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Herds that hold the lotus
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 Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:04 am
 
~~~
The Padmapani herd was started as a family, led by Avalokiteshvara, or Vara as she is known to most. She was their mother, grandmother, or greatgrandmother and finally she was their Alpha and leader.
The first Protector was Vara's mate, Scythe. He stood by her side since they first began to grow close and then protected not only her but the herd itself. Together they formed a haven for their family... and for those seeking family.
When Hayagriva's daughter, the skinwalker Samsara, attacked the herd, everything changed. Vara and Scythe died in the attack along with several others of the Padmapani family. Torn by grief, Haya became the new herd Protector and Shrivatsa was the new herd Alpha. Remembering the values that Vara and Scythe upheld, Haya and Shrivatsa seek to continue the tradition of the Padmapani herd being a place of compassion and forgiving.
They happily accept others into their herd so long as they vow to uphold the values of those that hold the lotus.
Welcome to the Padmapani herd.~~~ Quote: Note from Roniel Targaryen: Please quote or PM if you want to talk about the Padmapani herd! I'd be happy to add your soquili to the herd member list or discuss plots! biggrin
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:07 am
Like anywhere else, the Padmapani herd thread has a few rules. However, we hope that they are few and light enough that you can still enjoy your visit to the thread!
1. If you want to join the herd, become an ally, enemy, etc. feel free to PM. For now, PMing Roniel Targaryen will get you the fastest response. Roniel loves PMs and would be more than happy to answer your question!
2. Feel free to post in this thread, though I'd prefer if it had something to do with the herd or herd business.
3. This herd is very much open to those not in the bloodline. Keep reading if you're interested in your soq joining!
4. Don't be a jerk or Haya will have to kick you out!
5. I reserve the right to decline admission into the herd
~~~
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:08 am
~~~
Though in joining the Padmapani herd it may seem as if there are many rules that must be followed, the truth of it is simple. The main tenant of the herd is compassion. Vara's own life was moved much by compassion and she tried to teach her descendants to feel that same way when looking upon themselves and others. This includes treating soquili respectfully, regardless of personality or breed. The compassion in the Padmapani herd runs deeply throughout each of it's members, or so they would like to believe. With this compassion comes a willingness to help others. The Padmapani herd will never turn away a hurt or troubled soquili, even if they are a stranger.
Though the herd as a whole is peaceful and kind, there is much variation in the individuals that make up the herd. Perfection is something that no mortal soquili can achieve and no member of the herd is without their faults. However, in the Padmapani herd these faults and mistakes are forgiven. After all, what is family without forgiveness?
Have a soquili who wants to be surrounded by kindred spirits looking for peace? Have a soquili who has had some hard times and wants somewhere to stay until they can find their feet? Perhaps they ought to find the Padmapani herd!
~~~
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:09 am
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:10 am
The Padmapani herd ranges a decent amount, as does any herd. One of the main spots that it always returns to is the location that Scythe and Vara first met. It is a mountain on the outskirts of a forest, home to many cliffs and a small lake. A favorite activity of those in the herd is to fling themselves from the cliff into the water beneath them. The experience, originally intended to simulate flight for the wingless, is also used as less philosophical entertainment for many Padmapani members.
This mountain is the center of the Padmapani herd range. Their range ventures very close in some places to the Miakoda herd. Instead of fighting, these two herds enjoy the occasional opportunity to intermingle (and catch up, in the case of the related members).
The Padmapani tends to not be a very territorial herd. While it will respect the wishes of other herds and avoid their territory, it welcomes those who wish to pass through or mingle into their territory.
~~~
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:11 am
The Padmapani herd has a rich culture of traditions and holidays stemming from the former alpha Avalokiteshvara's homeland in Asia. The more simpler aspects of these traditions include simple meditation and the obeying of the Bodhisattva vows. Some of the holidays they celebrate are described below!
New year: The Padmapani herd celebrates the new year on the day of the first full moon in January. They go all out in celebrating! They spend the week beforehand gathering all of the tasty edibles they can find so they can feast on New Year's day. The more appearance-conscious members will go to the kawani village prior to New Year to get new accessories to show off during the celebration. There is dancing and singing, and everyone has a great time!
