All OCs start as unranked individuals and can't use the rank tattoos on their designs. In order to be officially reconized as part of a rank, they must work for it. If you want to obtain a rank for one or more of your OCs, you are in the right place. Please read the full guide at least once, since it contains valuable information you might need in the future.
Make sure your OC is properly registered and it has an ID. (See OC creation and registration guide here)
You must be a member of the HybridsDen Discord server, otherwise you won't be able to send the training for approval.
You'll need a Google/Gmail account to create and share Google Docs.
You agree to have your training entries added to an archive, which will be accessible to read/watch by any and all members of the fandom.
"Once Cilt became the neutral city it has remained till this day, they needed a way to organize this newly founded society. The people were in need of a system that would not only distribute the daily tasks among the citizens, but also create an unbiased hierarchy where humans and hybrids would be equally involved. And with this, the "Ranks System" was created:
The brave Hunters, who responsibly harvest the resources of the forest to keep all the citizens well fed and away from the dangers of nature.
The fierce Warriors, who risk their lives every day to keep everyone safe, and to bring justice to those who harm the city and it's citizens.
The fearless Medics, who carry the weight of everyone's health on their shoulders, relying on their knowledge and empathy to save lives.
The relentless Scientists, who's bright minds and critical thinking is used to build a better world for humans and hybrids.
And the devoted Leaders, who guide the people into a path of peace, order and equality.
With the Ranks System in place, Cilt started a new era of equal opportunities for hybrids and humans, and this society, slowly but surely, adapted to the changes. Despite this, there were still individuals who were not willing to share a place where both species coexisted, going to extreme lenghts to make their voice being heard, even if that meant to take a life. And for this reason, another symbol joined the existing five, being the only one that has no place between the ranks, and who's owner is exiled after being given the dreaded mark:
The disowned Vortex, those who's heart is filled with hate, and have become a hazard to those around them, and themselves."
Ranks are symbols that represent the role and job of an individual. These symbols are tatooed on a visible part of the human or hybrid's body to show compromise and responsibility to their duty. Citizens of Cilt have the freedom to choose the rank they want to specialize on, as long as they fit the criteria of said rank. The trainee will gain experience and knowledge trough training, gaining new levels of their respective rank until they achieve the "full rank" status, on which point, the ranked citizen is now allowed to fulfill their duties. The four ranks available for training are the following:
They are in charge of hunting animals in the forest and bring the hunt to Cilt, so the citizens can have enough resources. They also patrol important points around the limits of the city, and explore abandoned places in search of useful things and to expand Cilt's hunting territory. Even though it is possible for them to encounter Vortex during their duty, it's not their job to attack them if the situation doesn't put their life at risk. It's the most popular rank due it's moderate risk and the attractive work opportunities it provides.
Levels of training
This rank is exclusively in charge of neutralizing, defeating, or killing Vortex and extremist humans and poachers, depending on the situation and the orders given by the Council of Leaders of Cilt. Is by far the most dangerous duty in Cilt, and the least popular for the same reasons. Many people on Cilt tend to despise this rank due the fact that it is the only rank that is allowed to have ex-Vortex hybrids and humans who once were exiled from Cilt, but in one way or another, the Leaders had given them a second chance as Warriors for the rest of their lives. Ex-Vortex are only allowed to have the Warrior rank, but Cilt citizens that have not been exiled before are able to have any other rank along with the Warrior rank.
Levels of training
The Scientist rank is maybe one of the most complex just after the Leader rank. It covers all kind of tecnological, medical, and ambiental research, and work along with the Hunters in the search of documents and books that can help them with their investigations, along with field research outside of Cilt when needed. Inside the Scientist's facilities is a huge command room in charge to track and give support to all Hunters and Warriors on duty and also the ubication of the Vortex that have been seen wandering near to Cilt's territory.
Levels of training
The Medics, as it's name says, are in charge of the medical attention on Cilt available for hybrid and human citizens, and also for people who don't share Cilt's ideologies and stays as refugees for a brief period of time until they continue their trip. Medics needs to be comfortable attending to both hybrids and humans, because knowing both different anatomies is an essential part of the training. This rank, along with the Scientist rank, are in charge of doing constant research on the hybrid kind's biology in order to provide a better quality of life.
Levels of training
Once you have selected the rank your OC is going to train for, it's time to select the route they are going to take to proceed with the training.
There are currently two routes; the regular training, and the mentorship.
On this route, you will draw or write about your character's adventures as trainees, choosing from the available pool of themes or prompts for each rank. Each completed training entry grants ONE level up in the rank said character is training for, for example: A character that has no ranks wants to train to become a Medic, and after completing their first training prompt, that character will be granted the "Level 1 Medic" rank, and will only be considered a fully-trained Medic once it reaches level 5, aka; "full rank". In other words, this character will have to deliver 5 training entries in order to become a full rank Medic. The number of levels varies on each rank, as previously demostrated in the "Know the ranks" segment.
