The Equestrian Codex *Spoiler Alert* · 2:45am Apr 15th, 2021
The Equestrian Codex: Uncensored
Published for the Institute of Species Research
Initial biological study by Professor Mordin Solus
Supplemental materials provided by Dr. Two For Tea, Equestrian Anthropologist
Primary Codex
Aliens: Non-Council Races: Equestrians
The Equestrians are an advanced, intelligent race of quadrupedal beings, commonly referred to as “ponies” by themselves and others, due to their superficial resemblance to Earth’s native equines.
Until First Contact was made in the year 2185, this species was a complete unknown to the rest of the galaxy before their sudden and unexpected arrival on the Citadel aboard the human vessel: Normandy SR2. Claiming to be the distant ancestors of a species that existed millions of years ago, the Equestrians officially qualify for “endangered” status, as their total population consists of mere hundreds of individuals.
The Equestrians’ calm, agreeable nature, obvious intelligence, and desire for fellowship and cooperation has so far served them well in endearing themselves to the galaxy at large. However, their small numbers, combined with a lack of government, infrastructure, or even a home planet of their own, means that their future on the galactic stage is uncertain at best.
Secondary Codex
Aliens: Non-Council Races: Equestrians: Biology
Equestrians are unique among modern sentient species as the only one being both quadrupedal -- a trait shared only by the Elcor -- and without any form of digitigrade features.
As can be expected, being incapable of activities requiring a certain degree of manual dexterity renders the Equestrians at a marked disadvantage when compared to mainstream society. Tools and technology commonly available on the civilian market are designed to be operated by extremities bearing at least three fingers; a feature that the Equestrians sorely lack.
With a natural lifespan of nearly 120 years, and weighing in at an average of seventy-five kilos, a fully mature Equestrian typically does not grow taller than a meter and a half. They are capable of increasing their height by balancing on their hind legs, effectively placing them at eye-level with most other sentient races. This action puts them at a disadvantage, however, as their skeletal structure renders them incapable of bipedal movement, and they are unable to hold this position for any great length of time.
Like a majority of the galaxy, Equestrians are levo-amino acid-based lifeforms, with atmospheric tolerances on par with that of most other sentient species. Evolved as a strictly vegetarian race, they have the rare ability among sentients to draw sustenance from raw, unprocessed vegetable matter, and even from plants that would be considered inedible to other species.
Equestrians also have an incredible affinity towards biotic potential; the second known race to possess at least some degree of biotic ability universally among its members. This trait, once thought exclusive to the Asari, has generated a great deal of speculation as to the species’ origins, and has led some groups, primarily among turians and salarians, to claim that the Equestrians are actually the product of secret -- not to mention highly illegal -- Alliance experimentation with biotics. So far, these claims remain unsubstantiated.
Aliens: Non-Council Races: Equestrians: Subspecies
Also unique among other sapient species is the fact that members of the Equestrian race are genetically divided into three specialized subgroups; the end result of a selective breeding and genetic engineering program literally millions of years in the making.
Though no Equestrian would consider one variation superior to the next, they are nonetheless differentiated from each other in many distinct fashions, including physical appearance, as well as biotic ability.
“Pegasus” types are unique in that they possess a third limbal girdle located along their twelfth vertebra, allowing for the support and function of avian wings. While vestigial from a purely biological standpoint, this extra set of limbs were apparently designed only for support. Specifically, they are used to aid in providing balance and direction, as a pegasus’s flight is actually the result of negative mass fields, generated by nodules of Element Zero that run along the length of the spine.
Resembling the well-known creature of Earth mythology for which they are named, “Unicorns” possess a single horn composed of hardened chitinous material, which contains within a massive concentration of Element Zero hardwired via nerve bundles directly into the brain. This evolutionary marvel allows for extremely precise manipulation and control of mass effect fields to come naturally to all members of this subgroup, affording even the average unicorn a degree of biotic ability comparable to that of a highly trained Asari.
So named for being the type of Equestrian most similar to the equine species native to the Sol System, the “Earth” variety lacks both the wings and horn of the other Equestrians, making them appear the least alien to humans. While a slight advantage in physical size is the only visible distinction, this group also tends to be a great deal stronger and more durable than their horned and winged counterparts. This is due to to the fact that the concentrations of Element Zero in their nervous systems are both particularly dense, as well as evenly spread. This allows the resulting biotic energy to be expressed purely on an instinctual basis, increasing the user’s apparent strength via powerful, skin-tight tactile barriers made of positive mass fields whenever the need arises.
Aliens: Non-Council Races: Equestrians: Culture
The Equestrian cultural mindset has thus far proven elusive to codify as the species struggles to rediscover itself. While they share some basic similarities with Humanity -- including common gestures, idioms, and complicated cultural concepts like morality -- the Equestrians have also demonstrated an extreme tendency towards cooperation and avoiding conflict.
Following a closely-held belief in “Harmony for All,” the typical Equestrian would rather see to it that their friends’ and families’ needs are met, before concerning themselves with personal desires.
This courtesy also extends to members of other species, though to a lesser extent, as, all things being equal, an Equestrian will almost always place the value of their fellows over that of an alien being.
Aliens: Non-Council Races: Equestrians: Government
Officially and unanimously recognized by the Citadel Council as an independent sapient race five days after their introduction to the galaxy, the species referred to simply as “The Equestrian Herd” was deemed sufficiently advanced enough to be considered a member of the galactic community. Despite not technically being a space-faring species, they are nonetheless entitled to all of the legal rights and protections afforded one under Citadel Law.
The Equestrian government is currently represented by a single popularly-elected leader known as the “Madam President” and her chosen council of five “Directors.” It is these six beings who are chiefly responsible for all major political, economical, and sociological decisions regarding the Herd.
As it stands, this basic leadership structure is the sole form of governance in place, and it will undoubtedly remain so until such a time that the Equestrians can more firmly establish themselves.
Many political analysts have suggested that the Herd’s current population crisis makes development of an independent governing infrastructure a highly problematic scenario. Some speculate that the Equestrians will likely advocate to become a client race of another, more established species, similar to the agreement between the Volus and Turians, with their position as dependents of the Turian Hierarchy.
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: Epona Systems Corporation
The Equestrians’ distant ancestors, the Equines, rose to prominence thirty-six and a half million years ago, creating a presence felt everywhere in the form of a galaxy-spanning mega-corporation referred to as “Epona Systems” or “ESC.”
Excelling in both technological development and interspecies arbitration, the ESC regularly declared themselves as a purely neutral party in any disagreement between the multiple other intelligent races of the time. This gift for mediation gained the Equines the mutual respect of the other space-faring governments of the age, giving them a reputation for being trustworthy and dependable while they quietly and subtly amassed ever greater amounts of resources, power, and influence.
