06.14.23 The end of an era; Shadows of Africa has closed. See pg. 129534 for details.03.31.22Pride Purges are currently suspended until January 1st 2023. This currently includes lined prides as well, but please maintain activity in your prides as best as you can. The next purge will resume in March of 2023. 12.07.21 Come join us in our Secret Santa Thread!08.09.20 The pride purge is complete and all lined prides are safe! 05.05.20 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is August 5th.02.05.20 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is May 5th.01.13.20 The Kizingo'zaa have relinquished their lines to the shop but are not disbanding. These lines are no longer available for breedings as of today.11.05.19 The lined pride purge is complete and the following prides did not meet the requirements for the purge, and as a result have lost their lines, but will remain banded:08.05.19 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is November 5th. 07.01.19 Due to pride owner inactivity for 8+ months, the following prides/packs/clans are being disbanded:03.05.19 Due to pride owner inactivity and/or lack of punctuality, the following pride owners have been demoted: 03.01.19 Announcement Regarding Breeding Customs 03.01.19 The Shop Meta has been updated! See the second post. Death has defeated Mkodi, the God's Haven is in ruins and mortal souls can now be reincarnated!02.05.19 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is May 5th.02.02.19 February is Mix-and-Match Breedings! Please feel free to check it out. If you have any questions, those in the main thread would be happy to help.12.03.18 Secret Santa season is here! Go to our thread for traditional SS, the Wishing Tree & other holiday fun!11.05.18 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is February 5th.09.01.18 September is Major Customs Month! Join in!08.05.18 The lined-pride purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is November 5th.07.14.18 Mkodi has returned to the world of Shadows of Africa after Death broke free and released all the souls from heaven! Check out the on-going Shop Meta here!06.01.18 Come celebrate sidekicks in the Disney Sidekicks Event!5.5.18 The lined-pride purge is complete, and the following are demoted:04.01.18 Spring Cleaning has come around and we're 'cleaning up' the breedings! Check out the full details of that in the Breeding Announcement Thread! 02.05.18 Due to pride owner inactivity for 8+ months, the following prides/packs/clans are being disbanded:02.03.18 February is mix/match breedings! Join us here for some breeding fun!11.26.17 Secret Santa is open for this year! Join us! 11.05.17 The purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is February 5th.09.01.17 September means its Major Customs Month! Attempt to get as many of your custom ideas as possible!08.05.17 The purge is done and everyone is safe! The next purge is November 5th06.08.17 We now have a new lined shop pride, the N'ezi-ozu! See here for information, as well as ownership and character contests.Do not copy, edit, or otherwise steal any of the artwork. You may only edit the art if you have a minishop permit to do so or if you put lettering/words over it. Otherwise, do not put anything else over the art unless you specifically have a shop permit to do so. Please do NOT post these anywhere else in the guild or thread (this includes plot threads, if you haven't yet gotten your character's image; or questing threads as well).Do not beg for a pet. There is also no waiting list, so do not ask to be on one. Please keep up-to-date with the thread!Be courteous in the thread and through PMs. This goes without saying, no matter how angry you are at someone. Please remember this rule. There is no reason for discourtesy, and people will not listen to you, in general, if you are being discourteous to them.Do not direct-link. The staff Photobucket accounts see a lot of traffic, and direct-linking may cause them to go over quota. If you are caught direct-linking we may replace the image of your pet with a 'friendly reminder' to discourage such practices.Owners may not sell their pets, or the offspring of their pets. They may give them away, however. Please PM Mkodi with details if you'd like to give your pet(s) away to someone else. In the event that you don't have anyone to give them to, you may give them back to the shop, and one of our owners will find a new home for them. There are no refunds for any of the Shadows of Africa characters.We will not normally PM you for a growth or for tagging, etc. Please do not expect us to do so. Instead, try to stay up-to-date with the thread. Co-owning is not allowed. The sole exception to this are the very special Lord of the Rings cosplays.We do not take guest colorists. Please do not ask.You can have unlimited pets. Do not try to make individuals feel guilty for having a lot of pets - they have spent a lot of time and effort and gold to earn them, and they deserve each and every one.We no longer have an owner's list! Please be sure to save your pets and back them up for this reason.Please do not name your SoA any English name. The names should be exotic and non-English, and preferably not even English-sounding. Other languages are fine (African languages are heavily preferred), as are made-up names, but please stay away from English words. Nicknames are perfectly fine, particularly if you'd like to name an SoA with a regular African name and then simply nickname him as something else for when you RP him/her.Cosplays may be duplicated in a different species. The only exception to this is the OC cosplay, which are owned by individuals and may not be duplicated. But anything owned by a major company - Nintendo, Disney (except for the TLK characters), etc. may be redone in another species by anyone.An individual may get a god once every six months. This does not apply to breedings, events, or gifts, but to customs and pet trades.Whining is not allowed in the thread. Be good sports. You may be gray listed if you cannot be mature.Do not attempt to bribe the colorists to open breeding slots/customs. We will open them when we have the time. 
