~:Gathering Thoughts For the Mad, Mad Herd:~ 'To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said: "I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head. Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be, Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!" ' ~Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
XxXxXxXxXBasic Info: XxXxXxXxXxXxX Herd Type: Public (Anyone Can Ask To Join) XxXxXxXxXxXxX Preference: Wonderland Themed Soquili; Fairy Tale Themed Soquili, etc Including: Alice In Wonderland, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through The Looking Glass, Alice in the Country of Hearts, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Various Fairy Tales & Retellings, Video Game Characters that fit the Theme, Etc. The Works Based on Alice in Wonderland List: Here
Current Members: XxXxXxXxXxXxXAlpha: The Princess (Katya) (HH) XxXxXxXxXxXxXLead Protector: (Male Cheshire Cat- Unnamed) (Custom Quest) XxXxXxXxXxXxXFemales 2-6: Undescribed (HH)
Possible Alternate Members: XxXxXxXxXxXxX*Alyse (Nisshou) XxXxXxXxXxXxX*Harrison (Nisshou)
As I find time, more of the herd history, code, and the like will be added here. Feel free to ask questions in the chatter/FAQ thread regarding this herd.
This thread is now Open for Posting! Banner for Underlanders:
~:Introducing:~ "''Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can, And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran: Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea—' " ~Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
Herd Goal: To spread the madness! Ideally speaking, this herd would like to build a new Wonderland with any kinsmen they find! They want to celebrate Unbirthdays and drink tea and eat hot, buttered toast... And generally enjoy all sorts of nonsense while believing in impossible things and never worrying about being late for anything.
Herd Allies: None Yet! (Potentially: Other Wonderland Themed Soquili, those from different 'lands' (Neverland, Kingdom Hearts base, etc), many others!).
Herd Enemies: None Yet! (Potentially: A rival Wonderland Band, The Frumious Bandersnatch, The Jubjub Bird, many others!)
Herd Possibilities: The Underland/Wonderland Herd could go two ways, or even split into two bands to do both things at once. a. They stay silly, mad, and ultimately benign; though with playing tricks accidents happen. b. They are mad, and get dark, twisted and a little more than wicked; still good for a laugh but not to be trusted because peopletend to get hurt.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:03 pm
~:Herd Concept:~ "'Then fill up the glasses with treacle and ink, Or anything else that is pleasant to drink." ~Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
~:Welcome to the Underland Herd:~ (A herd designed to "Spread the Madness" by basing itself in a Female Cheshire Cat Herd Helper (introduced in Mind's Bribes) and hopefully expanding well beyond that!)
Basic Herd Concept: Originally begun by a group of six Sisters, Refugees from the place known frequently as Wonderland (also Underland, the Land Through The Looking Glass, and others) the Underland Herd is designed to grow and encompass all matter of Wonderland (Underland/LookingGlass) themed Soquili. (Note: Non-Wonderland-Themed Soquili that are Mates or Children of current members are also welcome. This may eventually expand to allow additional/unrelated Non-Wonderland-Type Soquili, however currently those matching the theme are the priority and desired element. Familiars of a similar theme will also be welcome.
Expansion Concept: As more members appear, join or are customed it opens options for the herd to begin the duality of Wonderland. On the one hand, there is the harmless, insane, and odd. On the other, there is a very real chance of danger and death, and a certain amount of darkness. Characters can be quested to be part of either 'side' as well as the full range of oddities in between!
Summary (More available in History): Faced with the news their beloved homeland would soon be ending, a small band of wily Cheshire Cats decide to travel in search of a new place to call their own. One by one they traveled to a certain pool known as the Looking Glass, famed for how clear and still it sat, able to reflect one's image back (though perhaps not an exact reflection). More interesting still about this lake, was the cave system that rested beneath it. A path out of Wonderland, for those willing to swim for it.
A seemingly unending swim through the depths of the lake and the cave system has lead them here, to the land of Soquili, where they will find a new place to gyre, and new woods to explore, but they will always remember their beloved Tulgey Wood and the madness they left behind. As they begin to settle in they realize that there are kindred spirits here, those with similar mad grins, a peculiar resemblance to a certain "curious" female, and all matter of Hatters and Hares alike. Though they were forced to leave in a hurry (or face the wrath of the Queen), not all of home was left behind.
Travel lightly though they did, with them this band brings strange trinkets such as: charms and chains and pocket watches,teapots and cards and teacups filled with tea or treacle or ink... They bring the colors of Wonderland in their pelt and the madness in their smiles, and bear brightly colored mushrooms which they plant in their chosen domain and guard jealously.
