Info

[Kieran]

 
RELIGION & SOCIETY

• Afterlife is a concept at least the lions believe in. They believe that all those who have died are up in the stars watching over the living.
  
  The dead can return as a ghost/spirit only if specifically summoned by someone with such power, such as the shaman Rafiki. When summoned, a spirit enters the world of the living as part of the elements; they're in the wind, clouds and water. They can become semi-physical by through clouds or reflection in the water, and audibly talk to the living. They don't have to come when summoned, but if they do they can't stay long, a few minutes at most.
  
  The Great Spirit is an entity that really exists and is generally believed in as the Creator. There's no proof of it, and summoned spirits of the dead literally can't reveal secrets of afterlife to the living nor can they see the future. They can discuss/advise only on the past and present of the living world and how they feel about it. There can be communities/areas in Africa where there is other religion or no religion. There is no theory of evolution because there is no evolution.
  
  
• Scientific knowledge is limited to what can be observed with the naked eye.
  Stuff have been named the same as in real life; the Sun, the Moon, the stars - but no one knows what they actually are. Different species may have different theories. Everyone has the basic understanding that the Sun and water support life. No one has the concept of planets or space, they merely speak of "this world".
  
  A brain is a brain, heart is a heart, blood is blood, and so on and their basic necessity is understood. But medical knowledge and treatement is also limited to basic observations across time and as cases are discovered. No one knows about bacteria, viruses, vitamins or stuff that specific but it is understood what each species can and need to eat and that one should not drink water that smells or looks too much off. Kingdoms/states usually have healers, and in Pride Lands it's the mandrill Rafiki and others like him. Rafiki focuses on the Royal family's medical care.
  
  
• Written language doesn't exist.
  
  
• All herds/flocks/packs native to Africa have lived for countless generations knowing the concept of the Circle of Life as well as generally accepted their place in the food chain. Though everyone understands the concept, some may not respect it.
  
  
• Some species are like in the real world, as in not able to speak or have complex thoughts/emotions. Such are in example; insects, slugs/snails, clams, crabs, fish, spiders and snakes. These species are not playable as in can't be applied for as a character.
  
  
• Other species have human intelligence and human emotional range. Mostly mammals, but also birds, crocodiles and tortoises. Different species may have different customs and beliefs. All species' lifespan is at least 30 years and they mature mentally at the same rate as lions. Those species' which lifespan is longer than 30 years simply start physically weakening later.
  * To check if the speaces' you want to play lives longer than 30 years, just google "how long do [species] live in captivity".
  
  
• All species with human intelligence have dedicated toilet sites very nearby their homes. Still, felines also cover their excrement. Parents take their infants to the toilet site around the time they know the baby usually needs to "go".
  
  
• When hunting for food a predator isn't allowed to go for young children of any species. Nor for a prey who is visibly pregnant. It is considered important for the long-term survival of everyone and for the balance of the Circle of Life.
  
  
• Those who die from something other than being hunted for food; their family or friends may bury them in a grave if the species in question is capable of deep digging such as meerkats and honey badgers are. Most species leave their dead above ground but may, if possible, move the body somewhere. Those left above ground most often are scanenged by predators. In case of a predator's body, by birds like vultures. Many are okay with this as it is just one way of the Circle of Life. If someoen doesn't want their loved one's remains to be scavenged but rather become part of the soil, they may ask a digging animal to help them with a grave.
  
  The Royal family has its own family grave site about a mile North from Pride Rock, under a large group of trees. It is open for anyone to visit and for prey animals to eat anything that may grow there. Non-royal members of the pride have their own grave site near that one, near a smaller rock formation and a pair of trees. All lions are buried in deep graves. Lions may take part in the digging but mostly it's done by a honey badger who's been officially tasked with it.
  
