╬ BIG THUNDER ╬ a new desert herd - recruiting roles!

[Stereochrome]

╬ B I G T H U N D E R ╬
a desert herd

interest & plot thread

 

[Stereochrome]

╬ H E A D I N G S O U T H ══════════════════════════════════════════════
xxxxxxa bit of backstory

The sun bore down on the rugged expanse of the desert before him -- hot, bright, relentless. It was hardly a hospitable place, with only dry tufts of grass for nibbling on and not a pool of water in sight. Why had he come here?

Rumors. Whispers. The promise of something cold and wet hanging in the air.

Some number of days ago now, the eldest mare of Trigger’s herd had pulled the young stallion away from the others. Having seen many just like him, she knew how to spot a young one who had caught the itch to set out on his own, and held him only long enough to give a few words of advice.

“To the East, there are mountains so steep that many have fallen from them. The the West, there is an ocean of salty water that no one can drink. To the North, there is ice and a blanket of snow hiding all the grass. And to the South, the ground is made of sand and the sun is so hot it might sizzle your hide.”

The young stallion pawed a hoof at the fresh grass beneath him, thinking over these options. None of them seemed particularly attractive. “So… where do I go?

“South.” She nodded sagely.

It hardly made any sense to Trigger, but he trusted the old mare. She wasn’t his mother, but she had looked over him as if she were. Surely, she wouldn’t sent him to his death.

“Alright. I’ll go South.”

“You will go South, and you will not stop until you get to the Red Mountains. When you get there, you must follow your nose first. Then, you must follow your ears. Finally, you can follow your eyes. And if you do so, you will find Big Thunder.”

She turned away then, leaving him at the edge of his old herd’s lands. Before she moved out of sight, though, she turned back to look at the stallion.

“And Trigger?”

“Yes, Misty?”

“Listen to your mares, boy.”

He snorted a laugh, and set out at a trot.

South. To Big Thunder.

Whatever that was.  

[Stereochrome]

╬ N E W B E G I N I N G S ══════════════════════════════════════════════
xxxxxxabout the herd

» What is Big Thunder?
The ponies don't know it yet, but Big Thunder is a large waterfall in the heart of the Red Mountains. Do get to it, the ponies will have to cross a vast expanse of desert (think Arizona) and climb into the mountains themselves. It's a dangerous journey, but if they arrive they will be rewarded by the stunning sight of cool water plunging down into crystal-blue pools. The pools themselves soon turn into river, which has long ago carved out a valley teeming with grass for eating and trees for shade. In the middle of inhospitable desert and barren mountains, the waterfall and valley are a great roaming ground for a herd.

» How do I Join?
Just fill out the form in the next post, and start doing some rp! You can join a herd rp if there is one, or you can start a 1x1 rp with a herd member. Post here if you’re interested in starting one or the other, and we’ll plot something out. We’re not picky about how you join; you can be an existing member of Trigger’s little travelling band, or you can encounter them on the way if you like. You can even be waiting for them at Big Thunder!

» What is the Herd Like?
It takes a lot of skill to navigate the desert, find food, protect the herd and survive the hostile conditions of the desert and mountains. As a young stallion, Trigger has already learned that he cannot do this all by himself. He feels that the herd is most likely to succeed if every pony in it brings their own skills, strengths and knowledge to the table. Each pony in the herd will eventually take on a special role, and when Trigger needs to make an important decision for the herd, he will call on those with relevant roles to discuss the situation and take a vote. Newcomers to the herd, as well as new foals born in it, are of course welcome to take some time to explore their options before settling on a role. When Trigger needs to make an important decision for the herd, he will call those with relevant roles to a Council, where they discuss the situation and take a vote.

» When will This Happen?
To start an official herd, we need at least 5 herd members and 10 completed rps between them! So the more people join and rp, the sooner we will have our official herd. Hooray!

Current group rps:
Upcoming! (let's plot)

Completed herd rps:
1/10 (2 in progress)

Current members:
xxx» Trigger
xxx» Thunderbird
xxx» Red River Running
xxx» Darling
xxx» Miela  

[Stereochrome]

╬ R O L E S ══════════════════════════════════════════════
xxxxxxjoin our herd!

» Lead Pair (2/2 FULL)
The lead pair calls the shots on day-to-day herd activities, and call councils when an important issue needs to be discussed. It’s the leaders' job to assess the herd members and grant them special roles if they are qualified. They command the Outriders and Guides when necessary. The leaders must be quick thinkers, but not too hot-headed!
xxxxxx» Trigger
xxxxxx» Miela

» Second-in-Command (0/1 or 2)
The second-in-command is the Leader’s backup. He/She is responsible for communicating the Leader’s decisions and suggestions to the rest of the herd. The pony in this role must have great social skills, and work to be on good terms with everyone in the herd.

