Culture and Peoples
Because of their scientific observational nature, shadowians tend to have a "long view" not common with other nations and their people. When they encounter a new faction or government, shadowians are more comfortable with an extended period of passive observation and study than immediate action. And are unfazed that some of their investments or decisions may not pay off for decades. A shadowian can seem to make incomprehensible decisions now, but their insight and access to vast amounts of knowledge is evident when their carefully-laid plans come to fruition. In international relations, this long view manifests in an unspoken policy of centrism. With shadowians tending to instinctively seek to maintain stable balances of economic, political, and military power.
Humans, Homo sapiens
Humans (Latin: Homo sapiens, meaning "Wise Man") are a genus of sentient peoples native to the shadow corporation that have evolved similarly to most human civilization. Throughout their existence, humans have developed their civilization by engaging in food production on a larger scale, developing language, developing religion and political philosophies and exhibiting telescoping technological and infrastructural development. They've been studying the stars long before they were able to travel out of their atmosphere, though their space travel has yet to reach a level of development on par with space faring (FT) nations, with the only place their ships are capable of reaching being the moon.
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Physical Description: Humans usually stand 5-6 feet tall, though this varies depending on nutrition, genetics and other factors. Humans have a fairly robust physiology. Their internal makeup and reproductive processes are typical of most mammals, with their size and proportions giving them appearance of being strong, fast and agile. Humans are mammals, and closely related to other dominant apes of the world, meaning that they are warm-blooded and give birth to live offspring, and nourish their offspring with milk. They have five fingers, one being an opposable thumb with members of the species not only being four-limbed but bipedal as well.
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Society: The development of human civilization as recognized today in the shadow corporation started from the ability to harness the growth cycle of plants, producing edible food-energy in a systemic fashion. The stability that came from systemic agriculture allowed for more permanent settlements and the development of ever-more-complex tools to further benefit the members of the species. Innovated toolmaking and the domestication of other local species gave the populations greater and greater power to expand their populations, and trade ensured the diffusion of new technologies to adjacent groups. These exploding populations led to the formation of the first genuine shadowian civilization over 9,000 years ago. The infrastructure of civilizations continued to expand and grow in complexity as innovative technologies and larger populations allowed for increasing food-energy availability. Economic, political, scientific and religious advancement continued to quicken as this species was able to automate many tasks in the Industrial Revolution. This automation gave birth to the Digital Revolution, in which computing machines allowed scientific discovery and technological development to accelerate with explosive speed. Larger urban centers and tools for civilian and military uses were able to develop, as were more modern economic and political systems. As these systems developed further, the species was able to enjoy longer, more pro-creative, and more comfortable lives, and are now virtually impervious to the other creatures from whose midst they sprang.
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Relations: Shadowian Humans are generally seen to be very intelligent, abnormally ambitious, highly adaptable, individualistic and thus, unpredictable. They have a powerful desire to advance and improve themselves, and do so with such assertion that other normally staid peoples have been taken aback by their restlessness and relentless curiosity. Unlike many groups in the international community, shadowians have no noticeably close allies among other international entities, though they are trade partners with a number of different nations. Without proper alliances or key political positions, shadowians have had to follow the edicts and go with the flow of the international community without having much influence on it.
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Religion:
Earth Ponies, Equus spiens
Earth Ponies (Latin: Equus sapiens, meaning “Sapient Equines”) are a genus of sentient equine native to the lands of Equestria that have more recently been incorporated into the Shadow Corporation via territorial incorporation (pending full statehood). Honest and fun loving in nature, the most common type of pony in all of the shadow corporation are the earth ponies. Blessed with a natural affinity toward plants and animals, earth ponies make up for their lack of wings and magic horns, with extreme versatility. From world class bakers to the most daring explorers of the Himmaneighan Mountains, earth ponies excel at whatever they put their hearts to (no matter what that might be).
Earth Ponies are tough and dependable, quick to help, fun to be around, and smart as can be. Unable to fly or use magic, earth ponies thrived in equestria long before their arrival in the shadow corporation thanks to their ability to specialize in almost any field (and continue to do so today because of it). With a natural predilection towards being kind and helpful, earth ponies often put the needs of others before their own. Never one to leave a friend (or ally) in need, earth ponies are companions that can help out in a bind but know when to cut loose and through a group.
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Physical Description: Four legged and quadrupedal in nature, earth pony anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators, with millions of years of evolution as well having granted them a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct. As varied as these ponies themselves, the physical characteristics of an earth pony are as varied and unique as they are. From the orange coated farm workers to the bearded athletes, earth ponies display the widest variation in coat colors and facial features. Generally speaking, though, the coat of an earth pony has some connection to their special talent.
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Society: Earth Pony society is (now) the longest held government in all of the shadow corporation. With many of the towns and cities throughout it’s newly incorporated territory were settled by earth ponies, and their style of democracy with a mayor in charge of the region is the most common. In modern day shadowian society, earth ponies generally fill roles in the industrial and agricultural fields.
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Relations: Earth Ponies are the most accepting of all the ponies in the shadow corporation and are on good terms with most all other races. As such, it is not uncommon to find a few Pegasi or Unicorns living in an Earth Pony settlement. For most earth ponies, unicorns are thought of as earth ponies with a penchant for magic, and pegasi are simply earth ponies with wings. Earth Ponies do have a very tumultuous relationship with the unknown, though, regarding foreign or unusual creatures with fear and suspicion. Generally like by all, Earth Ponies have no real enemies beyond those who directly threaten them.
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Religion: Earth Ponies, like the rest of the pony races, tend to be good in nature. With earth ponies tending to respect tradition and keep order, always trying to make sure promises are kept and laws obeyed, while many others are not afraid to pull a few pranks for the greater good. Good-aligned earth ponies tend to follow the Church of Celestia, while those of less then pure alignment devote themselves to the (now Occult) Church of Nightmare Moon.
A prime example of the usual Earth Pony Species.
Pegasus-type Sapient Equines, Equus sapiens volaticus
(Under Construction)