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 Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:24 am
Den:
Backed against a cliff face, it is a secure place for the safety of all pride members. Scrub grows around the outside, and two great baobabs, the dirt between them now stained scarlet, mark the entrance.
In the centre of the den is a circular hole full of water, Nyungu.
When the pride had a higher population, a Shujaa would stand duty at each baobab every hour of the day.
Nyungu is the main water source for the pride, it's water cool and fresh, and only the cubs are allowed to, or small enough to, bathe in it's waters. Older lions must travel to a watering hole.
The den is located in the southern-most point in the Southlands, unknown by rogues or other prides, but for how long?
Lands:
Like much of the Southlands, the Mteo'nyungu lands are largely scrub, with watering holes and patches of dense vegetation dotted here and there.
To the north-east of the den is an area forbidden to any but the Akida and his heir, the place of the fallen. Somewhere in this place, it is said, is the sacred place chosen for the Akida to die. It is sacriledge to set foot upon this soil.
History:
Legend has it the Mteo'nyungu began when a huge lion named Amirisho wandered the virgin grasslands, when Abu'bichi still burned the grasses red, when his great fires still ravaged the lands. Amirisho searched for a place for his mate to bear their children, a place safe from the horrors of the lands. They wandered for many weeks, and the births seemed imminent when finally they met a huge rock cliff. Atop it, the great lion thought, atop it will be safe, but the climb was never made.
They had stopped before a large hole in the empty dirt, seemingly bottomless, yet suddenly great glowing flames leapt from it, high into the air.
From these flames a figure emerged, his pelt one with the fiery surroundings, his eyes yellow and aglow.
And with a voice so mighty the very rocks around them shook with fear, the stranger called to the pair;
"You! You are to be my servants."
The conversation to follow is unknown even by the elders, but it is known that Mzaa'hewa tricked this fiery male, this great Mteo'nyungu into drinking of her sweet tears, to calm him. But he had swallowed too many, and the sleep of eternity called to him.
From Amirisho he extracted a promise, that they would guard this place, his sleeping place, and in turn the favour of Father Earth would smile on them.
And of prides that worshipped the sky he warned them, for on his awakening, when the cauldron of fire in which he slept once more sang with flames, he would call the children of Amirisho to war on his treacherous wife and her peoples.
Ages passed, Amini'jito's birth filled the cauldron of flame with water, which led the foundling pride to name it Nyungu, and themselves the Mteo'nyungu, followers of the bubbling pot.
Faithfully did they believe Father Earth would return, and boil away the water to call to them.
Warriors were trained, and as time passed and wars faded from memory, they became protectors of the pride, for though the den's placement against a high cliff face protected them from behind, still could rogues invade, or worse yet, the lesser beings of hyenas, or the dogs.
The society grew, was shaped, and reached its peak, at which point the Akida, Mjasusi, broke the laws set down by his forefathers, and fell in love with a rogue to wander into their lands, unseen by the Shujaa.
They courted in secret, and bore a single child, a son, Kudura.
Unfortunately, the lioness died in labour, and heartbroken, Mjasusi returned to the den one morning with his son.
The mystery spread scandal and rumours through the pride. The child was black, surely a child of the Shadow. Could it be their wise leader had mated with the elusive Kita'mauti?
These rumours gave rise to a prophecy, made by a feverish lioness on the brink of death. A pair of twins would be born to an Akida, she said, touched by Shadow and Sky, and would be seers, one of whom would break the line of Kings.
It was a false prophecy, the lioness had no second sight, but it became a popular idea.
It was not long after these events that the great plague swept through the pride. It was said to have affected all lions of the plains, but with no links to the outside, no one could be sure. All that was known was that all but six were taken, that the thought-blood flew so swiftly that the area between the two great trees of Shujaa and Msaka was stained red.
Now the Mteo'nyungu must rebuild, and though their young Akida wishes to take in rogues to help, can they truly allow this opposition to the past? Or will the conflicts destroy them all?
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:26 am
Religion of the pride.
Rituals
There are various rites that the Mteo'nyungu follow, the most important the birth and death rites.
