It’s high time we have an open discussion thread here in the Kizi for our members to present ideas, look for pride-specific plots, and participate in pridal decisions and affairs. This is an open forum for pride members to exchange ideas and opinions. All we ask is that everyone remains respectful and stays on-topic.
► Please be respectful! You may not like someone within the pride or the ideas here but please conduct yourself in a civil manner.
► Don’t be afraid to speak up about something! We want this pride to be a fun, enjoyable place to rp and be a part of. If there’s something you’d like to address, don’t be afraid to do so.
► Please stay on-topic. This is an out-of-character discussion area for pride matters. Personal life and outside matters are to be discussed in the SoA main thread, not here.
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 1:27 pm
So, with the obvious factor of "New pridal ownership" comes the inherent thought of "What's changing?" BEFORE I change anything, and I'm going to be frank it won't be SUDDEN, I want everybody to sound off on what THEY want to see happen with the pride's future.
I've already poked at 4 people on AIM about it, and at least two said "Insanity back pls" - But this presents a challenge because this may negatively impact the inter-pridal relationshp with the Bahari'mtoto. I also want more opinions on it!
I like the idea of bringing back the insanity. Also, if you want to maybe come up with some sort of inter-pridal something between the K'Z and the SB, I'm down for that.
Bringing back the insanity, yes! I could offer up the goddess of Beginnings to bless the new ruler's reign or something? :'D??
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 2:36 pm
I wasn't here for the original insanity so I'm not 100% sure how it worked, but I like that the lions can decide if they want to be insane or not. Maybe changing the way the dreamer's cave currently works/removing the stigma of the second class citizens but still having the option of opting out? Perhaps rather than visiting every day they need only visit once, but once you do you're 'blessed' or 'cursed' for good so it's an important decision, perhaps a coming of age thing.
Working on that stigma IS on the docket, but I'm not sure I can change the way the cave works(Unless I somehow breed Xavier again and he pops out a Blessings cub and I pay the fee to keep it). I have a potential solution, though! I'm just being secretive on that one ninja
There's also the matter of the effect increasing insanity will have on the relations with the Bahari.
(Also, Fey, Kizaa/Stormborn interactions - Yes!)
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 8:42 pm
Going to add to the insanity vote here. At least something about the stigma would be nice.
Excited Apathy
Obsessive Hoarder
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magnadearel
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:17 pm
While I didn't have a lion during the insanity, I read about it. But what is this stigma? Sorry I don't have time tonight to really read through stuff. XD Darn work.
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:54 pm
magnadearel
While I didn't have a lion during the insanity, I read about it. But what is this stigma? Sorry I don't have time tonight to really read through stuff. XD Darn work.
Basically those who use the cave for insanity are treated as second-class pride members.
Working on that stigma IS on the docket, but I'm not sure I can change the way the cave works(Unless I somehow breed Xavier again and he pops out a Blessings cub and I pay the fee to keep it). I have a potential solution, though! I'm just being secretive on that one ninja
There's also the matter of the effect increasing insanity will have on the relations with the Bahari.
(Also, Fey, Kizaa/Stormborn interactions - Yes!)
I have a god of impermanence. If he stays in one place for too long, things around him start changing. Maybe that can be semi-useful as far as how the cave works?
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:45 am
Princess_Feylin
Andranis
Working on that stigma IS on the docket, but I'm not sure I can change the way the cave works(Unless I somehow breed Xavier again and he pops out a Blessings cub and I pay the fee to keep it). I have a potential solution, though! I'm just being secretive on that one ninja
There's also the matter of the effect increasing insanity will have on the relations with the Bahari.
(Also, Fey, Kizaa/Stormborn interactions - Yes!)
I have a god of impermanence. If he stays in one place for too long, things around him start changing. Maybe that can be semi-useful as far as how the cave works?