1.Cheetahs - Cheetahs typically live up to 12 years in the wild. They weigh 36 to 65 kg (79 to 140 lb) and stand 67 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in) at the shoulder. Cheetahs are best known for their speed, being the fastest land animal on earth, and can reach speeds between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph). They can only run in short bursts (they aren't built for distance) and they also lack strong climbing abilities. Cheetahs are carnivores that prey mostly on animals under 40 kg (88 lb) and unlike other large cat species, cheetahs do the majority of their hunting during the day.2.Hyenas - The hyena species featured in SoA are Spotted Hyenas, also called Laughing Hyenas. Their average life span is about 12 years. Unlike most species, female hyenas are larger than males, weighing roughly around 12% more. Males weigh between 40.5 and 55.0 kg (89 and 121 lb), while females weigh between 44.5 and 63.9 kg (98 and 141 lb). Adults stand between 70.0 and 91.5 cm (27.5 and 36 in) at the shoulder. Although they have become popularly known as scavengers, the majority of their diet is derived from hunting medium-sized mammals. They clash with lions over food and territory in the wild and often have their kills stolen by the larger species. However, they will not hesitate to steal the kills of cheetahs or leopards and it is usually only male leopards that will stand up to them. They may also occasionally follow wild dog packs in an attempt to feed off their kills, though single hyenas are often mauled by packs if they get too close.3.Leopards - Leopards are a feline species known for their stealth and excellent climbing abilities. In the wild, they live about 12 years on average. Leopards stand 45 to 80 cm (18 to 31 in) at the shoulder, though they vary greatly in weight between male and female with the male being 30% larger. Males weigh 30 to 91 kg (66 to 200 lb) where as females weigh 23 to 60 kg (51 to 130 lb). Due to their unrivaled climbing abilities, leopards spend a lot of time in trees and are often seen lounging on branches. They also store their kills on high tree branches to avoid having them stolen by larger species less adept at climbing.4.Lions - Lions are the largest species in the shop, and the second largest big cat in the world. Male lions stand at about 123 cm (4 ft) at the shoulder and weigh between 150 and 250 kg (330 and 550 lb). Females are approximately 107 cm (3 ft 6 in) at the shoulder and weigh between 120 and 182 kg (264 and 400 lb). Lions live up to about fifteen years of age. They usually hunt in groups but may very often steal the kills of other predators, such as cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs. The male lion's mane is used to protect its neck during fights, making penetration in that area nearly impossible, and because of their adaptions to fighting, male lions are among the most fearsome and deadly warriors of the animal kingdom.5.Wild Dogs - Wild Dogs live up to 10 or 12 years. There is little difference between the genders. They stand on average 75 cm (30 in) at the shoulder and weigh about 17-36 kilograms (37-79 pounds). Wild Dogs are known for their great skill as hunters, with a success rate of 80% (compared to a lion's 30%). However, this success is built heavily upon their pack organization. Like the other species in the shop, they are prone to having their kills stolen by larger predators, especially lions.
