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 Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:08 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:11 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:15 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:16 pm
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4/15 Current events/plot
With the death of Dauphin Rolande de la Courcel, the pride became scattered, breaking apart piece by piece. As the pride weakened, rogues came in and took land as they saw fit, the remains of the pride being pushed further and further into the 'center' of the pride, L'Agnace and Elua's Clearing. Now...with the death of Rolande's father Ganelon, and the early ascension to Queen by Rolande's daughter Ysandre, the pride is almost extinct, surrounded on all sides by invading rogues with only L'Agnace left to call their own.
The prayers to Blessed Elua have grown ever stronger for something to help them. And one member of the pride, a hunter named Hilaire Lavigne, has managed to slip out to try and find help.
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:18 pm
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5/15 Lay of the land
Looking for someone to help map this/figure out how it would work!
L'Agnace
The most fertile area of the pride, filled with jungle, and the one still held by the remnants of the royal family. The river they call the Aviline runs through it. Though home to the royal family since history can record, the House in charge of the area has always been Somerville. It lies inbetween Eisande and Namarre. At its center is a Cork Oak called Elua's Oak, planted long, long ago amongst the jungle trees by Elua Himself.
Elua's Clearing
The area in the center of L'Agnace, surrounding Elua's Oak. The main Shrine of Elua lies here, near the Oak, along with a large rock formation that houses the royal and noble dens.
Mont Nuit
A rock formation even large than the royal and noble dens in Elua's Clearing, this place lies directly east of Elua's Clearing. The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers dens here, with Cereus House claiming the topmost areas.
Eisande
The smallest of the provinces, it lies in the south, between L'Agnace and the water. Though not as fertile as L'Agnace, it is still a thriving area. Near the water, there is a large ruin typically claimed by those of House Mereliot, called Masilikos. Traditionally ruled by House Mereliot, the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
Siovale
Located to the southwest of L'Agnace, it is a hilly region full of open spaces interspersed with jungle.Water lies to the western border. Once ruled by House Rocaille, the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
Kusheth
Located west of L'Agnace, with water at its western border, the coastline of this area is rocky and rough while the interior is lush and green. Once ruled by House Morhban, the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
Azzalle
Located north of Kusheth, with water at the western and northwestern borders, this area is much like Siovale: rolling hills and open spaces with bits and pieces of jungle. Traditionally ruled by House Trevalion, the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
Namarre
Located in the center of the pride, this area is full of creeks and rolling hills, with the remnants of vineyards humans attempted to plant long, long ago. Traditionally ruled by House L'Envers, the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
Camlach
Located all along the eastern border of the pride, Camlach is mountainous, rocky, and cold (for the area). It was once ruled by House Aiglemort, but the area is currently home to invading rogues that pushed the dying pride back to L'Agnace.
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:20 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:26 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:28 pm
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8/15 The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers
(Insert Cereus, Dahlia, Orchis, Bryony, Balm, Gentian, Eglantine, Mandrake, Valerian, Jasmine, Alyssum, Camellia, or Heliotrope into the blanks)
____ Dowayne - The head of one of the Houses of the Night Court.
____ Second - The second-in-command for the Dowayne.
____ Adept - The Servants of Naamah attached to one of the 13 Houses.
____ Apprentice - The adolescents that are in training to be adepts.
____ Marque Child - The cubs and juveniles in the Houses.
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:30 pm
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9/15 Religion
In Terre d'Ange, the gods they follow bear different names and faces than those the rest of the savanna might be familiar with. It is possible, however, that they were one lifetime of gods known to the rest of the savanna...
The Gods
There are nine gods that the pride follows: Elua and his Eight Companions.
Elua - The most important deity in the religion of the people of Terre d'Ange. It is believed he was conceived from the blood of a martyred child of the Highest Goddess and the tears of their mate in the womb of Earth. Elua was rejected by many in his travels, because of his strange ways.
Elua was captured in one pride, and eight of the Highest Goddess' servants--who became Elua's Companions--came to Earth to free him. Naamah went to the King of the pride and offered herself for one night in exchange for Elua's freedom. Each of the houses of the Night Court have their own explanation for Naamah's motives. Fearing Elua and his Companions, the King went back on his promise and put them on a raft after giving them strong fermented berries. The boat came to shore in another pride, far away. There, Naamah slept with strangers in exchange for kills so that Elua could eat. Eventually Elua and his Companions traveled to Terre d'Ange, before it was so called, where he was finally accepted. Elua and his Companions settled, and each Companion save Cassiel founded their own territory. Elua claimed no territory except the Clearing of Elua, which was the only place he ever lingered during his travels. Elua gave his precept as "Love as Thou Wilt," and he and his Companions lived with the populace, creating a pride of felines with divine bloodlines.
They caught the attention of the Highest Goddess, who sent her messenger to welcome Elua into heaven. Elua rejected her offer, taking Cassiel's obsidian dagger and slicing his paw. He informed the messenger that because heaven was bloodless and he was not, he would not go there. This led to the creation of the Terre-d'Ange-that-lies-beyond, where Elua and his Companions went and where D'Angelines believe they go after death.
Priests of Elua wear blue scarves. The temples to Elua are in ruins that have no roofs, only four pillars to mark the corners. Any kind of plants are allowed to grow in the temple undisturbed. Visitors are required to remove all leg-wear in the temple. Anemones and lilies are flowers associated with Elua and may be given in offering. Priests of Elua, along with priests of Naamah, perform D'Angeline marriages.