Ah, that would work ~
Kizingo'zaa, a pride where gods come and go more freely than they did in the Tuait'tekhem xd
I mean, he wouldn't stay forever (forever is against his nature), but if he hung around long enough, there's a good chance the cave's function might be one of the things that changes. (Of course, it would gradually change back once he departed, but it could work for a time.)
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:05 pm
Ahaha, I have had this PM open for 10 days shy of a month... So Felyn passed this old info to me!
Quote:
I found the first draft of the revised Kizaa info back when I rewrote it for Daffu - I think I did another update on the information after this, but I put it directly into gaia instead of saving a copy so that probably means it was deleted if it got changed. I am PRETTY SURE it was just adding additional ranks (I know the watchers are missing from the list I have here - they just watch things, like passive guards - and I'm thinking there was another I am forgetting that was added). I dunno what Thalion changed/moved/deleted so I dunno if any of this will help you, but here you go!
===============
"If you live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile."
Stories tell of a Haven where lamb lays with lion. Where the lack of rules is the only rule. Where Insanity runs amok and refuge can be found from the rest of the world. Songs, dance, tricks and chaos are daily occurrences and while everything might seem a bit off, one thing is certain, boredom is not a possibility.
1. Title / Introduction 2. History 3. Beliefs 4. Rituals 5. Ranks 6. Territory 7. Members 8. Cert info 9-15. -
Story
Ages ago, before there were Story Keepers or Story Seekers, there was a pride whose nature was nothing like Kizingo’Zaa. It was a pride of warriors, proud and fierce, ruled by a strong and just king. However, as often happens in prides where ambitions run wild, there were many others who wanted the king’s throne. These others sought to remove the royal family from a throne they had held power over for many generations, and they chose to do so by sowing lies into the once-loyal pride.
It was not a hard task, upsetting the foundation the King had built his throne upon, because the times they lived in were some of the hardest they had ever faced. The pride’s population was booming, but their food supply was dwindling both from poor conditions and other prides moving in on their territory. Soon, the rumors began to spread, the lies took root, and the whole pride was in an uproar. Their once beloved king was suddenly accused of greed, selfishness, and heartlessness.
There was one lioness, however, that decided to take matters into her own figurative hands. She was a young, beautiful female who had given her heart to the king, and under different circumstances she would have been a fine queen. She was ambitious, like many in the pride, but she was not corrupt, and she knew the lies for what they were. On a day when many young cubs and elders were complaining about the lack of food in their bellies, she rallied a team of able lionesses for a hunting expedition. With the blessing of the King, they left, heading out to the farthest reaches of their pride’s lands – to areas they had visited little in hopes there were supplies left to them.
These parts of the pride lands yielded the scent of a herd, but they would only be found in the depths of a forest. The females set out in hopes that they would be easy to find, but the farther they got into the depths of the forest, the warmer it became. Many of the huntresses became uneasy, especially as the rest of the wildlife around them began to flee, but the head huntress pursued onward. Strange scents began to fill their noses, strange noises, and it grew ever warmer. The last of the females loyal to the head huntress turned away, but not before pleading with her to return. She refused, and the other huntresses left her – they barely escaped the forest fire with their lives.
The hunting party returned sullen, injured, and without a single scrap of food to show for their efforts. After the story began to spread, those few that sought to remove the King from his throne saw this as a perfect opportunity. They began to toss around ideas of how the King had sent his beloved to her death, how he was sexist, and it was only a matter of time before the females of the pride turned on him.
Even a King is no match for a crowd of angry females, and he was slaughtered. However, what the traitorous lions hadn’t counted on was the females seizing power. They moved the group onward, naming all males bastards for allowing the King to continue his reign, and began a nomadic life.
For months, perhaps years, the pride travelled looking for their new homeland – and everything about their previous life changed. However, there were a few among this group that never quite got used to what was happening, nor did they ever find much comfort in what had happened to their old King. Perhaps they were simply too loyal to the King, perhaps they weren’t ones to adjust to change, but for whatever reason, they broke away from the larger group and instead began to travel on their own.
