Apr 25, 2018 20:21:18 GMT
Post by Nobody on Apr 25, 2018 20:21:18 GMT
A non-local Lion entering the city limits should introduce themselves as soon as feasibly possible to the Rex . (Feasible time varies and is determined by the Rex /Regina). You can then arrange a meeting via various means usually by visiting animal themed businesses or following the lycanthrope can’t seen about cities as graffiti or strange markings etched into surfaces blending in with the usual urban blight. Or if lucky enough to run into another local Lion first, they can provide you the means to contact the leader. The urgency of this meeting and what transpires after is dependent on your current situation as follows.
Newly made local lions – A brand new Lion is in a very dangerous situation. They do not have control of their shifting, and they need to be taught control and the rules and traditions of the Pride. They need to contact the Pride as soon as possible for help and training.
Visiting lions – Lions coming into the area temporarily need to immediately announce themselves and their reason for being present and need to be apprised of the rules and limits of their stay.
Two Prides Meeting - There is a ceremony to be observed when two Prides of lions share a full moon. Their meeting will be at the Venatorious of the hosting pride. The visiting pride should offer a gift to the leaders of the host pride.
New Arrivals Moving Permanently – New arrivals who are coming permanently need to introduce themselves as soon as possible. During that time, they will be apprised of the local Lion policies, and told where the Venatorious is held.
The only time these rituals are strictly rigidly enforced is during Midsummer. During Midsummer each lion feels stronger more vital and for lack of better word power drunk. During Midsummer especially the first few it is penultimately important that lions obey the rules and restrain their beasts as Midsummer even for the most accomplished Lion lycanthrope can cause excess and increase in violent outbursts resulting in their or another’s death or maiming.
Like all the shifter groups, the Pride establish a pecking order via dominance. Dominance is not used in sexual terms, but in simple “I’m the boss of you” terms, like managers and employees in a business. The Pride dominance pecking orders are driving instincts. Dominance is shown in several ways.
Dominance Fights - In a pride, a dominance challenge is often to first blood, except for the position of Rex , when it is to the death. The current Rex chooses the shape for the fight in this case, and no other can aid either. It is opened with the phrases, "Two would be Kings bleed for the benefit of the Pride tonight. One of us will rule hereafter, one of us will be meat. Come let us die. We are pride. We are Pride. We are one."
Cheek Rubbing - A habit of natural Lions, there is an inclination to greet one another by a rubbing of cheeks. This is the easiest way to show deference to a more dominant Lion in public, because it can be passed for kissing cheeks with little effort. The less dominant Lion typically greets the more dominant Lion and greets multiple lions in the order of most dominant to least dominant.
Head Rubbing - Another habit of natural Lions, there is an inclination to when at rest or lounging or waiting for periods of time to rub/stroke each others heads. This is usually done head to head the easiest way to show dominance to a less dominant but adored or loved lion in public, because it can be admiration with little effort. The more dominant Lion typically after being greeted by the less dominant Lion will admire or touch the less dominant lions hair.
Lip Licking - The submissive might crouch, nuzzling and licking at the dominant's chin, lips, nose, and muzzle while the dominant looks ahead to accept the display. Generally reserved for flattering an alpha to avoid disfavor. This is an actual practice with real Lions. However, in the books, this is used only in a formal situation or one where dominance is an issue - either to demonstrate the one as dominant or to offer submission. It could trigger a challenge.
Bearing Bellies/Throat - Alternatively, to avoid disfavor or to apologize, submission can be shown by the subordinate Lion rolling onto the back to present the belly or throat to the other werewolf.
Deference - Like in any pecking order, you don’t walk up to your boss and tell him to go take a long walk off a short pier unless you’re looking for a fight.
Petitioning for Protection - A submissive Lion can petition for protection by touching them lightly. If granted the dominant will return the touch - a hug, embrace - which informs any shifter watching that he or she will protect the submissive from their enemies. By asking for protection, the submissive is admitting the other Lion are dominant to them.
Pinning - Being pinned by another wolf is a threat display used for a dominance to regain control of a submissive lion. It is usually the only warning before severe reprisals for affronts.
