Post by Shanza on Mar 26, 2010 15:08:59 GMT -5
The heights are listed for example as 15-18hh (avg. 16-17.2). This means that while heights can range from 15 to 18 hands high, most members will be with in the range of 16 to 17.2 hands high. One hand is four inches, so 0.2 means a half a hand, 0.1 means one fourth, and 0.3 means three fourths. There is no such thing as .4 of a hand. For example heights progress as: 12.0, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 13.0 hands high.
Feathering, or feathers, are the long hairs on the lower legs, generally starting mid-cannon (cannon is the bone between the knee/hock and the ankle) and they generally are long enough to touch the ground. Mostly seen on draft breeds. For examples, look at draft horses, some cob horses have them as well. The Clydesdale is a traditional example.
Unicorn Breeds
Unicorns' horns are most often crystalline (slightly transparent, like a diamond or a crystal), white or cream, or black. They also often shaded with the main coat color. This shaded coat color can be complete or be blended with the cystalline, white, black, or cream starting point.
The Moya
General Colors: Mostly bay, chestnut, dun, or black; never gray and almost always patterned. Tobiano, sabino, and frame overo are common, with splash being seen on occasion.
Height: 9.2-11.0 hh (avg. 10-10.3)
Build: Short and rather stocky, they tend to resemble Shetlands. They have thick, fluffy manes and solid, well-balanced builds. While their small ears tend to vanish in thick manes, they don't have feathers around their small but well-made hooves.
Traits: Extremely sure-footed, Moya are at home in the mountains, hills, and other rocky areas. They are rarely seen in the plains, and don't tolerate desert or other hot climates well due to their thick coats. Herds are common in the northern forests, and sometimes seen in southern ones. They have uncommonly good eyesight, although their hearing tends to be worse than most, likely due to their abundant manes.
Description: The Moya have evolved to be at home in cold, damp, and wet climates. They are most common in the mountains and in the northern forests, although there are quite a few in the south. Commonly they are level-headed, but have short tempers for the slow learners. Generally they are a very curious breed, and often will go investigate anything new or scary. They also tend to be friendly and very outgoing, with most willing to talk to newcomers. One favorite trick of some of the mountain herds is to follow a stranger and then suddenly show themselves. Often they become fast friends with those passing through.
The Mortigi
General Colors: Lighter, sandy colors. Duns, buckskins, palominos, and lighter colored pintos common.
Height: 13-15hh (avg 13.3-15)
Build: Wiry, thin, lean, and leggy. They are a tough breed, and it shows in their build. They have harsh, straight lines that emphasize their grit, and gives them a slightly fearsome appearance. Their manes and tails are coarse but thin, and of medium length.
Traits: Can go up to 12 days without food and for 4 days without water. They are an endurance breed and can travel for weeks with barely any rest, yet still be willing to fight for survival or food. They tend to be wary of others but once a friend is found, most are loyal for life.
Description: As their name implies, this breed is from the Mortigi Desert. They are used to going without water and food for days at a time, often having to travel vast distances to achieve food. They are generally found at the edge of the plains which border their homeland, where they forage for food. Their coloring makes it easy for them to hide in the sandy dunes, and the Mortigi take full advantage of that, ready to flee to the safety of the desert if any opponent might prove to much for them. Often times, however, they will vanish from the plains, sliding seamlessly into the desert well before anyone knows they are there.
The Beginning of the Mortigi
The Toraks
General Colors: It is very rare to see a Torak without appaloosa patterning, and they can be almost any color from black to palomino to dun. Almost never gray and rarely perlino, cremello, or other near-white colors.
Height: 16-18hh (avg 15-17.2)
Build: Tall but rather heavy set, they have a lot of power they can call upon. They have large hips and athletic builds with coarser features than most other breeds. Graceful yet large, they resemble warmbloods, most specifically a mixture of Hanoverian and Oldenburg. Their manes and tails are fine and long, but can easily form dregs.
Traits: Superb jumpers and excellent sprinters, they excel in short chases and sprints. They tend to be hotheaded and fiery, and are quite willing to fight with the slightest provocation. If a potential threat approaches, they are likely to team up and stand their ground. They have larger ears than most breeds, and better hearing as well. Feathering from the ankle down is commonly present.