  There is always a funeral ceremony remembering the individual's life, and at least in Pride Lands' lions' cases also include some talk about the Great Spirit and afterlife. Grave sites are visited from time to time and a visitor often brings flowers or something. (Among herbivores this may happen also for those who were caught and killed in a hunt, even though they don't have a grave, just as a symbolic gesture.)
  

A member of the Royal Family should be addressed with appropriate respect, ("Your Majesty", "Your Highness", "My King/Queen/Prince", "Sir" ect.) by any commoner, even by members of Mufasa's pride. Accompanied with a bow when appropriate. Exception of course being anyone who has become family or a very close friend with them, like Rafiki with Mufasa, Nala with Simba and Sarafina with Sarabi and Mufasa, or Zira who married Scar.

It's not considered appropriate to hug or otherwise get into a royal's personal space without permission unless you're a close friend or the situation otherwise requires it. The presentation ceremony of royal cubs happen when the cubs are one month old.

All subjects - including also Mufasa's pride members - are below prince Simba. As in they can't tell him what to do or not to do, but can report any concerns or complaints about him to one of Simba's family or to any pride member if not part of the pride themselves. They don't have to do Simba's bidding as long as he's not yet the king, but out of respect they often may. At least if the demand/order isn't stupid or unreasonable. Though, creatures smaller than Simba or just non-confrontational persons may end up doing whatever Simba tells them to.

The pride is lead by the currently crowned king or queen. It has many females and many males, both born in the pride and some joined from the Outlands. Normally, other prides and animals visiting Pride Lands are welcomed as long as they don't cause trouble. Visiting predators are allowed to hunt but only as much as they need for sufficient amount of food for themselves, they're made aware of this and the ramifications of breaking this law.

Mufasa's pride is large, most of them adults but there are also several cubs of all ages. The pride hunts twice a week during wet season and for most of the dry season. They hunt in the darkness of the night, and sometimes on a cooler day. The lioness' focus on small prey like zebra, antelope or wildebeest, especially if they need to hunt alone. Some of the males go out hunting too in efforts to catch also large prey. So altogether they can potentially bring home two catches to sustain the large pride's needs for several days.

During September and October when there's extreme food and water shortage they catch whatever they can whenever they can, thus group hunting is rare. From a group hunting catch meant for the whole pride, the royal family has the right to eat their fill first no matter what season is on. But during those extreme dry months they too hunt their own prey. And if someone else's very young cubs are in desperate need of food they may share their catch after Simba has eaten his fill. The same with water, by default Simba's need goes above absolutely anyone else's.

King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi have only one child, Simba. Married males and females are supposed to make cubs only with their spouse, as in marriage works the same way it does in human world. Royal marriages are always arranged when the prince or princess is an infant.

Lions as a species are much less communal in child care than their real life counterparts. They don't nurse or groom each others' cubs when it's not necessary. Though some may agree to and enjoy babysitting, but it's not generally expected. And what a babysitter can and cannot do to or with their charge, is up to the parents. The mother and father are legally obligated to raise their own cub and responsible for taking care of their own cub's needs until the cub turns 4 years old and becomes a legal adult. Generally speaking fathers take part in raising and caring for their own cubs, some more some less. Of course there can also be so-calle deadbeat dads or moms. Cubs can be taken away from abusive parents, and be legally adopted by others.

Rogue ones don't go around fighting pride leaders and killing cubs in means to take over a pride. Not even if it's not in a kingdom. And even if someone did, it would not be accepted by a pride. In most states there are laws against killing, abduction, and other such things whilst these animals form strong bonds and feel human level emotions. Basically, a lion pride functions a lot like humans in social terms.

An adult lion's average walking speed is 3 miles / 4,5 km per hour. And can run 50 miles / 80 km per hour at top speed, but only for a very short time. They're the second fastest species in Africa, topped only by the cheetah. Cats are built for speed, not distance.