Apologies / Sealing a Word of Honor - Word of honor is very important to the pride, and offering your neck to someone indicates an act of trust that they will not tear it out. The deeper the bite that is made, the less the trust is or the more dominant the biter perceives themselves to be. (New Moon)
NOTE: The neck stuff, lip stuff, and cheek stuff and all aren't behavioral patterns one picks up with the lycanthropy. As such, it varies from person to person (and from were-wolf pride to were-wolf pride) just where they land on the 'creepy vs natural' scale.
Deferring to a dominant shifter does not mean you are a doormat or can’t argue or disagree with them. It does, however, mean that you should try to express your differences politely, like you might bring a grievance to your boss in a large business. And it’s expected that if you do act impolitely or aggressively to a superior at work (or a more dominant Lion in the pride) that there will be consequences. Depending on the whims of the dominant and the Rex they might be a physical beat down, restrictions, duties, or even banishment/death if the overstep was severe enough.
On the full moon, the lions meet at Venatorious and gather to conduct business and shift to run/hunt together as a group. All lions are expected to attend. For those who do not it is considered a great slight and punishable by up to and often including death.
A group that spends time together will develop a group mind. This enables them to become parts of a whole when working magic or healing, or more than the sum of their parts. (Guilty Pleasures)
A female lion will always put the pride first and not to do so is a sign of a dangerously mentally unstable lioness. While males will generally do so many strike out on their own forming coalitions t which they are far more loyal. However, once those coalitions settle into place they will die protecting the members therein. It is natural protocol to keep internal struggles private, excluding outsiders from the conflict. To bring an outsider into the pride without the knowledge and permission of the pride is a statement that the wolf does not care for the pride.
Here are a few points of interest that some people have misconceptions about regarding lions, many of which stem from the vast differences between the Anitaverse, WoD, and other legend, lore, and fiction about lycanthropes. So to clarify things on this game:
Beta does not mean weak. Being a beta Lion does NOT mean your character is weak, submissive, or malleable. It does not mean you are easily manipulated, fearful, or cowardly. The designation of Beta is not a personality dictate. It is more a simple societal pecking order (which is buckable, to be honest). Think of the Pride as a large corporation. The Alphas are upper management who started at the top when they came into the company. Betas are not just the grunt workers and middle management, they may also be in upper management via HARD WORK. Through the wonders of development, you are likely to run into Beta Lions who are physically stronger and more powerful than Alphas, and ones who hold rank and titles in a pride. If you are considering a wolf and Alphas are closed, don’t let that dissuade you from apping one.
Lions are not real Lions. They do not always mate with the entire Pride’s female populations. The Rex and Regina are not the only mates. The other Lions are not forbidden to romance each other and will not be killed for dating, marrying, attempting to make puppies (and failing), or just playing bedroom games. They most certainly are not forbidden to fall in love, settle down, and enjoy life with a non-wolf.
These are people, not animals. And no one should feel pressure to be mated. Yes, the books had an example of a Nimir Ra and Nimir Raj being metaphysically forced to be together whether they wanted to or not. Turned out later that had nothing to do with anything but Anita's own whacked out powers forcing something she needed on her. That isn't how it works with the rest of the universe. The only time you will run into dating trouble is when you do something that even a human will punch you in the face for, like trying to get into the pants of someone else's boyfriend or girlfriend.
Being in the pride doesn't mean you can only interact with the pride. That would be stupid and boring. Yes, there are things you shouldn't be telling non-Lions about, and as always actions have consequences if you betray your pride, but you can interact, date, marry, schtup, and dance the fandango with whomever else you want. It'd be nice to have good lines of communication between the Lions and other factions regardless. Isolation does no one favors.
There are a lot of opportunities for people to come in and risen quickly in the pride if they choose to play a good political game. Having a large group means that there is more likelihood of having a good number of people on at any given time to do "pride things" if they wish.
None of this means massive stupidity and doing things that are likely to get your tail chewed off will be overlooked by the pride. Actions have consequences. The Lions do take care of their own and they mete out punishments and justice when necessary. There is a pecking order. It will and does apply. If you tell your boss to piss off at work, there would be consequences, and the same goes here, only these consequences may come with teeth and claws attached!
