Post by Mal on Apr 11, 2016 14:36:16 GMT -5
Earth Ponies
Earth ponies posses a diverse range of talents and capabilities, as previously mentioned. One recurring trait, however, is their physical prowess. Physically very powerful, earth ponies are capable of performing incredible feats of strength with little or no visible strain and enjoying long-lasting stamina. They also have a magically ingrained connection to the earth that makes them better at working with plants and animals. Earth ponies come in many shapes and sizes, as well as coat colors. Herbivores, they dine on fare such as hay, apples, and flowers. Being born down-to-earth, earth ponies are attuned to nature.
Pegasus
Pegasi demonstrate great speed and agility in the air. Pegasi naturally walk, sit, and lay on clouds where as other, wingless ponies cannot. Pegasi can also control the weather and sometimes create weather-related wakes when they perform aerial acrobatics. Pegasi control the seasons in various regions of Equestria bringing in the winter and restore the land from drought by pulling water from reservoirs to create rain.
Unicorn
Unicorn can actively perform magic unlike their neighbors the earth ponies and pegasi. A common ability among unicorns is using telekinesis to levitate or move objects, but the ability to cast other spells varies widely and the magic they can use usually depends on the unicorn's special talent. Casting takes a great deal of concentration and effort and need to see the object they are casting upon to activate and break spells. When unicorns cast magic, it produces a colored aura around their horns and any objects their magic affects. The color of the glow is different among individuals, usually matching a prominent color of their cutie mark or the color of their eyes. This color is distinctive to each unicorn based on the color of their eyes or cutiemarks, and changes in their magic's color can indicate when something is amiss.
Crystal Ponies
There isn't much that is known about the Crystal Ponies. Their coats are made of crystal and their manes shine with a dual toned gradient, a natural development of the Crystal Empire's brand of magic. They do not appear much different than other ponies in terms of physical abilities.
Bat Ponies
Otherwise known as thestrals, bat ponies are known to have bat-like features which include a tuft of fur at the ends of their ears, fangs, and slitted-pupils. Their coats are often dark in coloration with the majority of Equestria's known inhabitants dwelling in Hollow Shades. Their diet consists mostly of plants, vegetables and fruits, but some have more carnivorous leanings. Some speculate they have a diet much in relation to fruit vampire bats. A number of bat ponies join the ranks of the Night Guards, many more staying within the confines of their village community. Bat ponies are capable of using echolocation much like the majority of nocturnal kin. Their night life also includes the ability to see in low light conditions, but makes them ill suited to many outdoor tasks during the day due to a natural, nocturnal habits.
Vampire Ponies
Many old mares tales are spun around these particular creatures, but the same thread seems to always hold true no matter what the story. A thestral, turned into a literal monster, who has been cursed and passed it down through his victims, turning them into vampires. They feed off of other ponies by drinking their blood, of which they obtain in certain ways: by force, or by hypnotism. Vampire ponies can hypnotize a pony through eye contact, although some ponies are more difficult to hypnotize than others, if at all; vampires use this to make their victims more docile for feeding from. Vampires are also incapable of entering homes without first being invited, though public buildings such as shops and town halls where everypony has an unspoken invitation to enter freely, are open to vampires.
Vampires who were originally bat ponies share some characteristics with them, such as the slit-pupils and bat-like wings, though their ears are more bat-like though not any larger than normal, and their fangs are longer- other species who were turned into vampires share only the eyes and fangs, if not ears too. Minor shapeshifting as a part of a vampire pony's powers make it possible for them to hide their unusual characteristics to better blend in with their surroundings, as with minor colorshifting- the altering of eye or mane color for one example. They still retain their reflections, but vampires find them unbearable to look upon. Red is a color that tends to stand out most to such a creature of blood.
Alicorn
Alicorns are a mysterious species as they are a great unknown and sparse in numbers; their presence has been noted but spotty throughout history. There is a chance that an old race of immortal alicorn once existed, but what happened to them or their numbers is also an unknown, save for the two that still exist: the royal sisters. Alicorns seem to be a powerful species, more so than unicorns, but are prone to being easily corrupted as shown with Luna's known transformation into Nightmare Moon through powerful negative emotions.
