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 Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:51 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:59 pm
Geography
The Mwezi'Johari have always made their home in lands that are generally flat and open, with few trees and a clear view of the sky from all major areas of the territory. This is the kind of land that the pride prefers so they may always see the moon and so the moon may always see them. It is also a preferred environment for important plants that the pride uses, the most important of which is the moon flower.
The current lands the Mwezi'Johari reside in are a relatively new home, with the last migration still in living memory of many current residents. The Northern borders are lined with mountains that, while not always considered dangerous, became more unpredictable during an earthquake and so they are typically avoided by members of the pride. The land had two sources of water, a waterhole which is located rather centrally and is more commonly visited, and a river near the Eastern borders.
The busiest area of the pride's lands is near the center, where the majority of the dens can be found not far from the waterhole. While regular pride members may choose to make themselves a den elsewhere in the lands, the royal family and slaves all reside in the center. The largest of the central dens is reserved for the Monarch and their family, though older princes and princesses often take residence in smaller dens nearest the royal den. The slaves must take a den in the common area so they may be kept safe and under surveillance as necessary. This area also doubles as a place to find a slave should you need one.
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:01 pm
HistoryOrigins
The exact origins and history of the Mwezi'Johari are no longer known for the pride has always been around as far as any member of the pride can know from their own memory or history shared during their lifetime.
The pride was said to be founded by lions descended from the Great Lion himself and who were able to identify meaningful ways to maintain the pride's favor and protection from the deity once they were gone. These lions made up the original nobility, including the first king of the Mwezi'Johari: Ubalamwezi. This is also why, despite a primarily social role, the monarch has authority equal to the shaman. While the original royal lineage has been lost over the generations and is often considered to be throughout each family with roots in the pride, the monarch is traditionally considered a favorite of the Great Lion for this original connection to him.
Since the time of Ubalamwezi, the pride has gone through many cycles of growth and decline, sometimes paired with a migration to new lands, but it has always remained faithful to the Great Lion.
Recent History
Prior to the Mwezi'Johari settling in their current lands, they were comfortably settled far away for many generations. They lived peacefully sharing a border with allies, the Ilanga'Izwe, until suddenly the lands began to die. The Ilanga'Izwe lands were struck first and they suffered stubbornly, refusing to give up their land to look for better resources. The Mwezi'Johari lands seemed immune to the plague that was destroying the Ilanga'Izwe and it soon became apparent that if the Ilanga wanted to stay where they were, they would need to take control of the neighboring territory. And so a war began between the two prides and, while both side suffered great losses, the Mwezi'Johari triumphed and were able to keep their land while what remained of the Ilanga'Izwe finally fled.
Among the losses in the war was the king, Nesibindi, and his queen, Khalela, who lasted only a short time after the war ended. Their son, Unyezi, barely out of adolescence, took the throne and watched as the lands around them finally began to die. When the moon flower, a special plant used to test new members, began to die, the need to relocate was undeniable and what remained of the pride split up to search for new lands and more moon flowers.
During the migration, several wandering rogues joined them. One rogue, Mwenzangu, was responsible for finding lands they now inhabit. Many of the groups that were sent out seeking new lands were called back together, though some were slower to rejoin their pride and some never found them.
The pride has since flourished in their new surroundings despite more than their share of trouble.
History of the Monarchy
The following is a list of monarchs who were in power within living memory.
Rulers before Unyezi are primarily known by older, original members, though they are still mentioned in spoken history in smaller parts.
Miezi and her consort, Umepatwa. Died of old age, succeeded by their son.
Nesibindi and his consort, Khalela. Casualties of war, succeeded by their son.
Unyezi and his consort, Aureole. Stepped down, succeeded by their daughter.
Alcmene and her consort, Fafnir. Assassinated, succeeded by paternal aunt and daughter of Nesibindi & Khalela, Khathelela.
Khathelela and her consort, Thoth. Assassinated & succeeded by their grandson.
Shangyue and his consort, Parisa. Current rulers.
