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Alignment: Dark Arts
Lifespan: 150-175 years Size: Ranges from 5'11" to 6'8" Experience Level: Intermediate-Advanced |
Talents: Fire Magic, Love Magic, Astral Travel, Protection
Disposition: Independent, Opinionated, Motherly, Fierce Suggested Offerings: Sunstone, Tiger's Eye, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Candles, Hearth Fires, Intuitive Song & Chant |
Nicknamed fittingly after the Lion from Greek mythology who would kidnap women, luring heroes into their cave. Once the heroes entered the cave, it would disguise itself as a woman in distress, and once the hero rushed to their side it would transform into a lion, mauling and eating the heroes. Its golden fur was too thick for weapons to penetrate, and its claws were sharper than any sword, ripping through the strongest armor. The Nemean Lion was eventually felled by Heracles himself - a fitting end to a terrible beast.
This coven of women, who call themselves “Nemean Lions,” are in no way spiritually or physically descended from the Nemean Lion of legend. They are closer to the legends of Amazons - they are bold warrior women, able to shift into a Lioness at will. However, they are charmed with the idea of associating themselves with the concept of a cunning, physically terrifying mythological concept, and they share some physical similarities with the description of the Nemean Lion.
This coven of women, who call themselves “Nemean Lions,” are in no way spiritually or physically descended from the Nemean Lion of legend. They are closer to the legends of Amazons - they are bold warrior women, able to shift into a Lioness at will. However, they are charmed with the idea of associating themselves with the concept of a cunning, physically terrifying mythological concept, and they share some physical similarities with the description of the Nemean Lion.
Biology
In their human forms, Nemean Lions are tall and naturally physically strong. They cut out stunning, strong silhouettes, and they value muscle above body shape, maintaining a healthy, protein-packed diet. Darker skin is most present among their population, the lightest skin tones being a fiery bronze, and the majority of the population having much darker shades of skin. Their hair is tightly curled and coarse, and often plaited into fashionable elaborate braids or left free and natural. It is considered a taboo to ever cut their hair in their lifetime, and this includes shaving. The presence of more hair is actually celebrated among their women as a sign of beauty and strength. Their fingers are tipped with long, sharp claws, but their skin is strong like armor and their claws cannot penetrate it without significant pressure (much like our tolerance to our own nails when sharp). Their eyes are golden-yellow and reflective like cats' eyes.
In their lion forms, the Nemean Lions are most like their namesake. Their shades vary as much as an Earth lion and then some, ranging from a snowy white all the way down the brown spectrum to the darkest black. Their humanoid skin tone or hair color does not necessarily indicate the color of their fur while in lion form. Their fur is curly, coarse and wiry, sharp like steel wool, and incapable of being penetrated by sharp weapons. Their claws are extremely, viciously sharp, although the usage of metal armor is not yet present in their world and has not yet been tested against their claws. They are enormous, standing at about five feet at the shoulder minimum, and seven feet at most. They are powerful, agile hunters in this form, and are capable of defending themselves against most threats.
It should be noted that the shifting process can be extremely draining and/or painful for a Nemean lion, so they do not tend to shift unless under ritualistic or defensive circumstances.
In their lion forms, the Nemean Lions are most like their namesake. Their shades vary as much as an Earth lion and then some, ranging from a snowy white all the way down the brown spectrum to the darkest black. Their humanoid skin tone or hair color does not necessarily indicate the color of their fur while in lion form. Their fur is curly, coarse and wiry, sharp like steel wool, and incapable of being penetrated by sharp weapons. Their claws are extremely, viciously sharp, although the usage of metal armor is not yet present in their world and has not yet been tested against their claws. They are enormous, standing at about five feet at the shoulder minimum, and seven feet at most. They are powerful, agile hunters in this form, and are capable of defending themselves against most threats.
It should be noted that the shifting process can be extremely draining and/or painful for a Nemean lion, so they do not tend to shift unless under ritualistic or defensive circumstances.
