Update (6/1/10): It's now been a few months, ICly, since the murderer was apprehended and executed. Asali'jua has returned as the Goddess of Swamps, now called Mama Asali. Things have mostly returned to normal, but changes are now taking place.
Nari has decided to cut off the trickling flow of new members, unwilling to risk repeating recent history. Outsiders are no longer welcome, and any strangers entering the lands will be escorted out. There are, however, exceptions to this rule: pilgrims may return with a mate, and members may still adopt cubs or return with their own.
Update (5/4/09): Following the death of Asali'jua, Mama Bwawa disappeared, and the spirits seem to have gone quiet. Is it something to do with the new King? So far, it's a mystery.
The influx of new members, however, has continued. This includes a daughter of the Goddess who looks strikingly like her, and who not only gained a new name quickly, but soon became Nari's first Courtesan. While this may be eyebrow-raising, another newcomer may be even more so - a former Firekin, a male called Niwasha'Kan.
What your characters think of all this is, of course, up to you.
Update (3/29/09): Asali'jua has died, and her son Narindima'moyo is now King. Life will pretty much continue as normal - he's not changing anything about how the pride works. He will lead pride hunts, send adolescents on their naming quests, etc. For some lions, there will be title changes: Jabali (as he was Asali's Consort) and Roho'eupeanga (as he is Nari's littermate) will be ranked as Nobles, while the rest of the adult Scions will be Hunters and Huntresses (and the last six will be the same after their quests).
On Ceremonies:
Alright, here's the deal: Spirit-talker ceremonies are very important, and all pride members in the swamps at the time they take place are there. Be it presentation of cubs, the return of a lion with their true name, a funeral, whatever, EVERYONE is present. They're incredibly important.
Of course, however, that kind of group RP can get very unwieldy and incredibly slow, as we all know. So rather than bog it down, chances are I will cut the RP itself down to the characters actively involved (the lioness and her cubs and the Queen, the Queen and the returning lion, etc.). Nonetheless, it is to be assumed that the rest of the pride is indeed present.
Similarly, whether there's much current active RP, I prefer it to be assumed that the pride is operating and interacting as normal, cubs are being taught the ways, etc.
On Breeding:
Breed away, man! 8D Mated and rogue breedings are equally acceptable.
Adolescent breeding is virtually non-existant, unless a lion joins as an adolescent - any lion born into the pride, or who enters it as a cub or juvenile, is sent on a name quest as soon as they hit adolescence. As such, the only lions allowed to breed onto the lineart are those who have returned - as in, they are officially no longer 'Pilgrims' and have their full names (Provisionaries without their new names may breed, however). While you're free to breed your swampie while they're out questing, the cubs will be on rogue lineart.
Obviously, joining just to breed and then leave is Not Cool. Do this and you will be blocked from joining ever again.
On Hybrids:
By no means whatsoever is hybrid breeding permitted. If hybrid cubs are born, the King will kill them and run the mother out. If the mother was an unwilling victim, they will still have to leave, but it is not because the pride in angry with them, or because they are blamed. The taint that comes with things like hybrid breedings and other tradition breaks is best understood as something like a spiritual plague, if you will - whether you willfully did something knowing you would get it or it was an accident, you still have it.
As such, those who become tainted through some sort of accident/uncontrolled circumstance will usually just leave on their own, to keep the rest of the pride safe from them and the misfortune that is thought to follow them.
On Name Quests:
Unfortunately, I don't always have time to do all the sending-off and welcoming-back RPs, but this doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. Once your swampie is an adol, they are sent away. Once they have a name, they come back and everyone is happy! Yaaaay happy. Just post in this thread for your lion to be back officially.
On Cubnapping:
Absolutely not. End of story.
On IC Rules:
Break the rules and your lion/ess will be punished, which sometimes includes being ejected from the pride. Also, don't stick your lion in here if it doesn't fit. 'lol, this spirit stuff is ridiculous!' etc. will get them punted. Seriously, this pride is paranoid about making the spirits or gods/goddesses angry. Disrespect will get you shown the door.
