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 Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:56 am
Directory
If you have a question about anything IC (or OOC) regarding the pride that isn't answered here, please, please PM the mule! I would love to answer your questions. 1. Important Cultural Information
Base Beliefs
Colors
Language
Religion
Seers (Outsiders)
Seers (Born-In)
Other Prides/Boundaries
Rogues/Males
Breeding/Mates
Homosexuality
Hybrids and Other Species
Cub Naming
Cub Raising
2. Rituals/Traditions
Cub Birth and Naming
New Member Names
Rogue Swap
Kwa
Death-walk (Ukufahamba)
Naming Cubs After The Dead
Cub/Juve Hunt (Inqina)
Rite of Adulthood : "Birth" (Becoming Zalwa)
Vulture Chick Hatching
3. Options for Males Nearing Adulthood
Taking an Oath of Celibacy
Becoming Enda
Bachelor Groups and Band Creation
A different home
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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:57 am
Base BeliefThe only real rules that the Bonelands seems to follow is "survival of the fittest" and "look to your mother". Females will help their own kind, and to some extent the males, in the worst of situations. Barring any major insults, it is rare that they abandon one another.
Keep in mind, this mindset does not extend to all females everywhere. If a member of the Bonelands is injured, the pride will band together to protect them. If an outside female they have not seen before is found in need of aid, she is on her own. There are not enough resources to feed another mouth that may not better the pride in some way.
Because Abholi are the "strongest" males in the Bonelands area and have proven this by both taking over and keeping reign, they are respected by the females under that regard. Most rogue males are seen as "unfit" because of this and is another reason outside males often do not sire cubs. But, like with any teenager or love-struck individual, flings obviously do happen.Colors within the PrideWhile Boneland females do tend to prefer males with darker manes, as it was once believed to be a revealing trait for strong lions, there is no longer a separation between dark or light members of the group.
There is, however, an extreme negative stigma attached to unnatural colored lions. True blues, greens, and unnatural coat colors are rarely, if ever seen within the pride. They are extremely easy for other predators to pick out, and they often die at a very young age. With the passage of time, the pride has grown to believe that not only do colorfully colored cubs bring bad luck, they are also weaker, more prone to disease, and to death in general.
Note: NO colors are OOCly banned from the pride. But, you should be aware of IC reasoning/behavior your character is likely to give/receive. This is a guideline, not law: lions that are on the "line" between one category and another OOCly will likely be on the line ICly and subject to differences in perception from one character to the next.
Accepted Colors - Little to No Stigma  These include "natural" shades: creme, white, black, brown, grey, golden yellow, etc. Muted/muddy/ruddy colors of almost any type are also accepted such as: grey or slate blue, grey or slate green, sage green, muddy purples, very light or grey purples/lavender, etc. Lastly reds and oranges are generally accepted as natural in part because of influence from the Firekin. Any shade of purple/pink that is more red than blue should be acceptable.There may be a preference, especially among traditional females, for darker coated cubs because dark-maned males are believed to be stronger. Other than this, all pridal members are viewed regularly.
Tolerated Colors - Some Stigma 
Some accent colors (1-20% of the body) of bright blues are accepted, as well as very red coats. Any females with accent colors may be less likely to catch attention of an Umholi. Cubs born with these colors are unlikely to be abandoned, but will likely be watched exceedingly closely by females due to the superstition about their inherent weakness. Females who truly despite unnatural colors will be far more likely to abandon cubs of this color. Non-native lions who are joining may experience some additional difficulty joining compared to their natural-colored counterparts.
