There are many clans residing in the town of Kah'ren. Each and every clan has its own general personality, traditions, and even common coat colors. While every clan has its differences, there are even more similiarities. All are governed by a set of common rules. All must serve their own clan above all else. And most importantly...all must heed their leader's commands.

Click the buttons below to learn more about individual clans or read further down this page to learn about clans in general.

Canna Law

From one end of the city to the other, dogs are expected to abide by a code of law known as 'The Canna Law'. This law is intended to both protect dogs and keep different clans out of one another's fur. Dogs that break the Law are subject to punishment at their leader's discretion...or at the jaws of whatever clan they've crossed in the process.

• A clan cares for their own first and foremost. Food must be brought home before eating. The 'incapables' will be fed first. That means nursing mothers, puppies, and elders.

• No dog can live with his paws...or his heart, in two worlds. A dog must take a mate from his own clan. Forbidden mateship will be punished as seen fit by the dogs' respective leaders.

• A leader's word is law.

• It is forbidden to fight with a fellow clanmate and draw blood save in a battle for rank. No dog may interfere another's rank fight. A dog who does brings great shame upon his clan.

For the most part duties are divided among all clan dogs, though a dog might recieve certain tasks that better suit his skill level. For example, a hulking dog that is known to be strong and defensive will probably be given the task of border patrol more often. A dog who is slender and quick will be better suited for fast paced food hunts. No matter the day's task that a dog is given though, he is fully trained and expected to do his job to the best of his abilities. Survival depends on it. All dogs below the chief and general are ranked basically the same.

• CHIEF (Li'Canna)- Every clan has one chief, or alpha dog. They are the top tier, the leader of the gang. They have earned this right through strength and intelligence. When the chief dog speaks you listen. The chief holds the responsibility of everyone's welfare. They know everyone in the clan, from the smallest puppy to the blindest elder. Respectfully you refer to your chief first as "Li" followed by their name. i.e., Li'navira or Li'greyo'mira.

• GENERAL (Rali'canna)- The general is the second in command, chosen by the chief himself. He is in charge when the chief isn't around, and he's the one who divides everyone into their tasks for the day alongside the chief. He reports back to the chief with anything noteworthy. If the chief dies, the general becomes the new chief and must choose a new general. It is respectful but not essential to refer to your general as "rali" followed by their name. i.e, Rali'grair.

• SHADOWSPEAKER (Rumblier'gru)- Every clan has one Shadowspeaker. the dog who leads the healers. He is said to have a close connection with the gods...and the shadows that take dogs away from the world. He is an extremely well respected member of the pack. (Scroll down for more information on Shadowspeakers)

• CORPORAL (Ele'canna)- The 'regular' dogs that don't hold a high rank. These dogs are expected to carry out tasks as assigned. They are the food gatherers, the watchdogs, the defenders and providers of the pack. Everything that they do from the smallest to the largest job should be done with great respect.

• HEALER (Owi)- All clan healers (with exceptions made) are chosen when their eyes open for the first time as newborns. Those bearing the Gods' Blessing will be swept away in time to begin their training. The Gods' Blessing is a splash of odd color in a dog's eyes, usually a mix of brown and blue. (sectoral heterochromia, but not complete heterochromia) A dog with the Blessing in his eyes is said to have gazed directly into the eyes of the Gods to receive a healer's intuition.

• APPRENTICE (Ele'cannara) At the age of three months, a dog will begin his training. He is no longer considered a 'baby' at this point. He will be assigned a mentor that will teach him everything he needs to know about surviving the city and providing for his gang. A mentor and his apprentice are joined at the hip once paired. By the time the youngster is named a corporal at around one year of age, he and his mentor are tightly bonded.

• PUP (Ren)- Underneath apprentices, you will find the youngest dogs of the gang. These little ones are full of life and ready to go, but they have to reach three months first! Until then they can busy themselves strengthening those little legs and brains playing puppy games.

• ELDER (Rumblier'e Hali)- These are the retirees of the clan. They've done their part and now they're ready to rest. But that doesn't mean that they aren't useful! They are highly revered among the gangs as the wise and honored ones. Even the leader himself might go and ask them for advice sometimes.

