Forest Spirits
The forest spirits began when I purchased my first deer-dog, Beige. I made him a 'forest guardian' and was done with it ... until I began purchasing more and more. I needed a way to tie them in together and so I began creating a mythology around them.
Basically, there is a hidden glade in which the forest spirits reside ... and the best (and most daring) among them become forest guardians who are sent around the world to care for the forests. They have a king (which can be male or female, the term is gender-less in this case) as well as a council. The council is made up of forest spirits who may or may not have been guardians but the king must have served some time as a guardian (before joining the council then becoming king).
Basically, there is a hidden glade in which the forest spirits reside ... and the best (and most daring) among them become forest guardians who are sent around the world to care for the forests. They have a king (which can be male or female, the term is gender-less in this case) as well as a council. The council is made up of forest spirits who may or may not have been guardians but the king must have served some time as a guardian (before joining the council then becoming king).
Glossary of Terms
Forest Spirit - a deer-dog with varying degrees of wild magic.
Minor Forest Spirit - these are the ones that have very little magic and tend to take lesser roles in society. Have very little chance of becoming a guardian.
Elder Forest Spirit - any Forest Spirit who has retired from being a guardian
Greater Forest Spirit - any senior Forest Spirit. Includes Elder Forest Spirits as well as retired minor Forest Spirits.
Forest Guardian - generally regarded as the best of the best. They protect the glade that the forest spirits live in as well as the forests around the world. Must go through a rigorous training process then must train for at least a year under a mentor before they are finally given their own forest to take care of.
The Council - The ruling body in the glade. Made up of 12 Forest Spirits ranging from Minor to Elder.
King - The top ruling figure. The term is gender-less and the position may be taken up by male or female (although the last two have been Flurry and his father). Must have served time as a guardian and on the council before even being considered.
The Glade - this is where the main bulk of the Forest Spirits live as well as where potential Guardians are trained and where the ruling body resides. The glade is protected by a number of Guardians and is a safe zone. There are several smaller packs of Forest Spirits that reside elsewhere, of course.
Boreal Pack - A Northern pack that resides outside the glade and instead hides away in the tundra forests. Mostly comprised of large, fluffy breeds well equipped to handle the harsh terrain. While they abide by the rules of all Spirits, they also have their own sets of rules designed to keep them safe from detection. Most are considered brutish and wild by their more civilized Glade cousins. A group will come down once a year for the annual Guardian recruit training and several will occasionally visit at other times when there are important decisions to be made.
I imagine their world (which is clandestine to the world I have already created for my other characters) is much more intricate but those are the basics.
Minor Forest Spirit - these are the ones that have very little magic and tend to take lesser roles in society. Have very little chance of becoming a guardian.
Elder Forest Spirit - any Forest Spirit who has retired from being a guardian
Greater Forest Spirit - any senior Forest Spirit. Includes Elder Forest Spirits as well as retired minor Forest Spirits.
Forest Guardian - generally regarded as the best of the best. They protect the glade that the forest spirits live in as well as the forests around the world. Must go through a rigorous training process then must train for at least a year under a mentor before they are finally given their own forest to take care of.
The Council - The ruling body in the glade. Made up of 12 Forest Spirits ranging from Minor to Elder.
King - The top ruling figure. The term is gender-less and the position may be taken up by male or female (although the last two have been Flurry and his father). Must have served time as a guardian and on the council before even being considered.
The Glade - this is where the main bulk of the Forest Spirits live as well as where potential Guardians are trained and where the ruling body resides. The glade is protected by a number of Guardians and is a safe zone. There are several smaller packs of Forest Spirits that reside elsewhere, of course.
Boreal Pack - A Northern pack that resides outside the glade and instead hides away in the tundra forests. Mostly comprised of large, fluffy breeds well equipped to handle the harsh terrain. While they abide by the rules of all Spirits, they also have their own sets of rules designed to keep them safe from detection. Most are considered brutish and wild by their more civilized Glade cousins. A group will come down once a year for the annual Guardian recruit training and several will occasionally visit at other times when there are important decisions to be made.
I imagine their world (which is clandestine to the world I have already created for my other characters) is much more intricate but those are the basics.