Intolerated Colors - Extreme Stigma 
These include any "bright" unnatural colors that cover more than 30% of the body: Icy or bright blue, bright green or tree green, pink, purple. Some females will abandon unnatural cubs in their birthing location whether because they do not wish to shame themselves, shame the Abaholi, or survival conditions are poor and they wish to dedicate energy to healthy cubs instead of those believed doomed for failure. A lion or lioness who has survived to late adolescent/adulthood is often considered lucky as opposed to surviving of their own skill. Abaholi will not personally push out these females if they wish to remain because Gakere believes every lion has a chance to prove him/herself. However, the Bonelands females may decide to push out a unnatural colored lioness on their own; this usually occurs late in the lioness' adolescent year. Certainly, any unnatural colored lions will be viewed with pity or derision at best. If they choose to stay, unnatural lions are likely to be subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) discouraged from breeding with Abaholi or Inselele--that is, if they can catch a male's eye at all in the first place. Non-native lions wishing to join with this coat color will have a difficult time. If, for some reason, they are desperate enough to prove themselves to the pride regardless of the scorn, they are still capable of joining like any other lion.LanguageThe Boneland's lions are traditionally bilingual, and are expected to learn the common tongue of SoA (swahili) and their homeand-language (a sort of chopped and mixed zulu + other languages native to Africa). That doesn't mean pridal members don't struggle with learning a language. Some may know their home-tongue better and some may understand common tongue with greater efficiently. In addition, Busisa may have knowledge that exceeds two. Newcommers will likely find themselves having a hard time learning the new language as its grammatical structure is poor and has been heavily influenced by variances in language from incoming rogues and other pridal groups that have assimilated over time. Until they prove themselves capable, Busisa will be talked to in common tongue by most members. This means they'll have to learn mostly by listening and later through practice. As one can imagine, this has the potential to end in hilarious results.ReligionThe pride has no distinguished religion. Belief in gods is not shared among all members, although it is generally accepted that they do exist based on eye-witness accounts from outside members. The pride does not, however, hold a belief in any particular god above any other and most members seem to have a great deal of tolerance for different viewpoints. That is to say, they seem to tolerate arguing over the subject for hours.Seers - OutsidersSeers are a touchy subject within the Bonelands. In general, members are not too fond of certain kinds of seers. Seers that bring "bad" news can get a great deal of gruff from the pride - it's an unavoidable and so they tend to blame it on the seers themselves. Seers from outside the pride that they know of will often be chased away. If they bring a prophecy bad prophecy that comes true (the illness of cubs), they will often be killed.
There are two reasons for this: the first is that blaming the seers gives them some sense of control in a situation that it out of theirs. The second is that some of these individuals are not seers, and their wish of ill on the pride may come true due to their own desire to harm the mass.Seers - Born Inside the PrideSeers born inside the pride, especially cubs that have grown and become trusted, are viewed in higher status than those that come bearing news from the outside. They are always watched very carefully by all pridal members. If they bring too much bad news, they may be a source of suspicion, so seers within in the pride may keep these things secret if they are minor.
Seers that bring good news are pestered in quite a different manner. It's natural for members to go ask "when is the next rain"? Or, "will my hunt be successful". Status-wise, seers aren't viewed any higher than the other members, although may be allowed to eat first if a good-prediction comes true.Other Prides & Pridal BoundariesUntil the appearance of the Firekin (RP here), the Boneland's had little to no concept of property ownership. Rather than having pridal boundaries, the group simply followed the best swath to ensure cubs lived and that every member had enough to eat and drink. If other groups were encountered during wet seasons, when hunting was easy, they were usually ignored. During the dry season, scuffles between wandering groups are commonplace, but the size of the Boneland's pride is usually enough to suffice a temporary claim over a hunting region. Most find the idea of permanent claim unnecessary and illogical. Land is not stable enough to want to hold for long term and trying to defend it causes loss of life.
They are getting used to the strange agreement presented by the red-pelted Firekin, though they may consider the pride's determination to hold permanent residency a show of poor mental health. It has taught them the necessity of establishing some communication with other prides. In the case of large prides, the Bonelands are now more likely to try and establish communication and send one of their own as an ambassador to keep the peace.Rogues and MalesAll rogues are viewed with heavy skepticism upon first appearance. Groups of rogue females are given slightly more tolerance than single rogue females but still raise eyebrows among the present groups of females. If they can catch the eye of the Abaholi, rogue females are often quickly given a position in a pride and if they cannot find an acceptable place within the females, one of the Abaholi will often find one for them and order the other females to be civil. These rogue females are often given exceptional treatment from the male leaders of the pride, though the other females may pick on them when they are new.
Rogue males are quickly chased off. If they want a place in the pride, they have to overthrow the current Abaholi. If they are successful, rules may change slightly based on their personal preference. They may also challenge one of the Inselele for his position.
Non-leading males within the pride range from newborn cubs to adults who have just finished getting their full manes on their coats. When they take an interest in females, male cubs born in the pride are driven out by the male leaders of the pride. If a male does not have any interest in females, he may be allowed to stay, especially if he aids the ruling males in protecting the females and agrees to eat with the other “lower-class” parts of the pride.Breeding/MatesFemales are discouraged from courting rogue males and it is their “duty” to see to the Umholi of the pride. If there is more than one ruling male, the females can pick the male that fits more to their choice. The practice is not required, however, and females that refuse to have cubs are allowed to stay as long as they pull their own weight in either hunting, or watching over cubs.
