Isle of Roses. The name was chosen due to the rose bushes that had managed to grow on the small isle the nursing mothers of the pride call home. They have several different hues and are generally regarded as almost sacred among the pride in that they provide safety and security. To give one to a fellow pridemate recognizes the deepest faith, trust, and respect for them. Furthermore, despite their pretty appearances, they can just as easily be dangerous, much like this pride that shows itself to both pit potential leaders against death while in the same breath advocating for family. What other name but the Isle of Roses would fit?
As one might expect, the symbol for the Isle of Roses is (or would be) a rose. Their name is, after all, the Isle of Roses, and roses are a large part of their culture. In terms of color, any color would do, but most likely the rose for the symbol would be red, as that is the most traditional and recognizable rose color, as well as the most frequent.
The Isle of Roses' territory contains a lush patch of land in the middle of the lake - generally where mothers will have their kits - as well as a rocky hill side littered with shallow dens the rest of the pride calls home. Around the two, there is the typical savannah, with a darker, gloomier forest - called the Trial Grounds - forming part of the eastern border. It is believed to contain evil, and it is said that once you enter, you might never return. No one is supposed to enter that place except for the next leader, who must spend one night in there and return the next morning, forbidden to say anything about what happened inside. If they are allowed to return, it shows them worthy of leading; anyone else will be unable to make it back.
Some would say that the distance between the pride's resting places is disconcerting. After all, shouldn't they be close by in case of emergencies? However, for the pride it feels only natural. The isle in the middle of the lake is for mothers and their cubs, though a few soldiers and hunters may also station themselves there to protect the mothers and cubs depending on the amount. Heirs also stay on this island, though if it is the Queen and not the Consort that is their mother, they will be taken care of by a surrogate mother in the meantime. The Healers also have a den a little bit down the river, as they need room for sick lions that will also keep them away from the rest of the pride if they're suffering from a disease. This also gives them easier access to most of the supplies that they need to make their medicines. When the clan has two Healers, one will generally stay at their den to deal with bigger issues while the other will stay with the rest of the pride to help with small injuries that don't require going all the way to the den to get complicated medicines. If, for some reason, a severe drought was to come, then the rest of the pride would travel to stay in this area till it cleared over, as it would be more likely to have water and other supplies for them.
As for the rest of the pride, they stay in shallow dens together in the rocky mountain-hill side. It can be a pain at times to travel a bit farther to go hunting, but with the exception of snakes, there aren't many threats to worry about. The King / Queen, Consort, Soldiers, Hunters, Assassin, Learner Assassin, Learner Hunters, Learner Soldiers, and older Heirs all stay here. A small stream winds through the rocky area a little ways off, so there is some water nearby if lions do not have time or do not feel like making the trip to the river. There is a large, dead tree in the middle of the dens the pride has chosen for themselves depending on their position, and that is where the king / queen stands to address the pride and lead ceremonies. It is also where the Oracle stands to address the pride. Speaking of, the Oracle, while nearby the rest of the pride, lives in their own isolated den with only their Learner to keep them company, if they have one. The den has a tunnel leading down to a cave with an underground waterfall, and it is here that the Oracle will often await messages from the ancestors, feeling closest to them. The river that travels off into the darkness away from the waterfall and small lake has never been followed by the Oracle; however, once the passing ceremony for an honored deceased lion occurs, the Oracle and the lion closest to the deceased will carry them down and send them off into the river. On the rare occasion that an evil or traitorous lion dies within the pride, and the pride is aware, the Oracle and a Soldier will work together to bring them to the border of the Trial Grounds and toss their body in to be swallowed by the mist.
pride's reputation
The Memory Keepers [ NPC Elephants ]: Nasaba and Zulu, the current matron of the elephant herd, met when Nasaba was still a rogue and Zulu was still a teen who was merely lined up to married the son of her herd's matron and patron. The two had a few adventures with one another and grew close, so now that both lead their own respective groups, they have remained as close as their responsibilities allow. The Memory Keepers have always had an amicable relationship with basically every group they encounter, partially because they travel fairly often and don't have a set in stone territory that they have taken over, but also because they are peaceful and are the ones who task themselves with remembering the histories of the groups that have been in the territories they have stayed in. When a group needs to do a history check, they will want to go the Memory Keepers. Zulu and Zion, the patron of the herd, have only strengthened these good relationships, as most groups are especially fond of this pair that currently leads the group. Nasaba is no different, and so he and the Isle of Roses are always willing to let them stay in their territory when they are around. They would even go so far as to defend and protect them if Zion and Zulu asked them too. In return, the elephants regale the Isle of Roses with stories about other groups in the territory.
Safiri's Oasis [ Runnersback's ]: relationship
Rivals
Cackle's Clan [ NPC Hyenas ]: Lions and hyenas have never gotten along, so it is not a surprise that the Isle of Roses would not get along with the nearby clan (or cackle, if you prefer that terminology) of hyenas. Their alpha, Cackle in the Canyon, has a particular hatred for lions, and she has made it very clear that she will never ally herself with lions, or even gain peace with them. It would take something huge to sway her. Due to the hostility, almost every encounter between the two groups ends up going badly, especially since Cackle and her hyenas do not take kindly to Nasaba and his lions interfering with their hunting...even if they are hunting baby lions. Generally, the Isle of Roses has an easy time defeating them, but Cackle's group is bigger in numbers; Nasaba knows that if the hyenas actually put enough thought into formulating a plan, they would at least put up a good fight against the lions, if not actually defeat them. Thankfully, they don't seem cooperative enough to actually go through with it, as though they work well enough in their group, they tend to fight for dominance in the situations Nasaba and the rest of the pride have seen them in. The only position in the clan that seems staunchly set in stone is Cackle's as alpha; no one dares challenge her authority, or if anyone has, they haven't been around long enough afterwards for any lion to hear about it. As it stands, they are the pride's biggest threat. There is a slight semblance of peace due to Cheka's intervention and work on peacemaking, however the groups still are incredibly hostile, even if they both are currently supposed to not have any fights between them.
pride's history