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 Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:52 pm
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The Naming of an Heiress: One of the more important ceremonies, this happens when a ruling queen decides upon her future replacement. The queen is allowed to choose any within the pride, royalty or not, of her blood or not so long as she believes them worthy. It is a celebration of sorts, where the whole pride gathers to see the lucky chosen cub and often times bless her with good fortune and wisdom. (Juvenilles and adolescents aren't uncommon either, depending on circumstance and situation.)
The day before the Naming, an announcement is proclaimed at dawn. Scouts and hunters alike are sent out to bring back a great feast for the following day, given up until the following dawn to return with kills. The ruling queen will fast for that day, deep in prayer to Pestilence to honor her choice, and to allow her to see clearly that the heiress is indeed the proper choice. Cubs, juves and adolescents usually always look forward to such an announcement. Their lessons are canceled and with help from each other and nannies, they are allowed to pick out stones or beads or feathers and create coloured paints for the follow day.
Come dawn the following day, the entire pride gathers together to give worship and praise to their great Lady Pestilence. It is a time for singing, dancing, and general worship and praise, each one hoping that she might bless this future heiress. The only ones not present at this time are the Secret Keepers, whom are out amongst the graveyards digging up the old bones of ruling kings and queens past.
With the rise of the sun, the pride is given a day of rest and fasting. They often commune together during the hottest part of the day, often time guessing which cub or adolescent may have been the chosen one. Sometimes they guess right, other times it is a complete surprise as only the ruling queen and future heiress know of their fates. (And, occasionally, the new heiresses family should she not be of the ruling queens litter. It is secret information until the official naming.)
During this time, the Secret Keepers return from their night of digging, laying forth a great flat pile of bones. The bones are from kings and queens previously deceased, with various sacred skulls of queens long since past set in a row before the bones. Only the secret keepers know which queen's head is which, but they are not allowed to say. All cubs, juveniles and adolescents are taken aside by the ruling queen and king to prepare for the great naming and to be the first to greet their chosen sister.
At dusk, the ceremony truly begins. All the juvenilles, adolescents and cubs are donned in paint and feathers of their choosing. They surround the chosen Heiress and ruling queen whom stand side by side as equals. The heiress is the only cub wearing no feathers or paint. . . She is seen naked so the pride might see her for who she really is. The ruling queen wears a mask, an old skull covered in jewels and feathers, a memory of her own time as heiress.
The ruling queen and surrounding celebrating young ones will bring the heiress up to the pile of bones. It is here the new heiress must make her first choice as heiress, choosing the skull of a deceased queen. Dragging the skull with her to the center of the bone pile, she sits upon the bones of the old so the pride might pray for Pestilence to guide her. It is by settling upon the bones of the old rulers she might inherit their wisdom, their strength and avoid their mistakes.
After the prayer to Pestilence, with the sun fully set, it is time to feast. No stomach goes hungry. . . except, of course, those too sick to eat. >: Either way, it is a time of peace and celebration. The new heiress is taken with the queen to meet each member of the pride officially, to be granted a blessing if the other members wish, and from there on out is known as the heiress.
=OOC Info=
This celebration is rather complex and glamorous because, by the time an old queen gives up her reign OR (usually) passes away, there is no time to properly celebrate the rise of heiress to queen. It is a seemingly uncelebrated affair, as she herself must swiftly take her place amongst the head of royalty within the pride and continue her old-queens duties.
Introduction and Naming of Cubs: This ritual happens when new litters of cubs are born. After the cubs are strong enough and the chances for newborn death are mostly over, the proud family is brought before the ruling queen and king. Together they greet their prides newest members and are formally introduced to them, one by one. This ritual is rather private and small. It is merely a way to formally integrate the new cubs AS a recognized member. (Cub being a loose term - it could be a litter of hyenas or wild dogs or whatnot. . .this happens for ANY species in the pride!)
The High Priestess herself often time chooses to accompany a Naming Ceremony, though depending on her duties or schedule, she may choose to send a loyal priest or priestess in her place. It isn't necessary for one to be present (just the king and queen) but with such religious faith within the pride it is considered an extra honor.
=OOC Information=
This ceremony does not have to happen with EVERY litter, EVERY time with EVERY member. It can be chosen by each individual family whether or not they want to partake in a Naming Ceremony. :3 Otherwise it can be skipped and assumed to have happened.
The Devotion of an Outsider: This ritual happens when an outside member wishes to stay within the pride full time. It is given to all adult species, regardless of type.
