The King is dead and this much is obvious to both Bahari'mtoto and their closest neighbours. While life has seemingly carried on as normal, it seems that underneath the surface dissent has been brewing. There were those for years who had been placated and their traditions ignored, and now that their views have been 'proven', it seems they have now gained strength.
In his grief the new and rising King has become vulnerable, and they now have his ear.
...How much he listens, and the changes he makes though have remained uncertain until now...
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START DATE: 9th June 2018 (8AM GMT)
END DATE: 9th July 2018 (8AM GMT)
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Disclaimer The following Meta Event and those that will go beyond this one may prove controversial for some members of the pride. Please be advised that the events that occur in these upcoming metas were alluded to before.
In previous events, and when certain opportunities were presented, each individual was warned that there would eventually be consequences. These are the metas events that represent these consequences.
How you choose to respond to these meta events is entirely personal, but I would ask that you respect each pride member regardless of which side they pick and what personal views they decide to adopt as the tale progresses.
Additionally, it's important to remember that the views a character may hold, do not necessarily represent the views that its player may hold. Abuse towards another player simply because you are upset that your character has been insulted or hurt, will not be tolerated.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:05 am
The Story So Far...
Once upon a time, seemingly generations ago, the pride was struck by tragedy. In a rising swell the divine spirits of the ocean roared with fury and cast its judgement upon the land. The waves crashed against the shore, a mighty tsunami that swept away the masses and tore the land asunder, leaving nothing more than a few survivors and a significant number scattered.
It was a night in which the very face of the Bahari'mtoto would be changed forever. While the reasons for this scorn continue to be debated even to this day, few can deny that in their rage the gods cast out all that it had once known, including the Royal Family. It was a period of uncertainty, and it was a moment in which one outsider had conveniently exploited the opportunity.
In the midst of the chaos a young lioness had emerged, claiming that by distinct blood she had a right to the throne. Capable of providing adequate knowledge of her own lineage, she was accepted by the traditionalists as the appropriate successor. Though they knew nothing of her, the importance of respecting the natural way of things was vital...more so now than ever.
For a time, this young lioness seemed to do well, and gradually made changes that were for the 'security' of the pride. For a time, these were accepted and acknowledged as necessary... And then it became abundantly clear that things had gone too far. No sooner had some semblance of order come to the land than this lioness had sought to exact further control, soon cubs were separated from their parents and parents were forbidden from taking more than one at a time out to explore.
Further controls upon the females of the pride existed, certain expectations were placed upon the males, and as the months drew on it was apparent that what the traditionalists had seen as opportunity, had quickly turned in to a curse.
When all looked to be lost, the gods finally deemed it appropriate to intervene and it was then that he arrived. Striding (clumsily) across the sands with firm purpose, the young lioness's father arrived and with him he brought more than just a sore ear. No sooner had he observed the mess that his daughter had created than she was usurped for he was the legitimate heir to the pride by distant relation.
Few know what happened to his daughter on that day, for she exiled herself to the outer most reaches of the pride and kept her peace, but from then on it seemed the tides had turned.
His name, they soon discovered, was 'Ram', and he had lived far beyond their borders for the entirety of his life. His awareness of his connections to this land were rather lackluster to say the least, and it had only been through chance that he had arrived. It was through further circumstance that he had intervened; after all, one couldn't leave somewhere in that state when it had been his blood that had caused it.
It started as a temporary arrangement, a confirmation that he would make amends and help to rebuild the pride into something that the pride itself would be happy with and in doing so, restore it to its former glory. After that? Well, he had been under the impression that he would leave and they would prosper on their own, selecting another means to rule the nation as he departed.
...He didn't plan to fall in love with the land he had been obligated to rebuild.
Thus over the course of his reign the lion had sought to relax many of the over protective measures that had been put in place, affording the Bahari'mtoto many of the freedoms his daughter had taken away. In time, he grew to learn of their ways, traditions and values... And that was when the problems began. While he was a capable lion it was clear that there were certain expectations placed upon the pride and when those were ignored, things were less than pleasant.
The problem he was presented with was not one that had an answer that was immediately forthcoming.