Disposition & Manifestation
Nemean Lions are a very proud, individualistic people. They believe strongly in the destiny of individuals and of destiny as it pertains to a person's "soul family," fates intertwined like a spiderweb stretching out from each person. In a spiritual sense, their society is more strict than ours, dense with ritual that may not always be explained to their companion. However, in a social sense, they are much more relaxed, and tend to be rather flummoxed by human commitment to things like the sex-based gender binaries and parental rights. They believe each individual works together to create a community, and the community is the ultimate expression of individuals working together. They are rather opinionated and may wish to engage in debates or in-depth conversations about how our society works.
They are primarily interested in finding if they have soul bonds with anyone in our realm, and in meeting as many humans as they possibly can. With a Nemean Lion, you may find yourself compulsed to talk about them even with people who are non-spiritual, or at least not open about their spirituality with you. In the Nemean Lions' society, non-shifters are considered to be weaker and in need of protection, so they are very protective of people who present primarily as human, and may show a motherly face to their companion.
Despite being warriors at heart, they follow a moral code similar to that of humans, and are primarily nonviolent. They are reasonable, logical creatures who can assess even unfamiliar situations with a surprising amount of tact. They do not tend to be scared by the presence of electronics, and perceive computers for what they are - intricate and advanced tools for sharing knowledge. They are very strong and are not afraid to go on the offense if they feel it is necessary, but they are not quick to anger, having gone through extensive training to ensure a levelheadedness even in battle.
Nemean Lions are living beings on a physical plane in another existing universe. They are inherently magical and are quite familiar with having a physical body, so they will most likely attempt to manifest as close to physical beings as they can when given the opportunity. They may present more frequently in a lion form as they visit you, because they enjoy their lion forms quite a bit but cannot maintain them on their physical realm. More subtle manifestations you can expect are warm spots on your body, objects in your hands growing unusually hot, an unexpected filtering of sunlight, candles flickering in a still room, or the smell of warm spices.
They are primarily interested in finding if they have soul bonds with anyone in our realm, and in meeting as many humans as they possibly can. With a Nemean Lion, you may find yourself compulsed to talk about them even with people who are non-spiritual, or at least not open about their spirituality with you. In the Nemean Lions' society, non-shifters are considered to be weaker and in need of protection, so they are very protective of people who present primarily as human, and may show a motherly face to their companion.
Despite being warriors at heart, they follow a moral code similar to that of humans, and are primarily nonviolent. They are reasonable, logical creatures who can assess even unfamiliar situations with a surprising amount of tact. They do not tend to be scared by the presence of electronics, and perceive computers for what they are - intricate and advanced tools for sharing knowledge. They are very strong and are not afraid to go on the offense if they feel it is necessary, but they are not quick to anger, having gone through extensive training to ensure a levelheadedness even in battle.
Nemean Lions are living beings on a physical plane in another existing universe. They are inherently magical and are quite familiar with having a physical body, so they will most likely attempt to manifest as close to physical beings as they can when given the opportunity. They may present more frequently in a lion form as they visit you, because they enjoy their lion forms quite a bit but cannot maintain them on their physical realm. More subtle manifestations you can expect are warm spots on your body, objects in your hands growing unusually hot, an unexpected filtering of sunlight, candles flickering in a still room, or the smell of warm spices.
Social Structure
Nemean Lions are the protectors of a non-nomadic society located in the center of an enormous desert. They have made full use of their surroundings, never finding their desert origins lacking in resources, as they have generations of knowing where to look. Their houses are large, communal buildings dug out of the ground and covered in thatched-grass, making them quite cool even in the middle of the day. Their community is thriving with plantlife and food, and they have developed many ways, both magical and practical, to preserve their food and make it last for quite a long time. They do not want for water, as they have settled nearby a stream, and overall they are quite a happy community with very little hardship.
