Mara
Maras are one of the many species of sapeint animal that live on the dark planet Evermare. They are quadrupedal horses are able to produce a mild hallucinogenic pitch black gas from their hooves, use telekinsis and even, (female only) can invade dreams. Maras use most of these abilities, sans the dream weaver, to protect themselves against attackers or help them grab items in the case of telekinsis.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Maras resemble ponies in structure. They have four legs with either navy blue or black fur with either midnight blue or red manes/tails depending on their gender (though sometimes, their fur can also be violet or indigo instead, regardless of gender.
Biological Traits
Maras have sexual dimorphism, female Maras are generally navy blue with midnight blue manes and tails, while male Mars are generally black with red manes and tails.
Genetics and Reproduction
They reproduce sexually, and gestate within a womb for around a year until birth.
Growth Rate & Stages
Maras are only considered adults by 23, as they physically mature rather slowly, 5 years to become toddlers, as that is when they completely grow all their fur, 8 to become a child, 15 to become a teen, 23 to become an adult.
Ecology and Habitats
Maras lived in the open grassy plains of Evermare. preferably near a forest. Maras live in such open places to show off the large size of their packs and how they should not be messed with.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Mara's ate mostly necroa grass along with some fruits and other veggies as well, including gourds and even some flowers. Maras did not have to do much to get their food source, simply grazing in their local habitat for what they come across. They would agressively scare off anyone who tried to take it as well by using a pitch black gas that can cause terrifying hallucinations if they choose to mix it with another chemical within them.
Biological Cycle
During Evermare's summer, Maras spent most of their time in one spot, grazing from the fields and not moving far from that spot, during fall, they became much more active, entering other fields and prairies and possibly even forests, (though in the latter case, only a few members of a pack would enter at once, with the others waiting just outside) to assert themselves to other species and to leave them scarred, giving themselves power. They also gathered much more plants for food. During winter, they return to the plains and fields, but stay close to the forest, to still have a consistent food source then return to the more open parts once summer is back.
Behaviour
Maras are generally quite agressive, especially during fall when they would leave their territory to assert themselves over other animals, not out of defesnse, but as a show of power, a warning attack, often somewhat held back, to show what they are capable of. Maras are led by a single matriarch in a pack of roughly 30 members, there is often a single lead stallion as well, the strongest of all the males, to assist the matriarch as needed.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Maras live in packs of roughly 30, with a single Matriarch that is often the tallest out of the group. Said Matriarchs also have assistents in the form of the strongest male, there to help guide the pack and punish rule breakers if the Matriarch is busy with something else. Female maras were allowed to remain in a pack until they were 70 before they had to go out and form their own pack while male Maras must leave the pack by 50 at the latest. Maras can have and rise a filly within a pack, but maras that are nearing the age of leaving can sometimes leave with their partner and rise the kid on their own once they grow their pack a bit. It was possible for some male maras to travel on their own if they were either outcast by their pack (which can happen for a varity of reasons), could not find a partner/grow their own pack, or sometimes did so just to prove their strength while refusing to be assosiated with other Maras. Female Maras however, were almost never alone, unless they were outcast (which was incredibly rare compared to how likely it was for males) because they had a disorder that prevented them from socalizing properly, otherwise, the only time female maras were alone would be the first few months when they are trying to create their own pack.
Facial characteristics
They have the faces of horses despite being the size of ponies, a longer, snout.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Maras live in the plains, prairies an fields of Evermare, sometimes close to forests or rivers.
Average Intelligence
Around 100 on the human IQ test
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Maras have an incredibly keen sense of eyesight, cutting right through the near eternal night of their home planet Evermare, they also have good hearing to pick up on posssible attackers.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
The species modern female maras attack using their ability to enter dreams. It is said they may have gained this ability from a form of empathy that allowed them to see into the dreams of others that later evolved and allowed them to use their ability to teleport to even interact with the dreamer.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Saturated fur colors, for all genders, as to them, dull, grey-ish colors symbolize inferiorty, and due to their agressive/dominant culture, greatly frowned upon.
Gender Ideals
Female Maras are idealized as being confident and agressive, pushing around other species to show off power, while male Maras are idealized to be protectors, keeping away attackers and protecting fillies and colts.
Average Technological Level
Like all sapient animals, they use modern phones and the technology needed to work said modern phones.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Like all sapient animals, they speak English.
Common Etiquette Rules
Do not be rude or dissmissive to the matriarch, she will send her entire pack to show you how weak and pathetic you are for doing such a thing.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
They often will go out during the fall and battle every chance they get, often an attempt to show off their power, trying to regain the reputation their ancestors once had.
Common Taboos
Like all sapient species, relationships with other species is seen as something as bad as incest.
History
They are one of the many sapient species of the elemental galaxy. Particularly, Maras were the most dominent species of their own planet.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Maras were somehow both idealized and feared by other species, partly idealized and partly feared by fellow dark elementals, mostly feared by the others. Though, in recent times, more and more sapients have realized that, now, a Mara's bark is worse then their bite (Their neigh is worse then their kick?) As in an intelligent society, there is no need for their type of agression. Though some still look up to Maras and see them as a symbol of glory and power, many more are starting to see them as pity and insecure, having to resort to mind games like dream manipulating and illegal battle moves just to be on the winning side they since lost.
Scientific Name
Equus Nocturnus
Lifespan
300 years
Conservation Status
They are of least concern
Average Height
3'6-4'0
Average Weight
170-220 lbs
Average Length
3'6-4'0 when laying down
Average Physique
Lean and compact.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
All maras generally have darker colors, but some of the coloring depends on gender, female Maras are dark and navy blue, while male maras are black and red. Rarely, maras of either gender may be violet or even a dark magenta.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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