Nevertheless the gods conveniently seemed to favour this being, though he might not have thrown himself into their expectant arms, he was given the lifeline he needed. While some might argue that this was yet another tragedy, the manner in which it was handled offered the answer he so desperately sought... It was a compromise to one of their most controversial issues.
Those lionesses who brought omens to the shore, those who were flighty and overly free with their forms. While the traditionalists demanded they be regarded with scorn and their cubs even more so, Ram was presented with a very different set of possibilities.
As part of a unique peace treaty with the Kizingo'zaa, who had so desperately required new blood of their own to survive, he had struck a deal with their King. It was one made out of necessity on behalf of both and it was exceedingly simple. While the lionesses were pregnant, and when the cubs were born, they would be tended to in a region that was safe from the wrath of the Divine. Should the cubs successfully pass the Rites in the future, then they would be acknowledged as deserving of the sea and be welcomed home with open arms.
Suffice to say that even the Traditionalists dare not disagree with the divine when they cast their favour upon these children, and thus, this compromise was accepted.
...Except it seemed that many became lax in their adherence to this agreement.
The murmurings of the Traditionalists grew, but as the pride prospered, very few individuals listened. Their discontent was noted but otherwise discarded and it seemed that perhaps, on this occasion, the Bahari'mtoto's more liberal beings had taken advantage of the streak of good fortune that had been bestowed upon them. The young fatherless cubs of expectant mothers were soon to thrive on the sands again, and continued to do so with no seeming repercussions...
...But even the luckiest of individuals soon find that their good fortune leaves them.
What started as one misfortune soon turned in to many, and in a final act, the Divine deemed it necessary to remove the King they had chosen to lead the pride. In one fell swoop they tore the King from his throne and cast him back into the depths, he was swallowed up and never to be seen again.
This was the final straw for the traditionalists, the absolute proof that their discontent should have been acknowledged with action and determined to save their pride, they took the necessary steps to do so. They acted swiftly of course, slipping quietly in to the grieving family to provide them with condolences and kind words. At first these condolences were gentle, and then they found the c***k in the armour that they needed to secure their victory.
The King's Heir, overwhelmed with grief, had been seeking answers as to why his father had suffered such a fate. Desperate to find reason, desperate for an answer, desperate for something to blame, they seized upon his grief and provided him with subtle and insidious guidance.
It's all very simple, your highness... If we had respected the traditions of the pride your father would still be here today. He was too benevolent, to understanding of the heedless. He was too welcoming of the illegitimate. In his acts of kindness he turned his back on the divine and he paid the ultimate price on their behalf!
Ah yes, it was all very simple.
...After all, those cubs had always seemed to arrive when fortunes were at their worst, the pride had simply decided to look the other way at first.
And thus the heir agreed that perhaps it was time for a change. Perhaps it was appropriate to return to the old ways and remind those who thought themselves above their pride's traditions... That they held no value at all.
Thus the traditionalists were to triumph as the rising King turned his gaze upon his pride and exacted the changes they demanded...
Baharimtoto Pride
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:14 am
The Factions in the Bahari'mtoto There are a small number of factions in the Bahari'mtoto and this should come as a surprise to no one! There were always going to be individuals who believed in one set of values, and then there were those who would come in and adopt another set. These values do not necessarily compliment each other and thus, the clash. Regardless of where your lion stands in the midst of the chaos, they're likely to fall in to one of the categories below...
The Traditionalists
The Traditionalists are those lions who hold on to the core values of the pride. Though some are less vocal than others, they respect the culture, traditions and faith of the pride. They are the individuals who would firmly expect their children to adhere to the values they were raised upon and exhibit disappointment when it was discovered their offspring had seen fit to disregard everything that their home represents.
Within this faction there are several 'types' of traditionalists. Unsurprisingly, you may find that there are a greater number in one category than another.
The Moderates - The moderates raise their children to have respect for the pride. They adhere to its traditions and are generally noted to treat the sea and their home well. Their families are standard units and their children are often grow up to follow down much the same path. For want of a better word they are 'normal' and would make up the bulk of the pride.
They acknowledge that there are some who would completely disregard the pride's culture, and while they do not approve of it, they exhibit tolerance towards those who cause disrepute. More often than not they have relied upon the King or more senior figures to exact punishment.
