|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:27 am
 |
|
|
 |
The games are about to begin again!
In anticipation and celebration, La'u Khara'i has organized a feast for the day before. It's a time when the pride can come together, have fun, and maybe make a few bets.
----
Rules
1. No godmodding. Ever. (Unless you're me! ...wait.)
2. Most swampies can post, excluding pilgrims! And no, you may not 'backdate' in any way: if your swampie grew to adolescent before this was posted, they cannot be here. They are away on their quests.
3. If you don't have a swampie, you may post with snake or avian familiars (as long as they are 'unattached' to any SoA, because why would another SoA's familiar be here?). If you don't have either of those, you may post with something else small that might be in the swamp. No crocodiles, please.
4. This is open as of the initial post, and you're free to RP to your heart's content. Other official posts may be made periodically, and will be clearly marked.
5. All other SoA rules apply. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:14 am
|
|
|
|
After the success of the previous year's games, the Queen had decided to make them an annual event: a celebration of the pride and its flourishing lands and population. There was a little trouble with that, however, as drought had come to the swamps in recent months and taken its toll. Conditions weren't dire, and the swamp not outright dry, but it could at best be described as 'slightly damp' now. It was a distressing circumstance, and so the games would serve the secondary purpose of providing a much-needed distraction from what could, in time, become a serious problem. While drinking water and prey were not yet in short supply, some might have begun questioning how long things could last.
Little was said, officially, of the drought, and when pressed, the Queen would give only vague acknowledgement of the situation - and if pressed further, change the subject or refuse to continue the conversation. Her grandmother, Mama Asali, had been largely absent, which had become another subject ripe for gossip. Where a year ago, the reign of La'u Khara'i had looked bright, it was now looking worryingly dimmer. If that was the case, though, she showed no sign of it now as she stood before the pride. She carried herself as she always did, head held high and royal persona on full display. Only the handful of lions closest to her, mostly family, knew that it had been weeks since she'd last slept well. That she fretted in her waking hours, and was haunted by dreams in her sleeping ones. That though her mask was yet intact, the elements of life and rule were beginning to wear at the lioness beneath it.
She stood on the small island that was the royal family's 'base' of sorts, , though it wasn't much of an island now. Where once it had been just deep enough that one had to swim to cross it, the water was only paw-deep. Khara was not alone on the island - the Nobles of the pride, along with her Consort, stood there as well. But most notable, perhaps, were the bodies of the preybeasts that lay around them. Killed earlier in the day, they had been dragged to where they now lay, then slashed open so that the blood might drain from them. It was now late afternoon, and far off in the distance, there were rumblings of thunder.
"Jini-misemi." Finally, after a long silence, La'u Khara'i stepped forward. As always, her voice was level and strong. "My fellow Spirit-talkers."
"As you know, tomorrow, the games will begin. And I hope that - while I am not among the prizes this time - everyone will find something that suits them, and enjoy themselves." The races, frog-catching, and mud-wrestling would all be among the events again, as well as contests specific to those of Ghost and Guardian rank. She could only hope for a good spectacle, a successful distraction, though what she would do when the high of the celebration had faded...
No, this was not the time or place for doubt. "But tonight, we honor the spirits. We remember the past, celebrate the present, and look to all the future holds. We have been blessed with prosperity, and for that we give our thanks. With this gift of blood, may the spirits be pleased, and continue to favor the faithful."
The bright-pelted lioness bowed her head and was silent for several minutes. When she looked up again, she smiled out at her audience. "Let the feasting begin!"
The Jini-misemi were not wasteful, and the same beasts whose blood had fed the spirits would also feed those who spoke to them. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:38 am
|
|
|
|
The situations the pride faced, ones that could easily become dire in the future, were not lost on Kiivas'lintu. Fierce Bird was her name and fierce she was in all she did. She took pride in her hunting and was a competitive creature by nature, thus she eagerly looked forward to the games that would come on the following day. It was a much needed distraction, as well as a prime opportunity for her to show off to other members of Jini-misemi.
The young lioness looked on her queen, La'u Khara'i with a sense of both wonderment and admiration. If ever there was a strong lioness that Kiivas looked up to, it was her. Oh, and her own mother, of course, but she admired her leader greatly and dipped her head in respect as the lioness addressed the pride. Kiivas'lintu did not know that La'u Khara'i had not slept in ages, nor did she realize just how worried she was over the pride's future in particular. Then again, worry came with the position, right?
Regardless, she hung on to the lioness's every word and her tail twitched with excitement at the thought of the games ahead. Tonight, they would honor the spirits. Tomorrow, she would compete. She'd not eaten much as of late, instead throwing herself into her work to help prepare this feast. She would feed well, yet made a mental note not to over indulge too much this evening.
She needed to be in prime shape, after all. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:48 am
|
|
|
|
As it usually went with those things, the drought hadn't worried Mteremo. At first. As far as he was concerned, this was a seasonal thing, the dry season happened every year. But the swamp never got quite this "dry", and the rains were taking their sweet time to return. But they had enough water to drink, and the thunder in the distance gave the cream male hope that this would all end soon and go back to normal.
Besides, it wasn't like the swamp had become inhabitable or anything! There was still water, and mud, though concentrations varied.
An optimist by nature, he preferred to focus on positive things! The games were a good opportunity to bring the pride together, meet new people and make friends. He had invited Maeve to come with, but wasn't sure she would be coming. Still, he was very interested in some good, fun play!