After deciding to devote themselves to the pride, they must make an arrangement to speak to the ruling queen and king. Every Devotion is different, but for the most part the pair speak with the member and question his or her loyalty to the Kitwana, their reasons for desiring to join, and what they might offer the pride (basically, what rank they hope to achieve or be offered.)
To prove their devotion, and their lack of fear or prejudice against the diseased, they are then sent out amongst the pride. They must return with three wounds upon their body, bites preferable to scratches. These wounds aren't fatal and can easily be healed, but have been inflicted upon by the obviously diseased.
Any outside lion not infected will now be. (Or at least might become a carrier or possibly walk out immune.) Any non-lion will have proven that they aren't afraid of the diseased members. Furthermore, for both lion and non- alike, with three bites from lions within the pride, it proves acceptance by the other members.
On the note of cubs, any juvenile, adolescent or cub in need of a home will be taken in regardless. They will be adopted by a particular family, but with all cubs, are frequently raised by nannies and the pride as a whole. If they are juves or adolescents, a month after their arrival they will be Introduced and Named to the King and Queen, unless it is the royal pair that adopts them. . . (That month makes sure that no family or pride is found searching for the missing cubs and/or gives the cubs time to adjust to their new pride.)
=OOC Information=
Once again, this doesn't necessarily have to be RPed. It is up to the individual member to decide if they wish to partake officially in this ceremony. Otherwise, upon acceptance of their member, it is merely assumed that they went through and passed this ritual.
Of Health and Good Fortune: This ritual is not an annual event, and usually only takes place when the pride is in dire straits or feels that Pestilence is frowning upon them. A lion or hybrid within the pride, either immune, a carrier or still within the beginning stages of the disease will offer him or herself, willingly to be sacrificed.
Upon their decision, they cannot back out of their choice. It is only the High Priestess and ruling Queen who are told, and for a month, they are quietly and secretly prepared. Some still choose to perform daily activities and go about as if nothing has changed, while others take to becoming reclusive and mentally prepare for their sacrifice.
After the month of preparation, with the High Priestess often blessing and preparing the soul of its demise, the pride is then informed of the ritual at hand. The sacrifice is given three days of feast. He or she may choose to spend time with their loved ones, or may avoid the pride as a whole. The last day of his or her life is spent with the queen and High Priestess, fasting, meditation and offering prayers to the Great Lady.
At dusk, the time is at hand. The lion is slain by the sickest members of the pride (whom are able). It is a very somber ritual, lead by the High Priestess. The sick are then required to lap at the wounds of the fallen, along with the heiress and ruling royalty.
The fallen sacrifice will lay over night, members being able to give tribute and mourn over the loss of their pride member at their own choosing. There is hope and superstition that Pestilence may accept the willing sacrifice as a peace offering. . . .that the blood that stained the earth might be used to grant the Kitwana'antara good health and good fortune and the purity of the slain ones soul might help ease and heal the pain of those who suffer the worst.
=OOC Information=
This position is by choice only. No one is ever pressured or requested to step up as a sacrifice. Only adults may choose to be sacrificed, and they must be (fairly) healthy. It is a gift so that the sickest might drink the blood of one so healthy and good of heart. By doing so, they may be granted long life and possible rejuvenation in spirit and physical health. It is also hoped that such an offering may appease the gods and turn good favor upon the pride.
In reality, no, it doesn't work. But mentally and spiritually it tends to help. It raises morale and gives the pride hope for the future.
The Hunt of the New Moon: This does not happen during every new moon, but it does happen during particularly harsh or dire times. When the ruling King and Queen, along with the High Priestess, believe that new blood should be found raids on neighboring prides or rogues are planned.
They must be careful, must be stealthy, and certain members of the pride must be cut loose. The raids usually take happen on the night of a new moon, when shadow rules the world and their scouts and chosen members may not so easily be spotted or seen.
This is perhaps one of the Kitwana'antara's biggest secrets and largest shames. All the members know of it, but they turn the other cheek for they know their prides survival is dependent upon new, unrelated blood.
Some members go out to cubnap the very young. . . Those too young to know or understand their origins from another pride.
Some females are sent out to woo rogues in a night of pleasure in hopes of returning pregnant with cubs.
Other times, males seek out pregnant rogue females or mothers a lone with cubs. They may take her hostage and bring her back to the pride, for her cubs to be adopted by others OR she is given the choice to stay as a nanny in the pride. . .
Her cubs will be infected and before the night is over, she too infected or handed over to the Secret Keepers to 'escort' home. (Aka killed. . .but we keep that hush-hush too.)
It is an ugly time, and one that happens only very rarely, but it often yields good results and brings in fresh blood and numbers.
