Customs

Pack Culture

While Vyusher R'asa come from all walks of life, they are bound by long standing traditions and a common culture that has endured with varying levels of success throughout the years. While not all Derfs today follow the customs below, it is likely that they will at least be aware of them if they have spent any amount of time with their peers.

As with any culture, there are those who value the traditions and the past, while others put more of an emphasis on progression and change. Thus there are varying opinions on the relevancy of these traditions in modern times.

Customs

The ves' tacha - A pregnant woman in the pack is considered to be a special treasure. She is carrying a new member of their family and is to be treated with respect and difference. This means that children, even those not of her own immediate family, are taught to aid her whenever they see she needs something carried, picked up or is having troubles due to advanced stages. (getting drinks, cushions, asking if they can help her etc) Adults consider it polite to continue this custom as well but mostly it is the childrens' duty to help pregnant mothers with their needs.

There are any number of rites that might precede the actual birth. One rite among the pack involves the untying of certain knots, so that the umbilical cord will not be knotted. Sometimes all the knots in the expectant mother's clothing will be undone or cut. At other times, the expectant mother's hair will be loosened if it has been pinned or tied with a ribbon.

Birthing is traditionally done away from the camp. In the olden days this custom was to ensure that the baby was born into a place that was safe and secure. The mother to be would bring three women with her to help with the birth. Nature was considered to be the wisest of all present at the beginning of a child's life. If the child was not strong enough to come into the world naturally, the pack considered it a liability. The three woman would do everything within their power to aid the mother and child within their primitive setting but traditionally they would not seek outside assistance. Rarely was a cesarean section done, nor were drugs given. If the mother and child die during the bith ,then, though sad, it was for the best of the pack.

A child with mental or physical defects is given the chance to live but no special treatment is awarded such a case. If they cannot make their way in the pack then nature generally deals with the problem for them. Sometimes though, their best leaders and warriors have been those who have overcome physical anomalies that many would consider crippling disabilities. Vyusher R'asa believe that it is important not to waste any life needlessly, and one can never know which youngling will rise to the top of the litter.

The Addurn'enedral is a special collar given to all children until they are gifted by the pack. It appears to be a blood red collar generally made of some soft material like velvet (though sometimes, especially for active young children something more durable is used) but on the inside it has a band of silver that stretches across its length. The outer fabric is to protect the werewolf parents and pack when handling the child. The addurn itself is considered an amulet of protection for the child from the enemies of the pack. It is thought that the ribbon, sometimes plain other times embellished with crosses, symbols or words of protection, was an aid in warding off a vampire. The inner silver band was to ward off members of another pack that would seek to steal the pack's children by gifting them early and giving them the wrong racial memories. This fate is one of the most feared by children of the pack and is a common warning to stay within sight of an adult pack member while out playing.

Lloer Vesha – Full Moon Gatherings

The times of the full moon effect the pack dynamics greatly when it comes to social interaction. Running with the pack is considered the normal activity and most members enjoy the experience. While it is not mandatory to “run” it is seen as odd behavior if a pack member never joins the full moon events.

During this time emotions run high. The virus has the drive to reproduce itself and those that carrior the full form of the virus find themselves under its sway. This is less disruptive for the pack than an outsider might think. Petty bickering and day to day squabbles are not important to a wolf during the full moon. Bitter human enemies might find themselves running together for the sheer joy of speed in their wolf forms.

There is a unity to the pack during these times unlike any that is normally achieved while not in wolf form. For this reason (and others) the pack considers the wolf form closer to nature and as such closer to the divine. They lay aside the chains of their human existence for the state of sheer experience that comes with the moon's influence.

For this reason those actions taken during the full moon have a sort of sacred quality about them. If two wolves had been enemies before the full moon but find themselves running together during the pack's gathering then they would generally consider that a sign and try to work things out in their human lives. Fights for dominance may happen during this time from the most unexpected of places. These are taken in stride by the pack. Mating is also considered a sacred choice and if two wolves find themselves together as wolves who were not paired as humans they are encouraged to seek each out after the full moon because the mating was a sign of their compatibility with each other. If two people mated to different people find themselves together during the full moon then that is considered acceptable as well. The werewolves involved have to come to terms with the situation and decide if their human choices are more important to them than the wolf choice. (either has been known to happen.) These mating choices done under the full moon's influence explain why the custom of a male accepting his mate's child is so important. There are times when he knows that it might not be his.

Death

The supernatural is also a large part of the pack and superstitions abound for protecting oneself and one's loved ones from things unseen. Racial memories are constant reminders of the ancestors that came before and some of the strongest personalities are said to be felt even by those outside of those memories, giving credence to the belief that the spirits of the departed concern themselves with the affairs of the pack even after death.

For this reason and others, the dead or muló are greatly respected. They are never spoken ill of no matter what you thought of the person in life. In fact, it is common practice not to speak the name of someone who has passed away lest you invoke their spirit by calling to them. For some of the great leaders of times gone by the speaking of their name is done on purpose in hopes that they are still watching and will aid the pack in whatever attempt they are about to undertake.

If death is not immediate then all the pack will assemble by the bedside of the one who is about to die. One by one they speak with the one near the end of life and talk of their time together, obtain forgiveness for any wrongs they may have committed against the person, wish them well on their journey, and if they are a family member then they might ask for their protection from beyond. It is important to make peace with the dead lest they seek revenge in the future.

When death finally comes, the lamentation of the living increases. From that time until the burial, certain traditional customs are observed. Above all, there is total absorption in the mourning, with no distractions or activities. (save the full moon gathering if it should occur during this time) There is no washing or shaving or combing of the hair. No food is prepared. Only the drinking of coffee or strong alcohol is permitted. Mirrors are covered and vessels containing water are emptied.

The body is watched at all times until it is buried lest it be taken over by the spirits. Knowledge of creatures such as vampires leads to the belief in other foul and unnatural beings that the pack would guard against at all costs. The deceased is dressed in their finest travelling clothes and surrounded by the small items a person would need for a walking journey. (knives,silverware,walking stick,compass,money, jewels, etc) The coffin is brought to the grave sight in a procession on foot with mourners following behind and lamenting loudly. As this procession enters the cemetery, the sobbing of the mourners increases. This display of sorrow reaches its peak as the coffin is lowered into the grave as this is the final farewell to their pack member. The mourners generally throw coins as well as handfuls of earth into the grave for the one who now walks into the unknown. Red as the colour of lifeblood is the common colour worn at funerals. It is to remind those walking with the dead that there is still life around them that must go on. It is also said to protect against evil spirits with its vibrancy and strength.

Many times objects that once belonged to the deceased are destroyed,sold or given away (to those outside the pack who do not know its origins) in order to break ties or connections with the spirit. The exception is close friends and family who believe that their relationship with the departed soul was good enough to invite the spirit to stay a part of their lives. These are also the only people who would dare speak of the deceased by name.

The call of an owl is said to portend death.

Eating Habits

What is eaten and how it is prepared varies widely amongst the pack. Most born werewolves eat a variety of healthy food.(aside from the true carnivores ) The pack recognizes that the non gifted body of a growing person requires things other than meat and the children are encouraged to eat many vegetables and fruits in order to grow up strong and healthy.. Human prepared and processed food is frowned upon at the very least and looked at with open disgust by many.

There are some animals that are considered unacceptable for consumption.

Canines, especially wolves are not eaten. These are considered lesser brothers or kindred spirits and are held somewhat sacred by the pack. Killing a canine may be done if necessary but it should not be consumed afterwards.

City animals (either pets or animals running free in urban areas) are considered unclean and therefore unfit to eat.