This smaller group was happy for a time, living together like a family instead of a harsh militaristic pride with cruel leaders. They ate together, sang songs of happier times, and sat around telling stories to keep their spirits up. However, even they knew that they could not stay nomadic forever – they too needed a play they could finally call home. Of all of these, perhaps the most discontent was a younger male that had been born into the original nomadic group. He had once been a young, happy cub, until his twin sister had died some time in their adolescence. It was a harsh life they led, and not all lions were suited to it. After she passed, he was never quite the same.
Each member took turns going out to hunt for food, and one fateful day, when it was his turn to perform such a mundane task for his pride, he met someone that would change his life and the lives of his pride forever.
Perhaps it was the scent of a fresh kill that had originally attracted the female, but it was something else entirely that made her stay. At first, the young male thought she was a cub – a strange, little blue winged cub. Then, of course, he thought it was a hallucination – until she began to speak. She spoke of many things, of lands where his pride could live in peace, even told him where to go. She spoke of the sorrow in his life and how she would fix it. He listened, enrapt with her, this strange little goddess, even as she told him that fixing him meant breaking him a little more.
He passed a long time in her presence, and as he left, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders and instead replaced with something else that was almost light and airy. He believed her when she said he would carry a piece of her with him always, and that she would do the same for his pride. He departed with an uplifted mood and a smile on his face, his head filled with the words the goddess had spoken.
When he came back to his pride members, he told them of everything that had passed, and they set out to find their new home – the lands the goddess had spoken of. Eventually, they found them and became the Kizingo’Zaa.
Information
General
Kizingo'zaa is generally considered a haven, out of lack for a better word. Any creature may join and/or seek refuge within the territory (So long the 'leaders' are notified - The Song/Story keeper), no matter the species, age or alignment of said creature.
This means that a huge variety of fauna can be found within the land, of all shapes, sizes and personalities. Some may be good, some may be evil and some may be neutral or happy to switch 'sides' from time to time. Regardless of this, ALL creatures are expected to follow one single, simple rule whilst within the land:
"One must not harm another creature physically within the Haven."
The only exception to the rule is that one is allowed to defend himself if threatened. Members of the pride hunt outside the 'territory' to be able to follow the simple rule, and outsiders within the territory are expected to do the same.
The pride is formed mostly by 'Gypsies', favoring dance, song, story telling and fortune telling, though one can find many different lions within the territory, ranging from thieves, to pirates, to... just about anyone. The Kizaa are known for not turning down anyone wishing to stay or merely passing by to rest - so long they can abide their one simple rule.
Insanity
It is important to note that ALL members of the pride are actually insane, to some degree. Any visitor that stays within the lands for x amount of time will also be affected by this 'insanity'. This is due to the fact Muhali, the Goddess of Insanity lives within the lands, and is in fact, the patron goddess of the pride (Though she rarely shows herself to the members, she's there most of the time). Her presence is what makes the members 'insane'.
It affects different members in different ways and on different levels, but no one goes entirely unaffected by it.
The 'insanity' dissipates if a member leaves the territory for a long time (Aka, hunting trips RARELY cause the insanity to dissipate), but it will return gradually if he/she spends time within the territory. This 'insanity' is also the reason the members can hear the muses that can not naturally talk, like flowers, the wind or the ocean (They merely hear voices in their heads!).
Rules and Code of Conduct
As mentioned before, there are very few rules within the Kizaa lands. While the Song Keeper and Story Keeper are looked to as 'leaders' for their wisdom, they don't hold actual 'power' over the members of the pride and are thus, not allowed to 'rule' them, per say.
Members are expected to live their lives following the Golden Rule of not harming others physically - that aside, the possibilities of what they can do are pretty much endless. Some members are tricksters by nature and can be often time found pranking or tricking others (even those of neighboring prides - though if the situation gets foul, these members are expected to hold their own and face the consequences!). Other members like being left alone, being anti-social or simply of a darker nature, while others are horribly social and enjoy the pridal festivals, with singing and dancing.