If a female takes a fancy to a rogue male, it is not uncommon for the other females to chase her out of the group. If it a passing fancy (that is to say a fling), they are miraculously lenient in letting these females back in, providing the male rogue stays far, far away and out of sight. If he does not, and the males of the pride do not take their own action, the females might harass him. There are no long term social repercussions for females involved in flings, but the cubs produced are not viewed as normal citizens and are often not treated the same way.
OOC information can be found hereHomosexualityThe acceptance of this varies widely between the viewpoints of pridal members. Like religion, there is no clear stance, and bickering can last for hours between extremists on both sides. Official pride ruling considers them the same as other members, and they are expected to abide by the same standard of rules. Among females, especially if it’s not seen as sexual, strong bonds are encouraged for the raising of cubs. If there becomes an issue with a female and having offspring due to a female to female social bond, the Umholi of the pride may grow to a great deal of anger of it and chase the females out of the pride.
Because homosexual males do not generally interfere with the genetic survival of the Umholi (or Abaholi), they are allowed to stay without a fuss. They are treated the same as the other female members and are expected to hunt like the females. They are allowed to adopt, and are often given tasks of taking care of children.Hybrids and Other SpeciesThese are not accepted. Any non-lion species within the lands is considered either food or a potential enemy. Females that produce hybrid offspring are allowed to stay until their offspring are juveniles and then she and her cubs are kicked out and she will never be allowed back. What male leaders do in their spare time is their own business so long as the consequences of those outings do not appear on the pride borders.
The only exceptions to the non-lion species rule are hyenas, wild dogs, and vultures. These are generally tolerated as they pick over rotting, leftover scraps and can sometimes produce good, outside information that is needed. The key word is tolerated, and most of the members born within the pride won’t take them on as permanent friends or companions.Cub NamingNames should follow an African theme. Different mothers from outside the pride may have a different kind of preference on naming, but the majority of the pride (especially those born there) will name their children African names, most commonly Zulu. Swahili is generally frowned upon, but no more so than a Chinese name would be. They should also reflect the cub in some way and not the adult he turns into. Mothers most commonly name them things that describe them (during their first few weeks or during their travel back to the pride) be it personality or a habit they may have had as a cub. They can also be named for things like goals, paths for their future, or words with a specific meaning for the mother. A name without some sort of meaning, however, is an empty name.Cub RaisingAlthough a birth-mother is technically responsible for her cubs, the entire pride looks after and raises them. If a cub happens to be in a female’s location, she watches over it as if it were her own. Cub mixing is not uncommon; it is up to children to find their way back to their mothers. Because there is so much family within the group, cubs are often left with aunts or grandmothers while their mothers are out on the hunt or are simply sick of dealing with rambunctious offspring.
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:04 am
Cub Birth and NamingWhen females are scheduled to have their cubs, they pick upwards of two females to travel with them and leave the pride until their cubs are born and they are ready to take the trip back (Please note: In the wild, lion cubs can start walking at around 5 weeks old). No males are allowed to travel with them. Upon return, cubs receive their names based upon their personality or accomplishments/failures during the journey back. They can also be named for things like goals, paths for their future, or words with a specific meaning for the mother. A name without some sort of meaning, however, is an empty name. Names are most commonly in an African tongue. Zulu is a good example. Swahili is generally frowned upon as it is a mixed language. Some Busisa may be more likely not to follow this tradition and may give a variety of names based on their original background. This may lead to unpleasant, though usually harmless, chatter from the other lionesses.New Member NamesAlthough this is not an official tradition and there are no "rituals" surrounding this practice, females that join into a group may adopt an African-sounding nickname if her counterparts do not like her current one. Her friends will essentially give her a "new" one that they believe fit her. [OOC Note: It is your choice which name you use on the cert - new names will not be given out officially; you can either pick one and tell people to use it, or wait for one to show up in RP. On that note, if you own a lioness in the pride, they're welcome to "invent" nicknames for new members]Rogue SwapAlthough this is not a typical practice in the Ithambo’hlabathi pride, one of the Abaholi instated it in the last few years when he noticed a trend of his females to “cheat” on him. During this year, which occurs once every two years, females are allowed to take on rogues as temporary