pack attacks its prey, and they are generally sent in first to cut off a member from its herd and tire it out. Large hunts generally occur at dawn or dusk, when snakes are least active and the grazers are either grazing or resting.
	+ The highest-ranking Su'en is known as the **ENLIL**. They are part of the Council.

## Pack Hierarchy

**The Cyrus (Alpha):** *The leader of the pack. Regardless of gender, they are called the Cyrus. Referred to as “Cyrus Nineveh” or “My Cyrus” in conversation, or “the Cyrus” if being talked about.*

* Nineveh

**The Great Scribe (the Melchior):** *The leader of the Magi. Referred to as “Melchior NAME” or “My Melchior” in conversation, or “the Melchior” if being talked about. May live in the Caves. They are a part of the Council, but are a step above other members.*

* Tahmina

**The Council:** *The highest-ranking wolves in the pack, hand-picked from the betas. They are in charge of their factions. May enter the Caves. Take part in decision-making with the Cyrus.*

**Zarii (Thetas):** *Singular Zarr. Highest-ranking wolves, leaders of their tasks. May enter the Caves.*

* **Magi:** *---*
* **Marduk:** Issa; Nouri; Mekhit; Renae; Ajax
* **Nabu:** Wick; Caldera; Anshar
* **Gula:** Majavis; Charlotte; Dodge
* **Su'en:** Nayeli; Khamira

**Siglosi (Gammas):** *Singular Siglos. Midrank wolves, teachers of tasks. May enter the Caves.*

* **Magi:** Yasu
* **Marduk:**
* **Nabu:**
* **Gula:**
* **Su'en:** Malia; Fausta

**Asmani (Deltas):** *Singular Asman. Wolves with tasks, generally responsible for the more medial tasks. May enter the Caves.*

* **Magi:** Boaz; Odin; Arash; Wichita; Soheil
* **Marduk:**
* **Nabu:** Samiel
* **Gula:** Pallas
* **Su'en:** Soraya; Alkor

**Omegas:** *The lowest-ranking wolves, wolves without tasks. May not enter the Caves.*

* Blythe; Galadhon; Mason

**Juveniles:** *Wolves too young to take a full task, as they are not fully grown. May take lessons from older wolves in assorted tasks. May not enter the Caves.*

**Pups:** *The young of the pack, too young for tasks. May not enter the Caves.*

**Guests:** *Guests are treated with the highest levels of respect, as diplomats expect to be treated the same way. They are forbidden to enter the Caves on punishment of death.*

**Honored Dead:** *Wolves who have died and are honored for their service to the pack and Xerxes.*

* Zarina (killed by the Hive); Vidar (killed by the Hive); Raziel (killed by the Hive)

**Codebreakers:** *Wolves known to have left the pack of their own volition without taking the Blood Oath, deeming them traitors in the eyes of Xerxes. This only applies to wolves who took a task and saw the Caves. Subject to interrogation and trial if they return.*

* Nebula