[OOC] Pride Information

[Mazunguko]

 

[Mazunguko]

Beliefs

Rogue Males: Are welcomed into the pride as a guest and offered the hospitality of the Mazunguko. Very few are turned away outright. They are free to roam around as they wish, but are assigned a guide. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps the guest from getting lost within the underground labyrinth of the Mazunguko's home, secondly it allows the pride to keep a weather eye on them to be sure that they mean no harm to the Brotherhood.

Rogue Females: Depending on the Mazunguko male who finds her, the Brother will either chase her from the pride's territory, or bring her back to the labyrinth to become a Brotherhood mother. Under the rule of Kikatili she was brought forcefully, under the rule of Aina, she was asked, now under the rule of Nahasi, it is unknown, so the male often brings her if he fancies her. Once in the caves, females who are willing to stay are brought to the King and council and then judged to see if they are worthy of staying and giving birth to real males.

Names: Name as you please, but African names are preferred for cubs born into the Mazunguko or SoA having always 'been' within the Pride.

Species: All species are welcomed here and treated like Brothers, hybrids included. No species is better than the other in the Pride.

Flings: Flings are encouraged. They bring new life to the Mazunguko . When the female has her cubs, the Brother is expected to bring the healthy, strong, male cubs back to the Pride.

Life Mating: Life mating with another male is almost expected. Close bonds are formed within the Brotherhood between the males that are part of the pride that survive in the harsh environment of their labyrinth home. There are dangers deep in the earth, as well as the intolerance from Prides above, and many who come to the Mazunguko are fleeing persecution or other such hostilities from their once homes. Warriors, friends, family. It is not unexpected that the Mazunguko find love among themselves. Once they have committed to a lifemate, they are bound to each other by Pride law, to betray that law means death to the betrayer's lover and banishment to the betrayer. (OOC breeding/flinging with a female is fine as long as both males agree to it.)

Life mating with a female is rare, but it happens and is not forbidden, for the Mazunguko understand the love is a gift and should be treasured. Should this occur, the female is brought before the King and council and they listen to the male's reasons for choosing the female, but more importantly, they listen to the female's case. Should they rule in her favor, she stays and is welcomed into the pride as a Brother, and allowed from the Mbeba Den, if she is ruled against she and the Brother are banished together, unless he refutes his Lifemating with her and returns to the Brotherhood.

Cubs: If they are male they know only love and pride from the Mazunguko, if they are female the Pride treats them decently, but distantly. How cubs are treated individually depends on their sire and dam. All cubs and pups are usually watched by the Brotherhood Mothers in the Mbeba Den, and are usually watched by the females until they are old enough to leave them. Male cubs/pups are then raised by their fathers and the other Brothers, and apprenticed out in their trades at juveniles. Female cubs will stay with their mother until adolescence when they are given the choice to stay and be Brotherhood Mothers or leave. At juvenile however they are taught basic survival skills for the outside world, such as hunting, healing, tracking, and jungle survival. They leave skilled warriors and hunters. (Note This has been the case since the beginning, but changed for a short time during Kikatili's reign, Aini brought the practice back and so far Nahasi has kept it)  

[Mazunguko]

Ceremonies and Events

New Moon: Every new cycle of the moon the saviours of the Mazunguko are remembered, and let free within the caves to celebrate the light that is given to them by the scared insects. Fireflies are very important to the Pride and are treated with great reverence, for without them there would be no light in the deeper sections of their labyrinth home where light from the natural openings does not reach. To harm a firefly is considered a crime, and is punished harshly. A few days before the celebrations the (Catchers) and their apprentices spend most of their days weaving nets and capturing the fireflies for the occasion.

Life Mating: Marked by a celebration that lasts for days with large kills brought in and fermented fruit that has been prepared for months. Speeches are given, stories told about the couple as cubs, songs are sung, and much laughter and embarrassment follows. The union is sealed at the end by a blessing from the King that makes the bond official, and presents from the Pride are presented to the newly mated pair whether they be both male, both female, male and female, both feline or canine, hybrid or pure bred, canine and feline, or both rocks.. it is a time of joy for all.

Day of Fang and Fury: Once in a while when there is time, (and he is slightly bored) the King will host a martial tournament that all may enter. Those who enter compete for a coveted position on the King's Personal Guard. Those who sign up will have a chance to become one of these elite warriors who are charged with the safety of the royal born family. None are as close to the royals as they are, none as trusted, none as loyal. The fighting takes place in a large circler cavern deep within the caves.

Tournament of the Crown: Princes born of the King who may sire offspring (fertile hybrids included) compete in a competition to be crowned the Mazunguko heir. This competition always consists of three tasks. Each set of tasks are different for each brother. The current ruling King, the past King (if he is still living) and the council will decide the three task they face. (OOC tasks will be chosen by the pride owners from a predetermined list and dice rolls in the Pride Forum)  

[Mazunguko]

Pride Location:

(Please note none of these images are mine.)
Cave Entrance: Hidden from plain view by plants and vines.
Underground Lake: The pride's source of water, also a fun 'hangout' spot.
Fighting Bowl: An arena for two or more males to have fights in. These fights are normally done over honor, however it isn't too rare to see two males going at it over an argument.
Dens: One of the many tunnels in the maze has little dens for the pride members. Each male can have his own den.
Mbeba: The females sleep in a large den, that only has one way in and out. It is always guarded.