Lions

A militaristic honor-bound warrior class that perceives themselves as the law in Spirit City and the working class as a valuable resource under their survey. Their strict and severe rituals for their warriors make them susceptible to the Spirits, but the dominant force on the West side of the Jordan. They have bastardized bushido code they follow.

Overview

When the Jordan River flooded, it separated the East and West half of the cities. Westpoint and Jordan Meadows were obliterated and Poplar Grove and Glendale were thought to be obliterated. In truth, they were just not known to the East side, and in the meantime several different warring tribes had risen with their own ideas of how to run what was left. Blood flowed freely and warriors were made.

The Lions proved to be the strongest and formed their own strict system mimicking the bushido code of feudal Japan's Samurai. They operate from and travel by the Union Pacific Railroad to survey and maintain their lands.

They formed a pseudo-feudal approach to surviving the last few years, transforming the Western halves to farmlands and adopting a Bushido code in order to protect the farmlands who they view as essential vassals and the most valuable resource to society. They believe they need to consolidate growth and people to make a new life within Spirit City rather than find a way to escape and try to equalize living and wealth amongst the community.

They spent much time expanding and attempting to brave sections of the stream before breaking through Constitution Park in Fairpark. They immediately set to making battle with the APCA over the East Jordan.

• Founded: July 4th, 1992
• Leader(s):
  👤 Elijah "Shredder" Townsend
  👤 Shad Combs
  👤 Perdetta Burgess
• Base of Operations:
  📍Glendale
  📍Poplar Grove
• Affiliation:
  🟥 The House
  🟥 The 50s
  🟥 APCA

Philosophy & Goals

What is the faction's core belief or mission? What are their long-term goals, and how do they go about achieving them?

Philosophy

The Lions will make Salt Lake City into a self sufficient community and utopia in which all people are cared for and serve a purpose. No one is above anyone else. Those who stand against the will of the community are against the community.

The Code

This is the Pride of Lions and guides their community and what they fight for. These 8 rules are meant to guide all action and reaction.

1. Rectitude
2. Justice
3. Stewardship
4. Respect
5. Honesty
6. Honor
7. Solidarity
8. Conviction

Short-term

⚔️ Dismantle the APCA and absorb the East Jordan.
🪐 Gain access the manufacturing plants and medicine of the East Jordan.
⚔️ Prevent Contractors from making the Stream push forward anymore than it has already. By any means necessary.
🪐 Establish a mentorship program to train the next generations on their place in the world.
⚔️ Eliminate all bastions of the old world and those of that new world that would stand against the good of the community.

Long-term

🪐 Unite Salt Lake City under the new Bushido code.
🪐 Create a better world for everyone in Salt Lake City and ensure no child goes hungry again.
🪐 Never let another Flood happen. No matter what.

Organizational Structure

Describe how the faction is organized. How are they structured? Is it hierarchical or decentralized?

• Hierarchy: The Lions are composed of 3 prides which handle the functions of society.
  🏛️Claws. The enforcers of the Lions and militaristic might behind them. They protect the people and ensure the Code is followed.
  👤 Elijah Townsend set forth the philosophy of the Lions and founded the Claws, and acts as a figurehead while denying that the Claws serve any leader but the community.
  🏛️ Farmers' Coalition. Responsible for doing the day-to-day tasks that keep the West Jordan from falling apart, including agriculture, infrastructure, and more. Highly respected.
  👤 Shad Combs, lifelong agriculturalist and SLC resident, loosely guides the farmers in their tasks and acts as the defacto leader.
  🏛️ Shadows. Responsible for all subtlety required of Lions, including espionage, subterfuge, assassination, and more.
  👤 Perdetta Burgess is the name that frequently crops up with Shadow operations, though she maintains she is not a part of the organization.

Key Resource & Technology

What resources, technology, or magic does the faction rely on? Any special items or powers they wield?

• The Lions control the fertile, rich lands of the West Jordan, as well as the largest reservoir of drinking water, and an irrigation system.
• The main rail station is in Glendale and make transportation fast and efficient.
• A vast amount of livestock and work animals, including riding camels and elephants.

Notable Events

Any major events or plot points that have involved the faction. This could be past successes, failures, or moments that shaped their current state.

• The Flood. (May 16th, 1989) The West Jordan is thrown into chaos, with the majority of city's leadership occupying downtown and the East side.
• Warring Tribes. (July 7th, 1989) Several gangs form in West Jordan, competing over resources. This period of conflict continues for nearly eight years.
• The Pride. (March 23rd, 1996) One gang, "The Pride", organizes under someone calling himself "Shredder" and focuses on not just turf wars, but helping citizens. They begin to gain traction.
• Lions. (July 4th, 1997) The Pride crushes or absorbs all other gangs, now calling themselves Lions as they gain full control over the West Jordan.
• The Code. (July 28th, 1997) "The Code" is drafted by Elijah Townsend and ratified by every neighborhood, community, group, and gang in the West Jordan.
• Farmers' Coalition. (August 24th, 1997) Elijah Townsend meets with the former unions of agriculturalists, farmers, and others to draft plans to strengthen the impoverished and disenfranchised, creating the Farmers' Coalition.
• Dissenting Factions. (September 15th, 1997) Radicalists within the Lions opposing the Code and power given to the Farmers' Coalition begin plotting a hostile takeover.
• First Blood of the New World Order. (December 25th, 1997) The radicalists are discovered and are bled out on Glendale farms. This begins a new tradition of using the bodies of betrayers to fertilize the soil.
• Shadow Act. (April 19th, 1998) The Farmers' Coalition petitions to create a sector dedicated to the gathering of information. Townsend, while opposed, bows to the will of the community and the Shadows are created.
• Old World Corruption. (September 11th, 2001) Agents from the APCA attempt to make contact with the Lions and offer to absorb them into the existing government. They are executed and one allowed to leave to spread the word. The Claws begin organizing.
• Uniting the City. (October 12th, 2001) The Lions advanced on the East Jordan through Fairpark and will conquer the rest of Salt Lake City and unite the community. The war continues to this day.

Important NPCS

List key characters involved with the faction. Provides a bit of background and their role in the faction. Will fill out as more episodes occur.

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