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 Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:19 am
Elder Applications Elders.
A foreign word, I know, as the term itself has long since been used in the appropriate manner. Elders are our elite Soquili, our leaders, the most mature and wisest of all the herds. They are not categorized by a particular species, for members from each group have the potential of achieving this honor, should they meet the criteria.
Below, you will find the definition of an Elder and the requirements of what it takes to have your Soquili become an Elder. If you feel your Soquili is qualified for Elderhood, you also have the opportunity at this time to enter an application.
If you have any questions, please read all of this thread to see if your question is answered here. If you still have a question after reading these posts, then feel free to shoot a PM to Nayci.[Credit to Skye/Caj for the original application process and Cuter for the second from whence the bulk of these posts are derived from. Credit to Nisshou, whom helped to set up all this information. smile ]
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:38 pm
Part 1: What is an Elder?
If you’re reading this, you are either A) an involved person who believes in reading updates (in which case, good for you!) or B) owner of a potential elder. So I’m sure that you’d like to know what that potential is all about!
Basically, Elder is the highest stage a Soquili can attain. It’s purely optional, and only attainable through rp. Buying a life cycle Soq doesn’t mean you’ll get an elder if all you do is stick that pet in your sig, so don’t get bent out of shape that yours never makes it that far. Becoming an Elder is an RP PERK.
So, you have your pet and you rped it and now have all 100% stats. Why would you want to go elder? What are the benefits?
For starters, you get a new stage of your Soquili. A stage that only a few others have achieved so far. There is male and female elder art, and elders will be upgraded to this beyond-adult stage that they might look as regal and dignified as they now are in their new in-character state.
Secondly, elders, being bigger and tougher than regular adults, are also capable of bearing more children! In any breeding where a parent (be it one or both) is an elder, that breeding will yield FOUR baskets, guaranteed, plus have a chance at getting a whopping FIVE! (And for comparison, normal adult Soquili can have two baskets, three if they’re lucky, so this goes to show the breeding perk!)
------*However, owners are still only allowed to keep one basket each; this just means more to give away!
Now, by this point, you’re probably thinking, “GREAT!” Who doesn’t love art and baskets? Why, I want EVERY SINGLE SOQ I OWN TO BE AN ELDER AS SOON AS THEY HIT 100%
Wrong answer. Sure, the perks are nice. But beyond the perks, there are a few basic elder truisms that need to be remembered.
Most importantly, the very name elder implies something about this stage. An Elder is often a leader; be it religious, or spiritual, political, or merely formal, Elder implies that the person (or in our case, Soquili) is an individual worthy and fit to have this role. Elders are leaders among the Soquili, individuals who can be looked up to by others and exhibit the necessary traits for the important role of elder. Just because they may be a kalona does not restrict them from becoming an Elder; if they fit the role within their breed, then they too are eligible. Roleplay development of these Soquili are key to a good Elder. And Elder cannot be customed or born at that rank, they achieve the status after hard work and development to obtain such a high standard of status.
Basically, elders are leaders/leadership material. Keeping this in mind, not all Soquilis are meant to be Elders. We hope that owners will be using their best judgment in putting Soquili candidates for elderfication forward, and to help you all decide whether or not to go elder, we’ve put together a few things to keep in mind when you're preparing a soquili for an elder application.
Remember:
Responsibility and leadership. Obviously the elders need to be able to handle themselves and situations that come up; they are the ones to which other Soquilis will look in times of trouble, so they need to be up to the challenge. The definition of responsibility and of a good leader varies from breed to breed, and this will essentially be looked at on a case by case basis. What makes a Kalona responsible might be different from a Regular, and so on and so forth.
RP development. Elders are supposed to have grown and matured to the elder stage through rp (see, it all links back to roleplay). Consequently, the roleplay of the Soquilis in question will be checked to determine whether or not the Soq in question has grown into a character worthy of being an elder. If all you have is mate-finding RP chances are you won't make elder. Additionally, just because you make a plot thread with a checklist of certain achievements does not guarantee eldership. Often, those sorts of things force a character into a role or come off pre-canned.
All RPs should be started before the Elder Applications open in order to be counted for that seasons applications. RPs started before the opening date may still be completed during the elder applications.
Community development. An Elder is a role model and leader in the community, not just in the family. Have your Soquili get out more and RP with others! Show that they are respectable examples of their breed or mission with people that have no relation to them! Just like mate-finding RPs are not substantial enough to yield an elder neither is only having family or mate driven RPs.
