About
Generations ago, the Steen family was actually the Steen Caravan. They were like any other Igen traders, a tight-knit conglomeration of family that roamed the landscape peddling their wares and otherwise making a living however they could. Perhaps they had a reputation for being all too willing to leap into a brawl (and often came out on top) but for the most part, they were unexceptional.
What did finally make them exceptional was the foresight of their then-leader, known in family annals only as Father Steen. When the seasonal cluster of traders' tents at Igen Weyr became a Turn-round thing, the patriarch opted to stake his clan to land rather than the road and met with the then-Weyrleaders in private conference. What came of that meeting was residency for his entire family and a large patch of soil in the Bazaar's heart. For sevendays, he put his sons to digging out a huge pit in the ground and building whitewashed adobe walls around the hole. When they were finished, Igen's first official and professional gladiatorial arena was christened as…The Pit. Of course it was.
The family remade itself as business owners instead of trail peddlers. Where before they'd sold goods, now they sold the sweat of brow and back. Those who sought training as professional combatants were offered contracts of service for periods ranging from one to five Turns. Some of these went on to become minor celebrities around the Weyr, winning fame as victors or scooping up employment with the guards as a result of their tutelage under the Steen men. Matches were held that earned the family a great deal of money and though it was rumored that some of the rivalries that led to grudge matches under the Pit's white roof were orchestrated by the family, people still flocked to the galleries to cheer on their favorites.
All the while, they were cementing their reputation as foundation members of Igen's burgeoning Bazaar community. They gave generously to those in need, led regular initiatives to improve the Bazaar, tithed regularly to the Weyr for the honor of taking up their little hole in the ground, and generally became well respected by their peers.
It is a legacy that continues to this day. While it might be true that they have their hands in some illegal dealings in and outside of the Weyr, no can argue that the Steens haven't become a fixture at Igen, as much a part of the landscape as the Star Stones. Theirs is a name that carries weight.
- They're as much a fixture within the Bazaar as the Bazaar itself. The Steen name carries a great deal of weight with it.
- They established the Pit generations ago and it has seen recent revival, and have acquired the Tea Shop and the Menagerie, as well as opening an event hall called The Omni.
- Deeply conservative, but chance happenings allow for female prominence—Mama Steen's infamy came about because she was the eldest female heir, with no male heirs to be seen.
- Tied to the New Akzhan by way of Malach's marriage to Maryam Steen. (Dissolved when Essau took power).
- They have a wide variety of mercantile interests.
Steen Culture and Politics
Women
The Weyr
General Values
As the first significant Steen endeavor, the Pit stands as a testament to the family's strength and capability. Rarely is there a night without fights, and particularly brutal events are held for special occasions. The coliseum is whitewashed and white sand is brought in specially for the matches, as bloodied sand is cleared away before each match. Servers are always ready at a word to bring wine, sweetrolls, meats, fruit, and whatever else a guest may wish for. Guards are posted frequently through the stands in order to prevent bloodshed, while Vitus, the Steen patriarch, is often seen prowling the stands to see to his guests' comforts. Young non-Steen women are a frequent sight, keeping company with favored guests.
The most common events on a day to day basis is unarmed and bladed combat, in either single or double matchups. They are usually randomly chosen. Occasionally, competitors may fight with a weapon of their own choosing—so long as there's one lying around the Pit, anyhow. Only the most accomplished fighters purchase their own weapons. Most of the time, the competitors fight with the Pit's communal weapons, as personal weapons are much too expensive.
Occasionally, amateur nights are held, where volunteers may fight a professional fighter — or each other. On special occasions, more intensive events are held — and occasionally result in deaths.
Unarmed: Competitor has to concede, or is knocked out. Nothing is out of bounds.
Bladed: First blood. Competitor may throw dagger, but it is considered poor form. Might lose them the match, too, if they don't land it.
Weapon of choice: Held during special occasions, this event type is until one party concedes. Sometimes, concessions come when it's too late.
Animals: During special occasions, a fighter may be pitted against a vicious beast, sent to test their mettle.
These may appear in the form of single, double, or amateur matches.
If you've a pit fighter (PC or NPC you've previously established!), feel free to add them to the list with their relevant information! Feel free to bring up any of the fighters listed, too, if you're RPing watching a match or the like. Have fun with it! :)
Joining
There are adoptable characters with pre-existing hooks/family as well as room for non-established Steens. Refer to the family tree (please note, it is not entirely up-to-date) or @mail Nasrin for more information!
