[I/T] Kapūkolu Ikaika (Open!)

[Lilbabe808]

Kapūkolu Ikaika

"We are no longer ruled by the white ones."

OOC/IC Owner(s): Lilbabe808
Species: A clan for cheetahs, lions, and leopards
Inspiration: This is very loosely based on Hawaiian culture. For the most part, it uses Hawaiian names and words but there are other aspects taken from Hawaiian culture/history.

Announcements
● 7/5/12: Eski was nice enough to make banners to advertise this with! <3
● 5/14/12: Blu has generously made the cert background and cert symbol! <3
● 5/8/12: Changed color requirements and added in info about familiars.
● 5/3/12: I/T Opened!

We Need
● A better map! (I shall try to make it look nicer when I get the time.)  

[Lilbabe808]

History

Kapūkolu Ikaika are a fairly recent clan to arise. They were brought together by tragedy.

It all started with a family of cheetahs that were all very close to each other and shared a unique language. Every member of the family had black coats. It was what marked them as family. One day, a large band of white cheetahs claiming to be seers visited with them. They told of the future and how the family needed to change their ways to survive. The family decided to follow these white cheetahs because their words were powerful and swayed them to listen.

They were led to caverns beneath the earth. The white ones told them that here they would learn to live in safety. For they foretold of how the surface would be filled with evil and that the caverns were the only safe place to be. One of the family had a brief affair with a white one and became pregnant. Her name was ʻAlahonua. She was happy about it but that happiness was short lived. It quickly became apparent that something was very strange. More and more creatures were led to the caverns, all of them had dark coats of fur. None had white.

Soon the living conditions became horrible with so many of them cramped into the caverns. If any tried to leave, they were escorted back or beaten. The family was not allowed to speak their own language, having to adopt the language of the white cheetahs. ʻAlahonua grew a bitter hatred towards the white ones. The only reason she didn't resist was for the safety of her cubs, all four of them. So she waited and planned for the day she could free her family. As they grew, she taught them the language of her ancestors in secret. They could not reveal the fact that they were learning.

Upon her litter reaching adolescence, ʻAlahonua shared her plan with them. They would not be left behind and were her priority. It was with surprise and swiftness that she led the attack. The white ones had only slight suspicion of an uprising but their cockiness led to the escape of their prisoners. ʻAlahonua escaped and saved as many as she could. Unfortunately, the only one of her family to escape with their life was her daughter, Manaloa'mini.

ʻAlahonua led those that had managed to escape. They traveled almost constantly, as far from the white ones as they could. The only time they stopped was to eat, drink water, and rest. It was like this till they reached a huge lake. ʻAlahonua decided that this is where they would make her home and told those that followed her that they had the choice to stay or leave. Every single one stayed.

That is how the Kapūkolu Ikaika came to be. ʻAlahonua was the first Aliʻi to ever rule the clan. She taught them the language of her ancestors and traditions of her family. The other members of the clan also shared their traditions and beliefs. ʻAlahonua took their input and came up with the laws and traditions of the clan. Her rule did not last that long. During the escape she had suffered terrible wounds and infection had slowly killed her.

Manaloa'mini took her mother's place as the next ruler by declaration of her mother before death. She was still only an adolescent but the members followed her. They did not question the decision of the one who had saved them.

Currently

It has been a year since and Manaloa'mini is now an adult. She hopes to find her lifemate soon and wants to see the clan flourish under her rule. They are in a peaceful time now. However, the traumas of the past still haunt them. She hopes that new ones will be born and that others will join them so that they may have the numbers to properly defend their land.

The land that they claim as their home is also home to baboons. Manaloa'mini has managed to forge an alliance with them, to share it. Kapūkolu Ikaika and the baboons work closely together in a lot of different things.

