Clan Rapacious Wiki

**Ne**stled **be**tween a **la**nd **be**tween **th**e **Ta**ngled **Wo**od **an**d **th**e **Sc**arred **Wa**steland **li**es a **sm**all **cl**an **di**rectly on a **po**pular **tr**ade **ro**ute. It's **ty**pically **mi**staken **fo**r a **gh**ost **to**wn- **de**ns **ca**rved **ou**t of **th**e **ca**nyon **wa**lls **an**d **gu**arded by **br**ambles **bu**t **no**body **ho**me. It's an old clan, that has remained mysterious for many years and seems to know things others do not, or at the very least are yet to learn. Its dangerous territory for anyone who comes unprepared, but for those who know what they're getting into, this clan can be an oasis in the middle of the hellscape that is the Wandering Contagion.

## Residents

* Leadership
* The Pack
* The Drummers
* Raleway Inn
* Seers and Witches

## History

It is **to**ld **do**wn **th**e **ge**nerations **th**at **Ra**pere's **bi**rth **wa**s **le**gendary. It is **to**ld **th**at at **th**e **en**d of **th**e **Fi**rst **Ag**e, **Sh**adowbinder **he**rself **sh**ed a **te**ar. It **wa**s **th**is **te**ar **th**at **fe**ll **on**to **th**e **so**il **an**d **tr**ansformed **in**to a **si**ngle **eg**g, **an**d it **wa**s **th**e **eg**g **th**at **fo**rmed **th**e **he**art **an**d **so**ul of **Cl**an **Ra**pacious.

T**hi**s **si**ngle **eg**g **fe**ll to **th**e **gr**ound **wi**th **am**azing **mo**mentum, **st**eering it **do**wnhill **fr**om it's **la**nding **sp**ot **an**d **to**wards **th**e **Sc**arred **Wa**steland. It **ro**lled **an**d **ro**lled, **ga**ining **sp**eed as **ma**gical **en**ergy **co**nverged **an**d **pu**shed it **fa**rther **do**wnhill **un**til **fi**nally it **cr**ossed **th**e **th**reshold **in**to **Pl**ague **an**d **fe**ll.

The **eg**g **ca**me to a **ca**nyon **th**at **cu**t **de**ep **in**to **th**e **la**nd. It **wa**s **im**possible to **kn**ow **wh**at **fo**rmed **th**is **ma**ssive **tr**ench, **bu**t it **co**uldn't **ha**ve **be**en **an**ything **wo**rldly or **mo**rtal. **Th**e **eg**g **ba**rrelled **ov**er **th**e **ed**ge, **he**aded **st**raight **fo**r it's **ev**ident **de**ath. **Bu**t **wh**en **th**is **eg**g **sl**ammed **ag**ainst **th**e **gr**anite **be**neath it, **wh**at **ha**ppened **wa**sn't **de**ath, **bu**t **li**fe.

The **eg**g **de**tonated, **sp**lattering **an**d **co**ating **th**e **ca**nyon **wa**lls **wi**th a **de**ep **pu**rple **sl**ime. **Th**e **ex**plosion **re**ached up **th**e **st**one **ha**ll at **le**ast **ha**lf a **mi**le **hi**gh, **co**mpletely **ob**structing **ev**erything **fr**om **vi**ew. **Wh**erever **th**e **sl**ime **ha**d **la**nded, **th**orns **be**gan to **sp**rout. **Ev**en on **th**e **de**nse **st**one **wa**lls of **th**e **ca**nyon, **th**e **bu**ds of **wh**at **wo**uld **so**on **gr**ow **in**to **mi**les of **th**ick **br**ambles **to**ok **ro**ot **an**d **be**gan to **br**eathe.

W**he**re **th**e **eg**g **ha**d **la**nded, **la**id a **bl**ack **dr**agon, **wi**th **fi**re in **hi**s **ey**es **an**d a **fi**ght in **hi**s **he**art. **Hi**s **le**athery **wi**ngs **un**furled **ar**ound **hi**s **si**x, **in**sect-**li**ke **le**gs, **an**d **mu**ltiple **re**d **an**d **pu**rple **ey**es **bl**inked in **th**e **da**rkness. **Th**e **my**sterious **fo**rm **to**ok a **de**ep **br**eath, **fi**lling **ev**ery **cu**bed **mi**llimeter **wi**th **ai**r, **an**d **ex**haled **po**werfully. **Th**e **at**mosphere **ar**ound **th**e **dr**agon **se**emed to **ch**ange **im**mediately. **Th**is **wa**s no **lo**nger **th**e **st**uffy **fl**oor of a **ca**nyon. **Th**is **pl**ace **wa**s **no**w **ho**me.

