Post by The Overseer on Feb 17, 2011 15:55:19 GMT -5
Name: Leland Raines
Celebrity Used: Channing Tatum
Sexual Preference: Hetero
Marital Status: Single
Age: 26
Species: Lion
Level: Alpha Leader
Homid Height: 6'3
Homid Weight: 190
Lycan Height: 8'7
Lycan Weight: 734
Eyes: Golden Feline (Permanently Shifted)
Hair: Auburn
Religion(s): Shinto/Bushido
Nationality: American-Japanese
Language(s): Korean, Japanese, English, Chinese(Mandarin, Cantonese, Dungan) Portuguese, Latin
Favorite Food(s): Sushi
Disliked Food(s): Chocolate
Property: DIT-MCO International (Primary Shareholder) Properties/Land, Cadillac vehicles
Weapon(s): 2 Ancient Samurai Swords, 2 Hand-Crafted Samurai Swords, Ancient Samurai Armor
Mark(s) and Tattoo(s): None
Special Abilities:
Lesser- All
Moderate- All
Alpha- Beast Calling, Beast Claws, Commanding, Rejuvination, Revertion, Shields
Alpha Leader- Shield the Call
Lion Specific-
Lion's Roar- Much, much more powerful then the wolf's howl, the lion's roar once released can reach levels of a sonic nature. Sound waves so intense they not only invoke fear, but cause physical pain and impacting
King of the Jungle- The presence, air and aura of a King. This is seen and felt in other Animals and Lycans, making it obvious of King position and increases his dominance stance within the animal kingdom and challenges.
History:
Born to John and Margeret Raines, Leland was a Navy Brat from the get-go. When Leland was only six months old he was living on the USS Nimitz, it stationed at Coronado in San Diego at the time. Making the trip across seas then, Leland would learn how to walk on the flight deck, play in the surplus rooms and even get his own little honorable junior naval officer uniform all by the age of two. Docking at the CNFK in Seoul, Korea had Margeret and Leland having a house on land. They living nextdoor to the Kasmao family found the Kasmao family helping Margeret all they could. Kasmao Hintai was a very understanding man, who just so happened to be obsessed with all things American. John would get Hintai a box of DVDs from America, actually John took them from someone aboard his ship as punishment, then instead of throwing them away... gave them as a gift to Hintai. Hintai, being so utterly grateful, promised to train Leland in the ancient art of true Taekyon. John seized this opportunity to give Leland discipline, so, on Leland's second birthday... he began training. Hintai was a very... very patient man, as Hintai was ordered by his father to only work for the family.
Hintai did invoices and inventory for the Kasmao Trading Company, imports and exports. Long days turned into sleep-filled nights and Leland picked up on it rather easily. By the age of twelve Leland was learning Ju-Jitsu and Aikido. By the age of sixteen he had masted those arts completely and it was time for Leland to go back to America. There, Leland quickly enrolled himself in two classes, one for Tae-Kwon-Do and the second being... Jeet-Kune-Do. Combining all he was taught, Leland was graduated from both classes when he graduated high school. There after he spent a year travelling, learning America and all things about it. When returning to San Diego, Leland would find himself in what would be his career. Leland's mother worked for the Chamber of Commerce, and they had been bullied by a local drug dealer. The drug dealer sent a few of his people to go and take all the plaques from the Chamber of Commerce. The local police were no help, so Leland took it upon himself to retrieve the plaques. Now normally the next step here is alot of ass-kicking, explosions and gunfights, but oh no... this is no movie. Instead Leland worked his way into their good graces, then after a week of planning... Leland broke in. With his training, Leland found it easy to stealth his way in... and out.
Leaving with the plaques, along with a very high-tech laptop. The plaques were returned and Leland now began learning about... computers. Basing their operative capabilities off of his own understandings made Leland... a natural at it. There he began to learn hacking, getting into places and computers with the greatest of ease and yes... this would be a very helpful tool. Casing other places that he saw were dishonorable and not worthy of what they held, Leland would then do four more heists in the span of two months. Getting over-zealous had Leland making a mistake, a costly one. Not realizing just what a Lion Pride was, Leland tried to take an item from the local Rex, and yes... Leland was caught. They played with him at first, clawing and tearing into him, broken flesh and his blood would be spilled. Thankfully that lasted only fourty-five minutes cause Leland had a back-up plan, a very simple one, just... call the cops.