Upon birth, a cub is earmarked to be a Shujaa, or an Msaka, a warrior or hunter, depending on gender. Occasionally, a particularly strong female will be picked as a Shujaa, but this is rare indeed.
Once picked for their station, they are taken to one of the two baobabs marking the den entrance, and their mother must scratch the bark, allowing the dust to fall on her child. Thus, they become part of the pride.
The child of an Akida falls a different route. On birth, they are dipped in Nyungu, the cauldron. Only the Akida's children have the right to choose their own path, to hunt, train as a Shujaa, or simply remain idle.
The death rites are as old as the pride's belief in Kita'mauti, that the thought-blood must be spilled on Father Earth.
When a member dies, it is the responsibility of their children or parents to undertake the task of piercing the skin between their eyes, and making sure at least one drop of blood meets the ground.
This ceremony holds most honour between the tree of the Shujaa and the tree of the Msaka, but if too far from the den, can be done anywhere.
The Akida, however, must spill his own thought-blood, with his dying breath it must be done. A sacred place is known only to the Akidas, and this is where they must go. It is said Kita'mauti helps those too weak to travel or commit the rite themselves.
The rites of the Shujaa.
The warriors have three possibilities for honour.
For basic honour in the field, they receive the mark of the Shujaa, a crown of thorns tattooed around a back leg.
For exceptional honour, they receive the mark of the Kaimu, a tattoo of any marking of the Queen's.
And the highest honour a warrior can receive is the mark of the Akida, a tattoo of any marking or tattoo of the King's.
It is said that once a Shujaa had such bravery his mane was dyed the same colour as the King's.
The rites of the Msaka.
The hunters have much the same honour system as the Shujaa, but all Msaka girls must have tattooing, only if they commit dishonour, or grow too old to hunt, will their tattoos fade.
A Kaimu, on the other hand, is allowed no tattooing, so if a girl is taken from the Msaka and made mate of the Akida, she must be scrubbed clean of all tattoos, and have a body unmarred.
On becoming an Msaka, a lioness' paws and legs are marked with tattoos, with each feat of the hunt she will receive more, but never past the hip.
In the act of a great kill, she will receive the mark of the Kaimu, a tattoo of any marking of the Queen's.
An extremely high, and very rare act of incredible skill will allow an Msaka the mark of the Akida, a tattoo of any marking or tattoo of the King's.
In the history of the pride, only Elimisha has achieved this, and it is the only tattoo never allowed to fade from her body with age.
Gods
Abu'bichi
Father Earth.
Thought to be father of all lions, once, Abu'bichi is in slumber for much of the pride's mythology. He is their hidden protector, their trump card, if you will, for to be the chosen people of the almighty father is held with great pride by the Mteo'nyungu.
He is the reason for their pride, and they await his call to arms.
Mzaa'hewa
Mother Sky.
Mzaa'hewa holds an odd position in Mteo'nyungu minds, for though she is seen as the ultimate betrayer, in leading her husband into the eternal slumber, she is also admitted as their source of life. In her womb were the Brother River and Sister Tree nourished, and from her tears does the ground below them bear fruit.
Like Abu'bichi, she has no creation story, for the Mteo'nyungu believe that Earth and Sky always existed, and from their embrace came all living things.
Amini'jito
Brother River.
The story of Amini'jito's birth is often seen as the reason for the pride's survival, so though Father Earth holds highest regard, Brother River is seen as their particular benefactor.
It is said that soon after Abu'bichi was tricked by his wife, Mzaa'hewa felt great regret. Though his fiery ways had burnt her, she had loved him, and grieved the loss of his warm embrace. Though all life was their creation, she craved children of their union, unaware that in the womb of the clouds grew two new lives, whose birth would enrich the earth.
Her belly grew full, so full that whisps of cloud touched the very surface of her husband, though they could not awaken him.
A great fog covered the lands, and it was only in the dead of night it was relieved, for in a great flood of Mzaa'hewa's tears was born the River.
He gathered himself in Nyungu, filling it to the brim with water, and lying there weak, until the dawn rose upon him. Then, much to the shock of the lions scattered about, two huge paws arose out of the crater, their landing place beside two sleeping Shujaa.
