[Pride I/T] Mawingu Miguu (Open)

[CaliWolfe]

Mawingu Miguu

Accepts: All feline species, all familiars.
Doesn't Accept: Wild dogs, Hyenas

Background:
Cert symbol:

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Pack/Pride Name: Mawingu Miguu
Current IC Owner(s): (owners with a king/queen member)
Current OOC Owner(s): CaliWolfe
Default ranks: Joining rogue: Dyn'n 'wnt'r (All stages)
Born in member: Ryktyqkhiav (All stages)
Current Pride/Pack Members, and Rankings of Each:
Links to at least five current RPs: (These RPs must have been done in the last month. At least one must have included the current ruler.)
Brief Description of your Pride/Pack: (Do not exceed 175 words, it has to fit in our layout!)
Familiar Rules: Familiars are allowed to join, however it is encouraged they bond with another member.
Cert Background Large Image: (Cert colors are now ultimately up to the cert maker, but please try to make it rectangular in shape.)
Pride Symbol for Cert: Transparent PNG, please, and not already on a cert!circle. Please keep it square-like in shape, not rectangular.
Any Extra Information: If you want to include a place for alternate names or clans, please say so here - we will not allow you to change the cert afterward.
Pride/Pack History:

 

[CaliWolfe]

Paradise Above

The animals of Mawingu Miguu live in a lush and tropical highland area of South Africa. Specially, a heavily forested environment. See here and here for more details on the environment.

They spent most of their lives in the trees and will come down to engage in celebrations and rituals, sign up for hunting parties or participate in treasure seeking groups. Rogues or new members will find the Mawingu' are agile and leap from tree to tree with grace. They also climb grand heights to reach the sunniest parts of the forest during the day. To them, it is simply part of every day life to seemingly glide between the branches or run for miles on end.

So what's the pride all about anyways? The Mawingu are a group of a leopards and lions who banded together a long time ago, and exist somewhat isolated from other prides. They value comfort and luxury as a part of everyday life and tend to be a highly social group who have new members (joining rogues) to handle all the jobs and work they'd rather not do themselves. They consider themselves somewhat of a high class society who only take on jobs if they feel like working or can simply choose to loaf around and do nothing all day. The Mawingu aren't necessarily lazy as most busy themselves with something to do, but they do have joining rogues to work and do things for them if they'd rather not choose to take a career.

Solution Solitude

The pride does not, under normal circumstances accept rogues as regular members. Otherwise they risk Li mo'ra, "the moon's wrath." Too many strangers and outsiders coming in search of a luxurious existence will result in no creature living nicely. They will not turn away an injured animal or not bother to help a stranger who is lost, but the Mawingu only accept rogues during a certain time of the year. Transfers or exchanges from other prides, with whom the Mawingu have good relations with are able to join no problem. Members who have gone and returned, or have relations to a pride member who accepts them as one of their family are allowed to join without hassle either.

Otherwise, all joining rogues are given one title and one title only. Dynʻn ʼwntʻr (serve under). They exist in a fashion similar to high treated slaves. Meaning although they may find comfort and be allowed to live without a master and not be required to follow any order given to them, they still have duties they must fulfill. They must be part of all hunting parties they can be, and must always show for a treasure hunting expedition. They are given freedom and they will not be beaten, but they must work to be allowed to stay. Dyn'n 'wnt'r are there to aid and sustain the comfortable lifestyle "full-members" enjoy.

During Pʼarbyndn dwrk (join through) ceremony a number of days are set aside where Dyn'n 'wnt'r who have lived among the pride for a while are granted rights to become a full member. They are considered to have worked hard and long enough to become a "cloudwalker" or "full member" of the pride. To accomplish this however the other cloudwalkers insist on testing their strength, their knowledge and their skill among the other cloudwalkers. They will join a hunting party consisting of no cloudwalkers and only Dyn'n 'wnt'r like themselves. Then, they must bring down prey of the chiefs choosing, together, as a unit and a team. Graduating upon returning having had successful hunt the group are deemed a Hyml'jamaa, a family.