Yes, Leland would rather be in jail... then be in dead. The police came and it turned into a bloodbath. Eight Lions found death that night while the rest would flee. Leland also escaped, barely at that. With the 'friends' he had made in the city for getting them their property back, or giving them money for their causes would be beneficial for Leland. A free clinic would fix him up off the record and give him a bed there. While Leland was in the hospital, the greedy Rex of the territory was killed and his spot taken by one more worthy. That Rex learned of Leland's acts and welcomed Leland into the Pride. There Leland would continue to do what he did, though without the help of The Pride, cause The Rex agreed with what Leland was doing... he could not condone any others of The Pride to do it. Leland felt he was ready, so with a bittersweet goodbye, the Rex banished Leland from The Pride and sent him on his way. That was fine, for Leland attended and graduated from The Art Institute of Las Vegas, using that as a cover in photography. This way he could case the places he was to heist, do it, get out then move onto the next.
John Raines would set Leland up with an old Naval Officer when Leland moved to New York. Mitchell Barington is a hermit fully, the Korean War messed Mitchell up psychologically, so Leland would bring Mitchell the things Mitchell wanted... in return Leland would house his equipment in a very... very secluded and secure basement. The plans of the house would state there was no basement, and with Mitchell having already dug out the space and built a basement... Leland just ordered the basement to be secured in the upmost of high-tech ways, as on paper Leland is a good person, and even further more... Leland... is an enigma.
Becoming Rex
**Leland Raines. Most of his life has been spent through self-discipline. Training from a very young age to become something the world... may never know. He does not strive to be the center of attention, he does not want his 'Fifteen Minutes of Fame'. Most of the time he could care less what pop-culture is producing, nor what those who quote such are talking about. In truth he has wanted to lead a normal life... but.... things always change. This change coming in the form of not being able to just stand by any longer. After the devastation the city has seen in the past few years, with it seems to be a Crisis with the Lions of the city. They finding themselves wandering aimlessly, so spread out they are indeed... just fair game.
This... comes as a travesty to Leland Raines. In just trying to lead his normal... quiet life... wait, backing up here. Las Vegas, Nevada. There Leland had acquired certain knowledges about exhibits for what has been called 'priceless' artifacts. Everything has a price, no matter what it may be. There Leland had joined with the Pride and delved further into Pride Life then he has before. Every Pride has it's problems, this Leland knew and was doing his part to hopefully make things better. That was until a certain New Moon Lioness came along. Oh how playful her beast was from the get-go. An innocence that had opened Leland's eyes to preservation and coveting. To make sure others get the chance to live their lives. So in a moment's face-off with the Regina... Leland found himself standing up, showing his true strength to shine through the vail he has tried to keep for so long. The Regina let them leave and thus Leland's beast would become alot more confident within itself.
Coming to New York was the seemingly best option. That proved to be very true, for the other Lions were so far-spread and no order was found that Leland and the young Lioness could live in peace. As time went on... Leland found himself more drawn to these urges inside of him. Protect, lead... to be... King. In his eyes seeing all was as taken care of as it could be, Leland went back to that carefree lifestyle he has held onto for so long. In London he met a strong Lioness, she rather proud as well. This would further open Leland's eyes upon what his urges were. Deep down, his beast wanted the throne, is destined for that which what it takes to be King. Not just for the power... oh no, there is much more to it. It's just with Leland's disciplined life, the mortal has held the beast back for so long, keeping the Lion down and stunting it's growth into what it truly is.
The time has come for the Lion to step up... and oh how it has. Since Leland's return he has begun the trials. In the four-story Brownstone where he resides, alot, if not most of the rooms there are being filled with the other Lions. Leland even turning what was to be a den into... well... just that. However it of various sheets, pillows, mattresses and the like so they could all sleep in there during the three days of the Lunar cycle. Even further... Leland has challenged any and all who wish to test the Lions, this including other Lions. Leland has made it simple... the Lions of New York will be respected, will be honored and most importantly... will be taken seriously. The trials have already begun, lives having already been lost and in Leland's path will be that road to... the Throne**
**Fire burned it's hallowing reign upon his spirit. The internal, infernal conquested battle of beast... and what once was man. Like liquid soldiers marching into one another they were to meet upon the battlefield that was his very soul. The core, the center of Leland Raines beckoned for the truth in the downfall. He had fallen, wingless... disdainless. Now he was to rise, soar upon the strength of that which he has had his entire life... but has never known it. Something he was born with, his Warrior's Ghost could no longer be but a reserved compliance. It could no longer be just the background figure to be used when Leland chose. No longer would that strength and hunger just be used in times of dire straights. No... now it was to come to the forefront and thrive.
