Order of the Packlord

The Companions of Packlord is a lesser known monastic order of Shifter origin located in a remote woodland region. Highly secretive and isolationist very few know anything of there practices or in most cases even there existance.

History

The Companions was formed based on the teachings of Thohorn Packlord. one of the earliest Shifter's to develop beyond the barbarity of the'r lycanthropic ancestors. He, and his companions, developed the ideology over many years and it has been refined through those who have followed in there wake.

Ideology

The Companions prime concept is that all shifters are born in tune with all primal beings, regardless of the Nature of there ancestors (Although those with particularly strong lineages of a certain lycanthropic form have a stronger connection to that style than others) and that the Highest ideal for the Shifter's is to dominater that conection and become master over it.

The method by which they do this is by studying the beasts themselves, learning from there form, style and talents. The primary strictures forbid the use of poisons, traps and ranged weapons as they are 'removed from the primal path'. The higher 'ranked' members know that this is ficticious, There are many creatures that hunt using venom fangs, cunning traps and strike from range. Realizing this truth is fundamental to advancement.

Hierarchy

The Hierarchy is very loose and far from clear. 'Rank' within the companions can be guaged by the pelts they wear. Each member must wear a cloak made from the pelts of their prey, as such the newest members often wear rabit pelts, foxes and small deer. The more advanced masters tend more towards wolf pelts, then bears and a few rare masters wear the pelts of Drakes and other great beasts.

The reason for this is that to best the beast is to know it, it's form, style and tactics and be able to use them, for yourself or against your foe.

Risks

The companions walk a fine line, there deep immersion in their bestial natures can cause them to forget there higher self, falling to a base creature, an animal. This is known in the Companions as 'Joining the wild hunt'. Due to the reclusive nature of the Companions this has spawned the false idea that the phrase is a euphamism for death and that they believe in an afterlife they call the 'Wild Hunt'.

There is a small number of the Companions who take it upon themselves to hunt those who have fallen.

Weapons and armour

Due to the vast veriety of beasts and styles they represent the Companions have no real restrictions on weaponry or armor. They do however tend towards speed and light armorment due to the low number of beasts that live in the region that exhibit natural armor or any complexity in there natural weapons.