- Den Parent:
- Li-Björnsson Xiaolian
- (aka Lian-Rhya)
- Occasional Helpers:
- Various Members of The Ebon Watch Pack
The Cubs:
- The Yahoo Group:
- http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cub_Lessons/
Crosswinds Cub Training (as of 2011-07-24)
Typical Weekday Schedule
5:00 am – Wake Up
Li-Björnsson Xiaolian will often sleep the night before weekday training in the cub yurt without any extra comforts. While the cubs may have cots or bunks if they prefer, she sleeps on a mat on the floor sometimes sitting up as if meditating. At 5:00 am, Xiaolian makes certain that the cubs are up regardless of where she slept. The cubs have 30 minutes to do whatever they need to do to prepare for the start of physical training. During this time the cubs are permitted a light healthy snack if they wish.
5:30 am – General Physical Training
Physical Training starts with stretching and warm up exercises outside of the cub yurt lasting about 15-20 minutes. Next is the morning run which takes the cubs around the bawn area with distances sometimes in excess of 5 miles. After the morning run are agility and strength training followed by a cool down period and more stretching. He cubs will also learn the basics of medical massage for pulled or tight muscles and spend a few minutes practicing on each other. Xiaolian always runs the entire distance and participates in the other exercises when not assisting the cubs in theirs. There will be brief water breaks especially during the hotter months.
7:00 am – Personal Hygiene
After the physical training the cubs have 30 minutes to clean themselves up. After this time they are expected to be neat and presentable though they are to wear comfortable clothing which they can move in.
7:30 am – Breakfast
At 7:30 the cubs are to meet Xiaolian at the dining yurt for breakfast. They may chose to eat whatever is available so long as it is balanced and nutritious. Xiaolian will typically choses very simple foods that closely resemble how they are found in nature.
8:00 am – Philosophy and Discussion
At 8:00 they return to the cub yurt sitting outside in a nice shady spot or if the weather is not good they will continue inside. During the next 3 hours discussion is held on what it means to be Garou, the Litany, pack tactics, and basic lores. Xiaolian prefers to teach with more of a Socratic method, guiding the cubs so that they come up with the answers whenever possible as opposed to lecturing to them. She teaches them to understand concepts and not just memorize facts. The cubs are never punished for asking any questions so long as they do so respectfully. The cubs are also taught basic first aid and survival skills. The cubs will also be posed ethical questions designed to make them think about things that they otherwise might not. And at times there will be guest instructors on various topics such as the auspices or tribes.
11:00 am – Meditation
Following the philosophy a discussion portion of the day's lessons will be an hour for meditation. Xiaolian will teach the basics of meditation and expect the cubs to at least try it for a while. After that period a cub will be able to chose to use this hour for meditating or simply spending the time silently thinking over the lessons of the day. It is also possible that a cub may be given permission to sit silently reading or working on a written assignment so long as they are not a distraction for the others.
12:00 noon – Lunch
At noon the cubs will join Xiaolian in the dining yurt for lunch. They again may chose to eat whatever is available so long as it is balanced and nutritious.
12:30 pm – Free Time
At 12:30 the cubs will break for free time during the heat of the day. They are permitted to spend this time however they wish though training or working on assignments is encouraged. Xiaolian typically will be available to answer questions or provide assistance. During the colder months, this free time may be skipped in favor of shifting the rest of the schedule up to make use of the heat of the day and daylight.
2:00 pm – Combat Training
At 2:00 the cubs will reassemble by the training circle. They will work on techniques of armed and unarmed combat in all forms. There will be slightly more days spent on homid combat than the other forms as there is a greater variety of weapons and due to the fact that there are often times when a Garou cannot change to a more effective form without rending the veil. The goal of this training is to develop a wide range of experience so that the cubs are comfortable fighting in any form with whatever weapon may be available at the time. Typically sparring will be done in a manner that will not severely wound the cubs, but there will be times that they will be expected not to hold back though only with direct supervision. The cubs will typically spar among themselves though they will be given the opportunity to face Xiaolian or other Garou. Xiaolian will usually hold back until a cub is ready to advance. There will be times when Xiaolian will not hold anything back until the cubs can no longer fight back. This is not done as a form of punishment but rather is intended to teach them what it will be like to fight an enemy that truly wishes to harm them. On the occasions that Xiaolian uses claws in this manner, she will utilize the Child of Gaia gift of Mercy which allows her to strike fully but only leave minimal damage. On occasion she may heal one of the cubs, but most damage will be healed naturally. Xiaolian will periodically have guest instructors both for styles she is not as knowledgeable in or simply to have a wider variety of techniques and opponents for the cubs. Some lessons by be illustrated by the watching of ranking Garou using the styles discussed. If there is a particularly good sparring session or a challenge going on in the circle, the cubs may be asked to watch and then discuss what they saw. There will again be brief water breaks especially during the hotter months.
4:00 pm – Independent Study
After the 2 hours of group combat training, the cubs will have a chance for more specialized lessons with Xiaolian or a guest instructor. The specifics of training for a cub's auspice will be taught during this time, though the cub will still study the basics of other auspices in the morning sessions. If a cub is not receiving personal instruction during this time then the cub is expected to work on assignments or projects.
6:00 pm – Hunting
After their Independent Study the cubs will hunt like a pack for their dinner. This has been added to the original training schedule after some of the cubs were failing to eat dinner without Xiaolian directly overseeing that they eat. The forms used will vary and the cubs will take turns acting as a cub alpha for the hunt with Xiaolian supervising.
