-- Guide to the flock: Males and their role --

[mindsend]

Guide to the flock
Males and their role

Disclaimer: Everything must be kept pg-13 and follow both the ToS of Gaia online and rules of Soquili. Everything inside had been confirmed with the RP manager of the time it was originally written as within the PG-13 rules of gaia and the shop -- Everything is within the limitations, and nothing is actually DONE that is torture; All stallions are well treated, and usually escape, canonly, their first attempt. Those who stay are willing, happy, and usually either in love with the society, culture, or a particular mare inside of it. If they are unwilling, we push for them to leave OOCly, and thus allow them to simply use the flock as a bit of a plot bunny. They would NEVER get hurt within the extremes mentioned below.

None of the damage is ever permenant. Wings are only ever pierced or clipped in a healable fashion

Also note, you cannot godmode anyone, and anything that you cannot find a real person to help you with, you are free to do so with an NPC -- this includes if you wish your stallion to have their wings crippled in an escape, and healed up by an Unicorn Elder. No Unicorn elders exist at the moment, so you are free to make one up as an NPC.

Special note on Foals: They are not "Sex slaves", and never have been -- this culture is based on old patriarchal societies that allow polygamy, and the society of actual horses, only with the gender roles reversed, where females are the ones with rights, and males are the ones without. While this is not allowed in modern America and many other societies, this also exists in current times as well. Everyone involved is a willing participant, and is welcome to leave at any time, their soquili unharmed.

Foals are never kidnapped, but instead adopted from either having been abandoned, orphaned, or rescued from abusive families. They are not raised as slave or with the mindset of breeding -- they are still foals, and they are simply protected and loved, but raised with gender roles of their culture in mind.

Here, males are well tended and protected, as they are considered foolish, weak willed and not knowing any better. Very little is actually done, and they are not required to do anything, and are never actually forced to reproduce. Even if they breed before escaping, the act was willing on both parts; they are not skinwalkers, who will rape in Soquili canon.

Males are NEVER raped, and are required to be in the mood to reproduce or 'have fun'. If they are gay (And unwilling to support the flock in other ways, such as being a rolemodel for other gay stallions), lifemated, or simply not interested even after being introduced into the society, they are eventually lead out of the flock unharmed, blindfolded so they cannot find their way easily back.They are not required to do anything they don't want to do beyond stay where it is 'safest' for them, unless they truly turn out to be a bad egg, at which point they are forced out of the flock. They Are not Tortured, or forced to do anything but remain in the safe zones, where they are protected, unless exiled or escaped.

You are not forced in joining, you are not forced to stay, and you are not forced to read anything flock related.

 

[mindsend]

Introduction

In a female dominated society, one might mistakenly believe that life in the flock is one of torture, abuse, and death for males. This however is NOT the case.

While men have no rights and are treated as property, they tend to be well treated and are not required to do anything beyond eat, sleep, and breed. The ones that have it worst off are the captured males, kept away from their homes. The males born into the flock, while considered inferior, are raised to be polite, respectful, and humble, like demure Wive(s) to a Greco-roman politician or harem girls in a romanticized Sultan's private quarters, prized property or pampered pets.

Only male soquili.

This thread will answer questions, state the limitations and allowances for males within the flock, and hopefully squash misconceptions about what it means to be male within the flock.

Short Summary: Males are seen in a way such as woman have been seen in the past by other cultures. They have no real requirements or duties, except for occasionally being asked if they were willing to share some 'private time' with one of the sisters for the sake of stress relief or siring children, and are simply protected and kept safe from what they see as the corruption of the outside world. Men are 'flighty, weak, distrustful creatures', and thus its felt if they were given freedoms would be stolen away by other harpy flocks (Such as the Hatetalons) or betray their location to other herds that may choose to attempt to wipe them out. They aren't what you'd truly call 'slaves' as the harpies can't make them do anything that they don't want to, except for stay where its safe for them.  

[mindsend]

Captured Males

Unaware of his being hunted, a stallion wandering through the woods soon finds himself ambushed, or even chased down by what seems to be impossible, large figures leaping and bounding through the trees. Within minutes he is captured.

This scenario is how many males of the Kawani lands that are now part of the flock find themselves within its boarders, trapped and seemingly with no hope of escape, while others are either tricked into the flock and ambushed by multiple members of the flock, or even coming willingly with a mare in particular, curious about the flock or twitterpatted with the mare they came along with.

However, what does it mean to be a captured stallion?

The Initiation

Here is where the info on the ceremony of taking things from the stallion will be described

Clipping ones wings

For winged breeds, the Initiation into the flock includes some further humiliation, and often times pain, and on rare occasions irreversible damage.