Blood stained the snow in startling thin lashes and splatters that only told the encore of what had happened there. Along the lines of blood and things thicker would be the distinct prints of a Lion. Or rather... many Lions. Lions large, proud and strong had moved along that path in the snow. Somewhere in the center of all those prints found the snow flattened... hardened by the massive amounts crimson fluid that but moments ago pumped life... now simply announced death. It was still thick on the air, those who did not choose to turn a blind mind's eye to it's meaning could pick it up... lives were lost this night that could never be found to come back again.
Leland hunched against the crumbled, decayed structure that used to be a brick building and left now to be not even a full wall. Bared hand pressed a slap of palm against that structure, rushes of fog spoke of breath coming out heavily as the nude form of Leland's flesh was still rippling, rolling back towards the core of said body as the shift was completing back homid. With a deep, strained intake of breath Leland would stand tall, force himself to be upright with his chin held high. Those golden eyes that could never be human again gazed upon the bodies laying in the snow, upon their sides and slight snakings of steam coming from their wounds... like their souls leaving the meaty shells that once housed living creatures
Leland faced three at the same time, by the prints just to the north of the field it would show the fight started in one form... but indeed changed at some point. Four humans stepped into the circle, through the durations Lions reigned their violent carnage upon one another to where in the end... only one Lion walked from that circle.. the victor. Oh that Lion paid a price, he paid that price in blood, sweat, tears and flesh. Wounds to be remembered for lifetimes to come glistened in the moonlight and brittled by the cold. The cold was faced with an air of supremacy as from the shadows came the crunching of snow. In seemingly all directions out came Lions strong... Lions... many.
This would be the Pride, beginning at just twenty-strong. Their numbers increased by the females outnumbering the males. However the Males would have their furred manes up by heads held high. The King must prove thyself to his Kingdom. To The King's Pride he must be tried, tested and found true to hold such a place. But more then that, the Warrior's Ghost must go from the background and claim the throne as... Destined King. This... was proven to be Leland Raines. Such the new king would look to those primal eyes gazing to him in revere, looking upon him as their King and Leland... would speak loudly... speak firmly to them all, **
"Your time as Rogues ends here. The three that lay before you lied to you while lying to themselves. So I say to you, The Proeliator Phasmatis Pride, feast upon the fallen... for the honor they had shown in trying to do right by you will be paid back by them being absorbed back into all of you. Now feast... as it is a gift from your Rex.... from your King"
**Watching them sway their predatory ways to the bodies Leland felt himself grow so proud... filled with pride. He knew now what it truly meant, what all of it was leading up to. All that would happen to him. He gaining a true Queen to rule and reign at his side. One who would have no doubts, nor leave doubts, just as Leland has proven. The moon hung high and bright in it's majestic glory over the pride that now feasted upon the fallen. One conquest gone, an end that birthed so many beginnings. This moment... the end of innocence and ignorance.... the beginning of the paths that await... Leland Raines**
Life After Death
The constant turmoil of his actual career conflicting with his newly-found love of leading a Pride, Leland was faced with decisions that should have been easy... but of course most are not. Having learned so much as a Rex, Leland had believed he made the right decisions and most importantly he stuck by his choices and didn't back down. What it came down to was not from within the Pride... but those external forces he has been fighting for years, those who deem themselves better then society. Leland took on an organization that was way too close to home and it backfired on him in the worst of ways. It all came down to one night, one situation where he had a choice to make... and he made it.
The small obituary read that Leland Raines died in a vehicle fire. That night Leland left, the decision to keep the Pride away from enemies they did not deserve he let them believe he was dead. Sticking with that decision meant going into hiding and travelling away from New York City. Leland did just that, going from city to city, each place he found the organization that was hunting him and thus... he began to hunt them. Working his way from tail to head of this vicious serpent, Leland accomplished his task, taking out the leader and enjoying where the next day the papers read 'Man dies in vehicle fire'.
Soon the media will be saying different things, soon they will be announcing that Leland Raines is actually alive. Well, in truth he'll be lucky to get an honorable mention on page 8, or wind up on someone's internet blog. That does not really concern him, for after taking care of some personal business, Leland travels to a place that is much more fitting then even he realizes, a place where he will get a chance at a new start and in that... at least seven targets of interest for him to choose how the next chapters of his life are to begin. Though we all know it will be life itself that chooses how those chapters conclude. Just as during his stay in Hawaii he researched and found where quite a few members of his previous Pride have relocated to and as luck/fate/destiny/life would have it... their location was much... much closer. So with dual business he takes a trip to Los Angeles... to complete a circle... and possibly begin another.