The Hardliners - A vocal minority that follow the old traditions to the letter. They are religious and fiercely intolerant, though they have done well to keep their voices down until now. Some of these individuals are particularly good at playing politics and it is this minority that have the King's ear.
They are firm in the belief that those who bring the pride in to disrepute should be cast out. Scorn should be piled upon them and they should be shunned. To those who do not flee, these traditionalists see it as a duty to make it absolutely clear that these individuals are less than even a visitor to the lands.
In the views of this segment of society, you were raised better and therefore you should know better. Choosing to disregard your traditional values is the epitome of disrespect, you weren't forced to, you chose to.
The Liberals
These individuals are generally comprised of rogues who have joined the pride and haven't been able to fully assimilate. They may find it difficult to embrace the stricter aspects of Bahari'mtoto lifestyle. More often than not they dispute these traditions (at the cost of disrespecting the pride) and can't understand why an individual can't do what they want, when they want, or however they want.
To them, certain activities are not an issue and should be for anyone else. These individuals are known to behave in a manner that implies the rules are there more as a 'guideline' than as a strict set of instructions.
Some Traditionalists may find that these individuals shouldn't be here (Hardliners for the most part), as these Liberal lions have no intention of fully integrating into their society. For other traditionalists, these individuals simply need more time to adjust and eventually they will come to understand the importance of these traditions and this way of life.
The Maji
The senior figures in the Bahari'mtoto are made up predominantly of Traditionalists. Whether they are Hardline, moderate or otherwise is open for debate. As these individuals have had to meet certain requirements and must be seen to respect the pride's values, you are unlikely to find a Liberal individual in here.
It is assumed that the vast majority, if not all of these lions, are Moderate Traditionalists as up until this point there are very few who have expressed extreme views in public.
The Royals
Is a mess, though comprised of predominantly Moderate Traditionalists.On this occasion they really were raised a certain way, and they really are expected to know better.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:19 am
The Consequences of the Meta...
There may be some concerns about what this means for your Bahari'mtoto lion following this meta, so there are some pieces of information that have been compiled for you in order to add some clarity.
Please note that some of what happens will be temporary, while some other things will be permanent. Any changes that are permanent will appear in the Pridal rules, though must of the permanent changes already exist and are in the rules, they're simply being reinforced so don't worry too much!
My lioness was one of those who had a rogue litter, what does this mean for her? Over the course of this particular meta the traditionalists will make it clear that she is one of the individuals who caused their King to die. This does not necessarily mean that all Traditionalists will treat these lionesses poorly, but they will experience an increase in hostility.
What about my lioness's cubs, will they be okay? Yes, at this time Shui still holds one lesson to heart when it comes to his father. The cubs didn't ask to be born and therefore this isn't their fault, the mother however is fair game.
We weren't warned this would happen. This is, unfortunately, one of the pride's core values and it's existed for as long as the Bahari'mtoto has been around. The pride has simply been much more accepting under Ram's reign.
I would prefer that my lion/lioness chose to leave, I'm not comfortable with this. This is okay, if you would like to leave then you can certainly do so. This metaplot may not be for everyone but these traditions have been around for a long time. Some individuals may find that with the resurgence of this particular set of traditions, the pride is no longer a fit for them.
So, if I want my lioness to rogue breed, does this mean she has to leave? No, she will need to follow the agreement set up by Ram many years ago with the Kizingo'zaa though. If your lioness or the cubs feel happier within the Kizingo'zaa in the future then that's okay, that was the whole point of this alliance being formed! The decision is up to you, but Shui will ICly demand that the mothers and their children remain in the Kizingo'zaa until they have taken their Rites.
Keep in mind that those who Rogue Breed are not allowed to attain higher ranks such as the Maji as they do not represent the core values of the pride.
Will you close rogue breedings? I'll continue to open these periodically, normally close to M&Ms for those who want to pursue these types of plot. Just keep an eye on the breeding thread for when these are open so that you can apply!
So, if my lioness had a rogue breeding and then she married that Rogue, what does that mean to a traditionalist? Interesting question and it would depend entirely on which traditionalist you asked! From Shui's point of view, if they were married while the cubs were young, this should be reasonable grounds to acknowledge the family unit is stable. However, this doesn't mean that some might not feel that it's too little, too late. It's entirely up to the characters and those they meet to determine it.
