❧ A R B O R E M ❧

long live
THE KING

Notes
- added onyx ends, onyx ridge, dark brown cover, and white marbled unders
- changed eyes from green to hazel
- changed base from gray to hallowed and then to supernal
- changed mane from onyx to supernal
- gave tigers eye
- total cost: 18 gb, 30 piety, 1 sacred body, one supernal body and one supernal fur.
- arborem is the accusative form of 'tree' in Latin. place of his birth.
- mother's name means 'save' or 'save him' in Swahili

It is not always that true evil appears in a creature so noble as the lion. But on this occassion- the birth of Arborem- such an evil lion did appear. But the shallow Abasi only cared for looks, and he had big plans for his succeeding party. Oh yes. He had plans.

At first, it was not so much of an issue, but as lavish praise continued to be showered over Arbor, his ego grew and grew, and so did his visions of a "perfect" pride. Those not strong enough would be killed. Those not beautiful enough would be killed. Deformed cubs would be frozen forever in their original state. He would have rules, too. Those under 5 markings must prove their worth otherwise, and if they could not, they would be chased to the edge of the Mourner's Ravine and shoved over the edge.

Brutal. Unfeeling. Forever young. Arborem, cursed by the gods as punishment for his cruel deeds, was made to be forever youthful. His body never aged, he never grew old, but there is a gift that comes with extensive years. Wisdom. Arborem would never be allowed to gain wisdom to see what he did was wrong. This, perhaps, was the cruelest punishment of all.

Why was The Young King so horrible? What turned his heart from flesh to stone? The answer lies in his early youth, as most deep-rooted problems often do. Arborem, had it not been for King Abasi, would have likely been killed. His pride was a kill-or-be-killed world; for a male cub born with a dismal six markings, there was little chance of survival. To save his life, or delay the taking of it, Arborem's mother, Kumwokoa, through him out into the savannah during a horrible cull. Arborem would not see her again until the end of his life.

Soon picked up by a shady, traveling, merchant and his pride, Arborem was quickly sold for a price of two GB to the shallow King Abasi. With a few sprinkles of magic dust and some strange objects found in the Oasis nearby, Arborem was an heir. Abasi needn't worry any longer; out of sight and out of mind, Arbor waited frozen until his day as king would come.