A P O L L I A N A
gentle | loving | aloof
born during the reign of artemine
daughter of artemine, queen of sesilga, blood of the goldlion, taye, mallis, anako, meraiuk, apolliadine, avernaught, and laramus
During the long years of Artemine's reign, he had many cubs upon Artiana's mother, though she was the only one who was retained. She was one of the few lions in the pride who were related to their founder, the Goldlion, and her bloodline was purposefully gardened to have the blood of all of the Warden kings.
It was not expected that she would become the Nineblood, the daughter of Artemine who would be the representative to breed to the protector Sesilga. It was expected that another, more deserving, more willing, would come one day.
So she was kept, but not protected. She was a skilled huntress in her youth, even after she lost an eye, but as Artemine aged and her mother kept bearing sons, she was forbidden from leaving the sanctuary.
Artiana was given charge of the cubs, and she was even sent to Sesilga to bear her cubs. One of her many cubs were blessed, bore the lucky white markings, so Artiana was named Mother.
She wasn't confirmed as the Nineblood until the day Artemine died.
- - -
When Artemine died, there was no heir.
He died suddenly - he was old, but not frail. Sesilga was out in the far reaches of the territory, and it would be weeks until she could be retrieved to the sanctuary. It was a crisis.
The queens set to infighting - none of their sons were worthy, or old enough, for the title.
The Bloodeds - Artiana, Apolliana, and Lariana - maintained some semblance of control. Lariana hid in the crypts with the power of having Artemine's mummy, Apolliana was friends with many of the older matriarchs, and Artiana herself had many allies from her hunting days.
Together, they sent out a party to find the protector, and prevented access to the sanctuary.
- - -
They fond a king, in the end, but the lionesses kept control. Vyranaught was a speak-piece for the queens, a figurehead to ward off other, more traditional prides. A father and protector for their children.
Aritiana was set to be in charge of those children - the leader of the broodmothers. Few of the cubs would be allowed to remain in the sanctuary, but those that did leave would not be set out into the world in ignorance.
They learned the hunt and the fights with other queens, but with her, they learned their smarts. Bonescribing, beetle-counting, leather making - many things that would make them invaluable to the right lion.
Every skill they learn in Artiana's den is another chance that they would one day make their own sanctuary.
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