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 Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:30 am
Welcome to another firekin RP event! There's no dice game this time, only a staggered plot. Each post in the RP qualifies you for a raffle at the end! Read below for more info~
This will close in apx. two weeks! [Or when all prizes are won] Quote:
Recap:
It's been several weeks since the water crisis began. Oasis and underground water supplies which once fed the pride have all but dried up. Tensions are high, as arguments over who the water rightfully belongs to continue to rage. While no formal decision has been decided, one thing is certain: water must be found for the pride to survive.
To make matters worse, with everyone spending a large portion of their time out hunting for water, many of the inexperienced lions are starting to go missing in the unforgiving sands....
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:32 am
 Quote: Rules:
- Prizes will be given out randomly during the RP, as a raffle of all those [minus us] participating.
- Every post in this thread will qualify the person for a chance to win a prize.
- Only one prize may be won per-person.
- To participate, you do not need to interact with the main group. If you wish to do a series of self rps relating to the setup, or RP with a friend, you are more then welcome to do so.
@@ Because of this, people interacting with the main plot may choose to use another character to get posts if they wish.
- All lions who participate may opt to have their character receive the event only rank, tracker. This may apply to only one character, however. Young cubs may take part and assume this rank upon adulthood.
- You may use multiple characters, but titles and prizes may only be earned once. You will need to specify at the end of this RP who, if any, the prize and titles will go to.
- You do not need a firekin to participate. You may enter this contest with a dueling rogue, so long as they have been approved by us, or a non-prey familiar species. If you have neither, any desert creature can be used.
- However, note that these 'sub-species' characters are likely not going to be involved with the main RP. Firekin don't often notice them.
- Tensions are high, but fights are being strictly punished. However, we're very far from the regent's earshot...
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:33 am
Prizes!
As always, we like to bait you into rpingreward you for your dedication. More prizes may be added if number of responses exceeded expectations, or as our prize list grows.
Note: The lion is one of my lions I'll be rehoming <3 His name is Singh, but it may be changed. I'll link his family towards the end. He does not need a duel to join the pride, but requires a JRP for certing.
His personality is up to you!
1. Male Lion [Singh] Adranis!
2. Male Snake Vesale!
3. Male Snake Lethrossen!
4. Male Bird DragonsRage24!
5. Male Bird Velveteen Angel!
In addition!
All firekin members who participate in this RP have the option of taking on the rank of 'tracker'. This is an event only title, and to qualify for it you must indicate at the end of the event [after prizes are rolled] which character you'd like it to go for. You MUST use the character whose job you wish to change at least once during the event.
Quote: [Tracker]
Trackers are the ultimate hunters. Spending days or even weeks out in the desert, these lions are survivalists through and through. Trackers are tasked with numerous jobs- but their primary duties are to monitor herd numbers and to find lost members out in the waste. No one knows the desert better then they do.
Because the desert is constantly shifting, they need to be cunning. They must employ all the craft of a water-seeker, coupled with the finesse of a spy. Most have some basic medical training to deal with injured lions.
They are also play a vital role in managing rogue populations on the borders. They will report when they have grown too numerous, or even escort failed duelists out of the pridelands. Hurias are often paired with a tracker to gain basic survival skills for their life abroad.
Again, a super big big thanks to: Ecavi, Bluefire Dragonz, Lithia, Tisiphone, Safaia and Split Personality heart heart
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:34 am
There was a saying in the savannah: the desert crawled. Veru had never really known what that had meant until he had stepped foot into the rolling landscape. In this place, the desert not only crawled, it stampeded across earth and rock. It made paths that were there one day, and gone the next. How anyone could keep track of water in a place so fluid was mind boggling. But here they were, searching.
And not doing very well by the looks of it!
It was the third day they had been out. Ea was up ahead, digging up a rage as a tired Vlam attempted to instruct her in the proper way of digging a hole. [Apparently there was one!] Veru, despite being ill and slightly feverish, was also out. Of all the patients currently stationed in the ward, he was actually one of the more able-bodied. Being mobile showed some good will to a pride earnestly considering cutting off water to the lesser castes. Especially considering he wasn't even formally a member of the pride. Ea had warned him that if he didn't start at least looking useful, Armada would come in his sleep and murder him.