» Outriders (0/any)
Outriders are in charge of protecting the herd from dangers. They are always alert and on the lookout for predators or invading herds. They do not venture too far away from the herd, but they stick to the perimeters and keep their eyes on the world outside. Outriders need to be brave and physically fit!

» Guides (1/any)
Guides know the desert and mountain well. They help the herd navigate when it moves as a group. When the herd is settled, they are teamed up with less desert-wise ponies who need to go into the wilderness (to collect medicinal herbs, seek humans for trading, etc.) Guides need to be quite experienced in desert survival!
xxxxxx» Red River Running

» Seers (1/3)
The mountains are a strange place. Even ponies who aren’t mystics sometimes get strange dreams and visions. There are also plenty of unusual herbs that give ponies the ability to have unusual experiences that could be interpreted as premonitions. Seers attend councils and look for answers within their visions. Strange and oddball ponies often become Seers -- some of them may later become Mystics*! (Up to shop owner)
xxxxxx» Thunderbird

» Skill Masters (0/any)
Other ponies in the herd are masters of a specific skill or knowledge. What this is is entirely up to you! Some can be experts in herblore, others can be singers, or weather-readers, or healers. Masters are expected to use their skill to help the herd, and also to teach their skill to any interested newcomers and foals.

Do you have other role ideas? Post in this thread and we can plot it out!


Want to join the ranks? Fill out this form:

[quote="Stereochrome"][/quote]
[PONY CERT/IMAGE]
[b]NAME | SEX | STAGE[/b]
Pony Role: (If a skill master, specify the skill. If you’re not sure yet, put ‘undecided’.)
Player Name:

Plot Ideas: How do you want your pony to join the herd?

 

[Stereochrome]

╬ M E M B E R S ══════════════════════════════════════════════
xxxxxxBig Thunder ponies!!



TRIGGER | MALE | ADULT
Pony Role: Leader
Player: Stereochrome


RED RIVER RUNNING | MALE | ADULT
Pony Role: Guide
Player: Stereochrome


THUNDERBIRD | MALE | ADULT
Pony Role: Seer
Player: Stereochrome


DARLING | FEMALE | ADULT
Pony Role: Undecided
Player Name: lux_rayne13


MIELA | MARE | ADULT
Pony Role: Other half of the Lead Pair
Player Name: StarshineAngel01

 

[Kesmi]

ORIOLE | MALE | ADULT
Kesmi

show spoilerhide spoiler

possible role in the herd:
Oriole is a shaman of dreams. While his sight is limited and the spirits don't touch his mind as much as he would like. Oriole can find someone awaiting him from the Great Spirit Herd when something is about to happen. Most the time it is something life changing, from great joy, or something of great sorrow.

During the times he ain't communing with the spirits on matters of any sort, Oriole greatly passes the time telling stories to the young minds of the herd or to the adults if they wish to hear them. He may also play a part in certain ceremonies such as matings, welcoming new foals to the herd and laying the departed to rest. Returning them to the earth so that their spirits may rise and run with the Great Spirit Herd.

why would you walk off into a desert?
Oriole had no ties to any herd for the most of his life. Whispers and dreams tugged at him like roots at soil. He had felt confined and suffocated within his birth herd, his mother more so. Oriole was always fasinated by the ways of the spirits, how they whispered through the trees and cause the waters to ripple with their passing. This was how he ended up close to a small oasis in the desert. Here the winds tugged at his mane and tail like paws of the playful. Whispered voices tugged at his ears making him want to wander. To scratch that itch that could not be soothed easily. He had to travel, travel to where ever the winds would take him.

Here by the oasis he waited, those of the past came to him in his dreams and told Oriole to wait here. Wait for someone, he was coming. There was just no clear answer to when or who this soul was that was coming. Not understanding what he was being told, the chestnut paint stallion settled close to the oasis to wait. Wait for who ever was to pass this way.

what are you like:
Oriole can be the arrogant type sometimes when he gets into a headbutting contest with someone over something. Steadfast and hard skinned, he can be almost hard to move as a mountain. When he's not butting heads, Oriole is the calm and well spoken type, liking the company of others and telling stories to the young minds of a herd. Calm as the water, Oriole is a many faceted stallion and sometimes you never know what type of mood he is in from day to day.