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 Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:29 pm
Awatupa'Viwanja
Welcome to the Outlands
To the southwest of the Pridelands, across a small tendril off the southern rivver, lies the twisted, dusty towers of the Outlands. Desolate seeming at first glance, the buzz of termites and the barren earth surrounding them make the land seem a harsh, unforgiving place--as cold and unreasonable as the lions that inhabit the place. Beyond the range of the termite castle, hidden from the pridelands view, lies a land of broken rock and gravel. Chasms of unfathomable deapth scar the earth, as do ones with bottoms in sight, topped by cracked, scorching earth and rock. Not all the land is unwelcoming as this, however! To both the east and west of the Outlands lie rivers. The closer one gets to these water sources, the more that golden Savannah begins to take over. Herds use these lands as they would any other, and water from the river is choice and dependable. During the winter, floods over take a good amount of the land, leaving behind a trail of silt that rejuvenates the land through the early to mid summer months.
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:55 am
*~History~*
((Note: information below is how the story is told, not necessarily true in context or chronological order))
In the beginning, there was Taka. Turned away from his "rightful" throne, he spent his life in squalor in the pridelands; a once noble heart turned bitter and cold with experience. His life ended with the plague that took so many, but his story did not end there. Two living cubs were born from Taka's flesh, one whom left never to be heard from again, and another, a female, who would remain near the lands of her father for the rest of her days. This female was Tiah.
Tiah grew up with the knowledge of her father and the betrayal that had killed him long before the plague took his soul from flesh. The story burned in her heart, spreading through her the same feeling of injustice of what had been done to her family. Then, upon her came five cubs, each of them special in their own way, each of them embodying something of her father... but two stood out from this pack.
They were labeled the "twins" for their spiritual connection, even though their bodies did not match, and from the moment of their birth there was something uncanny in their eyes. Perhaps it was the anger and hate that seemed to fuel Tahka's every action, or the cold distance from which Sarafina watched the world. No matter what it was, it was clear that these two were something different all together from the rest of their siblings. These two had a plot....
But time passed and childhood dreams grew dormant. The twins split and became unfocused, lost as the leaves upon the wind. For many months, they watched and waited and kept their thoughts to themselves, but without the other their efforts were futile.
When clarity returned as they neared adulthood, the time to act had already come and passed. Four were set to take the throne, and too old to dominate with bulk alone. Cunning would be needed, and cunning knew that they could not act as they were. Fear for themselves and their families cause the Twin's heads to turn, and soon Sarafina had an idea--a wonderful, horrible, splendid idea.
For the moment the family has left the Pridelands, taking extended family and migrating to the border. Though their eyes still stay focused on what rightfully belongs to their family, the leaders realize what is needed, and carefully calculate their retreat.
*~Beliefs~*
While "religion" is not quite the word to use for this subject, its about as close as one might get. The Awatupe'Viwanja, like the Pridelanders they come from, have no true God or Goddess that they hold any particular belief in. Instead, their ways surrounding death and the laws that they hold dear are guided by common sense, a strong sense of right and wrong, and the ancestors they believe guide them from the stars.
Unlike the pridelanders before them, the Outlanders have adopted the belief that all those who are moral and just ascend to the stars to guide them, not merely the Kings or Queens of the mortal plane. Though they admit that it used to be exclusive to royalty, they say that the usurping of the throne disturbed this. Even though the "true" royal line had been plunged into the realm of 'common' blood, the stars still recognized goodness and righteousness of their movements, and thus rewrote its laws to allow them in.
*~Government~*
Though pride members opinions are listened to and encouraged to be spoken, one must always remember that the Outlands is a Dictatorship and not a Democracy. The royal family leads the governing system with two "branches" between them -- the Monarchs and the Vizier.
Both branches are as they sound; the Monarch leads and makes final decisions and laws, and the Vizier offers valued input as well as works as the Monarch's assistant in memorizing law, pride histories and keeping track of all major events and happenings within the pride. Both positions are hereditary and can only be lost through death.
Directly below these two in power are the General and the Shaman. The General regulates all fighting adults, male and female, taking reports from leaders there in and making decisions. This position can be either Male or Female and will be the ONLY position leading both the huntresses and guards until there are amble numbers of both to create sub-leaders.
Likewise, the Shaman is a solo position dedicated to the spiritual well being of the pride. The Shaman will be there to do coronations, naming ceremonies for heirs, weddings and to be a reservoir of spiritual knowledge. While there is only one Shaman, there be, given proper circumstances, a priest or priestess beneath him that is gifted with the powers of the Seer. These individuals will tend to the Shaman's needs and whims.
