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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The fear that had overtaken her receded down her back, her pounding heart soothing into a slow, steadier rhythm. Jetta felt herself deflate a bit, intruders, he called them. And they were. It was not her right to stand her ground like this, for she did not own this land. She pinned her ears back and turned her head. Shame warmed her cheeks. She glanced briefly toward her daughter, then back at the stallion.
“Apologies,” she said curtly. She considered bowing to this horse who called himself a king, but he was not her king, not yet. If he would let them stay, though… Still she kept herself between the man and her daughter. She knew well what even broke stallions were capable of, had seen firsthand the violence on the farm.
“My name is Jetta, and this is my daughter, Chrysanthemum. We’ve come a long way from the the North. Forgive my aggression, it has been a long journey.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Chrysanthemum said. Her body was much more relaxed, though she’d startled at her mother’s sudden turn. She smiled at Snake Eyes, recognizing that he was trying to calm the older mare. “You are a king? Are there many other horses here?”
Jetta eyed Chryssi, but let her speak, and waited for Snake Eyes to respond. If they could gain his protection, perhaps it was worth staying here and submitting to him.
“Really? How far can we go?” The colt’s excitement grew greater with the recommendation from his mother. He bounced from one hoof to another. And then, at his father’s reminder, “yes, dad.”
Aurum followed his father’s gaze, noting the hint of sadness in his deep brown eyes, but what the big stallion had to be sad about, he couldn’t imagine. They were going to the watering hole, and his momma was going to tell them a story!
“I want to hear the story,” he nodded to his mother. His curly tail waggled as he turned to his mother.
He nodded and considered the question for a moment. Cloudskipper could feel Aurum’s hopeful blue eyes staring at him, their desire obvious.
“Hmm, yes, I suppose he’s ready to explore a little further,” he said, taking his time to draw out the colt’s anticipation. His pondering expression turned to amusement once more. “It will be good for him to stretch his legs, too. Stay close, though, little one.”
Cloudskipper nuzzled the curve of Aurum’s neck, the short mass of curls of his mane tickling his nose. He knew the warning would be heeded regardless, as the little foal rarely strayed more than a few sidelengths from either of his parents. This fact was bittersweet to Cloudskipper, who loved having his son by his side, but was also saddened knowing he could not remember his own time as a foal. Did I cling to my mother once?
He let the sad thoughts pass as he turned to look toward the watering hole, and the sun glittering across its surface in scattered white dapples.
Cloudskipper nodded with a warm grin toward Izadora. “Hello, love,” he replied, his voice rumbling in his chest.
He shook his head and shifted his mane out of his face, allowing him to see better. The stallion straightened his neck as the colt left his side to go toward his mate.
“It would be good for us to go get some water,” Cloudskipper added in agreement with his son, “Today’s dew has only made me thirstier. If you’re willing, Izzy, we could head to the watering hole once more.” His tongue flicked out from between his lips, making a dry sound as he drew it back in.
Aurum’s question brought him pause, his ears flicking around as he considered his answer. He had heard many stories of what had made the stars above. The ocean spray, an infinite snow, the spirits of those ancient ancestral horses that no longer roamed these lands. Fish were a new theory.
“I’m not sure, bud. That is certainly an interesting theory,” he settled on the sentence after great deliberation. His amusement was evident but good-natured as he spoke.
Aurum lumi 223 words ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ His mother’s touch made him giggle as she gently pulled the grass from his fur. He took a few steps toward her, leaning into her body with a nuzzle. Aurum’s tail wagged as he cuddled up against her.
“Yes momma,” he replied sweetly. “I had a dream about the fish we saw the other day— the silver ones! They were swimming in the sky and it looked just like the stars!” He had a bright wonder in his voice and a twinkle in his eye. He looked up at his mother smiling. “I slept plenty. Can we go to the water again? I want to see the fish again.”
He was referencing the small silvery minnows darting in the shallows of the watering hole. Their last visit he had spent much of his time splashing through the muddy bank trying to chase the fish. The colt wanted to try again today, sure he would get them this time. He pranced his little hooves and turned to look at his father.
“Do you think the stars are really fish? And they move slow across the sky because they’re really far away?” The thought had been tumbling around in his head after visiting the lake for the first time, but he only now voiced it as he remembered the little slivers darting through the water.
Aurum tagged 232 words ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ With the sun shining on his back, Aurum had been content to nap while his parents grazed beside him. He knew they would not go far without him. Even now he could hear the grinding of their teeth and the soft wet tearing of grass under their mouths. It soothed him somewhat as he lay there.
Since he had been born the grassland had been his home. For the singular month of his life, he spent every minute clinging to the side of his mother, suckling when he was hungry and following silently when he was not. Now he felt secure lying down in the knot of grass that cushioned his body, confident he could always go back to her if he needed to. His breath silently fluttered the blades of green around his face.