Winds and Angeni: Bird winged breeds get their wings clipped regularly, to prevent them from being capable of flight, The first initiation get almost all of their flight feathers trimmed and tattered into a level of uselessness and humiliation. After they've settled in, only enough of the feathers are trimmed to keep them flightless.

Kalona: Bat winged breeds such as the Kalona (and mutants with similar wing types) get their wings pierced with heavy stone loops weighing them down and ruining the windflow, stretching the membranes. While, after escape, the piercings can be removed and might grow over or learn to fly with the altered wind flow.

Flutters: Flutters often have their wings pierced in ways similar to Kalona, and the delicate scales rubbed off the edges to render them too delicate to fly. This can grow back, but are often kept this way during their stay. Its not usually so extreme, and are often dealt with carefully, since Flutters cannot easily fly out of range and not much of a flight risk.


There is a history of escapee's getting wings damaged further in ancestrial times, however this is fairly rare, as females usually do not put the effort into recapturing males alive (and in shop canon, none are ever actually killed or even gravely injured) and many of the younger harpies would rather release an unhappy stallion after a time of adjustment has past than have them waste away. Plus, torture is against the Harpy way, so this is growing more and more taboo with time.

A Day in the Life

See: "The Safezone" under "The Usual Schedule"

What Acceptance Brings

Stallions that either joined The Flock willingly or, after having been captured for trespassing grown to think of The Flock as home, often find themselves integrated with the culture deeply, being allowed to help raise their kids if they wish, are often more appealing to mares who don't want to have to deal with constant insults or with constant flinching at every move they make. Those who become pets to a mare will often get a place they can keep their property in where they don't have to worry about outsiders stealing it or insisting they share. Those who relax often find themselves doing something they enjoy, and may even be able to earn things for themselves, which could, in the end, end up acting as their own nest (such as a tent) in which, should their guardian drop them as a pet, they can use within the safezone still and it'll still be seen as theirs and protected from theft by the Guards, as well as make them appealing to other mares (or to other stallions if they're gay) and a chance for privacy, a rare commodity in The Heart of The Flock.

Those who are outsider born and have proven their loyalty to The Flock, above and beyond the usual acceptance, while not given the Harpy title outsider born mares are given, are called "Harpy-hearted", and may, on rare occasions, be actually allowed to join one of the convoys to the ancestral lands and back with their current Guardian like a Flockborn Stallion.  

[mindsend]

Harpy Born Males

Male harpies -- Raised in a culture where females are considered superior, they are usually a happy lot. They are not treated as slaves, but rather, in their closed society, acting within their gender roles -- reversed in comparison to most male dominated societies of the time of soquili, and indeed reversed from the usual harem society of horses. They are never abused, and kept 'pure' as possible until they reach adulthood, in hopes of keeping them uncorrupted by outsider males who might make them do wicked things and think wicked thoughts.

A Gentleman from birth

Colt's born into the flock are taught from a young age to be respectful and useful to their 'superiors' with a kind and gentle claw.

*continue to describe the raising process by the nannies here*

Dear Father...

Whether or not they are allowed to see their father depends on their mother and the loyalty of their father to the flock.

*continue to describe the limitations and requirements for father/child interactions*

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Harpy boys, just like any other stallion, are NOT allowed to venture from the flock. If discovered sneaking out and returning, the current queen will either take them out into banishment deep into skinwalker territory, or be 'kinder' and execute them when discovered. Friends from outside of the Flock is impossible for males.

However, there are plenty of individuals within the flock to befriend, such as older harpy stallions, children their same age, and many of the harpy mares are kind and even fond of foals regardless of Gender. Activities are held, talents encouraged as long as they are of the appropriate gender type or directed in a gender appropriate manor, and plenty of curiosities within their reach without seeking it outside.

OOC Information: If your stallion leaves the flock on his own power, please be aware he is not allowed to reenter if desired UNLESS he's been gone for many years canonly, at which point they're treated as captured stallions rather than flock born. We'd never actually KILL a stallion ICly.

Rites of Passage

Your colt is now a year old, and is ready to move out of the mixed gender nursery flock and into a male only pre-teen flock of fellow colts their age. This is a special time, where they get initiated into their rites much like an adult stallion, though with them its a much more tender and honorable experience.

To them, reaching the age of going through the Rite of Passage is an honor, but also where they find out if they are going in the right direction and how they will be handled while they continue growing up into adulthood.

Young stallions who are showing to be properly polite, respectful, and happy with their place in the flock get to....

*continue to describe the YAY and benefits of being a good little boy*


However, on the other hand, rowdy and rude colts are separated to keep them from influencing the good ones, and given a much stricter education, in an attempt to turn them around before their second year is over (When Soquili reach Adulthood). They need to be taught their place with a much firmer grip, and if they continue to fight it, one of two things may happen, which will be explained in "Reaching Adulthood" below.

