Cockatrice Clan

From FiranMUX

Clan Leader: Diamia

Religion: Polytheistic

Clan colors: yellow and red

Traditional coloring: fair eyes, reddish hair, fair skin tone

The Clan of the Cockatrice calls as home the large chunk of land in the southwestern corner of the Firan Realms. They were mostly people of the forest -- comfortable in the wild, and skilled at mining. Though since the Great War, they have become increasingly mercantile in nature.

This clan, however, has had a long, troubled history. It is widely suspected of being the oldest clan in existence, although there is some evidence to the contrary, including the bombastic claims by the Gold Dragon Clan to be the oldest clan in existence. Even so, the Cockatrice Clan leaders always seem to find themselves in the midst of some dark tragedy that repeats itself decade after decade. There have been far too many assassinations and suspicious deaths in the royal house of the Cockatrice for anyone to be comfortable with the thought that it's all coincidence.

Members of this clan almost uniformly worship Uf, Eesha and Unot. They have become accustomed to pilgrimages from members of other clans. The main city of this clan used to be Sarkaran, which is right across the Uell River from Anarinuell, and can be seen from the shore. Consequently, Sarkaran was traditionally been a relaxed "getaway" for the Firans after tense political negotiations in Anarinuell. Most of the yearly festivals are held in the Sarkaran, so the Clan of the Cockatrice saw itself as a perpetual "host".

However, after Lady Ibania declared herself clan leader and a civil war ensued, both Nelabam and Sarkaran were conquered and taken as spoils of war -- Nelabam by the Bear Clan and Sarkaran by the Gold Dragons. The only two cities left to the Cockatrice Clan are Unotran and Agadin.

Manners are important to these people, as is hospitality. They are almost uniformly of the middle class with very few nobles, and even fewer impoverished. An important cultural feature of this clan is that of arranged marriages and high respect for tradition. Parents always arrange the marriages of their children in the clan of the Cockatrice, and to do otherwise is extremely scandalous. The children are not supposed to meet their intended spouses before the wedding, and varying from this tradition is grounds for being disowned.