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:04 pm
~:History:~ “Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?”~ Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie
XOur Story Begins: A long time ago, in a land far away... Where a Cheshire Cat -being a handsome but rather curious fellow- went out for an afternoon stroll through the wabe and all about the Tulgey Wood. While in the wood he stumbled across the recently-stolen Oraculum, lying (somewhat suspiciously) beneath the Tumtum Tree and immediately became curious. Being a calendrical compendium of Underland, this item was valuable indeed, and certainly not aught to be found lying about for anyone in the whole of the Underland to discover! Still, out in the woods find it he did, and with no one around at all to take claim or responsibility for it. (For certainly, he did look!) Still, with no one forthcoming to claim the scroll, he certainly couldn't leave it all alone.
As he was a Cheshire Cat and therefore very fond of mischief and shiny things, it was not his immediate thought to return this valuable item to where it belonged. Instead he opened it up and gave it a spin or three, wondering what interesting things it could tell him. In truth, he liked nothing better than knowing something others did not; for it gave him something to grin about you see. As such, he batted at it idly until an interesting enough image came into view, and then settled down to read for a bit.
And was abruptly frightened by what he saw, Danger was coming to Underland. Bad enough that the world they knew would cease to exist. And, if he were reading this correctly (which there is no certainty he was, for he was not at all experienced in such things) he had every right indeed to be worried that it was soon. Frightened by the idea of the End of Underland, fast approaching, he went back to his queen with the scroll to report on what he had learned. But the Cheshire Queen (aware that he was a bit of a layabout and loved to gloat about things he knew and others did not) thought it was a trick and would not heed him.
Dejected, he slunk away, the Oraculum safely by his side, and the Queen still lounging on her throne. She would pay him no mind, so he would not trouble her for he did not want her at his throat in vengeance. Instead, he resolved to find someone that would listen... Someone that would join him when he stepped through the Looking Glass and made his way far from Underland.
Happily, though the Queen would not hear of such things, the Princess took him seriously, and once he had been dismissed she sought him out for more information. With the story and the Oraculum unfurled at her paws, she knew that the story was true and the warning best heeded. So she gathered the most trusted of the herd, bade them collect essentials for the journey, and they all set out to find a way out of Wonderland.
(How they came to be here of course, is another matter entirely.)
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:06 pm
~:The (Retired) Forms:~
How the Girls were entered for (bad links):
bribe 1
HerdHelper2000
Amount:6 Gender: Female Starting a herd, Helping a Herd, Bolstering a Family, etc.: Starting a Herd: The Underland Herd Because of my deep abiding love for all things Wonderland and my desire to have my own Cheshire Cat, I think we need a female herd helper! What? Cheshire Cats with Lovely Tails and Paws (Canid) and Wide Grins! (Ear Edit Cheshire Cat Style welcome!)
What Else? Welcome: Bright Colors (welcome on accessories), Cool Colors Preferred for Soqs (like pale blue/ lavender/ aqua/ blue /silver /purple /white /charcoal/black, possibly a wine color/burgundy), ((Lat would die for an indigo chess w silver or teal striping)). Teacups, Tea cakes, Keys, Mushrooms, Turning into Mist, Strange Plants/Flowers, Pocket Watches, Bubbles, Mirrors, Eat Me Cakes/Drink Me Bottles, Trinket Boxes (with cookies), Books (IDK go wild), Curling Shapes, Playing Cards, Clouds of Colored Smoke, This Way/That Way signs Critters?: Smaller Cheshire Cats, Mice in teapots, Rabbits (white/otherwise, in a waistcoat/otherwise), Dodo Birds, Butterflies/Caterpillars, Bread-and-Butterflies, RockingHorse Flies, SnapDragon Flies, Lorikeets, etc. Please: Have a bit different accessories/extras on each.. Moderate to (light) Heavy edits, not too cluttered please. Possibly minor tweaks to mane styles? Also, one allowed to have rainbow colored stripes (possibly with a mostly black/gray/white body and then bright stripes? CC). 1-2 to be kept and all others to be given away to start this Mad Mad Herd! (Please no Hookahs included) Herd Info Here
An alternate cheshire (entered in the same bribes as the HH above)
bribe 2
CUSTOM A Cheshire Male to go with the Herd Helper Above! Edit Category: Moderate Soquili Species: Regular-Mutant: Canid Paws & Big Fluffy Tail (Ear Edit optional- CC) Body Build: Regular Gender: Male Starting Stage: Adult Concept Origin: OC- Cheshire Cat!
