RAVENS AND CROWS OFFICAL GUIDE [★] updated 01/29

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To aid and explore; we are the wandering children of the world.

Established by the adventurous Ikaia and curious Aine, the Ravens and Crows are an overall youth-based group dedicated to exploration and lending aid to any and all who require it. Expanding the known maps of the claimed territories and beyond; offering their paws whenever disaster strikes.

The Ravens and Crows are home to all those young, eager and curious.

► HISTORY
[div style="border: 1px black solid; overflow: auto; max-height:200px; background-color: #d9f2e4; padding: 10px;"]A friendship destined for trouble, a beta from the Typhoon and a child of the Pitt, Ikaia and Aine quickly bonded over their love for exploration. Both possessing innate traits of curiosity and compassion, they quickly set about establishing an organization for children such as themselves, united in the common goals of discovery and acting on kindness.

Soon they began recruiting to their cause, welcoming the Typhoon beta Salem into their fold as their third commodore.

But this is only the first chapter…

► TERRITORY AND LANDMARKS

The Highlands: X X X
Referred to as the "highlands" by most of their members, the Ravens and Crows call a taiga for their own; a barren but beautiful landscape dotted with mountains, hills, streams and lakes.

The Old Castle: X X
Surrounded by the water of the loch and reached by an ancient stone bridge, the old castle what the Ravens and Crows call their home base. Time has overgrown the castle, but the Ravens and Crows have been returning comfort within. Encouraged to bond, troops typically claim portions of the fortress for their dorms, while the kitchens and dining hall remain free to all.

The Ancient Forest: X
Dubbed the ancient forest, lingering on the shorelines of one of the Highland’s many rivers and lakes is an old pine forest. No one knows quite how long the trees have stood but it is clear they are older than most. Sporting a beautiful myriad of colors during the later seasons, especially autumn, the ancient forest is a popular location for those drawn by the beauty of nature.

► THE RANKING SYSTEM

→ Commodores: The Ravens and Crows are headed by three Commodores; the Raven, Crow and Wolf respectively. Their decisions are always final and there must always be three Commodores, ensuring a majority agreement on all major discussions.
Commodore Ikaia of the Ravens — penned by pluto
Commodore Aine Ní Broin of the Crows — penned by misty
Commodore Salem of the Wolves — penned by lamby

→ Captains: Every troop is lead by a Captain, who is responsible for that troop. They make group decisions, such as times and meeting places, as well as promote members to troop specific ranks and grant troop specific titles. Should a division’s Commodore step down, die, or is otherwise unavailable, one of the respective division’s captains will take their place.
Raven Captains — Torren Winther
Crow Captains — tba
Wolf Captains — tba

→ Historians: Each division possesses a historian. Someone who works closely with the Cartographers, Captains, Bards and Raconteurs, it is the division Historians who keep careful records of every expedition and mission undertaken.
Raven Historian — tba
Crow Historian — tba
Wolf Historian — tba

→ Medics: Every troop must have an acting medic, to ensure the health and wellbeing of the troop, especially when on active duty. An exploring troop should never leave without their medic. Every medic should posses a travel-bag or medkit, to guarantee emergency herbs on the move.

→ Cooks: Every troop must have an acting cook, to ensure the troop stays fed, specifically while on the move. Every cook should know how to hunt and understand the basics of preparing traveling herbs.

→ Cartographers: Every troop must have an acting cartographer, as one of the primary purposes of the Ravens and Crows founding was to explore. A cartographer's duty is to map and record details of the new places their troop discovers. They are more essential to Raven and Wolf troops but every troop should have one as a guide.

→ Guardians: Often parents or older siblings, the Guardians are the older members of the Ravens (typically older than two years). They often act as troop parents and guides; the younger members are always encouraged to heed their wisdom and advice, whether they are higher in the ranks or not.

→ Ravens, Crows and Wolves: Regular members of the each division respectively.

→ Feathers, Talons and Cubs: The youth of each division, typically below the age of five moons.

► THE DIVISION SYSTEM

The Ravens and Crows are divided into three divisions; the Ravens, the Crows and the Wolves, each designed to dedicated to a specific founding goal.