Completeing his business in Los Angeles, Leland sets to tracking down the rest of his former Pride. One being Terrence, who has began a life in Idaho with a surprise. Leland got in touch with Terrence, only to find out there was no prominent Lion gathering there, Leland headed to Idaho. Seeing Terrance and Randy were living the simple life and enjoying it... Leland knew that was not the life for him. Getting in touch with Mitchell Barington, Leland got a line on another tropical location, Leland did not hesitate to travel to the Commonwealth of Ori Islands. Much like the previous place he had gone to... there was no prominant Lion presence there, thus without the politics, Leland worked much faster in obtaining residence and getting to work... in many aspects.
Time spent in Ori was shrouded in conspiracy and controversy... so much he does not like to talk about it and in that no one else knows of what happened there. Travelling is what he set out to do, the want to see the world and all it had to offer is what he did. Leland made it as far as a remote location in Central Africa, more of which was shared with people who will not repeat Leland's involvement there. Going back to the states found him in Boston, where it was time to begin passing on his knowledge of martial arts through his own Dojo. There he was told by Rachel that he has a son, born where Leland was born, in fact having gone further to having been birthed in a temple. The events that followed were so impactful that Leland actually stopped working all together, he had to focus on himself and well... when it rains it pours. It was in that place Leland got word and rushed to Madrid, where tragedy struck far, far too close to home. The trip to Spain was purely personal, no business of any kind was done there.
While in Madrid Leland got a call from someone he hadn't heard from in quite a while. Raven was just needing to hear his voice and so Leland, much like most all other times, kept his business and life to himself while discussing her's. The conversation was brief and in that he found the irony of where she had just come from to be a great display of fate at work. With everything situated in Madrid, Leland, using his previous papers, got an indefinite passport to Rio... where he's to finish up one bit of personal business... only to begin so very, very much more. The initial reason for going to Rio is that with the death of his parents, Leland found his mother's diary and wanted to get closer to them. This being the reason for going to Rio... to retrace the steps they took on their honeymoon and where his life technically... began.
As fate would have it Raven was there for her own personal reasons. They finally got to have that talk, well, one of many and in that Leland found just a bit more clarity. While there Leland also got a call from a close connection, one that found him property Leland's been looking for, searching for a long, long time. That property and land was found in... Chicago. So with the conclusion of his personal business in Rio, Leland took the flight that night back to the states and... Chicago, where he not only faced past demons... but established a wider kingdom.
The biggest happenings in Chicago was when Rachel contacted Leland and informed him of his son, Marco. That impacted Leland far deeper then even he realized, where such glorious news got so many reactions from him. It was a slow decline from there, personal relationships falling apart until Marco's health was in jeopardy. Leland did not think twice, one night he gathered up what he could and left Chicago with Marco and Rachel. They arrived in O Fallen, Missouri to see Dr. Cecilia Hsien-Tsing YU MD... the best Pediatrician in America.
Marco began showing signs of increased body temperature, irritability and sweating. Leland feared the worst... Mowgli Syndrome. After arguements with the hospital staff, Leland got a lawyer to find the laws he needed. They were found and through parental/guardian rights, Leland stood, with security officers, in each and every one of Marco's tests. They went a little longer then usual due to Leland not allowing the staff to do anything to his son he didn't see as right. He eventually let them draw blood, where Marco tested negative to any disease.
Leland's life changed yet again when two things happened in the same day. The first was Dr. Hsien-Tsing finally realized that Marco's problems were external. She explained that due to Leland and Rachel's body temperatures being so high that since they constantly had the baby either on them or against them in some way, it increased Marco's core temperature and he was having trouble lowering it on his own. Leland was stifling his own baby and no one knows his true, deeper thoughts to that as he just simply had it stopped.
The second piece of news Leland got that day was that his aunt and uncle passed away. Ret. Maj. Paul Raines(USMC) of Black Sky had stepped in to aid in getting the teams in the Kansas City Metro Area in order. It started out as just preparing for publicity campaigns since Black Sky was starting to hit the national media with their work in Kansas City. The higher-ups of Black Sky did not want that. Paul Raines and his wife, Francene, were staying in Kansas City when a faulty gas line caught fire and both Paul and Francene perished in the fire. Leland recieved a call from his father, Paul's brother, that it was no accident and... it was not Black Sky related. Leland made a few calls and being briefed on the situation in Kansas City, there was no hesitation, Leland set things into motion, where Terrence acquired DIT-MCO International, mainly for the land and properties in Kansas City, Missouri. Just north of Swope Park... right in the heart of the chaos since Leland's well-more connected to this then anyone realizes.