7:00 pm (approximate) – Free Time
The cubs will typically be free at 7:00 to do what they wish until the next morning's training begins. The cubs will still have minor chores and assignments to complete. There may be evening lessons as needed and cubs may be allowed to go on appropriate missions for the cub's progress with Xiaolian or another ranking Garou she has approved to take the cubs. The Alpha, Beta, and mission leader will of coarse be able to refuse a cub joining the team. If Xiaolian is not available the Alpha or Beta may grant permission, though this is unlikely to happen often.
Unspecified - Bedtime
For the time being the cubs have no set time they are to be in their beds so long as they are ready for the next day of training. If this becomes an issue a time may be set.
Typical Weekend Schedule
Weekends will typically be free time for the cubs though there may be special lessons or field trips including charity work as well as outings for pleasure if the week has been a particularly good one. The cubs will be expected to work independently and perform minor duties during some of their free time, especially on weekends. If a cub has misbehaved for some reason, the weekend will likely be used as time for extra chores depending on what tasks sept members may have for them.
OOC NOTE: Assuming your cub character has not gotten themselves in trouble and lost the privileged of having free time, if you are online when the cubs would be in lessons and I am not playing Xiaolian, you can go ahead and play them as if they were given extra free time as long as you make sure to let me know it was said she did. Please do not abuse this.
Regarding Cubs and Expectations
(as of 2012-01-20)
OOC: This is posted inside the Cub Yurt.
The Expectations Placed Upon Cubs
Regardless of a cub's chronological age, that cub is not an adult in our society. This is not part of some plan to punish or break the cub but rather because a cub, like a child, does not have adequate experience in Garou life to to make their own educated choices. We entrust the responsibility over these children of the Nation to surrogate parents. These Den Mothers and Fathers watch over the cubs and teach them what they must know to survive as full-fledged members of Garou society.
Like all other children, cubs must have rules so they can learn about society and their place in it. This may at first seem unfair to cubs, especially those who have previously been regarded as adults in human society, but these rules are to ensure that a cub has every possible chance to grow into the adults that will shape a better future for the Nation. Like the parents of human children, our Den Parents hold the authority and have the responsibility to make decisions as to what is in the best interest of the cubs.
These choices that Den Parents make need not be popular but they shall answer to the Sept leadership for their choices. Den Parents may choose to allow others to assist in the education of the cubs when they believe those individuals have something of value to share with the cubs and will act as a positive influence upon the cubs. Those given permission to share lessons with or mentor the cubs will typically be ranking Garou but need not be. Any who are allowed to help must set a good example for their students. Den Parents do have the right to disallow contact with any who would be detrimental to the education or well being of the cubs.
Some of the rules set forth for the cubs are as follows. This is not an all inclusive list and if there is question as to something not covered then the Den Parent should be consulted. The Den Parent may add to or modify these basic rules as needed.
(1) Cubs shall treat others respectfully, especially those who give of their time to teach what the cubs must learn. This includes each other, ranked Garou, Kinfolk, Fera, Spirits, as well as themselves. All are of Gaia. Cubs shall help each other and make their best effort to do their duty and learn what they must know to survive as full-fledged members of the Nation.
(2) Cubs shall reside within the Cub Yurt. Belongings kept in the Cub Yurt must be approved by the Den Parent. Those items not approved by the Den Parent may be stored elsewhere on a case by case basis until the Cub gains the rank of Cliath.
(3) Cubs are expected to train and study outside of official lessons and shall complete assignments as given by the Den Parent or those given permission to teach the cubs. More independent study will occur as the cub is proven to be responsible enough to handle it.
(4) Cubs are to remain upon the Sept grounds. They may leave the Sept when accompanied by a Den Parent or an individual approved by a Den Parent for a specific outing. In the absence of a Den Parent the Sept leadership may occasionally grant a cub permission to leave the grounds with supervision.
(5) Cubhood is not a time to be concerned with finding a mate. Cubs may have friendships and other platonic relationships with Kinfolk providing there are no orders given to the contrary by the Den Parent or those who are responsible for the Kinfolk's well being.
6) Cubs are to notify the Den Parent as soon as possible if any cub is involved in a conflict. This is as much for the protection of the cubs as it is for anyone. The Den Parent can only deal with a situation if the Den Parent is notified. Any punishments granted will be more severe if there was an attempt to hide the matter from the Den Parent.
(7) In keeping with the official policy of the Sept of the Crosswinds, cubs are to learn to act as a pack. A pack is only as strong as its weakest member and therefore if one cub is deserving of punishment, all of the cubs will partake in the punishment.
Please remember if in doubt error on the side of caution and ask.
Li-Björnsson Xiaolian,
Steel Nightingale, Innocent's Guardian, Fostern, Ahroun, Homid, Child of Gaia, Champion of Hyperion, and Den Parent of the Sept of the Crossinds.
Questions for the Cubs
(as of 2011-12-26)
OOC: Xiaolian asks the cubs to answer these questions in front of the other cubs. She asks that the cubs answer truthfully with what they believe and not simply seek to give the “correct” answer.
General Questions:
Who are you?
Where do you come from?
When did you first shift?
Were you aware of Garou society and the Nation before this?
Tribe:
What tribe were you born to?
What do you know about this tribe?
Do you wish to join that tribe, or do you seek another?
The Litany:
What is the Litany?
Who taught you the Litany?
What do you believe is the most important part of the Litany?
What is the least important part of the Litany?
Auspice:
What moon were you born under?
What are the duties of your auspice?
How will you seek to fulfill those duties?
Packs:
What is the importance of a pack?
How will you go about finding a pack when the time is right?
Combat Skills:
What have you been taught, combat wise?
Where do your combat strengths and weaknesses lie?
If you were sent into a deadly combat situation right now, would you feel prepared?
What would you do?
Rite of Passage:
Do you believe that you ready for your Rite of Passage? Why or why not?
What are three areas you feel you need to work on?
