Ancient Times

As the tribes settled and started growing food, the Dwelling Grounds turned into settlements and the settlements into cities. As hunting-gathering was no longer needed for the acquirement of staple food, the distinction between the different roles as they were at the time of the tribes faded and a new division of society emerged.

Henceforth feralis would be the common name for all. The male Hunters became Pater feralis, the female Hunters Domus feralis. Companions or Ferals based on prey species tend to become feralis domesticus, while predator-based ones tend to become feralis aegis, but there are always exceptions.

The family has now become the cornerstone of society. A typical family could consist of the following roles:

• head of the family, oldest male non-pet … Pater feralis
• head of the household , oldest female non-pet … Domus feralis
• other adult male non-pet … Filius feralis
• other adult female non-pet … Filia feralis
• pet, defender of the family … feralis aegis
• pet, assistant in the household… feral domesticus
• teens between 18y and 19y preparing to visit the Temple of Lupus or attending either Eligerum or Gymnasium … feralis junior
• children … feralis minor

Now that hunting-gathering was a thing of the past, the feralis aegis put their energy into defending the family — not only the physical integrity but also the name — and the feralis domesticus put their energy in assisting the Domus feralis running the family household.

At Dies Incrementum — the first solstice of the year — The augur brought the fire from the Temple of Lupus with which the Solaras Fires were lit at the amphitheatre by two feralis aegis and two feralis domesticus elected by chance to start a new year of clashes between rivalling aegis culminating in the Feralis Games. Cheered on by supporters and spectators alike, the competitors would also gain personal glory and prestige for the family.

Two aegis would light the Ignis (Fire) fire and Aer (Air) fire, two domesticus would light the Terra (Earth) fire and Aqua (Water) fire symbolizing the four solaras of a year. This act formally started the preliminaries of the Feralis Games.

At Dies Aurora — the first equinox of the year— the Aurora Games were held at the amphitheatre, the first opportunity of the future aegis of the Eligerum to face each other in formal competition and show off their skills. In the meantime, outside the amphitheatre a fair was held by and for the future domesticus of the Eligerum giving them a chance to show off too. Either venue was a possibility to impress a future Domus or a future Pater.

At Dies Apex — the last solstice of the year — the start of Diei Feralis, the first round of the Feralis Games took place at the end of this quinzara. On the last five days of the quinzara aka the Lupus days, aegis faced each other for a formal ranking in the Feralis Games. The most prestigious matches however were held on Lupusday itself. During each quinzara of the Diei Feralis there was a chance for ranking until the last quinzara of this solara. Then the best-ranking aegis of each city faced each other during the final bout in the chosen city. The finals of the Feralis Games were held in a different city each year based on a rotation of the cities in the region.

Once a city reached a certain size it could apply for hosting the Feralis Games finals. It was a very momentous occasion when a city was determined to be important enough to be included in the rotation.

At Dies Feralis — the last equinox of the year — the end of Diei Feralis. Two major events took place.
-Firstly the Lupus Run took place, a competition for the feralis junior. Their first organized competition. The feralis junior showed themselves by way of their first run, the first step to assuming their place as an adult member of society.
When the sun was at the highest point in the sky the fire was brought from the Temple of Lupus by the augur and two feralis junior elected by chance to the Lupus Stadium where the Lupus run took place. One feralis junior to lit the Lupus fire preceding the Run and one feralis junior to douse it following the proclamation of the winner.
-Secondly the proclamation of the winners of the Feralis Games which took place at the Solaras Amphitheater, followed by the dousing of the Solaras Fires overseen by the augur at the hand of two feralis aegis and two feralis domesticus elected by chance. This act also formally ended the competition for the Feralis Games.

In the days after Diei Feralis the feralis junior went to the Lupus temple where the augur told them where they needed to go. On average this was a formality since most already knew where they wanted to go, but some needed a bit of counselling to get them to the right place. They went either to the Eligerum where the future feralis aegis and feralis domesticus received the necessary tutoring to prepare them for their future role in society or to the Gymnasium where the future Pater feralis or Domus feralis received the necessary tutoring to prepare them for their future role in society.