Wolf lycanthropy is incredibly contagious but can only be transmitted by contact with a shifter in animal form or bad vaccine. Becoming infected by contact with a werewolf, the smallest scratch or tiniest drop of werewolf blood may be enough to transmit the disease and infect a human. Turning them upon the next full moon into a full werewolf.
Pack Structure
Lukoi have the most intricate political and social structure of all the lycanthropes. It is similar to the practices of natural wolves. Many of the terms used to identify the positions of leadership in a pack are of Norse in origin.
Ulfric
The Ulfric is the ultimate leader of the wolf pack and responsible for ruling the wolves within his territory. An Ulfric is the pack's alpha leader, the equivalent of a wolf king. He, or she, though a female Ulfric is rare, becomes Ulfric by killing the former Ulfric in a challenge to the death. Frequently all of the previous Ulfric's supporters are then killed to end dissention and retaliation.
Fenrir
To become Ulfric, you must first become Fenrir. It is a simple matter of rising through the pack ranks until you achieve the status of Freki. Once there you may Declare yourself Fenrir. In doing so you abandon the title of Freki and announce your intention to challenge for the position of Ulfric. In effect becoming equal to the Ulfric until the challenge is completed. Unless the Ulfric steps down, either the Fenrir or the Ulfric have to die.
Lupa
A term used by wolves for the female leader, the symbolic "Mother of the pack"; she is usually Alpha but not necessarily the dominant female in the pack. The Lupa is chosen by the Ulfric as a mate, as well as a leader, she may be his wife or girlfriend.
Freki and Geri
The Ulfric's two second in commands. In the books it is clear the Freki is dominant, since only Freki can declare Fenrir. (These are the names of Odin's two wolves. Freki means"Ravenous", Geri means "Greedy".)Fenrir
A werewolf who challenges the Ulfric for leadership of the pack is called Fenrir, but before they can issue that challenge they must first become Freki. Pack leaders must fight all challenges to their dominance personally, or forfeit leadership. Once a person declares themselves Fenrir a Pack would reject either Ulfric or Fenrir if they killed the other outside of a combat challenge. The Ulfric may step down before the combat. Fights for leadership, once begun, are always to the death. The challenged Ulfric gets to choose the form the combatants fight in. (Fenrir is a fierce giant wolf from Norse mythology. He is the son of the god Loki and the giantess, Angrboda. Even the gods considered him dangerous.)
Sk�ll and Hati
The 2 head enforcers of the werewolf pack who double as bodyguards for the Ulfric. In the books it is not stated but the Sk�ll appears to be dominant. (According to Norse legends the god Odin cast the Sun and the Moon into the sky, to lead Day and Night for eternity. To keep them moving at a fast pace, the Sun is chased by the wolf Sk�ll, while the Moon is chased by his brother Hati.)
Bolverk
The Bolverk is someone who does what might be considered evil deeds in order to benefit the Lukoi. Working at the direction of the Ulfric their deeds may be anything from tricks to murder. (Bolverk: "Evil-worker, or Harm-worker", is the name used by Odin when he did evil to win the poetic mead from the giants. This evil was necessary, in that the world couldnot survive with the mead in the hands of the giants.)
Vargamor
A Vargamor is a psychic or witch that acts as a wise woman for a werewolf pack. A Vargamor is not Lukoi and cannot be challenged. Most packs have stopped having a Vargamor as they consider it old fashioned. (In Scandinavia the Vargamor were women who provided human victims for wolf companions. In Sweden, women who lived in the forest were said to have sorceress powers, including having wolves under their control. They were called Vargamor, "Wolf-crones".)
Eros and Eranthe
These are Sexual Surrogates. There primary responsibility appears to be training new wolves to handle their beast during sex. Eros is male and Eranthe a female.
Freyja
When a Lupa wishes to reject or piss off her Ulfric, she declares herself Freyja. The Lupa first cuts the chest of the Ulfric then her self just over her heart. She then says: "Your heart to mine, mine to yours. Lupa to your Ulfric. But not to your bed nor you to mine." When the knife is thrust into the ground power and the Munin burst forth affecting every male werewolf in the vicinity. She concludes, "Catch me if you can, my Ulfric." The Lupa runs until one of the werewolves catches her and mates with her. Changing into a wolf before mating is instant disqualification.
Dominance
Pack standing is established by being dominant over other wolves. Dominance is established by challenging and either fighting or backing down other pack members. Dominance fights are rarely to the death and sometimes are psychological battles. If the werewolf being challenged does not wish to fight, they simply acknowledge the challenger's dominance and the confrontation is over. The victor rises in rank and assumes the spot vacated by the defeated. In the books, when Sylvie wanted to rise in the Pack she killed the first 2 wolves she challenged. The wolves next in line recognized her as dominant and stepped aside in order to not have to fight.
