The Dalt and the Strath
Nov 13, 2010 21:26:03 GMT -5
Post by Swede on Nov 13, 2010 21:26:03 GMT -5
Name: Rysen aka "Pied Piper"
Age: 15 years
Breed: wild horse (Strath)
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: Black and white pinto
Eye Colour: dark brown
Gender: male
Markings:
History: Rysen was Torna's middle son, or as some Strath prefer to say, Torna's youngest, as they do not wish to accept Heilig. He grew up among the Strath herds, just like any other colt. Only Rysen was not like the others. He was wittier, and far more charming. While in physical strength he was not overly remarkable, he had such a talent for persuading others to see his point of view, and for attracting others to him, that he soon had an impressive circle of devoted friends. On occasion, one of them would break away, and be unable to remember why they befriended him in the first place. This led to rumors that he was a master of hynosis, and he was soon called ''Pied Piper'' behind his back. But nevertheless, he quickly rose to power, claiming several mares to his own herd, including his lead Tarragon. When he was nine years old and in his prime, the stallion who was then considered leader of the Strath was growing old and weak. Rysen took over and has been the most powerful stallion in the old valleys for six years. His leadership is quite popular in some circles, as he has made headway against the Dalt in the ageless war. But he is also reckless and paranoid, and his bid to protect his fellows has turned into a vicious dictatorship.
Killed at age 17 by Heilig during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, November 12 2010
Name: Aurelie
Age: 12 years
Breed: wild horse
Height: 15 hh
Colour: palomino
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: female
Markings: none
History: The fourth and last child of Torna. It is common knowledge that she is Torna's only daughter, but no one ever really thinks about it. It's like the sky being blue- oh, yeah, sure, but no one ever bothers to consider the connection. But Torna knows... and Aurelie knows... and Lyric will come to know the secret. What secret? Well, it wouldn't be a secret if I told you, now would it? In any case, Aurelie was one of the most beautiful mares in the old Strath valleys, but she rejected all the stallions who tried to claim her. And, because she was Rysen's sister, they left her alone rather than forcing her to join them. But one day, she met Shrine, the peaceful butter yellow stallion who had never and could never harm a soul. She fell in love instantly, and they were a storybook example of happily ever after. Except they weren't- Torna prophesized the birth of a golden colt who would bring down everything Rysen had worked for. Rysen loved his sister, but he could not risk a colt. Quiet orders were given that if Aurelie's foal by Shrine were male, it would be killed, for surely two golden horses would produce a golden foal. But through a strange twist of fate- ((read Torch's history to fill in)). Lyric was brought back to the herds, and Rysen was relieved to see the filly. She was left unharmed, and indeed rather liked by everyone. Then, one fateful day in the autumn of Lyric's first year, Shrine was murdered. It was said he did not even lift a hoof to defend himself, pacifist as he was. Aurelie's heart broke, and Lyric was her sole comfort these days, as her friend Cormorant was in exile and presumably killed by Rysen's followers.
Killed at age 13 on November 14th 2010 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, through a combination of fatal injuries and shock over the death of her son, Torch.
Name: Kenna
Age: 4 years
Breed: wild horse? (Strath)
Height:15 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: black
Gender: stallion
Markings: none
History: Typical Strath stallion; he is in fact Cormorant's halfbrother. Their mother Indian Summer is the lead mare of Storming, who is Kenna's father. The half brothers never spoke to each other- Kenna was deeply ashamed of having an Outcast sibling- but even so their resemblance is clear, not just in appearance but in personality. Both inherited Indian Summer's levelheaded ways and quiet solemnity. Kenna is not a bad horse; he is in fact quite friendly, though not particularly talkative. But if he sees a Dalt, he will kill it on sight, just like all other Strath, and he has a condescending view of Outsiders.
