The Herd of the Bythol - OPEN!

[Sabin Duvert]

The Herd of the Bythol


Herd plotting and chatting is welcome in this thread, as well as applications to join the herd. I recommend you quote Sabin Duvert to get my attention if so. You are also welcome to PM Sabin Duvert if you have any other questions/etc you don't want to post.

 

[Sabin Duvert]

Herd Summary

Herd History
The Herd of the Bythol began as a small group of winds and alicorns with large, powerful wings, a seasonal tie, and wild, free-spirited natures.

But much like the seasons, the herd itself changed over time. The old alpha, Angel White, took a mate and went to live with her family. Hunter Brown bore foals of her own to a traveling stallion named Ethan. Raven Black and one of Hunter's grandfoals, Aiden, took the role of co-alphas, but Aiden was young and inexperienced and Raven was older, preferred time to himself, and didn't like the burden of responsibility.

Years later, Ethan returned "home" to this herd after learning that he had produced foals with Hunter to try to make things right. In his extensive travels, he realized that family was the true meaning of life and the herdgrounds was where he could find the identity he was searching for - not his own absent kalona father. He reunited with and pledged his love to his now-lifemate Hunter Brown, and they bore new foals. Ethan sought out and re-connected with his mother, Rosemary, bringing her into their new bigger family.

Herd Overview
Ethan has taken on the role of alpha of the herd, and has unified the herd with strong family traditions, Celtic beliefs and practices, and an acceptance of soquili with unusual or fearsome features as long as they are good at heart.

 

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Herd Beliefs and Practices


The Bythol

The Bythol is another Celtic symbol for everlasting love. This symbol is denoted by knots and two trinities. The Trinity is a three cornered knot representing the mind, body and spirit in its three corners. It is a symbol that embodies eternal life and when placed side by side, it creates an endless, graceful flow of lines. Hence, the unification of the two symbols signifies the merging of the body, mind and spirit bonded in a circle showing eternal love.

When Ethan returned to the herdgrounds with the intent to stay and repair the bonds between he and Hunter, he crafted a bythol as a gift to her and a symbol of his love and intention to stay, help in the herdgrounds, and repair bridges between himself and his grown foals. It was a sign of love and a pledge of loyalty not just to Hunter, but also his extended family: parents and foals past and present, as well as the herd as a whole. It is a symbol of his system of beliefs that he is bringing to the herd to strengthen their bonds and sense of identity.


Beliefs
The official herd belief system/religion is a bit of an amalgamation of traditional Celtic beliefs. There are veins that have been conglomerated and syncretised, taking aspects of ancient Celtic animism (with the belief of spirits in everything and their influence over daily life), with Celtic polytheism and even some of the iconography of Celtic Catholicism. Partially because a lot of these belief systems built on top of each other to begin with, and partially because these were translated a bit through the "telephone game" from humans to soquili to begin with.
The herd reveres Irish stories and mythos of heroes, gods, and monsters, honors the ethics and values of the religion, and honors the holidays and festivals.
However, the herd is not overtly preachy; they use the beliefs and religion as a unifier for the herd, a way to build identity and community through commonality. They teach life lessons through the myths and legends (why not to act in an immoral manner, finding inspiration through the deeds of heroes, or seeing role models that might even bear feature such as horns that are not evil.


Herd Practices

• The herd observes and celebrates the eight sacred holidays. Stories of the origins and importance of the holidays are shared in a group setting, and the traditions are practiced. This further encourages herd unity and bonding.
  
  
• Votive offerings and shares of food are sometimes left for the deities/spirits in times of hardship or direction and guidance is sought
  
  
• Storytelling and preservation of history and identity of the herd and the belief systems is important
  
  
• Family ties are also important.
  
  
• Breed history in the family does not damn a soquili. They are individuals and can choose and carve their own identity. Just because a soquili might be the offspring of a kalona does not mean that they have to be evil.
  

Tenants

• Adult members of the herd are expected to contribute and help with tasks and roles. Individualism is encouraged, and the herd does certainly not stifle a spirited soquili (free-hearted and spirited are after all very Irish traits)
  
  
• Herdmembers are expected to participate in herd holidays/celebrations
  
  
• It is highly encouraged to have both parents present to raise foals, whether or not the parents lifemate.
  This is mostly due to Ethan's guilt about not being around to raise his and Hunter's first foals, and the resentment that some of his daughters grew up with. He knows it would be hypocritical to punish soquili who do not follow this value, but wants to try to prevent other soquili from making the same mistake he did. At the very least, if Ethan learns of a situation like this happening - be it by a stallion or a mare, he would want to have a conversation with them.
  