Location

On the Map: by Lake Tanganyika

Map Key
Blue = The Lake
Dark Green = Trees
Light Green = Grass
Light Yellow = Sand
Dark Brown = Steep Uphill
Light Brown = Dirt/Soil

1: This is where the ʻAkahihākea are kept.
2: This the heiau (temple) where the Kahuna Nui are mostly found. It is made of stones that form a raised platform and was there before the clan arrived. There is a little wooden structure that provides shelter from the elements on it.
3: This is the sleeping quarters for the Aliʻi. It was a gift from the baboons. It is like a lean-to made of big leaves, branches, and connects to two trees as a way to hold it up.
4: This is the sandy shore where most events happen.

( exclaim If you can make a better looking map and would like to do so, feel free to make one! I did this in paint...)
 

[Lilbabe808]

Traditions, Laws, and Beliefs

Ululuna: Once a member reaches adolescence, they will take part in this ceremony. They must bring back a shell from the bottom of the lake. It symbolizes the ability to provide for the clan. After bringing a shell back, they can begin doing tasks in their chosen rank. They typically learn from an elder member until they are able to work in their rank on their own. If a member wants to be a Koa, they will train until they feel they are ready and then must go through initiation in order to officially join the ranks of the Koa. (see below).

Male ʻana: Two members that wish to be mated together for the rest of their lives must each retrieve a shell from the bottom of the lake. The shells that they get are typically much nicer than the kind that are gathered during Ululuna. The ceremony, Male ʻana, involves them exchanging shells and then receiving a blessing from the Aliʻi. The Kela Lole will string each shell for them to wear in whatever fashion they please.

Hanauna Hope: The current Aliʻi will declare the one that will succeed them before they retire from the position or die. The whole clan will gather for this as those that qualify to be chosen will be briefly interviewed. After the interviews, the Aliʻi will decide who is best fit to lead the clan. After being chosen, there is a big feast to celebrate the selection of their next leader(s). Pairs that are lifemated and eligible can be considered for this.
(OOC-ly the next Aliʻi will not take up the mantle till the other retires or dies. During this time, they may seek out a lifemate if they do not have one already. The current Aliʻi cannot remain leader longer than 3 months after choosing the next one.)

Makahiki: This is a big celebration that the whole clan takes part in. It typically lasts from October to February. The members give offerings of thanks to the current Aliʻi with food, shells, or crafted items. This is the only time of year that the Koa will also take part in hunting, even going a little beyond the clan's lands to bring in bigger kills for feasting. The last day of every month during Makahiki, the clan will throw a big feast. Different activities and sports are available throughout this time for the clan to take part in. The best in each one is rewarded for their power or intelligence. The Kumu Hula direct big performances for the clan to watch. During this time, fighting is strictly forbidden. Anyone who chooses to fight during this time will be exiled, no matter the rank.
This is the only time that the ʻAkahihākea will be freely allowed to mingle with the rest of the clan.

Nā Koa Hoʻomaka: Since the Koa have intensive training and are specialized in learning ways to immobilize or kill a target, anyone seeking to be one must go through initiation. This takes place after their training. They will have to fight two members that are already part of the Koa. If they lose one, they will not be allowed to join and will have to wait two weeks before trying to join again. Should they win both battles, they will be allowed to join and will be personally congratulated by the Aliʻi.

Laws
● ʻAkahihākea are only allowed to breed with each other or "rogues".
● Nā Aliʻi can only breed with each other. They must remain loyal to one another for the remainder of their lives.
● Baboons are to be protected. It is not allowed to kill one or attack one.
● Should any of the gods that they worship appear, all members must kneel in respect to them.

(Laws that are broken will result in exile or death, depending on the severity of the offense. Light offenses will be generally overlooked and get a mere scolding.)

