Ask wasty; Volkism/Norwulff Gods

 

Wasty: The Norwulff and Volkism belief practices are largely a whole sale lifting of Norse Mythology in terms of the god names, although some creative elements have been injected to give it a more wolf flare, starting with the Goddess Lupa. Lupa stands at the top of the Pantheon, seen to be the den mother to all wolves, starting with Oldwyn and later Freyja who would become his wife. (Even if that technically makes them siblings, but it's old religion so best not to think about it.) basically erasing the role of Frigg in this version. Oldwyn and Freyja rule over the realm of Asgrowl, (Norwulff heaven) which is considered to be the closest place to Lupa herself, Oldwyn represents wisdom and power, whereas Freyja is representative of empathy, nature and fertility.

They would go on to have two sons, Fenrir (who has been swapped for Thor, or in this case Boar, a beastly giant boar monster that guards the gates of Hell/Hades) as the god of thunder, and Vulki, the trickest fox god who was adopted into the family. Our Loki essentially becomes one of the principal evil forces in Norse Mythology, however, in this Animalian mutation, Vulki also does some terrible things, but eventually reconciles with his adoptive family. Beyond that, there are various lesser Norwulff gods that fill the pantheon, many of which have specific importance to specific packs or Norwulves in different regions of the country. But if I spent the time to swede all of them into animal puns and positions for this post alone, the length would be massive and it would be a multi-day project. So I hope that is enough to satisfy you for now.

Also technically Predator religions aren't seen as Preygansim, they have their own denomination/flavor called Predganism. A little clunky, but it works.

Extra also,  just an update for those wondering where it is, the next drawn ask is another doozy, so hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow...if not I may push it off to next week. It's another superhero one, and that's all the spoilers you're getting. Thanks!

-Wasty

Ask Dawn and Vern; Priests

 Dawn: I believe it depends on the religion in question. In terms of most Preyganist religions, the blanket term to cover your bases would be 'priest'. although in the case of Capridism, the specific term for a priest is ironically enough, a Bellwether. In fact, the root definition of Bellwether, in general, describes a 'ram leading a flock', which is where the surname is derived. The term 'shepherd' actually applies to non-sheep leading sheep as I mentioned in my book, but I'm getting off-topic. Then there are of course 'flock matrons', which would be the specific term for caprid 'nuns'. When it comes to Bambisim, well...if I remember correctly priests were called 'Cervin' for short, which I believe is a play on 'Shamam'", As they are supposedly connected mentally and spiritually to the great forest...I think to work their gods will in the living realm.

Vernon: Which describes most priests regardless o' faith...

Dawn: *chuckles* That's why it's such a flexible term. They also have a nun equivalent in their own 'lady does.', which emulate the virtues and grace of the holy mother doe. 

Vernon: What about Simbology?

Dawn: Uhh...well, if I recall those in the position of 'priest' is called 'Pride Leaders, and while they don't have a direct equivalent to nuns, they do have something called 'sirens of Sarabi..."

Vernon: What's that?

Dawn: Well, as a preface, in caprid and Bambisim faiths, nuns and priests can wed and have families. However, in Simbology Pride Leaders can only wed lionesses that have earned the position of a siren of sarabi, no outsiders. Essentially the whole point of the position is to make pious and obedient mates for their Pride Leaders. And in the more 'devout' sects, a Pride Leader is expected to marry multiple sirens and form an ancient pride structure, essentially a harem. Even though most...contemporary practitioners of the religion don't take more than one wife, and see that as an old and archaic practice, it is still upheld in the higher echelons of Simbology. 

Vernon: 'Bit excessive iffin' ya' ask me, but that's comin' from a species that's always mated fer life...

Dawn: What about you Vernon, surely you'd like to explain the important roles of Volkism?

Vernon: Well, at the top o' the heap is usually a 'Seer', which is usually female but ain't always. Generally, they are seen as a direct link to Lupa and the gods seated in Asgrowl, so like the Bambists and Caprids, they are supposedly helpin' enact Lupa's will in the mortal realm. Granted y'all only drag a Seer out personally in specific circumstances, or they come to y'all if they have a vision that pertains to you. Outside o' Seer's, everythin' else is sorta...smaller. When it comes to tithe's and religious rites and whatnot, it's usually somethin' that's handled by the family members of a pack, and not a special someone who works outta some orthodox church. Although there are the Seer's servants, which serve as the mammal to go to with lesser problems and prayers that are meant to be taken to the Seer in order to get them to Lupa's ears. The Seer's servants also help those doin' rites or tithes by supplyin' 'em with necessary materials and legal paperwork, as well as teachin' those the rituals that weren't taught to 'em by their own families. Basically with Volkism, a lot o' the onus to practice is on the individual. 

Dawn: So...those aren't technically a form of a priest?

Vernon: I'd say they're more like glorified guidance councilors. *Chuckles*

Found Ask; Ask the Hunters and Felidaes; Bruno the Pie Thief

 

Audrey: I'm just surprised a woodpecker would even want a pie at all, let alone multiple ones. *Laughs* But it is funny in retrospect.

Yuri: I just wanna know how somethin' that small could put away so many pies on his own.

Ada: To be's fair, Qali's can put away a lot o' pie for how small she is. *Cackles* Dat's why it was so easy to finga her for da crime in question.

