In-Depth Information;

Appearance All pegasi are equine in basic shape, with large, flightworthy wings. Usually, these wings are feathered in appearance, and may be found in various shapes befitting their particular variant. Information on the regional variants may be found below.

Desert: Found primarily in Ristell's desertlands - almost specifically in Arcadia - and possessed of delicate builds and large, tapered wings. They typically have dished faces, large and expressive eyes, and flaring nostrils for better air intake. Most carry their heads and tails high, and have arched necks, with beautiful plumage - some of which may be found in their manes and tails, or between their wings down their backs. They can come in any color natural or unnatural, though their wings and other feathers are commonly bright and flashy in color.

Forest: Forest pegasi are medium- to large-sized with a long manes and tails and large soaring wings. Those that are of forest bloodlines may have fans of tail feathers, and long trailing feathers decorated in bright accent colors. They usually range lighter in hue, with darker eyes; dilution genes (such as palomino, cremello, perlino, etc), and the greying gene, is very common, as is true white. Their wings and feathers are commonly neutral and natural in color with brighter markings.

Grassland: Leggy and built for speed, grassland pegasi are tall, narrow creatures with sharp wings and long tail fans. These plains-dwelling pegasi also have the propensity to be commonly born with multiple sets of wings, though these are not always functional. They may come in any color, though natural hues are found most often - as are wings and feathers with darker markings than their base.

Jungle: Pegasi of light build and elliptical wings, extravagant feathers, and beautiful features. These equines enjoy most of all decorating themselves both with things they have crafted and other trinkets bought from other species, and may commonly be found sporting everything from flower necklaces to strings of beads and gemstones that cover their entire bodies. Their wings are short and are not built for long flight, but they are incredibly agile, especially in their rainforest home. This variant has the brightest of colors and markings, vibrant beyond all others.

Mountain: The pegasi of the mountains are are large, drafty equines with sharp horns, feathered* hooves, and broad soaring wings. They are the tallest and strongest of the pegasi variants, and commonly dwell around the tree-line of their mountainous homes. Mountain pegasi can be found in any color, natural or unnatural, and have any possible marking; however, they have also been found to adapt thick, heavy winter coats at extremely high elevations.
^{* not actual feathers, but long fur around the hoof!}

Sky: Thin and wiry, sky pegasi are those possessed of the largest wings, which commonly have an active soaring wing shape, similar to large birds of prey. They may glide and soar for hours at a time, and can be seen commonly floating on the air currents in the high terrain of their homes. Most sky pegasi can be found in unnatural colors, with the most common being blues, silvers, and whites. They share some territory with mountain pegasi, and thus hybrids between the two are common.

Culture Pegasi are traditionally very social animals; most live in herds of various sizes, and do not shy from visiting herds from other regional variants. They are often quite nomadic, and will travel within their usual regions all throughout the year. These herds enjoy each other's company, and will tell one another of the things they have seen in other parts of the world. Hybrids between variants are relatively common, and will stay with whatever variant they most resemble when of age.

In addition to trading news, stories, items, and other things in these visits, herds of different variants may hold friendly contests with one another. Each of these events varies by what herd hosts it, and by what region it is held in.

Cultural details for each herd can be found below.

Desert: Desert pegasi live in small herds amid the desert sands; they are hardy and adventurous, noble and proud. These herds are led by a powerful mare and stallion jointly, who uphold laws of honor over their kin. Challenges and contests of overland speed are common, and many of these are shared on the sands of their desert homeland. Other variants often look down upon desert pegasi for their competitions involving running, and not flying - but desert herds tend to scoff at this viewpoint, as pegasi of other variants have a difficult time moving across the sands.

Forest: Haughty and aloof, pegasi herds that dwell in the forest are small and incredibly resistant to change. While they enjoy mingling with other herds, interbreeding with other variants is frowned upon, as is much of what could be considered different and new. They often believe that their kind were the first pegasi to grace the Realms, and no amount of arguing can sway any forest herd from this belief. When hosting challenges, these often have to do with things only those that dwell in the forest are good at - such as flying between close-growing trees, gathering various types of fruit, hiding in the thick foliage, etc. They pride themselves on being able to live in such close confines, while still demanding an imposing presence in the skies.

