World Information
Seasons and Aging
Seasons
Anomalous experiences four main seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each season will last one real month so four real-time months will be a year in Anomalous time!
Note: In Anomalous, Spring and Summer are birthing seasons. If a character is born in Autumn or Winter, they will be rolled for defects.
Spring
Spring is a wonderful time in Anomalous. Mares who bred early in the breeding season are now giving birth to their babies. Foals are everywhere! Spring can vary from region to region, but for the most part, temps are cooler at night and warmer during the day; while still not as warm like the summer, the weather is sunny and pleasant! The land will start to grow and become new again and most are filled with joy and love during this time! Antlers will be shed for those who have them. Those with scales will usually shed their skin during this time.
Summer
Summers can be mild or intensely hot in Anomalous! Some regions will experience sweat-drenched summers while others will hardly break a sweat! Mares who bred in the winter are still giving birth during summer. The cool waters of Anomalous - whether pond, river, lake, or ocean - are always very inviting during this time and often bustling with activity! Those with antlers will be in velvet, otherwise known as the time when their antlers regrow. Antlers will be soft and velvety during this time and caution must be taken not to damage them! Those with feathers experience a partial molt toward the end of summer to make sure they look fabulous for the upcoming breeding season!
Autumn
Autumn is when the breeding season across Anomalous begins! Stallions and mares are taken over by hormones and Anomalous turns into a battleground with stallions fighting for breeding rights. The weather is growing colder, especially at nights, and in some places the trees become garbed in their autumn attire! Some light snowfalls are not uncommon towards the end of the season. Those with antlerss have shed their velvet to reveal a completely regrown antlers while those with feathers undergo a full molt in order to have a fresh batch to keep them warm during the winter.
Winter
Breeding is still in full swing, though many mares have been claimed by this point. This is the hardest time of the year for Anomalous where certain areas experience heavy snowfalls. Across Anomalous very cold temperatures are felt and, in some areas, food shortages may occur. The far north becomes nearly impenetrable during this time and attempting to travel through the mountains could mean death!
Aging System
As aforementioned, every four real-time months will equal one in-game year! This means that every character will age by one year every spring or summer, depending on what season they were born! Physical/mental capabilities vary over the course of a character’s life. Lifespans for most herds are typically 25-35 years, except for those curious Austerians who commonly reach 50 years old!
0-1 Year Old | Mentally 0-5 Years Old
Newborns! During this time young are completely reliant upon their mothers and rarely leave her side! Foals are can be weaned two seasons after their are born (ie, Spring babies will be weaned in autumn) but may nurse up to a year old in areas where food is scarce! Foals may begin to speak simple words or sentences but are, for the most part, more focused on being cute and adorable!
Note: Foals between 1-2 years of age may experience magical leaks if they get too emotional! Since some strains can be somewhat dangerous, parents must keep a close eye on their baby at this time!
2-4 Years Old | Mentally 6-12 Years Old
Young’ns! Foals this age are starting to really figure out who they are and experience the world! While foals this age begin to wander and explore the world on their own, these jaunts tend to be short and within the vicinity of their mother. At three years of age foals can begin to learn basic control of their magic! It is at this age that foals can leave the protection of their mother but may stick around for another year or two! Those with wings will begin to lose their down-like baby fluff around one year but won't truly grow in their flying feathers until age three, when their muscles have developed enough to begin to learn how to fly! Anomalies with horns or tines begin to grow them in between three and five; they will begin rather nubby and small.
5-9 Years Old | Mentally 13-17 Years Old
Teenagers! At this point in horse’s life they have reached sexual maturity and can now actively participate in the breeding season, although they are still quite young and have a lot of growing up to do. Horses this age are completely self-sufficient and no longer need their parents to take care of them, although they could still certainly use their advice! Late bloomers will have grown in their first horns and tines by age five! Those with feathers have completely grown in their adult plumage by five years.
10-14 Years Old | Mentally 18-24 Years Old
Young adults! Horses this age have had some life experience under their belt and can now be considered worthy opponents when it comes to fighting for mates, even though they have not quite reached their full height/stature! Horses of this age across all the herds are considered mature adults and treated with the appropriate level of respect, including engaging in marriage! Horns are now nearly full-grown!
15-24 Years Old | Mentally 25-45 Years Old
Adults in their prime! Those who reach this age are fully grown and are formidable opponents when it comes to fighting for mates. For those with horns, horns have reached their peak height and strength. After 20 years of age, horses gradually begin to move out of their prime and can often beaten in fights by those just entering their prime although experience still gives them the edge. By 24 years old physical capabilities begin to fade and most have begun to settle and retire.
25-35 Years Old | Mentally 46-60 Years Old
Elderly! At 25 years old, horses have lived the most glorious years of their lives and have entered retirement. For the most part, horses this age are out of the game when it comes to competing for mates but a few may still have the gumption to fight for another year or two although at this point fertility issues may occur! Those who hold ranks that requires active fighting or physical skills are often given lighter duties or completely retire. It is dangerous for mares to have children even if they are still fertile and will more than likely experience complications. Generally, most horses will die of old age around 35 years old. Plumage of horses this age begins to lose its luster.
36-50 Years Old | 60-80 Years Old
Ancients! Anyone who makes it past 35 years of age must have some pretty good genes! At this point, health issues are a major concern and horses must take care to not overexert themselves for fear of injury! Horns will begin to fall back and those with plumage often lose their feathers. Magical strength is still quite strong, although the mental health of an individual may affect their ability to use magic. Those of Saevarg and Austerian blood can reach the ripe old age of 50 years old although the rest of the herds cannot hope to live past 40. Ancients may babble on about the ‘good old days’ and can be quite crotchety if the ‘young whippersnappers’ are too loud during naptime! Ancients often become reliant on the adults of the herd to take care of them, their wisdom and long life of service to their herds is highly respected.