Grow into the role. We should be able to watch your Soquili grow naturally into the role of being a leader. One lesson should flow into the next with ease. Each Soquili's trials will be different and they should respond accordingly and take what they learned from each trial into the next stage of their lives.
Elders are not collectors items. Most characters will never become an Elder. Some will have to have A LOT of change to make them eligible. Getting max stats and RPing a lot doesn't guarantee anything, because the character has to truly grow and change and evolve. Just being an Alpha or Protector in a herd or doing an epic event once in their life doesn't prove anything. To some soquili, that is just an everyday walk in the park. . . Elders must go above and beyond, and it has to show in RP.
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:42 pm
Part 2: Becoming an Elder As mentioned in the introduction, becoming an elder is a multi-step process. So, in a new and streamlined list format…how to become an elder!
Step 1:Have all six stats at 100%
Step 2: Have trackable, readable rp (although this ought to already exist if your stats are at all 100s, it’s best to make sure)
Step 3: Post the elder application in the elder application thread, WHEN IT IS OPEN.
Step 4: Wait for it! All applicants will be notified whether or not their Soqs have been approved for elder, so PLEASE BE PATIENT. Once approved for elder status the art will take time as well. Keep that in mind when applying!*Approval of elders is done via group. Specifically, a panel of individuals will be considering each application and jointly deciding if your nomination is valid. As mentioned above, owners will be notified of the verdict regardless of whether it’s affirmative or not (aka, we'll make an announcement post once everything's decided, so keep checking THIS THREAD, and not PMs!)
** All RPs must have takes place within the Soquili shop boundaries (the IC RP section of the guild or in teepees) and not from other places on Gaia or on other sites. ((Logged IM or PM RPs are still fine so long as they are posted in the IC RP section of the guild or within a teepee.))
***In addition, if your Soquili is rejected for elder once, you are welcome to try again later after working more on your Soquili’s character in rp. However, for reasons of scope a Soquili may only be submitted for Elder status three times before you are put on probation. So if you're rejected thrice, after the third time, you must wait a full physical year from that rejection before you will be permitted to enter for Elder application again. (This is an attempt to show you that this honor is a BIG DEAL, so merely throwing your horse up for the chance of NEW LINES and MOAR BABIES is simply a waste of yours and ours time).
****The staff reserves the right to change details as circumstances merit. No changes will be retroactively applied, and all changes will be clearly indicated.Application[b]Name of Soquili and Link to Image:[/b]
[b]Link to Teepee:[/b]
[b]Do you remember when your Soquili first maxed out?[/b] [Month and year if you do.]
[b]Links to RP(s) that show how the Soquili has grown over time, proving his or her development into an Elder:[/b] (20 max)
[b]Why would your Soquili (IC) choose the Elder path?[/b]
[b]Why have you chosen the Elder path for your Soquili OOC?[/b] Elder Application Status Is Currently: Open - December 20th at 8am EST and will close on December 29nd at 11:59pm EST.
Applications will close at this time whether or not we are here to close it. Late applications will not be accepted.
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:46 pm
Rules
Read the above. If you don't, we won't read your entry.
This is a free service, Elders cost nothing.
There is no pre-determined amount of Elders we accept each time.
Custom edits always appear on Elders. You can request Trading Post items to be re-added freely, to match the previous adult stage or altered.
If your Soquili doesn't get picked, take it like an adult. We don't reject for petty reasons like "OMG THAT PERSON TOTALLY RIPPED ME OFF IN THE EXCHANGE" (though if you are that person, I will be contacting you shortly), but we reject based on required criteria missing from your entry. If you would like to discuss what you can do to improve for next Elder opening, we would be happy to give pointers/advice if you PM this account.
The colorists currently doing Elder upgrades *vary* - you do not get to choose who does your upgrade. When possible the original artist will have first choice of doing the Elder.
You may only apply once per opening. That means one soquili per owner per opening.
Keep your applications to 20 RPs MAX. Any applications with 21 or more RPs will be disregarded.
If you have any questions, please PM Nayci.
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:49 pm
Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: Who are the judges?
A: Aside from me, the judges are secret and do not have to identify themselves in any way if they do not want to. This is to prevent people from pressuring them into decisions.
Q: Will you pleasepleaseplease accept my application? This is my Soq's third time applying!
A: Only if your Soquili fits the criteria. Remember, three rejections only means you have to wait a year before reapplying, not that your pet is down and out for the count.
