Once per year, the tribe selects a spokesperson from among the packs' elders as a representative. Lupin tribes practice strict egalitarian democracy and usually operate without a leader (although elders in the tribe can often sway the votes of younger members). Lupins live in tribes consisting of three to twelve packs, and each pack contains two to ten adults (and several pups). At the conclusion of this rite, the old lupin is recognized as an elder and becomes eligible for the greatest of honors: to represent the tribe in a White Howl. Once a lupin's muzzle and head hair begin to whiten (a natural change for the race that comes with age) he passes through one final rite composed of fasting and intense meditation. Succeeding at this rite makes the young lupin an official member of the tribe, and allows him or her the chance to venture with an elder to a White Howl. The exact rite varies from tribe to tribe, but it typically includes spending a night on the grasslands with only a mount as company. At puberty, lupins undergo another rite, called ro'rutoo (for boys) or ro'rutah (for girls). This day, known as the child's Moonset, is only the first rite of passage for a lupin. The day after a lupin child proves itself weaned by eating solid foods, the village werewolf hunters, called hruffs, begin teaching it the basics of killing lycanthropes.
Regardless of their origin, lupins have always had a tie to werewolves. Most lupins consider this theory preposterous, although the younger generations seem to favor this less idealistic belief. Followers of his theory, called Hectorites, propose that their race came from the union of humans and gnolls, and that early lupins became famed werewolf hunters to prove to fearful human neighbors that they indeed were not werewolves themselves. The newer origin theory, originally proposed by the lupin sage Hector Roff, argues that the fanatic enmity between lycanthropes and lupins comes from stresses placed upon the lupins by other races.
Proponents of this theory point to the uncanny ability of lupins to sniff out werewolves as well as the obvious physical similarities. The original and most popular creation story comes down from their ancient oral tradition, marking lupins as descendants of werewolves who rejected the chaos of their monthly murderous sprees. However, non-lupin sages and historians (with lupin input) frequently consider and debate this issue.Īlthough most people consider the debate purely academic, lupin spiritual leaders actively argue two versions of their creation. Most of these dog-headed humanoids rarely ponder the subject, living their lives in the comfort of their individual families, saving such speculation for the quiet times of their infirm years. Lupins exist at the crux of a duality, torn constantly between two mythological beginnings.
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