Welcome to Gaia! ::

[History]
The dawnlands, formerly known throughout the lands as the empire, unlike modern times, started out as a land of war of conquest. Generations ago, the territory was fought over by many small prides of lions, each vying for control of the lands. Bloody wars were fought over the smallest of transgressions, and prides held grudges against one another, always seeking revenge on one another. It was a bleak outlook on life, and the land and herds that called it home suffered with these fractured prides desperately clinging to old beliefs and grudges.

Until one morning when a new threat set its gaze upon the territory, primed for the taking. With the small prides that called this place home constantly battling with one another, they didn't see or understand this new threat until it was too late. A rogue band of lions, so swift and keen on bringing the territory to heel, systematically destroyed the ruling males of all the small warring prides, and claimed themselves the new rulers over the fractured groups of lionesses left behind. One such lion, Kuua, proclaimed himself Emperor, and demanded all the lionesses, despite being from different prides, now belonged to him and his brothers. Those who argued or sought to free themselves, were quickly put to a swift death.

Life in the empire, under the rule of emperor Kuua and his brothers, was just as bleak for the lionesses as it had been when they all belonged to different warring prides. Old grudges made working together difficult, and their new rulers constantly demanded more and more prey beasts be hunted down for them. As time went on, the lands shifted from it once vibrant ecosystem, to a dwindling territory barely clinging to life. When the dry season came that year, it struck the empire with such ferocity that hardly a hare would be seen for days on end. Emperor Kuua grew angry with the lionesses, who pleaded with him to see reason, that food was scarce and they simply could not meet his demands for more hunting. So enraged was emperor Kuua, that he proclaimed they had three days to fell a beast worthy of his meal, or they would all meet the same grisly fate as their former pride rulers, starting with the young and the elderly.

On the dawn of the third day, with no food to present to the emperor, the lionesses grew desperate with fear and sadness. Old grudges and hunger drove them to arguing with one another, the different fractions from different prides who had been forced to join one another, now vied to tear each other apart and set blame on old enemies. Through the midst of this chaos a new idea was presented, by an elderly lioness who had seen her former pride through many a hardship over her long years. She called to the oldest members of her former enemies, the ones she had battled and held grudges against for many long seasons, and she beseeched them to forgive her. So unheard of was this apology, that slowly the elder lionesses, the longest lived of their former prides, let go of their old grudges and sought to calm chaos around them. With their former prides no long looking to tear each other apart or throw blame on one another, the elderly lionesses then took to the task of finding a solution to their problem. What could they do to free themselves of emperor Kuua and his brothers?

The council of elders brought this question to the whole of the pride, and surprisingly one voice confidently rang out to answer them. It was Ithemba, daughter of the first elder who had spoken up to stop the arguing and the former king of her old pride. She told the council, "I will find a strong male, my champion, who will help us defeat the emperor." With hardly a day left before they were to present the emperor with his meal, many doubted she'd be able to find such a male. But, with no other options left to the desperate, starving lionesses, they had no choice but to put their faith in Ithemba and her plan as she departed to the lands to search for 'her champion'. The rest of the day was spent desperately, but unsuccessfully searching for any prey beast left to hunt.

Upon the dawn of the fourth day, the pride had nothing to present to emperor Kuua and his brothers, and the lionesses had all but lost hope that Ithemba would return. In the distance they heard the angry roar of the emperor, and they knew they were being summoned into his presence. Disobedience would cost them all dearly as they had learned over the seasons, but returning with nothing to eat would mean the end of their young and elderly. The pride was in shambles as they slowly marched their way to what they assumed would be their doom, fear and sorrow spreading across them like a sickness.

So stunned were they when they finally reached emperor Kuua's resting place, that a hush fell upon them. The lionesses could not dare to dream that what they were seeing was real. Before them stood not emperor Kuua and his brothers, but Ithemba and a strange male lion, bloodied and battered, but alive! "We have won. We are free," proclaimed Ithemba, her features bloodstained but fierce with pride in the dawn's morning light.

It was decided in that moment, that Ithemba should lead them all, who in turn invited the elderly lionesses to become her council. Together they would bring peace and a new beginning for the lands and its creatures.

