Canon notes: Wolfremic terminology

"Wolfram" - a creature that used to be a were- or wifwolf but is now a fully sentient wolf that has sworn off bloodlust and revenge.  The term is sex-neutral, and may be used in lieu of the sexed terms if preferred.  It is necessary to use this term if the Wolfram's sex is either uncertain or confidential.

 I was unaware that my wolf dog was actually a Wolfram assigned to survey my house.

"Wolfram-er" - a male Wolfram.  Mostly used when the sex of the individual is pertinent to an understanding of the context of a conversation.

You wouldn't understand; it's a Wolfram-er thing.

"Wolfram-in" - a female Wolfram.  Mostly used when the sex of the individual is pertinent to an understanding of the context of a conversation.

She was displeased about being recognized as an "exceptional Wolfram-in."

"Wolfrim" - plural of Wolfram.  

Three out of seven Wolfrim stayed behind.

 "the Wolfrim" - All Wolfrim, as a whole. 

You have made yourself an enemy of the Wolfrim!

"Wolfrim-er" -  plural of Wolfram-er.

Misinformation led the public to consider Wolfrim-er a particular menace.

"Wolfrem-in" - plural of Wolfram-in.

For reasons unknown, the disease has only affected Wolfrem-in.

"Wolfremic" - of or pertaining to the Wolfrim.

 The concept was mostly Wolfremic in origin.

A group of Wolfrim is a "troupe" (2-10), a "flock" (10-100), or a "congregation" (>100)

A small troupe left the Cleft to patrol the area.

The flock took cover behind rocks, beneath bushes and in foxholes.

The Baroque hymn sung by the congregation of Wolfrim filled the woods and echoed through the valleys.

"man," "men," "woman," "women," "people," "person," etc. are all acceptable to use, and even preferred, when the detail of being a Wolfram is irrelevant or confidential

Give the man some room; he can hardly breathe!

She was a kind woman, despite her cold facade and perpetual snarl.

The flock under your command is filled with wonderful people; focus on that.

"Cleft" - a safe haven for the Wolfrim, often a subterranean stronghold.

We should take cover in the secret Cleft to the east of here.

"TUAB"  ("Those United Across Britannia") - a rumored network of scattered Wolfrim spanning the British Isles, currently inaccessible to the known Wolfrim.

We can't afford to waste air debating the existence or nonexistence of TUAB; we will never be able to secure passage to the British Isles, anyway.

Progress report for late October

Using the same basic imagery from two progress reports ago, here's what I've got for this month...

Green = 100% finished
Yellow=75% finished
Red = 0% finished

Let's use a points system: 4 points, 3 points, 0 points.

4 points     x    16 pages    =    64 points

3 points     x      4 pages    =    12 points

0 points     x      7 pages    =      0 points

(Two of the red pages above are blank copies of the previous spread mistakenly included in the infographic, so please disregard them.)

There are 27 pages in all (including three cover pages, excluding the back cover page).

27 pages x 4 points each = 108 points possible.

Points earned = 76

76 ÷ 108 = ~70.37% complete

In the words of Glados from the Portal games: 
"This was a triumph; I'm making a note here: Huge Decent success!..."

Reformatting future print size from 6.75 x 10.25 inches to 6 x 9 inches

I'm filing this under "progress reports," even though it's really more of a lateral strafe than forward progress.  I think just by staying in motion is important, and this was something fun and to keep me on the project while I worked up some more creativity and gumption to move forward on the story and art.

Nevertheless, I have done some artwork and, and I reworked a few of the things I'd gotten done earlier while I was at this, so I'm still claiming some progress.

Anyway, a while back, I thought I could save some money by printing pocket sized editions at home using borderless printing on saddle bound 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper, producing 5.5 x 8.5 booklets.  As any practiced expert can tell you, that's not a reliable or cost-effective way of doing things.  For some reason, I still felt like I had to give it a shot.

The ultimate bust notwithstanding, I gained from it the idea of a sleeker, more portable format, and I realized that 6 x 9 inches, barely larger than 5.5 x 8.5 inches, is the same proportion as 6.75 x 10.25 inches (a perfect ratio of 2:3).

So, introducing the new size format, along with the (less-recently) reworked logo and cover design:

Followup on this progress report: October 25, 2016

The 6x9 inch format and I have decided to go our separate ways.  I sent some page files in the 6x9 format to see how it would look and feel in my hands, and it wasn't speaking to me the way I had thought it would.

I also found that my brightness and contrast settings needed major tweaking, particularly my more recently created pages, and including on the cover page.  This may be partly due to the software I've been trying out.  The tools in it change the feel of my work in a way I'm not feeling the best about.  I'll still be using Manga Studio, but not relying on the brush tools the way I had been doing.