Beliefs
● The Kapūkolu Ikaika are a very religious clan. They frequently worship the following gods/goddesses. It is unknown if any of these gods know that they are being worshiped by them.
xxxxxDarkness – Roho'eusi (Dark Fire Angel)
xxxxxEarth – Ardhi-haia (Meepfur)
xxxxxFish – Bahari'nswi (Masamune)
xxxxxHarvest – Arimathras (Epine de Rose) worshiped the most during Makahiki
xxxxxNature – Corellon (Amon Larethian)
xxxxxRain – Nyesha'Densi (Zohwhee)
xxxxxWater – Tamu'dhihaka (Meepfur)
xxxxxWind – Mdhamana'kinyamkela (Safaia)
xxxxxPeace - Li Wei (Thalion) worshiped only during Makahiki

● If a couple has a hybrid litter and none of the cubs are fertile, it is considered a curse upon them and the litter. They will be treated as plagued by the rest of the clan.
● If a couple has a litter or 6 or more cubs, then the couple is considered to be blessed by the gods. They will be given gifts by the Aliʻi for bearing such a blessing.
● It is believed that when killing another, you must look them in the eyes while they die to steal their mana. The Koa specialize their fighting skills for this purpose, so that they can gain more mana to aid them in battle.
(Mana is power in Hawaiian. Typically those of a higher rank will have a lot of mana.)
● When an Aliʻi passes away, it is believed that their mana goes to their successor.
 

[Lilbabe808]

Misc. Info

Hybrids: Hybrids are allowed to join and hybrid breeding is also allowed.

Breeding: Flings are always allowed, so long as both parents help in raising the cubs till they reach adolescence. Rogue breeding is allowed so long as the rogue is dark colored. Unless you are an ʻAkahihākea, breeding with a pale one is highly forbidden and will result in exile. The ʻAkahihākea involved will be killed on the spot. If it is the female of the pair, she will be allowed to birth the cubs before being executed.

Homosexuality: This is not looked down upon nor is it encouraged. The clan does not discriminate those that choose a same-sex partner. They will not be allowed to go through the Male ʻana ceremony but can ask to be acknowledged as a couple.

Leaving: Any member is free to leave at any time except for ʻAkahihākea. Servants will not be allowed to leave the clan unless the current Aliʻi deems them 'good' enough to be out in the world unchecked. The Kapūkolu Ikaika do not want to be like the white cheetahs and therefore will not force any to stay for the rest of their lives. This is also to keep an uprising from happening.

Visiting: Any dark colored felines are allowed to visit at any time. They will be gladly welcomed by the clan. A hyena or wild dog may visit on their lands but can only stay a short while before being escorted back to the rogue lands.

Naming: The naming for this clan is based on the Hawaiian language. Joining members are not required to take a Hawaiian name. Any cubs born to the clan must have a Hawaiian or Polynesian based name. The name can have an element from another language but must be mainly Hawaiian/Polynesian. Original members also do not need Hawaiian names.

(Note: The internet provides very little information in the way of names in Hawaiian. So if you ever need help and have a meaning in mind, just ask me, Lilbabe808, and I'll provide you with the translation. I do not speak Hawaiian, at least not fluently but I do have an official Hawaiian dictionary on hand.
Polynesia includes Tahiti, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Tonga, Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Marquesas, Sāmoa, and the Cook Islands.)

Cub Care: Parents are expected to care for their offspring till they are old enough to work. A male that has more than one litter at a time is expected to participate in caring for each litter. Cubs that are born to ʻAkahihākea will still be considered Keiki within the clan and participate in the Ululuna. Upon completing the Ululuna, they will become an ʻAkahihākea.

Should a dark colored member have a pale cub, the cub will be raised till adolescence and then sent into the rogue lands. They will not be allowed to stay in the clan.

Items: Items are made by the Kela Lole unless it is a man-made item that was found. It is not unusual to find human items that may have drifted on the water. There are tribes that fish within the lake that the clan lives by. Items that are common enough in the area to be worn are listed below. Any other item will need approval to wear first.
xxxxxCommonly worn items: The shells that a couple exchanges when they are mated for life. Leg bands and neck bands fashioned of grass (like a hula skirt).
xxxxxSmall gourds for carrying water. A flower tucked behind one's ear.

Humans: If any human comes near the clan or onto clan lands, they are required to hide. No one is to show themselves to the two-legged creatures. The Maka Kilo will announce when it is safe to come out again.

Baboons: The baboons that share the land with them are treated with respect. In exchange for the help that the baboons give them, the clan protects them from any dangers that may arise. They are also allowed to search any members of the clan for possible bugs for picking and eating. This helps keep all members clean.