Primarily tasked with the simple purpose of exploring or couriering messages, the Ravens are the most curious and adventurous, truly dedicated to expanding knowledge of the known world.

Primarily tasked with the purpose of keeping peace, the Crows are the most courageous and strong, dedicated to lending their paws to aid those in need. They are first responders for disasters and harsh attacks.

The Wolves are unique, for their task is to simply go wherever they are needed. Flexible, the Wolves are the most adaptable and prepared.

[div style="width:100%; text-align: justify; overflow: auto; text-align: justify; padding:10px; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 8pt; color:black;"]► TITLES
[div style="border: 1px black solid; overflow: auto; max-height:200px; background-color: #d9f2e4; padding: 10px;"]→ Explorer Titles: Typically earned by those in the Raven division, explorer titles are earned by the most adventurous and prepared.

Scribe: Often granted to a particularly accomplished cartographer, but not necessarily only to those with that rank, the title Scribe is earned by members who are detailed and well-organized note-takers.

Guide: The title of Guide is typically granted to the Ravens with the best memory and great confidence of leadership. These Ravens often take the head of expeditions into familiar and unfamiliar territory, offering traveling advice and ensuring the troops avoid danger.

→ Combatant Titles: Commonly earned by those in the Crow division, combatant titles are earned by the most courageous fighters and strategists.

Commander: The title Commander is earned by those who prove themselves to be the most strategic warriors, possessing caution and insight on the field of battle.

Crusader: The title Crusader is typically earned by the most daring fighters -- often Crows -- who never shy away from the frontlines, whether on the field of attack or defense.

→ Diplomat Titles: Often earned by the Raven and Wolf divisions, diplomat titles are earned by the peaceful, as well as the history oriented.

Bard: The title of Bard is granted to those particularly musically inclined; those who often take the stage during the bonfires and lead campfire songs. Bard is also often rewarded to those who are also adept at recounting the past, especially through verse.

Raconteur: The title of Raconteur is awarded to those, similar to the bards, adept at retelling the past, albeit without the use of music and verse. They often work closely with the division Historians.

Cleric: Earned by proven medics and talented healers, the title Cleric belongs to those who demonstrated a detailed knowledge of healing. They are the most calm and dedicated caretakers of the Ravens and Crows.

Peacekeeper: True ambassadors and diplomats, Peacekeeper is a title granted to the mediators of the Ravens and Crows, and they can often be found smoothing out conflicts and trying to defuse situations wherever they arise.

→ Spring Traditions:
The Egg Hunt: The Week of Easter Sunday is a particularly entertaining time for the Ravens and Crows. Together the Commodores, or a set of willing volunteers hide eggs all throughout the Ravens and Crows' territory. The goal; find as many eggs as you can by the end of the week. There is a bonus objective however; each commodore has hidden a special egg, decorated with the mark of their division, that is typically made extremely difficult to find.

The Painter's Challenge: In the spirit of the colorful time of spring, the Ravens and Crows host the painter’s challenge. Individually, or as a troop, the members are encouraged to participate by painting the walls of the fortress. Typically, the dorms each troop has claimed are the canvases.

→ Summer Traditions:
Summer Solstice Bonfire: One of two annual bonfires, the Ravens and Crows host a spectacular gathering on the summer solstice that lasts from the morning to the dawn of the next day. There is music, snacks, games and contests hosted all throughout the day.

→ Fall Traditions:
Pumpkin Carving: As autumn rolls in and Halloween creeps upon the land, the troops set to work decorating the castle. A particularly encouraged pastime is to carve pumpkins and place candles inside them, creating spooky lights all throughout their home base.

All Hallows Eve Lanterns: On Hallows Eve night, the Ravens and Crows enjoy a particularly beautiful tradition of casting lights into the sky, often directly over their many lakes, which they surround with the lit jack-o-lanterns they have worked on beforehand. The night is meant to be one of bonding and spiritual beauty.

→ Winter Traditions:
Winter Solstice Bonfire: One of the two annual bonfires, the Ravens and Crows host a gathering on the winter solstice, from dawn to the next day. A day meant to celebrate the end of the year and friendships within, the bonfire is typically accompanied by gift giving, music and team-based competitions.