WIP Needed? Would Love, Or Stream
~*~ Colors & Markings ~*~ Body: Silvery Gray alternating with Burgundy-Wine colors, striped all over Face: Silvery Gray alternating with Burgundy-Wine colors, striped all over; Eyes a bright aqua/blue; possibly glowing. A Big Cheshire Grin! Mane: Custom Mane (Largely CC) in colors of coat Tail: Floofy Cheshire Cat Tail! colors matching coat Hooves/Fetlocks: Paws, so no real fetlocks, can be silvery gray like 'socks' Reference Image(s):Wonderland CollabMushroom N GateCheshire Cat Eyes Like This
~*~ Accessories & Edits ~*~ Trading Post Items: If any, list them here and desired colors. Custom Items: Please include: A rolled up scroll by his pawed (like the Oraculum) CC- Jewelry of Some Kind? Edits to include Oraculum. Optional: Teacup, Teacakes, Flowers, Drink Me Bottle, (CC but not too much) Reference Image(s) for Items: Oraculum (unrolled)Alt Ref Oraculum
~*~ Tag Specifics ~*~ Name of horse: To Be Determined Upon Seeing Owner: ~Latonia de la Courtel~ Breed: Underland Feline Temper: Wonderous Mate: Tag Background: CC- Wonderland-esque? Tag frame color: CC Tag feather color(s): CC Whatever works Best ~*~ Existing Pets ~*~ If you didn't design this yourself (and it's not a commercial cosplay), did you get written permission to use the design?:
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 10:22 pm
~:Roles:~
The Alpha: The female in charge of the band, Guardian and Guide and teller of the best jokes. She's quite mad, you know. (Held by the Princess, now Queen In Exile due to abandoning the Wonderland Herd). Queen's Knight (Lead Protector): A strong male who guards the Princess and this new break-away herd as they seek a new home outside of Wonderland. He's mad as well. Lore Keeper: Perhaps the Maddest of the Bunch; Teller of Grand Tales! Heir: Selected to take over in the event The Alpha dies (usually a blood relation). None Vorpal Blades (Warriors): Those that train specifically to fight in defense of the Herd. Healers: Those with Clever Claws or a Healing Horn to keep the Herd in Good Shape. Gatherers: Those that gather herbs and assorted foodstuffs for the group. Hunters: Those that hunt and bring prey back to the group. Pawns: General Herd Members; Those that have no other Role.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 10:47 pm
~:Reserved for RP Related Thoughts:~
Tea Trading?: Due to their strong affinity for Tea (and cakes, and jam) this herd is very likely to want an alliance with the various tea-trading herds cropping up in the land.
We're All Mad Here!: As stated above, this herd would also prefer to be allied with any Wonderland-type Soquili or Familiars, even if those individuals did not want to join the herd itself.
Gathering?: Because this band LOVES their tea, and are of a scrappy, clever feline sort, they have no problem volunteering to fetch all kinds of things to improve the tea. Elusive berries, sweet mint, other varieties of leaves, distant rock sugar? Whatever you want, a highly-motivated Cheshire Cat is your best bet to get it, and perfectly willing so long as there is something in it for them.
Clock Repair?: Got a familiar or even Soquili with a talent for fixing watches? Ours are two days fast and somehow wound up with sugar in them... And jam... Huh.
This Way! That Way! Up Ways! Back Ways!: Need help navigating, or finding the right direction? Well you probably DON'T want to ask a Cheshire Cat... But if you do, the most wondrous adventures will occur. So you probably should! (Or don't. I give very good advice but very seldom follow it, so it's all up to you, you see?)
In The Golden Afternoon: (Alternately: At Least These Flowers Don't Talk Back). Got a Soq interested in gardening and in need of a helping paw? The Cheshire Clan is interested!
Unbirthday Celebrations: There are 364 Unbirthdays for everyone! If today is your Unbirthday too, we would love to celebrate with you!
Weekly Caucus Race: To be held by the seashore, all manner of Soquili invited!
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 8:33 pm
Golden afternoon From "Alice in Wonderland" Music and Lyrics by Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard
Little bread-and-butterflies kiss the tulips And the sun is like a toy balloon There are get-up-in-the-morning glories In the golden afternoon
There are dizzy daffodils on the hillside Strings of violets are all in tune Tiger lilies love the dandelions In the golden afternoon
There are dog and caterpillars and a copper centipede Where the lazy daisies love the very peaceful life They lead...
You can learn a lot of things from the flowers For especially in the month of June There's a wealth of happiness and romance All in the golden afternoon
All in the golden afternoon, the golden afternoon
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:14 pm
Taijali: A Cheshire of the Underland/Looking Glass Band
Author's Notes:
Confession: Lat is reading The Looking Glass Wars, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a Wonderland Anthology SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Currently: Also watching Burton's Alice In Wonderland.
Therefore: ALL THE WONDERLAND PLOTS.