I'll also be test printing at home from now on, now that I know that I don't want to change formats.  My printer is reliable enough to accurately render a decent resemblance of the final look.

Canon notes - Wolfremic Etiquette

The use of idioms

The Wolfrim have a primarily human consciousness, and as such, they strongly identify as human.  Any idiom that involves a human appendage (e.g.: “give me a hand,” “the shoe is on the other foot,” etc.) remains the same when used by a Wolfram.

Using idioms that involve wolves or dogs (e.g.: “he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” “let sleeping dogs lie,” etc.) in a routine manner is not considered offensive.  As a matter of fact, it is extremely irritating to most Wolfrim when a human who uses such an idiom in the usual way falters and begins to backpedal.

Body language

It is not considered poor manners to stand over a Wolfram if done without the pretense of superiority.

Eye contact is treated in accordance with human tradition.

It is considered disrespectful to stroke a Wolfram’s coat or scratch their ears, except when maintaining cover in the presence of the uninitiated.

Placing your hand on a Wolfram’s shoulder is fine when done as to another human.

To embrace a Wolfram is a behavior reserved for potentially long-lasting or indefinite farewells, with extenuating exceptions for desperate intervention, and must be expressly approved by the Wolfram prior to the embrace.

When openly conferring in a mixed group, it is customary for all humans and Wolfrim to sit together on the floor.  It promotes an egalitarian atmosphere and also saves a great deal of strain on the neck.

Attire - Humans

Humans in the presence of several or more Wolfrim should be clad modestly in accordance with local cultural definition, with a preference that they err on the side of more coverage than on the side of less (regardless of sex).  Muted colors are preferred to brighter colors.

Pelts, leather, other skins, and imitations of these are not permitted in a safe haven (or "Cleft") of the Wolfrim.

Attire - Wolfrim

No Wolfram shall be compelled to wear a collar or harness against his/her will, except as required to ensure acceptance and preserve cover in a mortally populated area or to perform duties of fairly-negotiated employment.

No Wolfram shall be compelled to wear a muzzle, except as discipline for gross misconduct against a mortal (involving threats or violent behavior), to be administered by an authority instated and regularly reauthorized by the Ordnung.

No Wolfram shall be compelled to surrender his/her coat against his/her will for any reason whatsoever.

A Wolfram may be shorn at his/her consent and on his/her initiative in order to have the fur crafted into a garment or other charitable gift by an Ordnung-approved craftsman.  In this event, he/she must be escorted to a private area of the Cleft in which he/she is shorn for a period of no less than two months while his/her coat replenishes.

The wearing of clothing by Wolfrim isn’t forbidden.  It just looks really goofy.  Like, really, really goofy.

The previous note notwithstanding, it is considered inappropriate to laugh, smirk, or raise an eyebrow at a Wolfram for wearing an appropriate bow tie to a ceremonious event sponsored by the Ordnung, which, of course, is a socially acceptable, and even encouraged, practice.

The previous note notwithstanding, top hats are fair game for giggles.

Shorn Wolfrim may admit visitors at certain times.  It is considered rude and insensitive for a visitor to balk at the sight of a shorn Wolfram, as visitors are fully expected to arrive mentally and emotionally prepared to behave as though nothing were different.

Progress report for issue #4 - 56%

I've prepared an infographic (of sorts) to show my progress on #4 of Wolfram: A Gothic Parable:

green - complete
blue - almost complete
yellow - started/in need of reworking
red - laid out and scripted only

Counting green pages as 100% complete, blue as 75% complete, yellow as 30% complete, and red as 10% complete, the calculations follow:

green - 12 x 100% --> 1200%

blue -  2 x   75% -->   150%

yellow -   4 x   30% -->   120%

red - 10 x   10% -->   100%

1570%

1570% ÷ 28 = ~56% complete

Having felt fairly confident going into those calculations, I disappoint myself somewhat.  So I put it into a Windows style defrag-inspired format to visualize what that actually looks like:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It didn't help me feel any better, but at least I know how far I still have to go. :-(

Wolfremic humorology - based loosely on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Four of the humors involved in Wolfremic humorology are based on the four introverted cognitive functions.  The others, if more are created, have yet to finalize their inspiration.

Upon beginning the project of Wolfram: A Gothic Parable, I had already determined that the "adamant" (adamantine: an indestructible building material in Greek mythology, used in the Gates of Tartarus) humor was the substance that made the Wolfrim what they are.  However, I thought later that one particular ability was too limiting to the characterization available to me.

Since Karsten and Isolda both have the adamant feature (the ability to manipulate one's own inertia or virtual mass) I determined that their dominant function Fi (introverted feeling) should be associated with them.

The following are some tentative notes for how I developed the humors created so far.  I apologize for the structure.  I may revise them later for readability.


