Pellame
Physical Notes
build: medium
height: 15 hh - 16 hh
hooves: solid
horn: spiral
mane: horse-like
tail: horse-like
feathering: none
coloration: any color or pattern, usually in earthtones
aging: mature at 4, live to be about 50, mares can give birth up untill they are about 35, physically youthful untill about 45
power: can divert attention from themselves or some things around them as a primitive form of invisibility. The bigger the object, the more energy it takes to hide, and if the subject is too noticeable, the illusion is destroyed. The strength of the cloaking effect can be increased or decreased; it's a like a very specific hypnotism.
other: have mask markings on their faces; males may have beards
Amongst the Pellame, it is customary to take a different mate every fifth spring. In fact, remaining with the same mate for more than a half-decade is considered an oddity. This is primarily because the purpose, to a Pellame, of taking a mate is ensuring the proper growth and care of the two partners' mutual offspring until growth is finished: no more, no less. One is not obligated to take a mate every cycle, however, and generally high-ranking members of the herd are monogamous, for stability reasons. Matings are always, always malexfemale; to Pellame culture, homosexuality doesn't exist, and anyone expressing such desires is either simply confused or mad. Breeding takes place in a specific area within the herdland of both the mare and the stallion: if for some reason the mare and stallion are of different herds, it takes place in the stallion's herdland.
The Herdland is very important to a Pellame, and Pellame Herdlands tend to be larger than the herdlands of other breeds because they are less inclined to move. This is primarily because a Pellame's herdland is where a Pellame's ancestors' bones were handled (buried, or put in a seperate area, or water-buried), and where their ancestors lived, and where their cairns are set up. When moving, Pellames will usually try and take an element or two from their ancestral cairns and set up a new cairn in the new land for the purpose of worship. (For more on the cairns, see the religion section.)
In general, one only considers “family” one’s parents, full-siblings, one’s parents’ full-siblings, and the various grandparents and greats thereof. Half-siblings, while counting as family for purposes of breeding, do not count when the basic relationships of family are considered.
Mares are judged upon the brilliance of their coats, and their abilities to care for young. Generally, a mare that seems healthy and even a little bit heavy is thought to make a better mother.
Stallions are often judged upon the length of their horn, and the symmetry and contrast of their masks. Males are also judged upon their strength and agility.
Mares and Stallions have nearly equal duties in the herd: certainly, they have equal (if different) duties in terms of serving the herd as a whole, as well as in terms of the importance of their duties to their children and their ancestors. Both stallions and mares are judged based on the length and quality of their family line, with foundlings generally being percieved as "not quite a Pellame," though orphans are a different story.
The Pellame believe in and worship the spirits of their passed-away ancestors. They believe that their ancestors will guide them through life as it was destined to be, and they will keep all safe. If they are well-mannered and obey the commands given by those of a higher social station, then their ancestors will take good care of them.
The breed also believes that the world was once formed by a pair of unicorns, very skilled in their magic abilities. This mare and stallion are said to be the ancestors of every Pellame, and all the world; all unicorns are supposed to be linked to that couple far and deep into their pedigrees.
The teachings of this ancestral pair say that their descendants should be peaceful and gentle, but shall know when to stand up and fight for their families. This lifestyle is the condition for their ancestor's protection.
Worship takes place individually, or with relatives of a unicorn praying together to a specific ancestor. This worshipping usually takes place at cairns, piles of small stones or other objects created in honor of one's ancestors. Usually, a newly-deceased unicorn will have their own cairn for a few years, and then have elements of their cairn placed into the larger ancestral cairn. When praying to a passed-on leader, the whole herd will often gather to pray.
As the herd's primary combatants, in a conflicted age, stallions are the primary source most of the herd's decisions. Mares are also expected to have leadership skills, but these are generally limited to more domestic affairs. Herds are usually ruled equally by a mare and stallion, known as the Lord and Lady.
Unlike the other breeds, the Pellame have no real warrior class, although they do have trained fighters. However, during times of peace, these individuals are given the same social status as any other ranked individual. Jobless unicorns are lower hierarchy, followed by the "edges". These are unicorns on the fringes of the herd, who do not fit in well and are not allowed to breed unless they raise their status through exceptional behavior.
Of a very large amount of domestic importance to the Pellame are the griots, who keep track of lineages and relationships for matings. They are generally well-respected and honored, given somewhat higher status than most jobs, with the exception of warriors in war-time.
Greeting amongst the Pellame breed is very natural and casual. When coming upon someone they know, unicorns will often greet by touching the tips of their muzzles together. The longer this position is held, the longer the unicorns are showing interest, or curiosity in meeting the opposite unicorn.
Affection is often shown by the brushing of shoulders. When a mare or stallion is interested in a unicorn of the opposite gender, they will often brush shoulders, and nip at the mane of the other. Horns are also touched to show affection.
Generally, ancestors’ names, or invocations of their bones, souls, or bodies, are used as expletives, as well as exclamations referring to the first pair.
