Werewolf Magic & Ritual Behavior

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

• most werewolves died in dominance fights with other wolves²⁰¹

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

• an Alpha can be challenged at any time²²¹
• the Marrok doesn't allow fights for an Alpha position without his consent²²¹
• not even fear of the Marrok can completely control the nature of the pack²²¹
• there is no tradition that dictates dominance fights have to be done in human form²²⁹
• it is common though, because it makes the challenge more about skill and strength; when you are armed with fangs and claws, a lucky hit can take out a more skilled opponent²²⁹
• traditional for the family of the Alpha to have the equivalent of ringside seats for the fight²³⁰
• formality of running the challenge by the Marrok²³¹
• women don't fight in challenge fights²³¹
• the challenger must be within three ranks of the challengee²³²
• the official code of conduct; says challenge within “three men” of your rank; it does not say that the challenger has to be a man²³⁴

Mercy Thompson Series #9: Fire Touched

• outside Alpha challenges were so unusual as to be almost unheard-of¹¹⁶
• outside challenges usually came from lone wolves too dominant to be welcomed into a pack on their own¹¹⁶
• one Alpha only challenged another when two packs were too close together—or if an Alpha had a personal vendetta against another¹¹⁶
• such battles were supposed to be one-on-one, but, historically speaking, unless an Alpha was utterly useless, his pack would fight for him¹¹⁷
• quite often both Alphas and most of both packs would die in the fight¹¹⁷

Mercy Thompson Series #12: Smoke Bitten

• at its heart, taking over a pack is simple: kill the Alpha in a challenge¹⁰⁵

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

• the last full moon of October, all of those who chose to try to become werewolves were allowed to come forward⁷⁴
• in a formal ceremony they were savaged by Bran Cornick, or by some other wolf who loved them, in the hopes they would rise Changed⁷⁴

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

• instinct takes over when a wolf is on the hunt⁷⁹

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

• the first hunt should not be interrupted⁸²

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

• a basic question asked of new werewolves who were ready to go for their first hung; what do you do when you're out hunting and you can't find any tracks or scent? You go to places that will attract your prey²²⁴

Roses in Winter

• no allowances are made for age or gender²⁹²
• half the business of the First Hunt is establishing how dominant the wolves are; it gets bloody²⁹²

Mercy Thompson Series #4: Bone Crossed

• the Alpha's blood and flesh⁶⁸
  • “From this day forward
  • Mine to me and mine. Pack.
  • “Yours to you, mine to me.
• Magic burns through, following the path of that bit of flesh; made you pack⁶⁹
• it was more usual to do it in full pack meeting, but the pack wasn't required; just a bit of the Alpha's flesh and blood and an exchange of vows⁷⁰
• wolf packs were dictatorships, but when you're dealing with a bunch of Americans brought up on the Bill of Rights, you still had to step a little carefully⁷⁴
• new members were generally announced as prospective rather than as faits accomplis⁷⁴
• non-werewolf mates weren't part of the pack, not really; they had status, as the mates of wolves, but they weren't pack; couldn't be made into pack with fifty flesh-and-blood ceremonies—the magic just wouldn't let a human in⁷⁴⁷⁴

Mercy Thompson Series #4: Bone Crossed

• mate bonds, when they settle down, are different for different couples—and being Alpha adds a twist to it as well²⁴⁴

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

• mating bond is different from a pack bond; it originates in one mate and ends in the other; softer, stronger, and deeper³²⁴

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

• mating is a lot more permanent than marriage; it's usually if you find your mate he's not going to be someone you need to divorce⁴⁹
• abuse is almost not possible when two people are connected by a mating bond, and it gives you insight into your mate that allows you to avoid the nastier fights that snowball into cold distance⁴⁹
• the mating bond is pack magic⁴⁹

Mercy Thompson Series #4: Bone Crossed

• benefit of the pack bond; feel strong emotion of other pack members; Alpha gets things first¹⁶¹
• the trick is to join with the pack without losing yourself in them—it's instinctive for the werewolves²⁴⁹

Mercy Thompson Series #5: Silver Borne

• pack existed before ceremonies; magic binds more obviously, more extensively, but not more deeply⁵⁶
• it is possible of pack being able to influence someone through the bonds³⁶
• with the pack bond it's possible to suck energy from pack members⁴⁰
• borrowing strength was one of those things that came with a pack bond⁵⁶
• pack bonds are not so different from thrall magic³²²
• pack bonds are not built to subdue individuality to the Alpha or enforce behavior of any kind³²²
• a pack needs all its differences, and they find strength in that³²²
• when a bond is broken and the wolves can still feel that someone in the packs bonds, its been known to happen when people die³³⁶

Mercy Thompson Series #6: River Marked

• pack bonds could be a nuisance sometimes¹⁸²

Mercy Thompson Series #1: Moon Called

• strongly discouraged telling anyone other than permanent mates that you were a werewolf¹³⁴
• werewolves don't have jails; the people who break their laws are either punished physically or killed¹³⁴
• werewolves take their secrecy very seriously; it's how they've remained undetected for so long¹⁴¹
• disobeying a direct order from the Alpha; penalty is brutal¹⁴²
• the laws have to be enforced or risk rebellion in a pack¹⁴⁵

Mercy Thompson Series #2: Blood Bound

• werewolves' trials tend to convene on the spot rather than six months after a crime; they are also over in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes⁵⁷
• can't convince your pack Alpha you are less trouble to him alive than dead? Too bad⁵⁷
• pack law; necessarily brutal⁵⁷