So successful was the Epona Systems Corporation, that after just a few hundred years since the Equines discovered FTL travel, it served as the vehicle for their eventual economic and political domination of the galaxy. Yet, despite their power and influence, the ESC never once presumed to express authority in the interests of any other species.
Greatest among the accomplishments of this unofficial Equine Empire was the creation of the Harmony Core: a technological marvel capable of generating unimaginable amounts of energy in a safe, compact, and efficient form.
The potential of this breakthrough was not lost on the Equines, and further research led to what is undoubtedly their most notable accomplishment: faster than light travel made possible without the need for Element Zero or Mass Effect technology.
Now equipped with the ability to traverse space completely independent of the Mass Effect Relay Network, the Epona Systems Corporation all but cemented their role as the undisputed masters of the galaxy. That is, until it was suddenly and violently stripped away in what would come to be known as “The Star Daemon War.”
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: The Star Daemon War
While the Equines were no strangers to conflict, nothing could have prepared them for the fate that befell every other civilization before their time: the inevitable cycle of extermination perpetrated by the race of omnipowerful sentient machines that would come to be known as “Reapers.”
The invasion began as it had in cycles past, with the Reapers suddenly and unexpectedly arriving at the Citadel -- known to the Equines as “the Hub” -- and eliminating the primary governing structure of a majority of the galaxy’s inhabitants. While the other species were cut down, it was the Equines’ saving grace that their main governing bodies were not located on the Hub, but instead, their homeworld of Equis.
Immediately put on the defensive in a war that no living being could have anticipated, the Equines nonetheless surprised the aggressive, unrelenting monstrosities they dubbed “Star Daemons” by offering an impressive amount of resistance. Utilizing their unique advantage of the Harmony Core, they were able to prevent the Reapers from gaining the upper hand early in the war, as they were free to travel anywhere they wished while the Reapers remained shackled to their network of Mass Effect Relays.
In the decades of brutal conflict that followed, the ESC spared absolutely no expense, tapping every single available resource and putting it towards the war effort, while using Harmony Core technology to shuttle countless civilians away from conflict zones to areas of relative safety.
All the while, the Equines’ innovative ingenuity continued to show itself in ever-evolving weapons, defenses, and vessels of greater and greater sophistication, until the Reaper forces found themselves nearly outmatched.
And yet, as the tide appeared to be turning in the Equines’ favor, the Reapers chose the opportune moment to deploy their most insidious weapon: Indoctrination. As the Equines’ society was based upon a foundation of implicit trust and unity, the Reapers found it remarkably easy to spread their influence completely undetected.
As the years passed with the Equines singlemindedly determined to defeat the invaders, the Reapers were patiently and systematically infiltrating their ranks with indoctrinated agents. And then, at a pivotal moment of the war, the Reapers initiated their plan, and the thralls began to turn on their fellow Equines without restraint or mercy.
All at once, top leaders were assassinated, secret research facilities exposed, ship formations and battle strategies leaked, and civilian safe havens utterly destroyed from within. And just like that, the Equines’ considerable might was all but swept away in a single, devastating blow.
With the ESC broken and all major sources of resistance quelled, the Reapers were once again free to complete their cycle of galactic genocide, and the time of the Equines, just like all those who had come before, came to a swift and silent end.
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: Equestria
A few years before the the beginning of the Star Daemon War, development began on a personal project of the ESC’s Lord President, Solarius Epona: The Equestria Facility.
Equestria was meant to be a planet-sized, multi-species hospice, capable of housing millions of sentients while providing them with entertainment, relaxation, education, and social interaction via a neurologically-integrated form of reality simulation.
The systems themselves were designed by programming and technical genius Dr. Hour Glass, utilizing bleeding-edge technology in the hopes of building Equestria as a place where anybody, of any species, could go to experience the closest thing to utopia.
Instead, Equestria would end up being used for an altogether different purpose: as the last hope for the Equine Race when the Reapers began their invasion.
As the facility had been a closely-guarded secret, only the highest-ranking members of the ESC and those working in isolation at the project’s location were even aware of its existence. As a result, the facility was initially spared notice by the invaders, and those who could safely make their way there used the project as a haven for their friends and families.
While the war was being fought across the galaxy, Hour Glass worked tirelessly to redesign the core computer systems, with the goal of converting the Equestria Facility into a place capable of housing the last remnants of the Equines indefinitely, should the unthinkable come to pass.
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: The Isolation of Equestria
Inevitably, the war came upon the system housing the facility, and it was only due to Hour Glass’s ingenuity, foresight, and the sacrifice of his own life that the surviving Equines were saved from extermination.
By this time, Equestria was fully operational, and as the Reapers finally retreated back into Dark Space to await the next cycle, a scant 1200 undetected survivors remained, their physical bodies in suspended animation while their minds were occupied within the virtual servers.
The original inhabitants of Equestria, as well as their progeny, would live out their lives in this simulated world, under the watchful care of three specially-designed artificial intelligences created specifically to ensure that the legacy of the Equine Race would never die out.
It was always intended for the survivors to eventually leave their refuge and reestablish their society. But as eons passed with the system’s overseers carefully watching new, warlike races rise to power, only to meet the same fate as the Equines, this scenario became less and less likely.
So it would be for more than thirty-six million years, with Equestria remaining undetected as countless civilizations emerged, rose to prominence, and were subsequently eliminated by the Reapers. It was only when the ancient Harmony Core powering the facility began to fail that the distant descendants of the Equines, now the modern day “Equestrians,” were left with no other choice but to rejoin the galaxy or face extinction.
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: The Exodus of Equestria
The isolation of the Equestrians ended abruptly in the year 2185, when Commander Shepard, Citadel Spectre and former Alliance soldier, discovered the millennia old facility while investigating the disappearance of a Cerberus science team.
Upon arrival, the Commander discovered the plight of the Equestrians, who over the years had been rendered unaware as to their history, or even the true nature of their existence. With the aid of one of the system’s administrative A.I.s, and a group of Equestrians from within the virtual world, he succeeded in freeing the facility’s remaining three hundred inhabitants, before taking them aboard his ship, the Normandy.
During the attempt, however, the Harmony Core powering Equestria was damaged, and the ancient hardware began to go critical.
As the refugees escaped aboard Normandy, the core overloaded, releasing what was left of its still sizable output in a single, catastrophic meltdown. The resulting explosion served to utterly destroy the planetoid that housed the Equestrians’ former home and what was left of their origins.
While the last echoes of the Equine civilization carried on, Equestria itself was no more.
Mass Effect 2: The Equestrian Equation: Return to the Galaxy
After rescuing them from the Equestria Facility, the crew of the Normandy SR2 arrived at the Citadel with two hundred and ninety-seven Equestrians of all ages, along with forty-eight of the facility’s all-purpose Changeling maintenance drones.