Apparent Line of Succession: Fasrin (Nebesa)
True Line of Succession: Ianthe, Zhen*, Shuiyue, Astraios, Ptolemy, Yavin, Nebesa, Meshach*, Epione, Andama*.
*Currently dispersed
Allies & Enemies
Ilanga'Izwe
A former ally turned enemy that was later forgiven and absorbed, the Mwezi'Johari acknowledges their connection to this pride though remain wary of members not part of the group originally taken in.
Tianxia - West House
While a fair distance apart, the Mwezi'Johari and West House of the Tianxia share noble connections after each pride sought an outside consort for their heir. Since Shangyue took the throne (in part) by assassinating the consort sent by the West House, this alliance is viewed as tenuous, though neither side has officially declared it broken.
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:17 pm
Record of Pride MetaplotsMetaplot 1
The Ilanga'Izwe & the Assassination of Queen Alcmene
When a long absent group from the Mwezi'Johari, one of the many sent out looking for new lands, finally found their way home, they brought with them a strange lioness that none could place but confidently asserted her place within the pride. They were shortly followed by a small group of what used to be the Ilanga'Izwe, including their former king and one of those primarily responsible for the war, Kobe'gumu.
Despite accusations of recent acts against the Mwezi'Johari, the Ilanga'Izwe are allowed to join under probation to give them a safe place to stay. Unbeknownst to any of them, the strange lioness brought with the Mwezi'Johari group was Dusana, a former princess of the Ilanga'Izwe. With help from an old friend who happened to be a part of the small Ilanga'Izwe group, Dusana attempted to murder the queen, Alcmene, as revenge for the losses suffered by the Ilanga'Izwe during the war.
Baba'nyota intervened, apparently saving Alcmene and killing both of her attackers. While Alcmene recovered, she was able to clear the names of the remaining Ilanga'Izwe members but eventually her injuries got the better of her and she passed away.
With no heir and her brothers each refusing the throne, the throne passed to her paternal aunt, Khathelela.
Metaplot 2
The Disappearance of Shira & Miakoda
The Shaman, Shira, and her apprentice, Miakoda, both go missing on the night of a full moon. The search for them goes on for three days as panic spreads through the pride before they decide they must begin to review the options for appointing a new shaman. To make matters worse, Selene, the heiress was seen with a slave and suspicions of a developing romance are frowned upon. Clearly the Great Lion was unhappy with them to allow the Shaman to disappear under his watch, to consider a slave an appropriate match for the heiress was arguably unthinkable.
The pride descended into chaos as they begin interviewing candidates and preparing to train a new Shaman. Popular opinion amongst pride members was a decline in respect for the class system was to blame for their troubles. One priestess stepped down in protest of the heiress and her suitor, leading to pressure being put on several other important figures to step down.
Eventually, the pride began to settle down as positions began re-filling and a Duke from the Tianxia was brought into the pride as a match for the heiress. Peace returned to the pride, though some tension between classes lingered.
Metaplot 3
The night before a new moon, King Thoth is mysteriously murdered. After a night of confusion and morning, the pride comes together on the following night for the New Moon ceremony but the quiet doesn't last long afterward. Rumor spreads through the pride very quickly announcing that now Queen Khathelela, Heriess Selene and Lord Fuu have all been murdered as well- and it was Prince and second heir Shangyue that did it. By the time he is found, he's confronted his eldest sister, Princess Ianthe, and has gained her support in exchange for peace.
Before he is officially crowned, Shangyue creates a new rank for the low class: Royal Guard. They are lions that are free of the watchful gaze and judgement of the Great Lion, therefore making them more capable of shadier work than any lion hoping to stay on the Great Lion's good side could accomplish. His main accomplice, a former rogue named Firaga, is named as Head of the Royal Guard. They help to keep the pride under control while funerals are held for the deceased nobles and Shangyue waits for the full moon to arrive.
On the night of the full moon, a small rebellion is staged just before the Shangyue's coronation can take place. Prince Meshach, helped by Princess Andama, denounces Shangyue's claim to the throne and attempts to rally the pride against the usurper. The pair receive little help and are quickly defeated. The ceremony goes on as planned and by morning, Meshach and Andama are gone.
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