Mac Róláin Family

The Mac Róláin Family hales from the southern regions of the Eastern Continent and had remained in regions of Leibo, Abadan, and most recently Hamadan. The family had more or less served in a mercenary capacity throughout the generations. War had been their trade and they plied it well whenever called upon for service. It was in recognition for that service that the head of the family, Róláin, was granted a small piece of land in the region of Hamadan and a title of nobility in the course of saving his Lord's life. Him and his wife Ina could then retire in comfort and focus on raising a line benefiting the newly formed noble house that took Róláin's name as its own. The loving pair had two children Ciarán and Beatha, a son to inherit the title of The Mac Róláin upon his father's death and carry on the family line; as well as a daughter who was married to the Mac Raith family. But it was in the marriage of Ciarán to Caoimhe of the Ui Briuin that the family and their values began to take shape. Caoimhe, had come from a similar household and had made a name for herself in The Colonies when the death of her cousin back home drew her back to the East Continent. Reeling from one loss the family made the marriage to secure their line as the Imperium of Greater Xavax was struggling greatly. So a blending of these families commenced, and the Mac Róláin's adopted the customs of the Ui Briuin happily. These new customs Ciarán and Caoimhe would teach to their children Niall and Liam, who in turn continued to pass it on as a cornerstone of what it was to be a Mac Róláin.

Family Tree

The Mac Róláin Core Values and Customs

Laid out originally by Líadan of the Ui Briuin and adopted into the Mac Róláin family when the two houses joined together. These are what the Mac Róláin family hold close as four key values that are drilled into them since birth. They are Hospitality, Bravery, Loyalty, and Justice.

Hospitality

To the Mac Róláin hospitality to both friend and stranger is incredibly important. So important, in fact, that within any of their holdings or lands any traveler can expect to eat and sleep free of charge no matter their standing. In kind while invoking the "The Mac Róláin Peace" as it is colloquially known the traveler agrees to surrender their weapons for the remainder of their stay to ensure peace is kept while partaking of a Mac Róláin's hospitality. To turn away any guest is viewed as losing enech, or face, within the family and a direct blow to the honor of the family itself. Another aspect of this hospitality is generosity or charity as those who have little need have a duty to supply for those with great need. The Mac Róláin view it as a great affront to their honor should any member of the family with full pockets hold back funds to those with none.

Bravery

Drawing from Líadan's adventuring, and arguably heroic, life a necessity towards bravery and courage was brought to the ethos of the Mac Róláin. They view it as being better to meet a painful, horrible, and courageous death than to live a long, blissful, cowardly life. In this way many of the Mac Róláin are prone to bold action and following the path of heroes so their deeds and names might live on forever. It is also due to this mentality that they are loathe to show pain or fear in front of others, and hold an almost casual attitude towards violence. A fist fight is always viewed as a respectable affair to the Mac Róláin, and sometimes even a friendly one. Never are weapons used, and the Mac Róláin will slug it out until either they or their opponent can't get up. At that point if they are the victor they will offer a hand to the loser, help them to their feet, and buy them a drink as a sign of respect. After all they may have fought to the point where they couldn't get up, but they never gave up the fight and that is the important bit. Likewise a Mac Róláin expects the same treatment if their opponent is close enough to the member to understand the family's value and view on the matter.

Loyalty

When a Mac Róláin gives their word they keep it no matter the cost. The only exception to this rule is when the promise in question might compromise their honor. As such the word of a Mac Róláin is as good as gold once given so long as it doesn't infringe upon their honor. This view is a bit strange in a world of vassalage like the vast majority of the realms from all the continents. For this means that to the Mac Róláin their honor would rank higher than the loyalty to their sovereign, and this is true in their eyes. But a Mac Róláin would be loathe to serve under any sovereign they personally deem as being unfit to follow and so the conflict rarely if ever comes up.

Justice

The Mac Róláin see Justice as a responsibility pure and simple. When they witness a transgression they feel it is their duty to set it right once more. After all, there are too many people who happily turn away from such transgressions and say "It is not my problem." The Mac Róláin also understand that while justice might not be swift, to them, it is inevitable. This is held especially true for them personally in which the only way to rectify such a wrong would be to take on a quest of atonement. The likes of which Líadan laid out as being three impossible tasks to be issued upon them by another, even if it means death. In fact should a Mac Róláin die while trying to clear their name they would view it as the best possible way to go.

Enech

This is something that has been mentioned in this section and is important to understanding the mindset of a Mac Róláin noble. Enech in its most literal translation means face, and is the honor one must save in the eyes of the community and being heard of in a good way. This adaptation of honor is ever pervasive in the Mac Róláin psyche and points them ever towards the core values of their house, in that way they can maintain enech. The worst thing possible to them is to lose Enech, or to lose face to the community and be heard of in a bad way. Ultimately this concept of honor then takes on a more communal aspect to it as opposed to a personal code of honor that is individually adopted.

Marrying the Land

Outside of the core values are the customs of the Mac Róláin. One of which is the practice of "Marrying the Land" whenever given control of a region. This is a ritual in which the new Lord or Lady selects from the common folk a healthy individual whose bloodline can be traced back at least five generations to the region to act as a surrogate for the region itself. At which point a ceremony is preformed in which the Mac Róláin Lord or Lady and the surrogate draw cuts upon their palms, clasp their hands, and with a squeeze allow the now mixed blood to wet the ground. As this is done the Mac Róláin in question swears to the safety and upkeep and prosperity of the land and its people for all their lives.

The Mac Róláin

Another custom within the family, and one in which is somewhat unique to the family, is the title that belongs to the head of the family itself, The Mac Róláin. Chosen by a Tanistry style any eligible member within three generations can put their name up to claim the title when the previous possessor either dies or steps down. Of those within three generations who do not seek the title a vote is held for the potential claimants and the one with the most votes by the other family members becomes the new family head. Only this person can claim the title of The Mac Róláin and use it in any official matter.

The current Mac Róláin is: Ciarán Mac Niall Mac Róláin