Following the intense media coverage of their arrival, the Council was pressured into meeting with Equestrian leadership and, five days after their debut, officially recognized the Equestrian Herd as an independent sentient species.
Along with winning a grant of asylum aboard the Citadel -- achieved in a three to one majority vote -- Madam President Twilight Sparkle set a new precedent by suggesting the motion to have her people declared “endangered,” which would make physical action and violent crime against the beleaguered species a top-tier capital offense among the Citadel Races.
Accepted and formally proposed by Councilor Anderson, this motion was heavily argued against by the Turian Councilor, who firmly stated that endangered status was meant to protect animals and lower lifeforms from extinction, not give a sentient species what amounted to a legal free pass. His objection was overruled by the rest of the Council in a motion to sustain, citing the Herd’s extremely low population as dire enough circumstances to require additional consideration.
As of this writing, the Equestrians remain on the Citadel, and what happens to them from this point on remains to be seen.
Notable Individuals: Twilight Sparkle
A member of the unicorn subspecies, Twilight is easily the most famous example of the Equestrian survivors, and the undisputed leader and representative of the Equestrian Herd as its Madam President.
In addition to being fiercely protective of her people, she is also reputed to be the most powerful among her species in terms of biotic potential. These two traits combined make her a particularly formidable force when it comes to the safety and well-being of those under her care.
As the only recognized authority in the Herd, it is safe to assume that her decisions during this formative period will shape the future of all Equestrians for generations to come.
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Update: Arc 1: Part 1
Planets and Locations: New Ponyville
Tayseri Ward District 1286 was among the most recently repaired areas of the Wards following the Battle of the Citadel in 2183. When the Reaper flagship Sovereign was destroyed, most of the debris impacted Tayseri, and the resulting devastation rendered large sections of the Ward arm ruined and unoccupied, with countless property owners counted among the dead. Recently, after years of untangling red tape and sorting through fraudulent claims of ownership, District 1286 was one of eight "unoccupied" districts put up for bid by the Wards Properties Commission.
Following the appearance of the Equestrians and their subsequent grant of asylum, the Council quickly decided that full integration into an inhabited Ward would be unfair both to current residents who would be displaced, and the Equestrians who were arguably unprepared for integration with the station’s mainstream society. Ultimately, the Council agreed to use District 1286 to house the Equestrians due to its semi-isolated layout from the rest of the Ward and was able to acquire the property under various clauses of the Galactic Species Protection Act.
In order to avoid legal complications, the Equestrians were immediately moved en masse to the district in order to legitimize its status as a Protected Habitat. Upon arrival, Madam President Twilight Sparkle, accompanied by the Human Councilor David Anderson, further solidified the Herd's position by proclaiming the area "New Ponyville"; and the name quickly replaced District 1286 in Citadel records.
Little more than a sterile collection of buildings and bulkheads, New Ponyville nonetheless provides the Equestrians a place to call their own, and exactly what they do with the opportunity is anyone's guess.
Notable Individuals: Councilor David Anderson
Human war hero, first graduate of the Alliance N7 Program, and mentor to the famed Commander Shepard, David Anderson was selected to become the first human representative on the Citadel Council following the geth attack of 2183. A career military officer, Anderson’s reputation to put practicality, integrity, and common sense before politics has earned him the respect of the galactic community, and the grudging ire of his fellow Councilors.
Easily the Herd’s staunchest ally on the Council, Anderson’s support of the new species' early efforts has garnered both praise and criticism from those he represents. While some see his altruism as a sign that the reputation of humans as bullying opportunists is wearing thin, others claim his support to be motivated by an unknown personal agenda regarding the mysterious new species, and not humanity’s best interests. Regardless of his motivations, he is considered by the Equestrians to be a champion of their cause.
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Update: Arc 1: Part 2
Notable Individuals: Pinkie Pie
The Equestrian Herd’s Director of Technology, Pinkamena Diane Pie is an earth pony mare of incredible genius. A savant even by the lofty standards of her highly-intelligent species, she was the only Equestrian that was fully aware as to the nature of their existence before the events leading up to the Exodus, as well as the only one known to have been capable of consciously manipulating the virtual world.
Post-Exodus, Pinkie Pie has been described by multiple sources as the second most valuable member the Herd possesses -- the first, of course, being the Madam President herself. Many hold out faith that Pinkie’s technical prowess may give the Equestrians the edge they need to survive in the greater galaxy. However, in spite of her intelligence -- or perhaps because of it -- her behavior is often described as childlike and fraught with both indecisiveness and self-doubt under duress, often requiring the guidance and reassurance of her closest friends.
Notable Individuals: Rainbow Dash
The Equestrian Herd’s Director of Defense, Rainbow Dash is a pegasus pony mare identified as an “Apex Specimen” of her subspecies; a trait she shares with M.P. Twilight Sparkle and her fellow Director, Applejack -- unicorn and earth pony Apex Specimens respectively. Although she claims to be the “fastest thing alive,” no accurate measurement has yet been taken of her biotically powered flight speed.
Passionately loyal to the Madam President and the Equestrian Herd in general, Rainbow takes the task of physically defending New Ponyville deadly seriously. However, it has been remarked by some that she lacks both the training of a law enforcement official, and the defined understanding of the skills required to carry out her task competently. This may be largely due to having been educated in the Equestria System as a pilot, rather than a vocation more closely related to the art of defense.
Organizations: Equestrians: Sugar³ Technologies
The first fully established business interest in New Ponyville, Sugar³ -- pronounced “Sugar Cubed” -- is a technology firm operated directly by Equestrian Director of Technology, Pinkamena Diane Pie. Due to this, it is commonly assumed that Sugar³ serves as both a private business interest, as well as the R&D branch of the Equestrian Herd’s emerging government.
Given the rush to set up the firm within the first hours of New Ponyville’s settlement -- using up a relatively large portion of the Herd’s initial investment budget -- it seems obvious that the Equestrians consider the development of tech to be among their first and most vital of priorities. Given that the firm’s first patented product has utilized a form of technology that has been considered by many to be borderline science fiction, initial reports suggest that this investment was money well spent.
Technology: Omni-hoof
The first successfully patented and licensed example of Equestrian technology, the omni-hoof is a variation of the standard omni-tool utilized by nearly every spacefaring race in the galaxy. Designed specifically to interact with the unique nature of Equestrian physiology, the omni-hoof goes far beyond simple customization by including a feature once thought impossible to achieve in a sentient species: full neural interactivity.
It utilizes a two-part subdermal implant system that includes a holo-projecting microcomputer inserted in the forelimb -- common to most modern omni-tools -- as well as a unique neural transmitter that is injected at the top of the neck. This transmitter then reads neural patterns, directing relevant thought processes directly into the omni-hoof’s user interface in order to literally create a thought-controlled device.