1.Avians - Shadows of Africa allows almost every type of bird imaginable, and for this reason it's hard to give specific information on each species. Common traits of most birds are flight, egg-laying, and bird calls unique to each species. For more information on the various linearts we offer for our avians, see the detailed lineart guide in the guild.2.Genets - Genets are a cat-like species that are very adept at climbing. To aid with climbing through trees, they have a tail that is 1 to 1.5 times the length of their body. They can also fit through any space they can get their head through. They eat lizards, birds, insects and even some fruit. They mark their territory with musk glands, which is somewhat similar to the scent of ferrets. They live for about 8 years in the wild. They are very quick, but may be hunted by birds of prey or leopards. They have a head and body length that ranges from from 49 to 60cm (19 to 23.5 in) and tail length from 42 to 54cm (16.5 to 21 in).3.Hares - The African hare is about 51 cm (20 in) long and weighs around 1.8 kg (4 lb). In the wild, they can live for up to 12 years. They are a nocturnal species that sleeps in a "form" (a depression in the earth) or under bushes during the day. Hares, unlike their smaller rabbit cousins, do not burrow. They eat leaves, buds, roots, berries, fungi, bark and twigs. They can run very quickly, often in a zig-zag pattern when trying to avoid enemies, and are capable of jumping up to 3m (10 ft) in the air.4.Jackals - Jackals are a small, fox-like species that stands at 38–48 cm (15-19 in) at the shoulder. They live up to 10 to 12 years in the wild. Jackals den in holes often made by other species, though sometimes they will dig their own if there is none available. These dens are usually 1-2 m (3 - 6.5 ft) in depth with a 1 m (3 ft) entrance. They eat insects, arachnids, lizards, snakes, rodents and the young of mammals like antelope. On the coast, they also feed on beached marine animals, fish and mussels. However, jackals are extremely aggressive and have been seen attacking prey many times their own size in some situations. This aggressive behavior also leads to quarrelsome pack relations.5.Klipspringers - Klipspringers are a small antelope species that are only about 58 cm (22 inches) at the shoulder. In the wild they live to be about 15 years old, though it may be cut short by predators. The males of the species sport horns approximately 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) long, but the females do not. They spend the majority of their time on kopje (rock outcrops, pronounced "kah-pee" ) where they feed on rock plants. Klipspringers are herbivores and only eat plants. In addition, they also get all the water they require from these plants and actually never drink water from watering holes. The only time they take in additional water is by licking dew from plants in the early morning. They are best known for their jumping abilities, for which they are named, and can leap up to 7.5 m (25 feet) in the air - about 15 times their own height.6.Maned Wolves - Maned Wolves are a species native to South America. In our world they are the descendants of a captive population that broke out and escaped to the wild many, many years ago. They are almost 1 m (3.3 ft) tall at the shoulder and have a distinctive mane that they use to make themselves appear larger to their enemies. They typically live to be about 12 years of age. They hunt small mammals like rodents, birds, and sometimes fish. A large portion of their diet (50% or more) is plants, including tubers and fruits.7.Ratels - Ratels are also known as honey badgers and live to be about 20 years old. They stand 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in) at the shoulder, with males sometimes weighing twice as much as a female. Their alternate name comes from the fact that they have a large appetite for beehives, however it is slightly misleading, as they attack these mostly for the larvae and not the honey. They are known best for their snake-killing abilities (including pythons and venomous varieties), but are also widely recognized as fierce and efficient hunters. In addition to snakes, they also prey on insects, scorpions, porcupines, hares, ground squirrels, meerkats, mongooses and larger prey such as tortoises, crocodiles up to one meter in size, and young gazelle. They also take lizards, frogs, small rodents, birds and fruit. They've been named the most fearless animal in the Guinness Book of World Records.8.Servals - Servals are a small feline species that have some traits in common with cheetahs. In the wild, they live up to 12 or 16 years. They stand about 54-66 cm (21-26 in) at the shoulder and have the longest legs in relation to their body of any cat. They can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph) and can jump 3-5 m (9-16 ft) in the air to catch birds in flight. Their sense of hearing is so great that they can hear prey burrowing underground and often are seen digging to reach them. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals like rodents, birds, hares, hyraxes, reptiles, insects, fish, and frogs, however they are occasionally seen hunting larger prey like deer, gazelle, and springbok.9.Snakes - Shadows of Africa allows almost every type of snake imaginable and for this reason it's hard to give specific information about each species. All snakes are carnivores, but each species uses a different method to catch their prey (like venom or constriction). Snakes do not have eyelids, so they don't blink, and smell with their tongues instead of the conventional method via nostrils. Some snakes even have the ability to sense body heat. Most species of snake shed their skin and lay tough, leathery eggs instead of live young.10.Waterbucks - Waterbucks are a large species of antelope that stand about 100 to 130 cm (39 to 51 in) at the shoulder. They live up to 15 years in the wild, though it is often cut short due to predators. Males are usually 25% bigger than the females and have long horns that females do not. They live close to water sources because they are more dependent on water than other types of herd animals. They are herbivores that eat mostly coarse grasses that grow near water and some tree leaves. Despite their name, they do not actually spend much time in the water, but they do take refuge there to escape predators. 
CustomsFlatsales, Raffles and AuctionsIn-thread GamesBreeding
GeneralRelated InformationDos and CansDon'ts and Can'ts
GeneralDos and CansDon'ts and Can'ts
Opening a Shop Placing an Order Mini-shops are a bonus, not a necessity. Edits created in the mini-shops are not inheritable. 
