ASCENSIONS
All ponies are born as ‘blanks’; normal ponies with minimal magical abilities, no Seal’s, wingless and hornless.
Ponies belonging to aristocratic lineages, however, ‘ascend’ (with rare exception) upon discovering their own latent magical powers. Ascension involves changes to the ponies biology and nature, along with the creation of a ‘seal’; a magical talisman which represents the ponies spirit and can be summoned to that pony on demand. Seals are often used as proof of nobility as they cannot be imitated, being entirely unique to the pony they came from.
The specifics of an Ascension vary between different pony races; For instance, Pegasi usually have feathered wings, but a Deep Pony pegasus will instead have batlike wings.
The most common Ascension is unicorns, who develop a single spiral horn that juts from the forehead, granting them the natural ability to perform spellcraft. Pegasi develop wings and the powers of flight and weather control, earth ponies develop powers over nature, the ability to draw life energy from their surroundings or make plants grow.
The specific powers of an Ascension are based on the ponies Seal, and as a result even within the same ascension and race abilities are not entirely consistent.
Other than the three most common ascensions (Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth Ponies), there are a number of rarer Ascensions. Elementals have their bodies infused with the magical essence of a particular aspect of nature and are given power over it, in a less orderly and more instinctual way than unicorns can control magic. Seaponies gain the ability to shapeshift into an aquatic form whenever they enter the water. Shadows gain the ability to manipulate shadows and often interact with them in novel ways such as being able to teleport between bodies of shadow. Other, even more obscure or unique ascensions may be possible; the world is brimming with unknown possibilities.
PONY RACES
There are numerous forms that a pony can take. First-generation hybrids between races have reduced fertility, and unless they breed with another race than either of their parents their offspring usually go back to resembling their spouses race. Each pony race inhabits different regions and has different characteristics, but their magic and abilities are all equal.
Plains Pony: The most common subrace of ponies, resembling nothing moreso than the pony race from MLP canon. Some foreign plainsponies are known to possess stripes and differing mane or tail textures providing them a more Zebra-esque appearance.
Hyperaustralan: A variety of pony with a number of cervid-adjacent traits including typical coat dappling, slender limbs, and split hooves. Males typically have antlers; Females occasionally do, especially farther to the south. Hyperaustralans are overwhelmingly in the lower classes, often near the poverty line, and live primarily in the southern regions of the Iweriu confederation ruled by the Powell dynasty. The Hyperaustralan language and culture is all but extinct, having been largely wiped out upon their conquest by the southern noble houses. As no aristocratic families are Hyperaustralan, the entire Hyperaustralan lineage is made up of Blanks.
Bicorn: Ponies that possess heavier hooves and two horns, typical of the peasantry in large swathes of the central confederation. Often known to possess characteristics of caprids or oxen, they are still ultimately more similar to other ponies than the aforementioned wild animal species.
Deep Ponies: A rare type of pony that dwell primarily underground, they possess thick insulating fur, large eyes with slit pupils, thin leathery tails, and split hooves similar to a Hyperaustralan. In high demand as guardsponies owing to their unique talents as night watchponies.
Gryph: An avian subrace of ponies possessing four avian legs, downy coats that resemble feathers, and sharply curved raptorial beaks. They are primarily found in the eastern fringes of the Iweriu Confederation, mostly in the upper classes or nobility. Their forebears are native to the wilderness to the southeast, and may in fact still live in those unexplored regions. Despite their avian appearances they still possess the mane and tail of a pony, and unless they are pegasi lack wings.
Longfangs: Ponies with extended canines, sharp teeth, triangular ears, thick fur, and decidedly fluffier and more muscular tails. Despite their predatorial traits they are still decidedly ponish, possessing hooves and statures similar to others of ponykind. They are, however, obligate omnivores, requiring at least some meat in their diet. Common amongst the southern nobility, especially those who conquered the Hyperaustralans. For that reason, Longfang-Hyperaustralan hybrids are common.
Crystal Ponies: The skin of a crystal pony gleams with an amorphous, flexible glass-like substance, with their underbellies and the insides of their legs usually being uncovered by fur. Their manes and fur in general tends to be fairly thick and luxuriant. Crystal Ponies are relatively uncommon, belonging to a few ancient aristocratic lineages. They are notable for having the lowest fertility with other ponish races of all.
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Kirin: Draconic ponies that possess builds somewhat resembling oxen, although more gracile, and covered entirely in thick scales. Similarly to bicorns they possess two curved horns, usually slanted forwards, along with heavy hooves. They also share some traits with longfangs, such as their pronounced canines and obligate omnivorous diets. Most common in the northwest, but rather elusive in general.
NAMES
Ponies have three names; A birth name, a chosen name, and a family name, in that order. Most lowborn families don’t have a family name, and as such only have the first two; Some who were not named at birth end up with only a chosen name.
Traditionally, the chosen name is a compound word rather than a normal name, usually representing that pony’s interests in some way. Amongst lowborn, this name is picked when a pony is ten years old; often, the parents have to intervene to ensure the colt or filly does not pick something that will be embarrassing when they are older.