Hyml'jamaa

Hyml'jamaa are "sky kin" or "family without blood". Dyn'n 'wnt'r do not have any family who claims them in the pride, and thus have no existing kin among the ranks. The pride is all about comfort, and what is more comforting then the idea of being wanted? Dyn'n 'wnt'r are given a Hyml'jamaa upon completing their Pʼarbyndn dwrk ceremony, those having hunted with them now being considered their 'family' in a way. They are not expected to like each other, but are to act as support for all members of their group. If crisis falls on one member the remaining members are expected to be there for them. If they are infected with a disease barring death, the other members are to comfort them or search out a cure.

Hyml'jamaa families are not siblings. The pride acknowledges this. They are more of closely knit band of raiders or team mates then they are siblings. As a Hyml'jamaa they are now a group, and thus stronger than being considered a single member. They may partake in raiding parties to gain more treasures from the outside world. A step up from treasure hunting, they will often be required to travel long distances to find gold and pelts and skulls deemed valuable. They may even be involved in a few fights on their journey.

As a Hyml'jamaa leopards also gain access to the pridal hotsprings, a place reserved for cloud walkers only. They may travel to the singing trees and dig through the desert sands of Pʼarlʼázn, but most importantly a leopard part of a Hyml'jamaa may breed. breeding from within the Hyml'jamaa units are allow and sometimes encouraged as they are not siblings, and not family. They merely work together.

Qyynmiguu are members who abandon the team or unit they work with. This doesn't mean they have gone off and decided to go a solo mission. Nor does it refer to a team mate with a job that makes it difficult to go on missions with their team more then once a week. It refers to a member who has flat out rejected their team and refuse to work with them. When the chief bestows Qyynmiguu on a member it is not to be taken as a flattering term. In fact, it is almost insulting. A Qyynmiguu are solo-leopards and thus, are weaker without friends to back them up. They will find less comfort as Hyml'jamaa are encouraged to socialize and become friends. A Qyynmiguu may become friends with someone in a Hyml'jamaa however they cannot join that group themselves, not without all members approving of their joining and having the chief oversee the decision being made. Many Qyyn members may chose to simply leave the pride, as they may be directly or indirectly excluded from many events. Those who stay may continue to try and find themselves a unit to join, or may strive to advance to the next "ranking" in order to be rid of the social burden of having teammates tailing them around.

Born-in members have the choice of taking a Hyml'jamaa! They can join their parents Hyml'jamaa should they have one.

Example: A member of a Hyml'jamaa marries and has a child. This child is raised being part of one of the Hyml'jamaa their parents are in, if not both.

Example B: A member of a Hyml'jamaa and a Qyynmiguu marry and have a child. The resulting offspring can be either part of their one parents Hyml'jamaa or the family opts to raise their child without one. Alternately they may simply choose to have some of their children be part of the Hyml'jamaa and some raised at home by them.

If born-in members don't want a Hyml'jamaa then the pride accepts this as being fine. They are known as Dryywwz, meaning they accept all as kin. They may join a Hyml'jamaa or switch between Hyml'jamaa's if they so wish. Or they may work solo, as they have a family for support the pride is accepting of this as a choice. Born-in members have the privilege of choosing their fate.

---
Hyml'jamaa - A group of rogues who learn to work together as a team. They are forever bound to each other as being part of a Hyml'jamaa, unless they choose to leave. ((Also referred to as simply Jamaa))
Qyynmiguu, - those who have left their Hyml'jamaa but are still part of the pride. They have no support now for working as a team and are somewhat rejected as this is an unflattering term. ((Also referred to as simply Qynn))

Dryywwz - born in members who don't want to be restricted to one Hyml'jamaa. They can have none, or switch between several without ever being considered a Qyynmiguu.

 

[CaliWolfe]

Breedings, Flings and Mates

Breedings are acceptable, but only for those with a Hyml'jamaa or higher ranked then those with them. Flings with a pride member are perfectly fine, but both parents are expected to pull their weight when raising the children, or form an agreement for one parent to care for all the cubs. Flings with an outsider or a rogue is looked upon as being irresponsible, but most members will hold their tongues when it comes to speaking about it in public.