Killed at age 6 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12 2010, after injuries caused by various enemies
Name: Briar
Age: 5 years
Breed: wild horse? (Strath)
Height: 15.3 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: blaze
History: Briar can be a hothead; it might seem that he has a problem with authority, but he always obeys his superiors. Still, he longs for the day when he himself might be a decorated fighter so that he commands some respect. He's a big horse, one of the largest Strath warriors when measured in weight, and a formidable opponent despite his relatively young age. Oddly enough, he is quite good friends with Kenna; the two horses balance each other out. He is one of the few horses who have ever heard Kenna's frustrations concerning his filthy-blooded brother, and it is a testament to their bond that he remained a faithful and reassuring friend.
Killed at age 7 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010, by Cadiz
Name: Savolaks
Age: 4 years
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 14.2 hh
Colour: chestnut
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: star
History: Not much more than a colt, he’s a bright, promising young horse, of Strath blood naturally. His hope is to outlive his brother, who died in the spring of an infected wound. His brother became six; if Savolaks can last for a little more than another year, he’ll be able to achieve this. But life is dangerous for any Strath or Dalt, particularly one so young. He has to learn fast, and pray that luck is on his side.
Killed during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010 at age 6, by Fire
Name: Thrall
Age: 9 years
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 15 hh
Colour: bay
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: blaze
History: Strath, like the others. He has fought long and hard, and though he is not particularly highly ranked, he is still a decent warrior, respected by those around him. He simply doesn’t crave power. Thrall has earned himself the mare he loves, and has a young filly with her. The daughter will be a year old this spring; perhaps Thrall will live to see her birthday. Perhaps not. He shows little emotion, and tends to be silent, maybe even brooding. He’s just a hard worker who gets the job done, for the sake of his love.
Killed November 12 2010 at age age 11 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, by Leopard and Kanda
Name: Heilig
Age: 13 years
Breed: wild horse, I suppose… nothing in particular (Dalt)
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: grey
Eye Colour: black
Gender: stallion
Markings:
History:
Heilig- born of pure Dalt bloodlines, but found lost as an infant and nursed by Torna, mother of his sworn enemy Rysen. When he gew older, he left Torna, and fought his way to the top of the Dalt ranks, back among is own kind. This isn’t a problem for anyone but his enemies; under his leadership, the Dalt have managed to hold their own. Before he took control, they were doomed to be wiped out. He prefers guerilla tactics, and takes great pleasure in frustrating the Strath. While everyone of the old valleys has a little bit of oddity, he is downright crazy, reckless and taunting, but also a brilliant leader in times of war. The youngest of the Three, nonetheless he is gaining in age; but in behavior he might as well be a bachelor colt.
Killed at age 15 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010, by Rysen
Name: Torch
Age: 1 year
Breed: Horse. Mustang if you need to have a breed.
Height: 15.2 hh
Colour: Golden palomino
Eye Colour: Brown
Gender: Stallion
Markings:
History: His mother is Aurelie, daughter of Torna and brother to the Three. His father is Shrine, the horse who never harmed a soul. Shrine was the only stallion Aurelie ever fell in love with, and despite her brother's urgings to choose one of his servants, Aurelie refused, wanting only Shrine.
However, Rysen, Aurelie's tyrannical brother, kept a close eye on her throughout her pregnancy. His insane mother had told him of a golden son, who would bring him down and end his long-standing reign. There was only one palomino mare in the area, and that was Aurelie. If her foal was a colt, Rysen would kill it immediately.
Cormorant, Aurelie, and Torna discovered this, and desperately struggled to come up with a plan to save the little one. Aurelie could not leave; her brother's minions would simply bring her back. But the foal could. It was a dangerous plan, but it was their only option if faced with a colt. And Aurelie would have to lie to her brother, and tell him the foal had been stillborn.
A strange twist of events made things suddenly much easier. Aurelie gave birth to twins- one colt and one filly. The colt, Torch, was brought away by Cormorant quickly, before anyone saw him. The filly, Lyric, remained with her mother. Rysen spared her, feeling she posed him no threat. And he never suspected that Aurelie might have another foal.