Reaching Adulthood

Reaching adulthood doesn't automatically mean being shifted directly to the safetyzone for flock born (or flock raised) stallions. There is a celebration for the males that have reached adulthood safely, and have been blessings from the spirits to have grown into proper harpy stallions. They are introduced to the safety zone, and spend time with older stallions, especially ones who are also gentlemanly. Under observation, they are slowly introduced to concepts of adulthood.

Males with wings, like captured stallions, will have their wing feathers trimmed if they have bird wings, their flutter wings descaled at the tips to prevent flight, or their wing membranes pierced if they have leathery wings. While to captured males this may be unpleasant, to many flock born stallions this is something they have done with pride, and many will actually have more work done:T heir wing feathers trimmed into useless but decorative shapes, designs 'etched' into their flutter wings, Decorative and elaborate piercings in their wings or for some bat winged stallions even having patterns carefully pierced through their wings and filled with gauges so they heal as open holes that create a pattern of light when they hold their wings open on display..

They spend their first few weeks with the Sacred Mothers (unless they have already picked up a profession), learning the additional ways of an adult. Some may at this point decide to become whistle stallions and go into additional training and trials to be accepted among their ranks.

Many stallions have been taught to use their energies in ways that benefit the flock and fit within its culture by this point, and find a happy niche within the safezone with other males, comfortable and happy with their life.

The rare few stallions who continue to rebel and prove to be aggressive, usually find themselves kicked out from the flock, led out with a blindfold like exiled Outer Stallions and left to pick themselves free, as to prevent them from being able to tell others where the flock is.. On rare occasions, if they insist on returning and find their way out, they will be chased out for a few years, as they are traitors and too much of a risk to keep within the boarders.

OOC information: If your stallion doesn't fit in with Harpy society (which means they rebel violently against mares or other foals regularly and have sociopath tendencies, since almost ANY Sort of stallion type is welcome), they will have to leave the flock, since we would NEVER actually kill a stallion. Please keep this in mind when deciding your stallion's personality.

Wanderer with a Handler

*Description of flock born stallions that are well behaved, and instances where they are actually allowed to leave the boarders on rare occasions with a mare on a mission (usually to entertain or carry supplies during a journey to and from the old territory/the temple -- considered one of the highest honors. BASICALLY THINK ACTING TROPE OUT ON A SHOW GOING "SQUEEEEEE HOMG DOES MY MAKEUP LOOK RIGHT?"*  

[mindsend]

The Safe Zone

The Basics

Situated near the Queen's nest, this is one area where the Queen oversees personally - say something about escaping and you'll either be tomorrow's Plant fertilizer or hit so hard you wish you were. Thus, having said that, its not really a safe zone in the sense that if a male escapes to that area, it doesn't mean that he'll be safe. This 'safe zone' is just like Daycare - a busy female may leave her current favorite toy/mating partner/slave in it and the Queen will protect him for her - like day care. When in the safe zone, males can have some 'man time' together and do not have to worry about being dragged away by a random female to do the unmentionables! But remember, the Queen is watching you...

A Public Harem

Some males do not have mistresses, and are kept in the Safe Zone, but do not have, necessarily, the same protection. Stallions without the mark of their owner are considered to be free game, and can be either selected as a pet or simply used for a particular task, whether its just sleeping in the nest of a mare on a cold night for the sake of warmth, or for reproductive purposes, kept on a fairly short leash (usually figuratively, but sometimes literally!). When done with whatever it is they were tasked with, if they are not kept as a pet and given a mark of the mare that owns them, they are then returned to the safe zone, or traded off to the next interested mare directly.

It's much like how in some cultures, daughters, sisters, and wives are kept in a group to be safe -- only difference is that they are the groups 'husbands', sons, and brothers of a warrior female tribe.

The Usual Schedule

The safezone is not always located right under the queen's nest, however -- men need exercise to keep fit, and fresh grazing, away from the sparse plants of the overworked and over tread leaf litter and harvested vegetation.

On occasion, about once every other day, men are brought to one of the few meadows within the forest territory to graze and sports, running and playing together, with guards keeping watch of the surrounding area with great attention. They are then returned to the safezone and usually picked up by their mares if they have one or left to their own arrangements.

The Artisan's guild

HERE BE ARTS AND CRAFTS *discuss the in-safezone-guild here*

Artisans that have shown loyalty enough not to be a flight risk and specialize in crafts that may not be safe to have in the heart of the nesting area often get a daily trip to one of the few specialization spots (For beekeepers, digging for raw clay or additional materials, or tending to trapped animals for the sake of breeding them for food and material) or to Crafters Crater -- reached by traveling a wide and ancient ravine that travels east from the current ravine of the river falls, away from the water and up to what used to be a lake, traveling under a natural bridge into an open area that was once a cave, the roof having collapsed centuries ago.