Mates are only for those within the pride as full members. Meaning they are above the rankings of a Dynʻn ʼwntʻr. Having a mate is a joyful occasion and the newly weds are celebrated with a large party filled with singing and dancing for all! They are given gifts of many dried and fresh foods as well as pelts to share a den. Members just married are spoiled rotten and treated as royalty for that one special night. Afterwords they are given three days as a grace period before expected to return to their normal duties.

If raising cubs is not appealing in the slightest to your leopard, they may give their cubs to the nannies to raise. Regardless of flings or marriage producing cubs a nanny will gladly take over the task of caring for them.

Typical Upbringing

Cubs having resulted from flings or a marriage are given the standard life of a cloud walker. From birth they are taught to walk, and taught to leap as far as they can. The cloud walkers take pride in being capable of jumping from tree to tree without tiring and cubs will be raised in a similar manner.

The cubs are somewhat spoiled in the pride as they are privileged of enjoying themselves quite a lot, not having to have a Hyml'jamaa or become a Qyynmiguu. With the pride lifestyle for born in members it is easy to overindulge in comforts and sanctuary. At some point in their lives however parents will begin to teach their children to act proper and polite to all of whom they speak. Not everyone is as fortunate as them and most parents will strive to teach this to their children. In the very least, they will learn to have respect for all animals of their world. Be they prey, slaves or even the chief they speak to.

A grown born-in leopard will take become a full member of the pride. They are not required to participate in hunting parties or treasure seeking events but if food is low the chief may ask they lend a helping hand. They reap full benefits of being a cloud walker and gain access to all areas of the pride, as well as prizes for simply being part of a hunt or treasure seeking expedition. Even being in a raiding party earns them high respect. They prizes they receive range from bones and skulls to large pelts or dried and preserved meats.

 

[CaliWolfe]

Q'nygl'

Royalty and all related to the royal family.

Yydlqkhiav

Yydlqkhiav members are individual leopards that have surpassed the typical member and have earned favor with the chief. They are essentially the "nobles" of the pride in a sense of social standing. They have advanced furthest in their career, or they have made themselves a notable member and thus outstanding figure. They no longer are bound to the identity of a being part of a Hyml'jamaa or a Qyynmiguu as they are now known as respected members or families.

Members here are high class, and any children born of them are also within the Yydlqkhiav ranking. Some may be offered to serve on a council close to the chief and have a good word of advice over the changes within the pride itself. Also, any cubs of the chief are 'royalty' and cubs of theirs are 'nobles.'

Ryktyqkhiav

Ryktyqkhiav members are either born ins, or those with a Hyml'jamaa or are a Qyynmiguu. In other words, this tier is where all full members start off, and they can do more then Dyn'n 'wnt'r!

Raiding Parties
The pride finds objects valuable. To have many objects in your den is a sign of wealth or high-standing member. To have few shows you are weak and incapable of obtaining treasure. Although some high ranking members may choose to keep few items most decorate their dens with pelts, gold, trinkets, skulls and bones, anything of value or interest.

Raiding parties are involved specifically in obtaining more shiny objects, more gems and jewels, more pelts and valuable objects. Only cloudwalkers may go on raiding parties, as they can be dangerous and they don't want to force Dyn'n 'wnt'r into doing something potentially unsafe.

Raiding parties consist of 3-5 leopards, or more, who go out into the rogue lands to gather materials to be made into new Tʼátʻm, or valuable crafts. They may find objects, trade them with rogues, or as some leopards do, steal from rogues who wear valuables. The latter of which tends to be the most popular choice hence the name "raiding party". Leopards will no doubt be involved in fights when searching for treasures on a raiding party, and they are putting their lives at risk; but they will no doubt return with better treasures then had they not stolen. OOC raiding parties are more of an rp prompt then anything, but are expected to occur in the roguelands or on the borders. They are also a good explanation for if your leopard has a lavished den.

Desert Digging
Desert diggers, or digging expeditions is a means primarily to find treasure, secondarily to find water. Explorers may chose to search the desert for treasure, but this is a dangerous task as it risks dehydration. Thus, some members will go and join a digging group, who look for stable water sources in the desert to make a treasure searching experience less miserable. This task is for cloudwalkers only, no Dyn'n 'wnt'r will be exposed to such a harsh life unless they opt to themselves. Even at that they will not receive treasures buried there, as treasure is for cloudwalkers only. They will get food for every treasure piece they dig up. A regular member would be allowed to keep what they find, and will receive food as a bonus for if a water source is found. The desert is named Pʼarlʼázn, and takes a day or two trip to reach.