Qali: Yeah, great detective work guys! A house full of cops and not one of them gave me any due process! They didn't even look at the clues!

Zach: I don't think there's a single one of us that woulda been able to guess by the grace o' the gods that a bird did it. It's too out there! Y'all can't blame us fer lookin' to Occram's razor for the simplest solution.

Ada: Side's, y'all did have pie fillin' all over yas paws when it happened.

Qali: For the last time, I HELPED BAKE THEM! *Pouts*

Trenton: It's alright Snowball...*Pats her head affectionatly.* Thanks to ol' Lucero over there, y'all were proven innocent...and I mean, I always believed ya...

Qali: Says the wolf who was so silent when everyone was pointing claws...*Huffs*

Vernon: To be fair, Trent's quiet a lot o' the time...it's sorta his thang.

Lucero: Still, no one should feel bad for the mistake. While I am surprised someone didn't chalk it up to field pests of some kind, it is rare...though not out of the question for a bird-like bruno to steal food. *chuckles* Many birds have hoarding traits, especially when it comes to shining things. So the tin itself would be attractive to a bird such as Bruno. And of course, with the sweet mashed fruit acting as a sort of enticing nectar it would only double his incentive to take them. That said, I can't imagine he ate all the pies himself. Considering where we found the tins, it's quite likely that some other field pests kept stealing the pies from him, not to mention a good portion of the pies probably spilled out in transit, since there was no way he could carry it evenly...naturally this would drive him to seek out replacements.

Yuri: Still, that bird ain't no raven. He fits in most of our paws. How in the heck did he carry it off? He can't be more than a pound wet!

Lucero: There are some mysteries in the ornithological world that even I can't solve my friend. *Laughs*

Found Ask; Dorian, Zach, and Vanna; The Baseball Storm

 

Dorian: I dunno what yer talkin' about. *Chuckles* 

Zach: Yeah, I dunno what town blotter y'all read, but most o' them...er...'baseball' incidents were....misreported.

Dorian: Turns out that there was one o' them meteor showers that day. And what most folks don't know is that some o' them little buggers can actually make it to the surface...

Zach: Ulric said that...I think.

Dorian: But iffin' yer concerned I can safely assure y'all that after a thorough investigation we at the North Meadowlands Police Department have confirmed that the source of the so-called rash o' 'baseball beanin's' was from said meteor shower. So there ain't no...'baseball bandit' as some of the townfolks were mutterin' about. That's just the usual small-town rumor mill workin' as y'all would expect.

Zach: Open and shut case really...

Dorian: How is yer paw by the way Vanna? From the...er'...meteor I mean...

Vanna: Well I can feel my paw pad again, so that's something.

Dorian: Good, good...*chuckles* glad to hear it. was worried that y'all got hit-er' scalded enough to damage some nerves....from handlin' the hot meteor I mean.

Zach: Speakin' of them meteors...I just...er' wanna give y'all a heads up that there may be another er...'random' meteor shower come this Saturday...

Dorian: Fer about three hours...between two and five o'clock....maybe longer iffin' it goes into extra innings...

Ask Dawn and Vern: Contact with Howler Victims

 

Dawn: Sadly no one aside from the Ottertons have reached out...and by that I mean...I reached out to the Ottertons and they were receptive, and I still have some sort of amicable relationship with them.

Vernon: Our pups play with theirs on occasion, but generally Mister and Miss Otterton don't really visit as often as say...someone like Judy er Wade and Giselle.

Dawn: There is still some...discomfort there, and unlike Judy and myself, there hasn't been an equally traumatic series of events to kind of..force us into the express lane in terms of dealing with our trauma. I'd say we've reached the acquaintance stage, and that's good progress.

Vernon: Ain't Miss Otterton the one who used to bring her own tea when y'all would have it...at least until we adopted pups?

Dawn: Yes, yes she did. She said it was because she had a preference, but later she admitted that her mate was vaguely afraid I might lace her tea with night howler if she didn't bring her own.

Vernon: Pssht...we was already through the Last Night Scandal and our tithe by then. What'd he think, it was some sorta long con? *Chuckles*

Dawn: I think so, only when we adopted did he start to relax a little. I guess that was enough to break down whatever elaborate scheme he could justify in his head...although I still don't blame them for it, especially Emmet...considering he was...well most affected. As for the others...well, when I initially made my rounds with Vernon acting as my moral support, we were mostly met with slammed doors...

Vernon: Rarely someone would open up and hear us out long enough to say "I don't fergvie you." or on an even rarer occasion, "I understand, but I want nothing to do with you, please go away."

Dawn: Shortly after completing my novel, I hoof-wrote a letter to each of my victims, to say what I needed to say for better or worse. It was something my therapist recommended both so I could get my full apologies out without a door being slammed in my face, as well as help give me some degree of peace in knowing that I did all I could to make amends. But so far I have yet to receive any replies. I can't say it doesn't bother me...but I certainly understand why. How many mammals would be comfortable even acknowledging the existence of the mammal most responsible for some of the worst mental trauma and anguish they've probably have experienced in their entire lives? Some probably just want to move on and forget it, and contact from me is digging at their old wounds, while others just can't forgive me for what I've done to them personally, and they have a right to that. It's upsetting, but...maybe one day I'll have an opportunity to apologize to some of them properly should they change their minds...