He had thought that was a joke at the time. It turned out Ea didn't know how to tell jokes.
He had to admire the pride though. They were certainly stubborn. Abandoning the desert seemed like a last ditch option. And for some of them, it wasn't even on the table. They'd rather die in the desert they fought for, if they must. Veru wasn't so sure about dying. But he did know a thing or two about surviving. With uncertainty mounting, he hoped that would be enough.
"This is ridiculous!" Ea growled. "Every cache is dry? Every single one?"
Vlam didn't have words for her, so Veru found himself in the awkward position of diffusing the wild cat's bomb. Which was something he was terrible with, as sarcasm came to him like a bird took to the air. "Every single one. Perhaps we can start learning to drink sand!"
Ea's wild eyes narrowed. The water issue had become a sore spot with the black cat. And she had been growing more frantic as the time went on. "Funny. I wouldn't laugh, Veru. You'll be first to go, mark my word." She muttered. "Come on, both of you. It's almost noon. Hopefully someone else found something."
It had become somewhat commonplace for most of the pride's volunteer water-seekers to meet up in the middle of the day to share there findings.
So far, it had been mostly an exercise in failure. But maybe today was the day...
 
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:14 am
Though he was barely an adult Ea'Pavlov had been out with the water seekers from the first day of the drought. He had found early on in his youth that he had a knack for finding water and had assigned himself as an apprentice to one as soon as he was old enough.
At the moment his knack was coming to nothing. He felt frustrated and angry and upset. He wanted to find water and it made him angry that there was none to be found. Just lots and lots of pale sands stretching as far as his eyes could see. Smashing in the hole that he had spent a good hour excavating, digging deeper than he had ever dug before, scooping out piles and piles of shifting sand.
It was pointless and his tongue was drier than it had ever been before. Sitting down he slowly turned and started to make his way to the meet up point. No water here, no water here again!((just a note he has grown to adult but he is being edited))
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:46 pm
Mwako'Damu made his way over the dunes with heavy paws and shoulders. His silver eyes darted from one to the next as he looked for the familiar stones he used to spot markings where rainwater used to gather. He saw the moving forms ahead, at least three together, one not far from them, and he scowled.
The cacti had all but dried up in this drought, which meant something was gravely wrong.
If they couldn't even survive with their surplus of water, how could they?
He had hope though, and stamina. He would run these sands from dawn till dusk if he must to find some water for the pride.
He could be seen as a brute, by size, in comparison to those of his family, like his father, but he had strength of mind as well. Mwako'Damu looked to the dunes, the slight ridges the wind created in them, and looked to the sun.
He saw something still, small, gray, protruding from the sands, and swept his paw at it. Another small rounded stone, but this smooth to the touch. He was in the middle of a row of dunes and as he blinked he realized water had to have been here, for the sands wouldn't smooth a stone in this manner.
Tucking the small object between his toes he headed for the trio at a slow and non-alarming pace.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:24 pm
The wind was picking up, tossing bits of sand and debris in the air. It made Ea narrow her eyes in disgust. It felt as though the desert itself was rebelling against them. The very nest in which the firekin had sat. Ea didn't like things that couldn't be reasoned with. Or in her case, yelled at. Yelled at loudly. No amount of pleading would make water spawn just out of sympathy, or from sense of connection between the two.
The lioness reached the meeting spot, which consisted of several large pillars of stone in the sand. It was an ideal spot because it could be neatly seen for a good few miles all around. It had also once been one of the largest supplies of water, before it had all dried. Standing around it now felt a bit like standing around a skeleton. Judging by the faces of those gathered, it might as well have been.
"Ah, look over there." Veru intoned. Ea'Pavlov was coming up over the ridge, with a face about as sour as the rest of them. "He certainly looks... cheery."
Ea growled, and scaled up the rock. With a sharp voice, she started to call out to those coming. "Hurry up!" the wild cat snapped. "There's got to be some news. Or are you all not looking hard enough?"
