I joined Chimeron as a founding member of Clan Rua Thar Cinn (pronounced ROO-ah tharr SIN) at Feast of Chimeron 17, in 2009.Around the end of my first year in the Realms, I was looking at Ivory and Chimeron as nations I might be interested in joining. Aaron approached me, along with Mikey, about joining him in founding a new subnation of Chimeron. Most of the details were up to us to decide on, with him, but the basic idea was that it would be a nation for mages. In particular, for independent people. He wasn't looking so much for followers as for other leaders who could work with him. I had just been starting to come to terms with the idea of being independent because I wasn't sure I would fit either in Ivory or any of the existing sub-nations in Chimeron, and promptly abandoned that, with the sense he was helping me create the place I would belong.
The three of us very carefully thought over our rules, both public tenants and internal guidelines, and set expectations for each other. We would always be allowed to disobey Rel, even on the field, if we felt we had a good enough reason. He trusted our judgement. Petitioning would be a serious process, almost akin to squiring, where we ensured a potential member could fit with us and us with them. We would help them grow as a person into a member of the nation. We would be willing to accept most anyone who asked to be a petitioner, but becoming a true member would likely be very difficult.
Layers of meaning and symbolism are important to us, because we all like to think on multiple levels. Our heraldry encodes meaning by referencing aspects of the nation (in addition to meeting the crucial criteria Mikey noted when he sketched it: we could all draw it). Our surcoats are distinctive but do not obscure other garb, allowing us to be recognized while retaining our individuality. We each have a weapon tailored to us and reminiscent of the war with Bedlam, which was the anvil we were forged on. Aaron created the first set, silver daggers and a sword, in secret, and surprised Mikey and myself with them at Court during our founding ceremony. Mine was named Faith, which fit Ged perfectly despite his lack of religion, and this level of understanding assured me that I was in the right place.
Our inner culture is fascinating. On a superficial level, especially when just among each other, we may appear to be disrespectful, and are constantly challenging each other. This comes from a much deeper sense of trust, respect, and ability to communicate, which allows our individual strengths to combine and make the entire clan dynamic, driven, and capable. Of course, this does make us feel elite, at times confident to the point of arrogance, and we bite off the absolute most we can chew (possibly a little more). In addition, we all understand the power of a voice, and how nothing stops you from stepping up and using yours. The downside to our propensity for speaking up is that we may, at times, steamroll those who are more hesitant.Being a part of Clan Rua Thar Cinn has been one of the best things that has happened to me in the Realms. We are incredibly close, both IC and OOC, and able to help each other with all manner of things. I feel that we have struck a fantastic balance of being independent and strong in our own ways, while supporting each other and able to accomplish great things together. Of note is how well we have weathered our leader, Aaron, being away. While we appointed Janus our First Mage for administrative purposes, we have mostly been able to continue along unchanged, knowing that Rel is our leader, but also that we almost never need to be led.
Our existence as a nation has also spread beyond the Realms. For the past two years we have formed a team for the MIT Mystery Hunt (Relatively Theoretical Constructs), we have a chatroom in which we are all more-or-less consistently taking part, and we play a mean game of Team Fortress 2 (where I play, surprisingly, a Medic).
This year we are organizing Feast of Chimeron. We look forward to seeing you there as well as demonstrating what we (and the rest of Chimeron) can do together!