Description: They are common in all areas besides the desert and mountains. Their size gives them a disadvantage over the treacherous ground of the mountains, and the tend to have thicker coats which makes desert life miserable for them. They do great in the plains and the hills, and they are frequently found in all forests.
The Orjans
General Colors: Most common are roans, and rabicano is also very common. When solid, they are most often blacks, bays, or chestnuts. They are never palomino or dun. Champagne occurs, but rarely. Champagne differs from the Shimmer common in the Jyvn tribe.
Height: 14.2-17hh (avg 15.1-16)
Build: They are thin and tall with long delicate legs and elegant chiseled faces. When compared to horses they are most similar to the Akhal-Teke breed, but with finer features. Their manes and tails are of medium weight and length. Feathering from the ankle down is sometimes present.
Traits: They are built for running, and are the fastest breed in Val'thoron in distances of 1 to 6 miles. They are also good distance travelers, but not as good as the Mortigi.
Description: They are most commonly found in the plains, but they are one of the more versatile unicorn breeds. After the Mortigi they are the most numerous desert breed, as they have a fine coat that helps in heat exchange. Orjans can and do live in the mountains, but they often come down to the hills to avoid the coldest part of the year. Several herds live in both the northern and southern forests, but they grew up learning how to navigate the tangled plant life and use it to their advantage. The forest herds have evolved to be slightly smaller and shorter-coupled to help in navigating their world. They can't run as fast as those descended from plains-runners, but the plains-runners can't run well in the forests either.
The Alarions
General Colors: Varies from black to bay to brown, but they never are dun, palomino, or gray. Rabicano, roan, and white patterning never occurs in this breed either.
Height: 15.2-18.1hh (avg 16.1-17)
Build: They are heavy set and have powerful muscles, but they aren't as thick as Streans. They resemble cobs, or half-draft horses. They seem to be a cross between Orjans and Streans, with the Strean bulk and the Orjan features. Their legs are thicker, their bodies studier than Orjans, but their have longer legs and more refined builds than Streans. Their manes are thick and rather unruly, commonly falling on either side of their necks. They almost always have long feathering on their legs.
Traits: The second strongest of the unicorn breeds, once they have someone pinned they tend not to let go. They are extremely good fighters, as they are mobile enough to be agile but strong enough to land heavy blows.
Description: Generally they have even and thoughtful temperaments, and a lot of the breed have good tactical sense. They are most common in the mountains, hills, and forests, but some do reside in the plains. They are extremely rare in desert conditions.
Shaskyran
General Colors: Any color is acceptable, but most common are paler colors such as gray, cremello and perlino.
Height: (16.2 - 18) Hands, most falling close to 17.
Build: Very tall and wiry, super long, spindly legs that look almost unnaturally thin, they generally do not appear to have a vast muscle mass, call them horizontally challenged.
Traits: These are the type of unicorns as depicted in Heraldry. They have cloven hooves, long, wispy beards, and lion tails with long, horse-like tassels of hair that fall from the end of the tailbone
Description Shaskyran are found in many places around Val'thoron, but are found most often in the peninsula, desert, and forest. They can live in the mountains, but their coats tend to be ill suited for colder climates.
The Strean
General Colors: Mostly black, bay, and roan. Can have the silver dapple gene, which brings out white to cream manes, tails, and possible dapples on their bodies.
Height: 16-18.3hh (avg 16.2-17.3)
Build: Streans have well defined muscling and strong, tall builds. Heavy and thick, they resemble draft horses, mostly Percherons or Shires. They are thick boned, and have large, rather course heads. They always have long, full feathering on their legs and their manes and tails are often thick and full. Occasionally their manes and tails are finer, but not often. They have heavy muscling, and are the strongest breed in Val'thoron. All around bulky with muscle and mass, no other breed can go head to head and win in a fight.
Traits: Steans possess excellent stamina for walking and climbing through rough areas. They are the least likely to run from a threat, in fact they don't scare easily at all. Streans tend to live in large herds, and travel up to forty miles in one day. Although their bulk might suggest otherwise, they are fast sprinters, and will charge without warning if they feel a threat can't be handled in any other way. Commonly they resort to successful scare tactics rather than fighting it out.
