Adan
From FiranMUX
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Overview
Lord Adan Ista Barun, formerly Lord Adan IstaBannos and Lord Adan N'Gato, has had a storied and scandalous life. First a prince, then a bastard, then a slave, then a noble, Lord Adan has been almost every social class. He has perpetually been in between, without a place to call his own, existing in a state of flux. Recently, he has begun a new life as an Ista Barun with the mysterious Lady Yassamin, the latest in a series of changes.
Lord Adan was born on June 6, 22 A.U., the child of Prince Sadin Elianik and Lady Bashona Ista Bannos. While his father was the scandalous sort, he lived as a prince until Lord Aldrikos, Lady Bashona's "former" husband returned, carried by a Vreland ship. This caused a great deal of consternation among the Religious Council. Lord Aldrikos was alive and still had his wedding necklace; was Lady Bashona, then, unbound from Lord Aldrikos and could she validly marry Prince Sadin?
After a meeting and debate, the Council decreed that Lady Bashona's marriage to Prince Sadin was invalid for she was never properly unbound. As a result, the newborn Prince Adan Elianik was declared a bastard and stripped of his title and family name.
In 24 A.U., Adan disappeared along with Lady Bashona and his brother Lord Rikon. Investigations at the time determined that the cause of their disappearance was being kidnapped and sacrificed to Drik by the Drikkist Mer Sayam Kirdik. And so the matter stood until 34 A.U when Rikon and Adan appeared at the Firan front lines outside of Ellish. They were escorted to the capital by Lord Atreides and bounced from home to home until Clan Leader Nydiam announced that the two would be Cockatrice citizens, resuming the name IstaBannos, and living in the IstaBannos Estate.
As a child, Lord Adan was known as a prankster and spit-fire, always landing himself in trouble with his "raids" and pranks. For a while, he was known for using Shamibelian forms of address, such as "Vitara" for ladies. As he grew into adulthood and became more accustomed to Firan society, these mannerisms faded.
Despite being a frail and sickly boy, Lord Adan enlisted in the infantry upon his Ceremony of Souls. He has remained in the Army since, and served in the campaigns of 37 and 42 A.U.
Most notable about Adan's life is his divorce of his first wife, Lady Arika, and his subsequent marriage to Lady Yassamin Ista Barun. Though details are vague, Adan was apparently on business near Agadin when he came across Lady Yassamin being marauded by Shamibelians. Together with his friends Centurion Alastor and Sister Nicolette, Lady Yassamin was freed. Adan was apparently so smitten with the woman that on his arrival at Agadin, he declared he would divorce his wife and marry her. This sparked a scandal that ran for two years before coming to a head with Lord Adan's eventual marriage to Lady Yassamin at the 42 A.U. Spring Festival.
Ranks and Offices
- Captain, Republic Army
- Captain, Cockatrice Militia
- Member, General Staff of the Republic Army
- Assistant Manager, Lost Ferry TC
Family Life
Parents
Lady Bashona was a beloved lady of the Republic and the Cockatrice Clan. She was known for her work as a proxy when her father, Clan Leader Bannos, departed with the Seven Heroes. Adan takes his fragile health after her, no doubt "helped" by his time in slavery. Adan loves his mother dearly and reverently refers to her as "Mother." Mother, Adan claims, was "terribly clever," and he aspires to be as clever as she was one day. He also constantly wears the IstaBannos signet ring that she gave him to prove his identity in the city.
Prince Sadin Elianik is a "colorful" member of the Elianik royal line. He has been married several times, and broken many hearts along the way. When Sadin's marriage to Bashona was annulled, Sadin took no steps to legitimize Adan or his claim to the royal family. As a result, Adan was declared a bastard and stripped of name and title. Adan still resents his father for this, and the two have never met in Adan's memory. Adan is so bitter, that he responded angrily to Sadin's attempt to legitimize Adan to further his own plans for a new Clan in the Republic. Some say that in that moment of emotion, Adan threw away his chance to be a Clan Leader.
