Post by mitra on Aug 21, 2010 10:18:27 GMT -7
THE CULTURE OF THE LON GI CLOUDED LEOPARDS
(Please note: Anyone creating a clouded leopard is of course welcome to come up with their own history and background, but I thought it might be fun to develop individual cultures for use of providing easy back story, should anyone decide to play a clouded leopard.
You're quite welcome to use my concept of the Lon Gi, or come up with one of your own! However, I have put a lot of time and detail into the Lon Gi, so if you DO intend to use them, being that they are my NPC group and brainchild, I would appreciate you running your ideas by me first to preserve the spirit of the Lon Gi.)
NAME ORIGIN: My inspiration for the name of the Lon Gi comes from a Spanish phrase for clouded leopards, pantera longibanda. Lon Gi, in Chinese, literally means Dragon Uniform, something I find very appropriate for such a uniquely marbled cat.
DETAILS
* The Lon Gi clouded leopards are what you might teasingly call 'old school'. They are very in tune with nature, having a natural sense of themselves and their surroundings. They are an old and very mysterious tribe, one unaccustomed to discussing themselves or their history with any creature (including clouded leopards) that is not Lon Gi. While most cloudies of the Lon Gi bloodline are not typically suspicious, there are some that have been raised and have grown up having a deep mistrust for other animals and do not interact with them at all, lest they be prey. Others have realized that times have changed and the plague of Men has passed, opening the way for animals to seek enlightenment without fear and without prejudice. This younger generation of Lon Gi are more open than the older leopards, and embrace all creatures as a part of the natural order. While they understand they must kill to eat, they honor the lives taken and will often meditate over them before consumption. Any animal which eats in haste or with greed is seen as uncouth and disrespectful, someone who is many lives away from enlightenment and paradise.
* The Lon Gi, like most clouded leopards, mate for life. Their numbers are dwindling, so great care has been taken to preserve the bloodlines and ensure the cubs have the greatest chance for both happiness and diversity. While most Lon Gi will rarely, if ever, encounter each other, the news of new cubs spreads fast and most Lon Gi will know each other already by name, if not by face. When new cubs are born, word is sent out and a mate chosen from another family. Cubs are introduced early to encourage a lasting bond, which will last the two throughout their lives. The ceremony celebrating a bonded pair is one of the only times otherwise unrelated Lon Gi will come together, as they are naturally solitary except when it comes to the presence of their mates.
* In keeping with tradition, Lon Gi females are submissive to their husbands and will defer to them in most situations. A female will only be master of the territory in her husband's absence or death, and it is rare for her to seek another mate in the case of a loss. The same applies for widowers. The bond between them is as deep as their hearts can go, two halves of one whole, and they cherish each other. The relationship is one of respect and affection, mutual adoration and understanding. Impatient mates or a couple that fights often are either very young or considered unenlightened and an embarrassment, and may even be cast out of the Lon Gi if their ill tempers can not find common ground.
* Some Lon Gi reject the teachings of their elders and their traditions and attitudes...when this occurs, their names are stricken from the memory of the Lon Gi and mention of them in future is forbidden. When a Lon Gi commits an unforgivable crime (usually murder of their own mate, or cubs, or another Lon Gi, or abandonment of the mate or tribe), their name will be Forgotten. They will become fugitives of the tribe, and the Long Gi elders will often seek the assistance of an animal who is not Lon Gi to put an end to their life so that they may quickly pass into another life for another chance at cleansing their souls. A clouded leopard who is not known to the Lon Gi may join them if they can show the Elders their willingness and loyalty. If they are young and without a mate, they may be tutored by an Elder until a mate can be found for them, though if they are grown, they will simply be tutored and their name added into the memory of the Lon Gi. This is a great honor and one very rarely performed, and is one of the only other official ceremonies that the Lon Gi have in which they might gather.
* The Lon Gi are a very secretive group. The tribe does not discuss themselves with other animals, and any Lon Gi who is known to have shared their secrets has given him or herself a death sentence. Any Lon Gi who has a valid reason for bringing another animal into the confidence of the tribe must first ask and receive permission from at least three of the five Elders.
* The Lon Gi are of course allowed to have friends, but no animal besides a clouded leopard is allowed to be considered Lon Gi. However, an animal who has performed a heroic act without prompting may be referred to as a Friend of Lon Gi, and their names shall be included in the litany of Remembered. However, if a Friend is given such an honor, they are sworn to secrecy and are subject to the same law of death should they break the tribe's confidence. This means that any Lon Gi with a chance to kill the offender is morally obligated to do so, and word will be sent to every Lon Gi that their name has been Forgotten and they are to be destroyed. This is one of the only times the Lon Gi will resort to otherwise unjustifiable violence.