Hot Springs
The hot springs, reserved for cloudwalkers only, is a huge part of pride life. Dyn'n 'wnt'r are prevented from entering by the guards located here, but regular cloudwalkers may go on through without hassle. The hot springs are relaxing and almost healing in nature. In addition though, this is the biggest social hub for the pride. Those not in the rejuvenating waters will stand on the edge and breath in the steam. All sorts of conversation is discussed here, and groups of Hyml'jamaa will retire here to relax.

Singing Trees
The singing trees is a part of the forest where the trees are hallow and although it seems spooky during the nighttime, it is considered the ultimate playground for cloudwalkers. Cubs are often dropped off here to have a fun time trying to find others in the branches as voices echo from here to there. Adults however, are also encouraged to play here as it hones hunting skills and the ability to sneak unnoticed. To a rogue or Dyn'n 'wnt'r not familiar with the rules of the singing tree forest they would probably find it horrifying of an experience. The goal is to not be caught. Those caught are chased back to the borders of the forest and although not meant to be mean, it may come off as such due to the voices and snickers. Cloudwalkers and cubs are recruited onto 'groups' of those in the singing trees and avoid being caught by other groups to make it more fun, and not exclude them. Rogues are chased away as they are lost and it's sad and somewhat funny. Dyn'n 'wnt'r are treated similarly.

Dyn'n 'wnt'r

This is joining rogues. AKA Dyn'n 'wnt'r. No born-in member would ever be at the Dyn'n 'wnt'r stage, as they are full members by birth. Dyn'n 'wnt'r contains two basic tasks that all members would regularly participate in as a means of keeping their place among the pride.

Dyn'n 'wnt'r members can participate in...

Hunting Parties! These are cloudwalkers and Dyn'n 'wnt'r who have come together to hunt down prey. At the end of the hunt cloudwalkers there take the biggest pieces of meat for themselves and fellow cloudwalkers leaving the rest to the Dyn'n 'wnt'r to eat.

Treasure Searches! These are small groups of Dyn'n 'wnt'r who go out being lead by a cloudwalker to find small treasures within the pride territory. The best treasure is given to the cloudwalker with the Dyn'n 'wnt'r's receiving what's unclaimed by cloudwalkers at the end.

These are the only two options available to them however. Until the next Pʼarbyndn dwrk where they have the chance to advance in ranking.  

[CaliWolfe]

Celebrations and Events

Being worked on...

Pʼarbyndn dwrk Joining Ceremony OOCly once every three months Dyn'n wnt'r in the pride are given the chance to become full members. All candidates will be given a test, a task they must complete together as a team. Usually it involves bringing down a particular type of prey, or fighting a certain pride member. Sometimes it will be a quiz or even going on a raiding party to serve as a rite of passage. The most common test however is to hunt specific prey. The chef will oversee the ceremony and approve of teams that work well together and manage to accomplish their task. They will be given a Hyml'jamaa and become full members in the pride.

History

working on...

Culture

Li mo'rah dawn of the dark skinned sun or the moon's wrath as it may also be referred to. The first chief was named Li mo'rah and said to his people "If too many strangers come and wish to bask in the glory of our kind, seeking wealth, seeking comfort, then no creature will find comfort at all." In other words too many individuals allowed to join will result in everyone working for comfort without actually having it. To prevent this rogues were only allowed to join at a specific time, and were called dyn'n wnt'r. They hunt for the pride, and bring a few treasures back and in exchange the cloud walkers allow them to stay. In the beginning the first dyn'n wnt'r were treated badly and tolerated at best. Many were chased away or teased and picked on until they decided to leave on their own free will. Over time the dyn'n wnt'r became more relied on for food, and as such are treated better then before. They are still restricted on where they are allowed to go but all are promised a chance to advance through the rank sometime in the future.

