Umber Deer Herd

[avalikia]

The herd is divided by gender and species. Each has their own leader (called the Lead Bull and Lead Cow if elk, or the Lead Buck and the Lead Doe if whitetail) and their own way of choosing their leader. Every year during the rut any male may challenge the current male leader for his position, but actual challenges are rare because most of the males are too weak to take on the current leader and many of the rest aren't interested in the responsibility. If the current leader decides to step down or dies, the next leader is chosen during the next rut in a tournament between the males interested in the position. For the females, the next leader is chosen by vote whenever the current leader steps down, dies, or the majority of the females want a new leader.

OOC Note: Actually, the current leaders OOCly pick their successor and their choice is RPed out when they're ready to step down.

The focal point of the herd is the large group of females who live together for their own protection and that of their young. The young adult males tend to gather in small groups, while the mature males wander freely through the nearby forests. All of these groups are likely bump into eachother frequently, but they don't stay with eachother for very long most of the year.

The herd is extremely accepting of new members, regardless of age or gender. All are allowed to leave or join the herd at will with only a formal request to the appropriate leader. Members are allowed to leave and return to the herd's normal grounds at will (though they do so at their own risk). Only in extreme cases will a herd member be banished and never allowed to return.

For more information, contact Ojalo, Niabi, Roscoe, or Aspen.

[Sohtoh]

The Umber Deer Herd, which for the moment is composed of both elk and whitetail deer, though others are welcome, is looking for more members! Of especially high priority at the moment are Cow Elk and Whitetail Does, though both genders of all species are welcome and wanted.

Contrary to popular belief, deer are not cowardly animals that run at the sound of a leaf cracking in the background! They are beautiful, graceful, and interesting critters to play as. They have rather complex social systems, elk and whitetails alike. Not only are they fun characters to play, but you can have quite interesting backgrounds. Both the males and the females are extremely powerful animals when threatened, and they do fight back, though if you have speed and agility, why not use it? When provoked however, a male can completely gore an attacker with his antlers, and a female can kick their face in with her hooves. They are not defenseless, and will protect themselves.. not just run away scared! Being prey animals, they may not be so keen to befriend predators, but with other animals of the forest they can become great companions. They are noble, proud, and exciting creatures to play and definitely deserve more credit than they are currently given.

In the spring and summer bull elk and whitetail bucks form what are known as 'bachelor groups.' If you decide to create a male deer of any sort, it is vital to your survival that you get along with the other males.. during the warmer half of the year, at least. Males of both species shed their antlers annually, leaving them very vulnerable to attacks from predators, which the MUCK is full of. With no antlers, the males are much less able to defend theirselves. By cooperating and protecting each other, they survive through the hotter months and make it into the rut. Then, they continue on hating each other once again.

An important factor in any male deer's life is the rut. For both species, this is a big deal, and the prime time of the year. The 'rut' is the same thing as the mating season. For elk, the rut is from early autumn to mid-autumn in the MUCK timeline, and for whitetail deer, the rut is from late fall to early winter, also in the MUCK timeline. Pre-rut, the bucks and bulls will form rubs against trees, lick tree branches, anything in order to get their scent on stuff. This is the time for dominance competition, and sparring is the norm. Often these fights will result in serious injuries, though players can work out just what is the limit for violence before their spar.

However, if you do not wish to be a male, there is also a great need for females of both species. Cow elk and whitetail does make up the majority of the herds and harems of the male characters. Both species are polygamous, so please don't expect the males to be too faithful. ;]

Both species reside in gender-oriented groups for most of the year. Cow elk stay with other cow elk, and whitetail does stay with other whitetail does. However, the males are arrogant and do tend to look out for 'their' females. Make no mistake though, for the females are just as able to protect themselves from danger as are the males. With maternal instincts in the spring to protect their offspring, they can make for one formidable opponent. Also, due to the relatively low player base for the herd, the whitetails, both male and female keep to themselves, and the elk, male and female, keep to themselves. However, the players of both species try to have their alts congregate as often as possible. (IE, we're working on it. )

None of the adult deer characters in the MUCK are related in any way, shape or form. So, if you were looking for an interesting background for your character, consult a player of an active deer and ask us! Many of us deer-folk have some complicated family histories that would be very interesting if they were to be elaborated on. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it! As long as there is consent from both of the players, this option could wind up being very fun for both parties involved.

And last but not least are the babies. The term for a baby elk is a 'calf' and the term for a baby whitetail is a 'fawn'. The rut is in the fall, and babies are born in the spring.

If you happened to join in the coordinated IC autumn seasons, you could always create a female deer of any species that is pregnant, and she could have her fawn or calf the following IC spring.

When the IC spring rolls around, there will /definitely/ be a need for calves and fawns! Please see meadowmuck.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=requests&thread=1265&page=1 for information on requesting a hold for a fawn or a calf.
A baby deer would be fun to play because not only do you get to be a curious, wobbly little creature, but you get to play a character who gets to grow up into adolescance and into adult hood. Unlike us chumps who chose to make an adult right off the bat, you can form your character's personality over time and make for one really cool deer.

So please consider joining us over at the MUCK! Not only because we desperately need deer characters and would love you forever, but to break the stereotype of the cowardly deer. We believe that you'll find playing a deer character fun and exciting. If we do get a herd large enough, then solitary predators and even groups of predators would be less challenging to ward off, but honestly, it's rare that you see the deer getting attacked ICly, so please don't let that be a concern. Again, there is no pressure on you to join the herd if you do not wish to, but both prospective herd deer and solitary deer are really needed at this point!

Thanks again for stopping by, and we hope to see new deer characters soon!

--Roscoe, Lead Whitetail Buck
--Aspen, Lead Whitetail Doe
--Niabi, Lead Cow Elk
-- Ojalo, Lead Bull Elk