He listened with interest as their Queen spoke, and briefly wondered if she'd mention anything about the drought. But she didn't, and he wasn't too surprised. Mteremo didn't think too much of it, not with good food around. Unlike Avichayil'Cayla and Kiivas'lintu he was not worried about eating so much he wouldn't be fit to compete tomorrow (Mteremo wasn't even sure he would), but he wouldn't eat too much, just to not be rude.
Still rather young, Ani found it a bit more difficult to be polite about things. She was practically bouncing on her pas as the Queen spoke. Of course she respected La'u Khara'i, she was pretty cool, being Queen and all. But Ani was young and wasn't so much interested in feasting as she was in actually playing. She'd be the best frog-catcher ever! Of course she hadn't been around for the previous games, but once the young female learned frog catching would be involved, she was interested!
The drought didn't mean much to her, and in her own way she sort of liked the lower water levels. In some places it had been too deep for her, so the swamp had become more young-lion accessible in some ways. And Ani was practically a cub, she had no real concept of the consequences this drought could have for them in the long run.
She went to the food as the others did, but didn't do much more than nibble a bit. Instead she wandered over towards the Queen... then suddenly felt shy and settled for trying to chat with one of the huntresses present, Kiivas'lintu. "Hi!" Ani said, happily, when close enough. "What games are you gonna play?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:04 am
|
|
|
|
This would be her first feast. The worries of drought were mostly lost upon her - she was young, and the water had been this low for as long as she could remember.
Asami's eyes were wide, pupils dilated. Growing up, she'd been used to constantly seeing new faces around the swamps. She had stayed as close as possible to her mothers side, burying her face into a leg when someone introduced themselves. But, she would smile, liking the attention regardless.
Now, with everyone in one place, Asami's brain began to fizzle and fail. She'd misplaced her mother ages ago, wanting to go greet everyone and realizing it was too much of a task for her.
Instead, she found herself out in the swampy water, between the island of food and the largest mass of people. She'd sat down in it, overwhelmed, frustrated, and stared off at the chattering hum of lions.
Her butt was wet. She frowned, but could not bring herself to move. It was just too much. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:11 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:34 am
|
|
|
|
Vyoga'kwaa remembered the last year's games well, they had taken place shortly after his return home and ended with his being taken as Khara's consort. And since then he had been very happy- even if the most he generally accomplished was moral support and looking pretty (sort of!) beside her. Which was what he did now, though as she spoke he couldn't help but let his mind wander. Having a reminder of just how much time had past since the last games.. he couldn't help but review who still hadn't come home. Four more of his siblings had been sent away on name quests and only two of any of them had returned since Vyoga had. He still had friends who hadn't come back, too.
As Khara lead into a few moments of silence, he bowed his head respectfully but his eyes kept moving- he had spotted one of Amali's little sisters, Ani. They were getting so big it seemed unlikely Amali would get to see them before they were full grown- assuming he and they all returned from name quests.
He straightened back up when Khara announced the start of the feast, taking a step closer to her and offering an encouraging smile. He had to focus more on what was happening now and that meant Khara and the games. It was just too bad there wouldn't be as much mud as last year.
Marasharasha was not the most obviously social lion, though he liked the crowds and keeping an eye on the goings-on of the pride. It was his attitude that made him so off-putting and he didn't really mind that, there were always gatherings like this to help him get his fill on social interactions. He hadn't participated last year but he figured he might this year. So he put himself in the middle of the crowd and listened to what everybody else was talking about, making no particular effort to participate but just enjoying the group being together- regardless of any previous or current worries of his regarding the water level. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:00 pm
|
|
|
|
Ani was almost indignant! But she knew better. "Of course I've caught a frog! I'm the best frog-catcher." A bit of a hyperbole, but normal enough for kids. Ani was a perfectly average frog-catcher for her age. "I wanna play that one too. But I don't think I'd race." Even an imaginative little cub like Ani wouldn't dream she'd be able to outrun an adult. Cubs could be quick for their size, but outrunning a fully grown lion? That just wasn't possible!
"I know the best places to catch frogs, though." Yeah, and she wouldn't tell the comptetition. "Are you excited?"
--
Glancing around those gathered here, Mteremo managed to spot a young red female, sitting in the shallow water. He liked kids, and hoped for them someday. Of course only when Maeve was ready, which... may take a while.
Unfortunately he couldn't say he knew everyone's name. All he knew of this young lady was that her name started with an A. And there was an 's' in there somewhere? Anyways, she looked rather overwhelmed. Not sure where her parents were, Mteremo took it upon himself to pull out a chunk of meat from one of the prey and wander over to where the poor cub sat. "Hey 'ere. You hung'y?" He asked around the chunk of meat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:04 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:25 pm
|
|
|
|
Being greeted was like being hit with a blast of cold water full of emotions.
Asami wrinkled up, nose and ears all flat, and pulled her body into a ball. A small squeal escaped her mouth, though it was not an alarmed sound. No, it was a large escape of excitement that matched the smile which had stretched all the way across her face. One which she was desperately trying to hide in her chest.
"Eee," she pronounced. And then, remembering her manners, "Hi." She poked one eye open and wiggled down as low as she could get. Now her belly was wet.
"Yes!" she answered, momentarily forgetting her fear at the kind offer. But, they couldn't eat that here, could they? Her eyes flicked to slightly drier land. Maybe they could eat it right here! Momma would probably be so mad, but maybe he knew something her mother didn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:45 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:15 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
