Welcome to Tempered Calamity! For as long as horses can remember, this place has been their santucary far removed from the presence of any humans. Well protected and abundant in food and space, equines of all kinds have called these lands home. Over time, the original horses who settled here spread out to explore and established the territory boundaries known today.
On the surface things appear peaceful between the different bands as well as the free roaming horses, but all is not as it seems. The inhabitants here are under constant threat. Not only do they have to survive the elements and natural disasters and outwit predators, they must also face rival herds or individuals looking to steal land or other horses.
Tempered Calamity is a semi-realistic wild horse rpg inspired by old school play by post forums. Low word count and minimal activity requirements, come check us out or say hey on our discord!
a semi-realistic wild horse rpg
year 01
spring
updates
04.10
We're officially open to members! Check out some of the quick links above to get started on all the need-to-know information. If you find any issues, feel free to PM Oxy on here or discord!
DATE HERE
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[attr="class","calamity-post-body"] Wind buffeted the dark stallion as he made his way down to The Rift. It was cold for Spring, or perhaps that was just because he was on the north end of the territories. The sun was setting, the sky ablaze in hues of orange and red. Carefully, the stallion picked his way among the rocks and uneven terrain heading towards the dark crevice that cut through the earth like a massive scar. Much like the one that lay across the crest of the horse's neck.
It had been a few days since he had decided to settle to the west in The Overlook. Naturally once he had declared the lands his own, he had spent the next several moons exploring it from top to bottom. Leaving no stone unturned he had moved from the waterfall to the wood to the sheer drop that overlooked the western sea. He scratched marks into the trees or dug into the earth, establishing a clear boundary between his land and the valley below.
Finally satisfied, he had taken his leave in search of...something. He wasn't quite sure what it was he was in search of but he supposed he would know when he found it. Or, like everything else in his life, it would slip between his hooves. Lost before he even had a chance. He shook his head. No! Not this time. This time he would have his way. Would finally get what he wanted and build himself a herd, where no one would dare disobey him. He was free to make the rules, banish who he wanted. Abandon who he wanted.
The wind increased then and his ears flicked backward against his skull, shielding them from the gusts. Not having wanted to but deciding that some shelter from the insentient wind was in order, he made his way to the edge and he looked down into the chasm below. It was dark in the setting sun and his eyes couldn't make out more than shadow but that was no matter. Sturdy feet carried him down the narrow edge carved into the rock that led down to the bottom of the crevice.
Once he had reached the bottom, he paused to give his eyes a moment to adjust. It was even darker here, the dying light from the sun dim and the shadows cast by the steep walls on either side casting everything into a certain dark gloom. Turning, he directed his body east and then paused when the figure of another horse appeared in his vision. He blinked slowly before his lips spread into a devilish grin. 'Excellent,' he thought. Exactly what he was looking for. A fight? A lover? A herd member? It didn't matter. He was up for any of them.
Not bothering to try and sneak up on the stranger, he approached. "Hello," he said in greeting.
[attr="class","calamity-post-note"] @tag - OPEN notes;; here
With each step, rocks crumbled underfoot, rolling down the steep ledge, crashing and breaking somewhere below, the sounds carried away by the wind. This was of no concern to Emrys, however, as he made his careless descent on stiff legs. Stiff, because he'd spent quite some time roaming this new land with little rest. Dawn arose and dusk had settled many times, bright colors reflected in his dark eyes as he made his way through what was now his territory, leaving his mark on the land, claiming it as his own. For this purpose, his energy was limitless as the earth beneath him; for the sake of taking and keeping what he now had, he would continue into the horizon. He needn't remind himself that he was built for this, mind and body.
The ground was flattening as the sire traversed the Rift, dwarfed by the canyon walls, a speck in a scratch on the surface of the Earth. Wind whipped around him, whistling through the crevices carved into the ancient rock. As he ventured deeper, down to the bottom of the gorge, he wondered where it would take him. He did not want to stray too far from his territory, had decided he certainly did not want this inhospitable stretch of stone to be a part of his domain, his kingdom. Because he got to decide that now.
The world was darkening, his eyes adjusting to the low lighting. As he looked onward, a shadow appeared in his distant vicinity, a dark, equine shape in his vision. Awareness settled in the place of aloof pleasure, and the stallion straightened to his full height. Challenger, trespasser, prospective lover? Friend or foe? Unfortunately, there was not enough light to tell, and the wind was blowing whatever scent he could catch up and away. He wasted no time; there was no doubt that the stranger had already been alerted to his presence, while they were a shadowed, murky thing, his markings would give him away in the night, pieces of a ghost framed by the inky sky and gray walls. His approach was swift, and no sooner did he get within a respectable distance did the dark stranger utter a low "Hello."
And so he relayed the greeting, choosing to be cordial. For now. "Hello." He'd purr, circling. Watching through the darkness, waiting. "And who might you be?"