Immediately following the patent and exclusive licensing of the omni-hoof, various technical experts have stated that, if legitimate, this device’s inventor has achieved in days what asari and salarian tech firms have attempted -- and failed -- to achieve for centuries.
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Update: Arc 1: Part 3
Notable Individuals: Rarity
The Equestrian Herd’s Director of Culture, Rarity is a unicorn mare described as possessing an artistic flair and astute attention to detail. A fashion designer during her Pre-Exodus life, Rarity’s career in textiles was underscored with a thorough understanding of modern fabrication methods and designs. Rarity is also considered to be -- at least physically -- among the most attractive and desired females in the Herd, though whatever combination of traits creates this effect is lost on most aliens.
Following the Exodus, Rarity’s primary goal was to establish an Equestrian stake in fashion design. A pursuit that was denounced by her fellow Directors as frivolous, until an interview brought to light an unspoken discomfort many species had in dealing with a race that didn’t wear clothes. Following the revelation, the Madam President and other Directors have acknowledged Rarity’s foresight of the issue, and now tend to consult her in matters involving the image and public perception of the Herd.
Equestrians: Government: The Agricenter
The first “citizen lobby” group to form in the Herd, the Agricenter is chaired by Golden Harvest, an agricultural expert and former farmer who gathered nearly a dozen of her similarly skilled peers into a communal think-tank and authority in their field: the production and substation of agricultural works. The Agricenter began to take over responsibility for the Herd’s food storage, distribution, and management -- which were previously overseen personally by Director Applejack -- shortly after its formation, presenting the first form of Equestrian authority beyond the Madam President and her Board of Directors, suggesting that other such groups may form in a similar fashion in order to pool their resources and abilities to promote larger communal works.
Equestrians: Culture: Intraspecies Conflict
In spite of their predisposition towards fellowship and community, Equestrians are still sentient individuals who have varied beliefs and preferences. Like all thinking creatures, individuals sometimes come into conflict when their viewpoints differ. In most species, such conflict can take the form of heated debate, displays of dominance and stature, outright physical violence, and in the most extreme cases: open warfare.
However, the Equestrians have a unique system of conflict resolution that seems to be bred into the very fiber of their being, and as a result of this, according to surviving records, the Equine species had never once in its history gone to war against itself.
Equestrian conflicts tend to have three distinct phases.
The first phase is like most species, involving raised voices and aggressive posturing. Males often rear back, while females dig at the ground with their hind hooves. These motions are instinctual and not controlled by voluntary action. Ponies in this state of heated discussion often move to stand opposite one another, and most concepts of personal space vanish until they are nearly nose to nose.
The second phase is where they tend to differ from other sentient species. At the point which most sentients would come to blows if either party refuses to back down, conflicting ponies will lock eyes and refuse to turn away, often continuing to speak their positions without deviating from their mutual glare. While this may seem a childish practice to many species, Equestrian philosophies seem to create a tangible connection between a pony’s conviction and the strength of their argument. The first to either blink or look away concedes and often lowers their head, flattening their ears in an subconscious sign of admission.
In perhaps one in a thousand cases, when neither party refuses to yield -- either out of stubbornness or an abnormal amount of personal dissonance -- the conflict enters a flashpoint third phase. At this point, both ponies lift a foreleg and dig at the ground, keeping their leg lifted. Upon accepting this stance, violence is imminent. However, any pony that actually witnesses such an event is both instinctively and culturally obligated to intervene, with multiple ponies often rushing forward to forcefully separate the two. Due to the nature of Equestrians as a herding species, this means that it is rare for two individuals to be alone for a long enough period of time for violence to actually take place.
What prompted this evolutionary psychology is uncertain and cannot be verified or documented due to the lack of detailed information on the history of the Equine race, and the conditions of their home world.
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Update: Arc 1: Conclusion
Notable Individuals: Fluttershy
As the Equestrian Director of Interspecies Relations, Fluttershy can best be described as a pony of extremes. Pre-Exodus records paint the picture of a troubled pony diagnosed with both bipolar tendencies and severe anger management issues -- both developed in reaction to her access of administrative functions within the Equestria System. Although tempered through high-level mental conditioning to be less confrontational, Fluttershy’s mental state was a constant source of concern for the System Overseer, and required constant watch.
Post-Exodus, the overly timid pony most Equestrians thought they knew is little more than a memory. While still kind and casual with others, the pegasus mare has blossomed now that she has been freed from the constraints of her mental conditioning, and has proven to be highly observant and insightful -- a trait often overlooked due to her eccentric nature. Fluttershy’s interest in veterinary medicine and woodland Earth-based animals has meanwhile been replaced with a detailed understanding of sentient alien species.
These traits have made her an ideal choice for interspecies relations, often representing Equestrian business interests to alien clients and acting as the de facto negotiator for New Ponyville.
Following the resolution of the "Krogan Incident" in the early days of New Ponyville, Fluttershy’s manner has adjusted accordingly, causing her to take a more forceful stance in her negotiations and quelling concerns that her history of timidness might make her an easy obstacle to more experienced negotiators.
Equestrians: Culture: Rules of Engagement
While intraspecies conflicts tend to be quite complex involving physical cues and evolutionary psychology, the Equestrian Rules of Engagement indicate that combative situations involving hostile non-pony species are far more simple. Upon initiation of hostilities, alien beings are given a single opportunity to withdraw, usually accompanied by a display of force. Immediate cessation of hostilities and a willingness to work out differences in a more civil fashion is usually met with a willingness to forgive and forget, chalking up such standoffs to simple misunderstandings. This is the preferred outcome to most Equestrians, as it opens up options for future benefits and possible alliances.
Those that refuse this opportunity to withdraw are quick to learn that the “colorful ponies” are far from the innocent, helpless creatures they seem to be. Although not violent by nature, when their herd and homes are threatened, Equestrians can become fierce and unforgiving.
While this currently may only manifest in a momentary physical confrontation and an immediate “banned for life” status from New Ponyville, during the height of their power, the Epona Systems Corporation had been known to respond to such threats with a degree of overwhelming force that would have impressed even the Turians. One such incident maintained in records kept from before the Star Daemon War indicates that a rogue faction of the Griffar Imperium -- an avian/mammal hybrid species active during the Equine Cycle -- attempted a pirate raid on an Equine colony, slaughtering its inhabitants and successfully stealing a Harmony Core despite their one given warning.
Epona’s Administrative Office responded by remotely detonating the Harmony Core when it reached the rogue faction’s hidden asteroid base, and then proceeded to annihilate all traces of the faction’s political and financial connections by embargoing and blockading griffar space to the point of complete economic collapse. Soon after, the faction’s supporters were all turned over, and the griffar government experienced a radical reformation, after which the ESC proceeded to donate heavily to the species’ recovery efforts and wholeheartedly supported the new Griffar Republic.
