Welcome to Gaia! ::

Welcome, knowledge seeker! We are the keepers of what is known of the world we live in. You are welcome to speak with our Teachers or examine our maps. Learn of other prides, faraway places, and strange cultures. What we have is yours to learn! All we ask is that you share your stories with us as well.

Those of Taalamu'sasa treasure knowledge above all else. It is treasure to them beyond value. The pride has three catagories of rank, technically. Those who hold the knowledge, those who seek it, and those who look after the other two catagories. In the pride, all have honor and equal standing, though age and wisdom is held in highest regard.

Nomads are small groups of travellers that go into the known world, seeking knowledge. They keep track of their progress across the lands, get in contact with friendly prides to learn their ways, and learn what they can from afar of the more hostile ones. These groups are peaceful, but will defend thesmelves if need arises. They also document the territories, flora, and fauna, bringing back what samples they can for storage in the catacombs. They spend five months away from home, then one month at the Catacombs, before setting out once more.

Breeding is allowed both to those at the Catacombs as well as those with the Nomads. One key thing to note is that Taalamu'sasa does not have a nanny rank. Parents and other group members are expected to care for and look after all cubs within the group. Children accompany adults as they go about their tasks. In this way, each new generation learns the necessary crafts for the pride.

Each nomadic group will be assigned certain prides to explore for their five months. They will travel between these prides and map the groudn they cover.

Familiars are welcome in Taalamu'sasa! Their assistance is valuable in all areas of the pride. Birds and smaller cats make good scouts and artists, hooved familiars could be helpful as scouts or assisting guards and hunters. There are many roles in which a familiar could become a valued member of the pride. However, they are not according rank.

Twice a year all nomads gather back to the Catacombs. Festivals celebrate the addition of knowledge to the stores, and families and friends are reunited. There is much feasting, celebrating, and sharing of experiences. Stories are told, new ranks are bestowed, and sometimes rewards are given for valor or great deeds. This is the time when new adolescents declare their chosen rank, and when newly grown adults are given their offical ranking.

In Taalamu'sasa, canines are considered to be familiars. As such, they are welcomed in the pride, but are given the rank of Aids. They may choose what rank they assist, but they will not be accorded that rank themselves. Despite this, they are still valued and given honor as a vibrant part of the pride.

It was perhaps a measure of fate that brought them together. A map-maker, an herbalist, a strong back, and one fleet of foot. Two older, wiser lions, steady and solid with experience. A young leopard eager to make his mark, and a chipper, young cheetah with a heart of gold. All sought knowledge, savored learning, and felt the world lacked much of it. The elder two determined that no one mind could ever contain all there was to know, and the younger two declared that there was much each generation needed to learn in order to better the world. Thus the pride was born.