That was a lot to take in at once, but it was not so dissimilar from Equestrian society -- from ancient Equestrian society, in particular -- that it was completely incomprehensible. And the batponies had been split off from Equestria in ancient times, so it made sense. It sure explained the sergeant's insistence on bowing to anyone she had to bow to -- those would be the batpony priests who outranked her!