When something touched the top of his head, he blinked and yawned. His lengthening mane spilled over his neck as he looked up to see what had woke him. His father stood over him, the shorter but sturdy half of the pair that was the boy’s parents. The colt smiled, his nose twitching as he stood up. He could see his mother close by, and his tail wiggled as he took a few awkward steps before finding his footing.
“Hi dad,” he said happily. Then, turning to the shimmering form of his mother, he said, “Hi momma!”
CHARA: Cloudskipper TAGS:lumiNOTES: Notes WORDCOUNT: 210 words
The sun was shining on a clear but slightly cool spring day. The morning had rolled by with a thick cloud of fog, and now dew was evaporating from the grass underhoof. Cloudskipper had spent much of the morning chewing on fresh grass shoots, pausing only to rest his shoulder. In the distance, he could see the blue lake, the Watering Hole, that broke the green expanse with its deep blue-gray surface.
Next to him, nestled in the grass, was his son. The colt lay there with his long, knobby legs folded under him, head curled to rest on his rear. His gold face was shining in the noonday sun. Warmth bloomed in his chest at the sight. It was the same warmth he felt when he looked upon Izadora, his mate. Indeed, the little boy looked a good deal like his mother, and that made Cloudskipper smile. He loved how much Aurum reminded him of Izzy.
Cloudskipper shifted over two steps, just enough he could reach over and nose the little foal. The small round head perked up, white curls bouncing. Aurum was smiling up at him with wide blue eyes. The stallion huffed an affection breath as the colt stumbled to his feet. "Hello, little one," he cooed.
It was not Jetta that first noticed the other horse, but Chrysanthemum. She heard first the burbling stream nearby, and then hooves to their left, which sped up slightly before she heard his voice. Chrysanthemum turned and looked to see the new presence. His blue eyes were so striking against the black of his face that she hardly noticed he was only a bit taller than herself, though slighter in frame and more mature.
“Hello,” she replied, her head tilting as she took him in. He was handsome. The broken stripe up his nose cut a line down his face, and twin cerulean pools caught her in their depths.
Only then did Jetta raise her head from her hard stare at the dirt. She looked first to Chryssi, then followed her gaze to where the stallion stood. In an instant she was moving forward, hooves stamping and nostrils flaring as she put herself between them. The instinct to protect took over.
“Who are you,” she demanded. Her head was raised high to stare down at this new horse. He smelled wild, like the ancient rock and towering pines. He must live here, she thought. Though that racing thought did not lessen her glare, she would at the very least hear out this wild denizen of the mountains.
Jetta nosed her daughter from behind as she urged the young mare up the path. The mountain here was sandy, unstable rocks she did not want to stay on for long. Chrysanthemum twitched at her touch but kept moving. Her strides had grown long and confident as she reached adulthood, no longer on the bumbling hooves of a filly. How far she had come since their escape…
The older mare only relaxed once they were on more solid ground. Rock underhoof was more secure than dirt, and already Jetta could see some greenery dotting the ground ahead. Pines swayed on the mountainside around them, the wind whistling between needled branches.
“I heard a horse earlier, mom. Do you think they could give us directions? Or maybe it’s a herd,” Chryssie said brightly. Her ears and head were held high, dense black tail swishing at her feet.
“You heard someone? Chrysanthemum, you ought to tell me these things,” Jetta began to scold.
“But it was so far away, so who knows?” The young filly dipped her head trying to appease her mother. “There’s probably loads of wild horses out here. Hearing one doesn’t mean anything.”
Jetta sighed. Her daughter was getting more pushy by the day, the attitude of a young adult forming on her tongue. She had half a mind to nip the young filly, but she did not want to push her even further away. She tried not to think on how far apart they had drifted these last few months in the mountain. Instead, Jetta looked south, where the sun was still clinging to the western horizon. Her fear had made her snappy, quick to boil over, and she regretted it.
She nuzzled her daughter’s flank, and felt Chrysanthemum sigh a heavy breath.
“Come on, mom, I think I hear a stream up ahead.”
Jetta nodded and followed silently. Her ears were alert, listening to their surroundings as she walked.
Ooh I think Snake would be great since they're already in the mountains. If you want to make a thread for them to join go ahead, or I can start one when I get home from work tonight.
Jetta has freshly arrived in these lands alongside her adopted daughter, Chrysanthemum. She's wary of the wild horses who live out here, and even more wary of humans. Despite this, she is determined to find a new life here. She'll do nothing without Chryssi by her side at all times.
Platonic
Jetta is open to friendships, especially with other mares. Most importantly she is looking for someone to help show her the ways of living as a wild horse. Anyone offering security and protection is a friend to her. She's looking for a herd overall, somewhere she and her daughter can feel safe.