Torch was quite weak, early in his and Cormorant's journey; he needed his mother's milk, and more rest than he was allowed to have. He would have dropped dead, had they not come upon an unexpectedly kind soul- Zora, the draft mare who adopted Torch as her own. He has grown up in Rainbow Ridge with the draft herd, and only vaguely remembers his mother; his sister even less. But life is not all about childhood games, and the day will come when he must face up to his own past, and avenge those killed by Rysen and the war, for his mother's sake. And for his own; Shrine too has fallen victim to the turmoil, and Torch will never see his father.
Killed at age 3 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath on November 12th 2010, by his best friend Fire. A tragic accident that will haunt Fire forever
Name: Kanda
Age: 3 years
Breed: wild horse, I guess?
Height: 15 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: black
Gender: male
Markings: none
and
Name: Leopard
Age: 1 yr 6 months
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: leopard appaloosa
Eye Colour: dark brown
Gender: male
Kanda's parents, like many other horses of the area, lived in the shadow of the valleys and peaks where the warring herds of Dalt and Strath dwelt. They were submissive to these lords, because the only other option was death. And yet this submission earned them nothing: a group of marauding young Dalt stallions attacked the little family one terrible morning. Kanda's mother shoved her six month old son into a bush, whispering, "Hide! Run when they're gone!" before being slaughtered along her stallion. Kanda lay trembling in the foliage for several hours before daring to venture out. He was alone and terrified, but somehow managed to scrape a living.
A year and a half passed, and his fear turned to resentment, then outright hatred of those who had murdered his parents. This did not prevent them from capturing him when he was two years old. These, however, were of the Strath herd, and brought him back to live among captured outsiders and Dalt horses who served as slaves. Sullen, silent, and seething with suppressed rage, it was here that Kanda met Tamlan.
Tamlan was born among the Strath slaves, son of an outsider mare who had been captured. Most slave colts were killed if judged dangerous, but he was a rather weak little thing at first and they soon forgot him. However, as he grew he became stronger, and quite feisty. He was the colt who could make a joke out of everything, taunted his captors and lifted the spirits of those around him. He attached himself to Kanda, following the older colt around like a laughing shadow. No one could figure out why- least of all Kanda. Tam tended to get on his nerves, all the time.
Leopard was born rather late in the year, smaller and younger than others his age. His father was killed and his mother captured when he was a yearling, and he and his mother were brought to live among the other captives. He was spared only because he was so frightened and timid that the Strath stallions treated him like a joke. His mother was soon given away to a lesser Strath stud, and Leopard hasn't seen her since. He quickly took to following Tamlan around, looking up to him like an older brother. He was dependent on the older colt, but the older colt was probably dependent on him as well- Leopard saved Tam several times by talking him out of yet another escape plan. Tamlan desperately wanted to escape, and had already done so twice. Any more, and the Strath would have killed him.
This unlikely trio knew they would not last for long among the Strath- young captive stallions were far too dangerous to keep alive. So Kanda began forging plans to get away and join the rumored resistance, and naturally Tamlan bothered him until he grudgingly allowed him to come along. Leopard, of course, went wherever Tam went. The escape was surprisingly easy, as few Strath guards were around. Most of them were off on a massive assault on the Dalt herds, and three young horses could easily slip into the shadows of the night when the remaining guards had their backs turned.
Kanda wants to find the leader of the resistance and avenge his fallen parents. Tamlan tends to treat everything like a game, but in truth he passionately hates both Strath and Dalt, and finds comfort in Kanda's presence (How, no one knows- on the rare occasion that Kanda actually says something, he's always grouchy). Leopard finds solace in both of his surrogate brothers, and just wanted to escape his captivity. Perhaps Kanda truly does feel responsible for his younger charges, or perhaps he just puts up with them. But these youngsters are together no matter what happens, and nothing can tear them apart.