## Culture

As a **ru**le of **th**umb, **st**rangers **ar**e **no**t **tr**eated **we**ll in **Pl**ague **cl**ans. **Th**is **ho**lds **es**pecially **tr**ue **fo**r **Cl**an **Ra**pacious. **Pa**ssersby **ar**e **we**lcome to **pa**ss **th**rough, **bu**t at a **co**st. **Dr**agons **ar**e **us**ually **pi**ckpocketed **cl**ean, **an**d **th**ey **be**tter **ho**pe **th**at **th**ey're **ca**rrying **so**mething of **va**lue, or **el**se **th**ey **mi**ght **no**t **en**d up **le**aving in **on**e **pi**ece. To be **of**ficially **we**lcomed to **th**e **cl**an, **dr**agons **mu**st be **ab**le to **ho**ld **th**eir **ow**n **ag**ainst **th**e Pack. **Th**e **fi**ght is **us**ually **we**ll **ob**served by **th**e **cl**an to **we**lcome **th**e **ne**wcomer. **On**ly **dr**agons **wh**o **ha**ve **pa**ssed **ha**s **li**ved to **te**ll **th**e **ta**le.

### Government

Rapere and his partner, mate, and right-hand Vune rule the clan, however the term 'rule' can be used incredibly lightly. Clan Rapacious is very much a lawless place in many ways. Dragons are meant to enforce their own boundaries themselves with little help from those in leadership. Rapere and Vune's main duties revolve around making sure the clan is well fed and safe from threats. Those that reside in the clan are only protected from outside enemies. Any quarrels between residents and other internal affairs are dealt with between the two parties. While arguments are typically resolved quickly in the moment, it is not uncommon for drawn out grudges to result in violence. This is by no means frowned upon. If one is interested in enforcing their will over others, they are required to have the muscle to back it up. While violence is commonplace in the clan, deaths are actually not that popular.

The Pack is the closest thing Clan Rapacious has to law enforcement. While this group can often be known as feral and unchecked, in a way this makes them true to the clan's plague values and therefor qualified to enforce this standard. Because of this, it is the pack that often decides who is strong enough and worthy to make themselves a resident of the clan.

### Beastclan Relations

N**or**mally, **th**e **sa**vage **dr**agons **th**at **ca**ll **Ra**pacious **ho**me **wo**uld **ha**ve **ne**ver **th**ought **tw**ice **ab**out **ea**ting **wh**atever **th**ey **co**uld **ge**t **th**eir **cl**aws on, **ev**en if **th**at **in**cluded **bu**rning **br**idges **be**tween **th**emselves **an**d **th**e **Be**astclans. **Ho**wever **wh**en **si**blings **Xy**rlove **an**d **Fh**astina **ar**rived, **th**ey **br**ought **wi**th **th**e **th**eir **va**st **kn**owledges of **th**e **Be**astclans, **an**d **th**us **th**e **cl**an **de**cided **th**at **th**ey **we**re to be **al**lied **wi**th, **in**stead of **ea**ten.

C**la**n **Ra**pacious **ha**s **ve**ry **go**od **ti**es **wi**th **bo**th **th**e **Ce**ntaurs to **th**e **ea**st, **an**d **th**e **Se**rthis to **th**e **we**st. **Th**ey **ai**d **th**ese **cl**ans in **hu**nting, **cr**aftsmanship, **tr**ade, **an**d **ha**ve **ev**en **be**en **kn**own to **ac**company **Se**thris **co**ngregations to **ra**id **ne**ighboring **cl**ans.

B**ea**stclan **in**dividuals **ar**e **we**lcomed **in**to **th**e **cl**an, **an**d **ar**e **of**ten **ce**lebrated. It is **no**t **ra**re to **se**e **Ra**pacious **dr**agons **gi**fting **tr**inkets of **ap**preciation to **Ce**ntaurs or **of**fering **ri**des to **th**eir **mu**ch **sm**aller **cl**anmates. **Wh**en in **si**tuations of **wa**r, **Se**thris **ha**ve **of**ten **be**en **se**en **wi**elding **th**eir **sp**ears **fr**om **th**e **ba**cks of **Mi**rror **dr**agons, or **he**lping **sm**aller **dr**agons **sh**arpen or **po**ison **th**eir **sp**ines **fo**r **de**fense.

W**hi**le as a **wh**ole, **Cl**an **Ra**pacious **ar**e **ve**ry **st**rong **al**lies **wi**th **th**e **Be**astclans, **th**ere **ar**e **so**me **in**dividuals **wh**o **di**sagree. **So**mehow it's **no**t **th**e **ho**w **th**e **re**lationship is **ma**intained **th**at **ca**uses **di**scourse, **bu**t **th**e **re**lationship as a **wh**ole. **Ma**ny of **th**e **mo**re **sa**vage **me**mbers of **Cl**an **Ra**pacious **be**lieve **th**at **th**ese **Be**astclan **me**mbers **sh**ould be **se**en as **no**thing **mo**re **th**an **th**ey **ar**e; **me**at. It's an **ea**t-or-be-**ea**ten **wo**rld, **an**d **so**metimes, **su**rvival is **mo**re **im**portant **th**an **fr**iendships. **Th**ankfully, **ho**wever, **th**ese **me**mbers **ha**ve **be**en **si**lenced, **be**ing **ta**ught to **ho**ld **mo**re **th**an **ju**st **th**eir **to**ngue, as **it**s **be**en **pr**oven **th**at **th**e **ga**ins **fr**om **be**friending **th**e **Be**astclans **of**fers **mo**re **th**an **si**mply **th**eir **we**ight in **ca**lories.