Celebrity Used: Channing Tatum
Sexual Preference: Hetero
Marital Status: Single
Age: 26
Species: Lion
Level: Alpha Leader
Homid Height: 6'3
Homid Weight: 190
Lycan Height: 8'7
Lycan Weight: 734
Eyes: Golden Feline (Permanently Shifted)
Hair: Auburn
Religion(s): Shinto/Bushido
Nationality: American-Japanese
Language(s): Korean, Japanese, English, Chinese(Mandarin, Cantonese, Dungan) Portuguese, Latin
Favorite Food(s): Sushi
Disliked Food(s): Chocolate
Property: DIT-MCO International (Primary Shareholder) Properties/Land, Cadillac vehicles
Weapon(s): 2 Ancient Samurai Swords, 2 Hand-Crafted Samurai Swords, Ancient Samurai Armor
Mark(s) and Tattoo(s): None
Special Abilities:
Lesser- All
Moderate- All
Alpha- Beast Calling, Beast Claws, Commanding, Rejuvination, Revertion, Shields
Alpha Leader- Shield the Call
Lion Specific-
Lion's Roar- Much, much more powerful then the wolf's howl, the lion's roar once released can reach levels of a sonic nature. Sound waves so intense they not only invoke fear, but cause physical pain and impacting
King of the Jungle- The presence, air and aura of a King. This is seen and felt in other Animals and Lycans, making it obvious of King position and increases his dominance stance within the animal kingdom and challenges.
History:
Born to John and Margeret Raines, Leland was a Navy Brat from the get-go. When Leland was only six months old he was living on the USS Nimitz, it stationed at Coronado in San Diego at the time. Making the trip across seas then, Leland would learn how to walk on the flight deck, play in the surplus rooms and even get his own little honorable junior naval officer uniform all by the age of two. Docking at the CNFK in Seoul, Korea had Margeret and Leland having a house on land. They living nextdoor to the Kasmao family found the Kasmao family helping Margeret all they could. Kasmao Hintai was a very understanding man, who just so happened to be obsessed with all things American. John would get Hintai a box of DVDs from America, actually John took them from someone aboard his ship as punishment, then instead of throwing them away... gave them as a gift to Hintai. Hintai, being so utterly grateful, promised to train Leland in the ancient art of true Taekyon. John seized this opportunity to give Leland discipline, so, on Leland's second birthday... he began training. Hintai was a very... very patient man, as Hintai was ordered by his father to only work for the family.
Hintai did invoices and inventory for the Kasmao Trading Company, imports and exports. Long days turned into sleep-filled nights and Leland picked up on it rather easily. By the age of twelve Leland was learning Ju-Jitsu and Aikido. By the age of sixteen he had masted those arts completely and it was time for Leland to go back to America. There, Leland quickly enrolled himself in two classes, one for Tae-Kwon-Do and the second being... Jeet-Kune-Do. Combining all he was taught, Leland was graduated from both classes when he graduated high school. There after he spent a year travelling, learning America and all things about it. When returning to San Diego, Leland would find himself in what would be his career. Leland's mother worked for the Chamber of Commerce, and they had been bullied by a local drug dealer. The drug dealer sent a few of his people to go and take all the plaques from the Chamber of Commerce. The local police were no help, so Leland took it upon himself to retrieve the plaques. Now normally the next step here is alot of ass-kicking, explosions and gunfights, but oh no... this is no movie. Instead Leland worked his way into their good graces, then after a week of planning... Leland broke in. With his training, Leland found it easy to stealth his way in... and out.
Leaving with the plaques, along with a very high-tech laptop. The plaques were returned and Leland now began learning about... computers. Basing their operative capabilities off of his own understandings made Leland... a natural at it. There he began to learn hacking, getting into places and computers with the greatest of ease and yes... this would be a very helpful tool. Casing other places that he saw were dishonorable and not worthy of what they held, Leland would then do four more heists in the span of two months. Getting over-zealous had Leland making a mistake, a costly one. Not realizing just what a Lion Pride was, Leland tried to take an item from the local Rex, and yes... Leland was caught. They played with him at first, clawing and tearing into him, broken flesh and his blood would be spilled. Thankfully that lasted only fourty-five minutes cause Leland had a back-up plan, a very simple one, just... call the cops.