GeneralCustomsBreeding
Roleplaying is encouraged, but not required. However, you will not be able to breed your characters if you do not.Do not god-mod, twink, etc. This will not be tolerated. You cannot play as someone else's character unless you are given permission from his or her owner.Expect IC actions to have IC consequences. If your character hurts another character in any way, do not expect for your character to be able to get away without harm - the owner has every right to retaliate. If you enter into an agreement to have your character blessed/cursed by a god, understand that this is binding and may not be reversed just because you decide you don't want to RP it anymore. Unless you have spoken to the owners of all characters involved, be prepared for people to respond in ways you may not have predicted.These are animals. All of the pets in this shop are animals native to Africa. They are not from another continent, they are not aliens, and they are not magical fairy creatures. They can't communicate with humans, they can't wield swords, and they can't dance the macarena. They can communicate with other members of their species and members of other animal species. We allow them to have human emotions, thoughts and ideas but they are still animals. Please be realistic about the things you roleplay.There are no human characters allowed. The pets in this shop are not meant to have any extensive contact with humans. They do not even live in a part of Africa that would give them contact with the urbanized world. Small amounts of contact with hunters or tourists are permitted but these should be treated as rare once-in-a-lifetime occurrences. If we see anyone using a human NPC character repeatedly, we will be quite irritated.They live in the 1960s. This is not extremely important to the shop since not much will have changed about the wild between then and now. However, we do allow people to incorporate items that could be lost by a human explorer into roleplays. That being said, do not have your wild dog find an mp3 player, or your cheetah pick up a cellphone to carry back to her cubs for playtime.Be aware of prides and packs. In SoA, your character can either be a rogue or a member of a pride or pack. Prides and packs own land, have their own rules, and each one gets their own cert for the members. If you're interested in joining or even interacting with one, please read all their rules and understand what is and isn't allowed. (More information available in the Prides and Packs post.)You may only play one of the shop species if you have bought and own one. You may not create OCs as any regular or familiar species in the shop unless you have bought a character on these lines. The only free characters you can create and play are African animals that currently do not have lines within the shop (meaning we do not sell them as pets).
Joining a Pack/PrideCert Information
Creating a Pack/Pride
Creator - Mila FarrellOwner - MeepfurColorists - (* = can do lineart edits, † = can do gods) - Ecavi*†, Fairy Snails, *Greenie, I Lady Kiya I, Meepfur, Polette*, Safaia*†, Seaki, Tonberry Queen X*†Artists - winterfalcon, Artsywolven, Dark Fire Angel, hanyousblood, Jestari, Kaelyndra, Quaji, Mila FarrellCertists / General Assistance - Safaia, Seaki, SilverLutz, *GreenieDeparted Colorists - Ameh, Amy D, AnimeChickie, Aris Ravenstar, Ary Keeyara, Blu Chalk, Bluefire Dragonz, Cajanic, Dark Fire Angel, [ Eskimo ], Hanyousblood, Hotaru-Neko, JetAlmeara, Kaelyndra, Kireiryuu, Kisoni, Lilwolfpard, Lithiasaur, Mila Farrell, Nerpin Nevayeh, Quaji, Ririka, Shia bean, Skye Starrfyre, Slander, TaejiraOther Credits/Thanks - Faolen, Felyn, Remove, Sherlolly, Thalion, TheMadHatterRabid-White-MongooseFenrir Feros/Captain Wolfe/Matahari Harimau/Zero and Below/robot kittiobelloblossom/LinDaemon/ABVirus/AgeofTwilightChaosTheories
Do you accept RL payment for SoA? Do I direct-link? Do you need a colorist? I have another question that isn't on here! How can I get an SoA of my own? How many SoA may I have? I have a SoA, and I want to get another version of it in another shop. Can I have permission? My SoA isn't growing! Why is that? The colorist of my growing SoA left, and now my pet isn't growing. What do I do? Can I get a custom with one of the prides' unique linearts? Can I get a custom with unique lineart? Can I get a custom with lineart edits? Can SoA breed? In a breeding, how is lineart determined? In regards to the breeding rules...if you roll the maximum number of cubs/pups, but also send in 10 roleplays, do you still get an extra cub/pup? Can I ever have more than one of my SoA's offspring? Why do you limit owners to keeping just one cub from each SoA you own? How long does it take to receive cubs from a breeding? Can I give away/sell my SoA or my SoA's cubs? Are these RP required? How do I find a good name for my SoA? Where do we RP? How do I get to be a King/Queen, or leader of a pack/clan/tribe? When and where is Shadows of Africa located? Can all the species understand each other? Can they be homosexual? Do humans exist in this world? Can my SoA have special powers? Can my SoA die? Could they be reincarnated? Can I get a god that's anything but a lion? Somebody already did the god I wanted to do! Can I get another one with the same domain? How do I get permission to quest for a specific domain? What powers do gods have? How do I get my God's powers approved? How do I get a God rebirth? How do I get my mortal reincarnated as a God? How do I get a seer? What can seers do?