mates. They do not have to participate in this practice, but it viewed by almost all pride members as being acceptable. Only old, female lions are likely to frown on this, but they don’t raise much of a fuss against it.KwaOnce a year, preferably when there has been a recent, successful hunt, the pride gathers on a high point in the pridelands and enjoys a bit of sport. The male, or males, that leads the pride is required to hunt on this day to pay their respects to the females that break their backs every day of the week. As males rarely hunt, and are sometimes heavy from lack of exercise, this is often a fun watch, and females are encouraged to joke amongst themselves as the males try to bring down big game.UkufahambaEvery lion will, at some point in their life, die. To the member's of the Bonelands, this is, in fact, life. Death is like a second journey, and it occurs away from the pride. All members, when they feel their time is coming, either male or female, will take an Ukufahamba; literally meaning "death walk". This usually occurs when lions feel their age setting in, and they may be losing their ability to hunt, or are no longer able to bear offspring. It is considered a part of life, and while sad, it is also the next step in finalizing their lives in the pride. As such, the pride gathers to see off the lion or lioness on their next journey. It is seen as weak to die within the pride, and so a whole celebration occurs when a member decides to venture out into the rogue-lands to spend their last days. The Umholi thank the females for all they have done for the pride, and good-words, memories and stories are often spoken about the lion/ess and her life by other pridal members. If there is food aplenty, they will gather for one large, last meal among the pride.Naming Cubs after the DeadEvery now and then, a litter is born during, or soon after an Ukufahamba, and therefore the death of a pridal member. While names for cubs are often picked by their personality, there is a special exception for cubs born during this time. They are thought to have the soul of the individual who has died. To honor the dead, the name of the individual who has passed away will take on a modifier to the end or the beginning.
Ending in e, i, o, u - The vowel is changed to "a" or "ku" is added depending on the mother's preference.
Ending in a,y - The vowel is changed to "u" or "i" depending on the mother's preference
Ending in consonants - A vowel is added to the end. An "a" if it is a female-female soul change. A "u" if it is a male-male soul change. And an "i" if is a female-male or male-female soul change.
Beginning in z, x, b, d - "Yu" or "Ya" are added to the front of the name, depending on female preference
Beginning in q, l, t, s - The first letter is changed to "r" if a male "w" if a female, or alternately "ge" or "ci" can be added to the front of the name for male and females respectively.
Inqina
Literally meaning "hunting party", this is every Ithambo-born lions first introduction to their surrounding world regardless of gender. During Inqina, a few trusted members (no less than two) lead cubs and juveniles on a day-treck away from the pride and into the surrounding environment. They begin at sunrise and usually return by mid-morning the next day. The dangers of floods, drought, prey, and predator are reinforced on this trip through observational learning. As well, cubs and juveniles are introduced to the lay of the land and general survival (where the best water holes are, what downwind is, how to navigate by the sun, etc.). If they are lucky, they will encounter prey and the cubs and juveniles will get to watch their guardians hunt. The entire group spends the night in the wilderness. While Inqina are usually full of fun and games for the cubs and juveniles, it is often extremely stressful for females leading the groups. During the decreased surveillance on the cubs and juveniles, it is easy for things to go awry if cubs do not behave.
IC ORP of an Inqina: Here. It includes more information on how Inqinas typically run. Unless you wish your lion to have not gone for IC plots/etc., you may assume any adolescent-aged lion has gone through Inqina in the past. If your character is still a cub or juvenile, you may wish to wait for a mule-run ORP of an Inqina. You may also run your own whether it is a private RP or an ORP.
Ukuzalwa & Zalwa
Females
For a Boneland's lioness, hunting is an essential part of life. They live for survival, and survival means hunting. Cubs and juveniles used to die at relatively high rates, so once a lion or lioness reaches adolescence they are said to have finally been born into the world.
This is the closest thing to a ceremony that the Ithambo'hlabathi have ingrained into their culture. From cub through adolescence, young Ithambo'hlabathi are encouraged to find an established member to pick as their partner for their Ukuzalwa. The member they choose must have completed her birth (Ukuzalwa) and have been born (Zalwa) for at least a year. When the adolescent is ready, she will ask their hunting-partner (or sometimes partners) to meet them at dawn of the next day. If the chosen member(s) do not believe the adolescent is ready for their Ukuzalwa, they will simply not show.
If the right of Ukuzalwa accepted, both adolescent and chosen partner(s) leave the pride until they find prey. This could take a few hours or a few days depending on herd movement. Once an adolescent has participated in her first hunt (whether successful or not), she is considered to have become Zalwa.