• UNSPOKEN (Askabi)- These are the lowest ranked dogs in the whole clan. They never take this role without good reason. An unspoken (nameless) dog has lost their name and is now only addressed as askabi. Nameless. Unspeakable. Marked. An askabi is basically a traitor to the clan or one who has broken the law in a terrible way. They are made to do menial, dangerous, or filthy tasks and are generally seen as worse than scum. A clanborn dog is not allowed to bite another in his clan, but if he feels that the askabi needs to be punished everyone will turn away and allow it. If an askabi has pups, they are taken away and raised as a part of the clan. The askabi's children grow up with normal clan ranks.

Taken By Shadows

When a dog dies or disappears, a clan leader will hold a ceremony to honor them. It is a somber ceremony, but it is one that must be performed...it's a sort of roll call for the survivors and a way to honor those that are Emle Rumblier. It is called Ayou Far Hali. The Lost Friend Song.

Until the moon is in the center of the sky, stories will be told about those lost. When the moon is high, a sad song will be howled to the heavens to let the lost, past and present, know that they are remembered. The clan leader will ask the Gods to recieve their lost friends so that they might become a star on Ridna's pelt.

After this ritual, the lost that are named will no longer be searched for.

Canna Name

Every dog is given a name in canna tongue when they are very young. This could be based on their appearance or something about them or their story that stands out to their parents. It is not uncommon for a dog to go through life with a name like "Randan'hu" (Brown Fur) but it is also not uncommon at all for these names to change as they age, morphing very naturally based on their reputation among the clan. A dog born as Randan'hu might impress his clan enough with the way his speed saved a life, for example, and the clan might take to calling him "Eliriru" (Swift Foot) as a show of respect. In this way a dog can shed the name given at birth and become an Arelin - A Cannirozer, or "dog with a name."

Though it is a natural part of life for clan dogs to undergo a name change, many dogs do covet the idea and daydream about performing feats so impressive that it permanently changes their name and reputation.

Shadowspeakers

Whenever a clan is in need of a Shadowspeaker, the Gods themselves choose who they want to be their mouthpiece. A healer might suddenly find himself being granted vibrant visions or reading signs in the stars as fluently as if he were perusing the newspaper. The signs are rarely ever subtle. They come hard and fast, often at a shock to the new Shadowspeaker and usually in a way that leaves no doubt in anyone else's mind either.

If a dog is having denial about his visions or if it isn't "clicking" then the gift might also be very temporarily granted to the clan's leader as well. No matter how it happens, there should be no confusion about who has been named Shadowspeaker.

The Shadowspeakers can read the stars to predict small events like deaths and births. If a dog goes missing, sometimes a Shadowspeaker can read the stars to find out if they've made it back to "The Pelt."

A Shadowspeaker can "consult" with the Gods by reading the stars or asking for knowledge that he does not already know regarding healing.

Shadowspeakers can also read the stars to predict when a dog is going to give birth. If there appear to be less stars in the sky as a mother nears her due-date, then pups are likely on their way within coming days.

There is only one active Shadowspeaker per clan. In extremely rare instances, the Gods can interfere and "remove" the current Shadowspeaker and grant the gift to someone else. Througout history, this has only been seen whenever the acting Shadowspeaker does something that directly blasphemes the Gods themselves or causes great harm to the clan. A dog with true restephus'udu, or wicked heart, might be stripped of his power if the Gods see fit. As with naming a new Shadowspeaker, both the clan leader and the new Speaker will recieve powerful visions that leave no doubt about the Gods' wishes.

Rama'jai

A dog's canna name and their rama'jai go hand in hand. Every dog has a rama'jai, even if they don't immediately realize it. A rama'jai is their best skill, something that makes them stand out from every other dog. Dogs are often given a name based on their rama'jai if everyone else notices it. In this way, one dog can often assess at first introduction what the other is best known for. With a name like "fish catcher" there's nothing left to guess!

Some dogs have a rama'jai that is clan-based, like Why'os being very fast runners. Sometimes though, a dog will have a specific skill like opening human doors, sneaking quietly, or remembering things very well. Even storytelling can be a rama'jai! It's the thing that makes them useful and unique to their clan. A clan will know right away who to send for an urgent message or who to send into the river to rescue a drowning pup. They'll send the one with the rama'jai that fits the task!