The VLM Soup - There's more to Ragnarok than just fragging

Before Anita Blake, all Ragnarok meant to me was the online roleplaying game that became so popular during my undergraduate years. Then I stumbled upon a particularly interesting narrative of the rituals of power changes in a pack in The Killing Dance, and the words Ulfric, Fenrir and Ragnarok.

In Blake's world, lycanthropes aren't your ordinary cutthroat, solitary deranged were-thingies who always stay in the shadows. They form communities that have indicia of ordinary human and animal social groupings. In their human forms, the lycanthropes are like any other man or woman. To have money, they work. For their bodies to function, they eat. To have fun, they play. Whatever play means. Well, most of the time. But for lycanthropic communities, the dynamics of pack behavior are not to be disregarded.

Just as ordinary wolves have packs, so do the werewolves. And just as ordinary wolf packs have alpha males and females, so do the werewolves. The alpha werewolf of a pack is known as the Ulfric, while his mate is the lupa.

The Ulfric and his lupa are, like, the wolf-king and queen. They are superior in strength and intelligence to most of their brethren, and lead their pack any which way they like. But alpha does not mean forever. Not in terms of lifespan or right to rule. A king can lose to a challenger. But if the Ulfric dominates the fight, the upstart pays for his impertinence, more often than not, with his life.

Transplanted into Anita Blake's world, Ragnarok is the battle for supremacy between the Wolf King and his challenger. Think of a big clearing in the woods bathed in the full moon's borrowed light, or its equivalent. Think snapping jaws and fangs, swiping claws and the lust for blood.

It's not pretty, and it definitely is messy. But, in terms of politics, it's a cleaner way of ascending to the throne, so to speak. If the Ulfric loses, that's it for him. The lesser animals in the pack will not dispute the right of the Fenrir to become king. There's no mass uprising, though the downside of it is that the new Ulfric can lead his pack into hell with nary a whimper from his wolves. For many of the species in Kingdom Animalia, the dynamics of power are crystal clear. The strong survive, the weak perish, and if there is safety in numbers, flock together.

People follow this dictum as well. Subconsciously. But somehow, because people are capable of reason, and of other desires that have little to do with survival, there are variations on the theme. Yes, the strong survive, but who are the strong? The weak perish, or languish under the dominance of those who are stronger, but who are the weak? And speaking of safety in numbers, well, the pitfalls of overpopulation show that moderation has its attractions.

Footnote: In Norse mythology, (at least, the Sunday School version), Ragnarok is that final battle between the Gods and the Giants. After several years of uninterrupted winters, Odin will die at the hands of the monstrous wolf, fenrir, and a new order will arise.