Needless to say, the grip Insanity has on the land... allows members 'moral compasses' to be slightly 'off'. They don't hold 'Honor' in as high regards as others (which is one of the reasons they allow anyone within their land so long they can follow the one rule they have), nor are they particularly brave. Their members range from pirates, to thieves, to gypsies, to con-artists, to more normal-like lions, after all.
Violence
The Kizaa members are mostly passive in nature (even if they can be tricky, or somewhat strange, or even morally 'off'). At least within the pridal territory, anyhow.
Even outside of it, many members will often-time run away from a fight shamelessly, or use under-handed methods to get away from a threat than face it heads on ((ie: you're likely to find one of these lions kicking dirt into an opponent's eyes and running away)).
Muses
Muses make up the beginning, middle and part of the end of the Kizingo'zaa's lifestyle and belief system. What is a muse, you ask? A muse is anything - literally, anything. A rock, the sand, the sun, a cloud, that hyena chasing your brother, any of these can be muses! In fact, all of them and everything are muses, except for lions - its because of this that non lions can not hold 'ranks' within the pride, aside that of 'Muse'.
At birth, no cub is ever given a name by their parents. Instead, each one is referred to by a nickname usually referring to physical description, birth order, or demeanor. During cubhood, the new pride member is expected to take a look about the world around them and listen to the voices of the muses that live in everywhere. Eventually, one muse will claim the cub as its own, and tell the cub its new name. The cub will announce its name to its pride members, along with the muse that it belongs to. From that point on, the cub will spend its life learning as much as it can from its muse.
The Kizingo'zaa believe that all muses are perfect, for what they are. Lions are muses that are imperfect -muses that have, for whatever reason, become corrupted and must take a new form in order to shed their corruption. However, their fellow muses do want them back, and will try to help them to find their way by providing teachers from whatever Muse the lion's soul was originally from. ((Example: A cub is chosen by the Ocean, therefore her soul must be a part of the Ocean))
Color
Kizingo'zaa lions are not color-biased at all, and welcome anyone within their lands. However, they do seem to think that blue eyed lions are 'blessed' by the Mother (Muhali - whom they do not know by name or Domain, merely by the name 'Mother'), for she too, has blue eyes.
Non-lions and Hybrids
Kizingo'zaa lions are also not species-biased, and while only lions can ever be 'full members' of the pride with social ranks, all other species are welcomed into their land, and can hold the rank of 'Muse'.
The breeding between a lion and 'Muse' is not looked down upon (at the same time it's not encouraged) and will always produce what the Kizaa think of as 'Halfling'. Halflings are considered to be 'full members' of the pride and can have normal titles, as they are half lion, and thus, can never be a Muse.
Rituals
Kiza rituals are separated into two categories - ceremonies and celebrations. Ceremonies are typically smaller than celebrations and revolve around a major event in the life of a pride member. Festivals are much larger and are typically celebrations that the entire pride partakes in.
Ceremonies Initiation Ceremony - Initiation ceremonies are official initiations into Kiza society, celebrated by members of various ages depending upon when their muse officially 'names' them. These are most often done when a member is a juvenile or adolescent (they can, however, be done earlier or later) and it's not uncommon for cubs from a litter to hold their Initiations at the same time. They involve the individual officially pronouncing their muse and officially changing their name, so they can not have a ceremony until they have acquired both. These don't always include all members of the pride, unless the individual is of a high social standing, but either the Story or Song Keeper are usually in attendance to make it official (in some cases, it may simply be an heir to either position if the chosen heirs are old enough). If an individual never has an Initiation, they are never considered an adult within society and consequently may not breed. (OOCly, you do not have to officially RP this ceremony, but if you don't change their name they aren't going to be breeding inside the pride.)