That's all I have for right now...as I come up with more, I'll update here. Any questions/comments are welcome!
- Mitra
(Please note: Anyone creating a clouded leopard is of course welcome to come up with their own history and background, but I thought it might be fun to develop individual cultures for use of providing easy back story, should anyone decide to play a clouded leopard.
You're quite welcome to use my concept of the Lon Gi, or come up with one of your own! However, I have put a lot of time and detail into the Lon Gi, so if you DO intend to use them, being that they are my NPC group and brainchild, I would appreciate you running your ideas by me first to preserve the spirit of the Lon Gi.)NAME ORIGIN: My inspiration for the name of the Lon Gi comes from a Spanish phrase for clouded leopards, pantera longibanda. Lon Gi, in Chinese, literally means Dragon Uniform, something I find very appropriate for such a uniquely marbled cat.
DETAILS
* The Lon Gi clouded leopards are what you might teasingly call 'old school'. They are very in tune with nature, having a natural sense of themselves and their surroundings. They are an old and very mysterious tribe, one unaccustomed to discussing themselves or their history with any creature (including clouded leopards) that is not Lon Gi. While most cloudies of the Lon Gi bloodline are not typically suspicious, there are some that have been raised and have grown up having a deep mistrust for other animals and do not interact with them at all, lest they be prey. Others have realized that times have changed and the plague of Men has passed, opening the way for animals to seek enlightenment without fear and without prejudice. This younger generation of Lon Gi are more open than the older leopards, and embrace all creatures as a part of the natural order. While they understand they must kill to eat, they honor the lives taken and will often meditate over them before consumption. Any animal which eats in haste or with greed is seen as uncouth and disrespectful, someone who is many lives away from enlightenment and paradise.
* The Lon Gi, like most clouded leopards, mate for life. Their numbers are dwindling, so great care has been taken to preserve the bloodlines and ensure the cubs have the greatest chance for both happiness and diversity. While most Lon Gi will rarely, if ever, encounter each other, the news of new cubs spreads fast and most Lon Gi will know each other already by name, if not by face. When new cubs are born, word is sent out and a mate chosen from another family. Cubs are introduced early to encourage a lasting bond, which will last the two throughout their lives. The ceremony celebrating a bonded pair is one of the only times otherwise unrelated Lon Gi will come together, as they are naturally solitary except when it comes to the presence of their mates.
* In keeping with tradition, Lon Gi females are submissive to their husbands and will defer to them in most situations. A female will only be master of the territory in her husband's absence or death, and it is rare for her to seek another mate in the case of a loss. The same applies for widowers. The bond between them is as deep as their hearts can go, two halves of one whole, and they cherish each other. The relationship is one of respect and affection, mutual adoration and understanding. Impatient mates or a couple that fights often are either very young or considered unenlightened and an embarrassment, and may even be cast out of the Lon Gi if their ill tempers can not find common ground.
* Some Lon Gi reject the teachings of their elders and their traditions and attitudes...when this occurs, their names are stricken from the memory of the Lon Gi and mention of them in future is forbidden. When a Lon Gi commits an unforgivable crime (usually murder of their own mate, or cubs, or another Lon Gi, or abandonment of the mate or tribe), their name will be Forgotten. They will become fugitives of the tribe, and the Long Gi elders will often seek the assistance of an animal who is not Lon Gi to put an end to their life so that they may quickly pass into another life for another chance at cleansing their souls. A clouded leopard who is not known to the Lon Gi may join them if they can show the Elders their willingness and loyalty. If they are young and without a mate, they may be tutored by an Elder until a mate can be found for them, though if they are grown, they will simply be tutored and their name added into the memory of the Lon Gi. This is a great honor and one very rarely performed, and is one of the only other official ceremonies that the Lon Gi have in which they might gather.
* The Lon Gi are a very secretive group. The tribe does not discuss themselves with other animals, and any Lon Gi who is known to have shared their secrets has given him or herself a death sentence. Any Lon Gi who has a valid reason for bringing another animal into the confidence of the tribe must first ask and receive permission from at least three of the five Elders.
* The Lon Gi are of course allowed to have friends, but no animal besides a clouded leopard is allowed to be considered Lon Gi. However, an animal who has performed a heroic act without prompting may be referred to as a Friend of Lon Gi, and their names shall be included in the litany of Remembered. However, if a Friend is given such an honor, they are sworn to secrecy and are subject to the same law of death should they break the tribe's confidence. This means that any Lon Gi with a chance to kill the offender is morally obligated to do so, and word will be sent to every Lon Gi that their name has been Forgotten and they are to be destroyed. This is one of the only times the Lon Gi will resort to otherwise unjustifiable violence.
That's all I have for right now...as I come up with more, I'll update here. Any questions/comments are welcome!
- Mitra