The only other alicorns in modern Equestria that have been documented were the result of ascension; whether that puts them on par with an immortal alicorn remains to be seen. Ascension seems to be the result of a pony with pure intentions, showing selflessness in all that they do, experience an important life-changing event or near death experience, and become enlightened (such as realizing the power they hold can be used for the 'greater good' or benefit of others). It does not matter if a pony is an earth pony, pegasus, or unicorn, it is possible for them to ascend if they complete these requirements (though they will have difficulty adjusting).
Nightmares
In old Equestria, the word nightmare was used to describe ponies of a mixed dragon and pony heritage, but since the rise and fall of Nightmare Moon, nightmare has come to be associated with corrupted ponies, whether they are earth ponies, unicorn, pegasi or alicorn. The abilities of these ponies, when corrupted, may work the exact opposite of their original, or their abilities simply become harmful. A corrupted earth pony who was skilled at growing things may cause plants to wither instead, for one example. Alicorns are more prone to corruption due to their inherent purity; especially immortal alicorns when compared to ones that are merely ascended. A nightmare may be made by following an opposite set of requirements than what causes ascension.
Horses
Horses are much like ponies, a tall cousin species with slimmer legs, who hail from other countries such as Saddle Arabia. The majority of them mimic earth ponies in that they don't have wings or horns, but versions of unicorn and pegasi do exist in the species in smaller numbers. Their culture may vary differently from Equestrians depending on which country they come from. Unusually tall ponies may also be referred to as horses, and the fluidity of referring to equines as 'ponies' can also be used against horses, depending on individual view. They, not being ponies, do not gain cutiemarks.
Non-Equine
Changelings
Changeling are a sentient race of insect that have a body that resembles pony-kin. They are born from a hive, brothers and sisters to one another serving a single Queen. The only known changeling queen is Chrysalis, but it is believed that there are more queens to be found on different continents with their own hives and measure of rule, though this is only speculation. It is argued whether changelings are symbiotic or parasitic as they require the emotions of other ponies to survive. They are known to disguise themselves as other ponies to blend into the city or town they are feeding in. They are believed to be highly dangerous, and even more so when they are starved for emotions. Standard changelings in a hive, such as the warriors and drones, cannot reproduce with ponies. The only changeling capable of reproducing is the queen herself, much like hive insects.
Griffons
Griffons are a race of creatures made up of the front half and wings of an eagle, with the back half of a lion; though they may have different bird or cat halves. As well as being omnivores, they are greatly obsessed with money- a greed that it is said to rival that of dragons to the point that any service they do must be in exchange for bits. Their origins are the old kingdom of Griffonstone which has fallen into ruin with the loss of an important artifact.
Dragons and Domestic Dragons
All dragons originate from Dragon's Lair and wild dragons are capable of growing to great proportions because of the unlimited space they have out in the wilderness, and the abundance of food. However, there is a subspecies of more 'domestic' dragons that do not grow quite as large and are capable of living somewhat peacefully around ponies. They still tend to keep to themselves, but are generally friendlier than their wild counterparts. The heights of the largest of them rival the royal sisters' but no domestic dragon has managed to grow any bigger; at average, they grow to only a couple head-and-shoulders taller than most ponies. The heights of some dragons may prevent them from entering pony establishments entirely, without causing some damage of course.
Friendly though domestic dragons may be, they still may retain hot tempers inherited from their wild counterparts, as well as similar urges to hoard; such hoards may be made up of a random array of items or even whatever the dragon fancies most. Their kleptomaniac ways may come to some annoyance to ponies who find certain belongings of theirs missing. Most still retain their breath weapons, which usually tends to be fire, but others have been found to employ ice, water, lightning and at rarest non-life-threatening venom that causes temporary paralyzation or unconsciousness. Baby and adolescent dragons are capable of being bipedal, but as they finish development, they will begin to walk quadrupedal like ponies. There are some species of dragons, more attuned to the earth, who remain wingless, while many other species of dragons have wings.