Needless to say, this was the first and only record of a direct attack on an Equine colony until the beginning of the Star Daemon War.
Organizations: Equestrians: Equestrian Essentials
An ambitious one-pony fashion empire, Equestrian Essentials is the pet project and passion of Director Rarity, who spends the majority of her time -- when she is not involved in Board of Directors meetings -- creating new fashion trends for both Equestrian and alien clientele. While not as “essential” to New Ponyville’s development as the name might suggest, Director Rarity’s project promises to draw both higher profile clients and substantial credits into the Equestrian economy.
Equestrians: Culture: Cutie Marks
Pre-Exodus, cutie marks were icons used as both identification and tracking codes by the Equestria Facility’s overseers, allowing them to instantly locate and manipulate neural patterns within the system. Over time, these icons developed into social symbols of Equestrian culture, denoting a pony’s training and predisposition when they were applied during mid-foalhood.
Post-Exodus, cutie marks are now worn on clothing, or as a symbolic icon of choice, rather than forcefully embedded directly into a pony’s flank by the authorities. While a few ponies see this as clinging onto a custom better left behind, a majority of Equestrians see their cutie marks as a visual representation of their personal values or beliefs, and find that without some form of this visual representation, they feel as though something is missing from their personal appearance.
While cutie marks are commonly worn on either flank, other options in Equestrian fashion include accessories such as necklaces, as a decal on headgear, or as simple pins or badges. Also unlike the original cutie marks, the modern version is open to the choice of the Equestrian rather than imposed upon them. While some ponies prefer to keep their original designs, others have opted to change the design as their previous pursuits are no longer valid in their new lives.
Notable Individuals: Applejack
The Equestrian Director of Labor, Applejack can be summed up in two words: Honest and dependable. Pre-Exodus records show that Applejack was a farm pony of great skill and ability, but like her fellow Director Rainbow Dash and the Madam President, she is classified as an “Apex Specimen” of the Equestrian species, indicating that she is among the most fully evolved and developed natural biotics in the galaxy.
Post-Exodus, the new matron of the Apple Family -- which comprises a massive ten percent of the surviving Equestrians -- Applejack is perhaps one of the most iconic and publicly popular members of New Ponyville’s Board of Directors. Along with her own accomplishments in helping set up the Agricenter before appointing Golden Harvest to run it, and securing New Ponyville’s surplus food supply by negotiating exclusive trade agreements with representatives from Eden Prime, Applejack is often seen as being both Chairpony of the Board and the Madam President’s right-hoof mare. Because of this, many ponies who find the Madam President too intimidating to approach tend to bring their troubles and thoughts to Applejack.
Notable Individuals: Sterling Silver
Pre-Exodus, Sterling Silver was without a doubt the most wealthy non-artificial pony in the Equestria System, as she almost single-hoofedly ran the bit-based economy of Ponyville, as well as the simulation’s only banking system at the time. A veritable genius in finance and numbers, Sterling all but appointed herself Treasurer following her release from the artificial world.
Although considered cold and calculating for an Equestrian, and often seen at odds with Madam President Sparkle and the Board of Directors, the leaders of New Ponyville grudgingly admit to requiring Sterling’s unique talents to maintain the Equestrian Herd’s economy and keep up with the outrageously complex rules and regulations regarding interstellar commerce.
Organizations: Equestrians: Sweet Apple-cations
Originally “Sweet Apple Applications,” this Equestrian employment firm run by Director Applejack was renamed by her younger sibling, Apple Bloom, whose mispronunciation of the tongue-twisting name stuck with most ponies working for the firm -- to the point where Applejack begrudgingly made the odd play of words official.
Whereas Sugar³ focuses on developing technology, Sweet Apple-cations takes the tools provided by Pinkie Pie and puts them to more practical use, accepting contracts from established businesses in the private sector and offering the aid of skilled workers in various industrial projects. Currently, Sweet Apple-cations is assisting with the cleanup and reconstruction of Tayseri Ward, though Director Applejack has made it clear she intends to expand to other industries as well as other Wards and even the Presidium over time.
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Update: Arc 2: Part 1
Planets and Locations: Mane Street
The second level of New Ponyville, home to many of the public shops and services that cater to the Citadel at large, has been christened by the Equestrians as “Mane Street” in a clear homage to the original Ponyville of the Equestria Simulation. As Mane Street sees the majority of the district’s alien patrons, it is awash with various cultural outlets including musical performances, simple social interaction, and a number of specialized eateries, including the Celestial Delights Confectionary. Mane Street also contains the Agricenter’s Green Grocer’s Distributions, which brings in dietary supplements to the Herd’s basic food imports, as well as the Sugar³ Distribution Center, which features various upgrades for omni-tools, gear mods, and other devices that can be found nowhere else in Citadel Space.
Notable Individuals: Lt. Taxar Pyres
Lieutenant Taxar Pyres is a turian C-Sec Enforcement Officer hailing from the Hierarchy colony world of Taetrus. A lifelong peacekeeper, Taxar has over twenty years of experience split between the Turian Colonial Military Police, and later, Citadel Security. Although commended multiple times for service above and beyond the call of duty he, has also been reprimanded on a number of occasions, due to his abrasive personality, and tendency to disobey orders when they conflict with his desire to pursue criminal elements and protect innocents.
Recently, Lt. Pyres was assigned as the lone security operative in Tayseri Ward’s District 1286 - aka “New Ponyviille”. Although he has been less than pleased with the assignment, which he has described as C-Sec’s idea of a joke, his work-ethic and dedication to duty have led to him becoming - albeit grudgingly - a prominent figure in the Equestrian community.
Technology: Changeling Drones
Built in the image of their creators, these mechanical beings are among the only surviving examples of Equine Artifice Technology in the galaxy, having survived the destruction of the Equestria Facility they had been tasked with maintaining.
Due to their extreme rarity, no truly in-depth study has yet been performed on the Changelings - by the Equestrians themselves or outside agencies - yet they appear to be, on a superficial level, superior to the standard security mech in design, durability, and agility. Covered in a previously unknown titanium alloy carapace which is resistant to most impacts, changelings are light, durable, and even capable of limited flight using an ingeniously designed “nano-polymer” insectoid wing system along with a concealed propulsion device. As for their level of intelligence, they tend to show a degree of programming sophistication on par with that of a standard galactic VI, and are hardwired to protect, promote, and preserve the Equestrian cause at any cost.
However, the Changelings also have many mysteries surrounding them, first and foremost on the minds of many aliens and ponies alike being the question of their individual sources of power. Noone has ever witnessed a changeling in any kind of shutdown or recharge state, or in need of a new power supply. To date, no changeling mech has required significant enough maintenance or been otherwise dismantled to the point of exposing their working parts, due to the fear of permanently losing the vital asset to trial and error.