*~Weddings and Family Values~*
The Outlanders consider themselves to have more moral values than other prides, a part which is beginning to show in the views they express. Foremost in all of this are their very centered beliefs on family stability and respect.
The beginning stages of this Stability are shown in the newly begun wedding ceremonies. At the moment, these mainly consist of asking for the Monarch's approval, and simultaneously announcing the Union to the rest of the pride; a more elaborate ceremony may later be created. Only when publically married and approved of may a couple produce offspring without consequences--however, it is not a union to be entered into lightly.
Marriage is a binding contract in the Outlands, one that is quite literally "till death do us part." Once mated, the only way of voiding this contract is if you have had no cubs (and no cubs turn up from that marriage after it has been voided), or if your mate is proven to be dead. A mate that merely abandons the pride or is lost due to dramatic circumstances is still considered to be alive unless their body turns up.
We all know that teenagers will be teenagers, however, and sometimes "accidents" happen. Unfortunately there is little room in Outlander moral for this. Adolescents found to have conceived with any other pride member (Be the father adult or adolescent) shall be given a "shotgun" wedding. No matter if the individuals dislike one another at a later date, they will be forced into binding contract with one another. Those who oppose this rule will be kicked out of the lands, or killed, depending on the circumstances--but the female will not be turned free until after she has given birth to the cubs. All cubs must remain within the pride, and will be considered community property to be looked after and raised.
Orphans, as they are, may also find themselves under another fate. Homosexual relationships, while not wedded, are allowed within the pride. Since these couples can have no children of their own, and cannot enter into a marriage contract with a straight partner, will have first choice of adopting any orphans which may turn up within the pride.
In all cases, except one, it is the way of the Outlanders to never blame children for their parent's mistakes. Even orphans conceived "in sin" are said to be innocents until they make their own sin in adulthood. The exception to this rule are hybrids. Please see special Hybrid notes further below!
There are also other circumstances in which a child may find themselves taken from their parents that goes along with the "family values" scheme.
Parents, in the Outlands, as well as all elders are to be respected by children at all times. Outlanders take a heavy pawed fashion in raising their young; though the children may be coddled and spoiled at times, disrespect will be dealt with by paw. Should a child continue to act atrociously or grow into juvenile size while still rebelling against the pride, the Monarch or Vizier may order him taken from the parents whom cannot control him. In these cases it is seen as no fault of the parents and thus consequences are not handed to them.
The offending juvenile will then be put into custody of the Military and treated as the lowest of the low. Their's will be servants work and treatment until they learn to properly obey their higher ups. If the lesson is not learned by adulthood, they are given the choice to leave or be issued a death sentence on their next infraction.
*~Hybrids~*
To put it bluntly: Hybrids are an abomination of nature and must be dealt with accordingly.
While the Outlands welcomes those of other races and does not frown upon relationships between Lions and other cats, their offspring are treated with a much different opinion. Mixed-species marriages are strictly forbidden, in the first place, thus disallowing any breeding rights that may have occurred. If such a love reproduces anyway, the resulting offspring will be killed upon sight. Hybrid visitors are also not welcomed within the lands, and will be attacked.
*~Tolerance and Rebirths~*
To be frank once more, there is no such thing as tolerance within this pride. Once your lion enters the lands, your character will be subject to their laws and their ways as far as any pride member is concerned. By choosing to RP within the lands, you state that you understand this and have read this page as you should have.
That said, there is a "rebirth" rule the pride has instated for all joining members. The first time a lion joins the pride, their slate is wiped clean. For instance, past "unfavorable" births (such as adolescent or hybrid breedings) are forgiven. This will not be the same if your lion leaves only to rejoin at a later date.
*~Special Note~*
We realize that there is a lot of information here that is contradictory to what many of the pride members have done in their pasts. I would like to go ahead and address this issue in advance by pointing out that much of a pride is shaped by its Monarch's ideals, especially in a dictatorship. Thusly, Sarafina's opinions and ideals, shaped by watching the lives of those around her, are strongly represented in the way that the pride is run underneath her. With each ruler, the laws will be subject to modification or change depending on their belief system.
Yes, this is a very harsh pride filled with intolerant views that may border on or be offensive to some. Please, keep in mind that this is merely a game and meant to be fictitious. It is not a statement of opinions held by player, whether they hold a ruler or pride member. IC is IC, after all, and OOC is OOC.
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