[Pride I/T] Ndoto Dunia - The Dreamers - Closed

[Talencia]

Ndoto Dunia
"dream the world" in Swahili

Ndoto Dunia, also known as the Dreamers, is a basic pride concept geared towards the imaginative sorts and those who love them. It accepts everyone equally, regardless of species, gender, or background. For now the pride is relatively peaceful, but it has not been without turmoil in the past, and likely will face further upheavals in the future.

Whether the sort to dream, or the sort to look after the dreamers,
Ndoto Dunia could be the sanctuary you have been looking for!

OOC owners: Talencia and nessiaing

Still Needed:
pride symbol drawn
a cert background
rps
app filled out  

[Talencia]

History

Once, in the long years ago, there lived a male cheetah who was known far and wide as a wise and discerning philosopher. Many came to seek his wisdom, and others came to learn from him. His mate stood by his side, tending his needs and protecting him from those who sought to take advantage of him. As time went on, others gathered to be near him. Many were artists and creators, inspired by his enlightenment. Others were of a more practical bent, but seeking hope and direction for the future. Over time, the one group began to be identified as Dreamers, and the other as Guardians. Across the far-flung distances, they became known by their eccentric Dreamers, and became called thus by all other prides.

By the time the cheetah couple were old and graying at the muzzle, a small community had grown around them on their plateau home. All the creatures, both big and small, looked to the couple for direction and guidance. The wise old cheetah knew he could not leave them leaderless when he died, and so he chose one of his wisest children to take his place as leader. This new leader, also a male cheetah, was a Guardian rather than a Dreamer, but his lovely young mate was as starry-eyed a Dreamer as could be desired. It was she who began to instruct the pride in the ways of worship to the deities, and out of love for her, the second King established shrines for her chosen gods. Together they tended these shrines and led the rest of the growing pride in ceremonies, most of which have became lost and forgotten since.

Two generations later, during a time of peace and prosperity, the fourth ruler was chosen, a strong Guardian Queen. Unfortunately, her mate was a rather spacey Dreamer who never quite did settle on any one profession. When the Queen was killed in an unexpected accident, this wishy-washy King made a random choice for their heir, rather than simply passing the responsibility to another of their family. He chose a young, bright, energetic hyena Dreamer as the next King. This dropped a stone into the previously tranquil pride, and strife became common. Most had no difficulty following a hyena, but those who protested did so loudly and forcefully. The poor fifth King and Queen did their best to rule well, but went to their graves haggard and spent. Their son, chosen as heir, was a Dreamer, but quickly became disillusioned concerning whether he could rule the pride well. Many had left the pride during his father's rule, and even now, more were departing for quieter places to live. When there was angry talk that he'd taken too long to produce an heir, and his mate turned up pregnant, he made a sudden decision. He was not going to subject his own kin to this sort of distrust and unease. He declared a strong, middle-aged lion Guardian as his heir and stepped gratefully down. The pridal unrest slowly died down under the sensible lead of the seventh King and his mate.

Since that time, the pride has been stable and serene, reestablishing old patterns and traditions, such as giving offerings to the gods and honoring each role in the pride. The line has passed unbroken down to the current King, who is the ninth to lead the pride. However, this time there is yet another murmur of uncertainty, for King Rojko is mated to a leopardess rather than a lioness. Will the pride tolerate it? Only time will tell!  

[Talencia]

Deities and Religious Beliefs

The pride believes that the Goddess of Dreams was responsible for dreaming the world into existence, with all its variety and wonder. As such, she is the chief of the deities that they worship. Gifts are left at her marker when young are born, and she is petitioned when there is great need, or when inspiration has run dry.

Her mate, the God of Practicality, is believed to be the one who created life cycles, time, and set the heavens in motion. Anything logical and useful is more likely to be attributed to him. The pride believes it was through him that all that the Goddess of Dreams created was able to work in harmony, and while he is seen as being of slightly less importance than his mate, he is accorded much praise and appreciation.

They also give special honor to:
Imagination and Inspiration, believed to be siblings, worshiped by Dreamers
Courage and Chivalry, believed to also be siblings, worshiped by Guardians

((OOC Disclaimer: This pride has never met any of these deities, and their beliefs are not meant to reflect the reality of any owned or quested for SoA gods.))


Worship

Carved into the mountainside are four niches. The center two are nearly touching, and are devoted to the two main deities. The niches on either side are shared by the sibling gods. Each niche has a deep shelf upon which pride members lay their offerings to the gods. A large chunk of rock representing each god is set at the back of the appropriate niche. There is a deep, marbled green stone to represent Dreams, and a striated rock of rich brown for Practicality. Slightly smaller are the lesser gods' rocks, and their colors are blue for Imagination, purple for Inspiration, red for courage, and orange for Chivalry.

