[b]Name[/b]: Pegasid

[b]Description[/b]: The pegasid are a derivative of land-based equines with an adaptation for flight, such that is had taken them from the ancestral steppe ecosystems and into more distant and diverse ranges, particularly focused in the mountains where they've resided behind cloud curtains. The trials and tribulations of landing however have not done well on normal hooves which rapidly favored a divergence towards heavy-hoofed and sturdy legs to prevent them from breaking from too hard a landing, and mountain ranging as in many favored a flexibility in the hoof like a goat, if to even the point of handling objects in them.
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[img]http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/171/a/a/zhayedan_of_pegasid_by_aaronmk-d7n9nvs.png[/img][/hider]

[b]Evolution[/b]: Commentators of a more modern mindset might observe a likely biological link between the Girfahl and the Pegasus that lead to the genetic mutation that ultimately favored flight, and through a process of elimination and adaptation the hybrid species managed to take wing as a functioning, breeding population that quickly diverged from their terrestrially based counterparts. The ability of flight served to only extend their range beyond the cold steppe wilderness they once called home and successive generations later wound up across a large number of different habitats, often ranging alongside others.

The core of structure of their society arose with the adaptation of agricultural practices by other species, likely taken in raid – although the details are well lost – against another. The general concept of sedimentary farming and cultivating native resources marked a transition some ten thousand years ago from a still migratory life-style that had evolved to simple raid to sedimentary practice centered on the farming of grass and grain crops. Simple milling processes allowed for the refining of the end product to part the nutrient rich elements from the waste product, which further caused a shift in the energies from survival to the focuses of civilization.

Over the next several thousand years a cultural evolution would evolve through the Pegasi numbers marking a preference in life-style or ranging territories. In the spans of their original homeland would rise the Manegri civilization which clung to the old ideas of migration and living off the land. In the mountains arose the Buraq civilization who had found fertility at the cloud lines to carve and construct terraces in the rocky loams to construct a civilization in the cliffs and the valleys of green mountains. And along the shores arose the Pysidea civilization which had achieved a sort of cosmopolitan style of living in a symbiotic relationship with others.

Definition within the civilizations would gradual further define and break down the cultural ties into more specific cultural units or political units as the roll of city-states arose and eventually wide-spread governance in feudal politics or tribal relationships. The Three Tongues came to be, and the Three Faiths.

Behavior between the civilizations varies based on what's culturally accepted, though unifying praise for "deeds of awesome" ranges unanimously between the Pegasi. But cultural specifics reign through out, and even the more localized cultures have adapted significantly different mannerisms of their own. Some large differences in behavior between the larger civilization brackets:

The Manegria keep to the nomadic life-style their ancestors have for eons. They hold the idea of family above all others and will fight and die among themselves for family honor or right. Clans are built on the tightly interwoven inter-familial relationships through marriages between them and many nets can be considerably large. When not seeking greener pastures they may partake in regular raids against each other or on the outside to bring in wealth and resources otherwise unavailable to them.

The kingdoms of the Baruq nations hold to a high rung the art of being a warrior and poetry. Following the ideology of Soarastrianism, their creed is "Do awesome, think awesome, speak awesome". To outsiders this has often made the Baruqid kingdoms narcissistic at best. Though traditions of hard hunts against dangerous prey has forged a strong lineage of adept and physically tested warriors. And like the Pysidean they had grounded themselves with agriculture and have built from it a homeland and civilization carved from the high rock of their mountain abodes.

The Pysidean are terrestrially based and in partnership with one or more different races are a part of a Pegasid-oriented civilization. The fruits of their labors born in the vineyards and raised in aristocratic estates. The Baruqid often accuse the Pysidean of abandoning the skies for living on the ground. And the Manegrian tribes likewise gentrify them for not partaking in great flights. 

[b]Strengths[/b]: The root instincts of long-distance as found in the normal horse are still entwined in many which has lead to a consciousness for the distant. Like vultures, they can make long travel with little effort on their part, and are decent endurance fliers; as well physically durable.

[b]Weaknesses[/b]: A lack of formal fingers and thumbs hasn't done well. Though most tasks can be done simply with the mouth or trained balance, the lack of hands has made actual Pegasi craftsmen ship relatively poor. Often times crafts come big and broad with simplified details given a lack of motor dexterity. Awkwardness also restrains their finesse in fighting, and using hooves to strike down an opponent is very popular; otherwise what might be swept to the side with their legs or strapped to their side for a charge is their means to an end on the field.

[b]Location[/b]: 
[img]http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/187/4/8/krazaz_rp_map1_by_aaronmk-d7pimbs.png[/img]
*Does not dictate the breakdown of kingdoms within.