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Alternate canon (may contain spoilers)
The City-state of Cynisca
⚡
Etymology | History | Geography | Demographics | Government
Cynisca
Κυνίσκα
Flag
Motto: N/A (none)
Map/Location
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Classification:
- Island City-State
Official language:
- Doric Greek
Demonym:
- Cyniscan
Government:
- Merit-influenced hand-picked succession
(Head of Government - Commander/Cabinet)
- Militaristic meritocracy
(powers below Head of Government)
Government Head:
- Commander: N/A
(Commander heir apparent: Fire Rainbow)
- Commander's Cabinet
Resources:
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The City-state of Cynisca is an island city-state inhabited by the pegasus-pony race. It is among the smallest of the independent territories, and among the most isolated.
EtymologyThe literal translation of Cynisca is "female puppy," being the feminine form of the Greek word
cyniscos. Historically, the name goes back before reliable records, but oral tradition claims it comes from the founder of the city. Mythologically, the founder and namesake was said to be
a human equestrian who took the island to breed and train her horses, leading to the pegasi inhabitants, who formed an independent civilization after her death.
HistoryFounding
Princess Cynisca of the Greeks
The founding of Cynisca and the origin of the pegasus-pony race is one more wrapped in mythology than historical fact. Like many ancient sources, there is possibility that those myths ultimately contain basis in truth but became twisted and more exaggerated as time went on.
According to myths in their most recent form, the City-state of Cynisca was founded by it's namesake, a human princess of Hellenic origin and renowned horse breeder and trainer. After a long, favorable history and reputation with equestrianism in her homeland, she traveled to the island alone to further pursue her talent, bringing her favorite horses along with her to breed and care for. So talented was Cynisca, as well as blessed by divine forces, that her pet horses' distant descendants eventually became the intelligent pegasus-ponies that inherited the island once the princess died after a very long lifespan, forming their own civilization in her name but now separate from the guidance of human will (
"We are small because we carry only ourselves; We fly because we are blessed, and free." -Cyniscan proverb). Record of a real, living Princess Cynisca outside of legend are scant, both in pegasus society and other cultures, and may in all likelihood be a personified metaphor for whatever original connection the pegasi had with the Hellenic culture they closely resemble.
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GeographyFuckin' mountains WIP
DemographicsPopulationThe adult Cyniscan population is split into three categories: Soldiers, Domestics, and Retirees.
⚡ Soldiers includes the near-entirety of the grown, able-bodied male population, and around half (give or take) of the grown, able-bodied female population. Military training and education begin at age seven, in a regimen known as the agoge (ἀγωγά, in Cyniscan Greek). Shortly after a filly is born, her family decides whether or not she will participate, whereas colts are required to be enrolled. Each year, chosen foals who have reached seven years of age are be taken from their homes and brought to live in barracks in a segmented part of the city reserved for the upbringing of soldiers. They continue to live there until they married and decided to start a household of their own, which for them, is not allowed the age of thirty. While young pegasi are required to spend their nights at the barracks, they are still allowed to visit their families' homes as often as they like outside of training, and certain holidays allow short periods in which youths may spend several nights in their childhood households.
Once older and more experienced, Soldiers can also take on various other duties outside of military service in the city, but will always primarily be subject to military.
Active Soldiers will normally comprise about 68% of the adult population, give or take depending on the number of females sent into the agoge.
⚡ Domestics are a purely female class, made up of the mares who were not chosen by their families to be Soldiers. They remain home with their families, and receive domestic education; cooking, cleaning, clothes-making, child rearing, etc. They are responsible for raising not only their own children, but the children of their Soldier Mare relatives and relatives-in-law who are away on duty, thus it is not uncommon for just as many pegasus foals to be raised primarily by their aunt or grandmother instead of their birth mother. It is very important to note that Domestic Mares are
not of a submissive, inferior, or weaker status as are many other domestic females in other societies. They are taught fitness and combat skills for the purpose of defending themselves and their home, as were Cynisca ever invaded, they would be the final home defense. They also participate in competitive sports, take an active role in the military upbringing of their foals even after the children are taken from their homes to live in the barracks, and participate in trade.
The rest of the family, even fully-grown, fully-initiated soldiers, are expected to defer to a Domestic Mare's authority when at home or away from duty. The home is their environment that they work hard to maintain; ponies who spend so much time away from the home have no right to tell them how to run it. There is a popular old saying,
"Mother is a pony's first superior officer." Usually the oldest Domestic within a household will be the supreme head of the family, and any other Domestic Mares in the house aged 15 years or older will hold secondary command. It is the goal of every Domestic Mare to make sure the soldiers of her family succeed, and every soldier's personal pride and honor is deeply tied to the approval the main Domestic Mare in their life (usually a mother, aunt, wife, or sister). Losing the respect, approval, or love of her is considered a shame equal to treachery or cowardice.
Domestics normally make up around 32% of the adult population, give or take depending on the number of females sent into the agoge.
⚡ Retirees are simply soldiers that have reached an elderly age, and have thus been allowed to leave the service and live out the rest of their lives at home.
Retirees comprise about 7% of the adult population.