=OOC Information=
This is a rare tradition, and will probably only happen once in a rare moon as some meta-plot event. With luck, the pride won't ever have to stoop to such scheisty scheming to gain new members or blood. . . . .And it is something that the ruling King will dictate, along with the High Priestesses approval.
It is something that got them in trouble last time, an ill-timed raid turned in to war so it isn't likely they'll call such an event soon.
Death: This is a frequent occurrence within the pride, and some thing that everyone within the Kitwana'antara must deal with on a practical daily basis. Death is something that many come to accept, and with such acceptance, the typical fear of the unknown is lessened. It isn't that the pride is jaded to the loss of a member, but it is looked upon as a blessing from the gods. . . .
They have, with luck, served their Goddess well and it is she who finally calls them to walk with her, to take their place amongst the heavens and the stars.
For those sick and suffering, death is relief. Though it is sad for those whom remain, old friends or parents or family, it is well known that they may finally serve their goddess without having to feel pain. The suffering of disease is meant as a test to her devotion; to live with her chosen 'curse' and to die by it is considered a great honor and grants them new life after death.
Pride members who die from disease are honored by the pride. A small celebration is given for their life (regardless how short as this happens with cubs as well) and many might come to pay their last respects. The Secret Keepers often help dress the bodies of the dead, weaving stories of their lives with various shells, stones, bones, feathers, skins etc. etc. A priest or priestess, after the body is fully dressed, will say a final prayer or blessing for the dead. It is more of a celebration of their life, of hope for their new-found happiness and comfort. The priest/ess (High or otherwise) is very important as the Kitwana believe they help guide the spirit from their mortal world to the after-life. . . . Those whom go without a priest(ess) blessing are considered restless and trapped. . . .
Some of the most famous ghost stories told to cubs are of those whose souls have never been fully laid to rest as a priest or priestess was not present. Adults may grow out of such a belief, while others are ridiculously superstitious, but it is still most unfortunate if a pride member is not given proper ritual amongst the priest/priestesses.
All members of the pride are given this ritual, but the highest honor amongst lions is to be stricken with disease. Carriers or those immune aren't treated differently, but they understand that the goddesses of Pestilences favor isn't with them.
=OOC Information=
This ritual is once again completely up to the writers choice. If you choose to have your member killed (be they lion or not, from disease or not) you will be given an option to have an open funeral. Otherwise it is assumed to have happened unless you make other arrangements (be it they pass away outside of the pride, for whatever reason, and their body isn't discovered etc. etc. etc.) Such arrangements need to be approved by Nux, Pao or Uta, especially if a diseased lion as they would not be allowed out of the borders. |
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:53 pm
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Marriage: Marriage between the King and the Queen is a very sacred thing. Be it through choice of the heiress or queen, or a pre-determined betrothal from the previous rulers, it is a source of stability within the pride.
Personal feelings aside, when a queen takes on a mate, they must stay together if only to keep the peace and harmony of the pride. It is a responsibility that comes with their rank, a sacrifice that must be made for the better of the Kitwana.
For any other member of the pride, marriage is USUALLY personal choice. It isn't requiered or necessary, but because lions cannot leave the borders, finding flings isn't exactly easy. Furthermore, the close bonds due to rejection of neighboring prides tends to cause tighter relationships to form amongst the various members. Because of the inability for most lions to leave the pride lands, it has come in to style for various families to betroth their cubs in arranged marriages. This helps keep the blood and gene-pool spread out, so family lines aren't so easily mixed or muddled. . .
Of course, betrothals aren't necessarily written in stone. Families understand that disease might take a young cub before their time, or might render them far too weak to take on a mate by the time they grow 'of age'. As it is, a new mate may be sought out at either the parents discretion (if they so wish it) or if the cub is adolescent or adult, he/she may seek out new blood.
Though it may take time for one to settle upon a mate, marriage is a happy occasion and event, one that is chosen to be celebrated by all the pride OR a small, private affair. Its up to the individuals to decide. As many lions suffer, to find a partner to care for is a small pleasure and one of the very few joys found within the Kitwana'antara.
Furthermore, perhaps more important than marriage, is a desire for new blood and new genes. The larger the family, the more proud the parents or so the saying goes. It is considered a great blessing to have sired such a family. The more cubs, the more likely a chance that the Kitwana'antara will make it even should disease strike down its members.
Cubs are a sign of good health, prosperity and hope.
Now, this is where things get interesting. . . . While mates are expected to be faithful to one another, be they diseased lions or not, there are certain times and situations where the rules are bent for the sake of the pride.