The guidelines for regular training are the following:
Can be digital or traditional medium
Use of generative AI of any kind is forbidden
You are allowed to train up to two (2) characters with the same training entry. Both characters will recieve the same result.
Must depict the character(s) performing the actions of the chosen prompt (prompts will be listed below this segment)
Minimum requirements: Sketchy linework, flat colors, simple colored background of a reconizable place; the forest, training grounds, the podium, a river, etc.
The trainee OC must be the focus of the artwork
Optional: cameos of canon characters and other OCs (yours or belonging to other member) can be included in the artwork
Must be written start to finish using THIS Google Docs template, you must download and edit it.
Use of generative AI of any kind is forbidden
You are allowed to train up to two (2) characters with the same training entry. Both characters will recieve the same result.
Must depict the character(s) performing the actions of the chosen prompt (prompts will be listed below this segment)
Requirements: minimum word count of 1100 words (3 pages), maximum word count of 2500 words (6 pages)
The trainee OC must be the focus of the writing
Optional: cameos of canon characters and other OCs (yours or belonging to other member) can be included in the writing
TIP: These are only the reglamentary elements your training must contain, but don't feel limited to them! As long as your training follow the rules, feel free to use all of your creativity and imagination to make your trainings trully unique :)
Hunter
Beginner (lvl 1)
Scouting: Learn about the terrain, animals and plants of the neutral lands, reconize weather patterns, and find a safe way back home when needed.
Stealth and tracking: Reconize animal tracks, as well as signs of hybrid activity in the wild. Avoid contact with dangerous creatures that roam the lands, including rogue hybrids and poachers.
Riding tack and equipment: As a rookie, you are asked to keep weapons, armor and tack clean and well organized. In exchange, your squad will take you camping near Cilt's borders along other trainees.
Intermediate (lvl 2-3)
Life outdoors: Pick a safe zone in the forest and set up a camp. Be aware of your soroundings at all time, and leave no trace of your presence when leaving.
Small traps and fishing: Learn to safely place traps for small animals or capture fish in the nearby river.
Combat skills: Choose from archery lessons at the training grounds (for humans only), 1v1 combat practice, or test your stalking skills with a simulated "hunting" with your temmates playing as prey or predator.
Advanced (lvl 3-4)
Big game hunt: Your first attempt on taking down a big animal. You must go alone, and bring your hunt back to Cilt. Make sure no one is following the scent of your kill, or you can be in serious danger.
Ranger riding lessons: You and a partner of the opposite species will learn to work as one; with the human being able to use a bow while holding their balance on their hybrid's back, while the hybrid moves swiftly across the training ground's obstacles.
Advanced combat: You will join a Warrior bootcamp to test your physical and mental skills related to combat and survival. Only the strongest Hunters gain the respect of the Warriors.
Medic
Beginner (lvl 1)
First aid: Learn the basics on how to treat non life-threatening wounds on humans and hybrids alike, and aply your new knowledge by helping a fellow citizen.
Summer guard: The summer fighting tournament is at it's peak, and many reckless hybrids and humans get hurt by participating on it. You and your colleagues are volunteers at the medic tent. Beware of agressive patients tho.
Quarantine: There are new arrivals at Cilt, and they must be put in quarantine in the designated area of the hospital. You must check on them requently and make sure they don't pose a hazard to the population, while learning a bit about them in the process.
Intermediate (lvl 2-3)
First responder: Accidents happen every day around Cilt, and you are now part of the first responders team. Tend to the wounds of those unfortunate citizens, and transport them to the Hospital if needed.
Veterinary studies: Citizens are in need of professionals who can take care of their pet's medical needs, as well as keeping farm animals healthy and productive.
Mental health: The well being of the mind is just as important as the body. Apply your studies on psychology to help citizens in need of therapy or accompaniment.
Advanced (lvl 4-5)
Field medic: Your duty will be to accompany a team of Hunters or Warriors on their mission, deep into neutral lands, where wild and deathly dangers await. You are now responsible of keeping them safe and sound.
Uneasy truce: When nature shows her fangs, with floods, blizzards, mudslides and droughts punishing the neutral lands, the less fortunate starve and suffer. Medics and Warriors of Cilt are sent to give resources and med care to hybrid clans who have been affected. Even if such clans belong to the Vortex cause, a temporary truce is put in place, and sometimes, some of them decide to join Cilt.