Joining the pride 

Joining the Pride Lands' pride has normally been relatively simple. A would-be member just contacts a member of the Royal Guard who will then take the visitor to the king and queen. The visitor tells them who he/she is and why they'd like to join, and if it seems to be alright they get to mingle with the pride and see if they get along with others and can contribute something good. If all goes well without major unfixable issues they'll be accepted into the pride, in an official gathering.

The king and queen stand on a ceremonial low ledge of Pride Rock with the joining person in between them and officially welcome him/her into the pride, ending with them roaring together with the new member. The actual ruling king or queen alone first, then joined by their spouce and the new member. And finally, the rest of the pride doubles it with a group roar. (It's a ledge where all trials and non-royal ceremonies are held. The royal ceremony ledge is much higher on Pride Rock.) This ceremony is followed by celebration which has been prepared beforehand. It involves eucalyptus leaves which is like catnip to lions, and watermelons and pumpkins which they love to smash and eat. (Those are often part of celebrations also on cubs' birthdays. But only on cubs' so that it won't become a too regular thing.)

After Scar's betrayal and exile, joining the pride was nearly impossible until Scar was deemed highly likely to soon die in the Outlands. Any visitor was intensely interrogated by the Guard before they let them anywhere near any member of the royal family. And even if they're deemed safe enough for that, Mufasa was unlikely to let a stranger freely mingle among his pride and near his child. Visitors were still welcomed and the interrogation was conducted in a relatively friendly manner, but anyone allowed to stay for any length of time was kept a close eye on.

It's returning to normal at the beginning of our timeline, but slowly. Those joining in the first few months won't be welcomed as warmly or freely as those that will request joining when the wounds have healed more.

~ MUFASA'S PRIDE ~

Used to be 30 members before Scar and Zira's exile. All of this current number are already in the pride. Any new cubs or outsiders joining will add to it. Some of these 28 are Zira's family and friends who opted to leave with her but some of them may return to Pride Lands eventually. They are considered members wherever they are, as only Zira was exiled.

Current pride: 28 members

ADULTS - 3/18

Mufasa
Sarabi
Sarafina

[your OCs]

CUBS - 2/10

Simba
Nala

[your OCs]

Lion growth and maturing
(different from real life lions as these are not real life lions)

Maturing:

Up to 8 months old one month is one human year.
~ From that on four months equals one human year.
1-year old lion = 9-year old human.
2-year old lion = 12-year old human.
3-year old lion = 15-year old human.
4-year old lion = 18-year old human. A legal adult.

Reproduction:

- They reach sexual maturity at age 3.
- They can mate and get pregnant any time of a year, but usually plan their litter for the wet season or early dry season.
- A lioness is pregnant usually for 3,5 to 4 months.
- She usually births one or two cubs. Sometimes three, but that's rare.
- Accidental pregnancy is not possible because the female does not ovulate until she is stimulated to do so by lots of mating. Occasional moderate amout of mating won't lead to conception. It needs to be several tens of times a day across a few days in order to have a good chance of success.
- Usually a lioness doesn't go for another litter until her current one is at least 1,5 years old. But sometimes she may choose to try for more babies right after the current cubs' weaning is complete.

Physical development:

- They start walking when around two weeks old and their eyes have opened a few days before that.
- They start running when about one month old.
- Weaning starts at 3 months old when they first start joining their mother at hunting trips. But weaning isn't complete until 7 to 10 months of age.
- They participate in the kill when nearing 3 years of age. Hunting skills are usually achieved by age 4.

Lions grow and develop fast up to 6 months of age.
They don't grow or change appearance very much between 6 months and 2 years except for brain development. A 2-year old cub is semi-notably larger than a 6-month old but between these ages it's typically easier to determin one's age by their behaviour if there's no other cub to compare to because in general appearance they look alike.

Between ages 2 and 3 they hit puberty. They don't grow any faster in height but close to age 3 they start resembleing an adult in body build, though not fully yet. Females remain a bit smaller and don't develop even nearly as much muscle-tone as males. By age 3 males' shoulder height is usually three-quarters of their mother's shoulder height and they have a small mohawk mane. By age 4 both are fully grown and look like adults, though males' manes are not yet anywhere near full. The mane isn't fully formed until age 5 which is why they don't usually challenge other adult males to a real fight before that age.