This wide open area has a nice flat surface and is nice and dry, with small tunnels leading to various areas that could be used for storage and preparation.

Clawed soquili have an advantage, but many tools are crafted to make them usable by those without.

Here, fire is readily available outside of special ceremonies, and used for various crafts. . Herbs and extra supplies are stored, fruit is mashed for wine and used for making prepared treats, and other things.

The Trading Blankets

Back home in the safe zone, blankets are set up to trade finished items for materials, treats of fresh food, or small favors. Another spot has generic tools and general items that are free to take in moderation or on a need basis, but it is preferred to donate materials in order to allow artisans to spend more time to learn their trade rather then farm for it, or experiment with new things.

Whistler Post

There's a post kept near the edge of the safe zone where mares can post trinkets to show interest in the attentions of a whistle stallion but cannot be bothered to go to the Sacred Mother's territory where the more skilled/more devoted/more fertile Whistlers tend to spend more time. (read more in the Whistle Stallion information)  

[mindsend]

Unofficial 'Ranks'

Males cannot truly hold a rank within the flock. However, loyal males who have proven to fit within the ideal of the flock tend to have slightly more freedoms by being brought along on journeys with a mistress on a mission, usually to help transport something or to act as entertainment. Usually this is reserved for Flock born males with no temptations in the outside world such as 'parents' or 'home' to lure them away from the flock, however.

Within the flock, boys can have things to do. Usually its simply what they're best at and recognized for, and expressed mostly within the Artisan's guild, or in dance and song. Males with good personalities and skills that help the flock often get recognition for their skills, and a better chance of being picked as a private pet.

The Private Pet (Aka the Trophy Stallion)

On occasion, mares keep their captured stallion beyond their first night or even the first breeding. It is even possible for them to be the only one they breed with. However, this is not usually a case of lifemating - this is called the a private pet or a trophy stallion, where a stallion has physical traits and/or intelligence that entertains the mare that owns them and they find desirable for their future offspring.

For example: One mare may prefer stallions with colors and looks that compliment their own, since they'd be able to use the stallion as an accessory like jewelry, and any offspring would be attractive, being nicer to look at as dancers, and possibly more charismatic, if they desire their children to become leaders through wit, intelligence, and charm. Meanwhile, another mare may keep a stallion with wings and claws, choosing the strongest boldest stallion to create powerful huntresses in their children.

In both cases, usually they have other flings and simply use their trophy the most often. In cases where their favored pet is the only one used, it is because no other stallion they have encountered quite 'fits' what's they envision for their offspring, and thus they do not wish to taint their genes with inferior stallions.

Trophy stallions even may not be the ones they breed with, instead being simply decorative, and occasionally offered for the night to close friends. But, since they have a mistress to care for them, they get to leave the safezone more often, beyond their occasional trips out to graze or, if an artisan needing to work in specific fields that are too dangerous for keeping near the flock (such as bee keeping) to their work area with an escort.

It is similar to how, in many countries of the past and many of the present, where women are unable to own property, and thus get more rights and freedom if they're married, and their husband gives it to them, then they would while being a ward to someone else.

Professions allowed

Stallions are not required to do anything but Live comfortably, be polite to their betters, and occasionally couple with a mare of their choosing. However there are many professions in which they can take up to be an active member of the growing culture of the harpies.

Breeders

All most all males in the flock are called 'breeders', since all males are required to do is eat, drink, generally not be dominating, controlling jerks, and occasionally sire children. However, there are few who professionally take it to different levels.

Nest Warmers
~Othernames: Pillowmales, warmbodies, burr-pickers~
Stallions who actually mostly simply keep a female company and keep their nests warm at night, cuddling and grooming. Often times they're used mostly in winter when nests are cold or by pregnant mares who still want the attention of a stallion but are too pregnant to anything else. Some Whistle Stallions (see below) also act as Nest Warmers. This is often one of the duties of a "pet" (See above). However, it is common for mares to share each others nests in a platonic fashion as well, as friends and family, so many see the point of Nest Warmers to be somewhat redundant.


