Taria
From FiranMUX
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Overview
Taria Oshta, leader of the Ticanee clan and the Royal Oshta house, was born the daughter of the Dolo-Oshta and the Firan hero Velani. When the Dolo-Oshta died, he gave both his wife, and his medallion to Torvahl. Taria was raised by her step-father Torvahl Oshta, and did not know that she was not of his blood until she was fourteen.
Taria took power in a bloodless coup after Torvahl's actions threatened the stability of the Ticanee clan.
Taria has a reputation in the Firan realms for being a headstrong, defiant, and eager woman. She has a temper, a biting wit, a developed sense of responsibility, and fully understands the expectations of her class. She is aware of the prejudices Firans have against her clan. Taria has delivered some truly memorable judgments (one involving a very well known spinyfish!) and is known for being swift -- but fair.
Family Life
Siblings
Taria had one sibling, her half-brother Vahlon who married Princess Inaya Elianik and became the first Ticanee Prince. Vahlon was a headstrong young man who often challenged others to duels, but he and Taria remained close even after she took the medallion. When he was killed in wartime duty fighting the Shamibelians, Taria was distraught.
Vahlon's Funeral was one of the more historic moments of Taria's career, during which she burned down her childhood home as her brother's funeral pyre, and told all the guests to take a clump of ashes with them to remind them of her vow that she would found a city in his name.
Years later, Taria would found the Ticanee city of Vahloria in honor of her brother.
Husbands
As far as the public is aware, Taria has been married three times.
Her first husband was Lord Jalil of the Royal Griffon Family. They were divorced when it came to light that he was the son of Judano Firgalik and therefore, heir to the Gold Dragon throne.
Taria's second husband was Lord Taleo Teranzik. They were divorced in the aftermath of the Alliance War and whilst Taleo served as the Viceroy.
Years later, the two remarried when he retired. (He was, however, called back to service at a later date, and they stayed married with permission of the Clan Council.)
Children
Taria has been a prolific breeder, giving birth to eleven natural born children in addition to an adopted daughter.
- Her children with Clan Leader Jalil included:
- Her children with Lord Taleo Teranzik included:
Accomplishments
Strong Alliances
Perhaps more than any Clan Leader on the Clan Council, Taria Oshta has been able to forge strong and lasting alliances. Her relationship with Clan Leader Jalil of the Gold Dragons would seem to preclude her friendship with Clan Leader Fidelia of the Bear Clan, and yet she has maintained both relationships for many years, sometimes using those relationships to broker deals using the militaries of the two largest Firan clans as backup. Additionally, Taria was said to have a close alliance with Clan Leader Zeysani of the Eagle Clan.
Though her alliances and allegiances have fluctuated over the years, her ability to count noses and predict a vote at the Council table is legendary.
Ticanee Population Growth
When Taria took power, the Ticanee numbered ten thousand individuals, and their population was declining every year. They were a dying people, and it has been her boast that she has seen to the reversal of that trend, perhaps setting a personal example to her people on the need for large families for survival.
The Founding of Vahloria
When Taria took power, the Ticanee had no home cities to call their own. They were refugees in the city of Anarinuell, guests of the Republic. Through a series of clever political alliances, loans, money-grubbing, and sheer force of will, Taria was able to set out in an expedition to found the city of Vahloria near the Caldera City.
Though the Oshta has never taken up residence there, she has visited a number of times. She frequently brags about the hot springs in the city as well as the Hanging Gardens which she personally designed with the help of an architect.
But the founding of the city was not without its troubles. On the way there, the Oshta's expedition encountered a pilgrim group that was sick with pox. In defiance of her orders, Simon Didoron and Ekenca stole Ticanee medical supplies and gave them over to the pilgrim group, who turned out to be bandits.
Taria summarily executed both Simon and Ekenca on the expedition and condemned their souls to death, which set off a long-term feud between the Oshta's and the Didoron Family.
The Clan Treasury
When Taria took power, the clan coffers were nearly empty. While the Ticanee cannot be said to be rich, the Oshta has amassed a rather large fortune for her people over time, leading some to wonder what she does to get it.
Enemies
Teddi Dilarik
Teddi Dilarik was a Bear Clan whore who became a Ticanee courtesan and minister. Taria maintained a close friendship with the woman, going so far as to take her bastard children into her own home, and giving her a position of trust, including a key to her nursery. How the two came into a falling out is not precisely known, but the resulting Teddi Dilarik Scandal resulted in the prostitute running from the Oshta. She was later captured, executed, and given Soul Death. Children sometimes say that the Oshta Mansion is haunted by Teddi Dilarik's Lost Soul, and that some of her body parts are buried under the house.
Leyla Firgalik
From the time the two were very young women, it seemed that the animosity ran deep. The two were seen bickering over the affections of Lord Jalil long before Taria married him. Several public fights between the two delighted the plebians, such as the one they had in the bath house, both women scantily clad, trying to drown each other.
When Taria and Jalil divorced, Jalil announced a betrothal to his first wife's arch-nemesis, Lady Leyla. Due to some political machinations--and many say, Taria's demands--the betrothal was broken off. But the bitter animosity continues to this day.
The Didorons
It seems nearly every time the Oshta collides with members of the Didoron Family, someone ends up dead. While Taria has not actually be responsible for most of the Didoron deaths, many of the corpses have been her enemy. The latest trouble involved Lady Willona Didoron, proxy of the Cockatrice Clan who came to dinner at the Oshta Mansion, got drunk, and got into an argument with the Oshta. During this argument, blows were exchanged, and Lady Willona was executed for attacking a medallion holder.