Killed during the battle of Dalt vs Strath on November 12th 2010, Leopard killed by Thrall and Kanda killed by blood loss through heavy wounds inflicted by numerous adversaries
Age: 15 years
Breed: wild horse (Strath)
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: Black and white pinto
Eye Colour: dark brown
Gender: male
Markings:
History: Rysen was Torna's middle son, or as some Strath prefer to say, Torna's youngest, as they do not wish to accept Heilig. He grew up among the Strath herds, just like any other colt. Only Rysen was not like the others. He was wittier, and far more charming. While in physical strength he was not overly remarkable, he had such a talent for persuading others to see his point of view, and for attracting others to him, that he soon had an impressive circle of devoted friends. On occasion, one of them would break away, and be unable to remember why they befriended him in the first place. This led to rumors that he was a master of hynosis, and he was soon called ''Pied Piper'' behind his back. But nevertheless, he quickly rose to power, claiming several mares to his own herd, including his lead Tarragon. When he was nine years old and in his prime, the stallion who was then considered leader of the Strath was growing old and weak. Rysen took over and has been the most powerful stallion in the old valleys for six years. His leadership is quite popular in some circles, as he has made headway against the Dalt in the ageless war. But he is also reckless and paranoid, and his bid to protect his fellows has turned into a vicious dictatorship.
Killed at age 17 by Heilig during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, November 12 2010
Name: Aurelie
Age: 12 years
Breed: wild horse
Height: 15 hh
Colour: palomino
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: female
Markings: none
History: The fourth and last child of Torna. It is common knowledge that she is Torna's only daughter, but no one ever really thinks about it. It's like the sky being blue- oh, yeah, sure, but no one ever bothers to consider the connection. But Torna knows... and Aurelie knows... and Lyric will come to know the secret. What secret? Well, it wouldn't be a secret if I told you, now would it? In any case, Aurelie was one of the most beautiful mares in the old Strath valleys, but she rejected all the stallions who tried to claim her. And, because she was Rysen's sister, they left her alone rather than forcing her to join them. But one day, she met Shrine, the peaceful butter yellow stallion who had never and could never harm a soul. She fell in love instantly, and they were a storybook example of happily ever after. Except they weren't- Torna prophesized the birth of a golden colt who would bring down everything Rysen had worked for. Rysen loved his sister, but he could not risk a colt. Quiet orders were given that if Aurelie's foal by Shrine were male, it would be killed, for surely two golden horses would produce a golden foal. But through a strange twist of fate- ((read Torch's history to fill in)). Lyric was brought back to the herds, and Rysen was relieved to see the filly. She was left unharmed, and indeed rather liked by everyone. Then, one fateful day in the autumn of Lyric's first year, Shrine was murdered. It was said he did not even lift a hoof to defend himself, pacifist as he was. Aurelie's heart broke, and Lyric was her sole comfort these days, as her friend Cormorant was in exile and presumably killed by Rysen's followers.
Killed at age 13 on November 14th 2010 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, through a combination of fatal injuries and shock over the death of her son, Torch.
Name: Kenna
Age: 4 years
Breed: wild horse? (Strath)
Height:15 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: black
Gender: stallion
Markings: none
History: Typical Strath stallion; he is in fact Cormorant's halfbrother. Their mother Indian Summer is the lead mare of Storming, who is Kenna's father. The half brothers never spoke to each other- Kenna was deeply ashamed of having an Outcast sibling- but even so their resemblance is clear, not just in appearance but in personality. Both inherited Indian Summer's levelheaded ways and quiet solemnity. Kenna is not a bad horse; he is in fact quite friendly, though not particularly talkative. But if he sees a Dalt, he will kill it on sight, just like all other Strath, and he has a condescending view of Outsiders.
Killed at age 6 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12 2010, after injuries caused by various enemies
Name: Briar
Age: 5 years
Breed: wild horse? (Strath)
Height: 15.3 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: blaze
History: Briar can be a hothead; it might seem that he has a problem with authority, but he always obeys his superiors. Still, he longs for the day when he himself might be a decorated fighter so that he commands some respect. He's a big horse, one of the largest Strath warriors when measured in weight, and a formidable opponent despite his relatively young age. Oddly enough, he is quite good friends with Kenna; the two horses balance each other out. He is one of the few horses who have ever heard Kenna's frustrations concerning his filthy-blooded brother, and it is a testament to their bond that he remained a faithful and reassuring friend.
