Knights of Heartland Ranks & Ranking System

Knights of Heartland Ranks

Rex & Regina
Kairos & ---

Magnus & Magna
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Dux & Ducissa
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Legends
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Paladins
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Knights
John


Heartlanders
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Rank Explanations

Heartlanders - Dogs who have not currently pledged but aren't visitors for one reason or another. This category doesn't have a specific rank as it could range from puppies to pack veterans that have been retired to dogs who simply haven't had the opportunity to pledge. While technically they can come and go as they please, frequent traveling in and out of packlands is discouraged and can lead to interrogation.

Knights - Dogs who have pledged their loyalty and therefore are recognized and functioning members of the pack. These dogs are almost strictly internal affairs; they support the members from Heartlanders to Dux by various services such as tending wounds, hunting for them when they are not well or capable, puppysitting, and guarding the borders of the territory. The position can not be inherited, but one would only have to request to a higher up that they are ready to make the commitment. This position can be lost.

Paladins - Dogs who have pledged their charity and thus go above and beyond for the pack. These dogs try to give the same support and care provided within the pack to visitors and good-natured loners that travel through The Heartland. They are often also the dogs who are counted on for recruiting purposes. Almost every one of them are charismatic in some way. This position is not inherited, must be earned, and can be lost.

Legends - Paladins who have specialized in a specific skill in a way that gets recognized by their superiors. They teach said skill to the Paladins and Knights below them and use it to maintain stability in the pack, visitors and good natured loners traveling in heartland, and humans and their canine companions. Some go as far as to request special training to be made official HERDer dogs. Those that make it to this rank are viewed as heroes and get a special holiday that can be celebrated on the date and in the way that they choose. The position is not inherited and must be earned . Their celebration and recognition as hero can be lost if they are to do something heinous, but the title of Legend is one for life; in honor of the moments they did do the world a great service.

Dux  & Ducissa - The betas of the pack, so to speak. They enforce what few rules the pack has and solve internal affairs deemed not serious enough to alert a higher up. They are leaders of large game hunting, medics during serious or fatal illnesses and injuries, and commanders of armies during wars. Each Knight, Paladin, and Legend is assigned one who is responsible for making sure they maintain a respectable reputation for the pack and the Dux. During a time where there is no potential Regina, one of them will be chosen by the Magnus to be the next Lord or Lady. Their title is Captain and their position is earned, not inherited, and can be lost.

Magnus & Magna - Dogs who have an intimate relationship with the Rex and Regina. They are canines who have a wide array of responsibilities; they can be the dogs who assist in raising the Lord and Lady's pups, the advisers of the Lord and Lady, the ones who treat the wounds, their personal hunting pack, or even the ones that can be trusted to represent the Rex or Regina during times where they are unable to leave the pack. If the Rex or Regina come to power before the age of 2, the Magnus and Magna have the right to rebuke any actions done by them if unanimously agreed to be detrimental to the pack. If ever there is a time of war, all but the ones who are charged with defending the next in line will fight in the frontline with their Lord or Lady. Their titles are Sir and Madam respectfully. In the event that the Rex/ Regina die with no one to inherit their place, the Magnus and Magna choose among the Dux. They do NOT get the opportunity to become Rex or Regina, but this role is lifelong once given and inherited by their descendants.

Rex & Regina - The current leaders of the Knights of Heartland and their pups or young adults. They organize events and celebrations, uphold order within the pack, move pack members from rank to rank, control all external affairs and conflicts dealing with other packs, and fight the frontline alongside their Magnus and Magna during times of war. Currently, they are in charge of maintaining the union between a government body known as the Humanitarian and Ecology Reservation Department, so they also can be seen as the bridge between the humans in Heartland-mostly the Flaxrown citizens- and the dogs, thus at least one of them will have a watcher capable of communicating with humans at any given time. They are formally called Lord and Lady respectively, though Alpha and Alphess will work just as fine. The default for this role is inherited, but ultimately the decision is up to the currently ruling Rex and/or Regina.