At first believed that the “holes” adorning each mech’s extremities are due to either aesthetic design or to some form of irreparable damage, they are, in fact, nothing more than crudely implemented customization ports. A changeling’s glossy metallic shell is designed to be utterly seamless, but in order to fulfill multiple roles at the Equestria Facility, modifications had to be made in order to maximize the limited drone stock’s potential utility for a number of situations requiring direct access to a changeling’s hardware.
While it is hard to tell any two changelings apart based on physical appearance, they are nonetheless uniquely identified and divided into specific model series. Each series of changeling is named by the Equine Artificer who fashioned and implemented their own personal design, and each unit is designated by the number of mechs made in a single run, as well as the order in which they were completed. The exact specifications of each model series were determined by specific needs at the time, as well as implementations made by the Artificer, and the number of units per run was also likewise determined by necessity - the smallest series is the Whiteshore line, with only six units, while the largest is Stock, with a grand total of seventy-four.
The model series of the surviving changelings include: Bracer, Caltrop, Contract, Ferris, Hard, Hourglass, Longhaul, Minuette, Reigns, Stock, Whiteshore, and Zero.
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Update: Arc 2: Part 2
Notable Individuals: Dr. Patricia Hern
Born Patricia Worthington in Perth, Australia on Earth in 2149, “Pat” - as she is known to her friends - was a girl who grew up feeling she was born in the wrong age. With the majority of Earth well and truly populated and mankind reaching out into the stars, the young Patricia developed a fondness for anthropology and the study of ancient civilizations. After the First Contact War, and the revelation that humanity was not alone in the cosmos, Patricia could hardly resist the urge to explore a rich galaxy full of discoveries that humans had never even dreamed of.
Unfortunately for the budding explorer, the political red tape and underfunding of the Alliance’s Archaeological Services, where she interned after college, presented a significant setback to her career aspirations. For a while, Patricia managed a string of low-priority positions around the corporate sector before falling in love with Joshua Hern, a mineral surveyor. The two were quickly wed, and soon after, Patricia gave birth to her son, Alexander.
Following a dismissal for her alleged involvement in a tomb-raiding scandal on a world in the Traverse, Patricia Hern was recruited by Cerberus, whose dismissal of the Alliance’s restrictive regulations, as well as their substantial budget, allowed her to realize her dream of unravelling ancient alien mysteries.
Eventually, her influence and expertise in the field of xeno-studies landed her on the personal team of Doctor Horace Milligan, one of Cerberus’ top scientists, and the man put in charge of investigating the origins of the weapon that created the Great Rift of Klendagon more than thirty million years ago. It would be on this mission where Cerberus’ darker nature would be made painfully apparent to the naive young explorer.
Dr. Hern would end up being the only survivor of the six person archeology team that initially discovered the Equestria Facility. She had been drawn into the simulation in the same manner as Commander Shepard, where she developed a close bond with Applejack and her family over the days following her “transformation.” But before she could be rescued along with the other surviving Equestrians, she was captured by the Primary Overseer of the system, who had her memories and personality rewritten to make her believe she had always been a pony.
It is unknown what the lasting effects of this process will be, as Patricia was rendered comatose following her exit from the simulation. It is unknown at this time when - or if - she will recover.
:: Equestrian : Culture : Law in New Ponyville ::
In most ways, the standard galactic concept of a codified set of laws and regulations is an alien thing to the Equestrian Herd. This is not because the Equestrians are amoral or anarchic, but simply because they have never required such a system before now.
Pre-Exodus, the concept of crime was for the most part a non-issue. The Equestria Simulation maintained a set of “Horse Sense” tenants which acted as a code of law, similar in concept to the Ten Commandments in Earth culture or the Twenty Sutras of Order which once governed Thessia and formed the basis of the Justicar Code. With the Equestria Facility’s memory modification protocols in place, even if transgressions beyond a timid level of mischief were to occur, they would not interrupt the relative status-quo of Equestrian society.
As a result of this, most ponies are baffled by the sheer complexity of Citadel laws and the concept of protracted punishments. To the common pony, the concept of long-term incarceration is utterly terrifying, due to a cultural and instinctual tendency to equate large groups with safety, while isolation evokes the opposite. In Equestrian society, the greatest punishment that can be levied on a pony is expulsion from certain family groups or, in extreme cases, from the Herd entirely. The stigma often born of partaking in criminal activity can also work as a form of psychological punishment, as transgressors are given the cold shoulder or even flagrantly ignored by those that they care for and/or respect.
Notable Individuals: Lyra Heartstrings
Pre-Exodus records indicate that the unicorn known as Lyra Heartstrings suffered from a glitch in the Equestria System known as “bleedthrough.” This system malfunction affected nearly one in every one hundred ponies born into the system, allowing vague awareness of subconscious data-packets to express itself in the conscious mind. For Lyra, this lead to eccentric behavior - bordering on delusional-psychosis at times - as she would act on her bizarre fascination with “imaginary” alien species, and would often exhibit knowledge of galactic culture without the prerequisite stimuli. Unlike Director Pie, however, Lyra possessed no insight into the true nature of her world, and eventually agreed to seek therapy for her apparent disorder.
Post-Exodus, Lyra’s initial sense of vindication was overshadowed by the horrors experienced in the final minutes of the Equestria Simulation, as well as the realization that the Reapers did indeed still exist. Unable to offer much in the way of physical or biotic prowess - being ranked in the lower tier of unicorn biotic ability - Lyra settled on a vocation that would make use of her newly discovered professional skills, quickly becoming a legal assistant to Director Fluttershy and specializing in human laws and customs.
After some effort, Lyra was recently given leave to take the Standardized Galactic Bar Exam (SGBE) and passed with flying colors, accrediting her to act as a law consultant, attorney, and notary in matters involving the Systems Alliance, its citizenry, or its subsidiaries. Recently, she was granted title of New Ponyville District Attorney by virtue of being the only qualified litigator in the Herd.
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Update: Arc 2: Part 3
Notable Individuals: Emily Wong
A human investigative reporter originally hailing from Earth’s Luna colony, Emily Wong has made a name for herself in Citadel journalistic circles in recent years following several high profile exposes. With a resume that includes breaking stories on criminal corruption, the conditions of Citadel Traffic Controllers, and exclusive footage from the Attack of the CItadel. Wong is counted among the most trusted faces in human media and is a headlining employee of Citadel Network News, one of the highest-rated news organizations in Citadel Space.
Upon the Herd’s arrival on the Citadel, Emily was contacted by a past associate, Commander Shepard, who arranged an exclusive first look with the newly discovered Equestrian Species. With the Herd’s story dominating the news cycles for several weeks, CNN was quick to capitalize on the degree of trust fostered by Emily with the station’s new celebrities, producing several articles as well as the now critically-acclaimed “First Impressions” interview with the Equestrian Board of Directors. Although her occupation requires she maintain a professional distance, there is no denying that Emily has been quite helpful in promoting the Herd’s image as a peaceful and multifaceted race.
