Chole - Apprentice - a person in training to become a Ledri.
Ledri - common Ledri's who are commanded by those of higher rank, caretakers.
Telen - Loner - type of Ledri who acts as a scout for several Seeker packs.
Feiren - Planter -a pack whose function is to care for the trees of the forest.
Myren - Herder -a pack whose function is to control animal herds and populations.
Palenti - Sentinel -a pack whose function is to patrol the forest.
Reis - Pack leader - commands a pack.
Saerum - Guardian - commands several packs of various functions within an area.
Nirol - Watcher - the leader of the Ledri.
Nira se'ir - Watcher's Voice - The Voice of the Watcher, each tribal region has its own Watcher's Voice.
Amari - Seekers -a special branch of the Ledri with a more military focus, Seeker packs are the first line of defense in the forest.
Saemari - Warden - leader of several Seeker packs.
Ledri Ranks
Apprentice or Chole:
Youngsters who become Ledri apprentices usually come by one of two routes. Some of them have gone through the first two steps of the religious education within the Dalmite culture. These youngsters are very spiritual in nature and are usually very devoted to Elaen. Others have learned some of the ways of the warrior and feel their talents are best used to defend the forest. The first few years after the Rites of Passage have been spent learning to use weapons or tracking skills.
The young person is usually between the ages of 16 to 18 when they begin their apprenticeship. They are assigned an individual Ledri who will oversee the furthering of their education. Typically these Ledri are older and very experienced. Often, they have given up the bulk of their Ledri duties to devote to the teaching of the young. They are referred to as the Guides of the Ledri, or the Neresle. The young person goes to live with the Neresle and is taught not only the skills of the Ledri but the deep spirituality, which guides the Ledri in their tasks.
The apprenticeship may last as little as two years or as long as five, depending on how quickly the student masters the skills. The Ledri Guide makes the final determination on whether the student is ready for testing.
Ledri Tests
Whenever a Ledri or Ledri's apprentice is ready to pass to a new rank, they are given a test. These tests are very secretive and only known to those who have gone through them. They are based on courage, commitment and spirituality. Not all Ledri pass the tests and those that do not either return to their Guide for further instruction or stay within their rank until they are ready to try again.
Ledri:
When an individual finishes his apprenticeship and passes the test, he becomes a Ledri. This is the most common rank among the Ledri and makes up the bulk of the population. Ledris are the foot soldiers of the profession and carry out regular duties such as planting trees, caring for herds, patrolling forests, scouting, etc.
Seeker Ledri or Amari Ledri:
Some Ledri are given the opportunity to become Seeker Ledri. These individuals are chosen due to extraordinary bravery in combat and prowess with their weapon. The Amari Ledri are the soldiers of the forest, fighting valiantly, either within the forest or along the borders. They are the first line of attack if an enemy enters the forest and usually are the ones to sound alarms and notify the Dalmite towns or governments. Amari Ledris are fierce, silent and deadly. They strike their foes from the tree tops or from behind thick brush and are difficult to see or locate. They use guerilla tactics to flush out enemies. Legends of the Ledri are popular in all cultures and tales of savage men and women, their bodies covered with frightening tattoos leaping from tree branches and out of tall grasses are common. The Amari Ledri are probably the root of stereotypes in other cultures regarding the Dalmites.
Loners or Telen:
Loners are the scouts of the Ledri. These specially trained Ledri are masters at moving silently through the forest and tracking enemies and beasts. They are an important part of every Seeker pack and every Sentinel pack as well. Most towns hire Ledri Telen to scout the areas around the town, alerting its leaders of approaching enemies.
As suggested by the name, Loners usually travel alone or in some cases in groups of two or three. They are often quiet individuals, not particularly fond of crowds or towns. They live in hide tents and rarely approach groups of people unless necessary. They lead a simple existence, finding food in the forest by
Chain of Command
Nirol or The Watcher:
The Nirol is the leader of the Ledri. He usually rises to his position within the ranks and is selected by the Ledri Guardians based on his experience and leadership qualities along with his devotion to Elean. He keeps his position for life unless there is strong opposition from the Guardians.
Nira se'ir or The Voice of the Watcher:
Each tribal region within the forest has its own Nira se'ir. This individual oversees the Saerum within his territory, assigning tasks to each group and moving them around if necessary. He makes most of the day to day decisions regarding his territory and then reports directly to the Nirol.