I'm a rogue lioness who brought her cubs in from the outside, what does that mean? To the Traditionalists, your lioness succumbed to temptation before she decided to adopt the ways of the Bahari, as such her children are not an affront to the gods as these were sired away from the sands. For the most part these lionesses would be safe from scrutiny so long as their children took their rites, but there's always one individual who might disagree.
If my lion decides to take the cubs in as his own, does this cancel out what the lioness did? No. They aren't his cubs, they are from another sire. While it's noble for the lion to take them in as his own, the fact still remains that their true father did not. The lioness made the active decision to have them with this Sire and must live with those consequences.
I don't like what people are saying about my lion/lioness, I want them to stop. Please see the disclaimer for this one. If you would like to withdraw from the meta and gain some distance for a time this is perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately the hostility is there and needs to be encouraged as part of one of the traditionalist mindsets. Try to remember that what a person's character says, isn't a direct attack on you and things tend to work out in the end.
Baharimtoto Pride
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:21 am
The Goods So, as you can see, there's no meta without a prize on this occasion and I've got two lovely ones to give away. Both of these will be up for grabs in the Meta event itself. For details on how to win, please see below!
The Little Lioness
This lovely cub is part of a rogue litter, her mother Tarni was one of those lionesses who succumbed to temptation. She comes from a traditionalist family and as a result, her decision wasn't without consequence. Fortunately her family are all moderates and they will look after both Tarni and her children. As an added bonus, the young lioness is the niece of Solomon who has spent much of his life cleaning up after his half brother... as a consequence, the cubs will be afforded his protection as well.
In order to win her, you will simply need to participate in the meta. You should be used to this by now, she's a participation raffle!
How to Enter:
Each post in the meta will count as one ticket. Each completed RP during this part of the meta counts as a ticket. Please ensure these RPs are logged in the subforum. You will need to PM these completed RPs to the Pride Mule (this is to avoid spamming the thread) This raffle will close when the meta ends, and the winner will then be rolled.
Limitations:
The cub must remain in the Bahari'mtoto. She will be raised along traditional values, the vast majority of her family will not accept any other values. If you were gifted a cub, or you won this little cub's brother in the Rite's meta, you can't win her. You can donate your tickets to someone else though.
The Koi Male
This lion is a Traditionalist, but there's some debate as to just how hardline he is. He's from an old family within the Bahari'mtoto and as a consequence, he's survived some of their worst tragedies. Up until this point he has been quiet in regards to his own thoughts, and simply gotten on with his life... That was until now.
For some reason, the changing tides have caused him to stir and he now has his gazed turned towards his pride with renewed interest.
...The thing is, no one seems to know why.
How to Win
In order to win this particular lion you will need to fill out the form below. PM that form to the Pride Mule. You will have the opportunity to change your entry right up until the closing date as none of the entries will be read until after the event is over. Please name the PM "Koi Entry - USERNAME HERE"
Limitations:
He must remain in the Bahari'mtoto He can be any non-RP required rank, this includes the old and now discontinued Mshauri rank.
[b]Username:[/b] [b]SoA Name:[/b] [b]Type of Traditionalist:[/b] Moderate/Hardline/Bit of both? [b]Why?[/b] What's his motivation for being who and what he is?
[b]Personality:[/b] BRIEF please.
[b]What has drawn his attention?[/b] Something must have spurred him to open his eyes and take a step forward into the growing minefield of societal politics. I want to know why. What drew his attention and what, if any, action will he take...
Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:22 am
Entrant Lists - The Little Lioness AstoriaFallen KasaiLoki Midnightglow18 MangoMeow Das Tor Redbud-Tree Midnightglow18 MangoMeow AstoriaFallen MangoMeow Das Tor Redbud-Tree Midnightglow18 Peppermint Coffee Midnightglow18 AstoriaFallen Midnightglow18 AstoriaFallen Andranis Peppermint Coffee Andranis Midnightglow18 MangoMeow Das Tor Alpaca Chobi
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Entrant Lists - The Koi Male Please note that The Koi Male's entrant list won't be published until after the meta is over, this will provide people with the opportunity to read the entries! If you don't want your entry to be posted, just let me know and I'll keep it out for you.
