The Pridelander Pride

Current Leader: Abel

Former Leaders: Uru, Mufasa, Simba, Kiara

Allies: The Outlands, The Riverlands, The Shadowlands, Ayodele's Pride

The Pridelands were first discovered by Uru and her small pride after they had departed from their old lands in the Sahara after Mohatu's death. Uru immediately imposed a democracy within the pride, and set out to form alliances and good-natured wills with the other lion prides. Because Uru was the first-born cub of Mohatu, she was the destined leader of the pride, and all first-borns of her blood were to be pride leaders following her legacy. Another huge achievement during Uru's reign was making an alliance with the otherwise isolated Outlander pride, thanks to her younger sister, Kanika, being the queen of the pride.

Mufasa succeeded Uru as pride leader of the Pridelands, and his reign was a peaceful one. He made sure to respect life around him, and to make sure to continue good relations with all the other lion prides that were aligned with the Pridelands. His first-born son, Judas, was to succeed him, but with Judas's disappearance, that expectation was passed onto the next born cub, who was Gotto, who also went missing. Simba was the next in line for the throne. Mufasa's reign came to an end with his murder by his brother, Scar's, paws.

Scar's rule was what destroyed the Pridelands for the good five years he was their king - he burned all bridges with all the other lion prides, and ended up isolating the Pridelander pride to just their own land. The land became infertile and the animals fled when it became too unliveable to be in anymore. Though Simba was able to reclaim his place as King, and Scar was gone, it took longer for the lands to finally return to form.

During Simba's reign, unrest between the Pridelander and the Outlander pride emerged - Simba had excused Zira of murdering his first-born son, Kopa, and banished her without a fair trial. Those who supported her also fled, and it became a political upstorm with all the other major prides, who decided that they would not come to the Pridelands's aid during the conflict. It was only with the end of Zira and the re-establishment of balance between the Pridelander and Outlanders prides that they were able to return their relations to how they were when Uru first established them.

Kiara was next in line after Simba retired, but with Kovu's untimely death setting her back, Simba and Nala had to reclaim the throne until Kiara was able to recooperate. She fortunately did, with the help of her mate Defir, and was able to reclaim her place as Queen. During her period of rule, the Pridelanders were stretching out to the Highlander pride, ruled by Malka, who was, second only to the Outlander pride, a large pride that the Pridelanders wanted to align themselves with.

Kiara's daughter Adanna was set to succeed her once she stepped down, but due to conflicts of interest, Adanna abandoned her home. Kiara's son with Defir, Abel, was instead made to be King after her, and it led to a large war that involved every lion pride across Africa.

The Pridelands are the most infamous and well-recognized of the lion prides, and do not have a factor that distinguishes them from other prides. They are a mixed of bloods, though they continue to carry Mohatu's and Uru's genes within them through the passing of the bloodlines. They are also the most liberal of prides, especially after Zira, and are welcoming to almost any rogue who wishes to join their ranks. Besides Scar destroying all relations with other lion prides once he became King, the Pridelands has had a consistent alliance with other lion prides, and will dutifully help them if they need it.

The Outlander Pride

Current Leader: Ekene

Former Leaders: Abraham, Juugu, Uzoma, Zira

Allies: The Pridelands, The Riverlands

One of the oldest lion prides that is distinguised, the Outlanders were establishing themselves as a pride when Mohatu was alive. True Outlanders have dark pelts, black noses, and red eyes (though green eyes are not uncommon either); it was only through Kanika joining the Outlander pride, and bearing new cubs that the gene pool for the Outlanders opened up more, and more color varieties, such as varieties of brown, began to show. Outlander lions were also able to live much longer lives, thanks to the spread of new genes within their systems, and it was through Kanika's rule that the Outlander pride decided to stop being so traditional in keeping their blood pure and instead took to mating with other lions from different backgrounds. Rogues were the most common.

Thema, Mohatu's mate, descends from the original pioneering pride, and her pelt was what the standard look of an Outlander lion was like. Kanika, her daughter, joined the Outlander pride as an offering to keep peace between the still rocky relationship between that pride and the newly established Pridelanders. Kanika became a favorite to both the former ruler Abraham and his son Juugu, and with them she had bore many cubs. She also revamped the system in how the Outlanders operated - less on hostility, more on negotiation - and soon the Outlanders only rivaled the Pridelanders in terms of size, only they still kept the tradition of keeping to themselves. While they showed good will to other lion prides, the Outlanders did not form any close-knitted alliances as the Pridelanders had done.