For the celebration of the Initiation itself, the individual is dressed up in crowns and necklaces of shells and various flora. At the beginning of the ceremony, marked by the sunset, they will make an official statement of their new name and the muse that has claimed them. Then, the festivities will begin with a small feast, dancing, story telling, and singing that usually lasts through the night until the dawn of the next day which is seen as the official beginning of the individual's new life.
Death Ceremony - Opposite of the Initiation Ceremony is the Death Ceremony, which marks the end of a member's life. When a member is dying, they retreat to a great cave that is secluded from the rest of the pride. There are members called Ushers whose sole purpose is to watch over these dying members in their last days and are the only members aside from the dying that are permitted to enter the Death Cave. Ushers are also responsible for moving the bodies of those that died before they could reach the cave to it so that they can be in their proper resting place. Once a pride member has passed, an Usher will take a piece of their muse (or in the case of a muse that can not be touched, something that represents it) and press it to the heart of the deceased member so that their soul may join their muse. Then, once they are confident the soul of the member has moved on, the Ushers will leave the cave and begin a procession down to the shoreline. Along the way, any member they pass is expected to fall in line behind the Ushers that lead the way, but all must go in silence so that they do not distract the soul of the spirit from their muse. Once the Usher reaches the shoreline, he or she will toss the piece of that muse into the ocean so that it may return to the world beyond with the soul of the deceased pride member.
Following this, family of the deceased will often hold a small feast and celebration of the member's life, for dying is not meant to be a sad time. Rather, the deceased have returned to their muse and it is a time of celebration.
Festivals Festival of Souls (March) - The Festival of Souls occurs on or near the Autumn Solstice. As it's name suggests, it is a celebration of souls, and more importantly a day to remember those that have died. It is somewhat minor in comparison to the summer or winter festivals, but is still an important part of their lives.
During the day, members of the pride scavenge to find the best representations of their own muses. At the beginning of sunset, they all gather at a specified point on shore with their sacrifices in hand (figuratively). At a cue from the Song Keeper, they begin to walk down the shore line, singing a song led by the Song Keeper. Many of them may dance, though some may simply walk. This continues until the sun sets beyond the horizon and the night has fully descended, at which point they cease their songs and dancing. The Story Keeper will step forward and toss his/her muse's sacrifice into the ocean, at which point the rest of the pride will follow suit. At the end of this long procession, they will feast. There have been many stories where pride members claim to have seen family members that have passed on, singing and dancing with the rest of the pride, ghostly spirits returned for one night to be with those they left behind.
The Longest Night (June) - The Longest Night is also known as the Winter Solstice. It is a celebration of the dry Winter passing and the plentiful months that will soon be coming. The most important part of it is the Shining Queen, who represents the sun.
In the days before the Longest night, the Story Keeper and the Song Keeper will choose a 'Shadowed Hag'. This will often be a young female among the pride that is an exceptional story teller. She is chosen in secret, and expected to keep her silence until the night of the celebration. On the day before the celebration, she will be taken away to a secret cave by the Ushers, who will cover her in drapes of seaweed and leaves in an attempt to make her look as scraggly and wretched as possible. When the sun sets, the Shining King will announce the beginning of activities, and the pride will commence dancing and singing well into the night. When it reaches midnight, the Ushers will let the Shadowed Hag out of the cave and send her to the rest of the pride. Along the way, she will do her best to appear old and haggard. When she reaches the pride, the Shining King will approach her and remove all of her 'rags', renewing her and relinquishing his 'rule' to her. For the rest of the night, she will rule the festivities, and is a good omen until the next Shining King is chosen.
Festival of Growth (September) - The Festival of Growth occurs during the spring equinox and is a celebration of the beginning of the rains. The rains during this time are just beginning, the growth back on the savanna is very light, and the herds are only just beginning to return - but it marks the end of the dry winter. On the shore, the Kiza pride is affected less than many others during the Winter months, but they are always pleased when their resources are once again plentiful.