[Terriroty]

• The dawnlands is covered in grassy plains and plenty of high rock outcroppings but is subject to seasonal extremes like dusty dry seasons and stormy wet seasons than can lead to unpredictable circumstances. Water is supplied by a few seasonal rivers, and a large year-long river than can be quite dangerous in wet seasons when flash floods overtake the banks. A few trees scatter the territory for shade and shelter, though they are not as abundant as clusters of rocks which provide general denning sights, shade, and vantage points.
  
  
• Herds of prey animals come and go throughout the change of seasons, though they can be pretty few and far between during times of great drought during the dry season. The lions of the dawnlands do not see prey animals or other predators as allies, but they only hunt what they need from the land and only fight to protect their territory, so balance and the circle of life is maintained.

[Culture]

• Leadership: The pride is traditionally led by a council of females, matrons, who are the heads of each family. The empress sits at the head of the council and is descended from a royal family line.
  
  
• Role of a Male: To protect his family by providing support to hunting females and fighting off threats like rogue males or animals. They are seen as warriors who respect the leadership of females and are loyal to their family.
  
  
• Breeding: It is expected that lions only breed within their harem, and that they do not seek out outside opportunities. Those who are caught doing so may be subject to the wrath of their harem, possibly facing expulsion from the harem by their matron or warrior. If the offense is grievous enough, the matter may be brought to the empress for further punishment or possible exile from the pride as a whole.
  
  
• Natural Colors: The pride consists of natural, earthy tones to help them survive in their territory. They aren't keen on bright, unnatural colors, as it makes hunting difficult in times when food might be scarce. Societally, dark manes are considered attractive on males, and females tend to favor golden, tan, or brown coats to help them blend in while hunting. Any cubs born with unnatural colors, even just a small spot, is considered unlucky by the pride and possibly a bad omen in times of drought. Though these cubs are not abandoned or driven off, they are expected to leave the pride once they reach adulthood.
  
  
• Joining: Unless a lion or lioness is joining with a group, they will join the pride as a loner and will be encouraged to find their place in a harem or create one of their own in time. Though anyone is welcomed to join so long as their coat reflects the natural colors the pride promotes, loners are often met with a bit more suspicion and are often lectured more heavily on the pride's practices and beliefs.
  
  
• Traditional Mindsets: The lions of the dawnlands hold very traditional values when it comes to gender roles, similar to a natural lion pride that have evolved and been passed down through the generations. Females are natural born leaders and hunters, and males are expected to protect the lionesses in his harem. Marriage and monogamy are all but unheard of in these lands, as they tend to seek out attention and emotional relationships at their leisure. On the whole, harems are seen as family units, and more often than not carry strong emotional bonds between members. It is simply how it has always been for them, and they are comfortable in their culture.
  
  
• Love vs. Breeding: Though it is a male's duty to provide cubs for his harem, that does not necessarily mean that they must be in love. In fact, it's not unheard of for males, and even some females to seek out emotional relationships with individuals of the same sex. It is less common for individuals to seek out love from outside of their harem, though not necessarily frowned upon, so long as those relationships do not bear cubs. It is generally expected that lionesses who fall in love with another male of a different harem, or a male loner, join that male's harem to avoid any social complications.
  
  
• Choice, not Force: No lioness is forced to join or stay in any particular harem. They are free to leave when they want, though joining a new harem may take some time as she will need to gain the trust of another warrior and matron before being allowed to join them. Likewise, no one is forced to breed with one another, though frustrated individuals may leave to find new opportunities in a different harem.

[Traditions]

• Crowning a New Empress:
  
• Birthing & Naming Cubs:
  
• Seasonal Gatherings:
  
• Warrior's Tournament:

Empress (1/1)

• Khanya - (Jovi of Shadows)

Matron (Unlimited)
-none yet-

Champion (1/1)

• Shujaa - (Jovi of Shadows)

Entourage (0/3)
-none yet-

Warrior (Unlimited)
-none yet-

Huntress (Unlimited)

• Lola - (Nefarious Muse)
  

Sub-Male (Unlimited)
-none yet-

Loner (Unlimited)

• Denari - (Nefarious Muse)
  

Cub (Unlimited)

• Nakala - (Nefarious Muse)
  
• Nea - (Ruriska)
  
• Somali - (Nefarious Muse)
  
• Khulu - (Jovi of Shadows)
  

[Joining Application]

Sounds good! I'll get them on the list.

I figured they would~

Added a sub-male rank, and I'm fleshing out their culture and traditions.