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Cerynei Soquili

Cerynei (Pronounced ser-uh-nee) are a kind of soquili that bears a striking resemblance to deer. They are more slightly built than regular soquili, and they have deer-like features such as cloven hooves, a deer-like tail, and differently shaped ears. The males even can grow large antlers.

The cerynei do not claim to be descendants of common deer. Instead, like everything else that sprung up from the land, from the greatest oak tree to the smallest seedling, the Cerynei claim a line of heritage rooted deeply into the land itself. As legend was told by the eldest of the great heard, the Cerynei’s graceful bodies emerged from the trees themselves. The male’s large antlers were the signs of the once large boughs that hung in the canopy above, and the females elegant bodies were like the long slender trunks that would charmingly dance to one another in the wind.
((Legend by Hanging Gallow, winner of a concept contest when the race was introduced))

Many many centuries ago, the cerynei race once roamed across the land, nearly as frequent in number as their cousins, the regular soquili. Over time, they slowly decreased in number, and eventually they parted ways with their hooved brethren, creating their own sect in a land far away from their hornless counterpart.

It was during this time that their numbers began to once more increase, the deer-like horses roaming the forests and valleys... that is, until the fires began to increase in numbers, as well. For this particular area that the cerynei had called their home had slowly begun to deteriorate, becoming more and more prone to hosting wildfires that consumed and burned down their beautiful forests and fields. After a particularly large fire swept through the land, inflicting significant damage across all that inhabited the forest and meadow it consumed, the Prince of the cerynei decided it was time, once more, to return to their former home among the Soquili.

So, leading the remaining number that were willing to part from their dying land, the Prince has ventured back into the land of his ancestors, determined to find a new home for his herd.

• Alpha: Leader of the herd. Makes decisions about migrations, ceremonies, new members, etc. with the guidance of the Protector, Master/Mistress of Ceremonies, and Advisors. Usually female.
• Protector: Controls scouts, emergency drills, patrols, and supervises the training of foals. Is the Alpha's personal guard. Acts under the guidance of the Alpha, Master/Mistress of Ceremonies, and Advisors. Usually male.
• Master/Mistress of Ceremonies: Presides over all ceremonies. Also a storyteller. Usually acts without the guidance of anybody, though will ask the Alpha about something occasionally. Referred to as the M/C in-thread because that's just to much to type. There will be both a male and female M/C, as some duties will be more appropriate for one than the other.
• Advisors: Three soq that act as a council for the Alpha and Protector. Will be made up of either two stallions and a mare or two mares and a stallion - the Advisors will be there for the herd, Alpha, and Protector when they are needed, otherwise, they'll have other duties.
• Instructors: Instructors teach foals and adults to fight, defend themselves, swim, etc. There will also be a flight instructor for those with wings. A grove keeper or dryad may act as a meditation and languages instructor when someone would like lessons.
• Storytellers: In charge of keeping records and passing legends down to the young.
• Scouts/Patrols: Scouts keep an eye on the borders and watch for natural disasters (fire, flooding, etc.). Winged scouts that can fly are especially handy. Scouts also run ahead when the herd is migrating. Patrols run the borders and either welcome or fight off any intruders. Both report to the Protector.
• Messengers: Fleet-footed ones that answer to patrols and whomever else may need them.
• Gatherers: Supplied with baskets for gathering food, Gatherers find berries, bark, and sometimes lead the herd to good grazing.
• Nannies/Nursemaids/Midwives: Take care of foals and baskets if the childrens' parents have other duties to attend to. Also advise expecting parents and help with birthing.
• Expecting Parents: Self-explanatory. Expecting parents are relieved from most duties. Mothers are relieved from all duties until the children reach adulthood. Fathers are relieved from some duties until the children reach adulthood. However, if at any time other than during the pregnancy they wish to return to their duties, nursemaids will take over.
• Elders/Seniors: Members that have retired from duty and have begun to feel the age in their bones.
• Apprentices: All members with rank (Alpha, Protector, Advisors, Master/Mistress of Ceremonies, Storytellers, Instructors, and Nursemaids) must take at least one foal as an apprentice in during the time they have their rank. The foal must be trained in all the duties of their mentor. In the case of the Protector's foal, it will also learn how to be a scout, messenger, and a member of a patrol.
• Members: Foals, baskets, mares, and stallions that are part of the herd and have no particular rank. They have basic chores when needed.
• Honorary Members: A Cerynei's lifemate that has undergone and passed an 'inspection' by the Alpha, Protector, M/C, and Advisors. These soq are welcome in the herd, and can often hold a rank above "Honorary Member" if they wish. They are given special sleeping places, and their mates can choose to join them there or to sleep by themselves.

• Initiation into the herd: Have a talk with the leader? Be assigned a duty? Or a full-on ceremony?
• The arrival of baskets and foals: Baskets - Just the parents, Alpha, Protector, Master/Mistress of Ceremonies, and a nursemaid or two. Foals - Most of the herd is in attendance when they hatch.
• Midwinter and Midsummer: Marks the beginning of the migration to different feeding grounds with song and celebration.
• Lifemating: As the herd seems like it will be rather pro-lifemating, this will be a big deal. It might be similar to a wedding, except there will be no fancy clothes (that would be rather hard to pull off wink ). Instead, the bride will be bedecked in wildflowers and other pretty things and the groom in... well, whatever his buddies deem fit. Vows will be taken and the rest of the night (these will be held at sunset by a pond) will be devoted to celebration.
****However, if a soq is being lifemated to a mare or stallion of a completely different species and still wishes to remain in the herd, a celebration will only be held if the Alpha, Protector, Master/Mistress of Ceremonies deem the potential mate fit to be an honorary member of the herd.
• Honorary Membership: Honorary Membership is granted to any soq that has undergone an "inspection" to make sure they have no bad intentions toward the herd or any of the members. Most who would like Honorary Membership will be accepted by the Alpha, M/C, Protector, and Advisors, though any that have the risk of being angry/violent may be doubted or turned down.
• Coming of Age:

• The herd goes back to the old Cerynei lands to pay their respects to the lost herd.
• A non-Cerynei applies for Honorary Membership and manages to hide any bad intentions s/he has. Once they've become part of the herd, members will begin disappearing one by one. Desperate to find them, one or two of the Cerynei members will begin a secret search. Eventually finding evidence that points to the HM, things get rough when ____ goes missing. Finally confronting the HM, the searchers get into a bit of a mess and end up with the other kidnapped members. Not understanding, they manage to get out and drive the HM away -- but what if it wants revenge later?