[OOC] The Mwana-a'Lela - Pride Information

[The Mwana-a-Lela]

Pride Information

 

[The Mwana-a-Lela]

The Land & The Lions

Land Description:

The Mwana-a'Lela live in the deepest part of the Jungle, where the sunlight never reaches and there is an abundance of small animals and water. It is a place where they hide easily with their dark pelt's.

They have dubbed their lands 'Death's Cradle', for it a wonderful place to rear their cub's and is in keeping with their Mother Godess's warning's to stay away from light. When the the sun rises or sets, it always gives an eery blood red glow to the surrounding plants. The pride believes it is the mother Godess shielding them from the rays of the setting and rising sun and in doing so making the jungle shine the same color as her coat.

Pridal Den Description:

A forbidden place deep in the jungle where everything is so overgrown that only one of the coven knows how to traverse it without getting lost. The trees are thicker around than four lions, nose to tail, circling it, and twisted in and around each other, which makes for nice perches and places to sleep. They've kept the ground pretty clear in the middle of these 'nests' to serve as living space, and there is a small stream that passes through the living space.

The Lions:

The body of a Coven member is the same as a normal lion, but there is something strange, beautiful, and unearthly about them. If any, the only edit to a rogue would be a pair of prominent canine fangs and a less 'fluffy' look. The Mwana tend to be slimmer and sleeker than outsiders, since the heat of the jungle means they seek to rid themselves of heat, rather than keep it.

Males tend to be the dominant side of the pride and while they seem born with an excess of charm and good-looks, they are death on four paws. Sheer brute strength serves them well. They are raised with a strong need to protect, and will seek out a mate early on to have someone they can exercise their protectiveness on. Tempers are a common thing, but a Mwana tends towards a cold wrath, rather than a hot anger. They keep their anger contained, but by no means forgive a slight easily.

Females are more submissive, but really only to their males. They are the huntresses, but are as deadly as, or more than, the males in speed and teamwork. A female tends towards the seductive side as a defense, since a male would be hard pressed to refuse a female that has beguiled him. Nothing gets a female more on the offense than defending her cubs, and if she's riled up, her male will be just as upset, so avoid making any sort of a gesture towards another's cubs.  

[The Mwana-a-Lela]

Other Info

Jewelry:

The Coven take's no greater pride than wearing the skin or bones of their kills. Wearing the bodies of 'daywalkers' is seen as a protection, since those creatures can move in the sunlight without dying. Thus, wearing them over your night-loving coat can protect you from the killing rays. Its also a visible example of your hunting prowess, since a finer hunter will have finer skins. Cubs are often given the skulls of animals to wear, as protection or to show their mother's pride in their strength.

The Shaman and Ancient Female have the most sacred of all jewelry, a skull believed to be from the Goddess herself after she died and reincarnated, bestowing it on the first Shaman of the pride. It is adorned with other bones and feathers and fur, both to add to the prestige of the one wearing it, and to intimidate the younger members of the pride into listening more carefully to the teachings of the goddess. This sacred piece is worn only on special occasions, a lesser piece that mimics it worn the rest of the time.

Stance on other species:

The Coven does not allow hybrids or other felines into the pride as full members for the simple reason that they are smaller and weaker. They would be allowed to hold only the position of a blood-binder to support the pride.

Cross-breeding is forbidden, since any issue from the breeding would be infertile and unable to help the pride grow in strength. If it should happen, the parents would be demoted to the rank of blood-binder, as would their children, and forbidden from breeding again without the express permission of the king or queen. Should it happen a second time, they are executed outright, or left out in the burning sun to die.  

[The Mwana-a-Lela]

Drakun = King or Patriarch/Queen or Matriarch

The King is obviously the male leader of the pride and the lion with the most dominance in the coven. He has the right to banish pride members, allow rogues into the pride, others can come to him for advise and he can be challenged for dominance over the pride by other males.
Even though he has dominance, he can easily be manipulated by his Queen, but in the coven, it's usually what he say's goes.

The Queen is the King's female right paw. When the King is away or busy attending to other members of the pride, she would be in charge indefinitely.
She's usually the most beautiful or intelligent lioness because she's been picked by the King himself to be his Queen. Its not unusual for the queen to be betrothed to the king from birth.

Darikun/Varikun = Heir

The heir is the next in line for the throne, it can either be male or female and are hand picked by their father and mother. They are tested to see if they're heir material, so it's usually the one cub that shows the most viable qualities that is chosen to be the next King or Queen. Its also more common to have a King than a Queen, but not unheard of.

Drakol/Valkol = Prince or Lord/Princess or Lady

Children of the King and Queen only.

A cub adopted into the royal family -may- hold the title of Drakol/Valkol, but its rare.


Lillutha = Harem Females

Ladies chosen by the King or Princes to serve them and produce cubs, especially if their brides are infertile and can't. They act also as the Queen and Princess's ladies in waiting, to help with births or to accompany the royal ladies in selecting their mates, if they have that choice.

The princes tend to share their harem, though each may have his favorite. The King may choose to share his own harem with his princes, or he may keep a select few for just himself. This number is unlimited. A regular male member may have a lillutha of his own, especially if he's in a high or respect position, but only one.

Necrostat = General

The General of the Coven's warriors, usually the strongest lion or lioness that has been through many fights and proved him or herself worthy to be General.
He or she picks the future Necros or Necras alongside with the Shaman or Wisewoman out of the pridal litters and will usually train them alongside the prides spiritual consultant. Future Generals are usually picked from the current General's litter and are expected to live up to their mother or father's name.

There can be up to two of these in the pride, one male and one female.

Necros/Necras = Male/Female Warrior

Male or female cubs picked from their litters to become fighters and protectors of the pride.

Verlos/Verlas = Hunter/Huntress

A male or female whom hunts food or new Blood-binders for the pride.

Vampile = Pride Member

A regular pride member, usually too old or invalid to hunt or fight, or even one who has been banished from fighting or hunting because of their mistakes.
They're treated with a small ammounts of respect and are still cared for by the rest of the pride.

Bloodling = Youth

The future of the pride and little bundles of joy, the little fluffballs of the pride who are spoilt by their mothers and told stories by the Shaman or Ancient Female of the pride.

Necroling = Warrior in Training

A cub that has been picked by the General and Shaman or Ancient Female to become a warrior or warrioress.

Nosferatae/Vervartae = Shaman or Ancient Female

The spiritual bond of the pride, said to be picked by the Godess herself and usually a seer or someone with a unique connection to the spirits.
He or she is in charge of the rituals and celebrations that hold the prides religion together, such as funerals and marriages.
They are also the ones who help pick out future warriors and even future heirs in some rare circumstances.
The Shaman or Ancient Female is the most powerful lion in the Pride under the King and Queen, even the Generals are afraid of them because they're said to place curses on those who displease them...or so they say.

Blood-Binders = Slaves, Feeders

Blood Binders are almost like the unmarried mates or b*****d cubs of the pride, they're usually rogues or ex-pride members from other prides brought into the Coven to feed blood to the lion or lioness who brought them in.
They're treated by the pride like lower pride members until they're accepted over a period of time because of some talent or if they contribute enough to the coven.
But if they are harmed or threatened in any way, they'd still be protected, after all, they're still apart of the pride.