Domestic dragons live in small colonies or groups either close to or on the outskirts of pony civilizations. It may range from cliff-like spaces with caves, forests or their own built dwellings depending on the abundance of materials and comfort level; as some dragons may still retain desires to live in typically dragon-preferred spaces. In the case of large cities like Manehatten, dragons may have sections of the city allotted to them for living spaces and shops. The gem rich soil of Equestria provides dragons plenty to eat, though some may have struck up agreements with ponies to protect or assist ponies in exchange for gems from any pony-owned or operated gem mines- although plenty of such places exist in the wild for dragons to take from should they find their own sources. Some dragons might even integrate themselves with pony society to find jobs for money or for gems to pass the time and learn about their neighbors or for any requirements to strengthen relationships with those they live beside.
Size Chart
Minotaur
Minotaurs are a therianthropic, bipedal bull-like species. It is unknown where they originate from or live within Equestria, as only one has made an appearance so far as an instructor on assertiveness. Minotaurs may have a culture based on strength. It can be presumed that they, like ponies, are herbivores.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles are creatures with dragon-like bodies and bat-like wings with the ability to breathe fire. They are not native to Equestria, but hail from a distant land. Little is known about them because of this, though one is mentioned to be the centaur, Tirek's, brother who came to appreciate ponies and befriended Starswirl the Bearded.
Draconequui
Draconequui are a rare hybrid between a dragon and a pony, thus the name 'draconequus,' with an equine body, dragon's wings and tail. An older name for them would be 'nightmare.' Little is known about them and the only known living draconequus is the spirit of chaos, Discord, who resembles much more. Unlike kirin, who are born of the dragon hybrids of the far, undiscovered lands, draconequui are primarily hybridized from the various dragons found in Dragon's Lair. Unlike wild dragons, draconequus are usually the result of a domestic dragon and pony's offspring. They do not get much bigger than the average pony and if the mother was a dragon, can end up smaller than the average pony. Instead of the soft, plush tails of ponies, draconequui instead have long, dragon's tails which are covered in spines or fur, ending in a fur tuft. Their manes can be fur or spines. Not all of them have horns and some have fins instead of ears. Some have wings of flesh or feather, depending on their parents, while others have no wings at all if their dragon parent comes from a wingless species. Some have hooves and others have claws, making them uniquely varied and capable at finer crafts.
Like their pony counterparts draconequui are herbivorous, but some have shown an ability to consume other non-food items such as gems or stones. They don't seem to afford nutritional value, but instead are used to harden any scales they may have.
Centaur
Centaurs are similar to the gargoyles in that they come from the same distant land, with a upper half resembling a minotaur and a four legged lower half of a bull- the type of horns each possesses ranges from bull horns to antlers. They appear to have a magic absorbing ability and grow stronger with each absorption- the only centaur to enter Equestria lands is Tirek, who was cast into Tartarus for crimes against the kingdom. Their land seems to be a barren, desert-like region and they hold an alliance with gargoyles through their leaders' marriage.
Kirin
Kirins are a pony-like species with curved, antler-like horns through which they can channel magic, much like unicorns. Their magic is mostly focused upon nature and they're known to be a peaceful tribe with a colorful culture based in performances like singing, acting, and comedy. Their culture is also based on honesty and kindness. However, they tend to transform into fiery creatures called Niriks whenever they lose their temper. They are lead by a tall kirin by the name of Rain Shine and live in a place in Equestria known as Kirin Grove.
Earth ponies posses a diverse range of talents and capabilities, as previously mentioned. One recurring trait, however, is their physical prowess. Physically very powerful, earth ponies are capable of performing incredible feats of strength with little or no visible strain and enjoying long-lasting stamina. They also have a magically ingrained connection to the earth that makes them better at working with plants and animals. Earth ponies come in many shapes and sizes, as well as coat colors. Herbivores, they dine on fare such as hay, apples, and flowers. Being born down-to-earth, earth ponies are attuned to nature.
Pegasus
Pegasi demonstrate great speed and agility in the air. Pegasi naturally walk, sit, and lay on clouds where as other, wingless ponies cannot. Pegasi can also control the weather and sometimes create weather-related wakes when they perform aerial acrobatics. Pegasi control the seasons in various regions of Equestria bringing in the winter and restore the land from drought by pulling water from reservoirs to create rain.