Whistle Stallions
~Othernames: Whistlers, Preening Stallions, Strutters, Peacocks, Wiggletails~
Whistle stallions are males that take the non-profession of' 'breeder' (A title which most males can claim), to a whole different level and turn it into an actual profession. They often help with a young, newly turned adult mares first rights into adulthood, making sure it is enjoyable so they will continue to try breeding with other stallions. They're also often assigned by flock mares to show outsiders who had recently joined the flock a good time and allow them to see that stallions are not at all tormented and are often quite happy and at ease in the flock, the entirety of it true though it helps make the new mare comfortable with the idea of their children being raised in the flock, knowing their children would be happy regardless of their gender. They also will often sing, dance, have conversations with, and generally provide various entertainments for mares, sometimes entertaining whole parties with their songs and dances. They're easily accessible for quickly relieving an 'itch' for those who don't have the time or desire to actually seduce a stallion, and often are willing to, depending on the stallion and as long as it causes no physical harm, play out scenarios for the individual mare, as well as for if a mare is completely uninterested in men and simply want to 'get it over with' when they want kids. Some Whistlers also entertain stallions much like they do with mares.

Their title name comes from how they were originally requested: A Hippogryph mare would go to the edge of the save zone and call a particular Whistle, and all available stallions of their profession would head over to the mare and show off in hopes of being selected. While the whistle is still used to this day, with the inclusion of non-hippogryph members of the flock and the slightly more spread out nature of the stallions with the introduction of the artisan guild, other calls and methods have been adopted.

Whistle stallions that are 'available' and on duty wear specifically marked and colored tabard, and when they're busy with a job they put on a feather caplet of white feathers. A mare can approach the one they want, call out for a Whistle stallion, or leave some sort of artifact at a post set up specifically for whistle stallions, and return the next day to a broader selection to chose from, the available and interested stallions - Some not even Whistlers but just interested stallions that recognize the cue - waiting near the post for the job.

It's considered polite to give Whistle stallions trinkets, and the Whistlers often have a small allowance provided by the flock to use for their job, though usually they're dependent on what you have to provide when it comes to food and drink when entertaining parties. Some of them work other jobs as well in order to afford decorations in order to advertise themselves and have gifts to give to mares, though those with additional work are often a little picker and will prefer mares that provide better trinkets, tidbits, and trade items or appeal to them if they're to share their bounty beyond what is allotted to them by the flock..

Due to their exceedingly attention based profession, over all they tend to be extremely fussy and cleanly within their own areas, thus gaining them the nickname of "Preening Stallions". They often also shake their tails and rustle their tail feathers often when getting attention, so they're also sometimes called Peacocks, Strutters, and Wiggletails.

Note: Whistlers cannot be preferred pets, cannot lifemate, and are 'protected' by the Sacred Motherhood. While you can decide to have a breeding only OFFICIALLY 'take' with one mare, they can't canonically only 'perform' for one mare. They can, however, retire.

Warriors

The Flock appreciates strength and warriors, so not all mares prefer their stallions to be meek or delicate -- some prefer a bold stallion. However such stallions have a place where they can do more than just sit around looking pretty...

Harem Guards
Harem guards main profession is to aid the queen indirectly by keeping an eye on the other stallions, especially outsiders, protecting them and squashing rebellions before they can start. In times of war it is the job of a Harem guard to guide those who will willingly come to the Caves and protect them from attackers, as in such attacks Females are focused on the flock in general and put precedence in protecting their sisters-in-arms and the foals, letting males fend for themselves.

Sparring Stallions

Males have a different build and strength to them than mares do, usually being the largest and strongest thing a mare might have to take down on her own, as buffalo are often hunted as a group, and unlike the bison that roam the edges of the woods and through the south western plains, a stallion they need to take down without killing or crippling, and often times with as minimal scarring as possible.

This is where Sparring stallions come in: These males train as fighters much like the others, but regularly practice with females so they can train and practice overpowering and capturing stallions of different sizes and level's of fight. They also act as sparring partners for warriors and guards to learn how to fight any soquili that might attack them, including skinwalkers, and train fighting against the often larger, heavier boned breeds.

Gladiator

Gladiators train much like the sparring stallions, but are trained mostly in stage fights rather than actual combat, practiced in pomp and pageantry and fighting as a form of entertainment for the mares and other non-combatant stallions during festivals and contests. They often dress in elaborate costumes over thick, heavy armor, and fight each other until either one loses every piece of his costume, or one is stunned for a period of time by a lucky blow. They do, on occasion, fight against gladiator females or warriors as well. This is a dangerous profession and sometimes accidents happen that causes a lethal injury, though it is often prevented and the matches are always watched over by healers.

Some gladiators are simply actors who do little more than battle, staging elaborate personas and using unorthodox manors of combat, often over the top and silly, as a form of slapstick humor between the more aggressive battles to lighten the mood, and the winner is often predetermined before the fight ever happens.