A Medic don't judge: Sometimes, Warriors will capture dangerous individuals and hold them in temporary cels till their trial day comes. Such individuals often present signs of battery, or suffer from different health problems. As a Medic, you have the duty to try to heal them, while being protected by a couple fellow Warriors in case things get intense.
Warrior
Intermediate (lvl 1)
Warrior bootcamp: Learn a wide range of skills, including self-defense with no weapons, first aid, extreme survival methods, endurance to pain and discomfort, discipline and warrior mindset, and communications. This bootcamp is shared with advanced Hunters, so the rivalry is high.
Weapons 101: Hybrid and human trainees learn to use the weapons they'll use to protect Cilt, as well as practicing their combat skills using heavy armor. Firearms are prohibited, as always, so you must chose your weapons wisely.
Uneasy truce: When nature shows her fangs, with floods, blizzards, mudslides and droughts punishing the neutral lands, the less fortunate starve and suffer. Warriors and Medics of Cilt are sent to give resources to hybrid clans who have been affected. Even if such clans belong to the Vortex cause, a temporary truce is put in place, and sometimes, some of them decide to join Cilt.
Advanced (lvl 2)
Vortex specialist: You'll learn everything you can about the newly formed Vortex clans, and decide, alongside your team, if they should be left alone or be dealt with.
Poaching prevention: Take action to deter groups of poachers from getting too close for comfort to Cilt's territory and ally clans.
Incursions: Secure Cilt's hunting territory by keeping Vortex and rival clans at bay, find useful resources, recruit neutral hybrids, and keep an eye open for your fellow Hunter squads on duty.
**Remember: lethal force is only used as a last resort, and never unprovoked.**
Scientist
Beginner (lvl 1)
Lab safety: Learn about the correct use of lab equipment, as well as practicing the safety protocols to follow in case of an emergency.
HQ service: Help out at the communications center, tending to the calls of Hunter and Warrior squads currently on mission, guiding them to safety and warning them for incoming dangers.
Science fair: Here you will be able to design a tool, gadget or object, intended to make the lives of hybrids and humans easier.
Intermediate (lvl 2-3)
School teacher: It is time to share your knowledge with the young ones! Be assigned a class of kids and hybrid cubs, and teach them about the world around them.
Adoption Center service: Be a volunteer at the Adoption Center, where orphan kids and cubs are being cared for while they await to be adopted. Maybe you can make their day a little happier?
Librarian: You are given the temporary task to order physical and digital information that has been accumulating unnatended for some time now. But be careful what you read; some information is never meant to be public.
Advanced (lvl 4-5)
Field research: Sometimes teams of Hunters and Warriors find something suspiscious on their trips; be it changes on the environment, or signs that are not easily explained. Help them finding out the truth.
Weapons specialist: Warriors are in constant need of more effective ways to defend themselves. Design a new weapon or armor piece following Cilt's morality law for no firearms or explosives.
Architect: Cilt people rely on your knowledge and calculations to safely put a roof over their heads. Plan and organize the construction of a building to be used by the citizens, it could be a house, barn, well, bridge, or any other useful build to make citizen's life easier.
Each prompt can only be done ONCE per character. If your character has already obtained its full rank, but you wish to train another prompt anyways, you are free to do it, tho it will not increase your OC's rank level, as it already has a full rank.
You can request for new prompts to be added by sending your suggestions to the #training-discussion channel at the Discord server.
Example of regular training
Trainee's profile:
Meet Morgan; they are a citizen of Cilt who wishes to join the Hunters on their missions. Morgan is already a level 3 Hunter, but must complete one more training to obtain the full rank, and be able to join a squad. Since they already know the basics, Morgan decides to train on the Big game hunt prompt.
Finished training: Drawing
Training information
Character's name: Morgan Collins
Autor's nickname: Hybrid-Kira
Date: (month)/(day)/(year)
Rank application: Hunter
Current rank level: Hunter level 3
Prompt: "Big game hunt"
Description (optional)
Not far from the city's walls, Morgan succesfully hunts down a young buck, and after carefully gutting it and tying it down to be transported, they realized it was starting to get late, and the smell of the recent kill was attracting some unpleasant companions; wild dogs.
But there is a reason why Morgan has a dog skull painted on their pauldrons: They know how to deal with those pesky animals.
Both the drawing and the training information must be uploaded to the #finished-training channel on the Discord server, and await for approval from one of the moderators. For the writing entries, the Google Docs file must be sent in place of the drawing.
Once the training is marked with a ☑️ checkmark reaction, it means everything is okay and the training has been accepted. The training will then be added to the archive, and your OC's ID information will be updated with a link to said training, as well as updating it's rank up to one level. The rank will ONLY be featured on the character's ID once the training is complete and they obtain a "full rank".
