Lady of the Lake

You come to the edge of the Placid Pond in the night. Darkness surrounds you, and a gentle breeze wraps around you as it pushes the water to lap against the shore. You were told that at night, a lioness appears on the lake. A ghost. A great spirit, who protects these parts and the pride that lives here. You try to wait patiently, but end up a little distracted with a crab as it crawls past. Suddenly a bright light floods over the lake, drawing your attention. Indeed, a lioness does appear, and she slowly walks over the water towards you. Translucent angelic wings are laid at her back, and her eyes and paws glow with the same calming blue that lights the lake. "Hello." The lioness greets you, as she reaches the shore. She does seem to take steps as she walks, but mostly she glides, the background just barely visible through her body. You just stare at her in shock, not having really believed the stories, until now.

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The Lady of the Lake, Protector of the Placid Pond, and its Pride
The Story Keeper


They call me the Lady of the Lake. Unfortunately my true name was lost to me long ago, but I quite like my new name. I was alive once, I lived long ago. Long before the Placid Pond Pride, long before this lake had a name... long before there were this many lions around. I was chased from my pride when I was young, I no longer remember why, but it seems so silly now. I got lost in the desert that surrounds this paradise, and I eventually found this place, on the verge of death.


It was not the harsh heat of the desert which took my life though. It was, in fact, this very lake. I had been living here for awhile, all alone, when I went for a swim by the light of a full moon. I got my paw tangled in some weeds and was unable to free myself. I drowned in this very lake. Now I am tied to it. They say I protect the lake, but really, I protect others from it. I watch over these lands, and now the pride which lives here, and I caution others about the dangers that lurk.


You need not fear the water, merely respect it. Respect everything in this land, and in turn, it shall respect you.

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Hm? Story keeper? I suppose I am that. I have been here since the very beginning of this pride. I watch the rise and fall of kings, the birth and death of lions... I have seen it all. You wish to know the history of the pride? Come closer. Let me tell you a story...

Chapter 1
The Beginning
Before lions moved into the area, there was an unnamed lake. A hidden oasis, buried deep in the middle of the luscious green woods that surrounded it, protected by the brush land and desert that went on for miles. Fish lived in the lake, and insects all around, but no larger animals lived in the area. Birds frequented the water hole, and larger animals would stumble upon it from time to time, their salvation from their wanders in the desert. They would take a drink, rest in the cool grass for awhile, and then be on their way, for there was nothing else of interest in the area.

Of course, the lion population would experience quite the boom, with prides out growing all of the best places to live. Starving lions, run out of the best hunting grounds, started to live wherever they could. The brush-lands, the rocky lands, and even the deserts. The herds that migrated through this area would complain about the growing issues, and the surprising places they were finding lions in. Before too long, this little patch of heaven wasn't too far from anything. The next pride is not far from here at all, in fact.

It was only a matter of time before this paradise would be found, and claimed by a group of lions. The first ones to start living in these lands, were actually some scattered lionesses. Nothing really changed though until the boys arrived. Barely adults, two young lions with dark fur and white underbellies would stumble upon the lake. They did take their time though, scouting out the land, and actually learning a few things about this area, before they declared it their new home.

Mercutial and Dathryn had been raised together in another pride, and run off once they reached adolescence, the king worried they might be interested in overthrowing him. The young lions were playful, and kind, and were actually respectful of other creatures that called this home as they started to dig out dens, and mark out their territory. It is usually expected that two young males would battle for dominance, but Dathryn gave up his power and any stake he had in running their new forming pride, all too easily, and Mercutial was rather merciful and gentle about the situation, treating his friend with respect and even thanking him for the honour of being king. Perhaps a strange way for a kingdom to begin.

With two males roaming around the lands, it did not take long before they sought out the lionesses that had been squatting there. A gentle, and soft spoken youngster, Mercutial would humbly invite the lionesses to join his pride, as they were claiming the land that the lionesses were living on, and with such a sweet invitation, the lionesses accepted. Two gentle, barely adult males, and three wayward lionesses would be the humble beginnings of what would one day be a large and mighty pride.

All was not calm in the beginning though. Just as Mercutial and Dathryn had found this land, others arrived, in search of territory for themselves. The early days were often filled with uncertainty, bloody battles and the young pride just scraping by with a victory as the intruder sulked off to lick their wounds. Others saw Mercutial not for the great and gentle leader that he was, but instead, an easy target. At this time there was a shift in the young king, and he sought out to adapt a terrifying new persona, at least, in appearance. He asked the ancient kings for their blessing and their forgiveness as he made himself a mask from the skulls of his fallen brethren. He always wore this mask as a sign of pride, in remembrance of those who came before him, though it served its purpose of convincing others that he was a savage that would readily slay his own king. He adorned himself in whatever claws and teeth that he could find, and slayed many terrifying snake beasts with the god Anubis, to adorn himself in their scales. Finally, against the wisdom of Anubis, he sought out an ancient magic which gave him the shifting snake like gaze that sent a chill down the spines of others.

As the king aged, he became quiet and stoic, though he always remained gentle and sometimes even playful with his own pride. The pride invited in travelers who found themselves lost in these lands, and Mercutial's collection of lionesses grew over time, and gave him plenty of cubs to fill these lands. With his new appearance, and the wisdom of time, the attacks against the pride slowed and all but stopped. They named this lake, the Placid Pond, and they became the Placid Pond Pride, living out their lives by these calm waters.

The Placid Pond became a place of sanctuary and a place of calm. All sorts of birds, small mammals and reptiles came to call the place home, and the migrating herds found an oasis to stop and drink. Not only were the herds safe to stop in these lands, but they were protected from wandering lions by the king and his subordinate male.

Under the rule of Mercutial, the good natured, the founder and first king of the Placid Pond Pride, all was well. The creatures lived in harmony, the lionesses were joyful, and the pride thrived. But a lion does not live forever, and a single king cannot rule indefinitely. Every beginning will one day come to an end...


King Mercutial
Mercutial's Pride:
Dathryn (Subordinate Male), Sumatra (Would Be Queen), Zarassa (Gentle Giant), Obwati (Prankster), Celest (Lead Hunter), Sunessa (Proper Lady), Cheerul (Try Hard), Braelish (Anchor), Abianne (Head Broodmother), Klerisa (Optimist), Jaguin (Sunbather), Xeleris (Trouble Maker), Russa (Gossip), Othena (Over-Protector), Calyn (Clown), Eminie (Wall Flower), Analee (Overbearing Mother), Marra (Careful Broodmother)

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Chapter 2
Dark Days