Locations: New Ponyville: The Docks
The bottom layer of New Ponyville has come to be known simply as “The Docks” although this name misleads the size and multitude of activities that are actually performed there. The most obvious significance of this area is its exposure; it contains both the elevators leading to the adjacent districts, as well as the only place where shuttles can reliably land, making it an essential transport hub between New Ponyville and the rest of the Citadel.
Sectioned off from the main thoroughfare lies the more industrial functions of the district -- namely, storage warehouses and manufacturing centers. In one of the only examples running contrary to the Equestrians’ philosophy of openness and sharing, these places are off-limits to nonponies and those not involved in doing business with the Herd. The need for increased discretion is understandable; the Industrial Level houses the main R&D branch of Sugar³, as well as the mass storage and support facilities of Equestrian Essentials, Celestial Delights Bakery, and many other local businesses.
Equestrian Culture: Mythology & Religious Views
One surprising development in the growing expression of New Ponyville residents is what has recently been dubbed the “Equestrian Mythology.” Although it is well understood that the world of Equestria itself was a virtual simulation, this has not stopped many ponies from trying to emulate and recreate more general aspects of Equestrian Culture. In spite of their fabricated nature, legends and tales from the simulation’s “history” have been adopted by many ponies, which has in turn created a unified sense of shared experience.
As a result, Equestrian iconology -- such as depictions of the Royal Crests of the Two Sisters, Elements of Harmony, and the curious prevalence of apples and apple-related accessories -- have seen common use in New Ponyville as labels, decorations, and even works of art. This outlook and shared mindset of all members of Ponykind has certainly had an effect in helping the Herd make New Ponyville uniquely their own.
However, in spite of the fantastic, even storybook nature of this mythology, Herd members have also been noted as maintaining a strictly secular outlook on their current lives in the physical galaxy, and have proven universally resistant to accepting mainstream religious notions from other species.
Much to the disappointment of advocates from these practices trying to add new galactic members to their flock, virtually all Equestrians refer to their efforts as “quaint.”
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Update: Arc 2: Part 4
Notable Individuals: Captain Inastri
Captain Ashira Inastri is a three-hundred and eighty-one year-old asari matron who has spent more than half of her life working in Citadel Security. Formerly a member of Kithoi Ward’s Special Response Unit, Inastri was promoted to the rank of Captain and transferred to Tayseri Ward shortly after the birth of her third child. In the years following her new station, Inastri’s incredible drive and strong sense of justice led to a dramatic fall in crime rates across her precinct, which she attributes to her strict “by the book” adherence to C-Sec protocols.
That all changed after the attack on the Citadel by Sovereign and the Geth, which resulted in a staggering seventy-nine percent mortality rate in Tayseri and reduced much of the Ward to ruins, as well as leaving Inastri as the highest ranking officer left among its twelve precincts. Since then, acting as the de-facto head of Tayseri’s entire police force, she has so far proven to be up to the challenge of rebuilding order while simultaneously combating the opportunistic criminal elements that have taken up refuge in the still half-ruined Ward. When it came time to relocate the Equestrian Herd to Tayseri, Captain Inastri took it upon herself to ensure their smooth integration, and to prevent any complications from arising -- a task with which she has recently run into some difficulty.
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Update: Arc 2: Conclusion
The Shadow Broker:
Rumors abound, yet almost nothing is verified about the mysterious figure known as the Shadow Broker save the fact that he, she, it or ‘they’ exist. With theories running from a Cabal of Oligarchs manipulating the galaxy for a hidden agenda to a rogue AI that has manipulated events going as far back as the formation of the Council, the Shadow Broker’s name is often enough to cause alarm in authorities and his influence can start or end wars, topple dynasties, and break entire economic systems. Working though operatives across known space and beholden to no law, the Shadow Broker runs an information network that has defied all attempts to quantify or bring under any governmental authority.
The Shadow Broker’s agenda in regards to the Equestrian Herd has been almost whiplash in its approach, going from a direct mission of abduction to providing relief for the aftermath of the failed approach.
The Broker’s intentions are unknown, and nothing that comes from it can be taken at face value.
Update: Changelings:
Equine Changelings were a relatively new development towards the end of the Equine Cycle and were introduced for a myriad of purposes. However, in spite of the various series, each developed following the template selected by the Lord President and originally designed by Dr. Hourglass, being different in exact structure and configuration the Changeling Class Assistant Mech had a strange and seemingly random tendency to enter a state of neural cascade which could develop into a full functioning artificial intelligence.
It was studied deeply, but never fully understood how this kept happening, as attempts to both thwart and purposefully force the evolution both proved futile and occured across the various models in spite of difference in programming, hardware platforms, and designated function.
Following the damage which occurred to Minuette 21 of 30 which has cut it off from the Changeling Network, this process has developed at an even faster pace than previously seen as it has required the mech to adapt in order to continue fulfilling it's role as caretaker.
if this will continue across the New Ponyville Mech Population is uncertain, as is the results of a sudden large scale awakening of the advanced drones and the potential complications this might cause for the Equestrian Herd.
Canterlot Deck
The third level of New Ponyville, situated on a shelf that overlooks Manestreet, is largely residential and contains the majority of living space and apartments in the district. This area, while accessable, is largely for the ponies themselves and see's very little in the way of customer foot traffic due to it's few shops and dispenseries being almost exclusive to the Equestrian Population.
Particular on Canterlot Deck is the Observation Balcony which is situated in it's center, which has been turned into an open air style cafe that is frequented and often used for informal meetings by the Board of Directors and Madam President. Madam President Twilight Sparkle can often be found here herself when she is not otherwise engaged, as the Balcony provides a magnificent view over New Ponyville and out over the rest of the Ward's Curve.
Moonlight
When the Agricenter's Greenhouse project was put on hold, one of it's members: Berry Punch, proceeded to make other arrangements which drew the attention of various ponies across the District. This Mane Street Attraction is libel to be one of the last and largest of these collaborative efforts as the various crafts ponies, Sugar³ technicians, and shop-owners have all contributed to what has been dubbed 'Moonlight', a 'Nightclub' with an Equestrian Twist that is themed after the Lunar Princess and intends to be a place for both ponies and their elite clientele to carouse, entertain, and party up. Although Berry Punch runs the bar and is the central figure, many others 'moonlight' at the Club, most prominently being Sugar³ Technologies Vinyl Scratch, going back to her roots in her role as DJ Pon3.
With live music, artistic lightshows, Equestrian Quality Goods, and an atmosphere that is able to be upbeat but lacking the danger of some of the Ward's seedier clubs, the hope is to draw it's own sort of Nightlife to the Club.