War soon brewed between them and the Riverland Pride. Ferisk staged his daughter's, Nyarai's, appearance on Outland soil as kidnap, and immediately launched an assault against them. The war, despite its brutality, was largely unorganized, and only lasted the year. Ending with Ferisk and his son Olufemi's deaths, the Riverland pride quickly pulled out of the Outlands. Despite the change of leadership with the Riverland pride, and with Ekene, half-Outlander, half Riverlander, taking his father's mantle, it took a long time for both prides to become true allies.

Then, it is through Scar's rule that the relationship between the Pridelanders and Outlanders comes undone, and the Outlanders shut themselves away from getting involved with any Pridelander conflict. This, however, did not stop Zira from bringing the conflict to them. She murdered Uzoma, and led to a separation of the Outlander pride. The true Outlander pride, led by Uzoma's son Ekene, did not involve themselves with the Outland-Prideland war. The Outlands that Zira ruled was only partially made up of true Outlander lionesses - the rest stayed true to their roots. They were not true Outlanders, and only used the name as a threat. Relations with the Pridelanders returned once Zira was defeated, and some even left to join the Pridelander pride, but many were happy just to have their land back.

Currently it is Uzoma's son, Ekene, who leads the pride, but with his growing age and lack of heirs, many are afraid of who will step up to the throne once he passes. The Outlanders soon find themselves attacked by Shadowland rogues, fighting underneath their pride's name, igniting more conflict. The Outlanders lose several members of their pride, including Ekene's second-hand Gotto, and flee to the Riverlands, where Ekene's half-sister, Khari, rules. For the first time since the war, the two prides are now working together to subdue the threat of the Shadowlands.

The Highlander Pride

Current Leader: Malka

Allies: None

A much more isolated pride that lives up in the mountains, the Highlander pride is much more traditional and conservative. They prefer to keep their bloodline pure, and therefore only mate amongst themselves, thus feeding themselves with bad genes and unstable attitudes. It was through Malka that the tradition was bent slightly, when he took Halla, daughter of Mufasa and Sarabi, as his mate. This seems to be the only case of that, however, as the lions and lionesses of the Highlander pride continued to mate to each other.

Their cub morality rate is high in comparison to the Pridelander and Outlander prides due to the constant interbreeding, but their murder count is much higher. The Highlanders have a twisted belief in their own King in The King's Court, and therefore will get into petty fights with other lion prides to force their beliefs onto them. One case involved Judas's pride, where they attacked and killed one of his pridemates. The Highlander pride has no alliances with anyone, and chooses not to.

Their current rulers are Malka and Halla, but there is no heir to the throne as Maalik had abandoned the pride.

Olric/Ari/Judas/Ayodele's Pride

Current Leader: Ayodele

Former Leaders: Olric, Ari, Judas

Allies: The Pridelands

A pride that goes by no established name, it was first taken over by Olric, who beat out the pride's former leader, and took his daughter, Sia, as his mate. It was then that Ari beat Olric, and took over the pride in his place. Ari's rule as the leader was much longer than Olric's, and he fathered many daughters, but only had one son. Ari was old when Judas, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, took over the pride. Judas was the more infamous of the leaders, being a powerful and intimidating presence. Despite struggle in the beginning, he was able to keep the pride alive, and bore many cubs with Ari's daughters, most of whom continue to thrive in the pride now.

Like the Outlanders, Judas did not align himself with any other prides. The pride itself mainly kept to itself and when hard times came upon it, they dealt with it themselves. They were a very resilient pride with a wide gene pool, and came in a variety of colors and markings.

One infamous case with the pride involves Judas's daughter, Zuri, who had murdered his first son and her older brother, Kayode, in cold blood. Though Zuri was taken care of by Judas's other daughter, Ari, the incident itself left the pride shaken for a long time. It was during this that the Highlander pride made an attack on the pride, and killed Nomusa, who was a pridesister from Ari's time of rule. The pride was able to make a recovery, and with it came the life of more cubs.

Judas ruled for a long time, and it was his old age that brought an end to his rule. As he had died without naming a successor, his son Ayodele, by his favorite female Baako, was selected to follow in his steps. In the meantime, Baako had taken over as leader.

The pride continues to thrive under Ayodele's rule, but it is within question on who will succeed him once he passes.