This was all they saw, for in a single bound he was gone, leaving behind him two footprints, puddles, beside the pair of warriors.
He then set off to fill the dry earth with his gift, for where his mothers tears left only salty water none could drink, he left behind clear, fresh water that pleased the tastebuds.
Ndugu'ujiti
Sister Tree.
Ndugu'ujiti followed her brother into the world the next night, her jealous ways leading her to crawl from the womb the second she noticed him missing. From her place in her mothers arms she could see his work, great snakes of water curling across the lands.
She, too, fell to her father's place, and seeing the two puddles that marked Amini'jito's arrival, she placed her own paws upon them. In moments, two great trees sprang forth, and at this time, a Shujaa and a Msaka slept by them. In the morning, the pride named the trees in honour of the positions, for surely this was a sign.
Ndugu'ujiti cared little for these matters, however. She chased after her brother across the globe, surrounding any evidence of his work with her own.
And that, say the elders, is why trees grow near the freshest water.
Kita'mauti
Death Fixer.
Long ago, ancestors of the prides of the great plains knew not of afterlives, of the might of a single soul. This, dear children, is how they were forced to learn.
When lions were young, and the world around them new and exciting, many battles were fought to establish the prides, and their boundaries. The wise stayed off the battlefields, but the strong, the noble, and the brave lost their lives, their bodies broken and abandoned. Their kin did not know how to mourn them, and so honoured them only in memory, and left their bodies on the fields of strife.
Their souls, their minds, their very thoughts had no escape, and as their bones decayed, their spirits were released into the air around them, there to pollute the living things.
The numbers of casualties were too high to count, and with a population diminished, peace fell over the plains, lions set about living out their days. But still the dead held no passage, their souls would yet only serve to remain in the dulled breezes, the barren skies.
Great swathes of these forgotten souls were now populating the atmosphere, and darkness began to take a hold on the trembling savannah.
Whisps of shadow curled about the baobabs, the brush, the rocks, eventually winding around each other and forming a low-hanging black cloud, as if a great mass of smoke would not leave the place. It blotted the sun from the sky, it did not allow the rain's cool touch, and for five weeks, it sought to strangle the place of it's making.
The elderss looked upon it with fear, and they called it Jasisi, the Shadow.
Five weeks, to the day, passed with the ancestors living in fear that Jasisi would mean death for their society. But on the last day of this period, a great resounding crack was heard from within the Shadow, and the black cloud rolled on itself, twisting and turning as if in some horrible labour.
The tumult in the sky went on for three days, three days of darkness, in which the heavens above them churned, tumbled, and knew no peace.
And as the first light of dawn made it's fleeting attempt to trickle across the land, a great silence passed. Jasisi's burden was over, the grey light of morning was slowly allowed to filter over the now barren lands.
And in this first light of a month made it's entry, so did another, a great lioness from above, every line, every feature telling of immortality. Her beauty was unlike that of mother Sky or father Earth, for hers was to inspire not only love, but fear.
The elders named her Kita'Mauti, for she fixed death, and served to remind them of their duty to the dead. To never forget them, and give them one final rite.
From that day forward, any death was marked with the piercing of the skin between the deceased lion's eyes, that the blood to have contained their last thoughts would flow back to father Earth, to rejuvinate the lives of that which grew.
And Kita'mauti? It is said that she hides in the shadows we do not see, but makes an appearance when the death of a great King is nigh.
For only the King must take the burden of death upon himself alone. Only the King has thoughts of such importance that to ensure his soul is not stolen, he must pierce his own mind.
It is said Kita'mauti waits for him, carries him if he is too week to make the journey to the sacred place alone, and is the only one to spill his blood onto the ground's embrace.
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:27 am
Members of the Mteo'nyungu.