Amongst the aristocracy however, there is a different tradition. Chosen names are selected upon a ponies' Ascension, and generally reflect the Seal they receive at that time.
CHARACTERS
Moonshadow: Lacks a birth or family name on account of being abandoned shortly after birth. Split cervid hooves, scraggly navy blue coat, and wavy, wispy white mane; emaciated from malnutrition. Bright green eyes. Intersex, nine years old, Hyperaustralan, Blank.
Seren Ardorwynn Cadenza: The first of the Cadenza twins, the elder sister of the two. Possesses an avian countenance on account of being a Gryph. Silvery talons and beak, deep navy blue eyes, mane, and tail, midnight blue coat. Possesses a distinctive silvery spiral pattern on her chest, inverted compared to the matching birthmark on her brother. Mane is well maintained, wavy and luxurious, with silver streaks; usually kept in a functional ponytail in the back. Specks of silver in coat. Female, Sixteen years old, Gryph, Unicorn. Her Seal portrays a spiral galaxy.
Ceridwen Starhawk Cadenza: The second of the Cadenza twins, the younger brother. Matching appearance with his sister in most capacities, spiral shaped birthmark is inverted compared to Seren’s, and lacks the silver streaks in Seren’s mane. Medium length wavy mane, flared up towards the ends. Specks of silver in coat. Male, Sixteen years old, Gryph, Pegasus. His seal portrays a shooting star.
Saoirse Starshot: Servant of the Cadenza household. Ivory coat, Pale golden-brown mane and tail. Bright green eyes. Somewhat messy, forward-swept mane and bushy tail. Somewhat predatorial disposition and carnivorous diet owing to Longfang ancestry. Noticeable canines and triangular wolf-like ears, fairly athletic. Female, Sixteen years old (slightly older than the Cadenza twins), Longfang, Blank.
Roisin Sunshine Rhodi: Middle child of the Rhodi family of farmers. Sky blue coat and long, curly pale blonde mane. Two curved goat-like horns and split caprid hooves. Cloud white dappling on coat. Deep orange eyes. Female, Seventeen years old, Bicorn, Blank
Torrent Oakleaf Rhodi: Oldest child of the Rhodi family. Dusty brown coat, long curly pale blonde mane. Horns curve in an S-shape, deep orange eyes and split caprid hooves. Blonde dappling on coat and underbelly. Male, Twenty years old, Bicorn, Blank.
Aria Everbloom Rhodi: Youngest child of the Rhodi family. Apple red coat, leaf green mane and tail. Horns still short on account of age, vaguely S-shaped. Mane typically worn in two pigtails with bright orange bowties on them. Tan dappling on coat, pale red underbelly. Ten years old, Female, Bicorn, Blank
Daithi Ironcoin: Bounty hunter, lives in the northern Powell territories. Dark grey coat and pale blue mane, neatly combed, short, and functional, naturally forward slanted. White hooves and stripes. Male, Nineteen years old, Plains pony, Blank.
POLITIES
Iweriu Confederation: A vast, multiethnic domain consisting of many smaller duchies, earldoms, and principalities conjoined together for mutual defense and economic interest. Iweriu has no central government, with each duchy essentially being an independant entity, though confederation-wide standardization and agreements largely ensure some degree of homogeneity. Located in the southern hemisphere, the confederation varies from forests in the south, rugged mountains and hill country in the east, low-lying plainlands in the center and west, with semi-arid badlands to the north and northwest.
Luddas: The capital city of the duchy which shares the same name, located in southeastern Iweriu. Under the rule of the Cadenza family, and one of the wealthiest duchies within the confederation. The city itself is considered the pride of the south, being one of the oldest cities with a wealth of ancient architecture on display. Mostly populated by Plains Ponies, but the largest collection of Deep Ponies in Iweriu is also located here.
Hyperaustralis: Once the domain of the Hyperaustralan kingdom, now a rump state controlled by the Powell dynasty after its subjugation by the Longfangs there. Technically, the duchy known as “Hyperaustralis” is only the northernmost tip of what was once the kingdom of Hyperaustralis, but the lands to the south lie abandoned and ruinous after the destruction and forced resettlement of the Hyperaustralan civilization. Notably afflicted with poverty and stark wealth disparity, population density is relatively high despite its lack of urban centers. The southernmost border of Iweriu, bordering Luddas to the north and Escratero to the northeast.
Escratero: The farthest fringe of the Iweriu confederation, a vast domain in the far east held by the Iutru dynasty. Escratero, despite its rural nature, is fairly wealthy due to a long history of quality management and stability. A common stop for bandits and outlaws because of its presence at the fringe of civilization before the world gives way to the dread wilderness further east, Escratero’s lawfulness is only maintained through constant vigilance. The noble class are Raptors, while the lowborn are largely a mixture of plains ponies, hyperaustralans, and bicorns.