Stallions and claimed land

[Horser01]

Okay, this might be a bit hard to answer, but I was wondering how many stallions there are in Fire Eyes, and what the ratio to mares is... A ball park figure is fine, but I have an idea for a plot I want to do, so I need to know this before I know if I'm going to or not...

Also, I was wondering if there are any lands that aren't claimed, other than the community lands... Just curious.

[Sammy]

I don't understand - what is it exactly that you mean by mare to stallion ratio. As for the lands, I can give you that, but I'm not going to if you're not going to elaborate on this plot. Some of us do appreciate knowing if our characters are going to be screwed with, you know.

I can definitely tell you that there's a limit on the number of lands you can own, though. I believe it stands at *two* at the most in each land, but then again, it'd be foolish to own two in each land and maintain them all.

[Horser01]

Oh, sorry. No I wouldn't be messing with anyone else's characters. I mean mare to stallion ratio as in are there a lot more mares than stallions or vice versa. Like there are 2 mares to every stallion sort of thing.

My plot idea is that I create a stallion, but he's really a pacifist unless someone else is going to be eaten... Anyway, he finds/ rescues a small orphan foal, and he finds an unclaimed land to settle in with the foal, because he doesn't want to fight for one. And then hopefully, he starts a herd with mares that come to him... Instead of him going out and looking for mares, he just sort of adopts what ever misfits come his way and decide to stay. And eventually, the foal grows up and they both lead the herd. Like a father and son (or possibly father and daughter) pair. But if I have to fight for a terra, it won't work, because, 1) He won't fight for anything other than anothers life and 2) because I suck at RPing a fight... I guess I could start a herd in the community lands, but I don't know if that's allowed, and it would be even more difficult... I want to know about the mares for two reasons. 1) He won't steal them, so if there's not a lot of mares, he's going to have to compete with other stallions, which means he won't be able to keep a mare for very long, (Unless she chooses to stay) and 2) I was planning on adopting the foal instead of creating it, and the more mares there are the better chance of me finding a foal to adopt... Does any of that make sense?

p.s.- He'd only need one land, and it's less that he'd own it, and more that he inhabits it... He's the type that wouldn't care if there were other stallions there as long as they left his family alone.

[Sammy]

Okay, first thing that is no longer allowed (unless they slip under the radar somehow) - orphaned foals suriviving to adult hood. Foals are like any other animal, and here, they don't have a human to look after them. Unless they are a yearling, they are GOING TO DIE. Simple, hard but true fact of life.

Foals survive with humans because humans care for them. Even then, they don't always survive.

But from someone who lives around wild horses, I can guarantee that unless another mare in the herd decides to feed that foal - and normally they won't, because it's foal season around then and no one wants an extra leech off them - that foal is going to eventually grow weak, be left behind by the herd, and die. If it's not picked off by random predators, which is what generally happens once they realise Mama's not there to protect them anymore.

Secondly...I'll be honest with you; this isn't really a new plot. It's not even much of a plot, because others have done it before...raquelle's Windsong did it when he was alive, my Shikaru does the very same as you're suggesting, and I'm pretty sure flameoflight's Whispering Wings does it on a more 'lone wanderer teacher' type scale. But if you want to try him going for a land, then go for it. No one's stopping you; I'll just need to list what you can and can't have.

But unfortunately, if I do a rough calculation in my head, there's not enough mare to stallions ratio. In fact, I think there's more active stallions then there are mares, if not an equal amount, and most of the mares have lands to go to, or have no desire to do anything but wander about (I.E. Lucrezia's Fallen Angel, Whispering Wings, Anko's Sweet Deception, Scream for Me...you get the idea).

And fourth...he'd need to *own* a land to keep it. Or else he's going to lose it before a month is out.

Just putting that out there to you. Being truthful. Nothing personal; you're welcome to make the character and get him a land (once I get a moment to put up what's up for grabs ><), anyway. Just...yeah.

