When was the right time to call it quits? To throw in the towel and admit this venture to find her son was no longer, indeed, a venture to find her son. At least, not entirely.

Her being away from Saboro had blurred the very definition of time and its passing. The nights were all one era of darkness, feeding into each other with only mild intermissions snatched by the sun. The crickets' luring song one prolonged chorus number, idling slightly as light and warmth claimed certain hours of the day before retreating. Even the birds performed as one, though different actors took on different roles as this figment of time idled on.

It was the air that was different, though. Especially at night.
That's when she found herself most active.

It did not smother or choke. Here it could breathe, free from stagnation and suffocation that seemed all but cultural within the Saboran jungles. Never had she tred a land where her lungs could breathe so liberally. Light and crisp and fresh, everything danced with it. Scents, sights, smells. Maesa took advantage of that, using the dark of night and the air that came with it to track her long lost son. Or so, that's what she told herself now.

This rescue journey, though not dismissed or lost, had taken up a slower pace as the ex-Left Wing found herself deeper and deeper into the unknown. An unknown force tugged at her, just a little further, with each passing thought of turning around and returning. Was it the fear of coming back a failure in her task? Was it some subconscious knowledge of Tessen's nearby whereabouts that propelled her onward? Or was it something deeper, something more shameful and threatening to her pack loyalty? Tick tock, cricket chirp, and a leaf rustling. There was no time to dwell on this when he was out there and she was only here...

... and Saboro is way back there.

Pressing her nose back toward the ground, the female strode through the tall grasses, picking up distant scents of sea salt, so foreign to her. The soil was losing its touch, becoming more fragile, more delicate and broken. Though the night itself was fairly mild, it was the chill of the humid ocean winds carrying themselves inland that threatened a chill. Instead she furrowed her brows and merely rolled her shoulders, flexing her limbs, and continued.

Maesa had never been one to simply give up.
Let alone give up on her children.

Tessen, where are you?

1. OOC =/= IC.
- Do not bring OOC issues into IC. Your character doesn't have knowledge of your personal problems, so keep it out of their IC actions.    
- If you don't want to RP with someone, you don't have to. We'd rather you just avoid someone if you can't RP with them without carrying over OOC issues.
- Unless your character was present for an event, they shouldn't have knowledge of that event.
- If you notice any of these issues happening, please don't hesitate to contact an Alpha.

2. Do not beg for ranks/rewards.
- If you feel your character deserves a rank, issue a challenge.
- Ranks and rewards are given out after deliberation between the Alphas so please be patient and respectful.
- Feel free to come to us with questions and suggestions on ranks and how to earn them, but do not beg or demand them from us.

3. If there are RL reasons for you to be gone from the forum, please let the Alphas know.
- If your character misses some activity checks but you haven't informed us that you are gone for RL reasons, that character could be subject to demotion.

4. Tortuga is a semi-consent pack, so the Alphas need to be notified of major plots.
- Plots concerning puppies must be approved by the Alphas.
- Invasions and the like should be sorted out so that the plot can be filled in on both sides and loose ends tied up.
- If you want to plot a raid or slaving mission, get in touch with us to confirm that it's okay to progress with it.

5. Give your partner something to reply to!
- We encourage our members to put heart and thought into their roleplay posts. While we don't have a specific word count, please be considerate of your fellow roleplayers in providing them with a well-thought out post. We appreciate quality content above all else.

1. Tortuga is a Semi Consent pack.
- This means that we will not kill your character for no reason, but if there is a massive rule broken, they are subject to punishment.
- Fights, challenges, invasions, etc. should be discussed ahead of time so that it's understood what kind of injuries you are willing to have your character attain.

2. Want to challenge us for territory? There are rules!
- In order to challenge us, you must agree to fight the leaders of the pack.
- Numbers of participants must be equal on both sides.
- If you lose, you will most likely be taken in as a prisoner/slave.

3. Activity
- Ranks in the Bow or higher should be posting no less than 2-3 posts a month to maintain rank.
- Ranks below the Bow should be posting at least once a month.
- If you hold a rank we expect you to be able to maintain that rank in order for the pack to work like a well oiled machine.
- If there is a RL reason for you inactivity, please let us know.

4. Respect Higher Ranks
- Acting out of place to a higher rank could get you in big trouble so be respectful.

5. Ask permission before mating.
- Permission must be asked IC with an Alpha
- Only so many may mate per season to avoid too many pups at one time, so be sure you're on our list of there could be IC reprocussions.
     
6. Puppies.
- High ranking members can hand over their pups to the Steward/Stewardess of the pack to be tended to.
- Pups are expected to be able to take care of itself to an extent. If they become a problem for their parents or the pack, it won't bode well for them.

7. Leaving.
- Only select members of the pack mat leave the territory.
- Permission must be asked before a character leaves.
- Leaving the territory without permission will cause your character to be marked a traitor and they are subject to being tracked down.

8. Escapes.
- "Escape" must be listed somewhere in the title or it must be tagged as such.
- Members of Tortuga have ten days to respond to the escape and try to stop the escapee. If they do not, your escape is sucessful.
- After the ten days, each side has five days to reply and the last one to reply is the "winner".

9. Tresspassing.
- Tresspassers are subject to enslavement.
- If you would like to be enslaved by plot, please post as much in the title or tag it appropriately.

10. Eye for an Eye
- If your character attacks another without reason, they can be punished accordingly.
- Bribing your way out is possible, for the right price... and given you've discussed with with the right person but if not, be prepared for the consequences.

11. Rank Challenges.
- Challenges for rank above the Arch must be approved by the Alphas.
- Alphas may step in IC to a challenge thread and interfere if they see fit.
- A challenge fight lasts 3 weeks, or until someone gives up. The winner has a one month grace period after the fight.
- If you challenge for an Alpha rank, be repared to fight all that stand with that Alpha, whether through loyalty, bribery, or intimidation.

      Lagoon - the Sharita bloodline
      Emerald - Desdemona's bloodline
      Open Sea - general nobility
      Leaf - those born within the empire
      Bloodied - threats to the empire

Captain: Desdemona
Quartermaster:
Kraken: Mako

Paragon:
First Mate:
Shark:
         Loan Shark:
         Hammerhead:

---

Sailing Master:
Master Gunner:
Lorekeeper:
Crow:
Banshee:
Cutlass: Cider
Wielder: Richter*
Keeper: Dixie*
Scoundrel/Wench:

---

Crafter: Aysu*, Solrush, Richter*
Phantom: Scylla, Vadish*
Siren/Striker: Vashe*
Navigator: Aysu*, Stanco
Steward/ess:
Brewer: Dixie*

---

Gunner: Kaikona, Obelisk*, Batzorig
Watchman: Obelisk*
Torch: Taisho
Surgeon: Vashe*, Vadish*

---

Sailor: Shroom, Veruah, Nyx
Whelp:
Scallywag: Valefor