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 Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:23 pm
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 * Imladris *IC Owners: Saint Sergio, Thalion
OOC Owners: Saint Sergio, Reeshie Hack
Graphics: Thalion
Inspirational quote thing here
Welcome to the interest thread for Imladris, the cheetahs of the ever-lands. Long story short- the coalition is a cheetah-exclusive coalition based loosely on the Elven culture, races, and myths of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. The cheetahs are divided up into three primary factions- The Silvan the Quenya, and the Drow. They are not especially long-lived outside of the realm of reason but because they live in a coalition and they maintain their culture and lifestyle from generation to generation, they tend to do better than their solitary, free-roaming brethren. Please be sure to read over the information and, since this is an interest thread, feel free to comment, make suggestions, etc. |
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:26 pm
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|| History
So the story goes…
It began with three brothers…
Three sons of Mkodi stood to watch as she created the beasts that would fill the world. These beings were created apart from the beasts, apart from the cats, and apart from all the others. They were tall, fair, swift, and wise. They could run on the wind, and in those days they were the messengers of the goddess. When they were given mortal forms, they first woke and turned to the sky, seeking the face of their mother. They beheld the stars and from then on, adored them. They soon became aware of their surroundings, and set off to explore the new world.
The eldest brother, Sindarin, the tallest of them, bearing a coat that shone like starlight, found a place of paradise. It was surrounded by a thick wood, caressed by the waters, and rose from the earth like a great paw reaching to the stars. Here, the three brothers mad their homeland. The eldest, revered for his wisdom and beauty, was named the leader. Many followed in his ways, hoping to grow closer to the stars themselves.
The middle-brother, Asrai, a cheetah who’s pelt was of the earth, soon began to explore and map the woods of their homeland. He learned the sounds, the smells, how the ground sloped and moved with the earth. He was their tracker and their provider, the father of the hunt. Many fell under his guidance and soon the wood was filled with great hunters and trackers.
The youngest brother, Drow, a cheetah with a pelt as black as night, soon grew envious of his brothers. He could not shine like the stars, nor did he listen to the voice of the earth. He moved where the light did not touch and cringed away from the sunlight. He gained no followers and lived many years in seclusion on the border lands. He watched as his brothers took wives and started families, how their families started families of their own.
One day while the sun still hung overhead, a shadow fell over the land. The cheetahs looked skyward in horror as the moon swallowed up the sun. Darkness covered the earth below and while it lasted only a few moments, it filled them with terror. All of them, that is, except Drow. He watched as the moon swallowed up the greatest of all stars, the sun, and covered the land in shadow. Until then, none defied the rule of the sun in the heavens. Even the stars hid themselves while it walked over the clouds, ashamed of their light in his presence.
Troubled by the eclipse, Sindarin approached his youngest brother as night fell. Drow knew the night and called it friend and if any knew of the moon’s motives- it would be him. However, as he made his approach a shadow fell over him as well. When the sun rose again, the shining sun of the three brothers had fallen under the dark moon.
They say that the blood spilt tainted the land where Sindarin fell and cased all life to whither away. In his last breath, he cursed those that knew the darkness well and the land that they walked. Drow was banished to the blood-soaked land that he had created and any who carried the night-pelt were sent to keep him company.
Or so the story goes…
The origins story is a legend that’s passed on through song, stories, and the line of their kings. The coalition has always used their assumed past to structure their laws, their ways, and their coalition. The Drow carry a heavy stigma and exist on the border of their territory as the descendants of the ‘night-touched’. Those that follow the moon that swallowed the sunlight.
Beyond the drow, the other two factions carry on the traditions of their legendary founders. They are fierce warriors, lovers of the stars, crafters and artisans without equal, and they have very little care of love for the world outside of their own homeland. They believe themselves to be set apart from the others. Their cares are their own, what happens on the outside is none of their business. There may be a time when they will step outside of their lands for the greater good, but those times are very rare.
Strangers are met with suspicion and even hostility.
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:27 pm
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|| Factions and Ranks
Where the road splits…
The Sindarin collectively call themselves “The Sindar”, which in their tongue translates to “Grey People”. These were the cheetahs that modeled themselves most after the pale brother. They are the artisans, the healers, and the diplomats of the coalition. While they are trained in combat, if only to defend themselves and the coalition in dire times, they would rather not dirty their paws with routine defense of the border, hunting, and dealing with any issues on the borders. Instead, their paws are put to better use creating fine crafts from gathered treasures, creating music, or healing those who are wounded. They are looked to as the head of the coalition.
While it is not a requirement, the Sindar show favor to those with a lighter pelt. Often times cubs with pale pelts are trained specifically to take a rank within the Sindarin trades. Originally, the pale coats were bred down from the pale brother and those that followed his ways. In more recent times, this is just a tradition that has carried on. While some may see those with colorful or darker pelts as below them, it’s not a mentality that defines the Sindar in the least.