Tʼátʻm Totem. They are created by crafters from objects brought back on treasure hunting trips and raiding parties. They typically resemble a specific species of bird found within the forest, but may also be of leopards, monkey's, apes, spiders or bugs. These Tʼátʻm are polished to look shiny and are placed in dens to represent 'wealth'. A leopard with several Tʼátʻm lined up are considered more 'wealthy' then those with only one or two. Also, they're pretty and who doesn't like pretty things? Tʼátʻm can act in a sense as trading material for those not particularly attached to the them. In a way they are currency for the cloudwalkers to use when exchanging raw materials with rogues, and trading different Tʼátʻm with fellow cloudwalkers.

Leopards Are Best. The cloudwalkers are rather isolated from other prides, and while they accept anything capable of climbing as a member leopards and lions are the most popular of species. Cheetahs and hybrids are also accepted, although hybrids would be met with some confusion from older members. Canines are flat out rejected as they lack the ability to climb although this is set to change sometime in the future. While the pride call themselves cloudwalkers anything outside of their group are referred to as groundwalkers. This includes familiars.

Seers. Seers are regarded as any other members of the pride, though they may find themselves having special treatment. Most pride members believe that treating seers well will result in good luck, and no matter what standing they are at seers might find they are picked on less, given more food, receive gifts for no apparent reason. They may even be courted by members wishing to have better luck! Seers in general receive a "better" treatment, even incoming rogues. They are expected to act as a regular pride member however, even if they are a little unique.

Familiars. Familiars are accepted as members, but are treated mostly as precious pets or companions. Some members might only want a familiar to make their den pretty, or to help on hunts, though regardless of reason familiars in general receive a good treatment in the pride. They have no voice in politics or anything of the sort, but they would never be abused or abandon by a pride member. Familiars joining on their own are encouraged to make friends with a leopard as fast as possible, for they might be mistaken for food otherwise.

What's with the feathers? The feathers represent rankings in the pride. Blue feathers are new members, red feathers are cloudwalkers, purple feathers are nobles, and yellow feathers are royalty. For each "rank-up" a member has they receive another feather in addition to their existing ones.

Joining rogue: Dyn'n 'wnt'r (blue feather) -> Ryktyqkhiav (blue & red feather) -> Yydlqkhiav (Purple, red and blue feather) -> Qʻnyglʻk (Yellow, purple, red and blue feather) -> Hwyṗtqʻnyglʻk (Green, yellow, purple, red and blue feather)

Born-in member: Ryktyqkhiav (red feather) -> Yydlqkhiav (Purple, and red feather) -> Qʻnyglʻk (Yellow, purple, red and blue feather) -> Hwyṗtqʻnyglʻk (Green, yellow, purple, red and blue feather)

Gods & Goddesses. The pride would acknowledge these, but they are rather uncommon in the area and regarded mainly as myth. Any seer claiming to be the child of a god would likely be laughed at and the statement treated as a joke.  

[CaliWolfe]

Ranks

Qʻnyglʻk

● Hwyṗtqʻnyglʻk [1/1] The current chief of the pride. Typically a male rank it has occasionally been given to females. A rank inherited by the first born male a chief and his consort have. They tend to colony changing issues and host most if not all the Pʼarbyndn dwrk ceremonies, as well as coming up with the challenge the Dyn'n 'wnt'r must pass during this challenge.

└┈┈┈• Consort [0/1] The wife, or sometimes husband of the current chief. Although not as powerful as the chief himself, these partners are just as equally respected and have a good say over existing ranks within the pride itself. This tends to be a highly social rank.
└┈┈┈• Heir [0/1] Typically the first born male of the chief and his consort, trained and groomed from a young age to one day take the throne from their father. Interestingly when of age other royalty may challenge the heir for his spot to the throne, or have a representative fight for them.
└┈┈┈• Royalty [special] The remainder of the royal family, Princes and Princesses who are related to the current chief. When the heir is of age, prior to becoming chief, they are allowed to challenge him for his position as the selected heir of the family. They, like the chief and his consort live a luxurious life in the pride. They are often given items to get on their good sides and also out of admiration. The royalty might not have much actual power within the pride, but they are sons, daughters, uncles and aunts of those with true power.