Unicorn
Unicorn can actively perform magic unlike their neighbors the earth ponies and pegasi. A common ability among unicorns is using telekinesis to levitate or move objects, but the ability to cast other spells varies widely and the magic they can use usually depends on the unicorn's special talent. Casting takes a great deal of concentration and effort and need to see the object they are casting upon to activate and break spells. When unicorns cast magic, it produces a colored aura around their horns and any objects their magic affects. The color of the glow is different among individuals, usually matching a prominent color of their cutie mark or the color of their eyes. This color is distinctive to each unicorn based on the color of their eyes or cutiemarks, and changes in their magic's color can indicate when something is amiss.
Crystal Ponies
There isn't much that is known about the Crystal Ponies. Their coats are made of crystal and their manes shine with a dual toned gradient, a natural development of the Crystal Empire's brand of magic. They do not appear much different than other ponies in terms of physical abilities.
Bat Ponies
Otherwise known as thestrals, bat ponies are known to have bat-like features which include a tuft of fur at the ends of their ears, fangs, and slitted-pupils. Their coats are often dark in coloration with the majority of Equestria's known inhabitants dwelling in Hollow Shades. Their diet consists mostly of plants, vegetables and fruits, but some have more carnivorous leanings. Some speculate they have a diet much in relation to fruit vampire bats. A number of bat ponies join the ranks of the Night Guards, many more staying within the confines of their village community. Bat ponies are capable of using echolocation much like the majority of nocturnal kin. Their night life also includes the ability to see in low light conditions, but makes them ill suited to many outdoor tasks during the day due to a natural, nocturnal habits.
Vampire Ponies
Many old mares tales are spun around these particular creatures, but the same thread seems to always hold true no matter what the story. A thestral, turned into a literal monster, who has been cursed and passed it down through his victims, turning them into vampires. They feed off of other ponies by drinking their blood, of which they obtain in certain ways: by force, or by hypnotism. Vampire ponies can hypnotize a pony through eye contact, although some ponies are more difficult to hypnotize than others, if at all; vampires use this to make their victims more docile for feeding from. Vampires are also incapable of entering homes without first being invited, though public buildings such as shops and town halls where everypony has an unspoken invitation to enter freely, are open to vampires.
Vampires who were originally bat ponies share some characteristics with them, such as the slit-pupils and bat-like wings, though their ears are more bat-like though not any larger than normal, and their fangs are longer- other species who were turned into vampires share only the eyes and fangs, if not ears too. Minor shapeshifting as a part of a vampire pony's powers make it possible for them to hide their unusual characteristics to better blend in with their surroundings, as with minor colorshifting- the altering of eye or mane color for one example. They still retain their reflections, but vampires find them unbearable to look upon. Red is a color that tends to stand out most to such a creature of blood.
Alicorn
Alicorns are a mysterious species as they are a great unknown and sparse in numbers; their presence has been noted but spotty throughout history. There is a chance that an old race of immortal alicorn once existed, but what happened to them or their numbers is also an unknown, save for the two that still exist: the royal sisters. Alicorns seem to be a powerful species, more so than unicorns, but are prone to being easily corrupted as shown with Luna's known transformation into Nightmare Moon through powerful negative emotions.
The only other alicorns in modern Equestria that have been documented were the result of ascension; whether that puts them on par with an immortal alicorn remains to be seen. Ascension seems to be the result of a pony with pure intentions, showing selflessness in all that they do, experience an important life-changing event or near death experience, and become enlightened (such as realizing the power they hold can be used for the 'greater good' or benefit of others). It does not matter if a pony is an earth pony, pegasus, or unicorn, it is possible for them to ascend if they complete these requirements (though they will have difficulty adjusting).
Nightmares
In old Equestria, the word nightmare was used to describe ponies of a mixed dragon and pony heritage, but since the rise and fall of Nightmare Moon, nightmare has come to be associated with corrupted ponies, whether they are earth ponies, unicorn, pegasi or alicorn. The abilities of these ponies, when corrupted, may work the exact opposite of their original, or their abilities simply become harmful. A corrupted earth pony who was skilled at growing things may cause plants to wither instead, for one example. Alicorns are more prone to corruption due to their inherent purity; especially immortal alicorns when compared to ones that are merely ascended. A nightmare may be made by following an opposite set of requirements than what causes ascension.