"Perhaps you're just going to have to realize there's none to be found," came the inky voice of Armada. Ea jerked her head around to see the red cat resting up on one of the higher rocks. The eerie-eyed lioness loomed forward. But for what it was worth, she looked as tired and bedraggled as the rest of them.
Ea turned her head, focusing instead on Mwako'Damu approaching. Someone had news.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:12 pm
Kasi'wakia was not a water-seeker. At all. She had never desired to be. All she had wanted to be growing up was a soldier, which was what she was now, but the drought had been a shock to her system. She had never taken that much interest in the pridal happenings as a youth, too busy caught up in her own world and plans, but now...well, this drought affected everyone, not just the water-seekers.
She moved slowly across the desert, mindful not to intrude on the actual water-seekers, and keeping her eyes strained for signs of water. She was not optimistic though, but she had to try. She had such a large family within the dessert and it made her ache to think of them going without water.
In the distance, she could see Ea, her brother, walking with the others – who looked like they had every day since the seeking had begun, disappointed – and she winced. She brushed her paws along the sand, a small dry plant crumbling beneath her touch.
A sign of what was to come? No. She tensed her shoulders. They were stronger than that. They wouldn't crumble waiting for the water to come, they would find it.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:27 pm
She was missing. Her mother was missing. No matter where she looked, her white mother was gone. She hadn't returned last night like she said she was going too. She didn't tell them she was going to be out late. She was afraid now. She had been out searching by herself for hours now, getting no where fast. In fact she was pretty sure she hadn't even found a lead. All she knew was that; her mother was not here.
So now, with sand clogging her nose and ears; she hurried quickly back towards the pride, her steps so quick that she stumbled often. Her blue eyes were half lidded in the sun light, perhaps in an attempt to keep them from drying out.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:38 pm
Mwako'Damu watched the forms as they gathered, and as he loped along, his structure kept him at an even pace, his paws digging into the sand just enough to give him traction and just a little so that he wouldn't put too much pressure on his legs in the heat.
As he saw the others at a closer distance he began to slow, and he immediately recognized Vlam, the one who appeared much like another called Kaanga (from what his mother taught him when young, looking at the historian slates of the pride) and the eyes of he assumed Ea, as he heard they were together much recently.
Fia, Ea's sister, was his mother's darling apprentice, now full historian, and Mwako'Damu had much respect for the family.
As he came closer he acknowledged the dark pelted male, as well as the light pelt male who seemed, how to say it, a bit strange?
Silver eyes focused on the strange almost pure white male as he breathed out harshly.
He was not a water-seeker, that he new, perhaps, by rank, a mere hunter, but he felt with his mother growing older, his siblings leaving, he wanted to offer more.
"I hope I'm not intruding," he spoke finally.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:55 pm
The sand stung to the lions not used to the desert. Which Kosuke at least was. The hulking red lion pushed his way through the blowing sand, eyes shut against it. He was a tracker, not a water seeker, so why was he out here? Oh yes... He didn't want to leave the desert. He refused. His bloodline ran strong here, back many generations, and he would not uproot a branch of the tree. If he could just find water... Maybe Shula would give up on the idea of leaving the desert.
He let out a huff, taking shelter behind a pillar. "If the lack of water doesn't dry us all up... The sand may bury us instead." He looked around, frowning. "Anybody know a way to combine skins and make a wall between some of these?" It'd at least make some relief against the blowing grains of sand. Gold eyes soon shifted to the center, where water once was. "How deep's the deepest anybody gone digging yet...?"At the base of the rock his mother sat on, Tulipalo sat up, his hackles raising. The yelling lady was back... The juvenile couldn't understand just what his father saw in her, but he apparently saw SOMETHING. Of course, things weren't helped by the rather rude sick lion... He let out a huff, glaring at the lion and wishing for him to stop talking. Feeling a brash moment, he rose to his paws, prepared to go at the adult... But the arrival of others, including his uncle and a couple cousins, stopped him.Right behind Kosuke, Rowtag struggled to keep up. He'd become a bit too rambunctious for his parents, and his half-sisters sure didn't want to watch after him. So he'd been sent out with his brother-in-law to learn some things. And he was having a great time, at least. He now wanted to be a tracker like Kosuke, to learn the whole desert. Who knew, maybe he'd find something worthwhile. Except water. He'd found a serious lack of water. The black-faced juvenile hid under his older half-brother, finding Vlam a much better shelter than Kosuke. Peeking out, large cherry-red eyes looked up at Ea. "Should I throw a rock at the red lady for you?" He'd at least found a nice one. It was tied up at his side in a pouch made of the skin of an old dinner.
