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I have raised my banners for Tianxia today!

Guilty as charged!
Common Name: Banvor - "laborer" in Armenian
Tianxia Name: Hongtang - "brown sugar" in Chinese
House: West
Rank: Criminal
Personality: Banvor is the sort to keep his head low and do what's necessary. He carries with him a worry that he'll be chased away, or seen as a parasite. Despite this, he also acknowledges the need for other people, to belong. His faint memories as a cub drive him to seek out groups, to find a way to fit in, to try to earn a place among them. He isn't a brown-noser, but still quick to do as he's told, without meeting the eyes of his 'betters'. He tends to think less of himself than of others, and as a consequence, others often do as well.

What did he do?
It had hardly been fair! It wasn't as if he'd had a choice, or at least, not one that let him keep his sanity. He had joined the pride as a refuge, submissively willing to do just about anything in order to be sheltered and fed. It had been such a blessing when he'd come across that hunter, who had led him back to the pride and left him to the Overseer. Humbly he learned the ways of the pride, changing his name and taking the rank of Worker. After all, he had no special skills to offer, did not know the ways of the pride, and was a newcomer. He was satisfied to work for his meals in any way seen fit.

But then his tormentor had arrived. Someone in the North House, where he'd been taken first, had a litter of cubs. He had never met the parents, but the little band of fluffballs didn't like him, not one bit. They chanted insults at him, as if parroting the words of their elders. By this, newly named Banvor discovered that not all lions in the pride were fond of other species. These big, strong felines, focused on the ways of battle, looked down their aristocratic noses at the small, stunted form of the leopard. Even as cubs, the little terrors were nearer his size than those of their parents.

He did his best to ignore their bad behavior, going about his assigned tasks willingly. Eventually most lost their interest in tormenting him... all save one. The male cub grew, became a juve, and still went out of his way to make life difficult for the leopard. He'd 'accidentally' trip his paws up, or bump into him when doing something delicate. Banvor had only complained once to the one in charge of his duties, but he was told in no uncertain terms that nothing would be done about it, that he must learn how to endure. After that, he kept his peace and took responsibility for the messes the interfering scamp created.

Unfortunately, it all came to a head one stormy day. Most adults had the wisdom to stay out of the rain, but Banvor had things to complete. He himself didn't much mind the rain, and honestly hoped to get these tasks done without his usual tormentor lurking about. This was not the case, however, and the young lion, large for his age, and nearing adolescence, was looking for trouble. It wasn't just hurled words or tripping this time. It was violence.

Caught off guard by the pawful of mud to his face, Banvor fought back when attacked. Tooth and claw were applied on both sides, with the thunder covering their cries. The young thug then learned that having parents who taught him how to fight was not at all the same thing as having learned to fight for your life. The rogue-born leopard trounced the upstart, sending him fleeing into the teeth of the storm before dragging himself home, torn and exhausted.

He suspected who it was that had attacked him, though he'd never seen for certain. The overseer came for him in the morning though, to face the charges of cub abuse. There was nothing to say, and he was convicted. Mercifully, the wisdom of those in charge meant he was sent to another House to serve his term, to separate him from the child. So it was that he came to serve the West House as a Criminal, doing the same work he had before, but without even the benefit of respect or repayment. Low indeed had he fallen!

Future Plans: West House will treat him more kindly than the warrior North, though no cubs are allowed near him. Still, he will work hard, suffer the dark looks, and meekly do his time. After he is released, he will take on the rank of Worker once more, doing jobs for those who knew him reliable as a Criminal, slowly regaining his honor. Eventually, with much hard work, I'd like him to become a Trader, able to set his own times, choose his own wares, and make his own profit, set apart a little from most of the others of the pride. He won't leave the pride, but will carry with him a wariness of any lion who has not proven kindly to him.

Down the road, I'd love for him to take a mate, learn to relax and laugh again, and find peace in a family raised in a safe home amongst friends.