When a werewolf asks someone for protection they are admitting the other is dominant to them. If the wolf is given this protection, they are in effect fully under the command of the person giving the protection. All other wolves will either simply acknowledge this protection and move on, or challenge the protection. Another example from the books of how protection establishes Dominance is when Anita said she would protect Louie from Marcus. She was in fact challenging Marcus' dominance over her. Marcus could reclaim his dominance by hurting Louie anyway, and then surviving retaliation by Anita. They did not have to fight each other to establish who the dominant one was, it was revealed by who got their way.
Packs usually appoint sponsors to new wolves to teach them about the change, control, and how to walk successfully in the two cultures. Sex or in some circumstances lust, can release the beast against the will of the Lukoi. Which is why its been refered to as the "Killing Dance". Sex with humans can result in their death when at the moment of orgasm the wolf shifts and tears their partner apart. Older wolves can control and resist this, however not shifting during sex among wolves is considered holding back and is almost like saying it wasnt THAT good. . Normally the sponsor will teach new wolves about sex as a Lukoi. In some cases if the sponsor is unable or unwilling, the Eros or Eranthe may be assigned to act as sexual surrogates.
The Munin
When a pack member dies, the other members eat him or her. The dead wolf then joins the Munin, whose spirits act as guides, providing wisdom and sometimes power through those who possess the rare ability to channel them. The dead are not truly gone as long as the pack remains. (According to Norse legend Munin was the name of Odin's raven. Munin means "memory".)
Lupanar
Each Lukoi pack has a special place of power called the Lupanar. During the full moon the pack assembles there and celebrates by shifting into their animal forms and hunting. The Lupanar is their primary gathering place, where meetings are held, traditions observed, formal challenges are made and succession fights are held. Each Lupanar is distinctive depending on the terrain and the pack personality. The Lupanar is also sacred ground, a place of magic, tradition, and where the Munin draw together and share power.
Lukoi Practices
Werewolves have a highly evolved system of laws, rules and traditions governing their actions. Some practices appear more appropriate for natural wolves, yet are complicated by human reasoning.
Packs usually appoint sponsors to new wolves to teach them about the change, control, and how to walk successfully in the two cultures. Sex or in some circumstances lust, can release the beast against the will of the Lukoi. Which is why its been refered to as the "Killing Dance". Sex with humans can result in their death when at the moment of orgasm the wolf shifts and tears their partner apart. Older wolves can control and resist this, however not shifting during sex among wolves is considered holding back and is almost like saying it wasnt THAT good. . Normally the sponsor will teach new wolves about sex as a Lukoi. In some cases if the sponsor is unable or unwilling, the Eros or Eranthe may be assigned to act as sexual surrogates.
Once a wolf agrees to give protection to another Lukoi the pack must accept them as a dominant. When a Lukoi gives Protection they are saying they are strong enough to fight battles for the protected one, and defend them against all comers.
Nonverbally a wolf can request protection, by moving close to the dominant without actually touching them. If the dominant touches the submissive it singles to other lycanthropes he or she will protect that petitioner from their enemies. If they don't touch the submissive itsignifies a rejection.
A formal greeting between Lukoi is similar to one friendly natural wolf greeting another. They rub their cheeks together and then bury their noses in each others hair behind their ears, sniffing the skin.In public a submissive greets a dominant with a soft kiss, fingers lightly brushing the dominant's face. In private, the submissive would caress the lower lip of the dominant withtheir tongue.
To offer retribution for an affront a Lukoi can offer another their neck. "To seal my word, I'm going to offer you my neck." The other Lukoi kisses or bites the big pulse in the submitting Lukoi's throat. The harder the bite, the less they trust the other, or the moredominant they see themselves.When a Lupa wishes to reject her Ulfric, she declares herself Freyja. The Lupa first cuts the chest of the Ulfric then her self just over her heart. She then says: "Your heart to mine, mine to yours. Lupa to your Ulfric. But not to your bed nor you to mine." When the knife is thrust into the ground power and the Munin burst forth affecting every male werewolf in the vicinity. She concludes, "Catch me if you can, my Ulfric." The Lupa runs until one of the werewolves catches her and mates with her. Changing into a wolf before mating is instant disqualification.
Lukoi consider using guns in a challenge to be cheating. However knives are looked at as a legitimate substitute for claws. Except for specialized duty Lukoi would not carry weapons; the Lukoi themselves are the deadliest weapon they can bear.
If one werewolf kills another in a hand-to-hand fight, all the loser's possessions will belong to the victor. Shape shifters always change back to their original form in death.