While the Nemean Lions I am conjuring are women, there are both males and females within their society who tend to not be magically inclined, and are not lion shifters. In order for a Nemean Lion to become a shifter, they must go through extensive rituals and tests, sort of a "second puberty," once they come of age and are to be "women." The ability of shifting into a lion is not genetic but cultural, and can be passed onto anyone they welcome into their society. To be a Lion is to be a protector of the spiritual aspect of their society, similar to a priestesshood, although the majority of the women in their society choose this path.
Overall, gender identity is intrinsically lined with the ability to be a Lion, but in the Nemean Lion culture femininity aligns more with a tendency towards protectiveness and physical prowess. The gender topic, in their society, is much more fluid than ours and not at all associated with the issue of genitalia. However, it is ultimately considered that once you have become a Lion, and therefore chosen to be a "woman," you cannot reverse this decision. Anyone who has gone through the rite to become a Lion is considered feminine, and anyone who has not is considered masculine.
Because the members of their society are sexually diverse, they have no need to lure men from outside societies for the sake of procreation. However, their culture is extremely open, and they generally accept anyone into their society who has proven to be of kind heart and disposition. Generally they are polyamorous and share many intense romantic and sexual relationships of varying degrees, but they do also have a concept of soulmates and being soul-bound in a ritual similar to marriage, which can also be done between multiple people. Children are cherished and usually raised by their mothers primarily, with a great deal of support from the community and potential fathers.
As has been implied thus far, the Nemean Lions have a very ritualistic, spiritual society focused primarily around the sun. Therefore, their summer solstice is the most holy day of the year, and astrological events like eclipses, both solar and lunar, are potent magical times of worship for them. They do worship their sun both as a physical body and as a spiritual concept, and do not represent it through statues or idolatry, choosing to only depict it as exactly what it is: the ever-present sun. Therefore, the majority of their religious practices are performed during the day. Their lives are structured around their rituals and beliefs, and it would be rather extensive and in poor tact to explain them all in this encyclopedia entry, so be sure to ask your own Nemean Lion companion about them when you have the chance.
The coven of Nemean Lions themselves are at the pinnacle of rank in their society. They are the protectors, and therefore the rulers of their people. They take their role in society very seriously, and regularly guard the edges of their city in a still, silent vigil in rotating shifts. They are the warriors and priestesses of their community, and for safety's sake they also function as the primary diplomats and traders with other cultures they are in contact with. Because of this, it is very unlikely that a non-Lion from their society will ever be companions with a human.
While the Nemean Lions I am conjuring are women, there are both males and females within their society who tend to not be magically inclined, and are not lion shifters. In order for a Nemean Lion to become a shifter, they must go through extensive rituals and tests, sort of a "second puberty," once they come of age and are to be "women." The ability of shifting into a lion is not genetic but cultural, and can be passed onto anyone they welcome into their society. To be a Lion is to be a protector of the spiritual aspect of their society, similar to a priestesshood, although the majority of the women in their society choose this path.
Overall, gender identity is intrinsically lined with the ability to be a Lion, but in the Nemean Lion culture femininity aligns more with a tendency towards protectiveness and physical prowess. The gender topic, in their society, is much more fluid than ours and not at all associated with the issue of genitalia. However, it is ultimately considered that once you have become a Lion, and therefore chosen to be a "woman," you cannot reverse this decision. Anyone who has gone through the rite to become a Lion is considered feminine, and anyone who has not is considered masculine.
Because the members of their society are sexually diverse, they have no need to lure men from outside societies for the sake of procreation. However, their culture is extremely open, and they generally accept anyone into their society who has proven to be of kind heart and disposition. Generally they are polyamorous and share many intense romantic and sexual relationships of varying degrees, but they do also have a concept of soulmates and being soul-bound in a ritual similar to marriage, which can also be done between multiple people. Children are cherished and usually raised by their mothers primarily, with a great deal of support from the community and potential fathers.