I have raised my banners for Tianxia today!

gag post~

I'll give you something to talk about!
Common Name: Shina
Tianxia Name: Fa Chazi
House: East
Rank: Student

I'm listening! Rumor has it...
you got your head in the clouds
She made a fool out of you and, boy, she's bringing you down
She made your heart melt but you're cold to the core
Now rumour has it, she ain't got your love anymore...

A someone from the East House has a huge crush on a certain Lord of the North now that he is single and without a Lady in arm.

Where does this rumor circulate? Any and all has heard some talk about the Lord without a Lady, and when word rose that someone had a crush, gossip began. Who is she? Does the Lord of the North know (he doesn't...)?



Xun: W-what? o //// o Um.... I~

Once upon a time...
Common Name: Mwombaji wa Binti
Tianxia Name: Máowū
House: West
Rank: Performer
Personality: Maowu is energetic, idealistic, kind, fantasy-full, and at times, down right fae! She means the best and likes attention, can get a bit carried away, but tries her best to be generous and giving as well.
The Story: From; The Fairy Bonze.

Maowu had been but a young cub when her mother brought the young lion Chin in to their dwelling with herself and her siblings. Calamity had befallen Chin and his family, and the lion had come to speak to the father of his betrothed for help. He had, however, been denied to see the father, whom in their community was held high of rank and thus, had such privilage.

"You seem to be in distress, sir," her mother had said, "and to be worn out with fatigue, as though you had just finished a long journey. My cubs and I are just about to sit down to a meal, and we shall be so pleased if you will come and partake of it with us. I have just been watching you as you stood at the den of that aristocrat, and I saw how roughly you were treated. Never mind," she beckoned Chin in to the den, "Heaven knows how you have been wronged, and in time you will be avenged for all the injury you have suffered."

Maowu's mother should know! She was known to have visions, after all!

It was some time after the young lion Chin left that discontent befell the family of his once-intended mate. The lioness, Shuìlián, or Water Lily, heard of what had happened, and begged her mother to change her father's mind, and failing that, pleaded with her father herself. The lion refused and sought out another mate for his daughter.

Maowu remembered her mother telling them this as if it were some fairytale - one night Shuìlián disappeared. Many moons passed before she arrived at the dwelling of Chin and his mother, for in the wake of the calamity that had befallen their family, his father who had been so kind and generous of heart, had died, and it were just mother and son that were left.

Shuìlián, who had disguised herself so that she might run away, revealed herself to the family as Chin's intended mate. It brought a temporary joy, but the family was still faced with hardship. Then, of all things fate turned it's gaze kindly upon the ever generous and charitable family once more as Chin remembered the time he had spent with a traveling priest that had stayed for some time with their family. Together the two had hidden away small treasures. Chin reclaimed these treasures and his family was not only restored to their former status of wealth, but surpassed it! Because the treasures themselves had changed into something more bountiful than they were before!

"But how, mama?" Maowu could remember asking.

Her mother smiled at her curious daughter as Maowu and the rest of her siblings looked at her expectantly.

"Because the priest was no priest at all, but a god, my dear. They often like to meddle in the lives of we mortals. Sometimes they even give their powers to us and trade stations in life. Your grandmother was such - she was once a dear and lovely goddess, but she gave up the life of a goddess after she fell in love with your grandfather and bore the litter that brought me and your aunts and uncles in to this world. She could not bear the thought of living forever and watching your grandfather and her children die. So she became mortal, too.

It was hard to believe. Maowu was never sure if her mother was just telling them a story, or if it were true, but she did know that the visitor, Chin, and Shuìlián were real. So maybe... Maowu liked to think it were real.

Maowu and her family traveled for some time after that. Maowu was not as fond of travel as her mother, and upon reaching the age when she could make it on her own, she departed from her family, both with heavy heart, and excitement. She soon found tie Tianxia and chose to stay there. The culture was very much like what she remembered from her youth, and it was comforting. With all the traveling her family had done, Maowu had plenty of stories to tell, and quickly fit in to the west house.

It was home, and Maowu has been happy ever since.

*sniffs around*

I have raised my banners for Tianxia today!