The Alpha
Dominator of death and peacekeeper of the scarfolk
The Alpha is the master of rifthounds among the Nurbotu Scarfolk in Anvil. The title is very new and was recently introduced in order to honour Najé Lanta, a plantation owner that was the first to succeed in taming rifthounds.
The respect that comes with the title has attracted many other duties, including accompanying trade caravans out towards the major cities of Anvil (where the scarfolk have previously been unjustly discriminated against). The rifthounds have put an immediate stop to targeted caravan attacks and serve as a clear message of “no funny business” when bartering with overly greedy tradefolk.
The Alpha also keeps the peace within the scarfolk communities - her stubbornness is legendary and her words bite as fiercely as the rifthound that nearly killed her.
When Najé wishes for a quieter life (if ever such a time will come) she will pass on her title and responsibilities to the most promising beastmaster among the Nurbotu scarfolk.
Origin
After evading death at the cost of her arm in a vicious fight against a rifthound, Najé lead a team of skilled hunters to track the paw prints back to a den, where they were able to trap and cage a litter of newborn rifthound pups.
Following Najé's instructions, the pups were raised alonside local hunting dogs instead of being killed. The hunters were successful in raising them and became the first group in Melior to tame a riftbeing of any kind. The Nurbotu scarfolk now has a pack of rifthounds under their control to defend their people from predators of all kinds.
The Alpha
In celebration, Najé was named The Alpha for her dominance over death itself and is looked up to as a hero of the scarfolk. The Alpha oversees the raising of rifthounds and their training and leads patrols with a team of three - each controlling a leashed rifthound in their routine around the boundaries of the settlement.
Type
Civic, Honorific
Form of Address
Alpha
Alternative Naming
Pack Leader
First Holder
Current Holders
Related Locations
Related Military Formations
I really love the idea of this rank, and that it will be passed down to a new promising beastmaster in the future. :D