Gathers

Farming

Animal Husbandry

Mining/Mineral Harvest

Crafters

The artisan guild welcomes and teaches all sorts of crafts, from armor, tools, vessels and weapons, to jewelry, blankets, cooked treats, decorative arts, and even brewed beverages. There are too many crafts to list them all as a single talent in something not currently done can spawn a new guild under the overall cover of what is called the "Artisan guild".

Performers

Singers

Dancers

Musicians

Actors  

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Social Interactions

Not always so complex, but often misunderstood.

Captured Stallion x Mare

Within the "Claim-zone" of the flock, where any full sized male not from neighboring herd can be captured, interactions with males, where fresh blood reaches the flock, how their first experience of the flock depends on which mare they encounter and their main way of claiming.

Some mares are aggressive in it -- The male are in the territory of the flock and thus free game, and so they will actively chase (until outside of their territory), and will use their training to safely pin down the male in question. Many mares with this method of claiming males will often carry ropes when they head out, and will put the loop over the neck and often times also tie the front legs together with enough space to let them walk, but not enough to run, and lead them deeper into the flock once having them secured. These mares will often use threats and even use the rumors that surround the flock (Such as them killing males that don't follow their rules, even though that is NOT something the Flock does) to scare the male into behaving until she can get him into a location where she doesn't have to handle him all on her own. Sometimes an entire team of females will spot a male and catch him this way and carry him with his weight between them, completely bound up, back to the Flock.

Males captured this way are often fearful at first and tend to take time to calm down and realize that it was just tradition and the belief that the world outside of the flock is dangerous for males without proper protection, but also that they tend to be stubborn about claiming they don't need protection, and that being able to capture them proves that they aren't as self reliant as they thought they were.

Other females will approach males peacefully and flirt with them, getting an idea for their personality, and give hints about the flock being someplace more mares would be interested in meeting them, and how it's a safe place where males can learn skills or just play games and have fun and flirt with mares (or even other stallions) and invite them in. If they turn them down, they'll let them go off, but typically don't warn them about their "sister" that would catch them actively: After all, no point spoiling their fun.

The males invited in frequently join willingly without any sort of compulsion or fear, and acclimate quickly and thus gain more freedoms quicker. But since not all males are enticed by Polyamory and fun in exchange for staying in the flock, they tend to either not join (and get captured by more aggressive mares), or join and then get bored and eventually escape or convince a mare to help them escape.

However, Stallions of both types of introduction to the flock are treated in ways that are not cruel: they might be treated more firmly if they're still adapting to keep them from attempting to escape

Captured Stallion x Captured Stallion

Males will frequently share how they arrived at the flock while in the safe zone.. And will often find their stories don't match up exactly. Those that have been there long enough to know the full story of why they are there, or have joined flock society completely will explain it to newcomers and comfort and calm them.

Some males my co-conspire to escape, and make a mad dash at the closest opportunity. Others are tempted by the tales those who have settled in weave, and ask to visit one of the guilds or visit the sacred mothers.

Captured Stallion x Flock-born Stallion

Males born to the flock are often befuddled by the terror many captured males have and tend to find them generally silly, and will try to calm them with "it's whats best" or "why are you being so strange?", not quite knowing how to comfort males who aren't from the Flock, though some who had fathers who were adapted outsider-born members of the flock raise them will know why they are afraid and reassure them much like an stallion that chose to be there or chose to stay rather than keep struggling with adaptation.

Flock-born Stallion x Mare

It's often a relaxed, casual, and friendly interaction, but in most situations, it tends to be brief, and primarily for the sake of courtship and breeding. However, those within the guilds tend to get to become close friends. When this happens, sometimes a female will take some of her male friends to festivals or entertainment events (or even just to hang out spots within the flock) so they can enjoy the entertainments, as well as introduce them to other mares and act as matchmakers to get them protectors who'll be fair in their interests if they don't already have one, since flock born stallions are frequently trusted to go all around the flock territory in up to five males in the company of a single mare.

Flock-born Stallion x Flock-born Stallion

Males born to the flock often have a group of close friends of their age group that they spend most of their days together most days out of the week. Since they frequently end up meeting in the same locations, they often remain friends, even if they choose to just hang out in the safe zone, or go to various different guilds. And there, they tend to meet more flock born stallions. Some stallions may have rivals, and not everyone necessarily is friends all the time, but over all, they tend to be civil with each other outside of asking mares to monitor a spar between them.

Actual fights are few and far between, and most prefer to just avoid stallions they don't care for.  

[mindsend]

FAQ'S

Question: Are female/male relationships violent?

Answer: It depends on the harpy (Some are needlessly abusive, but this is few and far between) , but not usually; usually males are only punished, and non-violently, if they try to gain dominance over a mare (...without her consent, anyway). Usually its just a brief interlude, and could be enjoyable for both if the mentality is right for the stallion.

