Clan Fergusson [In Progress]

[Charles_Grimlie 1072]

 

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Upon the death of Fergus. One relic was produced and kept by the heir of the family which unlike the Adunian royalty, went to the eldest child rather than the youngest. This heirloom was called “Réadán” meaning “woodworm”. An axe whose handle is made from it’s common foe, elvish wood along with a bearded head made from ancient dwarvish iron. It was said to have been made by Paragon Gotrek Starbreaker. Through the centuries of it’s use, the axe only formed one chip upon it’s blade spawned by a clean strike into an orcish skull created during the fight in which Aren passed by Pádraig the kneeling. It is safe to assume Réadán was nearly unbreakable.

 

Image of Réadán

 

The origins of this family date back to the early times of Aegis after the great war fought between both the Harenite tribe and the early wood elves. The clan’s sire Fergus who bore no surname, fought within this clash of might during it’s later years. He reaped trophies from the elves as equally as he claimed their lives, although not a soldier by trade but a mere woodsmen who favored the axe. His kin such as his father, forefathers, uncles, and brothers committed the same acts and possessed the same profession. This caused the establishment of a livelihood within this new trade of soldiering and thus conjured a great pride for murder with cause within the family. Fergus after the war made peace with the elves along with the rest of his family and the remaining Harenite populace upon the marriage of Harren and Sarai. This gave way to the northern humans mating with their new elven allies creating the human sub race of Adunians along with the name “son of Fergus” or Fergusson.

 

The first sons of Fergus, or Fergus’s heirs were Lorccán the eldest, Éamonn the brave, and Finnbarr the enduring. Each of the sons inspired legendary family sagas based on their deeds committed during this primitive time, the first era where Lorccán bore Réadán to glory alongside his brothers. However an illness struck Finnbarr, although he resisted it’s grasp until his later years he was unable to sire children and died possessionless and heirless. This left two blood lines to carry on the name with little conflict over the now dead Fergus’s possessions save for Réadán, which the two brothers quarreled over before a honor duel between Lorccán and Éamonn ended the feud with Lorccán the rightful victor.

 

Upon the beginning of the reign of Baren, another feud spawned between Lorccán and Éamonn ending in the death of Fergus’s eldest heir whose fatality was caused by the resurfacing of an old hunting wound caused by a blow from Éamonn. The fortune of Éamonn having struck Lorccán in such a way and a lack of witness prevented the family from knowing the true cause of death allowed for the new heir to claim his prize. However this too was short lived as Éamonn would die a natural death not long after. Passing the claims to his twin sons Fachtna and Darragh who settled the matter without conflict due to their bond, although both possessing polar behaviors and habits. This landed the axe in Fachtna’s hands who would carry the relic in battle and victory, one of which Chieftan Baren lost his life against another tribe.

 

The rise of King Olrandir in the Second Age brought much change to the current life of the Harenite tribe by introducing it’s people into civilization along with the rest of humanity. The Fergussons did not embrace this new age willingly as they were a traditional folk. Frachtna’s oath to serve the new King however allowed the clan to abandon parts of the old ways but not all, providing reason to reside in Idunia and granting him the title of Chieftan. During this time Darragh who was not as willing as his twin brother or the rest of his family, delved into herbalism and would soon create potent brews which would bear interesting effects. He also embraced the ways of Druidism and the Old Faith. These factors still encouraged the clan’s affinity for nature as part of their elven blood. Although all fared well, Chieftan Frachtna’s line was endangered when his wife, Órlaith was struck with illness and passed. Darragh was unable to save her being only a novice in his magical craft. He swiftly remarried to Ríonach but the creation of half sons against his single heir would stir much dispute regarding claims to property. Gallchobar, Frachtna’s heir and only son to his first wife Órlaith took up his claim to Réadán after the death of his father due to sorrow and longing for his first wife. However change was in the air again as the death of King Olrandir and the crowning of King Arendil caused a civil war amongst the citizens of Idunia both Adunian and Pure-Blooded, as the King continued empowering the Adunian people. The revolution was spurred by Owen Godwinson who bore a distaste for being ruled by these people. It did not take long before even Adunians who were promised possession by Owen to turn on their own kind, this included Fachtna’s second son Aichear whose lust for power drove him to attempt claiming the heritage from Gallchobar. Aichear was unsuccessful however and as the true Adunians were driven out of their city by force they prepared to abandon the lands altogether by embarking on three ships. This would leave behind the traitorous Adunians or “Rhodir”. Upon the voyage Gallchobar never managed to land on the shores of their new home in the Third Age, having fallen over board in a storm upon the now “Adunian Sea” he left his young heir Neachtan to carry the clan’s name.