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 12:34 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:34 pm
Name of Soquili and Link to Image: TaarabLink to Teepee: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=15175157Do you remember when your Soquili first maxed out? I can’t remember exactly when: It was Either in 2012 or 2013. According to niss, June of 2013 Links to RP(s) that show how the Soquili has grown over time, proving his or her development into an Elder: (20 max) Foal: The starting point 1. [PRP]Two of the Flock {Nakita & Taarab}: Observing the frustration of Nakita, one of the hooved members of the flock, young Taarab gets an idea: if someone doesn't have claws, why can't you just make them some claws? Between these, Taarab’s brother is swept away by a flash flood in a mostly dry creek bed. 2. What are you making? : Taarab and Galla talk about art, as he tries to fight back the pain of his brothers 'death' and the reduced time with his parents by focusing on something he can control: his art. Between these rps, Taarab’s been continuing to hone his work obsessively, and taking classes with his father on increasing intervals. 3. Hand Crafting a Better Life: In his third year of foalhood, just a year from being considered a full adult, Taarab gets back from his discussion with the Queen: The artisan guild concept has been giving the okay! (Early development of RP) 4. On ancestral grounds: After the guild has been set up for a while Taarab was handpicked by the queen and escorted to see the Oracle Aylin in the homelands of the Flock, far away from the new territories. 5. A bit of spring cleaning: Continued from Ancestral Grounds, Taarab is working with the Oracle to help set things up to try and rebuild from the ashes of the cataclysm, Taarab shows he's not just a pretty face with nimble talons, but a sharp mind and good source of information. After this, Aylin (in an rp unrelated to any Taarab is actually involved in) informs his mother of her intention of making him her protected pet due to the feeling she has of him having value to the flock that needs to be carefully monitored. 6. Delicate workings: Vanya requests Taarab's help with a project (but has an ulterior motive as well). Here you get to see some of the advancement of the Artisan guild he has created first hand, and the amount of respect he has started to gain from others in the Flock. 7. Boarders of Fear: His daughters in danger, Taarab risks his life to fight off a skinwalker despite not being a fighter. 8. Fault of differing opinions: After the fight, Taarab comforts Vanwyn with the authority not usually given to most flock stallions, and vows to himself to learn to fight so not fail his people. Why would your Soquili (IC) choose the Elder path? While he wouldn’t personally expect to ever be chosen by the spirits to be transformed into an Elder, He’s sort of fallen into the role of an advisor, teacher, and leader, despite being a male born into the Flock. In a culture where males hold no rank and are considered ‘weaker’ and easier to corrupt, He has become respected by not only his peers, but by those that, culturally, would be seen as his superiors, his advice not only listened to, but requested by even some of the highest ranking mares in the Flock. In addition, despite being a high ranking member of the flock, he continues to wish to better himself for the sake of his community. So why would he choose the path of the elder? He wouldn’t actively choose it, it chose him. Why have you chosen the Elder path for your Soquili OOC?Out of a lot of my soquili, he’s honestly one of the very few who I think are even REMOTELY close to being ‘eldership material’. I’m choosing him out of those who I feel fit is because he’s one of two who have reached maxed stats, and out of those two he’s had the most Rp that actually shows some of the stuff. The reason I’m currently entering isn’t necessarily because I feel he’s finished his story. Not In the slightest. But I’ve come to realize he’s developed a lot over time and If I waited until I felt completely satisfied, he’d never be entered, since even if he became an elder before I expected it, it wouldn’t change the fact I plan on continuing to rp and develop him. If he becomes an elder, he becomes and Elder. If he doesn’t I can find out how close he is from “The Great Mother Spirit” of the Flock is from choosing him for her gift.
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Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 2:28 pm
The Spirits had to take their time with this one. They discussed and argued for days, weeks even. Time stretched on, and on, never wavering. Was this soquili ready for the responsibilities of being a leader? He was so close, with so much potential. But could he handle it? Some Spirits said yes, others said no. Some were on the fence, and waiting to see the consensus. Eventually one did come, a hard decision that did not come lightly. Taraab of the Flock was so incredibly close, but the Spirits wanted to see just a bit more.
”Even though you have not obtained favor for Eldership yet Taraab, we see you. We see you can be so much more. Continue to grow, and come into your own. We will keep watching, and waiting in anticipation.” Mindsend If you want to talk to us more about what we would like to see, feel free to reach out to us! We're more than happy to help. smile
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