Some Females are sadistic or violently sexist, but these are usually few and far between and it is frowned upon to act on their behavior and they tend to be disallowed to act as guardians to males or spend time with them un-monitored (unless they find a stallion who is legitimately into that); most are simply sure of their place as superior to males, and as the dominant gender. While gentle, almost loving relationships are relatively common, they tend to be temporary or an open relationship. Stallions are considered a corruptible and 'weak' gender, and are protected and cared for; mares tend to prefer many partners, and since consent is a requirement the stallions they have interest in spending time with usually end up seeing the sweeter side of the mare once the mare is sure the stallion isn't going to bolt.

Harpy born stallions tend to not usually have to be confronted with female violence if they grow up as proper harpy stallions -- usually a stern voice is all that's required if they are getting too excitable to get them to settle down. Captured males that settle in and either come to enjoy it or figure out a crafty way to break loose, while those that don't settle in are eventually released as being too far gone to protect.

Usually, stallions that encounter violence after capture but before escape tend to be the sorts who use violence themselves in an attempt to escape or to attack another stallion or a mare: They're often quickly tackled down by guards, including male Harem guards, and only the harm necessary is used. To most, the threat of it, much like a mother threatening to spank a child, is enough. The Majority actually have an overall pleasant time if they stick around, and there have been cases of stallions hearing about the flock and joining willingly: Most of those are never given any reason to leave and enjoy their lives there in comfort.

Males who are unhappy, unproductive, and completely uninterested in even a quick romp are escorted out or a kind hearted mare takes them as a temporary companion and 'accidentally' allows them to "escape". Some stallions even join the flock willingly with that promise given to them.



Question: You're kidnapping torturing foals and keeping them as sexslaves! D< RAAGE!

Answer: Wtf, no we're not. Foals can be adopted into the society if they are abandoned, orphaned, or abused, but Harpies do not steal away children in the dead of night, at least not on purpose -- if they find a basket they feel is abandoned, they might take it in, since their territory is close to skinwalker territory and thus the offspring's parents might be dead and eaten, or the child itself is in danger of being killed.

They are raised as normal children, and taught their culture and proper behavior for their gender (much like most boys are taught they shouldn't wear pink and are prompted to play wargames by their fathers, and girls dressed in pink and taught to play house by their parents in many modern households -- the genders are simply reversed to so a matriarchal society). They are not introduced to the concept of sex until they are adults, and even then they are treated with respect and a tender claw -- males are simply, like in many societies still existing today when it comes to females, supposed to be gentle, kind, and wanting to find a good partner and have children. This is when they are adults.

They are never tortured, and any stallion who doesn't fit is actually encouraged OOCly and given methods in which to leave unharmed.


Question: SLAVERY ISN'T ALLOWED IN SOQUILI.

Answer: I think you misunderstood the rules that were there; When the law was posted about slavery, it specifically stated shackles, hobbling, and chain level.

We went through a process to make sure, through both the RP manager of the time AND the one who made the law, to see if we fit within the limitations. We do, as would any other herd or soquili.

None of that sort of thing (Hobbling, chains) ACTUALLY happens in the flock, no one is ever tortured -- It is stated as a worst case scenario, but it never actually gets to that level.Basically its all a bluff. Males who don't WANT to be there, are given opportunities to leave on a regular basis, and their RPers still have a free will. If they don't want to be involved anymore, they simply ask to leave and are given an opportunity to escape: we do not restrict anyone from leaving, and do not punish them for doing so -- that character is simply not allowed back into the flock during the reign of the current queen.


Question: RAPE! D< RAPE ISN'T ALLOWED ON SOQ.

Answer: 1) Skinwalkers reproduce in that manor most of the time, and 2) Harpies of the Flock do NOT Rape; They believe themselves descended from an Angeni, which makes forcing sex on another to be an insult to their Ancestral Mother. However, since the Flock is mixed blood, even with a few pure blooded non-harpies having joined since moving to the new land, there's also a 'physical' reason for not doing it as well: The stress of forcing it on a stallion produces a weaker offspring, or even a general lack of fertility.

Hence why stallions are captured and kept -- They're kept safe and well fed, and then the harpies 'court' the stallions: Usually by asking for volunteers and then picking the strongest stallion, or at least the one with traits most appealing to the mare, from the group. These males sometimes get picked as part time favored pets, kept close and given more freedoms while they court and attempt to produce offspring, and are then returned to the 'Harem'. Some mares may prefer a single stallion if he pleases her with strong offspring and charm, others may give a few weeks at most and then transfer to another stallion since they aren't providing fast enough. Other mares may just simply ask every night of a different stallion who's ready and willing and not play any favorites except for leaving out the less appealing stallions.