Resolute humor - Ni1 - INxJ - When activated, only excessive force or exhaustion of the humor can stop them from accomplishing a goal.

Dutiful humor - Si1 - ISxJ - produces an inobligate ability to coordinate with the nearest authoritative cause without the help of verbal/visual/physical communication.


Planner’s trait - Te2 - IxTJ - behind-the-scenes leader

Advocate’s trait - Fe2 - IxFJ - behind-the-scenes helper


Resolute Planner - Ni1/Te2/Fi3/Se4 - INTJ - Director Natalie Löwe-Kesling (Semperfort-Wolfram)

Resolute Advocate - Ni1/Fe2/Ti3/Se4 - INFJ - character not invented

Dutiful Planner - Si1/Te2/Fi3/Ne4 - ISTJ - character not invented

Dutiful Advocate - Si1/Fe2/Ti3/Ne4 - ISFJ - character not invented


Astute humor - Ti1 - IxTP - Unlimited focus, able to produce epiphanies almost on demand.

Adamant humor - Fi1 - IxFP - Ability to manipulate one’s own virtual mass or inertia.


Wordsmith’s trait - INxP - Ne2/Si3 - focuses on words and concepts, relays pertinent information discreetly

Sentinel’s trait - ISxP - Se2/Ni3 - observes present situation keenly and reports pertinent details propmtly


Astute Wordsmith - Ti1/Ne2/Si3/Fe4 - INTP - Josef Zierschreiber (mute Wolfram)

Astute Sentinel - Ti1/Se2/Ni3/Fe4 - ISTP - character not invented

Adamant Wordsmith - Fi1/Ne2/Si3/Te4 - INFP - Karsten Erich Kesling II (Semperfort)

Adamant Sentinel - Fi1/Se2/Ni3/Te4 - ISTP - Isolda Steinbrecher (Wolfram)

First official publiation of canon notes: the Wolfrim

The etymology of "Wolfram" probably indicates the meaning of "wolf soot."  Of the Wolfrim, it was used originally as a pejorative, as it may have been of Tungsten ore (according to the New Oxford American Dictionary that came with my MacBook Pro, and according to http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/wolfram).

The Wolfrim are sterile.  Their pheromones turn to a very fine, light-colored dust upon leaving their bodies and can sometimes be seen in the air when they shake out their fur.  This is probably why the term "Wolfram" stuck with them.

Wolfram pheromone dust often smells mildly pleasant, having an olfactory semblance of naturally occurring scents, e.g.: petrichor, pine cinders, limestone, or an unplaceable floral scent.

The creation of a Wolfram completes the original Fenrin chimerism into a fused state.

(Fenrin lycanthropes are formed by a chimeric grafting of a wolf (often referred to as a/the "graft") into a human (a/the "sire" or "dame") through dark magic. The human and wolf forms phase in and out of one another, both at will and at the full and new moons, creating the illusion of transformation.)

At the formation of a Wolfram, the bodies and organs of the human and wolf fuse and compress into a single wolflike form.  The stomachs and brains only fuse partway.

The human consciousness, the Werteil ["wehr tayel"] or Wifteil ["wiff tayel"] (wer: "man"; wif: "woman"; teil: "part") remains dominant, almost constantly in command.

The Wolfteil ["vohlf tayel"], is comprised of the subconscious entity that possesses the muscle memory and instinctual tactics that the Wolfram needs in order to survive and perform the duties assigned to him/her.

The Wolfteil must be taught, through “Wolfremic reconciliation,” to trust and submit willingly to the Wer/Wifteil through the sort of attention and love that one should give to any needy and deserving feral consciousness occupying the same body.

Wolfremic reconciliation consists mostly of introspective affection, frequent social interaction with other creatures, and ethically-enacted behavioral conditioning.  This is a crucial series of lifelong habits, and to begin the process is very difficult, since a Fenrin sire’s/dame’s career is spent intimidating and coercing the graft into complicity.

The earlier sessions of Wolfremic reconciliation often resemble paranoia in that the Wolfram appears to be talking to either him/herself or to no one at all, and either staring into space or seeming to attempt eye contact with an invisible entity.  As time passes, introspection and conditioning can be internalized through the neurological conveyance (between the Werteil's and Wolfteil's brain-centers) of impressions, visualization and emotional stimuli.

Most Wolfrim will have nothing to do with the consumption of meat, and those who have survived incarceration at a Fen’r-heim ["house of Fenrîr"] (a "prison farm" where Wolfrim are detained, exploited, and consumed or sold as draft animals or pets) shy away from many other animal-based products.  The fact that their stomach remains partly divided allows them to learn how to ruminate and digest foliage and grass, although they much prefer to eat the varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices traditionally consumed by human beings.