Bellefontaine

Cajun Swamp Lions

Languages

French, Cajun French, Hatian Creole (used among family), Common

Cultural Basics

• Hail from a swampland territory stretching between a small forest and an open plain. Generally a very laid-back culture, warm and cooperative. Parties and feasts were common.
  
• Family is very close, but also encourages self-discovery and exploration, so they've spread far and wide. Members are always warmly welcomed back, and wished luck upon departure.
  
• Will actively take in/adopt those who may not have family of their own, regardless of the individual's age. It's been quite common for a full-grown adult rogue in their prime to be told "you're one of us now" and be absorbed into the family as a "cousin".
  
• Accent can vary widely, some thicker and and some nonexistent - usually depends on whether someone was born into the group or joined later in life, and who they were raised around. Full-blooded Bellefontaine tend to have the noticeable accent.
  
• Tend toward Good alignments, with the rarer neutrals. No evil members here.
  
• Tend to be superstitious - they believe in luck, spells, charms, curses, etc. Voodoo practitioners/healers/etc are common among them.
  
• Raise respectful boys and strong girls
  
• Largely monogamous and take marriage/divorce very seriously. The younger generation is growing steadily more progressive, but the older members still disapprove of anything beyond a male/female couple - they won't insult you directly to your face, but whispers and judgmental insinuations would be common. It could be part of the reason many youth leave the group to "explore the world".
  
• Look, they just want to welcome you into their home and make sure you're fed and rested and comfortable and then offer you a place if you want it or send you on your way with a good luck charm, a snack for the road, and an open invitation to visit any time.
  

Appearance Guidelines

Bellefontaine-by-blood tend toward free appearance traits

• Those related by blood tend toward warm, earthy and golden tones (Palomino, Gold, Bronze, Clay) with richer accents (Black, Mahogany, Plum) and lighter unders. Interbreeding with outsiders means other palettes have likely been introduced, but the mainline family tends to follow this.
  
• Blood members also tend to either lack tails entirely, or have bobbed/cropped tails. Due to their distant ancestors actively cropping the tails of newborn cubs, or selectively breeding for shorter or missing tails. The explanation that's been passed down the generations (whether true or just speculation) is that it was to keep the crocodiles from grabbing them by the tail. Parents will still crop a newborn's tail if it's born with a full one.
  
• Eyes can be any color, or combination of colors, but lean toward bright shades
  
• Males tend to be large and fully maned; Females tend to be medium or small with no mane. There are rare occurrences of colossal males and extra-small females.
  
• The bloodline traits are strong, and have been known to win out over whatever other traits the other parent displays more often than not.
  

If you're not looking to play a blood-related member, then the appearance can be anything. They're a great family to use those RDG rolls and prizes on.

Applying

Name, appearance, personality~ Maybe an idea of where they fit into the group (born in, adopted in, etc).

Members who've made it to Ama:

• @Zacharie
  
• @Amour
  
• @Matthieu
  
• @Aymond
  
• @Bastienne
  

Zacharie has some siblings running around, too:
- 3 littermates, born in Aug. Y6 (two older, one younger)
>> matthieu, aymond, zacharie, amour

- 2nd litter - born Y7, 4 cubs
>> open, open, open open

- 3rd litter - born Y8, 4 cubs
>> bastienne, open, open open

- 4th litter - born Y9, 4 cubs
>> open, open, open open

Father: Gilbert (ZHEEL-BEHR); Mother: Sabine; both 7-ish years old, for reference, not up for adoption (comfortably living in their homeland)

These aren't the only Bellfontaine available, you're free to invent your own, unrelated to Zacharie

---

Lachance

Cajun Plains Lions

Languages

French, Cajun French, Hatian Creole (used among family), Common

Cultural Basics

• Hail from a plains territory stretching from the foothills of a small mountain range to the edge of a swampland. The plains and swamp are separated by a small river.
  
• Family is very close and tend to be fairly secretive toward outsiders - with the slight exception of their neighbors the Bellefontaine as the two families go back generations with fairly common inter-marriage.
  
• Adopted members are not as common, with a preference placed on blood relations for the sake of inheritance and maintaining bloodlines.
  
• Accent can vary, but is always noticeable. Tend to prefer sticking to French/Cajun French.
  
• Tend toward Good and Neutral alignments, with Chaotic being a common trait
  
• Are known for their large parties and feasts. Spars and wrestling matches are a common hobby for many.
  
• All are raised as equals, regardless of gender. Lachance tend to be much more welcoming and accepting of their LGBTQ+ members than their neighbors. Family is family, blood is more important than someone's quirks.
  