In time, relations between the two families would cool, and the Oshta's adopted daughter Lilana would marry Lord Zerasmus Didoron.
Scandals
Not a Horsewoman
Though Ticanee are a people of the Plains and had domesticated the horse long before the Firans, Taria never took a liking to the animals, and had to be taught how to ride by her Firan husband, Taleo Teranzik. She still keeps a horse for show, but her basic opinion is that animals are for food.
Uncivilized Dress and Manners
Unlike most ladies in the Firan Republic, Taria often dresses provocatively. This was especially so, in her youth. When she was not readying for war, she was dressed in what her enemies kindly called Brothel Chic. Now that she is older, she dressed more conservatively--apparently at the behest of her grown sons, who don't care for the idea that their mother runs around disgracing them so.
Betrothal to and Execution of Xavier
As a young, divorced clan leader, Taria was urged to remarry. Having only two baby sons for heirs, both of whom her ex-husband claimed as his own for the Gold Dragon Clan, the Ticanee Clan was extremely nervous. As a result, Taria became betrothed to Lord Xavier Manosik.
Relations were warm and cordial between the two until the year 20 A.U. in which Clan Leader Taria reportedly sent a "Dear Xavier" letter to her betrothed while he was at war. In the letter, she broke off the engagement and told him that by the time he returned, she would already be married to Taleo Teranzik, a man she knew only slightly.
Xavier was naturally enraged by being jilted in such an abrupt and uncouth manner. His Gold Dragon pride injured, he confronted Clan Leader Taria publicly, and several embarrassing arguments ensued. He began openly courting Clan Leader Taria's bitter rival, Lady Leyla Firgalik and was overheard to disparage Clan Leader Taria's chastity in the forum.
Henceforth, Lord Xavier's bitterness seems to have led to his end. According to witnesses, on March of 21 A.U., Lord Xavier attacked Clan Leader Taria in her own library, and attempted to rape her. He was subdued by her guards, Sir Quonasi and Lord Pertinax Didoron, who happened to be in the Ticanee mansion on business that evening.
He was shortly executed by Clan Leader Taria, by hanging, and his body sent back to his family with all of his belongings.
Names and Living Arrangements
One of the biggest scandals has to do with the way Taria has handled married life since becoming a clan leader. No one expected her marriages to be romantic in any sense. It was understood that her marriage would be political in nature. But Taria never bothered to pretend. She neither had Taleo change clans, take her last name, nor even live in the house with her. The two have been married, on and off, for the better part of a decade and never lived under the same roof.
Relationship with Jalil
In spite of being married to another man, Taria has been seen in public displays of affection with her first husband, and it is no secret to the Republic that their alliance remained strong, and perhaps intimate, long after their divorce.
The Alliance War
If asked publicly, Taria will maintain that her participation in the Alliance War was necessary to preserve Firan Unification. Privately, however, she continues to have great resentments over the political positions she maintains she was forced to take during that war.
Divorces
That Taria divorced her husband Jalil when they were both relatively young, and coming to power, is not terribly scandalous. But her second divorce was under circumstances that had all the Republic gossips tongue-wagging.
During the Alliance War, Taria's second husband was taken hostage by the Gold Dragon Clan. It was widely assumed that she would side with the Bear Clan and fight for his freedom. Instead, she sided with the Gold Dragon Clan that was holding him hostage. Many took this as an express admission that her loyalties remained still with her first husband.
Certainly, Taleo did not take it well. In the aftermath of the Alliance War, the two divorced. (Years later, they would reconcile and remarry.)
Extravagant Expressions of Grief
The Ticanee Clan Leader is known for her shrewd calculation, for her political acumen, and for her anger. She is also known for her immense grief when she loses those she loves.
- Vahlon's Death: When her brother died, she responded by burning down their family home, and building a city (Vahloria) in his honor.
- Urtenia's Death: When her childhood nanny Dame Urtenia died, Taria's grief knew no bounds.
- Taria made the following judgment on Firan time: 02:53:04 AM on Mon Sep 21, in the year 36 A.U.: There shall be no laughter in the Ticanee district until further notice. I will whip anyone who smiles at me. Mes Jafira will cover all the mirrors in my home with black cloth. If anyone is seen to come to me not wearing mourning clothing, I will beat them with my own fists. And if anyone burns Dame Urtenia without my say so, I will burn them alive with their family. I did not give her my permission to die. I will not let her go.
- After several weeks of mourning, Taria finally gave Urtenia permission to die and allowed a funeral.
- Lilana's Death: Taria shaved her head before the funeral, took her daughter's ashes, and some say still sets a place for her at the family dinner table where her urn of ashes is kept.
Miscellany
Likes
- Whiskey -- Taria's never been one for floofy wine or fruit drinks. For Taria, whiskey is the beverage of choice, the stronger the better. It's said that the Clan Leader argued against Ranivor Vahlgellan when he outlawed Black Death Whiskey on account of it's potential for giving drinkers nerve damage. As far as Taria's concerned, doesn't every good drink do that?
- Lobster Bisque -- Taria doesn't particularly like people to know she has such a fondness for "rich people food" but her beloved Dame Urtenia had a great recipe for it, and Taria frequently complains that no one makes it the same since Urtenia died.
- Red -- During her glory days, Taria loved to wear the color red and scandalize the Firans. Now that she's older, she's given up such clothing at the request of her sons.
Dislikes
- Nudity -- For a Ticanee woman with an obvious reputation for promiscuity, it might strike some as odd the way Taria is practically prudish when it comes to nudity. She sometimes will turn a blind eye, but her preference is that all persons remain clothed in her presence whenever possible.