[[ OOC Notes: Original members who enter the Sindar are encouraged to have pale coats. Whites and grays are favored. This is not a requirement, again, but it should be the norm. ]]
Sindarin Ranks:
These ranks are exclusive to the Sindar and define their branch of the coalition.
☼ Aran - ("King")
The King is one of the rulers of the whole coalition. The king dictates the happenings within the coalition, is the final word on every decision, and is the overseer and judge in regards to matters of justice within his realm.
xxx[ 1/1 Filled ]
☼ Bereth - ("Queen")
The queen assists the king and, in his absence, takes on his duties. Her primary responsibility, however, is to serve as a diplomat between the coalition and the king. Often times if the king cannot see to a matter himself, the queen will step in to observe and present it to the king. The queen
xxx[ 1/1 Filled ]
☼ Haryon - (Prince)
The heir to the king's legacy. Often times this is the eldest son, but there has been exceptions made. The prince is expected to accept and marry whomever his mother chooses to serve as his future queen. In rare exceptions, a lady is the successor by blood and a male is selected to serve as her betrothed.
xxx[ Limited to bloodline - ♂ Only ]
☼ Heru - ("Lord")
Brothers to the current king or queen. If a king chooses to step down to relent his throne to the heir, he will take this rank.
xxx[ Limited to bloodline - ♂ Only ]
☼ Heri - ("Lady"l)
Sisters to the current king or queen. If a king passes away and leaves his queen behind, she will take the Heri rank so the new king and queen can take their place.
xxx[ Limited to bloodline - ♀ Only ]
◘ Elear - ("Council")
The council are hand picked cheetahs who have influence within the coalition. These individuals help the king and queen weigh their decisions within the coalition and serve as a voice for the rest of the coalition when presented with a concern.
xxx[ 0/6 Filled ]
◘ Rolyn - ( "Healer" )
Healers study herbology and natural cures. If a member of the coalition is injured, sick, or about to bear a litter, these are the cheetahs that see to them. The Rolyn are highly respected among the coalition.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Istar - ("Wizard")
These cheetahs are essentially the spiritual leaders. They perform marriage ceremonies, they are the ones to officially crown a new ruler, and they are said to have a higher enlightenment in regards to the gods and their ways.
xxx[ 0/3 Positions ]
◘ Nandaro - ("Harper")
These are the musicians of the elves. They sing, play what instruments they can craft, and are seen as the keepers of the coalition's stories, history, and culture.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Noola - ("Learned")
One of the more important roles, the Noola are the wisest of the wise. They are the teachers of the coalition.They're usually the oldest of the members and have a lot to offer. They're the best at their jobs and pass on what they learned to the apprentices.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Tano - ("Craftsman")
The Kurwe are the jacks of all trades when it comes to the arts. They are crafters, artists, performers, and dancers. This is essentially the artisan rank.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Mavar - ("Shepherd")
These are essentially the care-takers of the coalition. They assist new mothers in the raising of their cubs. Of the coalition they have one of the more important tasks to see to- assigning a future role for the cubs. They remove any that are destined to become Drow and take them to their new homelands on the outskirts of the territory, they look at the physical make-up of the others and determine which role best fits them.
xxx[ Unlimited - ♀ Only! ]
The Asrai, as they call themselves, favor naturally-colored coats, though it's not a requirement. They're the hunters and gatherers, as well as the noble warriors, the ones that get the news from the outside, and deal with the other species. Interaction with outsiders and other species is not frowned upon because it has to be done, but they don't necessarily like when they do. These cheetahs make up the majority of the coalition and are the first line of defense. If an outsider encounters one of the coalition, it's likely going to be one of the Asrai.
Asrai Ranks:
◘ Káno - (Commander)
-- Commanders are the ones in charge of the Warriors. For every ten Warriors there is one Commander. This is usually a male role. However, female Commanders are not treated any differently, nor are they frowned upon.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Faradrim - ("Hunter")
xxxHunters are just as their name says: Hunters. They hunt for the coalition. There's a lot of hunters that double as Warriors. Hunters are expected to fight off any species that threatens their hunt, or head towards the coalition. It's not just the Warrior's job.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◘ Maethor - (Warrior)
Swift, quick, and deadly, the warriors defend the coalition, maintain their borders, and serve under the Káno. They are trained from a very young age and excel at accuracy and speed.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
The drow are the dirty little secret of the coalition. When a cub with black or near-black fur is born, they are taken from their parents and never seen again. Most assume this is because they are marked with a black coat because their spirits turned away from the light before they were born into a physical form. The commoners are left in the dark as to the nature of the drow.
The cubs are handed over to the Nuuruhuine of the drow, the master of combat and the only drow to have any kind of association with the king and queen. From that point on, they belong to a brother and sisterhood of outcasts. They are trained to accomplish one thing- to kill. They are brutal, savage, and often riddled with scars earned through sparring. They are the king's personal assassins but they answer to none other. Even coalition members who wander into their territory...seem to vanish.