Guardians or Saerum:
The Saerum are in charge of a group of Ledri packs. Typically, these packs survey or patrol a particular area. The Saerum assigns new Ledri to packs, chooses the Reis, and generally keeps order in his/her small region. He answers to the Nirol se'ir. The Saerum meet only to elect a new Niro se'ir of their region or in case of serious trouble within the Ledri. Otherwise, they each stay within their own territory or their own assigned duties. New Saerum are chosen among the pack members when necessary and usually serve for life although it is not unusual for a Saerum to step down, abdicating his role to a younger pack member. A Saemari is essentially the same as a Saerum but commands a group of Seeker packs.
Reis:
The Reis commands an individual pack and is usually chosen by the Saerum. The Reis carries out commands given to the pack by the Saerum and reports directly to the Saerum. This position may change at the discretion of the Saerum.
Ledri Packs
Fieren:
Planter packs, known as the Fieren in Dalmesh, consist of a group of Ledri whose primary responsibility is to care for the trees and vegetation. They plant new seeds, care for the seedlings, thin out competing species and allow for diversity in the forest, and make decisions on what trees can be cut for lumber. They also give recommendations for lumber permits the Namril Gwea, who will then distribute the permits as needed. The Ledri who serve the Fieren are usually highly devoted to Elean. They also have great respect for Alondra, the goddess of the Harvest. It is she who ripens the fruit on the trees and the nuts on the bushes. Highly respected by the communities in which they work, the Fieren are often seen as calm, serene and highly attuned to the cycles of nature. But if a tree is threatened, the Fieren can be excellent warriors, putting their own lives on the line to protect the forest.
Myren:
Herder packs, known as the Myren in Dalmesh, are groups of Ledri who are devoted to caring and managing the herds and packs of animals in the forest. They make sure the animals are not over-hunted and protect them from poachers and those who hunt only for sport. They watch for disease and help if possible or destroy entire herds to protect those that remain. They rescue orphaned young and find people to raise those that are abandoned. The Myren are especially protective of the hunter animals, great cats, wolves, and other carnivores. It is believed these animals are also caretakers of the forest, culling out the weak and injured, keeping populations down and protecting from scarcity of food. Dalmites do not typically hunt carnivores for this reason. The only exception is if an animal is especially aggressive and possessed by Aeressi or Asurin. Death is a release from the possession for the animal and a kindness on the part of the Ledri. The Ledri of the Myren are devoted to Elaen, but also worship Zaolla, who brings forth life from the womb of the female animals.
Palenti:
Sentinel packs, known as the Pelenti in Dalmesh, patrol specific areas of the forest. They are usually assigned to areas occupied by certain clans or tribes and have special relationships to the settlements within their territories. They are not led by the local tribes or clans and do not answer to the Cae Gweas of that area but are independent. In times of trouble, the Ledri of the Pelenti are usually the first line of defense and send messengers to the local tribes or clans warning them of the situation. They aid the local warriors in defending the settlements but their first duty is to protect the forest, not the dwellings of man. Pelenti Ledri are master archers and know their forests well. Because of this, they often move unseen, even by other Dalmites who might be traveling through the area. Because of their contact with the local settlements and clans, the Pelenti are less elusive than the Seeker packs. Some even live in Settlements for periods of time, then moving out into the forest for long assignments. Many have families living in nearby settlements.
Amari:
Seeker packs, the Amari in Dalmesh, are the most elusive of the Ledri and often live away from other settlements for many months, even years. The packs are often small, and are assigned to roam vast areas of the forest, especially the areas that border other nations or the Bloodlands. They aid Planter and Herder packs in ridding the forest of poachers and Tree Killers. They assist the Sentinel packs in protecting their specific areas of the forest. The Amari are the fiercest of warriors and are known in legends and stories. They are extremely religious and many Amari Ledri give up family and children to devote their lives to the Elaen and the forest. Most female Amari Ledri use the herbs of the forest to prevent pregnancy. Those who do have children leave them soon after their birth to be raised by others, usually a sister or cousin. The Amari believe their legacy is the great forests they protect rather than families and children. Amari are respected and even feared by many Dalmites. Their single-minded devotedness to their cause is admired but difficult for the average Dalmite to understand. Amari do not seek out worldly possessions of their own and believe greed and wealth detract them from their purpose. They live simple lives and their only vanity is their weapons, some of the finest among all Dalmites. Instead of walled towns, they live in hide tents deep within the forest, keeping mostly to themselves. It is a huge honor to have a daughter or son join the Amari and such honor elevates the status of the entire family. However, it is also a great loss because the Amari Ledri replaces his family with the family of his fellow Amari.
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