Familiars: Familiars are welcome within the clan so long as they prove useful in some way. Should any member gain a familiar, it is then considered their family guardian and usually the rest of that family will then only accept familiars of the same species. However, it is typical of a family to have two family guardians.

Special Hawaiian Characters
ā
ē
ī
ō
ū
ʻ (Called an ʻokina, this is not the same as an apostrophe and is shaped more like a 6.)  

[Lilbabe808]

Ranks

High Ranks
Aliʻi: Nā Aliʻi are the King and Queen of the clan. They are always a mated pair though one Ali'i can rule if he/she has not found their mate. The Aliʻi alternate between species so that no one species rules over the others. The order it goes in is Cheetah, Lion, Leopard. In order to qualify to be chosen, one must have a coat that is almost completely dark colors and be the right species. Hybrids are never allowed to become an Aliʻi.
(Singular - Aliʻi; Plural - Nā Aliʻi )
[RP Req: Must have completed or started 4 rps within the last 3 months within the clan in order to qualify.]

Kahuna Nui: These are the high priests. Only seers are allowed to become one though it is not required of a seer to take this rank. They are the ones that are believed to confer with the gods themselves. They make make the offerings to appease the gods at the request of a clan member. Anyone seeking advice or guidance can see a Kahuna Nui for help. When an Aliʻi chooses a lifemate, a Kahuna Nui is the one that directs the ceremony. A seer is free to become a Kahuna Nui without ever being a regular priest. If there are no Kahuna Nui currently in the pride, then the eldest Kahuna will take on the duties.
[RP Req: Must have completed or started at least 2 rps within the last 3 months within the clan.]

Kumu Hula: These are the ones that direct the Hoʻokipa. They are in charge of all entertainment and can put together performances. Performances include music and dancing. There is one Kumu Hula per species. That means one cheetah, one lion, and one leopard. They have baboons play instruments for them if needed.
[RP Req: Must be active during events. This means at least 5 posts during or in events within the clan.]

(All high ranks are rp required. The minimum activity level expected is to start or finish 1 rp a month.)

Middle Ranks
Kahuna: These are the regular priests. They conduct most rituals and keep the heiau (temple) clean. If the heiau needs repairs, they are the ones to make the repairs. The baboons work with them if they are needed. Any blessings that are needed are also done by them.

Hoʻōla: These are the healers. They typically work with plants for healing. The Hoʻōla usually work together to develop salves and trade information. Sometimes, the baboons are asked to help mix things for them.

Koa: These are the warriors of the clan. They train to perfect their battle techniques. The Koa try to be strong yet agile and value those with cunning. Typically, they keep out anyone that proves a threat to the clan. They also chase away or capture any pale ones that are on the clan's land. The Koa are also the first to greet newcomers to make sure they are not hostile.

Maka Kilo: These are the members that patrol the borders, it means "watchful eyes". Typically, these are members that have exceptional sight and hearing. They are good at sneaking around and fading into the background. Sometimes the baboons will alert them of an intruder if they see a stranger. They also alert the baboons of danger so that they have time to flee to safety. They are expected to alert a Koa about the stranger and are not supposed to approach the trespasser.

Common Ranks
Kela Lole: These are the crafters of the clan. They are the ones that make the items that adorn the Hoʻokipa. They work closely with the baboons that live among them to make the items that adorn the members of the clan.

Hoʻokipa: These are the entertainers of the clan. They perform dances and chants with the direction of a Kumu Hula. Each Hoʻokipa is expected to choose a single Kumu Hula to work under upon becoming one. Some dances and chants are performed as an offering or request to the gods.

Lawaiʻa: This is the default rank for adolescents and adults. This is the most numerous of all the ranks and one of the most important ones. They provide the food that keeps the clan alive. The typical diet of the clan involves fish, so the Lawaiʻa are specialized in fishing. They can also hunt small to medium game. Sometimes, a larger animal can be brought down if one wanders onto the clan's land and all the Lawaiʻa work together to bring it down.