Siblings
Although Rikon is only Adan's half-brother by blood, that makes little difference to Adan. Rikon experienced slavery in Shamibel and Ellish with Adan and, in Adan's eyes, that is a bond stronger than blood. Adan used to be completely dependent on his brother for support and guidance, but that has changed in recent years. Rikon married Adan out of the clan to Lady Arika N'Gato to get Adan out of his shadow. It worked, but perhaps not in the way that Rikon wanted. After Adan's divorce from Arika and marriage to Yassamin, the two brothers have grown distant and are now rarely seen together.
Lady Tia Firgalik is Adan's half-sister by his father, Prince Sadin. Adan vaguely recalls playing with her as a child, but when he returned to the capital, she did not warm to him. She did not recognize him as her brother, much less a prince, and as far as Adan is concerned, he's happy the nutty woman was sent away.
Prince Lucas Elianik is Adan's half-brother by his father. The two are not close, and, indeed, Lucas seems rather hostile towards Adan. Their relationship is as formal as any nobleman to a prince, and lacks any of the warmth of a family bond.
Prince Argin Elianik is Adan's half-brother by his father. Like with Prince Lucas, the two are not close, and their relationship is formal and distant. Nonetheless, it lacks the hostility of Lucas's attitude towards Adan and Prince Argin has kept Adan on his general staff, which Adan feels to be a positive.
Marriage
Lady Yassamin IstaBarun is a scandalous and mysterious figure. She was born in Caldera City and following a tragic equestrian accident was left without much of her memory from childhood. She was sent away to Unotran to live with the priests of Unot and train as a priestess. She flourished there, known for her kind and caring ministrations of the dying. For her priestess trials, she was sent to Agadin where she tended to the military garrison there as a healer. She was on her way to the Oracle for the last part of her trial when the Shamibelians attacked. Adan, Alastor, and Nicolette rescued her and when Adan returned to Agadin with Yassamin, announced that he would bring her to the capital, divorce Lady Arika, and make Yassamin his wife.
Despite the scandal, Lady Yassamin joined the Unotian temple in the capital as a full priestess. She is known for her love of flowers, her beauty, and her gentle nature.
Lady Arika N'Gato was Adan's first wife. Theirs was a political marriage. Lord Rikon wished to marry Adan out of the clan to get Adan out of his shadow -- and perhaps away from the Cockatrice throne -- and used Adan as part of a set of political marriages between the Cockatrice and the Hydrans. Despite this, Lady Arika and Lord Adan were as happy a couple as two nobles could be until the sudden divorce. Together, they had two children, Basina and Bannek.
Children
Basina
Lady Basina N'Gato is Adan's first child and was born April 11, 40 A.U. Basina is the spitting image of her grandmother, Lady Bashona, and is named after her. According to Adan's marriage contract with the Hydrans, which was ratified even after his divorce and separation of the Clan, Basina is to join the Cockatrice Clan upon her ceremony of souls. She is said to be a "daddy's girl" and was most recently shouted for her father when she saw him disembarking off the ship returning from Ellish.
Bannek
Lord Bannek N'Gato is Adan's second child and first son and was born March 2, 41 A.U. Bannek was named after Adan's grandfather Bannos and is a fiery, angry boy. His birth made Adan a True Warrior in the eyes of the Hydra Clan, but that does not matter much now. According to Adan's marriage contract, Bannek is to remain with the Hydrans.
Accomplishments
Ennobled
When Adan returned to the city from Ellish, his social class was uncertain. While he was by blood a prince, his "bastard" status left him in limbo, not quite prince, but not quite commoner either. Clan Leader Nydiam resolved the matter by declaring Adan Lord Adan IstaBannos of the Cockatrice clan, restoring to him a noble, if not royal, title.
Marriage Prize
At the Spring Festival of 43 A.U., Lord Adan won the fifty-fifty pentathlon. To win, he faced off against Lady Kassia Iberik, formerly Lady Kassia N'Gato, dashing her hopes of a marriage prize. For his prize, he surprised no one by choosing his intended, Lady Yassamin, to marry. They were wed immediately at the closing ceremony, as is tradition. Some say this is a sign of Eesha's favor on their union. Others say Adan got damn lucky.
Liberation of Ellish
In 42 A.U., following his separation from Lady Arika, Adan was removed from command of the Hydran infantry and re-assigned to Lord First General Donos IstaAldrik's "general staff" as a staff officer. Although he served as an administrative officer, he also fought to liberate Ellish.