Ikeena/Malaika's Pride

Current Leader: Malaika

Former Leader: Ikeena

Another pride with no name, the lionesses of this elected Ikeena as their leader after surviving a deadly drought that killed off most of the pride. While quite not as well-known as Judas's pride, thanks in part to the pride wanting to keep a low-profile, they are the only other lion pride who butts heads with Judas's on occasion, no thanks in part to the two prides blending in blood with the matehood of several members - for instance, Abeni, daughter of Ayodele and Teshi, taking Kanoni, daughter of Ikeena, as her mate.

Ikeena was much older when he became leader, but unlike Judas, he was able to name a successor when he passed - his daughter, Malaika took over for him as leader of their pride. For now, they continue to thrive, though the future, much like Judas's pride, remains uncertain.

The Riverland Pride

Current Leader: Khari

Former Leaders: Ferisk, Nyarai

Allies: The Pridelands, The Savannah Pride, The Outlands

Originally more secluded, the Riverland pride was isolated from all the other lion prides, cut off by a large river that only lions and lionesses trained in the Riverlands could cross. They were also involved in a war with the Outland pride, started by their former leader Ferisk, who was looking for a reason to fight. The war was not long-term and in fact ended in a year's time with both Ferisk's and Olufemi's demise. His daughter, Nyarai, and her mate, Imamu of the Savannah pride, succeeded as leaders, and worked to revive the Riverland pride.Together, they were able to reform the policies and principles of the pride, but in turn isolated themselves to prevent another war breaking out.

A large scale flood destroyed most of the Riverland pride, and left them vulnerable. Their numbers were significantly smaller, and they barely had fertile land to re-establish themselves. With her father's help, Khari, the new leader of the Riverlands, sought to rebuild her pride by opening up the pride to any rogues or runaways who wished to seek shelter in their pride. Khari helped her pride a lot, and soon the Riverland pride became an established figure again. They retook their lands, and continued to thrive. Despite Khari having cubs with the lion Bour, she has not yet named a successor between them, and one wonders if she will.

The Riverland pride began working on establishing alliances. Because of Imamu's engagement to Nyarai, the Savannah pride has remained a faithful companion to the Riverlands, and vice versa. The Riverlands have also extended their invitation to the Pridelands, who have responded, and the two prides hold a strong alliance as well. But because of their former war, an alliance has been a shaky idea between the Riverlands and the Outlands, despite Khari and the Outland leader, Ekene, being half-siblings. An alliance eventually did come to pass when the Riverland pride allowed the Outlanders to take shelter in their territory following a large-scale assault by a group of lions proclaiming the name of the Shadowlands.

The Savannah Pride

Allies: The Pridelands, The Riverlands

A very isolated pride that lives out in the Savannah and avoids all other contact with lion prides. They prefer to keep their information confidential, and the only time they outreach to other prides is when a bethrothal for alliances is known. None of them end successfully, except for Imamu's bethrothal to Nyarai of the Riverland Pride.

Despite their incognito status, the Savannah pride is a huge supporter of the Riverlands, and assisted in helping them re-establish status. The Pridelands also won favor with the Savannah pride, but other than that, the Savannah pride has been hesitant about forming alliances with the Outlands and the Shadowlands.

The Shadowland Pride

Current Leader: Ikuta

Former Leaders: Ukweli, Nusura, Baki

Allies: None

A newer, larger scaled pride that came together post-Outland/Riverland war, Ukweli was once Ferisk's second-in command who escaped the conflict alive. He decided to build up a pride to rival the size of the Riverlands, and they had implemented the policy of allowing anyone to join much sooner than the Riverlands had. Because of that, they quickly grew to a large scale, rivaling that of the Pridelands. Because of their newer status, and because of the fact that they isolated themselves, they have not yet made alliances with any other lion prides.

Now conflict arises within the Shadowlands as Ikuta's brother, and former second-in command Ashiki, is exiled from the pride for becoming too violent for anyone's safety. He has so far launched an assault against the Outlands, forcing them to retreat to Riverland territory for the moment.

Ari's Pride

Current Leader: Ari

Allies: Ayodele's pride

A rogue pride that came together under Ari's, daughter of Judas and Tamu, rule. After Zuri's death, Ari left her family pride to begin anew, and with that joined a rogue pride where she became the leader, and took in any lions or lionesses that needed a home. The pride grew to a large and prosperous size, with many lions and lioness throughout the country joining, including Ikeena's son Chari, and Malka's son Maalik. Currently there is no idea who will succeed Ari's rule once she passes.