Fights occur during Challenges, during simultaneous estrus between females who are suffering PMS like no human can imagine, or just between two wolves who really, really piss each other off past the point of words taking care of the situation. There may be friction between an alpha and a beta, or between two betas or whatever, personality wise, but in this game, rank trumps personality type. These are sentient human beings, after all, not animals.
There isn’t a set "pecking order," other than stratification of the same sort any human group works out for itself, outside of Rank considerations. Remember, these are humans who intermittently take on animal form and bestial tendencies. Werewolves, in either form, are not animals, so formalized rank and a complex social structure would be more prevailing than the strictly instinctual, linear stratification that occurs in animal groups. Human societies are built on all manner of customs, rituals, rules and taboos and these carry over even into the genetic wolves’ society.
A lot of men and women blow hot air, but when you call them on it with evidence or your own strength they back down. If a charrie throws their weight around and is abrasive, then they'll clash with the others of equally strong or stronger personalities, regardless of personality designation.
In reality, mundane humans like you and I can sense the relative force of each other's personalities to a great extent. It's a (perhaps hard-wired) reading of body language, posture, personal space encroachment, speech patterns and a whole host of other signals we aren't even consciously aware of, like the widening or narrowing of the other person's pupils
In lycans, these interpersonal perceptions would be heightened, with the added fillip of the sense of smell being at the forefront, informing on the other's emotional status and their hormonal signals
Like any personality clash, a lot is bluff and bluster and what you can get away with.
Lycan Fighting
Alphas are usually born, not made. Although sometimes, in the case of an infection, a real milquetoast of a person can find their inner alpha, that's exceedingly rare. Usually, the personality type one was as homo sapiens dictates what personality you'll have as homo sapiens lupus.
Rank on the other hand, is often passed by Challenge. You can be appointed, say, Geri by the Ulfric, but if someone formally Challenges you for that rank and whips your behind during said Challenge in front of the entire Pack, then you become the regular beta-- though you might have to prove your worth for that role with the Ulfric, and the former owner of the rank might be gunning to take it back (gunning used strictly figuratively!)
Please note the capitalization of Challenge in that regard. Any ol' fight won't do it. A formal Challenge must be issued, accepted by both contestants and the Pack and settled by combat. The Challenged ranker gets to choose the bodily form the battle begins in, and the Challenger must not shift from that form until/unless the Challenged ranker does first. Otherwise, the fight stops instantly, the rank-holder wins by default, and the Challenger basically has covered him/herself in social poo.
In lesser rank battles, fatalities are rare, and are considered a tragic accident at best, really bad sporting form at the worst.
There isn’t a set "pecking order," other than stratification of the same sort any human group works out for itself, outside of Rank considerations. Remember, these are humans who intermittently take on animal form and bestial tendencies. Werewolves, in either form, are not animals, so formalized rank and a complex social structure would be more prevailing than the strictly instinctual, linear stratification that occurs in animal groups. Human societies are built on all manner of customs, rituals, rules and taboos and these carry over even into the genetic wolves’ society.
A lot of men and women blow hot air, but when you call them on it with evidence or your own strength they back down. If a charrie throws their weight around and is abrasive, then they'll clash with the others of equally strong or stronger personalities, regardless of personality designation.
In reality, mundane humans like you and I can sense the relative force of each other's personalities to a great extent. It's a (perhaps hard-wired) reading of body language, posture, personal space encroachment, speech patterns and a whole host of other signals we aren't even consciously aware of, like the widening or narrowing of the other person's pupils
In lycans, these interpersonal perceptions would be heightened, with the added fillip of the sense of smell being at the forefront, informing on the other's emotional status and their hormonal signals
Like any personality clash, a lot is bluff and bluster and what you can get away with.
Lycan Fighting
Alphas are usually born, not made. Although sometimes, in the case of an infection, a real milquetoast of a person can find their inner alpha, that's exceedingly rare. Usually, the personality type one was as homo sapiens dictates what personality you'll have as homo sapiens lupus.
Rank on the other hand, is often passed by Challenge. You can be appointed, say, Geri by the Ulfric, but if someone formally Challenges you for that rank and whips your behind during said Challenge in front of the entire Pack, then you become the regular beta-- though you might have to prove your worth for that role with the Ulfric, and the former owner of the rank might be gunning to take it back (gunning used strictly figuratively!)
Please note the capitalization of Challenge in that regard. Any ol' fight won't do it. A formal Challenge must be issued, accepted by both contestants and the Pack and settled by combat. The Challenged ranker gets to choose the bodily form the battle begins in, and the Challenger must not shift from that form until/unless the Challenged ranker does first. Otherwise, the fight stops instantly, the rank-holder wins by default, and the Challenger basically has covered him/herself in social poo.
In lesser rank battles, fatalities are rare, and are considered a tragic accident at best, really bad sporting form at the worst.