### Rituals and Ceremonies

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#### Riot of Rot fest

O**nc**e **dr**agons **be**come **ol**d **en**ough, **wh**ich is **de**termined by **th**eir **ow**n **ch**oice, **ha**tchlings **an**d **yo**ung **ad**ults **ar**e **pi**t **ag**ainst **ea**ch **ot**her in a **ri**te of **pa**ssage. **Th**is **ce**remony **oc**curs on **th**e **ev**ening **be**fore **th**e **Ri**ot of **Ro**t, **ta**king **pl**ace in **th**e **ce**nter of **th**e **ca**nyon, **wh**ich is **te**mporarily **tr**ansformed **in**to an **ar**ena **wi**th **th**e **he**lp of **th**e **dr**ummers. **Ea**ch **dr**agon **br**ings a **li**t **to**rch **fr**om **th**eir **ho**me **an**d **pl**aces it **ar**ound **th**e **pe**rimeter of **th**e **ar**ena, **an**d **ea**ch **ti**me a **dr**agon **le**aves, a **to**rch is **sn**uffed. **Ba**ttling **co**ntinues **un**til **al**l **to**rches **ar**e **ex**tinguished.

T**hi**s is a **tr**ial of **ri**tual **co**mbat **wh**ere **in**dividuals **mu**st **ou**tdo **ea**ch **ot**her to **ea**rn **Pl**aguebringer's **bl**essing, **an**d **ra**ce to **re**trieve a **ta**lisman, **re**ferred to as **th**e **Ba**dge of **Ag**e **fr**om **Pl**aguefire. **Mo**re **of**ten **th**an **no**t, **co**ntestants **no**rmally **lo**se **no**t **on**ly **th**e **tr**ial, **bu**t **al**so **th**eir **li**ves in an **ef**fort to **pl**ease **Pl**aguemother. As an **ad**ded **ev**ent, **fo**r **an**y **dr**agon in **th**e **cr**owd **th**at is **ac**cidentally **st**ruck by an **at**tack, be it a **st**ray **cl**aw or **ma**gical **bo**lt, it is **ma**ndatory **fo**r **th**em to **jo**in **th**e **fr**ay, **wh**ether or **no**t a **ch**allenge is **st**ill **un**derway. **Ta**pping in **ot**her **dr**agons on **pu**rpose, **ho**wever, is a **cr**ime **no**t **ta**ken **li**ghtly.

O**nc**e **dr**agons **ha**ve **co**mpleted **th**eir **ri**tes, **th**e **ba**ttle **sh**ifts **fr**om a **ri**te of **pa**ssage, to an **ex**altation **ch**allenge. **Dr**agons **co**ntinue **fi**ghting **un**til **al**l **to**rches **ar**e **ou**t. **An**y **dr**agons **re**maining, **ea**rn **th**e **ri**ght to **le**ave **th**e **cl**an **an**d **jo**in **Pl**aguebringer **an**d **he**r **ra**nks **an**d **be**come **ex**alted.

#### Death and Dying

S**ur**vival is **th**e **ul**timate **go**al of **an**y **Pl**ague **dr**agon **an**d **ev**en in an **es**tablished, **he**althy **cl**an **li**ke **Cl**an **Ra**pacious, **th**is **st**ill **ho**lds **tr**ue. **To**morrow is **ne**ver **gu**aranteed. **Th**erefor, **ow**ning **li**fe is **se**en as **be**ing **gi**fted **th**e **ul**timate **fa**vor, **an**d **wi**th **an**y **gi**ft, **co**mes **de**bt.

L**if**e is **th**e **mo**st **pr**ecious **th**ing **yo**u **ca**n **st**eal **fr**om **th**e **ea**rth, **an**d **th**us **up**on **de**ath, **ev**ery **dr**agon **mu**st **re**pay **th**at **de**bt. **Ho**w **th**at is **do**ne, **ho**wever, **de**pends on **ho**w **ho**norably **th**e **dr**agon **us**ed **an**d **sp**ent **th**eir **gi**ft.

* Those who die in glory receive the highest honor. With the exception of falling ill due to a toxin (unless it can be cleared from the body), the fallen are eaten. It is seen as the most direct and instant repayment of their debt to the earth, and ensure their clan will not fall prey to starvation.
* Dragons who live long enough to see a natural end to their death get a burial just as fitting. These dragons are buried in the ground, and above which, crops are planted, to continue to feed the clan for as long as they served it. It is usually dragons who have received lots of hatchday gifts who fall into this category. These dragons are buried with all the gifts and decorations that they have accumulated from others.
* Individuals who die treacherously are stripped of their right to repay their debt. Their corpses are often hung up in the wind, where the sickening heat of the desert slowly rots them away until every part of the body becomes unusable. What is left is often traded to Sethris clans to use in poisoning enemies or forging weapons, often seen as the final revenge against such traitorous dragons.