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:46 pm
Canicus moved at an unbearably slow pace, tongue lolling from his mouth as he panted heavily, never a good sign. His gaze flickered over many of the gathering lions, tail flicking. Things were not good lately. Some might say they were terrible, others might say there was no hope left. Canicus was not sure exactly what he thought, or how he could help. He searched for water like a lot of the pride had taken up doing, but there was no water to be found. That was how it seemed lately, anyhow. Some nights it still surprised him, the whole desert seemingly dried up.
He made no comment as he joined the others, though his gaze landed on Kasi'wakia, and he headed toward her. He was not social in the pride, though many faces were recognizable. He sat beside the lioness, sighing deeply though very glad for the rest. He said nothing, choosing to remain silent instead. In times like these, when water was so scarce and energy so important... why waste it on saying things that were not thought out? He did not to her in respect though.
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:53 am
Under the guidance of Water-Seeker, Vesta, the wild-eyed daughter of Kidondo and No had proved herself a lioness of many skills. In fact, between them, the pair had covered a substantial amount of ground; weaving and interconnecting their paths so as to leave no stone unturned. Unfortunately, even that thorough search had been a futile attempt.
The lands were well and truly dry.
“It’s not your fault, Fia.” Vesta ventured carefully.
The pair were rather different. Vesta was small and quiet and liked to keep her head down and work hard. She was easy to startle but incredibly difficult to anger. Fia, on the other hand, was a fiery and somewhat unpredictable. One moment she’d be calm and easy going and the next she’d be erupting with fiery rage. This, partnered with her stubborn streak made her a lioness to be reckoned with. Fortunately, Vesta’s placid nature had eased the furious fire in Fia’s heart and the two had made an exceptional team.
“What do you think the Regents will decide?” She asked. It wasn’t the first time and no doubt it wouldn’t be the last.
“Honestly, Fia, I don’t know. I think they’ll be open to suggestions, but…” She trailed.
“I know. I know. They’ll do what’s best.” Her eyes closed and for a moment she focused on the pain of her blistered paws. She’d never felt so dusty and tired in all her life. “What would be your suggestion?”
Vesta shook her head. “Honestly? I don’t know. I’ll just continue to search and let others make the decisions.”
“Even if those decisions put you at the bottom of the pecking order?”
“Yes.” Her answer was resolute. “Fighting against it won’t make things any easier.”
Fia growled and Vesta immediately backed away from the topic. “Look, there are some others already there. Perhaps they have better news than we do.” She didn’t actually believe that for a minute, but it seemed to calm her new ‘apprentice’ enough to avoid being clouted for speaking out of terms.
Side by side, the two females moved up to the gathering place, the pillars of rocks painting thin stripes of shade across the sand. There was already quite a crowd there and it heartened both Fia and Vesta to see how many had offered to help. It enforced that point that Fia clung on to with all her might: they were all in this together. They were all equal. A quick glance over the faces confirmed that the ranks of those gathered were a mix of civilian and military.
“Look.” Vesta pointed out. “There’s Ea, oh, and your niece?”
Fia nodded, her eyes darkening. “Armada, too. That rat.”
Vesta flattened her ears and shook her head sadly. “Don’t let her rile you again, Fia.”
The Historian surprisingly agreed and, relaxing her posture, she moved up to the group. “We’ve been scouring the sands to the south. All water sources have completely dried spare one – which will be gone within days, by my estimation.” Her muzzle wrinkled with distaste at remembering the murky pool.
Vesta nodded solemnly.
Fia did not mention the rogue she had met on one of her first trips out. He’d told her that the outside lands had been a little drier than usual, but water was still possible to find. She wasn’t sure she liked putting that idea into peoples’ heads just yet.
