Mischief of Rats!, We may be Small, but we are Many...

[Raowolf]

It's a big bad world out there...
WILL YOU JOIN US?

There's a very specific food chain in the world, and the smaller creatures seem to be always at the bottom of it. And what's the smallest? The rat. They've evolved over thousands of years to slip under the radar; while bigger animals were getting bigger, and teeth and claws and then even bigger, just for good measure, fighting their way to the top, the rodents have been going the other way.
They're smart. They're fast. They have collapsible skeletons. And most of all...
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM.

Rats naturally congregate in large families which can be known as a Pack, a Clan, a Colony, a Swarm or a Mischief(or an infestation, if you're feeling very human). These can have up to 500 members in at one time, though the average is around 200 - it will start off with a few females and their mate. Then along comes another male, and in good nature the first allows him in, as long as he is subordinate; there is no longer inbreeding, and there is safe birth. The children stay on, and more males and females join up - females are usually a little more welcome - and so the numbers grow and grow, until you reach something such as in the film Ratatouille, or the books The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents and The Diary of Watkin Stench, where hundreds live together in one great big Pack/Clan/Colony/Swarm/Mischief.
They can live in cities, in forests, in savannahs and on roadsides; the only continent on earth that hasn't got these beasties is Antarctica! Consequently, this Mischief could be anywhere, but I was thinking Navoki Island, as they would probably be able to roam in the City and Forest.

There is a rough hierarchy, but it's pretty loose; they do what they need to do and obey the Leader, and everyone's happy. I have a lot of information about rats, including dietary needs, habitats, attitudes and breeding specifications, but rather than flood everyone with it now I have decided to give info when requested, so feel free to ask anything =)

The most common type of rat is the Brown/Norwegian/Common Rat, since they drove out the Black rats in the 1700s, but for the sake of keeping this an open(and hopefully large) Pack/Clan/Colony/Swarm/Mischief I'm thinking that it should be open to all species of rat, as this is not unheard of - but definitely only rats. Mice are to small and weak; they would be eaten or beaten up in days, and anything else is too large; Rats gang together for protection, and inviting anything larger in would endanger them.



Hierarchy~
Leader- The biggest, most dominant male. He gets first pick on about 50% of the females, and his blood runs strong through the Pack/Clan/Colony/Swarm/Mischief's veins. He must be constantly on guard for attack, as many may wish to knock him off his proud pedestal, especially the Dominas. His word is law.
She-leader- The she-leader leads most of the females. She may only give orders to female Dominas and both genders Squad three and Dappa. She does not pick her mate, but is often fearsome enough that the Leader will at least consider her opinion.
Dominas- These are the second most dominant males or females, and the only ones who can take over the Leader positions. The Males usually take about 10% of the females each, while the said gender still cannot pick a mate. Any position below must obey them but they cannot promote or demote.
Genetai- The main body of the Pack/Clan/Colony/Swarm/Mischief. Males and Females.
Squad 1 The third most dominant, these are in line for becoming Dominas. They are guards and protectors, and males can take the remaining 10-30% of females left. They guard, fight, but usually not too bright.
Squad 2 Not at all Dominant, these are clever rats and maybe big ones too; surprisingly, they are not all keen to become Dominas; these are actually smaller, but are the clever ones. In the city they work on traps and ways to expand and keep away predators. They don't usually mate. These go in pairs with Squad ones, and Squad threes if the latter is in training, and are the small ones you commonly see around.
Squad 3 The young and quite weak, all rats over 3 weeks old start as Squad three. They are too young or in-dominant to mate. Most don't stay here for very long; they will undergo training from either Squad ones or Squad twos, and specialise in one of these areas by three months, usually. If they fail to, then they will become a Dappa.
Menta- Birthing/Nursing females. As the Gestation Period is only around 21 days, and the Pack/Clan/Colony/Swarm/Mischief is quite strict, they only get a few days off of pregnancy, and three weeks to nurse before either going back to being a Genetai/Dominas.
Pups- Self-explanatory. Are nursed in large groups by multiple females, and kept well away from the males - a dominant male rat will kill any pups that are not his. They often sleep together in a big, warm huddle, but those on the bottom are often suffocated or crushed, and if their tails become entangled they get into what is called a 'King'. They will die attached.
Dappa- The weakest males. Females will stay Genetai or above, but a bad, weak, or offensive male will be demoted to Dappa; these often die.

Leader >>> Male Dominas >>> Genetai Squad 1 Males >>> She-leader >>> Dominas Females >>> Squad 2 Males >>> Squad 1 Females >>> Squad 3 Males >>> Squad 2 Females >>> Squad 3 Females >>> Dappa.



Current Members~
Leader- 1/1
Grak - Raowolf
She-leader- 1/1
Ace - Sojourner
Dominas- 1/5
Pandora - Kat
Genetai- 3/unlimited
Squad 1
Melvin - Matt
Squad 2
Mally - Raowolf
Eva - Ronni Blue
Squad 3
Menta- 0/unlimited
Pups- 0/unlimited
Dappa- 0/unlimited

Males|Females
2|4

The Squads and Dappa are decided by skill by the Leader and/or She-leader, but Dominas, Leader and she-leader are fought over. This is constant, and some Leaders only stay for a few days, while others may last up to six months - half their lifetime. To become Leader or She-leader, the challenger must kill their predecessor, so it is a dangerous position, but only a Dominas may do this. Unnoficial trials with then ensue for their newly opened spot.



So let's get this thing active! =D


Among insects, Men are Kings.
Among Rats, Men are Equals.

This post has been edited by Raowolf on Aug 5 2011, 05:53 PM

[Ronni Blue]

joining! ill go fo any spot, really.

[Raowolf]

Awesome =) If you make the bio, we can decide based on Personality and age ^^ Thanks for joining!

[Ronni Blue]

Made a formerly female domestic rat by the name of Eva.

[Raowolf]

Thanks, may I have the bio? I'll add it to the list to help with RolePlaying ^^

EDIT: Found it, don't worry =) I was thinking Genetai, Squad two, as those are the gentler, smart ones. I would say Squad three, as she seems a little underdeveloped, but that's mainly for younger, and I see she's already halfway through her life, so... ;] Thanks for that, Ronni.

[Matt the Sailor]

I'd like to joinnn.


http://z15.invisionfree.com/MWSavageLineag...p?showtopic=768


You can put him in any position you see fit.

[Thirteen]

Too bad my last rat died! Lyon was killed when he was drunk, and singing. But I'll make another character to join this rat group, because it sounds fun!

(Btw, I like Terry Pratchett's books too! (I'm guessing you do because of your sig))

[Raowolf]

Awesome, thanks for making one, both of you ^^

Lol, I think I'm drunk right now, though remarkably coherent. Maybe if I start singing, I'll be eaten by a wolverine 0.0

And yes, I LOVE Terry Pratchett =D I haven't found a single person who agrees with me on how awesome they are for months, and you're the third today! 8D

[Raowolf]

This is the first thread for the Navokii Island Rat Mischief; it's the Main Den Thread, so that's where you put your character to hang out, talk, eat, sleep and suchlike. Scavengers, those on training or the Squad Twos will have their own individual threads, or we could have another group one, if you'd prefer ;] Up to you guys :3

[Raowolf]

BUMP!

[Raowolf]

Great time to join. guys; we've got an amazing plot planned!