* Weight / shoulder height:

- At birth: 1-2 kg / 2,5 to 4,5 lbs.
- 6 months: 28-34 kg / 40-50 cm |*| 63 to 73 lbs. / 16-20 inches.
- 2 years: 40-50 kg / 50-60 cm |*| 88 to 110 lbs. /  20-24 inches.
- 3 years: 70-100 kg / 65-75 cm |*| 154-220 lbs. / 26-30 inches.
- Adult (4 years):
Males: 150-250 kg / 1 m |*| 330-550 lbs. / 40 inches.
Females: 110-180 kg / 0,9 m |*| 242-397 lbs. / 35 iches.

And the head adds about 25 cm or 10 inches to an adult's height.
This is the normal weight and height range. Individually depends on gender, genes, health and environment. For one, Mufasa's height is above the typical and he's also more muscular than most males.

~ LAWS & LAW ENFORCEMENT ~

Due to the harsh punishments, crime rate is very low in Pride Lands. Especially of major crimes that also mean being taken before the king and queen to be sentenced.

The king, the queen, and any member of the Royal Guard are the law enforcement team. All crimes punishable by exile or death are fully trialed and the sentence decided and passed by the current ruler based on evidence shown by witnesses and the Royal Guard members who investigated it before it was brought to trial. Death is the harshest punishment anyone can get for a crime. The death sentence has always been enforced. It is rarely executed by the ruler personally but by someone/some lions of the Guard the ruler has appointed to carry out the sentence. Full trials are held at Pride Rock, at a dedicated spot in the back with a low ledge for the king to stand on.

If the crime committed isn't serious enough to warrant exile or death sentence, there's no full trial but the case is instead handled and the punishment enforced by the Royal Guard alone. The sentencing has to be done by the Captain of the Royal Guard in the presencee of the offender and at least two other Guard members. This should happen wherever it is most convinient for the Captain at the time. And then simply get reported to the king at the latest in the next monthly group meeting. But if the Captain is not available when the crime needs to be dealt with, then the ruling king or queen will be the judge no matter what the case. Some offenses don't need to be or can't be dealt with immediately but there may be some days' delay.

Another exception is if the offender is a member of the royal family. That is, if any member of the royal family commits a crime of any kind the sentencing is always up to the ruler. (like if Simba stole stuff, the Royal Guard has no authority to punish him. It would have to be brought to Mufasa's attention and shown evidence like of any other crime, and then Mufasa decide what to do about it. The ruler himself/herself, of course, is above the law and can never be charged with a crime. But no ruler in living memory has abused their power because of it.

* Crime and punishment:

Murder (for reasons other than for food/survival) = death sentence.
* Predators are not allowed to kill other predators even for food. Not even during the worst of dry season

Hunting for sport = permanent exile.

Killing visibly pregnant prey or a young child of any species for food = ban from hunting for some time, exile of some duration, or death sentence. Depends on the circumstances and what exactly happened. These cases need to be brought to the kingäs/queen's attention before sentencing as it may require a full trial.

* A mercy death/kill is possible if killing the mother is the only way to save the life of her unborn baby. To be legally done the mother in question has had to agree to that before she was pregnant or in the very beginning of the pregnancy when everything still was okay. Or if that didn't happen, at least ask for it herself without any suggestive or leading question or discussion taking place. So that it can in good faith be deemed purely her will. And that be confirmed by more than one of her family members and friends.

There will be at least a brief trial with them and the Royal Guard's captain and the king or queen, some other Guard members and of course whoever else has gotten involved in the case to begin with. To decide whether it's necessary, and if yes then who will do it and how in order to make it as quick and painless as possible for the mother and safe for the baby. If the mother is in terrible constant pain whilst waiting for these decisions, there are herbs and plants with pain relieving properties. One must take as many steps as possible towards this legal process. If none are possible and one chooses to mercy kill anyway, they risk being trialled and convicted for a serious crime. All depends on what evidence they can provide.