This, like the Festival of Souls, is considered minor in comparison to the Midsummer and Long Night Festivals, but it is one that is greatly enjoyed by the younger members of the pride. Marked by feasts (of what little has returned to the lands), singing, dancing and typical Kiza festivities, it may appear at first to be nothing more than a typical celebration in the pride. However, this is a celebration that is catered more towards the younger generation of the pride. Cubs take part in pride-wide games set up by their elders and adolescents spend much of the festival flirting with potential mates (with parents keeping an eye out for good matches to encourage).
Midsummer Festival (December) - Also known as the summer solstice, the midsummer festival is the celebration of summer, occurring in December. Many of the pride's meals come from hunting parties that venture past the jungle and onto the savanna, and even the further reaches of their jungle depends on the wet season that the summer provides. Thus, Midsummer is a celebration of thankfulness and a recognition that the days of plenty are coming to an end.
The Midsummer Festival is extravagant, spanning over a three day's time. Each day there are feasts, dancing, singing, and story telling like many of the pride's other celebrations but there are, as well, things that make the Midsummer festival uniquely it's own. When the sun sets on the first day of the festival, all interested young adolescent males gather and proclaim they are competing to be the 'Shining King'. The rest of the night and the second day, they will compete with one another by attempting to sing, dance, or tell stories better than their competition. On the dawn of the third day, the Story Keeper and the Song Keeper will announce the Shining King, who will then be the center of the festivities for the rest of the Midsummer Festival. He will be adorned with crowns and necklaces of flowers and bones, representing the abundance of resources in the pride, and will become a temporary king to the pride. However, his 'rule' is seen as something almost comical. He can not change any laws within the pride, but he can make up new, amusing ones that his followers must abide - such as walking backwards the entire day, or hopping wherever they go. When the sun sets on the third day, the festival is over, as is the Shining King's reign over the pride. However, he has an important role to play on the Longest Night Festival, and is often seen as a good omen among pride members until the Shining Queen is chosen.
Ranks
Story Keeper(1) - While the tribe doesn't have a 'king' or 'queen' per say, the Story Keeper is one of the 'ruling' positions that other members look up to, both in times of peace and times of crisis. While it is his duty (Along with the Song Keeper's) to oversee the day-to-day business of the tribe, his most sacred duty is just what his title implies: he keeps track of the stories that have been passed down generations. Every story that has significance in the history of the pride or Original Family is known to him, and he has final say in how a story is remembered/told. The only variations that are allowed to occur officially in the story are the ones that he himself initiates, which will then be passed as the truth to the next Story Keeper. It is an unisex position, and not necessarily hereditary. The Story Keeper will seek out an 'apprentice' per say and teach him/her throughout the years, usually from cubhood. Song Keeper (1) - Generally, but not always, the Story Keeper's mate; it is the second 'ruling' position of the pride. She works in tandem with the Story Keeper in all matters, save the Story Keeping (Likewise, the Story Teller has no say in the Song Keeping). While the two do not have to check with one another for minor decisions, major ones such as membership acceptance must be decided upon jointly (Granted, it is extremely rare for the Kizaa to turn anyone away for any reason). It is an unisex position, and not necessarily hereditary. The Song Keeper will seek out an 'apprentice' per say and teach him/her throughout the years, usually from cubhood.
Consorts (2) - In the case the Song keeper and Story Keeper are not mated, they might have consorts. Royal youth (?) - The title all 'royal' children hold until Adolescence. It is the equivalent of 'prince' or 'princess'. Royal apprentice (2) - The apprentices of the Song/Story keeper, hold this title until the later are ready to retire. They do not have to be related to the Keepers, though they often times are.
