gaia_diamond History: gaia_diamond The snowy foothills and icy terrain of Kilimanjaro was void of all lions for a very very long time, it was leopard territory and still is in many places. Civets and Monkeys use to also dominate here but at some point a change had came one year with a very early winter. A female leopard who was rather good at making things, had went on a trip for materials when she came across a little lost and hungry lion cub. She had no mate, no cub of her own and something in her knew that she needed him as much as he needed her. She took him in with hopes of one day passing down her crafting skills to the little cub, naming him Frost Fall. Growing up in the cold made him really fluffy and he loved learning his new mother's craft. In the end, as he grew up and she grew old she did indeed pass down this trade and he, being an ambitious lion, made something more of it. He began to gather lions to this ever wintery place, he found himself a mate and soon, he became this territory's first King. His mate called herself White Out and was very skilled in the ways of trade and barter, together the pair not only ruled and had many cubs, but had started the long road of crafting goods and trading them to other animals and Prides for more supplies. That is how The Snowglade Traders began, many generations have came and gone sense then and many years have only made this territory bigger. Full of tinkerers, crafters, inventors and traveling merchants, this cold but prosperous place became well known to all Prides in Africa and still do what they do best to this very day.
gaia_diamond Territory gaia_diamond The Prides Territory is huge! One of the largest of them, taking up most of the livable areas of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It has snow locked open tundra, forests laiden with wintery bluffs and rivers that in places are forever frozen in ice. Frigid cliffs and one good blessing, sense Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano, it is dotted with hot springs! The Pride makes its home in in the mid-southern side of the territory around a frozen waterfall, with dens carved into its icy columns and into the cold earth. A massive clearing laid out like a market sits at the base of this frozen waterfall and it is cradled in tall snow covered trees on its borders, this is called the Hub. This is where The King and Queen live, where their Pridemates craft and prosper and is one of the several places outsiders come to trade. There are 2 other main outposts where trade is also done, one closer to the border to the east and one closer to the border to the west. They make good pit stops for the Lions that patrol for ungenerous intruders, thieves and help keep an eye on the weather.
gaia_diamond Culture gaia_diamond Leadership: The Pride is governed by a classic King and Queen, The King being a direct descendant of Frost Fall Himself. They are aided by up to 8 other lions; up to 4 females who aid the Queen with not just their company, but in business, stock and inner workings of the Pride, helping to oversee wellness of the Pride's mothers and cubs, monitoring their food supplies and organizing hunting parties of need be. They are called her Ladies in Waiting, for if something were to happen to the Queen and she were to die, one of them would be chosen to replace her, providing the King was still alive and well.
up to 4 males assist the King in monitoring crafts, wares and trading politics. They oversee the production of all of the Pride's crafting and organize all of the trading routes and who goes where and when. They are called the Head Crafter or The Head Trader by rank, however if something were to happen to the King and he were to die and there were no fit Heirs or ones old enough, One (Usually the most experienced) would take up the mantle as Barron and hold the place until one of the Kings sons came into position. If there are no cubs, The Barron becomes King and either takes up a mate in one of the Kings Daughters for Queen. The prior Queen will Then Take the position of a Royal Advisor to the young Queen and new King(She may still have cubs but not with the ruling King and they will not be Royalty.). If there are no female cubs either, The New King is mated to the previous Queen.
As the King and Queen become too old to carry out their duties, they must name an Heir from their offspring, a male, to become King and take himself a mate as Queen, and so the Ruling linage continues.
If both King and Queen die and there is no Heir or lineage left, A new King will be chosen by the Pride and he may take any within the Pride to be his Queen that is not already taken.
gaia_diamond Roles: gaia_diamond Males and Females tend to work together, only the King and Queen have a Patriarchal way of doing things.
There is much more freedom in what is acceptable as to how the others in the Pride choose to run their families and who picks up their family's trade and who chooses a different trade.
gaia_diamond Joining: gaia_diamond They accept all sorts of lions and other animals but skills in craft or trade is preferred but not required. Those who are hunters or trackers have their uses but everyone old enough is put to work in some form or another. Other Animals that aren't lions may or may not be Crafters or Traders but always have a purpose, usually assisting Lions in their perspective trade or duties and are the Rank of Assistant.
A newly joining Lion will start out as a Worker rank. If they have a skill in crafting or trade, They can study under a Crafter or Trader for a while to rank up. Adolescences that are brought in are the Rank of Pupil and are taught by a Crafter, A Trader a trade or a skill set other than the usual hunting or guarding.
gaia_diamond Trouble-makers: gaia_diamond Every Pride has them, some come from the outside and some come from within, but this Pride deals with trouble-makers in an interesting way. They imprison them for a time and then put them through a form of reform training. They are not cruel so they are fed and cared for, but during this time the may not see their families nor can they leave. If they refuse to reform they are banished from the Territory and will no longer be able to trade with the Pride, but this is only a last resort and they may try to reform a lion or animal more than once before having to kick them out.
gaia_diamond Mindset: gaia_diamond Generally the mindset of the Pride is good business, being kind to your neighbor and always looking for new opportunity to grow. Strive for usefulness, good quality and accountability. Being fair to others is also part of the Prides ways but so is greed sometimes.
gaia_diamond Religion: gaia_diamond Religion is not forced but some believe the mountain is alive, That a spirit they call Frozen Star dwells in their lands. Those that are this way often make offerings at a small shrine at the east side of the Hub, to ask for good fortune, good weather or even mercy upon the sick or elderly. They ask for offspring to the barren, love for the lonely, just about everything. Those that Believe this are not pushy or judgemental of others who do not but are very dedicated to it at the same time. Some believe the Spirit to be female, others believe it to be male but all agree it must be a lion and they say, if you listen close at night, you can hear it roar in the mountains on clear nights.
gaia_diamond Hunting: gaia_diamond The Pride gets most of their food from trade, but they do however form hunting parties when trade is more scarce, however the snow plays a big part in making food last a long time. Hunting is done by Workers who are selected by a Lady in waiting to go hunt if needed.
gaia_diamond Skills: gaia_diamond There are many skills that are taught and used in this Pride and the range is wide. From the basics of hunting, tracking and guarding to crafting of jewelry, toys, garments and goods processed from the lands far and wide. Trade and social skills too, for trade and negotiations and keeping in good standings with others. They craft musical instruments and at times can provide skins.
They are not forgers of weapons, tools or armor nor are they particularly skilled in the crafting of cooked or fine foods.
gaia_diamond Hollidays: gaia_diamond Winter Festival (Basically X-mas)
A time where everyone gets together for music, decorating with pretty baubles and gift giving to one another. It is not tied into the Frozen Star Religion directly. Just a time of warm hearts and a great big festival. It is held on the day after the first full moon of mid winter.
Traders Gala
every summer the Pride gets together, and sends messages, carried by a worker far and wide to other Prides, inviting them to one big trading bash! All the Crafters and Traders best stock is brought out and surplus items are traded for at discount. It is held at the Hub and is one of the few times others have access to wares made by the King and Queen. It is held the first day and night after the first new moon in mid summer.