Horses
Horses are much like ponies, a tall cousin species with slimmer legs, who hail from other countries such as Saddle Arabia. The majority of them mimic earth ponies in that they don't have wings or horns, but versions of unicorn and pegasi do exist in the species in smaller numbers. Their culture may vary differently from Equestrians depending on which country they come from. Unusually tall ponies may also be referred to as horses, and the fluidity of referring to equines as 'ponies' can also be used against horses, depending on individual view. They, not being ponies, do not gain cutiemarks.
Non-Equine
Changelings
Changeling are a sentient race of insect that have a body that resembles pony-kin. They are born from a hive, brothers and sisters to one another serving a single Queen. The only known changeling queen is Chrysalis, but it is believed that there are more queens to be found on different continents with their own hives and measure of rule, though this is only speculation. It is argued whether changelings are symbiotic or parasitic as they require the emotions of other ponies to survive. They are known to disguise themselves as other ponies to blend into the city or town they are feeding in. They are believed to be highly dangerous, and even more so when they are starved for emotions. Standard changelings in a hive, such as the warriors and drones, cannot reproduce with ponies. The only changeling capable of reproducing is the queen herself, much like hive insects.
Griffons
Griffons are a race of creatures made up of the front half and wings of an eagle, with the back half of a lion; though they may have different bird or cat halves. As well as being omnivores, they are greatly obsessed with money- a greed that it is said to rival that of dragons to the point that any service they do must be in exchange for bits. Their origins are the old kingdom of Griffonstone which has fallen into ruin with the loss of an important artifact.
Dragons and Domestic Dragons
All dragons originate from Dragon's Lair and wild dragons are capable of growing to great proportions because of the unlimited space they have out in the wilderness, and the abundance of food. However, there is a subspecies of more 'domestic' dragons that do not grow quite as large and are capable of living somewhat peacefully around ponies. They still tend to keep to themselves, but are generally friendlier than their wild counterparts. The heights of the largest of them rival the royal sisters' but no domestic dragon has managed to grow any bigger; at average, they grow to only a couple head-and-shoulders taller than most ponies. The heights of some dragons may prevent them from entering pony establishments entirely, without causing some damage of course.
Friendly though domestic dragons may be, they still may retain hot tempers inherited from their wild counterparts, as well as similar urges to hoard; such hoards may be made up of a random array of items or even whatever the dragon fancies most. Their kleptomaniac ways may come to some annoyance to ponies who find certain belongings of theirs missing. Most still retain their breath weapons, which usually tends to be fire, but others have been found to employ ice, water, lightning and at rarest non-life-threatening venom that causes temporary paralyzation or unconsciousness. Baby and adolescent dragons are capable of being bipedal, but as they finish development, they will begin to walk quadrupedal like ponies. There are some species of dragons, more attuned to the earth, who remain wingless, while many other species of dragons have wings.
Domestic dragons live in small colonies or groups either close to or on the outskirts of pony civilizations. It may range from cliff-like spaces with caves, forests or their own built dwellings depending on the abundance of materials and comfort level; as some dragons may still retain desires to live in typically dragon-preferred spaces. In the case of large cities like Manehatten, dragons may have sections of the city allotted to them for living spaces and shops. The gem rich soil of Equestria provides dragons plenty to eat, though some may have struck up agreements with ponies to protect or assist ponies in exchange for gems from any pony-owned or operated gem mines- although plenty of such places exist in the wild for dragons to take from should they find their own sources. Some dragons might even integrate themselves with pony society to find jobs for money or for gems to pass the time and learn about their neighbors or for any requirements to strengthen relationships with those they live beside.