This is also where exceptionally bad criminals or hostile outsiders are tossed to. They, like unfortunate wanderers, are never heard from again.
Drow Ranks:
☼ Nuuruhuine - (Death shadow)
This cheetah is the only drow ever permitted to speak with the royals. He receives the new cubs and trains them directly under him. The cubs learn to be loyal to him and him alone. Not to their brothers, not to their sisters- to him. He is the only kindness they will get in their harsh new home, their mentor, their leader, and their one and only friend. This rank is passed down rather than inherited through blood. However, given the nature of the Drow, the only ones allowed to know the identity of the sucessor is the Nuuruhuine and the king and queen. This is mostly to protect the living Nuuruhuine from having a short-lived term.
xxx[ 1/1 Filled ]
◙ Qualme ("Painful Death")
This is the most common rank within the Drow. They are warriors, devoted to the Nuuruhuine who speaks for the faceless king. They are brothers and sisters, but they are not seen as friends.They compete against eachother for favor, for strength, and for bragging rights.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
◙ Rath'argh - (Dishonor)
These are the glorified chew toys of the Drow. Criminals, trespassers, and passers-by that the drow decided to steal into their territory carry this title. Their job? Sadly, they are the ones to break in the younger Qualme. They are often crippled or beaten until they are unable to put up much of a fight. They are then tossed against the new Qualme so they get a taste for blood. The life of a Rath'argh is a very short, very painful one.
xxx[ Unlimited ]
All three factions
◘ Laisi - ("Young") - Cub-Juve
Cubs and juves are taken care of by the nannies during the day, and at night spend time with their families. With the help of the nannies, they'll learn about all the professions and have time to think on what they want to become. |
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:48 pm
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:51 pm
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|| Culture
Religion, beliefs, & rituals…
☼ Religion ☼
Silver and Wood
◘ Mkodi -
Mkodi is a being that the coalition recognizes and worships as the creator of all, the giver of the spirit-light, and the overseer of fate. Mkodi is seen as the ruler of even the gods and held in extremely high regard. They believe that Mkodi gives them signs in which to help govern the mortals and they believe that the coalition is very wise to this. From blessing the pure-souls with pure pelts to blessing the world with seers- Mkodi works in mysterious ways.
◘ God of the Woods - [Pending Approval]
◘ God of Wisdom - [Pending Approval]
Drow
◘ God of Betrayal - [Pending Approval]
◘ God of Revenge - [Pending Approval]
◘ Goddess of Caves - [Pending Approval]
♫ Culture ☼♫
♥ Breeding Standards...
◘ The two factions are free to inter-breed with each other. It is typical for the Sindar to take lighter-colored mates as a matter of preference and to produce more pale-colored cubs. There is absolutely no social stigma for breeding between the two ‘light-touched’ factions.
◙ The drow can breed, but only with the drow. The other two factions avoid their territory and those that pass through are often killed or used for chew toys.
◘ Marriage is encouraged, but not required, prior to breeding. Flings can happen, but they’re not encouraged.
◙ Taking a mate or a fling from the outside is heavily frowned down upon. Flinging or mating with a non-cheetah is almost unspeakable. Taking a non-feline as a mate is seen as outright insanity and the member would be driven out or tossed to the drows.
◘ Incest is not permitted.
◙ Relationships are to be exclusive to those between a male and a female. Alternative lifestyles are unheard of. If they somehow pop up within the culture, the guilty individuals will be exiled.
♪ Cultural Divides…
The coalition is broken up into two sections.
Nestled deep in a jungle, is a place that is lush and green. The trees are huge and the underbrush might be thick, but the cheetahs that live here clear out what they can to make dens on the ground. Some even live in hollowed trees if they're big enough.
It's here that the Sindarian and the Asrai make their homes. The two do separate themselves as far as dens go. Sindarians usually like to sleep on the high ground within the cliffs overlooking the woods while Asrai have been known to take to the trees.
However, not far off the lands start turning black and jagged. Burnt trees and dead grass is where the Drow find themselves. Since the land above is so unhealthy for them, they've taken to the caves below. They dig their dens and tunnels under the ground, where they have found their own water source. Food is scare here, however, and only adds to the agitation and hatred they feel for the other coalition members.
|| Rituals
☼ Nosta | (Birth) | All Factions |
Nosta is the ceremony in which new life is welcomed within the coalition. When a female goes into labor, a Mavar is called to oversee the birthing. It is during this ceremony that the cubs are given their place within the coalition. Once the cubs are grown and properly weaned from their mothers, they are introduced to their new life.
It's during this ceremony that the black or near-black cubs are taken from their parents.
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:04 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:08 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:10 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:39 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:40 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:41 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:42 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:43 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:45 am
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:46 am
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