As has been implied thus far, the Nemean Lions have a very ritualistic, spiritual society focused primarily around the sun. Therefore, their summer solstice is the most holy day of the year, and astrological events like eclipses, both solar and lunar, are potent magical times of worship for them. They do worship their sun both as a physical body and as a spiritual concept, and do not represent it through statues or idolatry, choosing to only depict it as exactly what it is: the ever-present sun. Therefore, the majority of their religious practices are performed during the day. Their lives are structured around their rituals and beliefs, and it would be rather extensive and in poor tact to explain them all in this encyclopedia entry, so be sure to ask your own Nemean Lion companion about them when you have the chance.
The coven of Nemean Lions themselves are at the pinnacle of rank in their society. They are the protectors, and therefore the rulers of their people. They take their role in society very seriously, and regularly guard the edges of their city in a still, silent vigil in rotating shifts. They are the warriors and priestesses of their community, and for safety's sake they also function as the primary diplomats and traders with other cultures they are in contact with. Because of this, it is very unlikely that a non-Lion from their society will ever be companions with a human.
In Companionship
As companions, the Nemean Lions primarily seek social relationships such as friends, lovers, or tour guides to show them around our universe. They are very excited to learn about our world as a whole and would love to learn the intricacies of your own personal spiritual customs, in exchange for being shown theirs. They are optimistic about the connections they feel toward humankind, feeling that there must be some among us who were either Nemean Lions in a past life, or will be in a future one. While we cannot become formal members of their society in a physical manner, they are not averse to initiating a companion into their ways if they have proven to be stronghearted enough.
They are very interested in Earth's ancient Kemetic, African, and Mesoamerican cultures, particularly those established in a desert climate, as they feel the smaller sects of those societies who also worshipped the sun were very close in structure and function to their own. Therefore, those who have a connection to those cultures may feel a strong pull to Nemean Lions. Even if you are outside of these cultures, however, they'd be very excited to participate in any spiritual rituals you may have established in your home. However, they are made a bit uncomfortable by the idea of being placed on an altar and being made "offerings" to, so it's strongly suggested that you use the term "gift" when offering to them, and make it clear that you consider them an equal in your companionship.
They are likely to be powerful protectors and advice-givers, and wonderful partners for performing magic with. They feel most aligned with sun magic, but are also excited about the ideas of candle/fire magic, as well as magic for strengthening or creating love and relationships. They are talented at assisting their companion with astral traveling to their own realm, but they are not realm-hoppers, and stay rather firmly physically rooted in their world as we do. Of course, there are always those individuals who are aligned toward realm-hopping, and they would be happy to develop those talents with their human companion if the opportunity arose.
Overall, Nemean Lions are powerful companions who will bring a lot of love and warmth to your companionship, and as talented diplomats, they are likely to get along well with any other spirits in your family.
They are very interested in Earth's ancient Kemetic, African, and Mesoamerican cultures, particularly those established in a desert climate, as they feel the smaller sects of those societies who also worshipped the sun were very close in structure and function to their own. Therefore, those who have a connection to those cultures may feel a strong pull to Nemean Lions. Even if you are outside of these cultures, however, they'd be very excited to participate in any spiritual rituals you may have established in your home. However, they are made a bit uncomfortable by the idea of being placed on an altar and being made "offerings" to, so it's strongly suggested that you use the term "gift" when offering to them, and make it clear that you consider them an equal in your companionship.
They are likely to be powerful protectors and advice-givers, and wonderful partners for performing magic with. They feel most aligned with sun magic, but are also excited about the ideas of candle/fire magic, as well as magic for strengthening or creating love and relationships. They are talented at assisting their companion with astral traveling to their own realm, but they are not realm-hoppers, and stay rather firmly physically rooted in their world as we do. Of course, there are always those individuals who are aligned toward realm-hopping, and they would be happy to develop those talents with their human companion if the opportunity arose.
Overall, Nemean Lions are powerful companions who will bring a lot of love and warmth to your companionship, and as talented diplomats, they are likely to get along well with any other spirits in your family.
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on my own personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
Nemean Lions, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library.
Nemean Lions, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library.