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What are...
The Skyggen?
No one is entirely sure where the Skyggen originated. Some say the first simply formed under the right conditions at the right time, while others believe they are actually ghosts, spirits remaining on this planet after their bodies have long since died. However, the Skyggen are neither of these things. They are actually a product of black magic, the first having been created during the Dark Ages. A Norwegian shaman, perhaps seeking revenge, summoned up a spirit of darkness. Or at least, he tried to do so. What appeared was something he had never seen or read about. The creature that levitated before him, he later learned, was a spirit of chaos itself. Not knowing this, however, the shaman called the creature "Skyggen" for its shadowy appearance.
Over the years, the Skyggen have gone by many names. However, they all had one thing in common: anarchy. Chaos. Destruction. The absence of order. They seem to bring it wherever they go, always accompanied by haunting laughter and crazed smiles. In reality, the Skyggen feed off of chaos as a plant feeds off of sunlight. Without it, they will become weak and die. The best way to kill a Skyggen would be to lock it alone in an empty room, as there is nothing to disrupt.
It's hard to say what exactly one of these beings looks like, because they are capable of shifting forms. However, they will always be a shade of some kind, but never pure white. As animals, any markings a Skyggen will have do not stand out all that much, despite what color they may be. What truly defines one of these beings, though, would be the tail tip; it will always be a bright, vivid color that leaves a trailing afterimage, similar to a candle.
Social by nature, the Skyggen will often band together to form groups and cause disorder wherever they go. Some consider them evil for this, but they honestly can't help themselves. Chaos is in their blood. Exterminating them is possible, but a difficult task. Skyggen are not immune to wounds or disease, but they are quite durable. Outside of causing general mayhem, one can observe these strange creatures acting as any other would, the only exception being that they are much more fond of trickery that other beings.
?Rules?
+Respect all members of the group. Disagreements are bound to happen, but I don't want any fights happening. Remember, some people just don't share your opinion.
+No godmoding, powerplaying, perfect characters, etc.
+Make sure your character's look is uniform with the description of the Skyggen.
+No heavy cursing. Damn, crap etc is fine, but no dropping the f-bomb every other word.
+Once you have joined, please add TAE to the end of your name.
+Be respectful towards your superiors, even if you disagree with them
+You must be active. We understand you have lives, but if you're gone without notice for five-six days, you will be booted from the group. Let one the Alphas or Betas know if you won't be on for a while.
+Character development is important, so please no insta-mating. It's okay to have a mate outside of the group.
+Do not, under any circumstances, go picking fights with others under our name. We're not looking to make enemies. If someone is continuously giving you trouble, report it to one of your superiors.
+Please have some degree of literacy if you're going to join us. Text talk is forbidden in-rp, and still frowned upon in OOC.
+We are a long-term group, so only join if you intend on staying.
?Ranks?
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The Spades Division consists of the highest ranks in the group. They command the most respect, but have the most responsibility. Decisions will usually be made by someone from this Division.
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?Alpha?
At max, there are two alphas in the group, typically one male and one female, though they do not have to be mates. These two will lead the group and be responsible for it. They are of equal standing, and will always have the final say in any decision. Opposing or challenging either of the alphas will result in severe punishment.
?Beta?
Similar to the alphas, there can be up to two acting betas at the same time. They act as second-in-command, taking care of the group when neither of the alphas is present. The betas have the right to make certain decisions, such as whether someone is accepted or not. However, they can be overruled by the alpha.
?Delta?
Like the alphas and betas, there can be two deltas at a time, often a male and female. However, the two do not have to be mates. Within the Spades Division, the deltas have the least power, but still enough that they should be obeyed should the alphas and betas be absent.
?Council Member?
The Council is made up of four of the group's wisest members. They don't distribute orders as much as they act as advisers for the higher ranks. If the alphas, betas, or deltas are ever considering a decision, they will usually consult a member of the Council to make sure their choice is the best for the group.
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Within the Diamonds Division would be the highest ranks outside of those within the Spades Division. These members generally do not have authority over the group as a whole, but should be given respect regardless. What makes this Division unique is that all the ranks within it are equal in standing.
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?Head Warrior?
As the name implies, the Head Warrior is in charge of the group's warriors. Typically a male, the Skyggen with this rank is responsible for organizing the warriors and making sure they are used to their full potential.
?Head Seeker?
The Head Seeker, believe it or not, has the job of keeping the group's seekers organized. Males and females have equal chances in receiving this rank, and whoever is chosen should organize the seekers so that they are able to hunt efficiently.
?Assassin?
Within a group of Skyggen, the number of assassins usually does not exceed five. The name is self-explanatory; those assigned this rank are often the most trusted and masters of stealth. Assassins are given the task of quickly and quietly eliminating a target given by someone from the Spades Division.
?Shaman?
As the Skyggen are made from black magic, it would make sense that they have some manipulation over it. This would be what the shamans specialize in. There can be three of these black magic experts at one time in the group. Also, the shamans tend to interested in the history of the Skyggen, and can be seen studying it in their downtime.
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(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Examias/TAEHeartsDivision.jpg)
Like the Diamonds Division, the Hearts Division has a quality that tends to separate it from the other groups. This quality would be that while those in the Hearts Division are technically higher than the Clubs Division, they're usually treated the same. This is mostly due to the fact that the heart is more of a symbol of what the containing jobs deal with rather than power.
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?Healer?
Perhaps some of the most important members in the group, the healers take care of wounded or sick Skyggen. There can be four at the most in the group. Healers are very knowledgeable of various herbs, and can often be seen collecting them during their free time.
?Caretaker?
Once the healers have done what they can, the caretakers act as a sort of nurse. They attend to the sick and wounded, as well as being responsible for keeping an eye on offspring while the other adults are gone. Females usually take this role, but males can, too.
?Offspring?
Offspring are the children of the group. They are usually born to a couple from the Spades Division, though sometimes an abandoned offspring will be adopted into the group. These orphans are usually looked after by the caretakers, but can be officially "adopted."
?Queen?
Quite simply, these are females in the group that are expecting cubs or pups. Even though a Skyggen is made from black magic, they do reproduce like normal animals when shifted into the form of one.
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Despite being listed last, Skyggen in the Clubs Division are not necessarily those with the least respect. They and the Hearts Division are treated equally, though occasionally the warriors and seekers will be regarded with more respect.
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?Warrior?
Even though all Skyggen are slender beings, there are those who are stronger than others. These stronger beings usually become warriors, or the protectors of the group. Should The Anarchy Epidemic be attacked, the warriors are the ones who are chiefly in charge of fighting back.
?Seeker?
While warriors are generally made up of the stronger Skyggen, the seekers are usually those who are a bit faster than others. Equivalent to a typical pack's hunters, the seekers look for areas of chaos for the group to feed off of. If that cannot be found, they will try to find an area of impeccable order just ripe for being completely disrupted.
?Trainee?
In the group, trainees are those who are too young and inexperienced to gain a true rank just yet. As their name implies, the trainees are members in training for a certain rank, usually seeker or warrior. This is typically the rank adolescents are given.
?Omega?
The lowest rank in the group, omegas have the least power. They usually do odd jobs around the group, such as running to gather herbs for the healer. Even though they are the lowest, though, violence towards the omegas is not tolerated.
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