 

The Adunian people would trek inland abandoning their crude ships. They passed many great plains and rolling hills before being stopped by a thick forest far greater than the meager croppings on the flat fields they wandered by. This wood would in time make up the majority of the Province of Al’Ildic. As these weary and downtrodden people carried on with their journey they were stopped again by their leader the soon to be “Lord” Elendil, he stood at the base of a hill which in time as well would become the legendary city of Ildon and home of the Rangers. With the command of construction and the passing of time the clan would find themselves living in a portion of the woods and Nechton would find himself with his wife and cousin, Grainne the craven. This lewd marriage was pardoned by the Old Faith as it bore the blessing of Thrønn and was held upon the edge of the forest in the great plains at the mid of day and night. The clan not only found themselves thriving in the wood however as some of their family would grow to be famed persons within the Order of Rangers adding to their fortune. This new home on the island of Adunia also provided new a law in heritage called “Ultimogeniture” within the clans as the youngest inherits all the father’s property. However the Fergussons refused to take upon themselves these laws, they prefered an heir with experience to carry the Réadán and the reduced contesting of claims created by the law of Gavelkind amongst sons and daughters of Fergus. Later in the third age began the new reign of Lord Braen, in this time Grainne produced two new offspring to carry on the Fergusson name, however this offspring came in the form of two daughters. In order to protect the Fergusson heritage Nechton consulted with the mother of the old faith Aileen, who suggested a marriage between the lines of Lorccán and Éamonn. This suggestion was agreed upon. Thus the eldest of the two girls, Áine Fergusson was to marry Dónal Fergusson who would bear Réadán and restore it’s ownership to the rightful heir once more. Life continued within the clan as the birth of more hiers broadened the line of Lorccán, diminishing the line of Éamonn during the reign of Lord Dranan. Hiers such as Marcán who would bear Réadán after the death of Dónal, Ciara who married her father’s cousin Bearach and would claim possessions from her father's demise, surprisingly she would not only claim wealth but a high fertility as well. Cormac claimed no items due to his path into the old faith’s fatherhood.

 

The dawn of the fourth age introduced a new threat towards the Fergussons, however it was not one that would harm their heritage, but one that would attack their traditions. The Lord of this time Rymeul, traversed across the Adunian sea with the aid of the clan Nalyn’s ships back to the Adunian place of Origin. It was here that Lord Rymeul would discover the new Kingdom of Oren built upon the ruins of Idunia and the change in speech. This event would bring the common tongue to Al’Ildic, it would not take long for the province to convert their main language and thus isolated the stubborn Fergussons who in time would also abandon the now “forgotten” tongue. However fragments of this language were kept within the old faith by Father Cormac to be passed down to all Fathers and Mothers of the faith after that. During this time the children of Ciara who seemed many had spurred many conflicts with one another to their mother’s possessions as well as the belongings of their father. These events would disgrace the family with public displays one of which Niamh drew blade and brought down her elder brother Diarmuid. Niamh would be hung for her act of murder, her son Laígsech would be raised and taught by Mother Úna. Ciara mother of the now deceased Diarmuid and Niamh would soon become mysteriously became ill after feasting with her family one eve, she passed the two mornings after. The reason for her death is still unknown, however the children greedily claimed their rightful possessions. The children of Marcán however fared far better than their aunt’s children, the only son Ciarán having succeeded well within the Order of Rangers. Úna however took to learning the ways of the faith under the teachings of Cormac. Upon the crowning of Bethrol as lord, the Adunian rangers were disbanded being too meager to control the population of the province. This would soon cause the ancient order to be replace with a proper military or “The Adunian Regiment”, however this did not bode well with many of the Adunian people including the Fergussons whose traditional ways were insulted by it’s removal. When Lord Bethrol passed, his son Rydel took to the throne. But with the growing tensions caused by the removal of the Order of rangers placed the new lord in a poor position as the great civil war of Al’Ildic was upon him, lead by Icarien Delmar. The Fergussons chose to aid the rebellion having been given the short end by the previous lord, Réadán would seek the blood of man again. It would be a war between the vicious tactics of the rebels and the poorly trained regiments. Icarien seemed to bear no mercy as he ravaged the isle killing all who opposed him. As the war waged on the Adunian population diminished. The death of Oisín would put their ancestor’s weapon in the hands of his brother Pádraig during the heat of battle which in turn would create the deaths of thirteen of his aggressors. In time Lord Rydel’s brother Thorenir would gather together the elite soldiers of the Adunian Regiment and reform the Rangers. Their first mission was successful, as night fell the new rangers crept into the rebellions base of operations where Icarien resided and assassinated him. Without their leader to guide them the rebellion and the Fergussons who aided it would find themselves overwhelmed with the Adunian Regiment and their newly gained moral. Soon the deaths of Siomha, Tárlach, Seán, Eoghan, would accompany this defeat as their the Fergusson’s skill could not overcome the Regiment without the lost tactics. Before Thorenir, Pádraig would bend the knee dropping Réadán in an attempt for forgiveness. This gesture was luckily taken kindly and with this the rebellion ended. In time to come the Fergussons would become close affiliates of Lord Rydel’s brother. With the minor Adunian population due to the civil war, the Order of Rangers was reinstated with Thorenir as it’s leader. In time to come Pádraig’s wife would give birth to three children, his eldest named after Neachtan, his second eldest Grianne, and his youngest daughter Siobhán. under the advice of Father Laígsech who saw an omen, the children Neachtan and Grianne where to marry their cousins. As decades past Pádraig and his son Neachtan accompanied their lord’s son Aren in a mission to scout the local villages who had not shared news with the capital in some time. It was here the scouts discovered Orcish raiders who had landed on the shores of Al’Ildic and pillaged the coastal settlements, in a battle between the forces their sire’s son fell to the largest orc and assumably the leader. As the battle waged on, Neachtan who was shorter than the orc chieftain stabbed it in the legs forcing it down to it’s knees as his father impaled it’s skull with Réadán. As if to express it’s joy for tasting foreign blood the axe sounded a crack in the orc’s skull exposing it’s thinking flesh, as the father drew his axe back a small cut formed in the dwarvish metal, a symbol to commemorate the occasion. Time continued, as Neachtan’s father grew ill and passed he took upon himself the clan’s heirloom, Grianne received her claims and so did her sister. The Fergussons had gained much renown within the clans although they had their rigorous past, was it time for peace? No.