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:21 pm
Wonderland Plot Notes:
How It Starts: What if the end of Wonderland was nigh, and a select group of the citizens decided to seek out a new world in which to live? ((Cheshs come to Soquili Lands))
And Then?: Upon arrival it is realized that there is something of a delay between 'leaving there' and 'arriving here', and somehow the group has been fractured. Six sisters are the first to arrive, and establish herd lands to welcome their kindred.
In the Mean Time: While waiting for others to arrive from their homeland, the Cheshire 6 seek out those that seem to have once been part of their lands, and welcome them into the new herd.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:59 pm
~:Reserved:~
For Tea
How They Came to Be: The current Queen of Wonderland is a regal Cheshire cat of the Heart Clan, who some have rightly titled the Queen of Hearts. As the Spade Clan was beginning to gain strength (their skills of war surpassing the Club Clan) the Queen elected to form an alliance. Her current Consort is of the Spade Clan, and with his arrival in court and her wish to ensure their Clans remained peaceful a little something Wonderful happened. 6 Brightly Colored Baskets, marked with the Spade Clan's distinguishing feature but also favoring the Queen of Hearts, appeared under a giant mushroom. Most of them were raised in the Court as Princesses, taught various arts and visiting with the Peoples of Wonderland. However, the youngest was sent to study war in the Spade Clan Lands. As adults they were all reunited in Court, and eventually made their way to the Looking Glass and swam their way to a new land. Arriving from somewhere far to the East where the Looking Glass Lake lead them, they have traveled West until finding a forested region of mountains in which to settle. (Map Coming Soon)
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:00 pm
~:Reserved:~
For Treacle
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:01 pm
~:Reserved:~
For Ink
Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:02 pm
~:Reserved:~
For Anything Else that is Pleasant to Drink
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:05 pm
~:Reserved:~
For Buttons
With a churr and a sigh, the burgundy coated Cheshire known as Irina crept down out from her favorite perch. Giving the great, twisted oak a fond cheekrub in farewell she turned back toward the path, her eyes narrowing at the sign of paw prints in the dark earth. They were larger than her own, deeper and with wider claws.
Like a wolf, or a fox.
"You... You are not from me or my sisters. To whom do you belong?" The mare muttered, annoyance stealing over her face as she squinted at the paw prints. "Well, nothing for it... My sister must hear of this, and then I suppose I shall have to hunt you..."
***
"Do I want to know how you tracked them?" Katya murmured as she considered a shadow in the woods for a brief moment and then turned her attention back to the small encampment of invaders that hid amongst the greenery within the borders of her territory.
A moment later the shadow at the Queen's back resolved itself into Irina's shape, the new arrival shaking her head lightly. "Oh sister dearest, I rather doubt it."
"I am quite sure that I knew you would say that." Katya sighed, shaking her head faintly. "But well done, I think you deserve an extra cake at tea."
"Does that mean I'll get one at all? Will you tell Kittredge so she knows not to eat mine?" Irina teased, her voice light but gaze fixed on the strange foxes. "Does it matter if I do not like them?"
"Will you shout 'off with their heads', then?" Katya tsked. "They could be guests."
"You are the Queen, remember? If anyone is to say that, it shall be you." Irina countered. "Just remember, a guest is invited. So, will you go introduce yourself?"
"I suppose I better had." Katya murmured. "Hold my hat, will you? I hope this won't take long..."
***
Across the glade, the band of refugees closed rank, shifting to face the approaching stranger with the expected wariness of a cornered animal. Some of them were adorned with beaded combs or feathers, some with silken sashes. They looked like royals in exile, lost and ill-equipped for the journey they found themselves on. None of them cared to voice a greeting, instead fixing glowing eyes on the way Katya's paws drifted like smoke or vanished altogether. When the Cheshire cat draw to a halt some paces away they straightened and flashed their long fangs, waiting for the next move.
"I am Ekaterina, and these lands are mine." Katya murmured, bracing her paws and lifting her chin as she considered them. They were foxes, or something like. Lupine faces, tall ears, silent paws. She wouldn't trust them, not yet, but she wouldn't strike first either. They had clearly been through a lot. "Who amongst you can speak with authority, and I ask that they
The strangers shifted on their paws, laying their great ears back against their skulls and muttering growls amongst themselves. After a few moments of silence, the one they had shielded from sight stepped forward, the others melting out of his way. When he had passed they clustered again, postures remaining neutral but eyes and ears fixed on their leader.
Flaring many silvery tails, the male lifted his chin and gazed back. "I lead this Clan, I will speak for us."
"What do you seek, to have wandered into Underland?"
"A home, if you will grant us one."
***
Sulking, Irina shifted slightly and shrugged. "I do not think I like them."
"You are just jealous of their many tails." Katya smiled weakly. "That's alright... So am I."