This route of training is directed to those who feel confident on their knowledge of the lore, the canon material of the novel, and the worldbuilding of H.L. Do you think you've got what it takes to face this challenge?
Trainees who decide to start a mentorship must request the help of a mentor: A canon character from the novel who will guide the trainee in their journey of becoming the best versions of themselves. But be careful; mentors are tough with their training methods, and will test their trainees in many ways to get to know what they are trully made of. If the trainee lacks the knowledge and determination to complete the mentorship in a satisfactory manner, they could end up failing the training miserably, and going back to level 1.
But, if the trainee manages to complete their training and prove their mentor they are worthy of the rank, they will recieve the honor of obtaining the full rank with only one mentorship. A great reward, for an equally big challenge.
Mentorship guidelines
This is a writing focused training, but adding an illustration is optional.
Must be written start to finish using THIS Google Docs template, you must download and edit it.
Use of generative AI of any kind is forbidden
You are only allowed to train one (1) character on each mentorship
Must depict the character performing the actions of the prompt given by the chosen mentor (available mentors will be listed after this segment)
Technical requirements: minimum word count of 2500 words (6 pages), there is no maximum word or page count, despite this, try to not exceed the average H.L. chapter lenght of 30~ ish pages.
The trainee OC must be the focus of the artwork
The mentor has to be at least mentioned in the training, at best, they will be an important part of it.
Optional: cameos of canon characters and other OCs (yours or belonging to other member) can be included in the writing.
To start a mentorship, you must send a message to the #mentorship channel on the Discord server with the following information template:
Mentorship request
Character's name:
Autor's nickname:
Date: (month)-(day)-(year)
Rank application:
Chosen mentor:
Reason of enlistment: (briefly describe why your character has requested a mentorship for that rank, and why they have chosen said mentor)
Once sent the mentorship request, await for approval in the form of a ☑️ checkmark reaction, and expect a response from your mentor in the form of a reply to your request, where your training prompt will be given. Mentorship prompts are personalized to fit the trainee's skills and lack of them, so it's very important that you keep your OC's information up to date.
Adara
Former captain of squad 15, and the current Leader of all of Cilt's Hunters. Adara specializes on Ranger riding and bow hunting, tho she excells on everything related to survival and self-defense. She is your best bet if you are a human looking for a well-prepared teacher.
Adara can only train Hunters.
Saemus
Current captain of squad 15 and 3 times champion of the "Zeingen" fighting tournament. Saemus excells on combat, oberwhelming his opponents with his brute strenght. He values teamwork and effectiveness, as well as the safety of his squad.
Saemus can only train Hunters.
Kassia
General Kassia, head of the military forces of Cilt, is a graceful and powerful Warrior that will give it all in order to protect her city and loved ones. Some say there is an strange charm to her, that will make her enemies surrender with a single glance at her eyes.
Kassia can train Hunters and Warriors.
Darius
The great Leader of Cilt is a stoic and intimidating professional with many different jobs. Don't let his collected demenour fool you, he is just as capable of fighting off the dangers of the neutral lands just like his wife. Discipline and true commitment is all you need if you decide to chose him as a mentor.
Darius can train Warriors, Medics and Scientists.
Zenda
The veteran Warrior has a reputation for having some of the most brutal and unforgiving training lessons for aspiring soldiers, that the few ones who complete it are reconized as Warriors of excellence. It doesn't matter how strong you think you are, if you are not a good soldier, you are no better than Vortex fodder.
Zenda can only train Warriors.
Tori
This field doctor has no time nor patience for people who lacks discipline and is unwilling to sacrifice sleep, comfort and sanity in order to save a life. Despite no longer being a Scientist, she tests her trainees based on effectiveness alone, and no ammount of feelings can change her mind.
Tori can train Medics and Scientists.
Cannot train Hunters despite having the Hunter rank.
Delivering finished mentorships
Once you have finished the mission given by your mentor, post the link to the Google Doc of the training in the #mentorship channel, (make sure the Doc is shared correctly and you give permission to read it). You can either post it as a reply to your initial mentorship request, or just mention the name of the character this training belongs to. Due to the more extensive lenght and complexity of mentorships compared to regular trainings, the process of revision can take several days, so don't worry if that checkmark doesn't appear right away. If the mentorship is succesful, your chosen mentor will give some final words about your training performance, and will grant you the honor of obtaining your full rank.
Aside from obtaining the full rank, characters who succesfully complete a mentorship will obtain a special badge for their ID.
I hope this guide was useful and easy to understand, and may it help you in your journey to build your character´s stories. I'll be glad to read and watch your training entries. If you have aditional questions about the training process, feel free to contact me on the Discord server, and I will gladly help you out ^^
-Kira