Antagonistic
Jetta is not mean or actively seeking enemies, but she can be stubborn and sometimes short-tempered dealing with adults.
Romantic
Jetta has had little love in her life, bred only once to a stranger stallion at the whim of her previous owners. She'll be harder to open up around a stallion, and especially being in a new place, she's not likely to trust strangers immediately. That's not to say it won't happen. If she finds the right guy, she may be willing to fall in love.
Looking For
Someone to point them in the direction of a herd or invite them to a herd
Other lone mares willing to travel with Jetta and her daughter, or offer advice
Distinguishing Markings Tobiano markings; white along the neckline, front legs are completely white. Splotches of white across back. Hind stockings. Dark brindling throughout gold champagne coloring.
Negative Traits: Withdrawn, Clingy, Slow to Warm, Inexperienced
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Quirks/Fun Facts: He is a newborn
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Aurum is still adjusting to the world around him. He clings to his parents' sides and is slow to warm up to strangers. When given a task or being talked to, Aurum's attention is undivided. He listens carefully when his elders speak. He's not excitable or overly eager like many foals. His reserved nature makes him rather quiet in fact, so it may be hard to notice him when he's trying to get your attention. He speaks slowly, with an even voice. He is slightly withdrawn from the world, but he can still appreciate its beauty.
As he grows, he will come out of his shell and learn to speak up, but for now he will stay beside his parents and let them do the talking. He isn't quite ready for exploration yet.
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History
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Aurum is a newborn colt, and as such his life is only just beginning. He was born to Izadora and Cloudskipper.
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OOC
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Is This Your First Character? No (Cloudskipper, Jetta, Chrysanthemum)
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Notes He was freshly born three days ago, was originally born on Our Homeland (no birth thread as site was shut down shortly before Lumi could make it).
Quirks/Fun Facts: Chrysanthemum retains much of her youth despite maturing, and she is full of boundless energy and eagerness.
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Chrysanthemum is a sweet mare, still young and vibrant. She looks at the world with stars in her eyes, and does not yet see bad hidden within others. She is very happy, bold, and always looking to learn more. Despite her soaking up knowledge like a sponge, she is still naive. She fails to take risks into consideration, making her reckless, and she can be overwhelming with her questions in her quest to learn more. She must be told when to back off, as she can fail to read body language. Still, she learns from her mistakes, and does not see failure as an option. She can be very loving, even to those she does not know very well.
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History
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Chrysanthemum was born on a human farm to a haflinger, sired by the neighbor's morgan. She followed her mother everywhere, but it soon became clear that the mare had no interest in looking after her daughter. She would rather find ways to escape and get into the nearby fields to graze. Instead, another mare pastured with them, Jetta, took over caring for the filly. Jetta loved her more than her own mother. This was cemented during a fight between the older women, which ended in an explosive fight in which Lady denounced Chrysanthemum, and told Jetta to keep her.
Jetta would care for her from then on, until she reached eight months old and the mare grew suddenly restless. No matter how much Chryssi asked, she would not speak about what troubled her, until one night during a storm, she came to her adopted daughter. Jetta asked her to run away, to escape through the downed fence and leave the farm behind.
Chrysanthemum followed Jetta out of the pasture and the pair ran as fast as they could into the night. Their flight from the farm led them to the Misty Mountains, where Jetta thought they might seek solace. They have been wandering the mountains and the forests at their southern base, still in search of a home.
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OOC
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Is This Your First Character? No (Jetta, Cloudskipper, more to come)
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Notes Technically a migration but she's been fixed up a bit
Quirks/Fun Facts: She came from a human farm, and escaped with her adopted daughter, Chrysanthemum
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Jetta is a mare who is firm in her ways and confident. She is not mean, but she rarely budges on matters she believes strongly in. She carries herself with a high head and steady feet. She forms opinions on other horses quickly, sometimes incorrectly, as she believes others are almost always what they show themselves to be. She will rarely change her initial view of someone unless shown obvious proof.
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Though she is not so loving as she once was with her son, Jetta’s motherly instincts remain. She is rarely outright mean or one to wish harm on others. She prefers to choose kindness in most interactions, but won’t tolerate disrespect to herself or horses she is close to. Jetta is honest. She can be gentle about her honesty, often toward younger horses. Adults get less sugar-coating, and those that do— beware for the sugar is quick to wash away if her patience thins.
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She is not yet wise from experience but she is clever. Her time on the farm was spent with several fussy, bickering horses whom she had to avoid cat fights with. Jetta is quick to see a bad deal for what it is, and can be skeptical of others she doesn’t know well. She rarely trusts deeply, and has few close friends.