Yes, Leland would rather be in jail... then be in dead. The police came and it turned into a bloodbath. Eight Lions found death that night while the rest would flee. Leland also escaped, barely at that. With the 'friends' he had made in the city for getting them their property back, or giving them money for their causes would be beneficial for Leland. A free clinic would fix him up off the record and give him a bed there. While Leland was in the hospital, the greedy Rex of the territory was killed and his spot taken by one more worthy. That Rex learned of Leland's acts and welcomed Leland into the Pride. There Leland would continue to do what he did, though without the help of The Pride, cause The Rex agreed with what Leland was doing... he could not condone any others of The Pride to do it. Leland felt he was ready, so with a bittersweet goodbye, the Rex banished Leland from The Pride and sent him on his way. That was fine, for Leland attended and graduated from The Art Institute of Las Vegas, using that as a cover in photography. This way he could case the places he was to heist, do it, get out then move onto the next.
John Raines would set Leland up with an old Naval Officer when Leland moved to New York. Mitchell Barington is a hermit fully, the Korean War messed Mitchell up psychologically, so Leland would bring Mitchell the things Mitchell wanted... in return Leland would house his equipment in a very... very secluded and secure basement. The plans of the house would state there was no basement, and with Mitchell having already dug out the space and built a basement... Leland just ordered the basement to be secured in the upmost of high-tech ways, as on paper Leland is a good person, and even further more... Leland... is an enigma.
Becoming Rex
**Leland Raines. Most of his life has been spent through self-discipline. Training from a very young age to become something the world... may never know. He does not strive to be the center of attention, he does not want his 'Fifteen Minutes of Fame'. Most of the time he could care less what pop-culture is producing, nor what those who quote such are talking about. In truth he has wanted to lead a normal life... but.... things always change. This change coming in the form of not being able to just stand by any longer. After the devastation the city has seen in the past few years, with it seems to be a Crisis with the Lions of the city. They finding themselves wandering aimlessly, so spread out they are indeed... just fair game.
This... comes as a travesty to Leland Raines. In just trying to lead his normal... quiet life... wait, backing up here. Las Vegas, Nevada. There Leland had acquired certain knowledges about exhibits for what has been called 'priceless' artifacts. Everything has a price, no matter what it may be. There Leland had joined with the Pride and delved further into Pride Life then he has before. Every Pride has it's problems, this Leland knew and was doing his part to hopefully make things better. That was until a certain New Moon Lioness came along. Oh how playful her beast was from the get-go. An innocence that had opened Leland's eyes to preservation and coveting. To make sure others get the chance to live their lives. So in a moment's face-off with the Regina... Leland found himself standing up, showing his true strength to shine through the vail he has tried to keep for so long. The Regina let them leave and thus Leland's beast would become alot more confident within itself.
Coming to New York was the seemingly best option. That proved to be very true, for the other Lions were so far-spread and no order was found that Leland and the young Lioness could live in peace. As time went on... Leland found himself more drawn to these urges inside of him. Protect, lead... to be... King. In his eyes seeing all was as taken care of as it could be, Leland went back to that carefree lifestyle he has held onto for so long. In London he met a strong Lioness, she rather proud as well. This would further open Leland's eyes upon what his urges were. Deep down, his beast wanted the throne, is destined for that which what it takes to be King. Not just for the power... oh no, there is much more to it. It's just with Leland's disciplined life, the mortal has held the beast back for so long, keeping the Lion down and stunting it's growth into what it truly is.
The time has come for the Lion to step up... and oh how it has. Since Leland's return he has begun the trials. In the four-story Brownstone where he resides, alot, if not most of the rooms there are being filled with the other Lions. Leland even turning what was to be a den into... well... just that. However it of various sheets, pillows, mattresses and the like so they could all sleep in there during the three days of the Lunar cycle. Even further... Leland has challenged any and all who wish to test the Lions, this including other Lions. Leland has made it simple... the Lions of New York will be respected, will be honored and most importantly... will be taken seriously. The trials have already begun, lives having already been lost and in Leland's path will be that road to... the Throne**
**Fire burned it's hallowing reign upon his spirit. The internal, infernal conquested battle of beast... and what once was man. Like liquid soldiers marching into one another they were to meet upon the battlefield that was his very soul. The core, the center of Leland Raines beckoned for the truth in the downfall. He had fallen, wingless... disdainless. Now he was to rise, soar upon the strength of that which he has had his entire life... but has never known it. Something he was born with, his Warrior's Ghost could no longer be but a reserved compliance. It could no longer be just the background figure to be used when Leland chose. No longer would that strength and hunger just be used in times of dire straights. No... now it was to come to the forefront and thrive.
