Ram

## General

The Rams are a species known for sport, competition, and reverence. Rams are of the belief that Goddess Luna may come and call upon them at any moment, so they must be ready to be at their physical, mental, and emotional best.

## Ram Creation Guide

   The information listed below is integral to making a Ram character. We ask you prioritize our worldbuilding, these facts must be kept in mind even when deviating from societal norms.

### Appearance

Rams have wide and strong builts, with fur kept long enough to paint from day to day. Their coat colors are in greys, whites, blacks, and browns. Any more vibrant coat colors are often muted, very dark, or very washed out and near-white. All genders of Ram grow horns

### Naming Scheme

Rams do *not* have a specific naming structure.

### Cutiemarks and Capabilities

Rams do *not* receive cutiemarks. They do not have spellcasting or the ability to fly. They also have no internal magic.

## Society

The information found below is also very important to the character creation process, it is everything your OC would have been exposed to throughout their lives, it's what they know best, whether or not they fit that societal norm.

### Values and Demeanor

Competition is the lifeblood of Ram society, a constant push to show their very best selves in sports, academia, and in religious practice. Achievement and overachievement are encouraged and rewarded, and Rams will be less understanding of laid back ways of life. It is considered a waste to be idle when you could be honing mastery of any number of your skills.

This may be cause for their on average shorter lifespans, constant straining of their bodies and minds leaves little room for relaxation. Rams who are not able to keep up with their peers are often left to menial labor, or in some cases, they exceed in comparatively lax religious positions. Being someone who performs menial labor, like service jobs, mail carriers, and cleaning jobs, does result in social outcasting, and the high expectations that they will raise their child to be more able to achieve than they are. It is considered dishonorable for Rams in these jobs to leave the Ramshead Ministry, it is not putting their best hoof forward to other societies and makes Rams as a collective look weaker.

Strong Ram warriors on the other hand, are encouraged to tour neighboring territories in groups to celebrate Luna, and celebrate themselves. These traveling groups often come back quickly, longer trips are discouraged because these members of society are needed at home doing their jobs. Although the primary reason to celebrate their strength lies within their devotion to Luna, there is a growing party culture that comes from the love of celebrating, and the love of their communities. Ram workplaces, schools, and towns as a whole are often tight-knit as they’re taught from a young age to celebrate others’ excellence instead of only their own achievements. No one Ram could help Luna alone, it is important that they are all strong, pushing one another, and celebrating each other’s successes.

### Religion and Traditions

Rams live with the outright belief that Luna shall soon return and call upon their abilities in a holy war against solar devotees. Competition is their methodology for overall species betterment, and it is akin to worshiping Luna when one hones their skills.

Once every two years, the rams open The Airglow Arena for competitors across the Ministry to fight to the death. Often the participants have failed in some way, and view this brutal competition as a final chance to redeem themselves in this life. The Arena adopts the slogan “*Vindictam, Absolutio, Redemptio*” meaning Vindication, Absolution, Redemption. To win in the Airglow Arena is to become free of all monetary and social debts, as winners are redeemed in the eyes of Luna for their dedication and sacrifice.

Rams will paint themselves in day to day life with markings found on depictions of Luna. While the color of said markings do not matter, their placement represents status or occasion. It can also be a bonding experience to paint one another’s fur, between partners, friends, and parents to children.

### Politics and History

The Ramshead Ministry is actually a collection of individual departments, each run by a minister and adopting the ministry title. The departments are as follows: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Competition, Ministry of Infrastructure and The Grand Ministry of Luna. The Grand Ministry of Luna handles religion within the territory, and acts as the head of all departments.

Current Leaders: Under Construction.

The Rams have a unique respect for the dragons, going as far as to defend their territory in the past against other pony species, citing that dragons are one of Luna’s holy species. The dragons, then, view the Rams as more tolerable of a species, although official allyship has never been declared. The Rams are officially allied with the Moth Ponies and Icarids, and have friendly relations with the Batponies.

Outside of the Ramshead Ministry, Rams are known for their extreme Lunar devotion, bordering on finding them to be religious zealots. They have never allied with a Solar species, and find Unicorns distasteful as well, but will tolerate them because they find respect in the Unicorns’ dedication to studying magic. The Rams have made astonishing progress in medicine, architecture, and welfare to support the potential strengths of their population. They are a nightmare to war against, with their constant production of strong warriors and strategists, may Luna have mercy on those who choose to be their enemy.