Lord Adan fought in the battles for Bandar's Hills, Judano's Climb, Garen's Gully, Fort Zayes, and day two of the final battle for Ellish. He also commanded the infantry unit that took a breach in the walls at Fort Triumph and led a successful scouting mission and an infiltration into Ellish that led to a small, but morale-boosting, slave insurrection.
Member, General Staff
Adan was chosen by First General Donos as one of the first members of his "general staff." The general staff was new to the Army, and was a group of officers and advisers who assisted the general in commanding the army. Adan was brought on as a general administrative officer, running messages, writing scrolls, and sitting in on meetings. He was also valued for his cultural knowledge of the Shamibelians, which was used in planning the campaign. Before Donos's death, Adan was something of Donos's protege and was being groomed for eventual higher command.
With Donos dead, Adan's place in the general staff hierarchy has fallen. Nonetheless, Argin has kept him on as a staff officer and had him co-host the awards ceremony honoring the Republic's fallen and heroes that liberated Ellish.
Republic Medal of Honor
For his heroic actions inserting the Red Bloom into Fort Zayes, Adan received the Republic Medal of Honor, the second highest honor that the Republic bestows.
More information on the Red Bloom mission can be found here.
Marriage to Lady Yassamin
Though this is also a scandal, the Cockatrice do not see it that way. For a clan that has been kicked around a lot lately, losing cities to the Bears and Gold Dragons, Lord Adan announcing his return to the Cockatrice clan and wed to a beautiful woman was like sticking the Hydrans in the eye. Although the clan is usually very staid and traditional, and does not believe in marriage for love, for Adan they were willing to make an exception.
Lord Adan and Lady Yassamin are much beloved in the clan and some say that Adan avoided a riot against Diamia's throne by marrying Yassamin with his wedding prize.
War Season of 38 A.U.
In 38 A.U., Lord Adan made his first foray to the front as a centurion in the Republic infantry. The war season did not go well, and ended up with a good deal of the officers and command staff either dead or in Shamibelian hands. Lord Adan ended up in charge of his infantry unit by default when his commander and captain were both captured, and he began reporting to officer meetings. He was placed in charge of surveying the combat effectiveness of the Army and other administrative tasks. It was perhaps this willingness to "step up" that caught command's eye and led to his eventual promotion to Captain.
The Defiler
Though the name he has been given by the Hydrans, "the Defiler" is meant as an insult, Adan can't help but think it's sort of cool. Perhaps if this "lord" thing doesn't work out, he could join the gladiator circus and fight under the name of "the Defiler."
Enemies
The N'Gatos
The N'Gatos are clearly not pleased with Adan's divorce of Lady Arika. They feel Adan has "defiled" her and never had any intention of being faithful to his family or his vows. His name is mud in the family, as it is in the clan more generally.
At the same time, Lord Rodiste N'Gato was part of the slave insurrection mission and the two of them managed to accomplish the mission without killing one another.
Diamia
Though Adan and Clan Leader Diamia were once close, their relationship has cooled significantly. Though she tolerated Adan's presence in the clan because she must, she seems to be less than thrilled at his return with Lady Yassamin.
His Siblings by Sadin
Though "enemy" may be a strong word, Adan is not very well liked by Lucas, Tia, or Argin. At best, they are as cold and distant to him as if they were not related. At worst, they treat him as a bastard and below their notice.
Sadin
Adan is still angry at his father. Sadin left his mother in a lurch when Lord Aldrikos returned and refused to legitimize Adan as his son. Adan feels if Sadin were any real father or any real prince, he would have dueled for Bashona's honor. This anger led Adan to reject his father's overtures later in life and perhaps throw away his one chance at a clan medallion.
Allies
Fidelia
Clan Leader Fidelia IstaAldrik is the Bear Clan Leader and one of Adan's mother's closest friends. She has always been kind to Bashona's boys, Adan and Rikon, because of her love for Bashona, and Adan trusts her completely and absolutely.
Fidelia stood in for Adan's mother at his Ceremony of Souls and has given him advice and guidance during difficult times.