Living members:
Akida
Warithi
Son of Kudura and Mtembo
Owned by Naita
Kaimu
Mpenzi
Daughter of Rasimu and Jipima
Owned by demon_pachabel
Heir
Jicho
Son of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by Safaia
Princess
Shabaha
Daughter of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by Naita
Shujaa
Mkingaji
Son of Tazama and Adhimu
Owned by Aris Ravenstar
Ndege
Son of
Owned by Ieeko
Angusho
Son of
Owned by Athear_Vaeri
Kimya'Asikari
Son of Ndege and Embamba
Owned by Skyefenyx
Nugula Atadiusti
Son of
Owned by Meepfur
Kanuga Atadiusti
Son of
Owned by Naita
Haba
Son of Enzi and Kibibi
Owned by Vashtya
Msaka
Majoto
Daughter of Majununi and Liwaza
Owned by meepfur
Chuguu
Daughter of
Owned by Master Wild Mage
Barazahi
Daughter of Ndege and Embamba
Owned by [lightwolf]
Ata'Jasisi
Daughter of Ndege and Embamba
Owned by Wooga Paes
Elders
Elimisha
Daughter of Mjasusi and Pendana
Owned by TormentedAngie
Embamba
Daughter of
Owned by Kisoni
Youths
Nzigujasisi
Son of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by demon_pachabel
Nyuni
Daughter of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by Safaia
Ntombi
Daughter of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by Dark Fire Angel
Hadhari
Daughter of Warithi and Mpenzi
Owned by Taejira
Hidaya'Ua
Daughter of Angusho and Barazahi
Owned by [lightwolf]
Genge'Kibwana
Son of Angusho and Barazahi
Owned by Athear_Vaeri
Yamir
Son of Angusho and Barazahi
Owned by demon_pachabel
Umlindi
Son of Angusho and Barazahi
Owned by Katersaur
Kipawa
Son of Angusho and Barazahi
Owned by Naita
Blessed by the Goddess
Mtume
Son of Kita'Mauti
Owned by Naita
----
Original member descriptions:
Warithi: Many were shocked by Warithi's young age when he settled with a mate, and moreso by his wish for peace, his wish to allow rogues to join the pride. Though Elimisha despises his wish with regards to rogues, it cannot be denied Warithi has made no ill choices as Akida, and is looking to be a good leader.
Mpenzi: Though thought by most to be a meek little thing, Mpenzi has her mate's ear on many issues, and would move heaven and earth to protect her beloved, and her children.
Mkingaji: Though respecting the old, he is Warithi, the king's, oldest friend, they were close as cubs. He was the most decorated warrior before the plague, a great protector. Unfortunately, under the old king a battle with a rogue left his tongue scarred, so he has a rather bad lisp. He has loved Majoto since they were juveniles, and has yet to tell her, his lisp making it even worse. Instead, he admires her from afar.
Majoto: She's a season older than Warithi, the King, but traditional in her ways, clings to the older wisdom, the elders, looks up to them in all they do.
One eye is green, the other gold. It is said that as a cub, Elimisha's mate told her to stare at the sun, and she did for so long it tainted one eye.
Elimisha: Elimisha was once the greatest huntress, but with age her ability to run the hunt, and her hunting tattoos have faded. She still wears the mark of the old King, however, a higher honour than any lioness in pridal history had received. She despises Warithi's wish to introduce rogues to the pride, and believes Shabaha and Jicho are the twins of prophecy, that the little girl will break the line of Kings.
Haba: Haba is more of a blank page, the only cub left by the plague. His personality has yet to be truly formed, and whether he will look to the old ways or the new may well decide the pride, for who can argue with the impending generation, when they grow?
Shabaha: Believed by Elimisha to be the possibility she prayed for, will Shabaha's mind be tainted by the promise of grandeur?
Will she fancy herself a seer, despite possessing no gift of second sight?
Jicho: The heir to the pride, Jicho is tied in an internal struggle between his bloodline, and his sister. He believes that he should take his place as the rightful heir to the throne, but upon learning that his twin is also aiming towards the same position, is unsure as to which side he should take. For now, he merely does his best to keep everyone happy, a feat in itself.
Deceased members:
Those to die in/around the time of the plague:
Akida- Kudura
Kaimu- Mtembo
Shujaa
Rasimu
Tazama
Majununi
Enzi
Msaka
Jipima
Adhimu
Liwaza
Lpogi
Youths
Janza
Eladi
Hinya
Nuwaj
Kida
Kilin
Princess- Kibibi
Junia
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Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:16 am
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