Question: Why are they called Pets? If it's not slavery, why is this terminology used?

Answer: In ancient times, the first harpies, before they were called harpies, often had relationships with stallions in the dark, getting to know a stallion for a one night stand, only to be rejected in the light of day when their claws were noticed, and so while numbers grew, they were fairly isolated, and eventually found a valley to settle into with, and in these ancient, more violent times, they'd often rescue mares who were being given unwanted attention from stallions and give them protection or attacked by predators, and would nurse them back to health, so they ended up getting a decent sized herd of ponies that the only males were their own offspring.

However, word of a herd of "foul, meat eating bird-monster women that leap through the trees with massive claws with ill temperaments" (since they were by this point sick and tired of outsider males turning on them and seeing them as deceivers had certainly spoiled their opinions of most males) spread among the more primitive herds of that time (being more like ordinary horse herds, where only one stallion had many mares or herds entirely of stallions that stuck together until they could take over a harem), and they were called harpies by the neighboring bachelor herds that took offense to their existence nearby, especially since they were keeping them from claiming the local mares who had adopted themselves into what was, at the time, called "The Birdgirl's Flock", and the local bachelor herds began to attack "The Flock".

Being of Angeni descent, and their Matriarch still with them, they were taught to defend themselves, disable the stallions, then release them. However the attacks continued, and, not wishing to kill them, eventually they began to hold them prisoner until they were no longer a threat to their group or they found a good place to lead them away to. They also began patrolling a half mile out of their territory to capture any stallion heading directly toward the core of the territory or stepping past a particular barrier, and warning others with birdsong of larger groups of males in the barrier, and capturing them preemptively before they entered Flock territory proper. At first, both male and Female flock born members would patrol, but the flock born stallions were easily goaded into anger by outsider stallions into fighting to defend their mothers honor, or even tried to be preemptive to the point of attacking their neighboring herds with any stallion, including more peaceful ones with a single stallion and a bunch of mares: They had to eventually start keep guard on them both outsider stallions and their own, and began to believe that males simply were more prone to causing issues and simply too foolish for their own good, much less the good of their herd.

A lot of these males snarled and called the Mares Harpies (The derogatory term for a very unpleasant female person.). However, some of the more docile, gentle stallions, often those lowest in the pecking order of these old herds, came to realize the mares tended to be relatively nice if you were nice too them and respected them, and started being able to go out of the protected zones with a mare escort to have conversations and, now that they realized they weren't as scary as they seemed at first, perhaps even began to woo them, and the mares, both the ones with claws and the ones with hooves tended to prefer these kinder stallions.

The still bitter and 'machismo' driven stallions that were higher up in their herd's ranking would often sneer and belittle these stallions, calling any who dared to willingly keep company with "those Harpies" traitors and "little more than Pampered Pets".

Eventually, The Flock adopted both terms: Harpy for those born to the flock or mares who joined the flock, and Pet for any adult stallion under direct guardianship of a mare and enjoying the added perks of being able to travel relatively freely within their territory and under her direct protection and guidance.

Question: Are Gay Stallions allowed? Can they have relationships?

Answer: Yes! Same Sex relationships are accepted within the Flock, especially since the Sacred Mothers have ways of allowing males to still produce offspring without ever sleeping with a mare (Instead having a "Between" that uses specially shaped baskets treated in the same way breeding and long-storage baskets are which allows them to store things for longer periods of time and keeping things alive), though males aren't only accepted for their ability to produce offspring: Most stallions who are Gay and are uninterested in acting as donors still provide something to the flock even if its being a comforting presence to others, showing that ones ability to produce offspring isn't all that really matters.

There are some Whistlers who specifically cater to other stallions, or are basically another whistlers mate and do the more "Work with Acolytes and Sacred mothers to help with the production of breeding baskets, fertility medications" and just make donations via the artificial means for mares who wish to have kids from them.

Some donate their time as "father figures" (Male-rolemodels for hire basically) For foals, and work with the teachers and nannies or with the mothers directly.

Really any sexuality is welcome within the flock, even within the Whistlers (For Example, Asexual Asexual Whistlers can either sleep around despite not being attracted to individuals, or can provide other comforts, such as just platonic skinship such as cuddles, or just be a good ear.)

Question: What about Stallions who had been designated as Female at birth?

Answer: Otherspirited Stallions, as the flock calls it, are just as accepted as Otherspirited Mares (and Otherspirited Soquili/familiars of other genders), however they are often assigned as Protected Pets of Otherspirited Mares, so they both are less likely to get Misgendered by accident. (Genderfluid otherspirited soquili get assigned a CisMare guardian regardless of their biosex so, should their gender shift to stallion, they won't be breaking Flock rules outside of safezones)