Cassiel - Cassiel, also called the Perfect Companion, is one of Elua's Companions. He chose to remain by Elua's side throughout Elua's travels and believed himself damned for it for abandoning the Highest Goddess. He took up the duty the Highest Goddess neglected when she was too busy grieving for her child to pay attention to Elua. It was his dagger that Elua borrowed when he confronted the Highest Goddess' messenger. He was the only one of the Companions who did not turn away from the Highest Goddess and disobey her laws, remaining celibate. It is said that he was the only one who looked back in sorrow when Elua and his Companions entered the Terre-d'Ange-that-lies-beyond. He claimed no territory in Terre d'Ange.
The Cassiline Brotherhood was founded in his name, in imitation of Cassiel's devotion to Elua. They serve as his priests, and he has no temples. Cassiel is not frequently prayed to.
Eisheth - Eisheth, one of Elua's Compaions, is known for giving creatures the healing arts, music and story. Many of the best healers and chirurgeons come from her province. She gave rise to Mendacants, or traveling storytellers. She founded the territory of Eisande in the south of Terre d'Ange. Her priests and priestesses wear sea-blue scarves. Healing offerings may be made in her temples.
Her symbol is two fish swimming in opposite directions. This is the arms of House Mereliot, the ruling house of Eisande. Because Eisheth was female, the head of House Mereliot is always female. She is called the Lady of Marsilikos.
Anael - He taught D'Angelines about growing crops and tracking the herds. He founded the province L'Agnace in the heartland of Terre d'Ange. His priests and priestesses wear brown scarves and a rope 'belt' around their middles.
Azza - He gave Terre d'Ange his knowledge of navigation. He founded the province Azzalle on the north coast of Terre d'Ange. Priests and priestesses of Azza wear saffron scarves and crimson cloaks fastened with bronze broaches. They also wear bronze masks so they might sublimate their individual pride before Azza's.
Kushiel - Kushiel served as the punisher for the Highest Goddess before he became one of Elua's Companions. He understood the pain and chastisement he gave his subjects was an act of love, and his subjects came to love him for it. When the sinners in his care were offered a chance to repent, they refused out of love for him. He chose to join Elua because he felt that Elua understood what he did. Kushiel founded the territory of Kusheth along the north coast of Terre d'Ange.
Kushiel's priests and priestesses wear bronze masks and black scarves, often painting over markings to conceal their identities. Temples are intimidating places where worshipers come for atonement. Atoners are typically struck before the altar by a priest and have their wounds cleansed with salt water. Mandrake House and Valerian House both have shrines to Kushiel as well as shrines to Naamah.
It is said Kushiel will mark a mortal as his own with a red mote in their eye. This is known as Kushiel's Dart. The chosen mortals are called anguissettes and take pleasure from pain. Their purpose is to provide a balance to the world. Prior to Phedre, there had not been an anguissette in living memory. It is said that a D'Angeline who kills an anguissette will be tormented in hell for a thousand years. If they are a Kusheline, it will be ten thousand years.
Naamah - Naamah is the deity of sexuality and one of Elua's Companions. She came to earth along with the other Companions when Elua was imprisoned in the far-off pride. Naamah offered herself to the King in exchange for Elua's freedom. Each house of the Night Court has a different interpretation of why she did this. She lay with strangers in another pride so Elua might eat. When they reached Terre d'Ange, she founded the province Namarre. There is a shrine dedicated to her there where the River Naamah rises from beneath the earth. All of her Servants make a pilgrimage there once in their lifetimes.
Her priests and priestesses wear scarlet scarves. Training as a priest or priestess requires one year of service where the acolyte is forbidden to turn anyone away who comes to him or her out of true longing. Naamah blesses the acolyte with desire for each patron. After this, they are free to take lovers and patrons as they wish.
The temple of Naamah in the Clearing of Elua is a small ruin of white marble, surrounded by gardens. Doves are sacred to Naamah and may be brought as offerings. They are released in the temple and fly out through an opening in the still-existent roof. The doves roosting on the temple grounds remain unharmed. Each house of the Night Court has its own shrine to Naamah.
Servants of Naamah engage in prostitution as a holy act. They may be a member of a house of the Night Court or they may work independently. They bear tattooed marques on their back. It is blasphemous for anyone to be forced into Naamah's Service or forced to take assignations. Initiation into Naamah's Service is performed by a priest of Naamah and involves annointing with oil, eating a small piece of honeycomb, eating fermented berries and releasing a dove.
She is known to have one mortal daughter named Mara. Mara's father was a man convicted of murder. She is believed to be the first anguissette.
Camael - Camael is known for being martial and founded Terre d'Ange's first armies. He founded the territory Camlach along the north east border of Terre d'Ange. His priests wear dark green scarves and carry long knives made of obsidian. His symbol is a flaming knife. This became the symbol of the province of Camlach.
Shemhazai - Shemhazai valued knowledge and taught D'Angelines their written language. He founded the province of Siovale located in the southwest of Terre d'Ange. His priests and priestesses wear gray scarves. His priests teach that "all knowledge is worth having".
Priesthood
Priest(ess) of _____ (Elua, Naamah, Anael, Azza, Camael, Eisheth, Kushiel, Shemhazai) - The priests of the pride's gods. See info on the gods for specifics.
Initiate of _____ (Elua, Naamah, Anael, Azza, Camael, Eisheth, Kushiel, Shemhazai) - The juves and adolescents learning about the path of priesthood.
Cassiline Brotherhood
Cassiline Prefect - The head of the Cassiline Brotherhood.
Cassiline Brother - The adults of the Brotherhood.
Cassiline Trainee - The juves and adolescents of the Brotherhood.
Companions Returned
Elua
Cassiel
Eisheth
Anael
Azza
Kushiel
Naamah
Camael
Shemhazai
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:31 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:34 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:37 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:41 pm
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:41 pm
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