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 Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:08 pm
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:05 pm
Pride Ranks Ufalme: King (Ufalme Kibwana) ( One ) The position, obviously, held by only one lion. The Tete'boma are a patriarchal society, so the Ufalme is a major component in traditions and societal structure. He is the end all, be all and his word may only be refuted by a patron God or Goddess (and a patron God trumps a patron Goddess, always, though they are no less respected)
Kwini: Queen (Kwini ???) ( One ) It is not a requirement for the king and queen to love one another, as Konokubwa picked his son's mate by status and virtue only. Whether or not the face she showed to the king was her true one is up to the quester. There are many ways that this can go, but keep in mind that should she cheat on him, he can have her killed, set aside or even outcasted. Nevertheless, the Kwini is exalted above all other ladies of the court. She can lead in time of need, should she propose herself regent, in the case of the Ufalme's untimely death and if the heir is too young to reign. She can be, also, the King's most trusted advisor, should they actually take to one another.
Mainyi - Lords (Mwinyi ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only two ) The Mainyi serve no real purpose save to advise the King as a sort of council. They are typically old houses, though the influx of new members under Kibwana's rule may change that. They may serve purposes of their own, such as storyteller or healer, if they chose, but it is not necessary. Mainyi is the group (Lords) and Mwinyi is their title (Lord So and So).
Siti - Ladies (Siti ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only two ) Same as the Mainyi, Siti prove no real purpose unless they desire to. They, however, are not even able to advise the King. Typically, they serve the queen as her ladies.
Mayaya - Nanny (Yaya ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only one ) The Mayaya are the nannies of the pride. They are jacks of all trades, teaching the cubs of the pride how to hunt, run, behave and generally how to survive. It is their direct responsibility that the cubs grow to be brilliant members of the pride, and the Yaya of a cub will be personally invested in the success of a cub in their coming of age. They will share in some of the shame if the cub fails, and if enough cubs fail, the Yaya may find themselves replaced, or even outcasted. Mayaya may only be female.
Wenzi - Hunters (Mwinzi ???) ( Unlimited ) The hunters. Fairly straight forward. The Wenzi leave the kingdom once every week to hunt. They return home with multiple kills upon which the pride feasts for days, until the Wenzi must go out once more. They pretty much spend their entire lives hunting or waiting to hunt, but they do have the opportunity to raise families and are a rather important part of the pride (obviously, food is important) and so are considered to be of a high-mid ranking. Wenzi are both male and female and their title is Mwinzi.
Farasi - Knights (Farasi ???) ( Unlimited ) The Farasi are nothing more but guards under a different, glorified name. Their purpose is to patrol the borders of the pridelands as well as to protect the kingdom itself. Those that patrol the border are rotated regularly by the season so that they may spend time with their families. They are also in charge of making sure that only Hunters leave the kingdom, or that any other pride member is escorted by a Farasi to ensure their safety. Under Kibwana's rule, lions are allowed to leave without direct permission, but they must have Farasi escort(s) until they reach the pride borders. Casual, flippant trips around the lands are highly discouraged.
Mtawa - Priest ( One ) The Ufalme's direct advisor. He is level with the Queen in importance and has a greater influence than her do to his gender. The Mtawa is always male and he is the only one other than the king who is allowed to speak matters of 'state' to the patron Gods and Goddesses. Even so, it is rare that the king speaks to them directly so it is mostly the Mtawa's responsibility. He also leads the pride in any spiritual endeavors such as prayer. The priest should remain celibate but if, if he greatly pleases his king, he may be allowed a partner.
Tarajali - Apprentice ( Unlimited ) A Tarajali serves whomever he or she is apprenticing under. An apprentice under the priest is called the Mtawa Tarajali (obviously no plural is needed, there is only one priest and therefore only one apprentice). Apprentices under the nannies are called Mayaya Tarajali, or singularly referred to as Yaya Tarajali. Pretty straight forward, yeah? Anyone can be a Tarajali so long as they are found acceptable by whomever will teach them the craft. The only position which may only by filled by succession following the current holder's death, is the Mtawa. As stated, only one position and therefore the Tarajali may not take the position until the current Mtawa perishes. Lions are usually juves when they chose a position to apprentice under. The cubs of Lords and Ladies may chose no apprenticeship and will simply learn general survival skills under the teachings of their Yaya.
Yuzi - Cubs (youth) (Unlimited) The yuzi, or cubs, are only in the cub stage. Following this stage, they take on other titles as they are considered growing adults (even at the young stage of juvenile). The yuzi have no real responsibilities other than to play and to grow strong, as well as to listen to their elders, especially the Mayaya and their parents, but most of all to the King.