• Marriage/Divorce are serious matters and not to be taken lightly, but cubs may still be betrothed if the family can gain something from it. Polyamory is more accepted among the Lachance, though it's still somewhat rare.
  
• Superstitious, and are active practitioners of magic/voodoo/etc. Believe in luck, curses, spells, charms, and so on. Will often gift friends and loved ones charmed trinkets to help them in some area of their life where it seems needed. Will also curse those who wrong them.
  
• Nearly all are well-versed in plants, as well as the spiritual world. Medics, assassins, and clerics are common.
  
• Smaller creature familiars/companions are common and are used for any number of things from mere companionship to information/resource gathering.
  

Appearance Guidelines

• Tend toward lighter tones, or things that would blend with the plains they live in. Wheat, Palominio, and White are common. Lighter shades of Brown, Grey, Peach, Pink, Mauve, Merle, Chartreaux, Lilac, and Strawberry occur on occasion. Other, darker, colors are possible from outsiders marrying into the family.
  
• Lean more toward few/simple markings
  
• Maneless males are extremely common, the story goes they were either manually cropped down or the mane trait was selectively bred out to help with managing the heat of the plains.
  
• Eyes can be any color, or combination of colors. 'Odd eyes' - full heterochromia - are seen as a sign of good luck.
  
• Physically, they tend toward the Medium range with a lean build, but pretty much anything is possible.
  

Applying

Name, appearance, personality~ Maybe an idea of where they fit into the group (born in, adopted in, etc).

Members who've made it to Ama:

• @Rémi
  

Rémi has some siblings running around, too:
- 4 littermates, born in September Y9
>> Rémi, open, open, open, open

Father: Saturnin (7 years), Mother: Honorine (5 years), for reference, not up for adoption (comfortably living in their homeland)


These aren't the only Lachance available, you're free to invent your own, unrelated to Rémi.

General Stuff

Names should be largely French-ish, but here's a fun generator for ideas for given names

The two families live very near each other, with the Bellefontaine in the swamplands and the Lachance in the plains across the river. Think of them like two semi-rival plantation families, I suppose. They would know of each other, and interact fairly often whether that's in the form of hunts or friendly gatherings like parties and feasts to let the groups mingle. It is very common for the two families to inter-marry and the new spouses either choose one side to live with or venture off into the world to make their own way.

Large litters are common for both families, with most consisting of 4-5 cubs. A 1-2 cub litter is considered a bad omen of hard times to come.

amour

( alternatively: babette, enora )


– trades: ambassador && sleuth
– alignment: chaotic good

– appearance:

tailless, global stripes, light leggings, dark eyeshadow

– personality:

“ her angel eyes saw the good in many devils. ”

Amour possesses an undeniable air of grace and elegance. She is independent, defiant, and unintimidated by many. While she certainly does not go searching for any sort of fight, she will not hold her tongue if angered, and would rather cut with words than become physical. She is somewhat quiet and highly observant, pointing out what others fail to notice, and her abstract, whimsical thinking often makes for unusual conversations. She is sharp-witted and speaks her mind freely, which can come across as blunt, though really her intentions are pure. She is a very sincere woman, and never intentionally tries to hurt others. Amour has a strong moral compass and will readily protect and defend what she thinks is right.

Amour rarely trusts others enough to open up to them and hates feelings of vulnerability. Deep down, she intensely craves compassion and approval from those she cares about, though her pride will not allow her to change herself to gain this approval. She can flirt casually, though doesn’t usually intend for it to lead anywhere. The love she observed between her parents makes her quietly wish to experience something similar, though she fears it may never be a possibility. Her independence and lack of trust leaves her distant at times, but she is able to love one individual fully, if they are equally as devoted.


– misc:
Hoping to have her be the kid sister of Zacharie. She is definitely born in the family, was born eyeless and tailless as well! Secondary character and open to any/all plot possibilities with the fam c:

_CODE

@irish ★
I love her~ She's yours, just lemme know where she slots into Zacharie's sibs

I think I'm done! I can always make changes to his design before I audition him if there's anything you don't like/would rather see!



