A Bit About Phasian
Italics mean reading it is optional
Government
This is a hereditary monarchy where the crown in passed to the eldest son. Daughters will not rule and are taught music and literature. They are known as scribes and they write down current events or fictional stories. They are considered sacred and any rooster wanting to court one will have to impress the royal family with their talents or works. They will schedule appointments throughout the year to show off in order to gain the favor of the family. At the end of the year, they will get back the results.
Sons are expected to be skilled in the national weapon, a set of sai swords. They are taught in strategy, history, mathematics and science. If they want to, they can learn music, but it is seen as a feminine thing to do. They are to marry royals or nobles from other countries to keep the peace between the two. This is usually arranged from birth or when it is deemed necessary to keep the peace.
Religion
Chickens don’t really think about the afterlife, but they have a vague idea (I mean, they’re chickens!). They believe that their ancestors are in another world and have built homes for their descendants. Both the good and bad chickens are here. It’s just a new world, so not many chickens actual fear dying. Just pain.
Family
Peasants
Peasants are poor and at the bottom the feeding trough. So, they don’t have a lot of kids then, right? Nope. They are like rats and most have about fifty kids by the time they die (remember that chickens have an average of 12 eggs per clutch). Most of these chicks grow up and join the soldiery because it’s better than being a hungry beggar on the street. Plus they get paid some. Or they get some sort of training from neighbors or their father.
Fathers are supposed to provide. Some are good and they do. Usually they’re overworked and barely paid. Popular professions are carpenters, blacksmiths, farmers and soldiery. Bad ones don’t provide and usually leave before their second clutch has hatched. There is an unfortunate amount of fatherless chickens out there.
Mothers are supposed to stay home and they usually have a home workplace. Some do other’s laundry, some cook for travelers and others make clothes. They take care of the chicks and feed them. They get a good amount of chores done and some mother’s lease out their oldest to do some work for others.
First Clutch, the first clutch usually gets the most love. Chicks are new to the parents and they’ve yet to sweat over how they’re going to feed them all. However, that is only in the soft chick years. They get older and have to do more work. Then the second clutch comes and mom and dad are racking their brains on how they are going to provide. The first clutch finds jobs and help pay for their meals. Sometimes they do it willingly, other times they are forced. When they are of age to leave, they usually stick around the same town or around it. Some go and join the soldiery. Others get married and start their own family.
Second Clutch is usually when things go down hill. Mom and dad aren’t too thrilled anymore. They do still have some excitement, but it’s usually weighed down with dread. Once they can carry a bucket full of soapy water and a brush, they are sent off to work. The load gets heavier once the First Clutch are of age to leave the house and when Mom gets broody again. When they can leave, they run usually on their rarely celebrated birthday. They leave their home town and never return. Some of them steal younger siblings with them and rarely do their parents chase after.
Third Clutch is like the second clutch, but with more weary parents. No longer are they being raised by adults but rather their older siblings. They are being fed small bits and often scrounge around for food. They’ll get jobs just so that they can leave the house. By now it is difficult to find jobs. When the Second Clutch leaves, they take their older siblings places until they too can bolt out the door.
Fourth Clutch is a wild house. Mom and dad don’t care. They are filled with runaways that were never chased after. These usually died from the dangers of the wild. The survivors take in jobs from anyone and rarely do they ever come back. It’s just one less mouth to feed. Things spike up when the Third Clutch leaves because they can usually afford more variety of food. The fourth children usually leave without looking back.
Note that this isn’t every family. Just a sad average and prediction. Some families are more loving, others are less and some are fatherless and some are motherless. But this just gives an idea to how it is to be a peasant.
Peasants live in houses that are woven out of grass, forest vegetation, and/or vines on the ground similar to thatching. They can't afford the more comfortable perches high up where they will be safe. Chickens tend to live together as one large family unit. The hens share nesting areas. Either a hen gets broody and sits on the eggs, they rot, or something eats them. They don't like water, so they take dust baths to get clean wherever they find nice loose dirt.
Middle
Middle Class is better off. Usually they breed less with about two clutches per family. They are educated better and they can have some luxury. They could have a servant or two and a tutor.