Killed at age 7 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010, by Cadiz
Name: Savolaks
Age: 4 years
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 14.2 hh
Colour: chestnut
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: star
History: Not much more than a colt, he’s a bright, promising young horse, of Strath blood naturally. His hope is to outlive his brother, who died in the spring of an infected wound. His brother became six; if Savolaks can last for a little more than another year, he’ll be able to achieve this. But life is dangerous for any Strath or Dalt, particularly one so young. He has to learn fast, and pray that luck is on his side.
Killed during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010 at age 6, by Fire
Name: Thrall
Age: 9 years
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 15 hh
Colour: bay
Eye Colour: brown
Gender: stallion
Markings: blaze
History: Strath, like the others. He has fought long and hard, and though he is not particularly highly ranked, he is still a decent warrior, respected by those around him. He simply doesn’t crave power. Thrall has earned himself the mare he loves, and has a young filly with her. The daughter will be a year old this spring; perhaps Thrall will live to see her birthday. Perhaps not. He shows little emotion, and tends to be silent, maybe even brooding. He’s just a hard worker who gets the job done, for the sake of his love.
Killed November 12 2010 at age age 11 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath, by Leopard and Kanda
Name: Heilig
Age: 13 years
Breed: wild horse, I suppose… nothing in particular (Dalt)
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: grey
Eye Colour: black
Gender: stallion
Markings:
History:
Heilig- born of pure Dalt bloodlines, but found lost as an infant and nursed by Torna, mother of his sworn enemy Rysen. When he gew older, he left Torna, and fought his way to the top of the Dalt ranks, back among is own kind. This isn’t a problem for anyone but his enemies; under his leadership, the Dalt have managed to hold their own. Before he took control, they were doomed to be wiped out. He prefers guerilla tactics, and takes great pleasure in frustrating the Strath. While everyone of the old valleys has a little bit of oddity, he is downright crazy, reckless and taunting, but also a brilliant leader in times of war. The youngest of the Three, nonetheless he is gaining in age; but in behavior he might as well be a bachelor colt.
Killed at age 15 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath November 12th 2010, by Rysen
Name: Torch
Age: 1 year
Breed: Horse. Mustang if you need to have a breed.
Height: 15.2 hh
Colour: Golden palomino
Eye Colour: Brown
Gender: Stallion
Markings:
History: His mother is Aurelie, daughter of Torna and brother to the Three. His father is Shrine, the horse who never harmed a soul. Shrine was the only stallion Aurelie ever fell in love with, and despite her brother's urgings to choose one of his servants, Aurelie refused, wanting only Shrine.
However, Rysen, Aurelie's tyrannical brother, kept a close eye on her throughout her pregnancy. His insane mother had told him of a golden son, who would bring him down and end his long-standing reign. There was only one palomino mare in the area, and that was Aurelie. If her foal was a colt, Rysen would kill it immediately.
Cormorant, Aurelie, and Torna discovered this, and desperately struggled to come up with a plan to save the little one. Aurelie could not leave; her brother's minions would simply bring her back. But the foal could. It was a dangerous plan, but it was their only option if faced with a colt. And Aurelie would have to lie to her brother, and tell him the foal had been stillborn.
A strange twist of events made things suddenly much easier. Aurelie gave birth to twins- one colt and one filly. The colt, Torch, was brought away by Cormorant quickly, before anyone saw him. The filly, Lyric, remained with her mother. Rysen spared her, feeling she posed him no threat. And he never suspected that Aurelie might have another foal.