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History
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Jetta was born and raised outside of the homelands on a family horse farm. She was loved and cared for there, and ridden frequently by a small human. She was born with swayback but the family did not pay much attention to the dip in her back. Similarly, the little human didn’t recognize when she was in pain from the saddle. She suffered silently under the pressure on her back for as long as she could, but sometimes refused to ride if it pained her too greatly.
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She was bred to an unknown stud once she was old enough, and gave birth to a beautiful colt. Jetta loved her son deeply, despite her initial hesitation at becoming a mother. She cared for him as well as she was able. She did not know the family planned to separate them and sell Jetta’s son once he was a year old.
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When her son was taken from her, she screamed bloody murder from the barn, calling to him in her every waking moment for weeks. The other horses grew tired of her grief and left her alone. When the humans tried to ride her, she refused to move. Her back ached from the saddle and her heart ached from her loss. The little human argued with her family, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.
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Eventually they gave up riding her and separated Jetta into a pasture across the street, which she shared with a pregnant pony for the next few years. While she and her new barnmate didn’t exactly get along, she found some comradery with the pony, despite the smaller horse’s repeated escape attempts and food theft.
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The pony gave birth and Jetta found herself once again deeply attached to the foal— a filly this time. When the pony would escape the fence to graze on the other side, she took up watching Blossom until humans eventually returned her mother to the pasture. It started to infuriate Jetta that this pony would be so careless leaving her child behind, and eventually they fought over it. Jetta spurned the mother and claimed the filly as her adopted daughter. The pony let her go freely and continued to ignore the pair.
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As Blossom’s first year came to an end, Jetta began to get paranoid that the humans would take her just like they’d taken her son. During a strong storm, they broke free of the fence and ran. From there, they found their way to the Misty Mountains, Jetta still wearing her halter from the farm
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OOC
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Is This Your First Character? No (Cloudskipper, more to come)
Distinguishing Markings White covers his entire snout going up his forehead between his eyes. He has four white socks, with his front left knee black like his mane and tail.
Negative Traits: Indecisive, submissive, distractible, single track mind
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Quirks/Fun Facts: Cloudskipper loves to wander, and his wanderlust has lead him across the continent. He has a love for beautiful sunsets and pays close attention to the environment and its changes.
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Cloudskipper is an agreeable and laid-back stallion. He is quite open about his feelings but knows when it is best not to say anything. He speaks slowly, with a slight drawl in his honeyed voice. He’s been known to woo mares, but has not sired a foal in his ten years of life. While a sweet talker, Cloudskipper is also introverted and starts to slip up when his words take him further than expected.
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While certainly no dullard, Cloudskipper can be described as having his head in the clouds. He is often lost in his thoughts looking at his surroundings. He is imaginative, and loves to watch the birds and the changing of the sky. He would talk at length about the colors of the sunset if allowed.
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Cloudskipper has no true direction in life. He goes where the wind beckons him, drifting with the seasons. For him, change is inevitable, so he sees no reason to prevent change in himself. He is happy to learn and expand his view. He is no pushover, though, and has a good sense of justice. He’ll not stand idly by while others are hurt.
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History
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Cloudskipper was born a prince to a weak and angry king. The king made many enemies during his reign, overstepping the boundaries of his kingdom. Cloudskipper and his many siblings tried to correct their father’s mistakes but their diplomacy had no effect. Already some conspired to end his rule and bloodline, recruiting local lords that had been scorned by the king.
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On the night of the accident, he was led away from the herd by his mother, who claimed she wanted to speak to him. She took him to the cliffs along the Overlook’s waterfall. On a cliff ledge overlooking the river, she told him of the plan. The conspirators wanted her to kill him, but she had no intention of doing so. She planned for him to follow the river and cross to the islands and live there, safe from harm. She would return and ensure the end of the king, and then join him.
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As she explained this, one of the other traitors appeared, having followed them to the cliffs. He threatened Skipper’s mother with telling the others and letting them decide her fate. Then he turned to the prince and attacked him. Cloudskipper tried to scramble backwards, only step back off the side of the cliff and plummeting into the river.
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He floated unconscious down the river and eventually washed up further down its shore. The fall left him with a shoulder injury, which a kind traveler helped him set and heal. He slowly regained the ability to walk on his own and made his way north up away from the river. Despite remembering nothing, he never had an inclination to chase his past. He prefers to wander after spending so long healing on the beach, and no longer wants to stay in one place.
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After years of wandering, Cloudskipper met a mare, Izadora, who he became fast friends with. The pair had both been alone for a long stretch of their lives, and chose to travel together after weathering the winter. As they traveled Cloudskipper fell in love the the mare. After a year together, he expressed his love for her. She returned his affection, and the pair decided to expand their family.