Alastor
Adan is Alastor's best friend, so much as a noble and a commoner can be best friends. Adan sponsors Alastor, even though Alastor makes little money for him, and puts up with his wacky habits and odd questions. Alastor was with Adan when Adan rescued Lady Yassamin near Agadin.
Though they are an unusual pair, the two seem to have genuine fondness for one another. Alastor has said that he would "follow Adan to the gates of Shamibel," and Adan has been steadfastly loyal to Alastor and his family.
Serina
Mes Serina Jaffus is the daughter of Mes Norah Jaffus and Adan and she met through Norah. After Mes Norah left Firan lands to remain with the Nekhat, Adan consoled her and her family as they adjusted to the change. Recently, Serina has become his sponsoree and has helped Adan and Yassamin establish their new home in the Cockatrice district, as the two of them had almost no personal belongings.
Kodiachi
Sister Kodiachi Iyandin is a scandalous figure herself. It is perhaps what drew the two to each other, as she dealt with the fallout from her own scandal at the Uffian Temple and he with his divorce from Lady Arika. Whatever the reason, she has supported him with advice and counsel as he deals with his own scandals.
Marsalos
Lord Marsalos Iberik is a colorful character in his own right. Adan and Marsalos both like whiskey, women, and cards and can sometimes be seen carousing together in one of the city's many inns or taverns.
Yvette
Lady Yvette Didoron has been very kind to Adan. She helped him with finances as a child, for he had no family to care for him and ensured he did not want for anything. She was also instrumental in "Firanizing" him. They are not as close as they once were, but Adan still remembers to send her children toys on their birthdays.
Scandals
Lord Adan and Lady Yassamin
A Shocking Announcement
On May 16, 41 A.U., Lord Adan made a shocking speech from Agadin that was quickly carried to the city. He announced that he had met a woman, Lady Yassamin IstaBarun of Caldera City. He called her a lady of "beauty and charm" and that "I knew when I met her that we must be together." He announced that he would return to the city with her and would seek permission to divorce Lady Arika and marry Lady Yassamin.
The city was immediately shocked and scandalized. The Hydrans responded angrily and Lord Katarus N'Gato attempted to strip Adan of his title, rank, and clan membership before being reversed by Clan Leader Amenik. The Cockatrice, on the other hand, found the whole thing romantic and the entire city looked forward to meeting the instant sensation Lady Yassamin.
Refuge and Details
When Adan returned with Yassamin, the two did not return to the Hydra district. Instead, they sought refuge with the Cockatrice. The two were separated, Lady Yassamin brought to live in the Palace while Adan rented a room in the Lost Ferry Inn. The Hydrans demanded Adan's return for prosecution, but neither Adan nor the Cockatrice Clan complied.
During this time, more details began to leak out about Adan and Yassamin's meeting. Apparently, Lady Yassamin was a priestess of Unot undergoing her final trials in Agadin. As the last part of her trials, she was bound for the Oracle where she was raided by Shamibelians. Adan, along with his friends Alastor and Nicolette, happened to be by and rescued her but not before Alastor was captured and branded by the Shamibelians and had to be rescued himself.
Stand-Off and Settlement
Though Adan and Yassamin were never formally placed under arrest, for a time neither was permitted to leave the district for their own safety. This led to a long-stand off between the Hydrans and the Cockatrice without a deal in place to resolve Adan's status with the Hydrans nor his marriage to Lady Arika.
Finally, Adan broke the silence with an unauthorized speech. He offered to settle the matter of his guilt by a Trial by Ordeal. He demanded to be lashed to the Rock of Redemption. If he lived, he would be innocent and released from his obligations; if he died, he would be guilty and his sin die with him. The people thought this was rather romantic, if rather crazy.
Adan was never lashed to the Rock of Redemption. Instead, Adan, Diamia, and Amenik reached a diplomatic solution. Diamia paid on Adan's behalf 20 million stenis to the Hydra Clan for the upkeep and maintenance of Lady Arika and her children. Furthermore, the two clans reaffirmed the status of Adan's children and agreed to come to an agreement regarding a replacement marriage for Adan's broken one. Lastly, Adan agreed to duel Rodiste for the honor of his sister and challenged him publicly in a speech.