Grassland: Carefree and friendly, grassland pegasi dwell in large herds that roam the plains of multiple Realms. They are one of the most easy-going of the winged tribes, and are outgoing to others no matter the species. These herds often detest violence, and do not condone war even to defend themselves - justice is commonly solved with the exile of the perpetrator and little else. Those contests they do hold involve races low across the rolling hills, with their hooves brushing the grass - any who flies higher is disqualified, gaining the outrage of many another variant who has lost.

Jungle: Jungle pegasi live in medium-sized herds that dwell in the thickest rainforests and jungles of the Realms; some may even adapt to swamps, though this is quite rare. They are proud and often narcissistic, highly protective of their territory, and somewhat less friendly than the other variants when it comes to visitors of other species. Among their own kind's variants, they are more accepting, and often hold competitions of hide and seek among the leafy boughs, finding certain types of fruit, or - a favorite for all visiting herds - eating.

Mountain: Tough and stern, mountain pegasi herds are small to medium in size and dwell in the rocky mountains of multiple Realms. They do not shy from war as their grassland counterparts do, and actually enjoy the violence of battle; most may be found sporting scars or evidence of old injuries, and small fights may break out at any time. All mountain herds are governed by a solitary stallion for each, and contests with other herds often involve fighting this stallion in single combat where first blood shed is deemed the victor.

Sky: Perhaps noblest of the variants, but accepting of all creatures great and small, sky herds see themselves as the protectors of their kind. They share traditional territory with mountain herds, often returning to homes on the highest peaks, but may travel much farther and further abroad than any other pegasi, including places others will not go. They are unafraid of using violence as a path to justice, and may police other herds - much to the irritation of their kin. Sky pegasi are the only ones known not to hold any contests, as they see their task of justice as too important for such low-level shenanigans.

Abilities Pegasi may have any type of magic, and most - unless born with abnormal wings - are fully capable of flight. Each variant has its own common attributes, and this info may be found below.

Desert: Traditionally, desert pegasi are light and fast; they are most commonly attuned to the elements of fire and air. All are designed to accommodate the heat of the desert sands well, along with some ability to withstand cold nights and extreme temperature changes. They can go a long while without water, and have the ability to eat unconventional plants, such as cacti, yucca, and ocotillo.

Forest: Forest pegasi are strong physically, but also fast and agile. They most often are attuned to the element of earth, though no small number have light affinities as well. Weak to fire and heat, they are otherwise difficult to harm with other elements; however, they do not suffer drought well, and cannot go long periods of time without water or food.

Grassland: Gifted with great speed and high endurance, grassland pegasi can go toe to toe with their desert cousins in races across flat land, though do not have any protections against dry heat or extreme cold. Many have affinities for earth magic, as well as elemental affinities for air and water. They are faster in the sky than many variants, and have the best vision amid their entire species.

Jungle: Agile in their jungle home, but somewhat clumsy in other places. Jungle pegasi are unusual in their ability to navigate in near total darkness; many stay up late into the night, and can see almost as clearly as they can during the day in areas where no moonlight or starlight can reach. Almost all jungle pegasi are gifted with the element of earth, and elements of dark and water are also very common.

Mountain: Strongest physically of the variants, mountain pegasi are also the largest, and have broad, muscular forms and crushing hooves. They are often gifted with the elements of ice and light, though rock-based earth is also common. Mountain pegasi are not able to fly as long as most other variants, due to their sheer weight, but do employ their wings in battle in both offense and defense.

Sky: Swiftest in the air and able to fly for exceptionally long periods of time, sky pegasi are masters of their home. They are often gifted with air, lightning, and ice magic, while light and fire are uncommonly seen. However, on the ground sky pegasi are readily vulnerable; they are weak to physical attacks, and are rather clumsy when not flying amid the clouds.

subspecies

Cerapter
Classification: unicorn-horned pegasi. Location: Abroad.

Created long ago when a herd of unicorns decided to interbreed with a herd of pegasi, resulting in the cerapter: a horned pegasus. Cerapters are blessed with both the single unicorn horn and a pegasus' wings, with higher magical aptitude than either. The same mutations that can affect either specie also apply to cerapters, and the loss of the horn or the loss of wings can both be physically and mentally devastating to any cerapter that suffers such a loss.

While rare, some cerapters have formed small herds away from both their parent species, though they may be found in both unicorn and pegasi herds as well.