Attempted murder of any predator = permanent exile.
* Using potentially fatal force against predators in self-defense or in defense of one's own family or friend whilst being hunted, even for food, by default is not considered an attempted murder. That is; just as a predator has the right to hunt and kill for food, the prey has the right to do everything they can to survive the hunt and to save their loved ones.

It is outside of an active hunt when an attempt to fatally harm a predator or needlessly using potentially fatal force becomes illegal for a prey animal. But there's an exepction even during a hunt; if the hunting predator is a young cub or group of young cubs the prey is not allowed to use potentially fatal force. As it is deemed unnecessary seeing to the low level threat to one's life. As cubs under the age of three are not allowed to hunt in means to kill, aren't big enough to kill most species, and don't usually have great hunting skills yet. A victim of cubs' hunting aggression is expected to do only the bare minimum to get away and then to report the incident to the Royal Guard.

Abducting someone = permanent exile. It increases to exile under bane of death if the abductor also physically or especially curelly mentally abused the person.

Hunting/attacking anyone at the waterhole = first time; temporary exile of some duration depending on the case details, second time; permanent exile. The attack needs to have been in means to cause serious injury or death. Otherwise it's considered disturbing the peace and has lesser consequences.

Hunting/intentionally killing a Royal Guard member = permanent exile under bane of death, or downright death, depending on if it was successful or not. The motive of the hunt/kill does not matter. Both active and retired members are under this special protection due to their extra value and special service towards the kingdom's security and peace.

Sexual harrassment = jail time or exile, depending on the case. The Captain of the Royal Guard must report this type of crime to the ruling king or queen before judgment is passed as it may need a full trial involving the ruler. Downright forced mating means both; some jail time and then exile, and no food during the jail period, and therefor a full trial.

Physical abuse = jail time. This applies to deliberate abuse of another for fun or unjustified control. So does not apply to domestic/parental discipline, which is allowed and by default not considered abuse. But, a child can be taken away from a legal guardian and the guardian put in jail if physical discipline goes too far by becoming life-threatning.

Stealing food = temporary loss of hunting/meal privileges. Duration depends on who did it, their age, and current health situation. Stealing food during the sentence period will lead to a 2 months long exile. Trying to return during those months will lead to permanent exile.

Stealing other possessions = first offense; warning. Second offense; jail time. Duration will increase each time caught stealing non-food possessions until the person finally feels it's not worth it. As in stealing other than food or children/other individuals will never result in exile. If the offender is a child under three years of age they won't be jailed but only reprimanded and taken to and reported to their own parents.

Disturbing the peace = first and second offense; warning. Third offense; jail time. Duration will increase each time caught disturbing peace until the person finally feels it's not worth it. If the offender is a child under three years of age they won't be jailed but only reprimanded and taken to and reported to their own parents. Disturbing peace means physically or verbally bothering others after been asked to stop, vandalising legally protected homes, or being loud and disorderly when and where peace is required. Such as at night near sleeping animals. Naturally, noise and disorder caused by hunting for food is allowed.

~ TIME KEEPING ~

Pride Lands doesn't concern itself with the overall year count of the world but only how old they and their children are and at what age their loved ones die. Time is measured by the sun and the moon. There's 12 months in a year, and they are named the same as ours. In the beginning of every year the shaman, mandrill Rafiki, records the previous year by making a cave painting of some major or significant event/thing that happened that year and was more or less unique. A stick is added to a pile every day to keep track of days, there's 28 in every month. The stick piles are a task for a bird member of the Royal Guard. This calendar is in a cave on Pride Rock, located at its western side and fourty feet (12 meters) up from the ground level. It's dedicated to the time keeping.