Blood stained the snow in startling thin lashes and splatters that only told the encore of what had happened there. Along the lines of blood and things thicker would be the distinct prints of a Lion. Or rather... many Lions. Lions large, proud and strong had moved along that path in the snow. Somewhere in the center of all those prints found the snow flattened... hardened by the massive amounts crimson fluid that but moments ago pumped life... now simply announced death. It was still thick on the air, those who did not choose to turn a blind mind's eye to it's meaning could pick it up... lives were lost this night that could never be found to come back again.
Leland hunched against the crumbled, decayed structure that used to be a brick building and left now to be not even a full wall. Bared hand pressed a slap of palm against that structure, rushes of fog spoke of breath coming out heavily as the nude form of Leland's flesh was still rippling, rolling back towards the core of said body as the shift was completing back homid. With a deep, strained intake of breath Leland would stand tall, force himself to be upright with his chin held high. Those golden eyes that could never be human again gazed upon the bodies laying in the snow, upon their sides and slight snakings of steam coming from their wounds... like their souls leaving the meaty shells that once housed living creatures
Leland faced three at the same time, by the prints just to the north of the field it would show the fight started in one form... but indeed changed at some point. Four humans stepped into the circle, through the durations Lions reigned their violent carnage upon one another to where in the end... only one Lion walked from that circle.. the victor. Oh that Lion paid a price, he paid that price in blood, sweat, tears and flesh. Wounds to be remembered for lifetimes to come glistened in the moonlight and brittled by the cold. The cold was faced with an air of supremacy as from the shadows came the crunching of snow. In seemingly all directions out came Lions strong... Lions... many.
This would be the Pride, beginning at just twenty-strong. Their numbers increased by the females outnumbering the males. However the Males would have their furred manes up by heads held high. The King must prove thyself to his Kingdom. To The King's Pride he must be tried, tested and found true to hold such a place. But more then that, the Warrior's Ghost must go from the background and claim the throne as... Destined King. This... was proven to be Leland Raines. Such the new king would look to those primal eyes gazing to him in revere, looking upon him as their King and Leland... would speak loudly... speak firmly to them all, **
"Your time as Rogues ends here. The three that lay before you lied to you while lying to themselves. So I say to you, The Proeliator Phasmatis Pride, feast upon the fallen... for the honor they had shown in trying to do right by you will be paid back by them being absorbed back into all of you. Now feast... as it is a gift from your Rex.... from your King"
**Watching them sway their predatory ways to the bodies Leland felt himself grow so proud... filled with pride. He knew now what it truly meant, what all of it was leading up to. All that would happen to him. He gaining a true Queen to rule and reign at his side. One who would have no doubts, nor leave doubts, just as Leland has proven. The moon hung high and bright in it's majestic glory over the pride that now feasted upon the fallen. One conquest gone, an end that birthed so many beginnings. This moment... the end of innocence and ignorance.... the beginning of the paths that await... Leland Raines**
Life After Death
The constant turmoil of his actual career conflicting with his newly-found love of leading a Pride, Leland was faced with decisions that should have been easy... but of course most are not. Having learned so much as a Rex, Leland had believed he made the right decisions and most importantly he stuck by his choices and didn't back down. What it came down to was not from within the Pride... but those external forces he has been fighting for years, those who deem themselves better then society. Leland took on an organization that was way too close to home and it backfired on him in the worst of ways. It all came down to one night, one situation where he had a choice to make... and he made it.
The small obituary read that Leland Raines died in a vehicle fire. That night Leland left, the decision to keep the Pride away from enemies they did not deserve he let them believe he was dead. Sticking with that decision meant going into hiding and travelling away from New York City. Leland did just that, going from city to city, each place he found the organization that was hunting him and thus... he began to hunt them. Working his way from tail to head of this vicious serpent, Leland accomplished his task, taking out the leader and enjoying where the next day the papers read 'Man dies in vehicle fire'.
Soon the media will be saying different things, soon they will be announcing that Leland Raines is actually alive. Well, in truth he'll be lucky to get an honorable mention on page 8, or wind up on someone's internet blog. That does not really concern him, for after taking care of some personal business, Leland travels to a place that is much more fitting then even he realizes, a place where he will get a chance at a new start and in that... at least seven targets of interest for him to choose how the next chapters of his life are to begin. Though we all know it will be life itself that chooses how those chapters conclude. Just as during his stay in Hawaii he researched and found where quite a few members of his previous Pride have relocated to and as luck/fate/destiny/life would have it... their location was much... much closer. So with dual business he takes a trip to Los Angeles... to complete a circle... and possibly begin another.
