𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
overview. The Snapdragon Alliance is a very serene herd who, at first, seem like gentle giants and sweethearts all around. Those found on the territory are usually welcomed in, as their matron goddess Kalmia is known for never leaving one on their own in a time of need. However, not all is as it seems, unfortunately, and the Snapdragon Alliance is simply not a herd that you should mess with. There are rumors - whispers from other herds, old wives' tales that mares tell their young to scare them - that the Snapdragon Alliance has been known to sacrifice foals to their patron god, Cereus, in exchange for their safety. But of course, these are just rumors. They're not true... Right?
origins. This herd was founded by a mare who's been a loyal follower of both Kalmia and Cereus for almost as long as she's been alive. Vervain is firm in her beliefs, and follows a strict code when it comes to her herd. The Snapdragon Alliance is to be a safehaven for those worshipers of Kalmia and Cereus - because as everyone knows, followers of Kalmia and Cereus were widely believed to be evil, treacherous horses that wouldn't hesitate to kill for their gods. But Vervain knows better than that - Kalmia and Cereus may have their darker tendencies, but the good balances out the bad quite nicely. Vervain wants the Snapdragon Alliance to be a friendly, welcoming environment to followers of Kalmia and Cereus, where they can practice their beliefs in peace.
territory. The Snapdragon Alliance resides at the crest of a large cliff which overlooks flat plains and fields. At the top of the hill, right along the edge of a cliff, a cherry blossom tree lies rooted firmly into the ground, its roots visible on the cliff-side, almost as if the cliff had been sliced in half. And in a hole in that cherry blossom tree, a single red rose rests, actually rooted into the tree. The horses call this particular tree-phenomenon "Kalmia's Blessing," and choose to go there for ancestral guidance and important ceremonies. There is also a cave at the base of the cliff, known as "Cereus's Dungeon," where traitors and prisoners of war are held until further trial.
beliefs. The horses of the Snapdragon Alliance believe in two main deities: Kalmia, the Goddess of Nature; and Cereus, God of the Moon. Kalmia focuses mostly on love and acceptance for those you keep close to yourself, while her brother, Cereus, is mainly a God of harsh punishments and no mercy to your enemies. For this reason, the Snapdragon Alliance is oftentimes viewed as selfish and unforgiving by most herds.
ranks. A few of the rankings have been modified to better fit the Snapdragon Alliance. For starters, there are two lead mares - Vervain and her mate, Shamrock. There are no lead stallions as of currently, though this is subject to change in the future. Then there is the council - a league of five horses that assist the lead mares in their decision-making. The council members each have their own subject that they specialize in, and they double as the chiefs. There is the Chief of War, the Chief of Hunting, the Chief of Defense, the Chief of Relations, and the Chief of Regulations. After them come the shamans - two horses that specialize in healing. After them are the subordinates, trainees, dams, foals, etc.
ceremonies. There are quite a few ceremonies that the Snapdragon Alliance oftentimes celebrates. First off is the "Promotion Ceremony" - all horses (except for the lead mares) first start out as subordinates, and must prove their loyalty to the herd. Once that is done and there are at least six horses in the herd (not including the lead mares), the horse in question is tasked to prove their loyalty by doing something that pertains to the position they are under consideration for. So if they're being considered as a Chief of War, the herd chooses three fighters and forces them to battle. If the applicant beats at least two out of three of their opponents, they are now the Chief of War. For Hunting, they have a day to find a suitable grazing spot for the herd; for Defense, they must defend the herd from a lured predator attack; for Relations, they must solve a mock dispute between two horses; and for Regulations, they must follow the prerequisites of knowing the herd rules inside out and being a loyal follower. There's also a type of ceremony known as "the Trial." Horses that have been kept away in Cereus's Dungeon are released for a fair trial of a jury of their peers. If they are found guilty, they have two options: they can either die by the herd's hooves; or they can go out, find a large predator, kill it, and bring it back to the herd as proof. If they fail at killing it... Well, you can guess what happens next.
Can I get
this pretty lady as my founder ouo
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