Keiki: This is the default rank for cubs and juveniles. All cubs and juveniles, no matter the origin of their birth, take this rank.

Lower Ranks
ʻAkahihākea: These are the servants, it means "pale one". Any pale or white felines that get captured become one. They are expected to do any task set forth by any other member of the pride, be this entertainment or help in finishing a task. They all stay in one area that is always guarded by a Koa. ʻAkahihākea essentially do not have rights on their own. The clan makes sure that they are fed enough to function well.

Joining and Colors

Joining: Any feline that meets the color requirements will be allowed to join. Hyenas and wild dogs will not be allowed to join.
(Note: I will try to approve any that want to join. If I do turn your SoA away due to coloring, I will also give you a detailed reason for why. If you are unsure if your SoA will fit in, just ask!)

Colors: Kapūkolu Ikaika comes from dark colors and were united as dark colors. There is only one rank for those with light colors or pelts with a good amount of white on it, that of a servant. Those with bright or dull but not necessarily light colors may join but cannot take any high ranks. They accept most felines except those with colors that are too mixed. For instance, one that is half a dark color and half a light color. They would be turned away due to the mixing of colors.

Examples

(Note: These are just examples and not necessarily members. They were just the only SoA I had to use as examples. If you'd like to join and wouldn't mind your member being an example, just let me know.)

Any Rank


Common - Middle Ranks Only


ʻAkahihākea (servants) Only


Unacceptable

 

[Lilbabe808]

Members

Aliʻi
Manaloa'mini (Lilbabe808 ) - The current ruling queen

Quote:

Manaloa'mini is one to voice her opinions. She has strong beliefs and will share it with the clan. Though she is open about what she thinks,
she will never force her people into ways that they do not approve of. After becoming Aliʻi, she matured a bit more but still sees her people more like friends and comrades. It is not uncommon for her to show affection towards them. She always keeps the clans best interest at heart. For the most part, she is a very accepting and understanding Aliʻi.

Kumu Hula
Kokoleka (Lilbabe80 cool

Koa
Gennadios (Cajanic)

Maka Kilo
Sissi ([Eskimo])
Chan-Juan Yin-Yun - (hanging gallow)

Lawaiʻa
Anga Mstari (Blu Chalk)

ʻAkahihākea
Itumeleng (Angelics-Destiny)

Please join so we can pack this joint! emotion_awesome  

[Lilbabe808]

Apply Here!

Sign Me Up!

[align=center][color=darkblue][b]Aloha Kākou![/b][/color][/align]

[size=11][b]Name:[/b] (link to uncert)
[b]Meaning:[/b]
[b]Original or Joining:[/b]
[b]Rank:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]Extra:[/b] (any other stuff you'd like to add)
[b]Reason:[/b] (this part is only for joining members) [/size]

 

[Lilbabe808]

Completed Role-plays

By the Lake (Kokoleka and Anga Mstari)  

[Lilbabe808]

Reserved

 

[Lilbabe808]

~ OPEN ~

 

[Cajanic]

Aloha Kākou!

Name: Gennadios
Meaning: n/a
Original or Joining: Joining
Rank: Koa
Personality: A blank slate, but loves to fight and was born to protect those he loves.

Extra:
Reason: He simply felt the clan could be home, and he wants to fight to keep them safe, if need be.  

[Lilbabe808]

Cajanic

Aloha Kākou!

Name: Gennadios
Meaning: n/a
Original or Joining: Joining
Rank: Koa
Personality: A blank slate, but loves to fight and was born to protect those he loves.

Extra:
Reason: He simply felt the clan could be home, and he wants to fight to keep them safe, if need be.

Accepted! Oh, could you provide the link to his uncert please. Totally forgot to put that in the form. XD  

[Cajanic]

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss27/Cajanic_SoA/Full size/cajanic1.png  

[Lilbabe808]

Cajanic

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss27/Cajanic_SoA/Full size/cajanic1.png

Thanks! If you want rp with Mini, just let me know. ^^  

[Lilbabe808]

Got a free ref custom from Caj and she is now a Kumu Hula! Thanks Caj! <3