tldr: plain warm big lions are traditional and strong, practice polygamy and betrothals and gift each other feathers for luck while speaking Spanish. Back to some lion basics.
The Casales are a loving, tight-knit family that has recently migrated to Amaryllis in search of a new territory to oversee. Large and simple in their appearance, they value strength above all else and believe it and property are the only true measures of status. They are traditional about their family structure and practice polygamy exclusively, believing that a lion should be responsible for protecting multiple lionesses and their cubs as his family. The larger and more loyal a family a lion has, the more important he is and the more merit he has. They value closeness and tend to raise cubs in a large group of siblings and cousins with all of the lionesses rather than separately. They can be somewhat superstitious, and this has resulted in a cultural tradition where they gift feathers as lucky charms to wear to their loved ones which they have carried on even after leaving their homeland of Huerta.
Personalities:
The family as a whole body is quite neutrally aligned, though they would lean more lawful than not. Casales are known for valuing strength and legacy at their core. While not necessarily unintelligent, matters of the mind are seen as unnecessary and perhaps even a cowardly way of doing battle. Strength and property prove the worth of a lion and anything else comes down to smoke and mirrors. Ambition is to be expected, as well as heated emotions rooted in ego. They would not see it as overly wrongful to act with self-interest, but to act with malice against the family as a whole would be a fatal betrayal.
Appearance:
They take pride in their rich, warm coloration and large builds. While the occasional marking might appear, often from those who are married into the family, the Casales appear quite natural and basic in their pelts, as do the lions in the land where they originated. It is likely that anyone with an overly bold or patterned pelt would be questioned as to whether or not they are truly a lion, though this is merely from their experience and preference rather than an actual rule of worth.
Pelt colors tend to be warm shades of Palomino, Gold, Bronze, or Clay. The most common eye colors are orange, brown, yellow, and red. Full heterochromia has often been observed. Minimalist eye circles, nose blazes, subtle shading, or a dorsal stripe are considered normal markings, though these are still less common than just the standard lighter undersides. Manes are often dark and two-toned.
The most common build of any gender is large, though some are also medium-sized. To be small would be considered a physical flaw.
Hierarchy:
While not as structured as an organization, it is common for the oldest or most dominant members of the family to make decisions. A lion or lioness may take the decisive role in their individual family and would work with other heads of family to come to agreements. Typically, the one with the highest rank in their land would also have a higher position within the family and it would be expected for the entire group to live under their political leadership.
Language:
The Casales have lived for generations in a distant land called Huerta, where the lions spoke differently than the lions of Amaryllis do. Members of the family should all understand and speak Spanish fluently and can know also know varying degrees of the "common tongue", from none, to fluently for those more open to change.
Names:
While not overly specific with their naming formula, Spanish names are certainly the norm. It has been seen repeatedly that members of the family will name their cubs after their ancestors or those they have loved. Surnames follow the father of the family for legacy purposes, though their lionesses are expected to keep their maiden name in addition to their married name. ([First] [Middle] Casales De [Last])
Trades:
Males are expected to fight and be strong and females are expected to provide for the family. Anyone of another gender outside of this binary would likely be expected to buy into it by choosing a role, either as a protector or a provider. Overly intellectual trades would be seen as bizarre and even wasteful.
Gifting:
In their native land of Huerta, it was tradition to give physical tokens of affection between family members and courting partners. Because feathers are seen to be lucky charms, they are often gifted and then worn proudly on their manes, or nestled to their ears or tail. To gift yourself your own feather is thought to be bad luck, and to not wear the ones gifted is a sign of rejection or malice. To have too many feathers could be seen as a status symbol, or on the flip side, a lack of commitment.
Marriage:
Marriage is highly regarded and respected for the lions of Huerta and for the Casales, and they practice the polygamy common in lions where a male lion will typically protect multiple lionesses and their cubs together. Some lionesses have even been known to marry each other within their family unit, though it would not be viewed as normal for a lioness to marry more than one male lion due to the likely contention and the blurring of that protector role. Parents usually will arrange a betrothal for their cubs, especially for the males ready to commit to their first wife. Some marriages have even been known to be platonic as a way of building up a family rather than out of romance or attraction and this is seen as normal.