Matthieu Bellefontaine
Matti for short

◈ Boisterous. He has a very infectious enthusiasm and loves to brighten up the mood. He may not always take things as seriously as they should be

◈ Very sociable. He loves striking up conversations with others. It’s often joked that he could have a great conversation with even the likes of a swamp tree. He’s got quite the deep voice that can carry far, especially when he gets excited

◈ Anytime he can get others together, he will. A crowd is his comfort place

◈ Family is important to him and he cherishes his family’s traditions and values. He leans more old fashioned in that he firmly believes in monogamy. He also struggles with understanding and coming to terms with anything other than heterosexual relationships

◈ He's quite superstitious and will frequently look to voodoo practitioners for guidance on important decisions

sex: male
build: large
coat: palomino
eyes: orange (two-tone)
markings: global roaning, gradient socks, gradient stocking
mutations: tailless
other: his mane is also a gradient from bronze to mahogany to black

trades: Bard/Ranger

family dynamics: I figure he could be the oldest sibling to Zacharie and Amour. Though he's smaller than his younger brother, he more than makes up for it with his loud personality. He loves to tease all of his younger siblings, but he's generally softer with his sister(s).

goals: I think I'd like to see some tension at first between himself and Zacharie due to his sexuality. Maybe an argument (or even it could escalate into a fight) before he realizes that he would rather have his brother around rather than never seeing him? Could play that out over a few threads to really give him some growth.

I'd also like to have him struggle finding a mate due to his superstitions. He's so caught up in asking for guidance that he struggles to trust his own heart. This might turn away a few potential suitors

@muuland ★
oh wow okay i did not see that you were finished sorry >.>;;

i like him! and i like that potential for drama between him and zacharie~

he's yours, bring him in whenever you're ready~

new stuff added~

Aymond Bellefontaine
(ay-mo' with an optional soft "n")

BEATNIK - MEDIC

Born alongside Zacharie, Matthieu, and Amour, Aymond has grown up into a.... well, he's certainly somethin'. Prideful, egotistical, flirtatious, and rakish come to mind when attempting to describe him, though Aymond himself insists that he is just a "lovah o' de people." Aymond likes to play the field and get played in the process - mostly with and by women, though he's not above a little bit of "rebellion." He's got a long way to realizing that men are an option for anything but rebellious, forbidden fun, and if confronted, he is less than comfortable at the thought of deconstructing any of his family's "traditional" values.

Beyond his free-lovin' nature (something delicately hidden away from his family members if he can help it) and his cheeky mouth, Aymond really is a kind soul. He delights in sharing a meal or boozy concoction of his own design with friend and stranger alike and he is loathe to raise his voice in anything but raucous agreement to party.

I suppose this would put him in the second oldest of the litter if I'm reading right, though I see him as the "least responsible." Maybe he sired an out-of-wedlock litter and it becomes a scandal! Or his "messing around" with a guy friend becauses a little too serious for him and it just causes a huge mess.... maybe he's the life of the party but feels a bit empty if there's no party to liven up.... or maybe he'll just be my young and wild and free character. Who knows! I don't!

@lokisaurus ★ he sounds fun~ he's all yours, i'll add him to the listing in the first post :3

@Corvus ★

BASTIENNE BELLEFONTAINE

--> RANGER + CLERIC
( FEMALE + SMALL + PALOMINO ( plum accent markings, light unders ) + CHAOTIC GOOD + LESBIAN)
-heterochromia (4-color; green/blue + yellow/red)
-cropped tail
-torn ears from travel, some scarring, roguish handsome smile
-3rd litter; 5? Years old, oldest of that litter

character notes:
--> Bastienne is very much the epitome of "we don't ask, we don't tell." Others of the family have been married by her age, but Bastienne politely and warmly turns down those who approach her. There's always some excuse on her tongue regarding her disinterest in potential suitors, and she never brings a woman around, so there's no pressing her on the issue. Certainly everyone knows Bastienne is gay, or suspects, but Bastienne keeps all of that away from the family and dodges the question.

--> Bastienne can almost come off as lazy to those who don't know better. She has a relaxed demeanor. Full-hearted, warm, Bastienne welcomes company with open arms and a large smile. She can often be found lazing about, napping in the sun, or otherwise taking her sweet time... but Bastienne is a keen hunter. She simply knows when she has to kick it into high gear. Frankly, Bastienne isn't really interested in effort when she knows she can get away with less.

--> She takes hospitality very seriously! Her guests will be cared for and her company given an excellent experience.

--> Bastienne is also extremely monogamous if she were to ever settle down.

--> Superstitious! Bastienne has several beliefs that lie with her family-- bad luck, voodoo, all of it. Bastienne tends to avoid signs that traditionally mean bad luck, and gets very anxious when she has to confront them.

Plans: honestly, I just really want to set her loose and see if she runs into her brothers or Rémi first!

@vermin
she looks like fun~ i'll add her to the list, you can bring her in whenever you're ready

she could be 5 if born May or earlier since the month changes tonight, or 4 if born after May, whatever you pick will lock in the birth month for that litter