Torch was quite weak, early in his and Cormorant's journey; he needed his mother's milk, and more rest than he was allowed to have. He would have dropped dead, had they not come upon an unexpectedly kind soul- Zora, the draft mare who adopted Torch as her own. He has grown up in Rainbow Ridge with the draft herd, and only vaguely remembers his mother; his sister even less. But life is not all about childhood games, and the day will come when he must face up to his own past, and avenge those killed by Rysen and the war, for his mother's sake. And for his own; Shrine too has fallen victim to the turmoil, and Torch will never see his father.
Killed at age 3 during the battle of Dalt vs Strath on November 12th 2010, by his best friend Fire. A tragic accident that will haunt Fire forever
Name: Kanda
Age: 3 years
Breed: wild horse, I guess?
Height: 15 hh
Colour: black
Eye Colour: black
Gender: male
Markings: none
and
Name: Leopard
Age: 1 yr 6 months
Breed: wild horse?
Height: 14.3 hh
Colour: leopard appaloosa
Eye Colour: dark brown
Gender: male
Kanda's parents, like many other horses of the area, lived in the shadow of the valleys and peaks where the warring herds of Dalt and Strath dwelt. They were submissive to these lords, because the only other option was death. And yet this submission earned them nothing: a group of marauding young Dalt stallions attacked the little family one terrible morning. Kanda's mother shoved her six month old son into a bush, whispering, "Hide! Run when they're gone!" before being slaughtered along her stallion. Kanda lay trembling in the foliage for several hours before daring to venture out. He was alone and terrified, but somehow managed to scrape a living.
A year and a half passed, and his fear turned to resentment, then outright hatred of those who had murdered his parents. This did not prevent them from capturing him when he was two years old. These, however, were of the Strath herd, and brought him back to live among captured outsiders and Dalt horses who served as slaves. Sullen, silent, and seething with suppressed rage, it was here that Kanda met Tamlan.
Tamlan was born among the Strath slaves, son of an outsider mare who had been captured. Most slave colts were killed if judged dangerous, but he was a rather weak little thing at first and they soon forgot him. However, as he grew he became stronger, and quite feisty. He was the colt who could make a joke out of everything, taunted his captors and lifted the spirits of those around him. He attached himself to Kanda, following the older colt around like a laughing shadow. No one could figure out why- least of all Kanda. Tam tended to get on his nerves, all the time.
Leopard was born rather late in the year, smaller and younger than others his age. His father was killed and his mother captured when he was a yearling, and he and his mother were brought to live among the other captives. He was spared only because he was so frightened and timid that the Strath stallions treated him like a joke. His mother was soon given away to a lesser Strath stud, and Leopard hasn't seen her since. He quickly took to following Tamlan around, looking up to him like an older brother. He was dependent on the older colt, but the older colt was probably dependent on him as well- Leopard saved Tam several times by talking him out of yet another escape plan. Tamlan desperately wanted to escape, and had already done so twice. Any more, and the Strath would have killed him.
This unlikely trio knew they would not last for long among the Strath- young captive stallions were far too dangerous to keep alive. So Kanda began forging plans to get away and join the rumored resistance, and naturally Tamlan bothered him until he grudgingly allowed him to come along. Leopard, of course, went wherever Tam went. The escape was surprisingly easy, as few Strath guards were around. Most of them were off on a massive assault on the Dalt herds, and three young horses could easily slip into the shadows of the night when the remaining guards had their backs turned.
Kanda wants to find the leader of the resistance and avenge his fallen parents. Tamlan tends to treat everything like a game, but in truth he passionately hates both Strath and Dalt, and finds comfort in Kanda's presence (How, no one knows- on the rare occasion that Kanda actually says something, he's always grouchy). Leopard finds solace in both of his surrogate brothers, and just wanted to escape his captivity. Perhaps Kanda truly does feel responsible for his younger charges, or perhaps he just puts up with them. But these youngsters are together no matter what happens, and nothing can tear them apart.
Killed during the battle of Dalt vs Strath on November 12th 2010, Leopard killed by Thrall and Kanda killed by blood loss through heavy wounds inflicted by numerous adversaries