Males
Male Boneland adolescents may also participate in the right of the first hunt. However, it does not carry the same cultural importance as it does for females (an exception to this is Ahluke & Enda: those males who choose to remain in the pride are likely to consider it important). Most males will simply practice hunting with other Boneland males their age; these are likely to be their hunting companions when they leave the pride.
Most males and pridal members view a male's Ukuzalwa (birth) as the process of leaving the Ithambo'hlabathi, showing his survivability, and forming his own pride. He has officially become Zalwa (born) when he has produced his first legitimate children in that pride.
Vulture Chick Hatching
This is an IC, mule-run, ORP "ceremony" only. It occurs whenever IC conditions permit. Information can be gleamed from the last ceremony located here
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:17 am
Options for Males Nearing Adulthood Overview
Contrary to what many outsiders to the side believe, male cubs are not considered to be lesser beings than female cubs. Male cubs are simply held to different expectations than their female pride-siblings.
Unlike females, the majority of males are assumed to grow up and want to challenge the Umholi. Males are usually expected to show interest in females at late adolescence, when their adult mane has begun to grow in. It is commonly accepted that they will then either leave of their own volition, or be pushed out of the pride by one, or all of the Umholi. Often times, males are urged out by their own mothers who are sick of them being around. They are expected to leave the pride and attempt to establish their own, elsewhere.
A young male who is full of ideas of overthrowing the Umholi and who is frisking around with females is generally seen in disgust. He has been spoiled by the pride and has not bee required to prove himself as a strong, capable lion. Therefore, flings with these lions are extremely unlikely, and any females fraternizing with them are usually given a cold-shoulder.
Below are options for males should they stay within the pride or leave.Options for StayingTaking an Oath of Celibacy
Males are allowed to stay within the pride, if they agree to abandon sexual interactions with females. Their reasons for this are variant, from simply lack of interest, to having a strong bond to the pride and wishing to stay.
These males are still expected to pull their own weight, like every other member of the pride. Under Matifu's rule, they would not be required to hunt, but the current residing Abaholi, Gakere, expects these males to aid the females in bringing home food for the pride.
While females may not treat them equally, Gakere himself views males as just another member, and will not treat them with any additional attention, or any specific negative attention. That does not mean, however, that they are free to do completely as they please. Like any other members, celibate males must follow by the rules of the pride, or be exiled or killed.
Becoming an Enda
As Enda do not often stay in the pride, any male can take up this position. These males are expected to travel, often for long periods of time, and bring back information of the outside world and improve interactions with surrounding prides.
When an Enda returns from a journey, he is generally crowded with those who wish to ask him information. In his travels, he takes notation on water sources, potential lands for immigration, hostile prides close to the borders that need to be managed, and any other information he deems useful for the pride.
What the Enda does on his travels is his business, so long as that business does not come home with him. Within the pride, however, he cannot show interest in females. An Enda must follow pridal rules within the borders, or be subject to a punishment Gakere deems appropriate.
More specifics on the Enda position can be found here.Options for LeavingBachelor Groups
As most males come of age together, many will set out from the Boneland's pride together. They will form groups of 2-5 male lions. They will have to hunt for themselves, and prove themselves worthy of being able to survive in the harsh environment on their own.
Some find they like the life of bachelorhood and never attempt to form new prides. However, most tend to search for their own females by convincing wandering rogues to come with them, or by wooing or outright stealing away females from other prides. Having been raised in the Boneland's they are taught that only the strongest survive, and survive well, and being at the head of a large band of females helps to prove one's worth.
Note : You are more that welcome to have your males try and steal females from the Bonelands. Keep in mind that doing so may result in the injury/death of the acting male, so you should plan accordingly. Not all the Umholi are nice enough to let males who fail run away.
Note 2: Any bands created by this or other means should be RPed out in the rogue-lands or another forum. They are, after all, considered rogues. If your lion finds enough females to create another pride, you're more than welcome to make a pride similar to the Bonelands based on your male's cultural beliefs. Unless future IC events entail otherwise, however, the Bonelands pride will not be affiliated with yours in any way.
A different home
Not all of the males are destined to form bachelor groups on a constant quest to start their own prides.
Some find themselves more adapted to other prides, and can and do settle down in these places. Others remain solo rogues.
These males are considered to have left behind Boneland tradition, and while not considered weak, they are generally not considered strong due to the strong differences in cultural opinion between groups.
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