Trials of the Pack
History
Most origins of the trials are unknown and many appear to have originated organically from many different sects of Ferventi's cult independently of one another, functioning as a way to test its members before they settle into life-long or career spanning roles among their peers. The trials only appeared across all sects of the pack in 6,385, after Ferventi himself enforced that career members of the pack should be tested prior to officially receiving their status. This tradition however, was present among many individual sects prior to this point.
Execution
Although there is no hard rule on when a member of the pack can undergo their trials, it is widely accepted that members of the pack, whether they were born into it or joined later in life, must have already spent a number of years acting as an apprentice to someone who had already completed the trials themselves. Usually, the role as mentor to these apprentices falls upon the most senior members of the individual sects, who often have decades of experience themselves, and oftentimes overseeing the trials of their apprentices is considered a requirement itself in being considered a master or senior of their field.
Hunter's Trials
Early Trials The early trials for hunters are mostly relegated to those without prior experience, or children of hunters. Adults with prior hunting experience almost always skip these, as they are quite basic lessons and tests in tracking, identification, and trapping quite small game. Advanced Trials The advanced trials of a hunter begin once they have mastered skills in tracking and have begun hunting on their own. While initial solo hunts are almost always supervised by senior members of the pack and restricted to small to medium game such as deer, as an apprentice hunter's confidence and skill grows they may begin to join other members of the pack on harder hunts for animals such as bison, moose, griffons, small dragons, or bears. A trial that is often considered the 'midpoint' of a hunter's trials overall is their first time leading a big game hunt. Generally, this follows multiple other hunts with senior members of the pack to determine if the apprentice is ready, and should they be deemed such, they will be tasked with leading other apprentices on a hunt. A senior hunter, navigator, or caretaker will oftentimes shadow the hunting party while using the Boon of Ferventi- Wolfshape, however, are encouraged to not intervene, offer advice, or assistance unless the apprentice or other members of the group are in immediate danger. This trial is less about overall success in killing a large animal, but instead the hunter's own conduct and care of those under their wing; they are evaluated on if they are properly teaching themselves, safety, and competence. Even if successful in bringing down large game, a hunter can still fail this trial for being overzealous, cruel, or using underhanded methods such as claiming others' kills or trying to cheat. Oftentimes, this trial coincides with the trials of apprentice caretakers to test their own abilities in dealing with injuries, much like those of warriors. Final Trail The final trials for hunters is the longest, most dangerous, and most likely to fail. The apprentice hunter will be given access to the Wolfshape boon themselves, and once able to freely use it, will be tasked with hunting enough game solely with the boon in order to provide a feast for their entire sect of the pack (Particularly large sects may deem that enough food for 20-30 people is more than sufficient). The apprentice must kill and bring their quarries back entirely by themselves while using the boon- tools, outside assistance, and transportation is not allowed, and their kills must be butchered and prepared by them as well in order for it to count. While not a rule, most hunters in areas where such game is available often choose to go after larger animals- bison, bear, moose, griffons, and in very rare cases, sub-adult wool-hides are generally seen as favorable, heavily reducing the amount of animals that must be killed due to their very high yields of usable meat. Risk of injury, failure, or giving up is extremely high, and the vast majority of hunters do not pass this trial the first time. Some sects may replace this trial with one to instead create the Stew of the Everlong Hunt, if there is not enough game or are higher than usual hunting restrictions in their region.Woodsman's Trials
Perhaps the most relaxed trials of any member of the pack, Woodsman's Trials are primarily focused on the knowledge one has acquired over the course of their apprenticeship as well as its application, rather than primarily being a physical challenge to their skills such as the trials for hunter's, warriors, or navigators. Although it heavily varies depending on region and local sect of the pack at large, woodsmen are tested on their knowledge of fauna, flora, and their home region's geography as well as their understanding of foraging and gathering. Early Trials Most often, the earliest parts of their trials consist of memorization of poisonous or toxic plants and mushrooms from similar looking safe-to-gather species by sight, smell, and texture. Oftentimes this test coincides with tests on the local laws surrounding foraging and gathering in the wild. These skills are practiced, applied, and retested over a course of months, generally from late spring to early winter, in order to have the widest array of flora available to test apprentices on. Advanced Trials The advanced trials for woodsmen are most often their final trials. Aspiring woodsmen will be retested on their knowledge, often using the plants and mushrooms they themselves gathered in their early trials, and they will be tasked with gathering all items they were tested on from the wilds of their pack's home region over a period of days or weeks. Where foraging licenses are required, the aspiring woodsman will often be required to pass whatever is required to obtain one as well.Caretaker's Trials
Warrior's Trials
Navigator's Trials
Leader's Trials
Related Organizations
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