  

This information might be expanded on in time, but this is the basic idea  

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Members of the Bythol Herd

Who Belongs in the Herd
Most kind-hearted soquili who need a home would find themselves welcome in the Bythol Herd. However, the herd does specifically cater to certain types of soquili:

• Soquili with a Celtic ancestry who either want to find other soquili who share their beliefs or rediscover their own heritage
  
• Soquili with overt Kalona/demonic/frightening mutations but are underneath it all good-hearted and need an accepting herd/family
  
• Orphans and other soquili who never knew one or both parents who want to find out who they are, a family, and a place to belong
  

Who DOESN'T Belong in the Herd
While most soquili, even the ostracized and misfits, would be welcome, some types of soquili would be decidedly unwelcome:

• Skinwalkers: no ifs, ands, or buts.
  
• True monsters: Soquili that don't just look the part, but act it. Hard-hearted, violent, and aggressive soquili would not be welcome. The herd wouldn't be against rehabilitating soquili with a porcupine syndrome, but only if they truly wanted to change.
  

Roles in the Herd
The Bythol Herd is not as strict or structured as some herds. There herd is not nearly as large as some of the herds that have a structured division of labor. Most of the members will serve more than one sort of role (gatherer, protector, craftsman, trader, etc) as the needs require it or the soquili feels inclined to try their hoof at the job.

All herd members are taught the belief system, told stories stemming from Celtic mythology, and are invited and expected to participate in holidays and festivals.

That being said, there is a basic hierarchy in the herd with an alpha and protector, and a few trusted soquili who serve as advisers or actively are working at training to become a more active member in the decision-making in the herd.  

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Herd Roster and Ranks

Alpha
The Alpha is the de-facto leader, primary decision-maker, and spiritual leader of the herd


Protector
The protector is the soquili with the best mind for and experience with tactics and battle strategies. He aids in choosing herdgrounds, maintenance of the territory, and keeping out predators and other potential enemies and threats. The herd is not a violent one, but he is there if the need arises.



Advisers
Experienced soquili who contribute something to the alpha's decision making. They can be lore keepers, soquili with experience leading, or possess other vital or useful knowledge.



Members
Most soquili in the herd are considered "members" but are no less valuable to the herd. They can participate in all festivals, events, and are always welcome to borrow the alpha's ear if they have an idea or suggestion or concern.



Temporary Members and Honorary Members
These soquili are either strong allies with the herd, or currently seeking refuge or living in the herdgrounds. They may not be here to stay, but they are welcome and trusted soquili.

 

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Joining The Herd

If you have a soquili interested in joining the herd, please fill out the form below.

I would generally prefer to roleplay out the soquili discovering or being discovered by the herd, however, that is not a requirement.

[quote="Sabin Duvert"]Hay Sabin![/quote]
[img]SOQUILI TAG[/img]
[b]Soquili Name:[/b]
[b]Breed:[/b] (including any un-expressed family breed history
[b]Brief backstory[/b]:
[b]Reason for wanting to join the herd[/b]:
[b]Any plot ideas?[/b] - not required, but welcome

 

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Plots and Ideas
A place to store herd plots, links to RPs, and plot ideas past and present

Herd-Related RP Links

• Clover Fields and Finding Home
  Ethan takes the long journey back the way he came to find Hunter. He has to face what he has learned about himself - the good AND the bad.
  And he realizes what he needs to do. What he wants to do. What's right and what is most important: Family.
  
  
• From Son To Father
  Brief Reflective self-RP with Ethan. Ethan has returned to Hunter, sired new foals, and is settling into life in this herd that has become his own.
  
  
• Old Scars
  Ethan's new foals are not foals any more! And Ethan has taken his role as Elder in the herd... Moreover, it is time to start passing on important traditions - ones that really helped shape Ethan's life and belief system. THe role of tradition and the Celtic beliefs are important - not just in giving a herd and a family an identity, but in bringing them closer, and helping others in need. Ethan hopes that he can also use those traditions to help reconnect with his distant daughter, Deirdre, who never forgave him for leaving his mother before her birth.
  
  
• Things Lost and Things Found
  Ethan comes across a wounded wind-kalona, Branwen, near the edge of his territory. He sees a lot of himself in the kind-hearted mare, and offers her a place in his herd that will not hold her heritage against her. Ethan realizes that the herd he is building can be a sanctuary for other soquili like him that are pre-judged based on their heritage.
  
  
• All in the Family - Fianna returns home with her fiancee, Dae'Ruil and is reunited with her father, Ethan.
  
  

Plot Ideas

• Ethan will be open to ushering other Soquili into the sanctuary of the herd.
  

 

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