- In a historically bloodless move, Essau Steen has deposed former patriarch Dewar. He has a reputation for being dangerous, intelligent, and immovable. Firelizards are banned on his estates, so his opinion on Search and dragons cannot be much lenient. The only crack in this stony Steen might be his rebellious, hard-drinking and partying heir, Ezra.
Family
Full Family Tree. (not current)
Name |
Position |
Ezra |
First son of Patriarch and treasurer, Essau. |
Merita |
Ramita's daughter and apprentice at the distillery. |
Nasrin |
Rider of gold Rajakhelath and Junior Weyrwoman at Igen. |
Ramita |
Drekkan's daughter. A Vintner who runs Steen Spirits. |
Caireann |
Grand-daughter to Mama Steen's younger sister, Liia. |
H'rik |
Rider of bronze Wendryth and Vitus' eldest son. |
Midra |
Daria's daughter. Works in the Tea Room. |
R'em |
Arroyo Wingrider and rider of green Sajkiath and Nasrin's brother. |
Vitus |
Former Steen family patriarch and Proprietor of the Pit. |
Name |
Position |
Daria |
Proprietor of the Tea Shop. |
Dewar |
Former Steen family patriarch and proprietor of the Pit. Exiled to Igen Hold |
Drekkan |
Proprietor of the Menagerie. |
Essau |
Current family Patriarch, father to Ezra. |
Mama Steen |
Once ran the Pit. Dead for several turns now. Deceased. |
Maryam |
Married to Malach, the leader of the New Akzhan. |
Saleh |
Had been hand-picked by Mama Steen to takeover, but died after great controversy. Succeeded by Vitus. Deceased. |
Name |
Weapon |
Notes |
Alarik (NPC) |
Spear |
New fighter. Commonly loses. Steen. |
Belsi (NPC) |
Axe |
Dragonless rider. Vicious in the ring and otherwise reclusive. Some suspect he has a death wish. |
Chotim (NPC) |
Knife |
Plays dirty. From Igen Hold. |
Dusa (NPC) |
Knife |
Female fighter. Dirty fighter. |
Drelkun (NPC) |
Knife |
Middling fighter who excels in doubles. Steen. |
Emerett (NPC) |
Knife |
Another new fighter. |
Hathet (NPC) |
Knife |
Average fighter. Steen. |
Jinorav (Former PC) |
Spear |
Known for his — bordering on arrogantly — long hair and proclivity to laugh and mock the enemy during fights. |
Krelsin (NPC) |
Knife |
Showman, above-average fighter. Crowd favorite. |
Legeren (NPC) |
Axe |
Another old fighter. Left the ring to raise a family, but his wife and child died in childbirth, so he returned. |
Mikkan (NPC) |
Mace |
Reigning singles champion. Crowd favorite. |
Monaro (NPC) |
Knife |
Native to Igen Weyr. Former Weyrbrat. |
Nakara (NPC) |
Spear |
Nimble young woman. Crowd favorite. Rumored to be Blooded. |
Quellek (Former PC) |
TBD |
Fighter from Nabol. |
Regaron (NPC) |
Spear |
Rumored to have killed and fled his home Hold. |
Shendelere (NPC) |
Mace |
Heavyset guy. Reclusive. |
Sita (NPC) |
Mace |
Heavyset Bitran woman. Known for brutality. |
Trellani (NPC) |
Knife |
Average fighter. Hails from High Reaches. |
Vundrek (NPC) |
Spear |
Average fighter. Supposedly from a caravan. |
Xoanik (NPC) |
Axe |
Savage fighter. Xoanik and Chotim on a team is a divisive favored pairing. |
Yallerin (NPC) |
Spear |
Average fighter. |
Zairat (NPC) |
Knife |
Older fighter, once prominent. There's a little known betting pool predicting his death. |
All Logs
To Forgetting |
14 Mar 2024 05:00 |
Ezra, T'rin
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As requested, Ezra helps keep T'rin's mind off things with drinks - tea, atop the rooftops.
Injuries alluding to heavy abuse, references to alcohol and drug use/abuse and recovery, power dynamics.
Backdated to the day after the disastrous Threadfall in Disaster Over Mountain Vale, and several hours after The Wrong Business.
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