Members:
Junípero
FTU Designs:
COMING
The Casales are a loving, tight-knit family that has recently migrated to Amaryllis in search of a new territory to oversee. Large and simple in their appearance, they value strength above all else and believe it and property are the only true measures of status. They are traditional about their family structure and practice polygamy exclusively, believing that a lion should be responsible for protecting multiple lionesses and their cubs as his family. The larger and more loyal a family a lion has, the more important he is and the more merit he has. They value closeness and tend to raise cubs in a large group of siblings and cousins with all of the lionesses rather than separately. They can be somewhat superstitious, and this has resulted in a cultural tradition where they gift feathers as lucky charms to wear to their loved ones which they have carried on even after leaving their homeland of Huerta.
Personalities:
The family as a whole body is quite neutrally aligned, though they would lean more lawful than not. Casales are known for valuing strength and legacy at their core. While not necessarily unintelligent, matters of the mind are seen as unnecessary and perhaps even a cowardly way of doing battle. Strength and property prove the worth of a lion and anything else comes down to smoke and mirrors. Ambition is to be expected, as well as heated emotions rooted in ego. They would not see it as overly wrongful to act with self-interest, but to act with malice against the family as a whole would be a fatal betrayal.
Appearance:
They take pride in their rich, warm coloration and large builds. While the occasional marking might appear, often from those who are married into the family, the Casales appear quite natural and basic in their pelts, as do the lions in the land where they originated. It is likely that anyone with an overly bold or patterned pelt would be questioned as to whether or not they are truly a lion, though this is merely from their experience and preference rather than an actual rule of worth.
Pelt colors tend to be warm shades of Palomino, Gold, Bronze, or Clay. The most common eye colors are orange, brown, yellow, and red. Full heterochromia has often been observed. Minimalist eye circles, nose blazes, subtle shading, or a dorsal stripe are considered normal markings, though these are still less common than just the standard lighter undersides. Manes are often dark and two-toned.
The most common build of any gender is large, though some are also medium-sized. To be small would be considered a physical flaw.
Hierarchy:
While not as structured as an organization, it is common for the oldest or most dominant members of the family to make decisions. A lion or lioness may take the decisive role in their individual family and would work with other heads of family to come to agreements. Typically, the one with the highest rank in their land would also have a higher position within the family and it would be expected for the entire group to live under their political leadership.
Language:
The Casales have lived for generations in a distant land called Huerta, where the lions spoke differently than the lions of Amaryllis do. Members of the family should all understand and speak Spanish fluently and can know also know varying degrees of the "common tongue", from none, to fluently for those more open to change.
Names:
While not overly specific with their naming formula, Spanish names are certainly the norm. It has been seen repeatedly that members of the family will name their cubs after their ancestors or those they have loved. Surnames follow the father of the family for legacy purposes, though their lionesses are expected to keep their maiden name in addition to their married name. ([First] [Middle] Casales De [Last])
Trades:
Males are expected to fight and be strong and females are expected to provide for the family. Anyone of another gender outside of this binary would likely be expected to buy into it by choosing a role, either as a protector or a provider. Overly intellectual trades would be seen as bizarre and even wasteful.
Gifting:
In their native land of Huerta, it was tradition to give physical tokens of affection between family members and courting partners. Because feathers are seen to be lucky charms, they are often gifted and then worn proudly on their manes, or nestled to their ears or tail. To gift yourself your own feather is thought to be bad luck, and to not wear the ones gifted is a sign of rejection or malice. To have too many feathers could be seen as a status symbol, or on the flip side, a lack of commitment.
Marriage:
Marriage is highly regarded and respected for the lions of Huerta and for the Casales, and they practice the polygamy common in lions where a male lion will typically protect multiple lionesses and their cubs together. Some lionesses have even been known to marry each other within their family unit, though it would not be viewed as normal for a lioness to marry more than one male lion due to the likely contention and the blurring of that protector role. Parents usually will arrange a betrothal for their cubs, especially for the males ready to commit to their first wife. Some marriages have even been known to be platonic as a way of building up a family rather than out of romance or attraction and this is seen as normal.
Members:
Junípero
FTU Designs:
COMING
code by corvus
To apply, just post with an idea for their personality and their role in relation to the family! I'd love to see your creations! Characters do not have to follow this description exactly, as there would be new blood and traditions introduced thru marriage. You are also welcome to create existing spouses in the family. This is for inspiration and to get an idea of what I'm looking for!
inès casales
