Overview
Meerkats live in closely-knit family groups, ranging from six to thirty individuals. These groups are either called "clans" or "mobs", and are led by a dominant female and her mate, the dominant male; the Ardhi and the Anga, respectively. In meerkat society, only these two are allowed to mate; any female found to be pregnant with a litter is likely to be evicted by the Ardhi, and any female who gives birth within the family's burrow risks having her pups killed by her. Such practices may seem cruel, but they are a necessary sacrifice. The more litters there are, the greater the risk of the pups being born with "bad blood". Male meerkats are not bound by such restrictions, and it is common for bolder adults to go "roving", seducing and mating with females from neighboring families in the hope that he will be able to pass his genes on without having to start a family of his own.
Within the family, the raising of pups, foraging and defense of the familial territory falls on the shoulders of everyone. Females within the family, even those that have never given birth themselves, are still able to lactate, and often are responsible for feeding the pups while the Ardhi is foraging or otherwise unable to do so herself. Additionally, while family members are foraging or playing, some will volunteer to stand watch; it is the responsibility of these macho ("eyes") to look out for predators and other dangers and each jicho ("eye") must alert everyone else if they see possible threats. Only with this obedient cooperation can the family survive.
When two or more families come into conflict over territory, the initial confrontation begins with a "war dance"; aggressive posturing in which the family displays the power of their collective soul. Typically, only one family will remain after the war dance, claiming the land as their own. If the families all refuse to back down, a physical confrontation will begin which can last to the death. The family that does not flee or is still alive at the end claims the land as theirs. Separate families will not band together to drive off predators; they will simply flee in separate directions rather than mingle their souls, spirits, blood and destinies.
Beliefs
The meerkat belief is that Mthama, the Great Mother, is the creator of all things that walk, crawl and slither. They believe that every meerkat has certain material and spiritual elements; he is made up of life soul (Roho), spirit (Nafsi), blood (Damu) and Ajali (destiny). Every meerkat belongs to a clan and is bound to that clan by blood relation. During the act of mating, an element called Nafsi, spirit, from the father mingles with the blood, Damu, of the mother and this gives rise to conception. The final elements in the composition of a new litter are Roho, life soul, which comes from the creator together with Ajali, destiny.
The meerkat concept of their dependence on Mthama is further emphasized by the fact that the creator gives them the animating principle, the life soul called Roho, together with their destiny - called Ajali. However, the destiny can be affected by their character and is always changing. The giving of the Roho and Ajali by the creator is an acknowledgment of the limitation of mortal power as well as an affirmation of divine providence. The Roho (soul) is said to be the small bit of Mthama that lives in every meerkat's body, and returns to Her after death; it is the spiritual force of a meerkat’s conscience and influence all of his or her actions.
The Damu in the Ardhi is believed to be more pure than in others, giving them the strength needed to lead and to keep the family alive. Because of this, she naturally produces the more capable and pure offspring, which is why only they are allowed to mate. Because the pups of another, non-dominant female are conceived with less pure elements, there is a risk of them being born with corrupted Damu, or "bad blood". If females with bad blood are allowed to mate, the corrupting effect is worse, leading the Ajali of the pups down dark and evil paths. Eventually, the pups may be born as obvious and terrible monsters that will bring an end to the clan and, if enough of them are together, to the entire world and possibly even Mthama Herself. It is for this reason that mating is so tightly controlled, and if such misbegotten offspring are produced, the offending female is evicted until she takes the monsters into the Shadowlands, where evil spirits and beasts belong, and abandons them there. If she survives and returns, the Ardhi may decide to accept her back into the family. Because their Nasfi plays part in conception instead of their Damu, males are not subject to this same restriction.
If another female wishes to challenge the Ardhi for dominance, she is asserting that her Damu is more pure. The two will fight until one submits (or more rarely, dies), determining that the challenger's Damu was more or less pure, and the Ardhi will either remain dominant or will be replaced depending on the outcome. Any pups had by the former Ardhi will normally not be killed or evicted, as they are pure enough that they pose no immediate danger. Their mother, however, will not be allowed to mate again.
The final importance of a meerkat's blood comes from males that rove; those that wander from their families and unite with other wanderers in a coalition (rarely more than five). Those males that form the coalition ritualistically cut themselves (normally with their own teeth), and then rub the opened wounds together to allow their Damu to mingle. After this, they become "blood brothers", and share a stronger, more intimate link than even a mother shares with her children; it is said that each will feel the joy and pain that his brothers experience, and although it is rare, it is not unheard of, when one of the coalition dies, for the others to follow him so that their blood will not become separated. While most common that the others will continue their lives, so as not to disappoint Mthama by wasting the soul she has given them, they will remember and mourn for their brother until their own deaths, and will not disrespect him (and in turn, themselves) by bringing another into to coalition to replace him. Doing so may strike the deceased with such grief that they run to the Shadowlands, while their anguish will fester into hate and evil. If any meerkat wishes to leave the coalition, all members will again wound themselves so that the blood of their departing brother will be separated from them, and theirs from his, so they will not be forever stricken with grief from the separation. Typically, the words damu ("blood") and kaka ("brother"), are shortened to "daka", an informal nickname that blood brothers sometimes use to refer to each other.
Mythos
Families
Kalahari currently has no meerkat @groups. If you are interested in starting a family, please contact staff or gather five players in-game who would be willing to support the @group with characters of their own.