The Great Parent is an animal who is inhabited by the Great Spirit. He or she holds the title of either Great Mother or Great Father. The most recent Great Parent was a female elephant until she was murdered. The Great Spirit passes to a new animal before the current Great Parent dies and the new host of the Great Spirit is very likely to be trained by the current Great Parent.
Official Description
Almost every animal believes in the Great Spirit, a god-like force. Different species interpret and relate to the Great Spirit in different ways. Most of them believe part of the spirit lives in the Great Mother (or Father) who leads the animals and resolves problems and disputes across the plains. While a Great Mother or Father can, in theory, be any animal, as far back as any animal can remember, the Great Parent has always been an elephant, the most spiritual of all the creatures.
Trivia
- The Great Spirit has never been passed to a rhino.
- However, the rhinos thought for a long time that it should be their turn to have one of their kind to host the Great Spirit, causing discord in the Bravelands
- In Code of Honor, Stronghide falsely assumes the role of Great Parent. He gives the animals unholy advice that led to the animals revolting against him. Stronghide was then exiled from Bravelands and he died in peace.
- However, the rhinos thought for a long time that it should be their turn to have one of their kind to host the Great Spirit, causing discord in the Bravelands
- This rank has never been passed to a baboon.
- At the end of Code of Honor, Stinger Crownleaf falsely assumes the role of Great Parent, but unlike Stronghide, he successfully convinces most of Bravelands that he is the Great Father.
- The only animal that does not usually seek the advice of the Great Parent is the lion.
- However, the lions used to follow the Great Spirit, though this was a very long time ago.
- The reason why the lions decided to stop seeking the advice of the Great Parent is the result of their species' natural arrogance.
- However, the lions used to follow the Great Spirit, though this was a very long time ago.
- Following the events of Code of Honor, there is still no current true Great Parent.
- Stinger Crownleaf convinced Stronghide to murder Great Mother, because he sought power over Bravelands. Stronghide agreed to murder her, because she did not help him when his daughter, Brighteyes, was dying. Stronghide murdered Great Mother in the Watering Hole on the first night of the Great Gathering.
- In Blood and Bone, Sky will begin to look for the true Great Parent.