Size Chart
Minotaur
Minotaurs are a therianthropic, bipedal bull-like species. It is unknown where they originate from or live within Equestria, as only one has made an appearance so far as an instructor on assertiveness. Minotaurs may have a culture based on strength. It can be presumed that they, like ponies, are herbivores.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles are creatures with dragon-like bodies and bat-like wings with the ability to breathe fire. They are not native to Equestria, but hail from a distant land. Little is known about them because of this, though one is mentioned to be the centaur, Tirek's, brother who came to appreciate ponies and befriended Starswirl the Bearded.
Draconequui
Draconequui are a rare hybrid between a dragon and a pony, thus the name 'draconequus,' with an equine body, dragon's wings and tail. An older name for them would be 'nightmare.' Little is known about them and the only known living draconequus is the spirit of chaos, Discord, who resembles much more. Unlike kirin, who are born of the dragon hybrids of the far, undiscovered lands, draconequui are primarily hybridized from the various dragons found in Dragon's Lair. Unlike wild dragons, draconequus are usually the result of a domestic dragon and pony's offspring. They do not get much bigger than the average pony and if the mother was a dragon, can end up smaller than the average pony. Instead of the soft, plush tails of ponies, draconequui instead have long, dragon's tails which are covered in spines or fur, ending in a fur tuft. Their manes can be fur or spines. Not all of them have horns and some have fins instead of ears. Some have wings of flesh or feather, depending on their parents, while others have no wings at all if their dragon parent comes from a wingless species. Some have hooves and others have claws, making them uniquely varied and capable at finer crafts.
Like their pony counterparts draconequui are herbivorous, but some have shown an ability to consume other non-food items such as gems or stones. They don't seem to afford nutritional value, but instead are used to harden any scales they may have.
Centaur
Centaurs are similar to the gargoyles in that they come from the same distant land, with a upper half resembling a minotaur and a four legged lower half of a bull- the type of horns each possesses ranges from bull horns to antlers. They appear to have a magic absorbing ability and grow stronger with each absorption- the only centaur to enter Equestria lands is Tirek, who was cast into Tartarus for crimes against the kingdom. Their land seems to be a barren, desert-like region and they hold an alliance with gargoyles through their leaders' marriage.
Kirin
Kirins are a pony-like species with curved, antler-like horns through which they can channel magic, much like unicorns. Their magic is mostly focused upon nature and they're known to be a peaceful tribe with a colorful culture based in performances like singing, acting, and comedy. Their culture is also based on honesty and kindness. However, they tend to transform into fiery creatures called Niriks whenever they lose their temper. They are lead by a tall kirin by the name of Rain Shine and live in a place in Equestria known as Kirin Grove.
Kirin have scaled backs and cloven hooves with lion-like manes around their necks and lionlike tails, with a ridge of scales across the tops of their snouts. Their antler-like horns come in different shapes and variations. Their coloration leans more towards muted, earthy colors, though some may be brighter in hue than others. Kirin also appear to be androgynous, for the most part, with subtle differences between sexes.
___
Other Species List
Pony hybrids
(As in zebra/horses, draconequuii, etc)
Flutter ponies
Breezies
Zebras
Deer
Various other hooved animals
Diamond Dogs
Chinese/Lung dragons
Sea serpents
Phoenixes
Hippogryphs
Sphinxes
Chimeras
Manticores
Kelpies
*Whisper staff if you have an idea for any other species to be included!
Needless to say, we're not allowing any super unusual species like 'tail mouth ponies', naga ponies, etc. Please do be reasonable with your characters and follow the universe's standard!
All information written out on these forums beyond the three canon pony species/crystal ponies are creative rights of Rex Draco and Mal.
___
Other Species List
Pony hybrids
(As in zebra/horses, draconequuii, etc)
Flutter ponies
Breezies
Zebras
Deer
Various other hooved animals
Diamond Dogs
Chinese/Lung dragons
Sea serpents
Phoenixes
Hippogryphs
Sphinxes
Chimeras
Manticores
Kelpies
*Whisper staff if you have an idea for any other species to be included!
Needless to say, we're not allowing any super unusual species like 'tail mouth ponies', naga ponies, etc. Please do be reasonable with your characters and follow the universe's standard!
All information written out on these forums beyond the three canon pony species/crystal ponies are creative rights of Rex Draco and Mal.