Avalokiteshvara's birthday: This is a day meant to be a day of offering prayers and seeking blessings from the Bodhisattva. However, members of Padmapani have misinterpreted this celebration as being the birthday celebration for the herd alpha, not for the Bodhisattva for which she is named. They still offer prayer and respect the dead but they also throw Vara a bit of a party and give the old mare "birthday presents." Vara is slightly chagrined that the holy day has been co-opted like that, but at this point it's too established to stop!
Festival of the floating bowls: Though most of the herd soquili don't know the origin of this holiday, it is a favorite in the herd. Once a year the herd gathers by a river and each member makes a bowls out of leaves and flowers. Within the middle of these bowls they place some kindling. One member of the herd will then venture into the kawani village to carry fire back to the herd. The fire bearer will light the kindling in each of the bowls and then each herd member will push their bowl into the river. As the bowls float downstream, it is thought that bad luck and negative feelings float away with them. This is accompanied with great celebration!
Religious Beliefs: The Padmapani herd follow a loose version of Mahayana Buddhism. Their favorite deity is Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva that the alpha mare is named for. They believe that by living their lives according to the Bodhisattva vows and seeking enlightenment that they may be able to release themselves from the cycle of death, rebirth, and suffering. They believe in Karma and that actions have results, which feeds in to their belief in fate and destiny. They are not generally very showy about expressing their beliefs. Most often, they might meditate in silence or chant "om mani padme hum" to invoke Avalokiteshvara in a moment of stress or need.
~~~
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:12 am
As a peaceful and friendly herd, the Padmapani herd is not looking to make enemies. They would much rather negotiate with another herd than use threats or force to drive them back. Even so, there are some soquili out there with personalities that simply cannot be reconciled with the Padmapani herd. These soquili and the herds that accompany them may become enemies of the Padmapani... though they would much rather keep things civil.
Is your herd interested in becoming a potential ally of Padmapani? That is something that Haya and Shrivatsa would be much more willing to consider. The Padmapani herd is not generally a violent herd and as such would not be terribly eager to join a war between herds. However, the members of the herd would be glad to assist in whatever other ways that they could.
Current Allies:
Miakoda Herd (Sister herd)
Current Enemies:
Samsara is Hayagriva's daughter and once was a member of the Padmapani herd. One night she met a strange human in the forest and the next time she was seen she was a cursed skinwalker. Enraged by her father's rejection of her transformation, she vowed to destroy him and to sully everything that he stands for. She is the nightmare of the Padmapani herd, having already attacked several times and each time escaping to do more damage later. The members of the Padmapani herd are always wondering, when will she show up next?
~~~
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:17 am
So you want to join?
Good! We'd love to have you! However, there are a few rules and considerations that you and your soquili ought to think about beforehand. Here are the basic qualifications and preferences for those who wish to join Padmapani Herd:
~ Soquili of all breeds with the exception of skinwalkers can be accepted.
~ Soquili who are related to the either Vara or Scythe are automatically accepted.
~ Soquili who wish to join ought to have some sort of desire to do good. They don't have to be saints. It is acknowledged that sometimes it requires much personal growth before you can truly help others, but that base desire ought to be there.
~ Soquili of all personalities can join so long as they have some desire to do good (Even the more obnoxious soquili are welcome, so long as they have a good side).
~ Though it is suggested that interested parties RP with a herd leader prior to entering, we're all busy people and sometimes there isn't time for a ton of RPing. So RPing with us first is preferred but in no way required.
~ To become a full-fledged member of the herd (excluding family), a soquili must make vows before the alpha and protector. These vows are very important and represent some of the core philosophy of the herd. Though they should not be taken lightly, they more represent guidelines than strict rules. If a soquili is found breaking one of them after joining it will most likely result in a talking-to. In only extreme cases would banishment even be considered, and only then as a last resort to protect the herd.
~ I reserve the right to decline admission into the herd
Vows of the Padmapani:
To be generous towards those in need
Not to kill any living creature
Not to lie or deceive others
Not to steal anything
Not to engage in any form of romantic misconduct
To treat and speak to others with kindness, in their presence and not
Not to harbor anger or resentment
Do you think your soquili can manage all that? Then feel free to either post in the herd thread or PM Roniel Targaryen! PMing Roniel Targaryen is suggested for fastest reply.
~~~
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:18 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:21 am
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:25 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:35 am
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:36 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:40 am
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Herds that hold the lotus
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:43 am
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