Yydlqkhiav

● Noble [special] Noble members are recognized as an outstanding figure (in a good way) by the chief, and are crowned noble blood by him. The non-royal-blood version of the "royalty" ranking.
● Warmaster [special] Raiders who are the head of their game. They serve as the leaders of raiding parties and protectors of the pride when things turn sour. Charged with the duty of ensuring Dyn'n 'wnt'r stay in line.
● High Scholar [special]

└┈┈┈• Shaman [special] Doctors, healers, the cloudwalkers put faith in the shaman's spiritual connection that they are able to heal the sick and wounded well. Shaman are typically seers, although not always, and are considered wise and in close connection with the spirits of the world.
└┈┈┈• Historian [special] Great Lorekeepers, historians are dedicated to the pursuit of time, the present and the past as well as the events that occurred in certain time frames, or are happening currently.
└┈┈┈• Inventor [special] Lead crafters of the Tʼátʻm within the pride. They are skilled in the creation of new items, and redesign of existing items they are given to work with.

Ryktyqkhiav

● Scholar [limited]

└┈┈┈• Healer [limited]
└┈┈┈• Lorekeeper [limited]
└┈┈┈• Crafter [limited] Creators of Tʼátʻm, mender of pelts, they are creative and imaginative with their designs. Raiders work close with them, bringing them new materials in exchange for Tʼátʻm's to trade with rogues. They will sometimes also receive 'bonuses' for creating particularly beautiful objects in the form of pelts or meat.

● Explorer [limited] Similar to raiders, explorers spend most of their time outside of the pride. They are the pride's wandering GPS and mappers, memorizing new ways and layouts to get through the jungle and surrounding lands outside of their home.
● Raider [limited] Those who specifically intend to going on raiding parties, where they will either attack rogues to obtain new treasures, or barter and trade Tʼátʻm's with them.
└┈┈┈• Guard [limited] These particular raiders stay at home. They serve as peacekeepers and some manage the hotsprings by ensuring no groundwalkers get near.
● Nanny/Caretaker [limited] If families don't want to take care of their little ones, or if parents will be unable to care for them for a day or two, the pride nannies are there to help! They act as babysitters or entertainers and teachers for the young while their parents are off enjoying themselves elsewhere.
● Ryktyqkhiav [limited] A born-in cloudwalker. Free of the responsibilities required by Dyn'n 'wnt'r to keep their ranking they are allowed to basically sit back and enjoy life. They are most often dedicated to the 'Miguu they belong to and work together when wanting to go on raiding parties, treasure seeking or even just relaxing. Arguably the most lazy and relaxed ranking of the pride, it is also a highly social one. The default for born in members.

Dyn'n 'wnt'r

● Dyn'n 'wnt'r [unlimited] Joining rogues who serve the cloudwalkers as a way of keeping their place among the pride. They are promised an eventual method of becoming a full cloudwalker so long as they continue to serve the full members by hunting for them, and aiding in finding treasure. Default for joining rouges  

[CaliWolfe]

members...list  

[CaliWolfe]

Joining! While this is an I/T only you may choose to start as a full member or a Dyn'n 'wnt'r. Remember, Dyn'n 'wnt'r do not have a Hyml'jamaa yet. If you decide to give your leopard a Hyml'jamaa this means they are a full member.

[size=18][color=lightblue][b]I'm a Cloudwalker! Why don't you believe me?[/b][/color][/size]
[size=11][b]Name & Image:[/b] (please link to uncert!)
[b]Owner:[/b]
[b]Rank:[/b]
[b]Seer:[/b] Y/N
[b]Personality & History:[/b] can be as long or short as you want.
[b]Do they have a Hyml'jamaa?[/b] Y/N (if yes please be aware they will randomly be given a group to belong to unless requested otherwise. A Hyml'jamaa has 3-5 leopards on it, though it can be more, or less. No NPC members of a Hyml'jamaa are permitted at this time.)[/size]
[quote="CaliWolfe"][/quote]

 

[CaliWolfe]

alright, last one.  

[Tanakako]

Oooh, this looks interesting...  

[CaliWolfe]

heart