Shining King/Shining Queen (1 of each) - This is only a year-long title, held by adolescents to young adults. They are seen as the King and Queen of festivities, although their 'reign' does not extend into pride politics. The Shining Queen rules from winter solstice to summer solstice, while the Shining King rules from the summer solstice to the winter solstice. Although they may not be actively 'ruling' during their 'dormant' months, they are allowed to keep their title until they are replaced by the next lion to take their place, and then they are expected to take another rank.
Head Huntress (1) - Her task is to lead the Hunting parties that feed the pride. Protector (1) - In times of danger, the Protector takes the lead and rallies the members to defend the pride. Wise One (2) - Basically the position the Song/Story keepers take upon retirement. They are held in High esteem and seen as the Wisest lions in the Tribe. The Song/Story keepers often consult with them.
Usher: (?) - These lions are basically the caretakers of the dead and dying. They are the only lions that are allowed within the Twilight Cave minus those that are dying or already dead. Female Ushers typically take on the role of caretakers, watching over the dying as they pass on to the afterlife. Male Ushers are usually responsible for bringing the bodies of the less fortunate, those that could not make the journey, to the Twilight cave after their death. Fortune Teller: (?) - Ranging from Fortune Tellers to Star Gazers, this is the rank those with the 'Sight' usually hold within the pride. Of course... there's always those that believe they hold the Sight when they, in fact, do not, and still hold this rank! (Aka, this means that 'Fake seers' are also allowed to hold this rank - so long they are convincing enough) Healer: (?) - With a wide knowledge of herbs, weeds and roots, amongst other things, these members heal and treat the sick and wounded. Some also hold an extensive knowledge of poisons and can be rather intimidating in their ways, if they set their minds to it!
Story Seeker (?) - These members have been given special leeway to roam as they will, coming and going from the pridal lands. The only stipulation of their position is that they bring back stories and songs from other lands. Hunter/Huntress (?) - This is the title most members hold. They are members that see to the pride's well being and otherwise simply help feed/hunt for the pride without special duties. This does not mean they might not help out, or join in when and where they feel needed! Nanny(?) - Any lion or lioness can be a nanny, and there are usually several adults holding this position at once. They rotate their schedules and charges to that no one person is ever overworked, and generally see to the whereabouts and health of the pride's cubs. They also play the role of 'Teachers'. Youth (?) - The cubs and youth of the pride are given this title till they grow up to adolescence. Muse (?) - Any species that joins the pride that is not a lion, will automatically be given this 'rank'. They can help the Nannies, Hunters, or even be Story Seekers too, but they will still hold this rank. In other words, they're full fledged members of the tribe, but their species means they are referred to as Muses.
Territory/Geography
Along the Eastern Coast of Africa, directly below Bahari'moto. Close to the island of Madagascar.
The area that the Kizingo'zaa call home is small but lush. Their section of the shore is a cove, surrounded on the in-land side by high, but climbable, cliffs. Most of the area inside the cove is thick jungle vegetation, marked by a network of springs and pocket meadows of wild flowers. The beach is naturally white, spreading out a good distance away from the protective cliffs before it meets the water. While there is a fair distance of clear water shallows, the drop off is still rather close to the shore. Because of this, cubs are not allowed to go swimming alone until their adolescent years.
The northern ridge of cliffs ends in a small jetty that shoots out right to the drop off. Its only wide enough for two lions to stand shoulder to shoulder, rocky and wet. Only adults are allowed out there, and even then they usually don't go unless its for a funeral.
Caves and tunnels riddle the cliffs in the northern and southern sides of the cove. These are generally where the Kizingo'zaa go when there's a storm coming, going up the "levels" when there's a flood, though it doesn't seem to happen often. Most of the time, the lions prefer to live out in the open, especially on their beach.
The first part I'm considering on restoring, are some of the ranks - Like swapping Gypsy King/Queen out in favor of going back to Story and Song Keeper. Everybody's thoughts on it?
I'd be all for the insanity/having a muse playing a bigger part again, it was a really fun and interesting element. I like the potential changes to ranks, too!
