[Pride I/T] Damu-vizuka [Open! Former Mwana welcome!]

[[ Hey You! ]]

Damu-vizuka
The Blood Ghosts

Deep in the jungles where the Mwana'a-lela once dwelled, there are whispers and warnings of ghosts haunting the deep, dark jungle where the sun never touches. But there is more to the stories than just simple ghosts. For there are lions that still dwell there, lions who believe they have died and returned as living ghosts...

IC Leaders: Mzuka { [ Hey You! ] }, Baridi Makovu {NovaCracker} | OOC Leaders: Das Tor

 

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A History of Death

It began with a cub. Mzuka had inherited some of her mother's insanity, but in a very different way. From cubhood, Mzuka believed she was not one of the living. She believed she was a ghost, a spirit, returned to the world of the living to help protect her living family. Time marched on, and she found a male that caught her interest, a male she planned to induct into the pride. And then, something happened. She isn't sure what, but her home, her pride of birth was no more.

For a time, she wandered the rogue lands with Baridi Makovu, lost and unsure. And then they found their way back to the desolate lands that neighbored Mzuka's birthplace, the volcano towering in the distance. And there, an idea sparked. She would find others like her. Other living ghosts. And she would make a new pride, one that would outlast the living pride she'd grown up in.

[[OOC Note: The pride will start in the jungle lands once part of the lands occupied by the Aikanaro'hini, but will move back into 'Death's Cradle', where the Mwana'a-lela once resided. The plot for this is already planned.]]

 

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Ghosts in the Jungles

Pridal Lands
The land the Damu-vizuka call 'home' is a thick jungle, thick enough that many places never see the sun below the canopy. It is rife with small animals, and has fresh water in abundance in the form of streams, a central river that winds through it, and pools where streams widen before narrowing again. The central part of the pride lies in the heart of the jungle, where trees are so thick that their exposed roots are used for dens for multiple vizuka, the sunlight never reaches below the canopy, and the only ones capable of navigating without getting lost are the vizuka who call it home. This central area is called 'Death's Cradle', a holdover from when the Mwana'a-lela called it home.

The Vizuka
A singular pride member is known as a 'kizuka'. Multiple pride members are known as 'vizuka'. When the pride is spoken of as a whole, they are called the 'Damu-vizuka'.

Though rogue blood will bring rougher features and more fluff to the vizuka for a time, those who are of Mwana blood or born into the pride after a generation or two show the obvious touch of the vizuka. They are sleeker, slimmer, and built more for agility in the heat of their jungle home. They are strangely beautiful or handsome, and their coats come in whites, reds, pinks, blacks, pale blues, oranges, yellows, and golds. Red and yellow eyes are considered especially lucky, but other colors aren't seen as odd or strange. Those of Mwana blood (perhaps eventually the entire pride) sport a pair of elongated upper canines, their bottom teeth adjusted slightly to accommodate for this.

Males and females are seen as equals within the pride, though it is acknowledged that males are often physically stronger while females are often swifter and more agile. Lineage within the pride is tracked through the mother, with one exception: the royal line is tracked through whichever parent holds the royal blood. The vizuka as a whole are intensely protective of the dogo and hai within the pride, and messing with those two are the easiest way to send the Damu-vizuka into a frenzy.

Other Species
The Damu-vizuka is a lion-only pride. The occasional lion-hybrid will be let in, but it will be a rare occurrence. They don't hate other species...but since the Mwana were all lions, it only made sense to Mzuka for the new pride to be only lions.

Familiars
The only familiars allowed are canines, felines, snakes, and predatory/scavenger avians. Preybeasts will be treated as prey.

Beliefs
First off, the Damu-vizuka, for the most part, believe they are ghosts. Rather solid ghosts that need to eat and drink and feed, but ghosts all the same. Yes, it is an insanity that runs through the pride. And no, there is no real cure. Most members inherit it, some do not. (See the ranks below.) Some are even taught to believe it so well that they don't need the odd insanity.

Secondly, they worship several gods, but in varying orders of importance. Highest are the Goddess of Blood and the God of Ghosts. Next are the Goddess of Night and God of Darkness. Lastly are the God of Bones, Goddess of Pelts, Goddess of Pain, Goddess of Justice, and Goddess of Vengeance. Other gods may be observed by individual kizuka, but those are the main gods of the pride.

The Damu-vizuka feed on blood as much as meat, perhaps even more so in some cases. There are some vizuka who require blood more than meat, especially those of Mwana blood, and overall it is seen as foolish to let blood go to waste.

The pride is also nocturnal. They believe the sun will cause them great pain, and possibly death if they linger out in it too long.

Celebrations
The Day of Feasting - This is a big observance in the pride, and is often prepared for days in advance. This is a celebration of the day the Damu-vizuka came to be, and is treated as a big feast and party. Cubs conceived this day are seen as especially lucky and blessed, and hai who wish to 'cross over' will make their intentions known the loudest on this day.

Other celebrations will come as the pride settles and grows.