[attr="class","calamity-post-body"] In the darkness he hadn't been able to make out much of the stranger's shape but upon hearing the low voice that rumbled from their throat he realised the stranger was another stallion. A vaguely familiar scent clung to their coat but he couldn't place where he knew it from. They were certainly a stranger and Centurion knew that they had never met before. Slipping the thought into the back of his mind he took a moment to regard the other stallion.
Green eyes met his own amber and he recognised the look in those eyes for it was mirrored in his own. Elation at the prospect of the hunt. The satisfaction of a potential challenger. Centurion almost grinned, teeth spread wide in manical glee but he pursed his lips instead. One ear flicked backward and he was glad for the narrow space at the bottom of the chasm that prevented the stranger from standing behind him. Granted he wouldn't be able to move behind the stranger either but that was fine.
For now he would feel this newcommer out. Yes he knew the look in the other stallion's eye but that didn't necessarily mean anything. Just as Centurion planned to behave amicably at present, the stranger might too be playing the game. He would have to see how this played out before he made up his mind on how he would react. Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak. "I am called Centurion." Perhaps he shouldn't have given his name so easily but he reminded himself that those days were over.
No longer did he hide in the shadows waiting for the chance to strike. Remaining a nameless shadow, working only for himself and whoever desired his services that had the means to compensate him well for his efforts. No, now he was a herd lead himself. Proclaiming his name so that all knew him and feared him. Respected him and what he had deemed his property.
Snorting, he gazed coolly at the stranger. "I would ask you for your own name but I don't really care. Are you friend or foe?"
[attr="class","calamity-post-note"] sequoia notes;; here comes trouble and make it double LOOL
Oh? Friend or foe? The stranger hadn't bothered to learn Emrys' title, but he had offered his own. Centurion. The buckskin stallion drew nearer, kept his head high. He recognized the glint in the stranger male's eyes; acknowledged it with a low nicker. He chose to ignore the cold seeping into the other's gaze, chose to ignore the rejection of his own introduction. Chose to stay unbothered, unoffended. But the question lingered. "Friend, if you do so desire. Foe, if you wish. But you don't seem to care, do you?" An ill-disguised jab at the offending stallion's earlier comment. Who wouldn't want to know his name? But the seal-coated horse didn't deserve to speak it. If Centurion wanted to be ice, he would retort with fire, a smirk simmering in his voice.
While he waited for this dark creature's response, the jade-eyed male took note of his surroundings; the two stallions stood in a narrow crevice, caged in by high walls and shadows, the starry sky above like a rift in his vision. His tail flicked as he stalked forwards with lithe grace, like a jungle cat waiting for his prey. But he was no creeping thing, no, he faced the stranger head-on. He was just waiting for Centurion to make his next move. The dance was just beginning, and he was rehearsing the steps.
Nostrils flared as he scented the air, taking a deep breath. Preparing for what could happen, staying aware of the situation. The other's scent was vaguely familiar, tugging on something in his memory. Emrys thought back to his domain, and something came free. It seemed he shared borders with this Centurion. Interesting. He foresaw future scuffles. Whatever would happen tonight would only be the first of many. Unless the dark horse afforded him a little more respect, but Emrys laughed at the thought. Unlikely. Not that it mattered. He was prepared, alert, now itching to make a move.
Patience, he reminded himself. Though he expected some sort of fight, he must not be impatient or act too quickly and provoke the other. It was better for both of them to leave unscathed, but should it come to a showdown, he'd much prefer to be the victor.
[attr="class","calamity-post-body"] Something about the way the other stallion seemed entirely flipant about his own insult excited the dark hued stallion. Centurion felt his blood surge, a chill spreading across his skin at the thrill of it. He knew the game well, having played it many times before. A dance of thinly veiled insults and malice wrapped in a polite façade. Was he truly being offered the choice? The power to decide the outcome of this interaction? Hell no. He was certain that the buckskin stallion was as aware as he was. They were enemies from the minute they crossed paths.
"Undecided then? No matter. You'll have time yet to make up your mind."
A sudden change in the wind that blew through the crevice gave him a heightened taste of the vaguely familiar scent radiating off of the stallion he had noticed when the other male had first approached. In a moment of clarity he recalled why it seemed familiar. He had passed through The Valley, or along its edges, on his way here. This stallion must reside there. Strange though as he couldn't remember seeing any bands of horses in the neighbouring territory since he had claimed The Overlook.
If they were now neighbours though he foresaw many scuffles. This stallion was not one he wanted as an ally. Not to mention the stallion's mere presence there would upset all his plans of expanding his own domain. Snorting, Centurion stepped fowrard ever so slightly. The cramped tight spacing at the bottom of the crevice made a fight impossible. There was barely room to even turn around let alone engage in an all out fight. He would need to speak carefully so as not to provoke this stranger.
"What brings you here at this time of night? Seeking allies or are your purposes more nefarious?"
[attr="class","calamity-post-note"] sequoia notes;; I'm SO sorry this took so long but yeesss
