About The Tribe

[.artemis]

The history of Ganthora is a long one, but not one that is written in the record books of time, but rather in the hearts of the residents within it. The equines who have called Ganthora home are not all the typical equine and live differently than most herd aspects do.

"The Tribe" was the name that was given to this large herd of equines who all exist together within Ganthora. They hold to that name as proud Ganthorans and with that name they formed a sort of coven. A coven with rules and regulations for life that would maintain their prosperity and pleasure of life. It had been decided that instead of living under a king or lord that all would band together. And instead of holding a small terra to themselves, as the lush lands could not be divided so vastly, the equines would command together. Each stag would have the opportunity to hold a harem of faes to be marked as his own within Ganthora.

Stags could also challenge, trade or "gift" stags to another stag. A common practice became that when a colt matured into a young stag, a gift from his sire might be a fae or a group of faes. Faes could be gambled on, prizes for competition etc. The list was endless as long as there was a means to obtain and keep them. But each stag also holds a responsibility to the Tribe to keep all safe. Some stags are marked off as warriors, they are stags who are built and fierce by nature. They protect and maintain Ganthoran law, but are not allowed to overstep other stags as all stags are seen as equal to one another.

Other stag "titles"

• Warrior- (already mentioned above)
  
• The Alpha- Not like a King or Lord, but this title is given to the stag with the biggest harem. No ruling power is tied to the title obviously. Respected for having the most faes.
  
• The Gray- The longest resident of Ganthora. Respected for wisdom.
  
• General- organizes the warrior tactics, duties, and battles. Respected for cunning mind and strength.

Faes are seen as a currency, traded and held to gain power and position in this society. But by being so, they are also protected, taken care of, and have a social ladder all their own. For within each harem, there may be the favored fae to the stag, the most beautiful, the most cunning, the one who can bear the most young, and so most faes are content and happy.

Though not all can be so lucky, for not all stags are kindhearted and there are no rules that order a stag to treat his faes with respect. But the well cared for faes offer a higher price of power than a sickly fae would. Other darker stags might pursue the opportunity to forcebreed another stag's fae without the stag knowing of the action. Because being caught doing so can result in a stag being made an outcast in the Tribe.

The value of foals varies depending on their sex. Fillies bear the value of eventually growing into adult faes, a currency for the stags and any who can possess them. Bearing colts is seen as an honor, another strong member to protect and withhold the Tribe. For this reason, the fae who bear the most young, flickas and coltens, would have a very prominent place in a stag's harem versus the fae who is barren and can't bear foals at all.

Yet for some faes, it just isn't enough to live as they do in Ganthora. Traded and bartered for, being a piece of property for power and position to a stag. For faes like these, they quench the chance to run, to escape... to be an Outsider. It is forbidden for faes to run away from their stag and if caught, punishment can be as severe as loss of life, as the fae's stag decides that fate. For those that do make it, a "wonderful life" is what is behind them. For the Outskirts are a dangerous and deadly place. Little food, little water, but for some freedom, even at the cost of death is better than the life they leave behind. And as if it wasn't bad enough, Ganthoran stags can still venture into the Outskirts to forcebreed to attempt to recapture runaway faes.

Even as the history of The Tribe remains, nothing is ever set in stone. It may take but a single equine to organize and change the ways of others in order to make a difference in these lands. You decide the fate of Ganthora so what will you do? Will you rise? Or will you fall?

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