LanguageThe language spoken in Cynisca is Doric Greek of the Laconian breed. All citizens, male and female, were taught to read and write in their own language from an early age, WIP
Religion/SpiritualityThe Cyniscan religion is an old and deeply ingrained one, but none-the-less unusual. It has no gods, spirits, incorporation of ancestors, or any other personal or overtly anthropomorphic figures, rather pegasi follow what can be best described as a subtype of pantheism known as
Atmotheism, from ἀτμός (meaning "vapor" or "air") and θεός (meaning "God"). Resulting from their nature as flying beings who make their home in conditions of high elevation, atmotheism is the spiritual reverence for the air, weather, and other meteorological phenomena in general. To Cyniscans, the "will" of the divine is intangible, unknowable, and nonnegotiable for mortals, instead making it's judgments and desires known through the observable state of the world around them. E.g., the devastation of a hurricane, the fertility brought about by fair skies, or the strong winds that make flying and sailing easier. Perhaps in spite of the otherwise impersonal nature assigned to atmotheism, certain traits and characteristics could also be associated with certain weatherly and atmospheric conditions—such as wind with strength or sunshine with gentility and kindness—as well as spun into loose, casual fables in order to install such prescribed values in foals.
Worship is a very culturally-owned practice with no institution or clergy. Official government representation of religion mostly manifests in the form of welfare and public goods, such as the state sanction and protection of sanctuaries and other consecrated buildings or areas, as well as the charity works associated with such places. Not only do they receive legal protection, but are held in the belief that violation of these places brings a great, unshakable shame to the violator(s), as well as guides eternal suffering to them in this life and beyond. The most prominent of the consecrated areas are the five temples, which each provide charity services to Cyniscans. Each temple is considered a sanctuary, in which anypony can claim protection, asylum, and refuge, but also have specific purposes:
⚡ The Temple of Butterflies, which primarily (but not exclusively) provides shelter and living for (usually) underage Domestic Mares and foals outside of the agoge they may bring with them who, for whatever reason, can no longer live with family.
⚡ The Temple of Lightning, which primarily provides shelter and relief for veterans and retirees who have fallen on hard times.
⚡ The Temple of Clouds, which functions as a short-term orphanage, open to anonymously turn in foals that families are unable or unwilling to take care of. Upon turning seven, all orphans regardless of sex are sent into the agoge, where they'll find new a home in the barracks.
⚡ The Temple of Wind, which provides general space and tools for religious reflection.
⚡ The Temple of Rain, which primarily provides healing services.
Other than this though, expression of belief and spiritual reverence is a practice unique to the individual; the "airy" nature of the divine inevitably brings "airy" worship. Families and communities will often have personal traditions and practices passed down to future generations that can be slowly built upon and combined with other or new ideas as the years go by. Like the air and weather, appreciation of the divine is simultaneously ever changing and ever the same.
Species
Human to pony ratio, from foal, to average, to
tall (note; non-pegasi examples, physique still
representative)
Wing-to-body demonstration
The average adult pony size is 12 hands (4 feet), weighing between 500 and 700 lbs. When flared, individual wings' tips typically reach to ear tips, and overall wingspan is also around 4 feet, give or take, though exact measurements can vary from pony to pony. They can carry around 100 to 150 lbs. on back, and a single pony can pull around 1/3 to 1/2 their own weight behind them. Their skeletons contain more joints than found in non-sapient equines, allowing them a much wider range of flexibility and agility, as well as advanced tool use. Lifespan and maturity rate is also similar to that of humans, which separates them from most equines, though the rate of gestation largely remains the same as other horses (11 months).
Coats, manes, tails, eyes, and sometimes hooves, can naturally come in a wide and seemingly limitless spectrum of colors and hues. Patterns and multi-colors are not uncommon.
Intelligence is equal and comparable to human intelligence, however, this seems to be at the biological trade of many of the more finite instincts non-sapient equines would possess, such as advanced environmental scanning and a large chunk of their primal, non-verbal communication habits. Despite this, some habits and abilities do remain, such as the swiveling of ears in expression, use of leg/hooves in expression (ex: pawing at the ground in anxiety), the lulling or erection of head/neck in accordance with attentiveness. Like humans, sapient ponies primarily communicate verbally and have a wide variety of vocal pitches, though body language can also be a factor in conveyance.
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GovernmentThe political hierarchy primarily functions as a balance between militaristic meritocracy and totalitarianism.
⚡ The Commander is the highest position in government and ruler of all pegasi in and outside of Cynisca, and the presumed most merited soldier in society. He or she rules with near supreme authority, and can decide on or overturn any other authority decision in the city. They are also in charge of appointing and dismissing members of their Cabinet (Lieutenants), and to some extent, judging merit and appointment of other lesser leader positions in the city as well (though this is more often left to smaller communities).
Succession is decided by the personal choice of the reigning Commander. Traditionally, before death or abdication, the reigning Commander will pick somepony from among his/her Cabinet (expectantly the most capable) to be the new Commander upon their death or official relinquishment of the position, though technically they are allowed to pick any soldier from the rank of Private and up to be their successor. The successor will be known as the "Commander heir apparent" until official inauguration, upon which they will be given new armor that demonstrates the position and take up a
regnal name.
⚡ The Commander's Cabinet are the second highest ranking officials in Cynisca. Containing up to eleven members, they are hand-picked and dismissed by the Commander based on merit and serve as his or her Lieutenants, advisers, and officials in important matters in the city-sate (such as education, justice, public peace, etc.). Cabinet members, by default, carry on to the succession of a new Commander, until that Commander so chooses to dismiss and replace them.
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