Yahe - Common (Unlimited) This is typically a temporary stage for new members, but some lions seem permanently stuck in this position. Unless they can prove themselves worthy or capable of holding another position, they remain a Yahe. Some Yahe may chose to pass life as servants in hopes of pleasing those higher than them so they might persuade the king for an audience. Some may seek to make positions of their own (Muscian, storyteller, artist...) and others may merely lope around, content to eat the cast offs of their betters and do nothing with their lives. As unlikely as it may be, some do chose such a life. Current Pride Positions Ufalme: King (Ufalme ???) ( One - taken )
- Ufalme Kibwana ... tuesdayscat
Kwini: Queen (Kwini ???) ( One - taken )
- Kwini Haiba'sheleli ... Dr Umeda
Mrithi: Heir (Mrithi ???) ( One - taken )
- Mrithi Mwana ... tuesdayscat
Mtawa - Priest (Mtawa ???) ( One - closed )
- Sadal Melik ... Green_Eyes
Juu-yuzi - High Cub (Juu-yuzi ???) (Unlimited - closed to only cubs of the king)
1. Briony ... Dr Umeda
2. Visola ... Lisirra
3. Mnanaa ... Ecavi
4. Ntombi'ekele ... Quirm
5 ... Meryt-Rye
Mainyi - Lords (Mwinyi ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only two - closed without consideration )
1. Bavuwajali ... tuesdayscat (questing)
2. Kubwa'eusi ... Werewolf of London
Siti - Ladies (Siti ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only two - closed without consideration )
1. Taadima'aali ... Dolly_Llama
2. Janikiwiti ... Vesale
Mayaya - Nanny (Yaya ???) ( Unlimited, but for now only one - open )
1.
Wenzi - Hunters (Mwinzi ???) ( Unlimited - open )
1.
Farasi - Knights (Farasi ???) ( Unlimited - open )
1. Tale'Boma ... The Sashie
Tarajali - Apprentice ( Unlimited - open )
1.
Yuzi - Cubs (youth) (Unlimited - open)
1. Ibutho Eliluhlaza ... lil_guy00
2. Ominotago ... Vesale
3. Morasha ... Werewolf of London
4. Juujuu ... Reityn
Yahe - Common (Unlimited - open)
1. Nyaminyami ... Moriko Omori
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:51 am
Traditions
Many of the following traditions are based on the reign of Konokubwa and his own laws, however his son has lightened the severity of things and withdrawn his own paw from much of the dealings. Konokubwa insisted that he had to arrange marriages himself and females were not allowed to be among pride members during the entire length of their pregnancy. Obviously Kibwana found this too severe and has tweaked these laws and traditions quite a bit. The following are the revised versions and though the king is still a central part of the pride, he is no longer the orchestrator of all - merely the overseer.
Marriage/Mates
A large number of marriages were arranged by the parents while the cubs are still young. Even if parents decide to wait, it is frowned upon for cubs to find their own mates. By the time cubs reach adolescence, it is required that their parents have found them a mate. Because they are older by now, cubs do often influence their parents' decision in one way or another.
However, the ball remains majorly in the court of the female's parents. Should the male persuade his family one way, they may find themselves having to persuade the parents of the female. In the case of marrying up in rank, often times the female's parents will give in simply because of the raise in class. Other times, the male's parents may have their son woo the female publically so that the family may find him pleasing, or the male's parents may even hunt or give gifts to the female's family. It is all dependent on the classes of the two.
For example, male A is the son of nobility but the female he is pursuing is a niece of the king. Therefore, female A is of a subtly higher rank than the male. Male A persuades his own parents that the match is good, but the female (for whatever reason: to be coy or because she's stuck up) declines from persuading her own parents. Male A brings her pearls, shells, feathers and other such things, as well as helping his parents hunt large game for the female's parents. Female A may or may not give in, depending on what she is looking for.
Typically marriage is also dependent on age. The eldest son of a litter, typically, will not marry down in class. His brothers can marry whoever they chose. The daughters are usually used as tools to marry up, but if there is a son to take their place in that right, they may marry whomever they chose as well. However, there is no way for a female's parents to entice the parents of a male who is higher ranking. Unless the higher ranking male honestly has feelings for the female or she catches his eye in some other way, she is plum out of luck. Therefore, unfortunately, males are much more valuable to particularly ambitious families.
Divorce is highly frowned upon and highly unlikely to be ordained by the king. Any and all marriages wishing to be dissolved must be approved by him, and should know to present a very strong case. Should the male have an affair and another female be impregnated by him, the female is cast out of the pride. His mate has the advantage: she may chose to send him away, or keep him at her side.
Birth
When a mated female nears her time of labor, she has to enter a season of confinement. For a number of weeks, she has to enter a den sight a good distance from the center of the pride and no male may visit her there. A nurse and/or midwife may attend her, and any female relatives that wish to enter it with her. Any number of females may be in the birthing cave at one time. It is large enough to accomodate up to three at a time but can squeeze a fourth or fifth if necessary.