Duel Day and the Defiler
On September 9, 41 A.U., Lord Rodiste announced that he and Lord Adan would fight in the amphitheater. The announcement was sudden, but allowed the duel to be settled before the 41 A.U. Fall Festival and the mandated festival peace. Adan was handily defeated by the Hydran warrior and left with a permanent scar across his upper lip.
The Hydrans were ecstatic at Rodiste's win. Clan Leader Amenik declared a holiday on the day, "Duel Day," where any Hydran may duel another, so long as it is not to the death, and may petition the Clan Leader to duel someone outside the clan. What's more, Amenik declared Lord Adan "the Defiler of Maiden's Virtue" or simply "the Defiler" and made it a crime to speak of him by any other name in the Hydra Clan.
Even though Adan was defeated, the Cockatrice and Republic in general still respected him for fighting for his lady's honor.
Divorce and Interlude
Following the duel, Lady Arika and Lord Adan were finally divorced in a short, terse ceremony by Clan Leader Amenik in the Hydra True Temple. Furthermore, Adan was formally re-accepted as a citizen of the Cockatrice clan. Although Adan's divorce from Lady Arika was complete, Lady Yassamin and Lord Adan would not be married until over a year later.
Adan and Yassamin awaited a betrothal announcement from the Cockatrice throne, but none ever came. Discontent began to rise in the Cockatrice clan, and the people began to be more and more discontent with Diamia and her refusal to announce marriage between the two loved, if scandalous, nobles.
The matter came to a head at a Clan Council meeting shortly before the Spring Festival. At open Clan Council hours, Adan asked the Clan Council, rather than the Cockatrice, for permission to take Yassamin as his wife. Though the Clan Council demurred, marking this as an "internal Cockatrice matter," an exchange between Clan Leader Taria and Clan Leader Fidelia led to Adan and Yassamin being offered asylum in the Bear Clan. At this point, Lord Proxy Rikon rushed in and announced that the Cockatrice would announce betrothal shortly after the meeting, and there was no need for asylum. Still, no announcement came.
Marriage Prize and Marriage
The scandal was finally brought to a close when Adan won the marriage prize at the Spring Festival of 43 A.U. He chose Lady Yassamin with the marriage prize and the two were married on the spot -- just as Lord Rikon and Clan Leader Diamia had been. It was a storybook close to a scandalous and storybook relationship, and the two now live together in the Derato Manor in the Cockatrice District. By decree of Her Honor Diamia, Adan took Yassamin's name and is now an Ista Barun.
Demotion from Commander
When Lord Viceroy split the combat forces into two divisions, one led by Zaridos and one led by Savaren, Prince General Savaren selected Adan as his Executive Officer and promoted him to commander. The War Council and the Cockatrice did not trust Adan at such a high rank. Their fears were confirmed when Adan attempted to manage riots in the Cockatrice District, but was unsuccessful in organizing Cockatrice troops to protect the Didoron estate and drive back the rioters. Lord Rikon was forced to take charge of the situation, and Adan was demoted back to centurion and placed in charge of fire and water barrels for his failure.
Spurning Sadin
Shortly before Adan's ceremony of souls, while Sadin was attempting to create a new clan in Scirlut, Sadin made a speech accepting Adan as his legitimate son and asking Adan to join him in Scirlut. He promised Adan that he would be Clan Leader of this new clan.
Adan, still angry at his father for his treatment of his mother and him, rejected his father in a public speech. In response, Sadin make a speech derecognizing Adan and declared him a bastard once more. While some felt that Adan was trying to do the right thing, others shake their heads and remark that Adan passed up his one chance at becoming a Clan Leader.
Rambunctious Childhood
As a child in the city, Adan was known for his "raids" where he would invade other people's homes and take their stuff. He also addressed people by Shamibelian, rather than Firan forms of address. Addressing noblewomen as "vitara," for example, was common.
As Adan grew older, he appears to have broken this habit, but it led to many children not being allowed to play with him.
Miscellany
Likes
- Tackleball and his team, Lost Ferry TC
- Gambling, especially Ellish Hold 'Em
- Animals, especially hounds
- Fruit
- Assisting with military administration
Dislikes
- Spicy food
- Being separated from his children