Adornments
Like the Mwana'a-lela before them, the Damu-vizuka believe very much in wearing the bones and skins of their kills. It is a point of pride for them, as the finer a skin, the more it speaks to the skill and strength of the kizuka wearing the skin.

 

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Ghostly Variety

Malkia [F] | Maliki [M]
The ruling pair of the Damu-vizuka, they are the ones who settle large disputes in the pride, organize the makabidhi and lafua, and decide whether or not something is worthy of activating the rank of lipizi. They can often be found helping the lafua or makabidhi when their numbers are low or the whim strikes them.

Mrithi [F&M]
Any of the royal cubs have a possibility of inheriting. Before it comes time to choose the next ruler, the mrithi are expected to help out within the pride when they aren't learning the skills to become the next leader. When it comes time for the genetic ruler of the pride to step down, the otea petitions the gods for a vision of which mrithi is to take the throne. When the otea finally has a vision, the mrithi chosen steps up, and their siblings take on the titles of regular vizuka.

Otea [F&M]
The head of the kasisi, this kizuka is always a seer. They make sure those wanting to be kasisi are well-trained, and otherwise lead the kasisi. They also act as an advisor to the royal pair, and help determine who the next royal is from mrithi.

Lipizi [F]
A rank taken rarely, these vizuka are always female, and occur only when a great wrong has been done to the pride. They are the avengers, the bringers of retribution to those who have done wrong to the pride. Often, non-vizuka seeing them do not live to tell the tale.

Lafua [F&M]
The hunters of the pride. They look to kill their prey with little blood loss, so that they may maximize the amount of blood brought back to the rest of the pride.

Janja [F&M]
These vizuka go out into the lands of other prides, and rogue groups, stealing what they can to aid their pride. Sometimes, this includes cubs of proper coloration. There are certain rules about doing that, of course, but the janja are as much vizuka as any other pride member, in and out like the ghosts they believe they are. The janja are often the first vizuka a non-pride member encounters, even if only in stories.

Makabidhi [F&M]
The silent, swift sentinels of the thick jungle they live in, these vizuka perpetuate the myths of ghosts in the jungle. They watch outsiders from a distance, discouraging intrusion when possible and attacking when necessary. Sometimes, they even bring in rogues who could be promising members.

Kasisi [F&M]
The priests of the pride, the kasisi see to the spiritual needs of the pride. They help oversee birthings, use plants and herbs to tend to wounds or help a hai make the transition to becoming a vizuka, and lead ceremonies and group prayers to the gods.

Yaya [F&M]
Those vizuka who watch over and teach the dogo. They make sure the dogo don't wander too far from the dens without supervision, ensure they know their history and pridal beliefs and customs, and organize little 'field trips' to get the wandering out of a dogo's paws.

Dogo [F&M]
The cubs of the pride. They are expected to learn and play, and are closely guarded.

Hai [F&M]
Those who are brought into the pride without the belief they are 'living ghosts', or those born into the pride who do not feel like 'living ghosts'. These members are taken special care of, and encouraged to stay within the 'safe' parts of the jungle. They are pampered, and nudged to take up pasttimes such as crafting, dancing, storytelling, and singing. Things that are safe, but keep them occupied and content. Cubs of this type are called 'hai-dogo'. This is also the rank for familiars.

 

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Ghostly Inheritors

Malkia: Mzuka - [ Hey You! ] - [x]
Maliki: Baridi Makovu - NovaCracker - [x]

Makabidhi: Arucard - NovaCracker - [x]
Makabidhi: Enfys - -_Wish of Tevarae_- - [x]
Lafua: Egon Makkusuweru - Das Tor - [x]

Hai: Kichaa'dogo - Kitsune Mistress Nyoko - [x]
Hai: Cucco - [ Hey You! ] - [x]

 

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Near the Graves

Aegnor'hini
Another pride reborn, the Aegnor were once the Aikanaro'hini, allies and neighbors of the Mwana'a-lela. Where things will take the two prides now, no one is sure...

Dvergr
The Damu-vizuka are uncertain what to make of these cave-dwelling lions.

 

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Crossing Over

'Crossing Over' is the name of the ritual which leads one of the hai to become a kizuka. It begins with a fast for three nights and three days. At the end of that time, the hai is given a concoction of herbs to eat. As they eat, the gathered otea and kasisi pound their paws rhythmically on the ground, the rhythm mimicking a heartbeat of sorts. The herbs are hallucinogenic, and take effect quickly. Once the herbs have taken effect, the paw-pounding stops, and the hai is left with two kasisi to watch over them. When the herbs' effects finish, the hai is considered a kizuka and may take any rank within the pride they feel they may best serve in.

Joining the Dead
Feel like joining the Damu-vizuka! Just fill out this form and toss it up!

[size=14][b][color=#cc1100]It's time to cross over![/color][/b][/size]
[size=11][b]SoA Name & Image:[/b]
[b]SoA Owner:[/b]
[b]Desired Rank:[/b]
[b]Bio Tidbit:[/b]
[b]Former Mwana?:[/b][/size]

 

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