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Equestrian Herd - Assets
Total: 445
+365: The Equestrian Herd - Two hundred and ninety-seven Equestrians comprise the Herd. Obviously a tight-knit species due to their low population, the Herd is made up of all three subspecies released from the Equestria Facility and encompasses all Equestrians alive today.
Update - Due to the actions of Commander Shepard before and during the Exodus of Equestria, the Equestrian Herd suffered only a single casualty during the traumatic transition before its arrival on the Citadel; this being the unavoidable loss of Green (Granny) Smith to advanced age.
Update - With their population dangerously low, yet capable of self-substantiation, the Citadel Council has granted the Herd Endangered Status, which offers extra legal protection from overt physical threats such as assault with malicious intent, murder, kidnapping, and other crimes of a heinous nature. Under Citadel Conventions, these crimes are immediately upgraded to capital offenses.
Update - Given a new sense of identity and comfort around alien beings with garments provided by Equestrian Essentials, The ponies of the Herd have managed to step up to the challenge of providing a market to a vast alien clientele.
Update - The shocking abduction of multiple ponies and the assault of Rainbow Dash has taken a toll on the entire herd. Although Director Applejack, as acting Vice President, has done her best to mitigate panic and wild speculation, the Herd has still suffered a steep drop in morale.
+55: New Ponyville - This Tayseri Ward district is little more than a prefab shell with the potential to become a home. New Ponyville offers a place to rest and the most basic of amenities to the Equestrian Herd, as well as a base of operations for future Equestrian endeavors.
Update - The sudden refusal of services and business relations from several volus and turian firms have put a damper on initial attempts to set up Equestrian industries. Given that this is likely due to the influence of Jex Kailer among his business associates, it may be for the best. Other venues are being assessed, but this still has a clear negative impact on New Ponyville's stability.
Update - Following the live broadcast of CNN’s interview with the four remaining members of the Equestrian Board of Directors, the public of the Citadel has gained a firmer understanding of the Equestrians as a people. This has led to increased awareness of the Herd’s difficulties and interest in pony-based goods and culture.
Update - Following a rather dramatic demonstration of biotic prowess by the Madam President as well as observation of Equestrians elsewhere in the Wards, the criminal element of Tayseri Ward has chosen to stay clear of New Ponyville. Uncertainty as to the limitations of the average pony, coupled with their legally untouchable status and the now well-known threat of unrestricted retaliation if provoked have given New Ponyville a reputation as a beacon of safety in an otherwise unstable Ward.
+10: Sugar³ Technologies - Operated by Director Pie, Sugar³ is a firm that specializes in both development of new Equestrian tech and and rediscovery of ancient Equine artifice.
Update - The omni-hoof ver. 1.2 has been developed by Director Pie in the opening days of New Ponyville’s settlement. The omni-hoof is a modified version of a standard omni-tool designed specifically for Equestrian physiology. Its functions are currently basic.
+10: Equestrian Essentials - A privately owned and operated clothing business overseen by Director Rarity, providing various attire to both the Herd and outside contractors.
Update - Director Rarity’s “vanity project” has already drawn several investors and clients from among the Presidium and Upper Wards. While this attention may simply be due to the novelty of New Ponyville, it has already begun recouping its own startup expenses as well as the cost of clothing the population of New Ponyville.
+20: Sweet Apple-cations - A public works and contracting firm created and maintained by Director of Labor, Applejack. This organization is chiefly responsible for negotiating agreements between the Equestrians and outside organizations in charge of the rebuilding of Tayseri Ward.
Update - Director Applejack’s part in the Directors’ interview has drawn the attention of Tackton Incorporated’s elcor foreman: Etvon, who has offered the Equestrian Herd a chance to prove itself in the jobs market after the issue of liabilities had been dealt with.
Update - Pinkie Pie’s improvements on the omni-hoof have lended themselves beautifully to Sweet Apple-cations work as a new app suite has enabled ponies to perform far more complex tasks than previously thought possible.
Update - Clothing from Equestrian Essentials has already proven highly effective not only for style, but for practicality, as modern fabrics offer the Equestrians an enhanced degree of protection on the job, increasing the workponies’ morale.
Update- The scandal surrounding Director Applejack’s actions has drawn no shortage of attention from both within and outside of the Herd. While details remain sketchy, it has become clear that the Director’s own actions put her in dire straits which required the Madam President to intervene on her behalf. As a result, Applejack’s personal reputation has been tarnished, and the morale of her workers has taken a substantial hit.
Thanks for the refresher course. Most enjoyable.
...ok so that's the basic rundown. Probably still gonna need to reread 2.4, if not the entire arc. "The Krogan Incident"....I kinda remember that...
Well, that's unexpected.
Welcome back!😀
.. I don't remember, do the other directors know about Spike or only Twilight? I noticed he didn't have a codex entry here, but he seems to have been alluded to. I remember it's a pretty big secret that he's a more advanced AI than the other Changelings, but that's it.
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I remember only Twilight and Pinkie know so far.
Woah woah woah woah!
Hold the phone... you’re back?!
*Checks today’s date just to make sure he didn’t get launched back to the year 2013.*
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Only Twilight, pinkie pie, and Commander Shepard know about 42, although Legion has suspicions, they can not verify.
Wow, that was a long read! Time for bed; wait, why is the sun out?
e: ~snrk~ I've listened to Owl City's Up All Night literally all night.
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Do what I do and blame celestia for getting up too dang early.
nice missed this world especially pinkie
Hmm a couple of things...
First of digitigrade refers to the the way they walk, Ponies are ungulates, fundamentally a further specialization of the digitigrade posture.
Humans are NOT digitigrade, but are plantigrade.
It would be better characterized by the lack of manipulatory appendages as the hanar are DEFINITELY not digitigrade [or <anything>grade] but still manage quite well in the Citadel world.
They are QUITE big. 1.5 meters is quite high when they rear they would go quite above two meters.
I wouldn't call the wing of the pegasi as "vestigial" they are undersized for lifting the body but as explained that is NOT their purpose.
Then some errors in the text:
This are redundant delete either one
duty, he has
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derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/12/31/1328910.png
Using that as a base, I calculated rearing would put a 1.5 meter equestrian at 1.85 meters, which is about equal to most other races. (As for it's different mass calculations it's got that them being leaner portioned outside the simulation.)
But this state real life horses are 1.5 times taller rearing, which works out to 2.25 meters which the only Citadel race taller being the hanar. Averaging the 1.85 and 2.25 meters gives 2.05, which is at/near level with all but the tallest.
But the codex states "a fully mature Equestrian typically does not grow taller than a meter and a half", it's referring to their max height so many are shorter. Equestrian Equation stated Twilight was "perhaps just over four feet tall" which is at least 1.22 meters so 1.50 to 1.83 (Shepard's height) meters averaging 1.67 (5'8'') so the math holds pretty well.