Completeing his business in Los Angeles, Leland sets to tracking down the rest of his former Pride. One being Terrence, who has began a life in Idaho with a surprise. Leland got in touch with Terrence, only to find out there was no prominent Lion gathering there, Leland headed to Idaho. Seeing Terrance and Randy were living the simple life and enjoying it... Leland knew that was not the life for him. Getting in touch with Mitchell Barington, Leland got a line on another tropical location, Leland did not hesitate to travel to the Commonwealth of Ori Islands. Much like the previous place he had gone to... there was no prominant Lion presence there, thus without the politics, Leland worked much faster in obtaining residence and getting to work... in many aspects.
Time spent in Ori was shrouded in conspiracy and controversy... so much he does not like to talk about it and in that no one else knows of what happened there. Travelling is what he set out to do, the want to see the world and all it had to offer is what he did. Leland made it as far as a remote location in Central Africa, more of which was shared with people who will not repeat Leland's involvement there. Going back to the states found him in Boston, where it was time to begin passing on his knowledge of martial arts through his own Dojo. There he was told by Rachel that he has a son, born where Leland was born, in fact having gone further to having been birthed in a temple. The events that followed were so impactful that Leland actually stopped working all together, he had to focus on himself and well... when it rains it pours. It was in that place Leland got word and rushed to Madrid, where tragedy struck far, far too close to home. The trip to Spain was purely personal, no business of any kind was done there.
While in Madrid Leland got a call from someone he hadn't heard from in quite a while. Raven was just needing to hear his voice and so Leland, much like most all other times, kept his business and life to himself while discussing her's. The conversation was brief and in that he found the irony of where she had just come from to be a great display of fate at work. With everything situated in Madrid, Leland, using his previous papers, got an indefinite passport to Rio... where he's to finish up one bit of personal business... only to begin so very, very much more. The initial reason for going to Rio is that with the death of his parents, Leland found his mother's diary and wanted to get closer to them. This being the reason for going to Rio... to retrace the steps they took on their honeymoon and where his life technically... began.
As fate would have it Raven was there for her own personal reasons. They finally got to have that talk, well, one of many and in that Leland found just a bit more clarity. While there Leland also got a call from a close connection, one that found him property Leland's been looking for, searching for a long, long time. That property and land was found in... Chicago. So with the conclusion of his personal business in Rio, Leland took the flight that night back to the states and... Chicago, where he not only faced past demons... but established a wider kingdom.
The biggest happenings in Chicago was when Rachel contacted Leland and informed him of his son, Marco. That impacted Leland far deeper then even he realized, where such glorious news got so many reactions from him. It was a slow decline from there, personal relationships falling apart until Marco's health was in jeopardy. Leland did not think twice, one night he gathered up what he could and left Chicago with Marco and Rachel. They arrived in O Fallen, Missouri to see Dr. Cecilia Hsien-Tsing YU MD... the best Pediatrician in America.
Marco began showing signs of increased body temperature, irritability and sweating. Leland feared the worst... Mowgli Syndrome. After arguements with the hospital staff, Leland got a lawyer to find the laws he needed. They were found and through parental/guardian rights, Leland stood, with security officers, in each and every one of Marco's tests. They went a little longer then usual due to Leland not allowing the staff to do anything to his son he didn't see as right. He eventually let them draw blood, where Marco tested negative to any disease.
Leland's life changed yet again when two things happened in the same day. The first was Dr. Hsien-Tsing finally realized that Marco's problems were external. She explained that due to Leland and Rachel's body temperatures being so high that since they constantly had the baby either on them or against them in some way, it increased Marco's core temperature and he was having trouble lowering it on his own. Leland was stifling his own baby and no one knows his true, deeper thoughts to that as he just simply had it stopped.
The second piece of news Leland got that day was that his aunt and uncle passed away. Ret. Maj. Paul Raines(USMC) of Black Sky had stepped in to aid in getting the teams in the Kansas City Metro Area in order. It started out as just preparing for publicity campaigns since Black Sky was starting to hit the national media with their work in Kansas City. The higher-ups of Black Sky did not want that. Paul Raines and his wife, Francene, were staying in Kansas City when a faulty gas line caught fire and both Paul and Francene perished in the fire. Leland recieved a call from his father, Paul's brother, that it was no accident and... it was not Black Sky related. Leland made a few calls and being briefed on the situation in Kansas City, there was no hesitation, Leland set things into motion, where Terrence acquired DIT-MCO International, mainly for the land and properties in Kansas City, Missouri. Just north of Swope Park... right in the heart of the chaos since Leland's well-more connected to this then anyone realizes.