While members of the pride will approach these shrines and offer gifts for many reasons, there are some consistently notable occasions in which an offering is considered proper and appropriate.

Birth - The Goddess of Dreams is always thanked for the appearance of new life. There is no standard for what to give the goddess for this occasion, but some families make a bigger affair of it than others.

Lack of Muse - Dreamers can only expect to have their muses return if they offer something of value to their deities. If they favor one of the three, that is the one they give a singular gift to, or the largest of the gifts they have to offer.

Shame - Guardians are more likely to be seeking absolution for something they have done wrong. As such, it is tradition to leave something of themselves on the shrines. The greater the shame, the greater the sacrifice should be. Fur, claws, whiskers, even blood are known to be given in petition for all to be made right once more.

Great Pridal Event - Whether for the good or for the worse, any great event that impacts the whole pride, everyone is expected to gather and either give thanks to all six deities, or to petition them for salvation. Such gatherings are rare, but are also strictly mandatory, with the exception of the infirm, nursing mothers and their litters, and those guarding these few.


Social Beliefs

Conflict: With brilliant minds come hot tempers and fierce clashes of intellect. While violence is not a generally accepted practice, Guardians know that conflict will happen regardless. Exile is only resorted to when a pattern of harming others (or their work) is clear.

Marriage: While no laws exist concerning mating, the family structure is highly prized, as it is what helps keep Guardians bound to Dreamers out of love and affection.

Cub Care: Some Dreamer parents aren't so good at tending to their offspring. Others need someone to look after their babies while they work on whatever project has consumed them. Cubs in these situations are looked after by Guardians in a foster-type system. Each situation is worked out by the individuals as to how to manage caring for the cubs.

Joining and Leaving: All are welcome in the pride, so there are no restrictions on joining or leaving the pride. The only exception is any creature that has been officially exiled, as they are forbidden to return.

Breeding: While the pride is very open in most things, they do require some dedication to the community. Because of this, anyone desiring to breed must have chosen to be either a Guardian or a Dreamer. Hesitants are creatures who have not chosen to settle in and become part of the community, and therefore should not bring new life into the pride until they have found their place within it.
(OOCly, Hesitants may not breed.)

Flings, rogue breeding, and surrogates are all acceptable for non-Hesitant members, whether they occur within the pride or in the roguelands.  

[Talencia]

Ranks

King and Queen - Any (main) species. Traditionally, one is a Dreamer and the other is a Guardian. Together they preside over disputes, mete out punishments, and present awards for exemplary service (for Guardians) and sublime creations (for Dreamers). They also tend the shrines for their respective deities, and lead pridal ceremonies.

Dreamer - Any species, including familiars. Inclined to creativity, inventiveness, ruminating, etc. Not required to produce anything unless inclined.
Types of Dreamer Professions
- Artist
- Singer/Musician
- Philosopher
- Inventor
- Crafter
- Etc.

Guardian - Any species, including familiars. Predominantly practical, sensible, capable individuals. They look after the Dreamers, providing protection, provisions, and any other thing that is more of a useful role than that of a dreamer.
Types of Guardian Professions
- Guards
- Hunters
- Cubsitters
- Merchants
- Healers
- Etc.

Hesitant - Any species, including familiars, that has not chosen yet whether to be a Dreamer or a Guardian. Hesitants may not breed.

Blessing - Young of any species, including familiars.

Auto-ranks:
Cub - Blessing
Adol - Hesitant
Adult - Hesitant  

[Talencia]

Location

Ndoto Dunia is located on a shelf of land jutting from the side of a relatively low mountain. It boasts a spring that meanders across the plateau and spills off one of the edges in a steep fall to the plains floor. Much of the edge of the plateau is hedged with rocky outcroppings, but there are quite a few sharp drop-offs from which the surrounding plains can be viewed.

On the plateau, there are scrubby and slender trees, large sections of undergrowth, as well as wide sunny meadows. Where the shelf meets the mountain, there are shallow caves, with one or two rents in the rock that go reasonably deep. A wide basin has been dug just below the spring, blocked by a dam before the stream tumbles on across the plateau.

With such a variety of creatures in the pride, there is no central denning area, though often homes are chosen due to proximity to the spring's pool. However, with the many different personalities being accommodated, it is equally common to find pride members living against the cliffs, at the plateau edge, or anywhere between.  

[Talencia]

Member List
coming soon  

[Talencia]

Extra!  

[nessiaing]

-loves thread-  

[Talencia]

Ness and I decided to close down this concept. I hadn't realized how it might seem to be a mirror of things in Kizingo'zaa. It was entirely unintentional, and I apologize for any resemblance.