Immune Lions/Immune Fertile Hybrids: Lions that show a natural immunity with no sign of disease and great health are rare for the Kitwana'antara. The few that do not suffer may take on mates of their own through betrothal or choice. . . but they are expected to also bring in new blood. Immune lionesses are especially sought after and encouraged from a young age to take up a position as scout or bard so they might be prepared for travel.
Upon the ruling King and Queen's approval, these lions may leave the borders for a time and are encouraged to find flings and return with cubs or new blood. This is especially true during difficult times when the lions number count is low. . . This is a great honor and, should the immune lion/ess have a mate, the mate is to not feel slighted in any way. It is helping the pride for the greater good. ***(See note below)
Carrier Lions/Carrier Fertile Hybrids: Carriers show no sign of the disease, but still can infect outsiders. These lion/esses aren't granted as much freedom as their immune kin, seeing as they still could pose a threat to their neighboring prides. . . . BUT, once again, if times become dire for the blood within the pride, upon consent from the King and Queen, carriers may also be set loose from the restrictions of the borders.
These lions may form a small party with various scouts or immune lions or guards of any species; to make sure they do return, that is, and that they don't begin to infect others purposely. Once again, the expectation is to bring back willing new members and/or be come pregnant or return with some new cubs.
***If it is a male lion, he is allowed to bring the female back with him OR wait until she gives birth before taking a cub or two or all. He is allowed to let the mother have some of them, if the litter is large enough.
Infertile/Diseased Hybrids: With so many species in the Kitwana'antara, it isn't uncommon for lions to pair up with other feline species. It isn't readily encouraged amongst lions, as hybrids are often diseased and infertile, which means they cannot assist in helping numbers grow. Plus, being diseased, they are bound to stay within the pride lands and are unable to leave.
Though they are still loved, welcomed and respected members they are some times encouraged to take up the role as nanny or healer, especially those whom show a desire or longing for family. They are also encouraged to adopt lost cubs integrated in to the pride, or take care of cubs whose parents perhaps are killed or too sick to care for them.
If the diseased hybrid happens to be fertile, like the lions, they are encouraged to breed with a chosen mate to help bring in blood and up the prides numbers.
Homosexuality
Similar to a lion taking on a non-lion as a mate, homosexuality isn't readily encouraged but it is accepted amongst the pride. Two members who refuse to take on a mate of the opposite gender, and whom pair up are accepted and treated as mates; but they are expected to either adopt cubs as their own, or are encouraged to be surrogates to others. They may not choose to have a family of their own, but to impregnate another female to give her cubs (if male) or to allow oneself to be impregnated by another member in some sort of cordial agreement (if female) is still encouraged.
Any way to spread the gene pool and keep new blood alive.
Infidelity
The idea of infidelity is strange within the Kitwana'antara. The sick lions KNOW that the gene pool must be spread. Those whom have official mates are encouraged to stick with them through thick and thin. Too much infidelity within the pride amongst its numbers will only serve to hurt the pride in the long run.
Divorce is not much of an option in this pride as it is a painful process, and there is too much pain. A couple may fall out of love with one another, but there is a certain amount of pride and stability in laying claim to a mate and having a family. With as much suffering in the pride, to try to keep face in front of others is readily encouraged. . . Besides, freqently death will take one of the members eventually and afterwards a new mate might be found.
If a couple is TRULY miserable, they may request to take up their pleas with the ruling King and Queen as well as the High Priestess. They may be officially allowed to split should the pair agree, but it is something that is rarely allowed unless abuse is present. . . There's an unspoken rule of sucking it up, as it is frequently what happens amongst the King and Queen.
True love is a commodity that the Kitwana'antara often haven't the time to wait for. . . . Companionship and family is what is often encouraged, especially amongst betrothals.
If two mated lions within the pride wind up with a litter that is obviously not related to the father, they are encouraged to turn the other cheek and raise the cubs as their own if it doesn't cause strife. OR, they will be given to nannies or hybrid parents wishing for families. . . The cubs will not lack in love, and no one in the pride is encourage to accuse or point out the suspicion of unfaithfulness to the original mated pair.
It is a private affair, something the two must deal with together. If they choose to keep the cubs, it is often times noted that recessive genes must have reared its head. . . . That is all.
There are times when carriers or immune members are encouraged to leave the pride to return with new blood. This is not considered infidelity and is an honor amongst those chosen to go.
Other members in the pride are also held to such standards, though it is not quite as necessary for them to take on a mate and start families. Those who do choose a mate are encouraged to stick with them for life while those more notorious for flings or unfaithfulness are encouraged to live a bachelors life. . . and return with new blood to be adopted by others or raised within the pride. |
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