Description: They mostly live in the hills, and are one of the least common of the breeds. It is exceedingly rare to find a Strean in desert conditions, although they are occasionally found in the plains. They are fairly common in the mountains and forests, but more live in the north than the South.
Pegasi Breeds
Pegasi mares tend to be taller and bigger than the stallions. Since they have to contend with cooler air and stiff winds, all pegasi breeds have developed a special coat that allows them to retain heat in the upper atmosphere, but flattens out once they're grounded, permitting life in hot areas. However, even those who live in the desert like to escape with flight to the cooler temperatures of the air.
Please, do not use Pegasus capitalized. Capitalizing Pegasus means that you are referring to a Greek legend, not to a winged horse. You can call them winged horses, or a pegasus, not capitalized. Symree and I both have been using pegasi to note either a single pegasi or a herd of pegasi.
Please, do not use Pegasus capitalized. Capitalizing Pegasus means that you are referring to a Greek legend, not to a winged horse. You can call them winged horses, or a pegasus, not capitalized. Symree and I both have been using pegasi to note either a single pegasi or a herd of pegasi.
The Zvon
General Colors: They are always dun, roan, or gray. Leg and face white markings are extremely common, as well as zebra marks.
Height: 10-13.2hh (avg 10.2-11.3)
Mares ~ 10.2-13.2hh (10.3-12hh)
Stallions ~ 10.0-13.0hh (10.1-11.2)
Build: They are stockier than most pegasi, and although well formed, they tend to have shortish legs and compact bodies. Their wings are relatively shorter as well, but they are also broader. They have thick but glossy manes that tend to stay one one side of their necks, and long flowing tails. When grounded, their forelocks often cover their eyes and are long enough to reach their nose.
Traits: They are very agile in flight, and have adapted to be able to forest landings. In dense foliage, their wings flare as they exit the canopy, and they can fly through the more open forests. They are the only pegasi breed able to fly through any forest.
Description Zvon are mostly found in the mountains, hills, and both southern and northern forests. They are rare in the deserts and plains, although some herds do live in those areas.
The Drangthir
General Colors: Chestnut based colors. Red dun, palomino, and chestnut are very common. Shades vary from liver chestnut and sorrel to a very light chestnut.
Height: 12.2-15hh (avg 13-14.1)
Mares ~ 13.0-15.0hh (13.1-14.3)
Stallions ~ 12.2-14.1hh (12.3-14)
Build: Lightly built, almost deer-like, these pegasi are quick to take to the sky in reaction. They look delicate but are quick to protect their own, with fierce temperaments to match their quick movements.
Traits: Spunky and hyper, the Drangthir burn energy like there's no tomorrow. Due to their enormous output of energy, they require a lot of nutrients to live. They feast on the plains by day, often flying into the desert to sleep where there are less others. They don't stray too far from the plains, and require almost above average water consumption. When confined, or limited in their exercise, they tend to get jittery. Common vices that develop due to confinement are pacing, repeated movements, swaying, and loss of concentration.
Description These pegasi live in the desert and the plains, taking nourishment in almost anything they find. They have larger wings than normal due to their unusual amount of travel. Commonly herds will find a rocky outcropping in the desert to spend the night on, but will travel back to the plains by day to eat and drink. They have developed the trademark pegasi coat to a new level, in which coat hairs will split slightly and spread apart when airborne and in cold climates. Upon landing the hairs flatten tightly against the skin to release heat. Most herds are small family groups of three to five members.
The Natal
General Colors: Common in all the base colors (black, chestnut, bay, and seal brown), as well as the dun and silver dapple variations. Both sooty and rabicano characteristics are common but gray is not seen.
Height: 14.3-16.2hh (avg 15.2-16.0)
Mares ~ 15.1-16.3 (15.3-16.1)
Stallions ~ 14.2-16.2 (15.1-15.3)
Build: Lightly built and of medium height, their bone structure is light but strong; suited for fast flight, hard running, and sharp turns. Their wings are much shorter than most but very broad, and they tend to fly in hard down strokes spaced with periods of gliding. Although thinly built, do not mistake it for being wiry; they are lengthy but powerful. Muscles are suited for pulling and holding them in high speed turns, as well as for running as quickly as possible for short distances.