The female is expected to track her pregnancy to the best of her ability, and as carefully as she can guess it, she should enter the cave one week before the birth. She will not be punished if she is off by a few days. She must remain in the cave with her cubs for one week following their birthing. The nurse will hunt for her and she will not bask in sunlight until the end of that week. Following this time, she may return to the pride for the cubs to be recognised by the king and then she can return to life as normal. The father may not see the cubs until they arrive at 'court' to be recognised. Generally the female goes straight from the cave to see the king, so this is not typically a problem. But should she have to wait, the father may not see the cubs.
As stated in the marriage section, should a female give birth to cubs or be obviously pregnant out of wedlock, she will be cast from the pride. Rape is a different story and the female will be treated as if the father has merely died. She will enter the birthing cave as usual, but she will have to first prove to the king that it was indeed rape and not consensual.
Adolesent pregnancies to occur, but not often. Lions are often married in their adolesence, but whether they decide to wait or they simply do not concieve until adulthood is up for debate. They do happen, but it's semi-rare. It is not, however, frowned upon so long as the two are married and their marriage approved by both parents and the king.
Coming of Age
Typically cubs come of age at their adolesence. Before they are wed to their partners, cubs must perform a hunt on the outside of the kingdom (see the map to clear confusion on the difference between the kingdom and the pridelands). Until this point, they have been trained by tutors, but they must perform this final task on their own. They are given three days to do so. Should they bring down game larger than a gazelle, any extra time it took shall be forgiven (such as a water buffalo, giraffe calf or similiar). However, if they arrive after sunset on the third day, either with a gazelle or not, they will have failed. Though it is a disgrace to the family, a shame they will have some time to live down, the cub is given a second try. Some may redeem themselves by bringing back a large prey the second time, but should they fail again, the cub will be outcasted. They may return when they reach adulthood, but they will not return to their previous rank. They will have to appeal to the king for any ranking at all. Marriage to any outcasted individual will be voided. If the parents of the passing adolesent decides to take the outcast back, they have that choice, but it is unlikely. The shame is too great.
New members
These traditions are new. Konokubwa did not allow outsiders into the pride for many years, but his son has set up new protocol for such things. Any new lion entering the pride will have the usual title of 'common'. They will be allowed to do nothing more but stay in the land. They will eat last at feasts and will not be permitted to hunt on pridelands. They are, quite literally, the 'poor'. Raising themselves, however, is easy enough. New members can apply to the king for positions three days after their arrival. If they have a particular skill that the king approves of, they will be given a position or a position will be made for them (for example, there is no position currently for a jester, but if a cat proves him or herself worthy of the position, it may be created for them). If nothing is needed, however, or they are not particularly outstanding at one thing or another, they must remain as 'commons' until a position opens up. This does not make them slaves. They are merely poor and may become servants to royalty, the mwinyi or the siti if they choose.
Rogue cubs are presented to the pride by the Royal Nanny after she has interviewed them. The cub must then be adopted by a family within the pride (whether they have cubs or not yet) and he or she will take on their ranking. What happens to them after that is up to their parents. The cub may be adopted by any family, from the commons to the hunters to the nobility to even the king and queen themselves.
Ranks at Birth
Cubs are not automatically born into the position of their parents unless they are first born. Under Konokubwa's reign, it had been that only the first born son would inherit the title, but Kibwana has widened that net so that if the first born should be a daughter, that she would inherit the title as well. How that works is as follows in the example;
Lets say that a Mwinyi and a Siti have a litter of six cubs. The first born is a girl, she will inherit the title of Siti (cub A). After her follows another girl (cub B), and the third is at last a boy (cub C). Cub C inherits his father's title of Mwinyi. Cub B, however, recieves no title and neither do her siblings that follow the birth of cub C. In order for the remaining cubs to attain titles, they will have to marry into the positions or fall to the rank of Yahe. They may also chose to go into the working positions of Farasi or Wenzi, or to even be a Yaya if they go unwed.
Ranks should be discussed with a pride owner if you are unable to find a mate for your cub, unless you would like your cub to become a Yahe for one plot or another. We do not govern who falls into the Yahe position as it is meant to be a heavily populated level.
Rogue Breeding
Because this has come up, rogue breeding by a pride member is generally frowned upon. According to pride tradition (see above), the female will typically be cast out from the pride in dishonor. However, in light of the new Ufalme and the possibility of an even newer reign in the form of his heir, Mwana, the punishment has become under scrutiny. The offender will definitely be subject to shame and loss of respect; a repeat offender risks losing their position within the pride. The cubs are never considered at fault and have the possibility, in the latter case, to approach the king to increase their rank following their adolescent growth in order to enter an apprenticeship.
Females entering the pride with rogue-bred cubs, or fatherless cubs by any means, are not subject to any dishonor. Though individual personal opinions among lions in the pride remain their own, the mothers will not be subject to official mistreatment by any means. The cubs will not affect the king's consideration of the mother's new position in the pride negatively or positively, but they will receive their mother's title according to the pride's birth accordances (first born son and first born daughter inherit the title).
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