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updated the lists!

hopefully on Friday I can work on setting up the scavenger hunt, and opening the wild dog contest. P:

Edit: Opened up a poll to set scavenger hunt date. The problem is that I study at night and weekends are often busy, but, we'll see! if I turn out to have a day without class I'll let everyone know.

Once upon a time...
Common Name: Ài de Shēn [Eye Duh Shen] - Chinese for "loves deeply".
Tianxia Name: Yìqìfēngfā Yánsè [Eee-chee-fung-fa Yen-suh] - Chinese for "spirited colors".
House: West.
Rank: Crafter.
Personality: Yánsè is energetic, intelligent and ambitious. She can also be impatient and hot-headed, but rarely.. She has a great sense of humor and falls in love deeply and quickly. She is well-liked in her pride and often the life of the party, although she is just as happy at home by herself. Dignified yet loving of bright colors, she enjoys working with her hands and creating crafts.

The Story: Yánsè began her life in the North House, where she grew to be an energetic, lovable cheetah. By the time she reached adolescence, her love of bright colors already had her convinced that an Artisan rank was the only rank for her. She joined up and worked steadily at becoming a crafter, doing painting work on the side. During her training, she met and quickly fell for creative and slightly-rebellious male cheetah. Their relationship bloomed and they became mates; life was beautiful, and they began making plans for cubs.

Unfortunately, there was one pridemate that thought their union was less than acceptable - her mate's childhood best friend, another female cheetah known for her cunning and stubborn nature, well-hidden by charm. When she got wind of just how serious their relationship had become, she decided that enough was enough; through her quick-wit she devised a plan that separated Yánsè from her mate for long enough, that upon her return he was no longer her's. Unable to stand the sight of the male that broke her heart and the cocky glances his new mate threw her, she switched houses.

Now, in a house that turned out to be more suited to her nature, Yánsè has become a beautiful adult cheetah that specializes in crafting with a bit of painting on the side. She even made the scarf and hair tie she wears! Although she still sometimes mourns the male who broke her heart, she continues to live through her life as optimistically as she can, searching for another who deserves her love.

[OOC - I tried to make her back story a play off of this legend.]

I have a question. For the Story Contest, can I enter for more than one of them? I mean, I know I can't win more than one but I was wondering if I could try for two of them.

Once upon a time...
Common Name: Ira ("watchful" in Hebrew)
Tianxia Name: Tzu-Wai (the God of the Star)
House: East
Rank: Teacher
Personality: Tzu-Wai is a little gruff at times but he means well. His greatest hope is to live a peaceful life as he has seen enough violence. Mostly he is quiet unless doing his duties as a Teacher. He is a stern yet patient teacher. His way of thinking leans toward the rational ways of the East house.
The Story: Ira's story begins before his birth. His father, Chou, had been a commander in a pride known to consort with the deities of the land. One lion had been charged with doing promotions within the pride. When the time came and the announcements made, Chou was not on the list and many of his soldiers also had not been promoted. Chou was a very ambitious lion so this did not sit well with him at all. So he left that pride and took those who were also angered with him.

On the inside, Chou was truly evil. Now that he had a small band of lions that were willing to follow him and no one looking down on him, he did what he wanted. They wreaked havoc wherever they went, attacking those weaker than him. Many suffered under their rampage. He somehow managed to have a single cub during this time, Ira. Unfortunately, for Chou, his son seemed to want nothing to do with terrorizing those that are weaker.

Eventually Ira left his father at a younger age than most simply because he couldn't stand what his father was doing, yet didn't have the courage to stop him. It was shortly after that he was visited by a seer. The old leopard could hardly see anymore yet had found him to impart a message. "I have seen a golden lion, big and strong. He puts a stop to the lion known as the living black plague for they are of the same blood." Ira was destined to kill his father, it had been written and he would have to find it in him to end the suffering of those in the area.

He found his father near Tianxia lands. It was there that they fought. The battle was long and they both suffered greatly. But age had found Chou and made him weak despite his superior fighting skills. Ira almost couldn't bring himself to kill his own father but after seeing the hatred staring up at him, he lost his hesitation.

After that he remembers very little. Ira had sustained such serious injuries that it was a miracle he survived at all. Someone from the East House of Tianxia had taken him in and nursed him back to health. That is why he wears the house color with such pride.

(based on Feng-shen-pang, a Taoist fantasy tale, found in Chinese Lion Dance Explained by William C. Hu)

You can try for all of them if you feel so inclined whee

not a problem! <3 if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

I have raised my banners for Tianxia today!

OK guys, I'm gonna go with Monday @ 3pm EST for the scavenger hunt! c: please remember to be here!