Traits: Their wing structure is supremely adapted for quick turns, fast acceleration, and steep climbs. They are also surprisingly good at running for pegasi, rivaling most unicorns in their ability over moderate distances. However, they are short on stamina and prefer to get airbourne as quickly as possible in almost all situations. They avoid impacts, especially with others on the ground, and do not do well in grounded fighting. Do to their extreme mobility and speed they are almost unrivaled in combat once airborne.
Description Found generally from the western boarder of the Helagar Mountain Chain to the off-coast islands of the sea. They deal with unpredictable weather patterns and sharp winds off the sea with practice and skill, as they have dealt with these factors their whole lives. Although their is definite safety in foaling on the islands, many do not as it strands the foal there until they can fly, well into their first year. No predators exist on many of the isles, yet powerful storms rock the islands every year, and those storms tend to be the most violent in early spring.
The Shalo
(pronounced Shaw-low, not shallow)
General Colors: Roans, palominos, buckskins, bays, and grays are common, but never black. Double Cream dilutes occasionally occur.
Height: 15-18hh (avg 15.3-17)
Mares ~ 15.3-18hh (16.1-17.2)
Stallions ~ 15-17.1hh (15.1-16.2)
Build: Tall and fast, they are the continental distance flyers of the pegasi. The large wings are the longest of the pegasi breeds, but are lightly built, helping them to travel vast distances without tiring.
Traits: Often herds fly for days with only short rests, and the stronger ones can go a full two days in the sky if pushed. Their wings make forest maneuvering difficult, so most stick to open areas and cliff sides.
Description They are found throughout Val'thoron, and are the most common pegasi breed. Herds tend to be large, from ten to thirty members, and some have been known to reach numbers nearing fifty. They tend to be very social, and develop strong ties to other members of their herd.
The Chokoli
General Colors: Pinto patterns are extremely common, especially sabino. Black, bay, seal brown, and chestnuts are the typical base coats, although the cream gene is present on rare occasions, leading to buckskin and palomino (and on rare occasions the double cream dilutes). Gray is extremely common, with most graying out by the age of two.
Height: 16.3-20hh (avg 17.3-19.1)
Mares ~ 17.3-20hh (18.1-19.2)
Stallions ~ 16.3-19.1hh (17.1-19)
Build: The Chokoli are heavier set and stocky. Feathers, although rarer on pegasi than unicorns, are present in this breed. They are powerful when flying, able to knock others out of the sky if they can close. Their wings are large as well, and they effectively use them in ground combat against both unicorns and other pegasi. One good hit with a Chokoli's wings will stun an adult equine with ease; it can kill a foal.
Traits: Their main defense against predators is not their ability for flight, but their size. They are much more likely to stand their ground when confronted, and they often respond with opening and fanning their wings, which displays their impressive size. Flight is relatively laborious for them when compared with the other breeds, but it is impressive how they manage to get off the ground. They stay earth bound for most of their time, taking to the sky only in dire need or to cover rough terrain.
Description They are most common on mountain slopes and hills, and tend to avoid the forests and deserts. Most travel in pairs or small herds. Some have been known to form herds with Moya in the Helargar Mountain Range, north of the Gray Area.
~In Development~
*BreedNameHere*
General Colors:
Height: 14.3-16.1hh (15-16)
Mares ~ 15.0-16.1hh (15.1-16.1)
Stallions ~ 14.3-16.1hh (14.3-15.3)
Build:
Traits:
Description Dark back and topline, light underside. Streaked face. Reference to be created. Sea equines.
*BreedNameHere*
General Colors:
Height:
Mares ~
Stallions ~
The Mare and Stallion average low will bracket the breed average low, as will the average high. For Example, average low is 14.2, the mare and stallion will be an equal distance away. If mare low average is 14.3, then stallion low average is 14.1; if mare is 15.1, then stallion is 13.1 and so on. Full range doesn't matter.
Build:
Traits:
Description