Entry #1
SoA Name: Kumonryu [which is a type of koi fish that changes it’s pattern throughout its life] Type of Traditionalist: Hardline Why? A mishap with rogues when he was younger. Bullied by a visiting group and subsequently ignored by his parents, Kumonryu grew up a timid cub. With his family more interested in one of his older sisters possibly walking away with a mate from this rogue group, his pleas for help were pushed to the side.
It wasn’t until after she had had cubs that the rogue male showed his true colors. Ryu discovered him one night trying to spirit the cubs away. As it turns out, the guy already had a mate who was having problems becoming pregnant. In desperation, they decided to trick this young, hopeful girl into having their cubs for them.
Though Ryu tried to put up a fight, he was still too small to take on a fully grown male. The rogue disappeared with the cubs, and to make matters even worse, a few of the little ones wound up dead in the ensuing struggle. With no one to counter his argument, Ryu decided to pin all of the blame on the rogue. After all, this was already someone who’d betrayed the Bahari’s trust, who’s to say he wouldn’t kill the cubs he couldn’t carry with him?
As far as he knows, the pride, his family especially, eventually tracked down and killed that male, but that information did little to comfort him. The event would stick with Kumonryu for the rest of his life, a lesson to never trust others.
Personality: As slippery and cunning as the fish he’s based on. Kumonryu comes off as very charismatic and kind, the person you’d go to for help. However, this is a ruse. The truth behind that mask is that he’s scornful and hateful, with a distaste for anyone who goes against the grain. Rogues, especially, are on his list of creatures that cannot be trusted.
What has drawn his attention? Heartless as it is, he views Ram’s death as something necessary in the grand scheme of things. Change is best made with new leadership, after all. Now that the Traditionalists are taking a more forward approach to things, Ryu is interested in really dipping his paws into matters, molding the Bahari into what he views is the best way of life. And hey, if it moves him up in the world, isn’t that all the better?
Entry #2
SoA Name: Umiko "Child of the sea" Type of Traditionalist: I would say Moderate-Hard Why? Given his long standing family line within the pride he is a firm believer in the rules set forth, not only that but he is an ambassador and puts forth his prides beliefs towards others so they know what they are getting with them. So having hard core beliefs for his pride seems sort of like a no brainer to him. Personality: Reserved, observant and quick to react makes him a prime choice for his particular calling, it also serves him well in high stress situations and keeps him as a biased position as he tries his best to steer clear of things and stay out of it unless it's absolutely necessary he steps in. He will also call things as he sees them, though tries to have some tact about it.
What has drawn his attention? Being a Mshauri for the pride had taken him from his home many times, on many occasions, however with the death of their king he had quickly returned home to hear of the many things floating around within the pride. Mostly talk of females that had broken their rules and had cubs outside of marriage.
While he was knowledgeable on other prides and their acceptance for such actions this was no such place. They had set rules, set guidelines and no one is above the rules. It is all this disarray within the pride that has made him come forth from the shadows to speak his mind and give a voice to the deep recesses of his being that he's kept dormant for so long.
These naysayers should be cast from their lands until further judgement has been passed about their moral character. While he believes the children are not to blame, they do need to pass the rights and be accepted by the sea in order to find themselves a place among their pride. Infatuation was NOT love and if they had wished to have offspring then they should have married or just left the pride as a whole. What's done is down however and he's hoping that with the new king in place, things will be upheld a little better.
Baharimtoto Pride
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:27 am
Disclaimer The following Meta Event and those that will go beyond this one may prove controversial for some members of the pride. Please be advised that the events that occur in these upcoming metas were alluded to before.
In previous events, and when certain opportunities were presented, each individual was warned that there would eventually be consequences. These are the metas events that represent these consequences.
How you choose to respond to these meta events is entirely personal, but I would ask that you respect each pride member regardless of which side they pick and what personal views they decide to adopt as the tale progresses.
Additionally, it's important to remember that the views a character may hold, do not necessarily represent the views that its player may hold. Abuse towards another player simply because you are upset that your character has been insulted or hurt, will not be tolerated.