--
A moment later and Naar-ehuka arrived on the scene. Her chest, face and shoulders were covered with sand and she appeared to be walking with some discomfort; specks of blood left behind in her pawprints. She’d spent hours digging away at one of the dry pools only to find nothing more than a bit of damp sand. Sand that dried within moments once exposed to the heat of the day.
Now her forepaws sported some broken claws and a torn pad from catching it against unexpected stones lying hidden in the gold.
At the other grim faces around her, she knew instantly that the news wasn’t good.
She sank gratefully down onto the sand – a stripe of pale shade draping across her back – and cast a bleary-eyed look to all that were gathered. Suddenly she was glad her little golden sister wasn’t here. Glad that she was probably safe somewhere out there where there was water and herds. And, to her shame, she had thought about abandoning the lands herself and going to find her lost siblings out in rogue lands. After all, she didn’t consider herself to be good at anything, even hunting. She wouldn’t be missed and, without her there, someone else could have her share of water.
With a low groan of pain, she tipped a wounded forepaw up and began to tend to it, an ear bent outwards to listen to the conversation around her.
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:42 am
Kasi watched as the crowd gathered, a frown on her face as she felt the hot sand beneath her paws. No one could say that they didn't try as a pride. They were all fighting and Kasi felt a swell of pride at being part of such things. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces - she was sure that her family was around somewhere and she startled herself by even looking for Azar and even Aithne. She surprised herslef when she even spared a glance for Kakek - he might be frustrating but he was still a familiar face - but she could not spot them and soon was distracted by a different familiar figure coming her way.
Canicus. She gave him a nod and the slightest smile, acknowledging him and feeling some sympathy for his tiredness as he sat beside her with a heavy-sounding sigh. Everyone was so tired but they weren't giving up. She sighed herself, her mouth feeling dry and sandy.
She glanced up as the Historian began to address the group, listening intently to the words. She felt some relief that they still had a small water source but if that was gone in the next few days, then what would they do? She felt the slightest bubble of panic but she pushed it down. She'd get nowhere panicking, she thought firmly to herself but her worry showed on her face.
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:09 am
Armada leaned down and scooped up Tulipalo from where he stood bristling. Despite the reprimand, she seemed pleased... or at least amused by the cub's tenacity. But there would be time for bickering later. She was a soldier first, and reports were important. She wasn't about to skirt formality for another row with Fia. As tempting as it was, considering the general was no where to be seen. "Me and some of the soldiers searched the western ridges," the red cat said rather cooly. "There was nothing to be found. Not it any of the caves or wells."
With a nod of her head, she indicated some of the soldiers present. "But, perhaps some of the other regiments faired better."
Ea scowled. But her anger didn't fuel any better news. The doctor simply shook her head at her sister, and let her tail curl over her paws. "Nothing near the northern borders," as she spoke, her eyes studied the crowd. The northern borders had been somewhat of a contemptuous subject ever since the Hongshan lions had joined. Threatening them with tales of boogeymen. As if the situation wasn't worse enough with a dozen more mouths to feed, and they had to go spread rumors that land wasn't safe. "Only a few scavengers, and we chased them off."
Veru decided to stick to the more optimistic sides of the conversation. Which he blatantly invited himself into. "Oh, I'd say we're digging pretty deep. Last time we dug so far we hit the pridelands. They say hello." On that subject, he noticed Naar approaching in the distance. "It seems like some of them are biting back-"
Ea turned her head, and caught sight of the blood on Naar. She growled in agitation. "Naar! What did you do to yourself?" The medic in her kicked in, and before the other female could wriggle away she was assaulting her feet in an inspection. "Do people think this helps? Putting yourself at risk for even worse?"
Armada crossed her paws. "At least she has proof of looking hard enough. Maybe we should follow by example."
Ea growled, and shot a threatening look towards the crowd. "I won't tolerate this!"
Vlam winced at the oncoming argument. But he became distracted by the presence of a white lioness running towards them. The water-seeker leaned forward, and roughly pushed Veru on the shoulder to catch his attention. The other male turned his head, and could only smile at the predicament. "Ah, more bad news coming in it seems!"
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