Highvalley

*The wolves of ice and stone; a proud clan from the Western reaches where the blood of nobles runs deep like the roots of their silver mountains; crowned by mist and clad in ice and glaciers. Here hails the most cultured of creatures: purest in pedigree and finest in physique, there is neither rival nor equal in the sight of the dwellers of Highvalley.*

This pack was disbanded (via moving from its home territory) on 17 March 2019.

## Pack Law

* The High King’s word is law.
* The High King has the final say on all of Highvalley affairs.
* Submit to all outranking superiors.
* Defecting from the pack is acceptable but discouraged.
* Eat in order of rank. Pups and pregnant females however may eat first after the Alphas.
* Pups, Juveniles, Omegas are forbidden from leaving the pack territory unless supervised by a superior. Deltas must check in with their superiors before leaving, and all higher ranks are permitted to come and go as they please.
* Acts of rape, theft, and deceit are punishable as seen fit by the High King.
* Acts of murder are punishable by death, unless done in self defense then a wolf may plead their case.

**Breeding Laws**

* Lowbloods are forbidden from taking a mate and breeding with fellow Lowbloods.
* Highbloods below the Gamma rank are forbidden from taking a mate.
* Bastards are forbidden from breeding.
* Taking a mate outside of the pack is forbidden unless it’s for political purposes and approved by the High King.
* All mateships must be approved by the father of the maiden. If no father exists, then as the father of Highvalley, the matter will then be brought forth to the High King.
* A wolf may only take one mate. If widowed, or if one’s partner has committed adultery, taking a new mate is permitted.

**Inheritance Laws**

Highvalley follows a male-preference primogeniture system, where males inherit before females. It is the law of the land that the legitimate firstborn son on the High King should inherit his father’s position in preference to other candidates. The son of a deceased elder brother inherits before a living younger brother, etc... In the absence of any male heirs, the inheritance is allocated to the daughter in the line of succession. If there are no children to inherit, the inheritance is given to the next closest male relative. It should also be noted that an inheriting wolf can refuse the throne.

## Tasks

Every wolf in Highvalley whether they be Highblood or Lowblood is expected to contribute to the pack and should assume a task pertaining to their unique strengths and skill sets, leaving no room for negligence. Regardless of rank, every wolf is expected to partake in pack hunts as long as they are physically able.

### Keeper

* The Keepers of Highvalley are daring warriors who rejoice in their strength. Driven by loyalty and an unshakeable need to protect their own, these gallant fighters laugh at fear, afraid of nothing; they do not shy away from blood or fang. Striking fear into the hearts of their adversaries with unmatched strength, these proud wolves safeguard Highvalley, scouring the landscape for threats both foreign and domestic. Routinely scaling the mountainous heights and engaging in friendly sparring matches with other Keepers ensures that the members of this faction remain fit for the physical demands of their task.
* In times of strife or cases of subterfuge, these wolves are the first to leap into the fray. Acting as the first line of defense, the pack looks to the Keepers amidst disaster and invasion. The most robust wolves in the realm, they possess peerless stamina and overwhelming adaptability. They are encouraged to assist the other tasks when physical prowess is required.

### Seeker

* For the free-spirited who prefer to roam unrestricted, the life of a Seeker can be an attractive task. Quick in mind and body with an even temperament, novices are responsible for tracking prey and monitoring their movements. When necessary they move the herds, honing their skills and proving themselves to the Highbloods.
* Once a wolf is deemed trustworthy and self-sufficient, they are permitted to serve as a diplomat or scout. During this time they must acclimate to life alone; honing their stealth, interacting with wolves from all walks of life and learning the lay of the land are just a few trials Seekers must overcome. Serving as the face of the pack and representatives of their kin abroad, they must remain civil in their dealings with foreigners. As they become familiar with life outside of Highvalley, they return to the pack often. Bringing with them knowledge of other packs, loners, and resources. Their work keeps the Wolvenking informed and the pack safe from the unknown.

### Meister

* Meisters are the pride of Highvalley, the pillars of its culture. Breathing life into the pack’s sophisticated traditions, they are the wolves who pass down legends and knowledge to the next generation. Acting as scholars, teachers, healers, and general champions of the mind, a Meister’s duty lies in the preservation and acquisition of information. With a primary focus in education and healing, they have an impressive grasp of nature’s changes.
* While all members must hold intermediate understanding of all subjects, the highly ranked are allowed a field of specialization; these must be approved by the Wolvenking, as brilliant minds must not be wasted on purely intellectual pursuits, but those which would benefit the pack. Significant findings are reported to the alpha so that he may implement them as he deems fit.

### Steward

* Highvalley is a pack of traditions, one among them being the Stewards. Assigned to individual Highbloods as personal assistants, their function is to provide support whenever necessary; this can range from providing food to delivering messages or caring for Highblood pups. In times of emergency they are utilized as general assets, and can serve alongside the Keepers or Meisters as needed. Though not required, members are encouraged to learn basic combat, hunting, and survival to best serve their assigned Highblood and the pack.
* Because of the submissive role Stewards are placed in, their number is comprised mostly of Lowbloods; there are Highbloods among them, though they are belittled for doing ‘a Lowblood’s job’. A Steward’s rank is determined by the wolf they serve, and often the higher the rank the more freedoms they are allowed. Even so, it is often regarded as an empty freedom, as regardless of the rank a Steward holds they live under the title of servitude. It’s not uncommon for a Steward to become close with their masters, but to outsiders they will rarely be seen as equals.

## Pack Hierarchy

The hierarchy of Highvalley is depicted below based on its appearance just before Rodwen's demise and his son, Vladimir, leading the pack out of the Domain. Many of the below wolves ended up becoming loners or joining other packs.

**High King and Queen:** *Supreme leaders of the pack. High King is inherited while the High Queen is achieved through mateship. Referred to as the Wolvenking & Wolvenqueen respectfully.*

* Rodwen

**High Regent**: *Temporary leader of the pack when the High King is out of commission.*

* Vladimir

**High Council:** *Highblood, seasoned/elder advisors to the High King who have retired from their task; ensure the pack's culture and blood purity is maintained. Given the prefix 'Grand' - example: "Grand Keeper."*

* Adela

**Generals (Betas):** *Veterans and directors of their task; highest rank in their task; chosen from the Captains; limited to one per task per invitation only; given the prefix 'Arch' - example: "Arch-Keeper."*

* **Meister:** Sveta
* **Keeper:** Vladimir
* **Seeker:** Gwyndolyn
* **Steward:** *None!*

**Captains (Thetas):** *Experts and teachers in their task; can command smaller companies.*

* **Meisters:** Vera; Livia; Ava; Yuaei
* **Keepers:** Mohawk; Alyan
* **Seekers:** Akela
* **Stewards:** Calumina

**Gammas:** *Midrank in their task; given more responsibility.*

* **Meisters:** Eros
* **Keepers:** *None!*
* **Seekers:** Taibhse
* **Stewards:** Shardae; Hemlock

**Deltas:** *New recruits who are undergoing vigorous training from the Thetas. Juveniles cannot surpass this rank.*

* **Meisters:** Quilo; Mikhail
* **Keepers:** Avalon
* **Seekers:** *None!*
* **Stewards:** Joseline; Zinnia; Robin; Roran

**Omegas:** *New members or members without tasks or have been stripped of their task and rank.*

* Bronwyn; Terah

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**Pups:** *The youngest in the pack, cannot take tasks.*

* *None*