[Horser01]

Hmm... Yeah, I was sort of thinking that he wandered from herd to herd at first getting one or two mares out of each herd to spot the foal a meal until it was weaned. I was thinking a foal that was at least three months old because they're already starting to eat solid food anyway... I didn't mean a new plot ever, I've just never tried it before... It's my storyline for this horse(s) if I do make them... There's a stallion in real life that I've been thinking about rescueing that just adopted twins. XD They're two months old, and they just climb under the fence into the mares paddack to grab a snack and slip back again. But I do understand what you're saying... These twins were going to be put down, but when they hid behind Apache, he tried to squash the vet... Now everytime he sees the truck, he blocks the foals into a corner and gets ready to fight. Sorry. Didn't mean to ramble... Anyway, I guess I won't do it then...

P.S.- Yes, Whispering Wings does adopt strays... She's taken in my horse Adah.

[Sammy]

No, no, don't be silly. You're perfectly free to take this plot and use it...the looking after strays, at least. I'm just saying it's being used by others too, just so you know.

The foal though; I'm sorry, but we can't let it slide. I'm well aware of stallions, even geldings, taking on little darlings - I used to *own* an ex-racehorse gelding who would quite literally kidnap our mares' foals, and I'd be the only one that could get them off him and back to their mothers.

As such, yes, I *am* aware foals start on food of a solid nature at three months of age. However, they still require a mother to provide them with milk, and in the wild, it's even less likely they'll survive. I'm not talking out of my ass, here; I've LIVED around wild horses. As for other mares spotting the little one a meal...not possible with the stallion around. He'd be chased out of the terra by the resident stallions quicker than you can say 'got milk'?

Apologies, but you're going to have to either make the young one at *least* eleven months old, or not have it at all, if you intend to continue with this. It's the only thing I'm extremely strict on, apart from the shitload of Mary Sue Ponies that turn up here, how foals are played and handled. And I can't waver it for anyone, or else I'm risking brewing up a shitstorm if I get accused with favoritism.

[Horser01]

Yeah, I understand. You want to keep the site realistic. And I do realize that orphan foals surviving in the wild are rare, but as you said, "unless it slips under the radar". That's okay. I'll think of something else to do. It wouldn't really work if he had to own the land anyway. If he could move in and agree to share it with whoever came after, maybe, but... I was sort of counting on the "pity me and feed my foal and then I'll leave" thing to work with the stallions who 'own' mares too... I was planning on 'targeting' the lights... The big softies... *mischevious grin* And the adult misfit herd was really icing on the cake for me... I wanted a stallion with a foal. The 6 foot cowboy thats all man takes on a kid and doesn't know what to do with it story. In horse form! Lol! If he had a mate that had the foal it wouldn't really work out the way I was planning... Anyway, I'll think of something else. No worries.

P.S.- I'm not really sure what a "mary sue pony" is, but... I do get your point.

[Sammy]

Of course. It's your decision.

And when I say Mary Sue Pony, I'm referring to characters that turn up EVERYWHERE that are ridiculously perfect - as in ridiculously beautiful, smart, pretty, the best at everything, has no real flaws and their RPers think they're the best and better than everyone else and that everyone should love them and WOE BETIDE YOU YOU BIG FAT MEANIE POOP HEAD IF YOU AND YOUR CHARRIE DOESN'T DARE FALL AT THEIR FEET SHIEFHAJL;;

You get the idea. xD

[Horser01]

Lol! Oh, okay, yes, I totally understand what you are saying about "Mary Sue Ponies". And of course, everyone thinks different traits make you perfect or unperfect, so who is ever perfect? And besides, your character is only as good as the RPer.

[Sammy]

I agree with you there. But also, a character is what the RPer makes it. And a good RPer is definitely someone who can take the negative hits with the positive IC and OOC, just like in real life.

Which is probably why a lot of RPers I've met in my five years of RPing annoy the fuck out of me.

[Horser01]

Lol! Good point!