 

Night fell, reports of the Undead invasion on the north had been received only weeks before, Scouts who risked life and limb confirmed this new foe had arrived on the shore only hours earlier. Neachtan along with the other Fergussons took up arms, all of the proficient with their chosen weapon, including Fathers Laígsech and Máenach who were now only uttering prayers and blessings to their companions. Captain Halboron shouted orders to them and the other Rangers to protect the city, but this new threat did not simply die as the stories told them. They were minions of the fourth circle Máenach said when he heard of the reports days ago. As the undead horde march forth, the Ranger’s arrows did little to cease their movement as they simply shrugged them off or set ablaze. Their foe reached the walls of Ildon and in moments a massacre was unleashed upon the Adunian people as the Necromancers who controlled these hordes shot lightning and fire forcing the city to become an inferno. Neachtan cut away at the mindless horde with ease as his axe cleaved passage through the bone, his sister Grianne and her spouse consumed by the horde. As time went on Halboron could no longer be heard in the air and thus it became a fight for survival, every man for himself. The Fergussons knew they could not survive this skirmish, as their number fells the Fergussons followed Tadgh’s sister Síle and her spouse’s family to the coast to board their ships. As they began to push the ships into the sea, Halboron was seen carrying a screaming and crying heir to the Adunian throne. As the Captain boarded the Viathas ships they set sail with the last remaining Adunians heading towards Aegis.

Decades carried forth the Fifth Age for the Adunian people, however the Fergussons were no longer within the domain of their Lord. As Undead were defeated by the Champions in Aegis, a new land called Asulon was prophesied by the monks and Ascended. Although this prophecy was correct the Fergussons did not flock to this new false faith like their kin, nor did they assimilate under the Orenian ways. They despised them greatly, disgusted by their complexity and treachery the clan turned their back to their kin and walked into the woods to find a place they could call home to once more regain their numbers and follow their ways. The life of Civilization did not suit these people and thus they kept to themselves save for trade with the Dwarven folk who responded positively to their offers of wood and food in exchange for tools of Iron. Time of course took it’s toll on Neachtan and his generation, he passed his claims unto his sons and daughters on his deathbed, in sleep he died a natural death with the comfort of knowing he’d never become one of the rotten who slew his sister. The sixth age passed by the Fergussons with little trouble, they found surprising peace with their isolation from their previous kin the Adunians and the Lords who commanded them. However the Seventh age was upon them in the new land of Anthos...

 

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[Braehn Elendil An'Hiraeth 474]

*King Lachlan Mor I stamps the Clan with his seal of approval.

[Moot 1719]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.