Welcome to Gaia! ::

~ Welcomed Species ~

The Bonespeakers believe any creature can commune with the spirits, though lions are considered slightly more likely to be blessed due to the connection with the stars and the ancestor lions who look down upon them. However, any creature who can prove their worth or reliability of their readings is welcomed. They just have to pass Yahna's knowing eye.

Vultures are also especially loved, as they are used as messengers and help collect small bones for the Bonespeakers to use in their readings.

~ Pelts and Colours ~

The Bonespeakers care little for colours, though the purple that Yahna wears so well is quite in fashion. It’s markings that they find particularly interesting. Eye markings are considered very important and sign that you have a closer connection to the spirits and thus make more accurate readings. Bones are also considered a boon.

~ Alignment and Temperament ~

Neutral. They never seek violence on their own accord and care little for the troubles of other prides. As long as someone can pay the price for a curse, they don’t ask questions or care who or why. They’re rarely bothered by others, as the other prides and rogues fear their spiritual power and so they pass through other lands as desired.

~ Culture ~

The Bonespeakers are an interesting group, they spend most of their days in communion with the spirits, talking and collecting new bones for their collections. The higher ranked members are given their own cave with which to decorate and entertain customers while the lower ranked ones are grouped together in a commune and expected to hunt and keep their home tidy and safe from unwelcome infestations.

Each seer has one bone they consider their spirit guide. They chose it upon reaching the seer rank after benign an aspirant usually keep this particular bone close by, often as a form of jewellery.

For some members, the whole reading the future thing is entirely a ruse, a path for charlatans, who happily pray on the weak minded. And others are true believers in their powers and the powers of the seers. Both sorts are welcomed regardless. Yahna would only smile knowingly even if someone reveals themselves as an unbeliever. The universe has a plan and only she knows it.

Major disagreements within the pride are dealt with by either a High Seer, though the petty squabbles that plague every pride are mostly ignored. The pride are forbidden from cursing each other and should any such behaviour be uncovered, the offending creature would be exiled immediately.

~ Breeding and Cubs ~

Breeding can be done at any time by any one, there are no restrictions. In fact, it’s encouraged for the members to interbreed or seek out others with specific markings to bring more spiritual powers into the pride.

Cubs are not given a rank until they age up into adolescents, where they either become aspirants or are encouraged to leave the pride to seek a new home. There are no specific child minders in the pride, cubs are taken care of by the collective group, especially the aspirants and seers. Parents are held accountable for any bad behaviour, however, so it’s in their best interest to at least keep an eye on their own offspring.

If a cub is born with especially favourable markings and lineage, the Grand Seer or the High Seers may lay a claim on them for future training and will keep an eye on their progress, often offering guidance at an early age to keep them on the right path.

Rituals

The Ascension of Sight - the ritual in which an Aspirant is raised up in rank. The whole pride gathers, forming a circle around the lion in question. As they chant, Yahna summons the spirits to bear witness. Their spirit bone is placed before them and they are asked to offer a drop of blood to bind them.

The Trial of Shadows - the ritual in which a High Seer is raised up in rank. The whole pride gathers, forming a circle around the lion in question. As they chant, Yahna summons the spirits to bear witness. The Seer must then divine a truth hidden by another member of the pride by casting their bones. If it is a true-telling, they will officially become a High Seer.

The Full Moon Hunt - It is rare of the upper ranks to hunt, except for on the full moon. On this one night, the pride sets out together, finding a target and hunting that one poor soul beneath the hungry moon. They do not speak, hunting completely in silence. They let their prey run for hours, seemingly unshakeable, until finally, with a silent nod from Yahna, they fall upon the creature and feast. The bones are laid out at the pride to dry throughout the next few days and given out to the Seers and High Seers by Yahna when they please her.

The Black Marrow Rite - A never before used ritual, but one that is secretly taught to all the seers, just in case it is ever needed. Should any pride ever cross the Bonespeakers, a terrible curse awaits them. Yahna and her High Seers extracts marrow from the bones of a fallen lion of their pride, mixes it with soot and herbs, and bury it facing the rival’s lands while chanting in tongues. It evokes the spirit of the dead to plague the living, slowly bringing the cursed pride to ruin. Or at least that’s what it’s meant to do. Results may vary, considering it’s never been used.

Lion Name and Link to Cert: Tepes
Desired Rank: (High Seer but Seer is fine depending on judgement based on personality
Brief Personality: Quiet. Reserved. Tepes comes off intensely intimidating if you don't know her = sleek muscle and all intensity but... She's actually very intelligent and calm. One with the night, as her pelkt reflects for her, Tepes specialized in her connection to the spirits and advises on healing and rewstoration, be it generational cuyrses needed cleansed or wounds healed. Tepes also brings emotional healing by speaking to ancestors, bringing a merciful touch to others. Teples' own spirit guide is, in fact, a bat, and she possessed the bones in a pouch about her neck, whom she speaks to and seems to hear on a daily basis, seemingly. Tepes prefers [not to lay curses unless it is personal, price or no price, as to her the work is dangerousl; however her guide might rarely advise on justice. Similarly, Tepes uses her talents in spells as a tool and will always warn thge spirits only advise and assist. Others must still do the work themselves.
Why do they want to be a Bonespeaker? Aligns with her beliefs well enough to know Tepes will do well to serv e with others., Tepes' spirit guide was the bat she carries in life who was a friend and Tepes finds solace in that he's awaiting her and guiding her, believing his was the soul of another lion trapped in a bat foprm.

Lion Name and Link to Cert: Kiakili
Desired Rank: Seer
Brief Personality: Kiakili was always referred to as a soft-heart by her Outlander peers. She didn't snarl or flash her fangs when she was presented with a challenge and the idea of Dueling for rank or respect had her running to the hills. She is a gentle individual, who wants to help her fellow lion and once she finds the community and confidence to express this, will be happy to offer a peaceful area, away from prying eyes. She believes that getting a seeing done - especially one of hers, that focuses on important life decisions, is one that should be done in private, without prying eyes of fellow pride members.
Why do they want to be a Bonespeaker? Kiakili never felt like she stood a chance in the Outlands. She was a soft-heart by their standards, and grew tired of having to fight for everything in order to survive. She recently left her "home" in the Outlands to try and seek out a better future for herself, and found the community in the Bonespeakers. Determined to ensure that seeing was something she could learn to do, she trained hard to be able to do it too and now is able to aid in life transitions predictions. ("should I leave my pride" or "is it time to have cubs" etc)