Fathers are the providers of the household and are usually at work. These roosters are usually chickens who joined the soldiery for an education, but left with a specialization, which they probably expanded more on. To see the specializations, read the Soldiery section.
Mothers still sew, but they probably hire peasant women to do the laundry. They still look after their children and feed them, but they care more about their appearance. They could be very learned or ignorant and join their children’s classes.
First Clutch, doted upon from day one down to the last day. They are taught by a scholar on the week days who’ll teach them in whatever they have learned. Afterwards, they join the soldiery or are trained under their father or friends of their father. They get married to people of their same ranking. They’ve seen the peasants and don’t want that life.
Second Clutch is very much the same as First Clutch. While the family has both clutches, they might have to release one of their servants and start doing their own laundry to keep a comfortable life. They might go under apprenticeship of their older sibling if they are spaced out right.
The middle class live in wooden huts. Some of the middle class steal large feathers off of their family members to use as quills because it is too painful for them to pluck their own tail for a quill unless they are in a tight spot. Chickens tend to live together as one large family unit. The hens share nesting areas. Either a hen gets broody and sits on the eggs, they rot, or something eats them.
Nobility
Nobles are about the only ones who are rich. They are the ones that peasants are targeting. They want the life of a middler (as they call middle class individuals) so they don’t bother them as much. Nobles are usually born rich or they stole it. They usually only have one clutch.
Fathers don’t work with their hands or in fields. They work in an office and usually are appointed by the king to watch over an assigned section of land. Once every six months he has a group meeting with them. They send him the taxes they collected and updates on the land once a month.
Mothers are sewers and make tapestry. They are well educated ladies who are refined. They have manners and dress in fine clothes. Their dainty hands do not work hard. However, they are educated so their husband occasionally asks her about how to handle situations that he didn’t know how.
The Clutch is well educated in any and every manner. They are not in the soldiery and will not work that way. Instead they will be chickens of business and of politics, not some blacksmith in the dirt or a duck breeder in the mud. They are better than that. They are dressed well, fed well and are actually getting more than just a bit of fat around their girth.
The nobles live in stone castles. Nobles steal large feathers off of anyone nearby to use as quills because it is too painful for them to pluck their own tail for a quill unless they are in a tight spot. Chickens tend to live together as one large family unit. Nobles have their own nesting boxes, and they hire a broody hen to nest them when they want an heir. Chickens avoid water and the nobles have nice private loose dirt areas in the garden for their dust baths.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships can start as young as 10, usually no younger. They live and obey their mentors and they are under them and their rule. A mentor can treat their apprentice in anyway they want. They last for about seven to ten years. Apprentices are not payed and their parents or they, themselves, are paying their education.
Soldiery
Soldiers are either male or female, but most notably male. When a chicken reaches their twenty-first birthday (in chicken years. This would be four in human), they are eligible to be drafted. This is usually only during a time of war. Some soldiers are volunteers and some went because their fathers went. Some go because they get payed, they get an education and they get fed for free. Trainees are called fledglings. Fledglings graduate from training after four years of training (this process is sped up if in time of war). The mentors give them tests every quarter to see their performance and it is ranked on a scale of 0 to 100. A passing score is anything over 50. At the end of the year, their scores will be added together and then divided by 400 to see if they passed that year. They have to have a passing score to move on. Good mentors add notes to what the fledgling was doing wrong and/or how they can improve. After the fledgling passes a total of four years of training, they become soldiers. Soldiers will later on learn further into the following practices:
Anatinae, Weaponry, Mentorship, Guard, Knight
Chicken enemies are their normal natural predators and other chickens. The only other animals that can speak besides chickens are turkey, quail, and pheasants. Chickens understand pheasants fairly well, but there are often miscommunications between turkey, quail, and chickens. Chickens ride chariots into battle pulled by ducks or geese.
Depending on where they are positioned in the soldiery, chickens can have reinforced wings that shield them from weapons and make them hard enough where it would hurt to beat someone with their wings. Some do not wear that as they need to be able to maneuver and fly. They also have beak and spur reinforcements. A few of the more special chickens will reinforce their claws. They wear goggles to protect their eyes during up close combat. They also wear helmets with a split at the top so that their comb can come out comfortably. They also wear chain mail, chest plate, and neck armor when wearing a full suit.
During times of peace chickens play the game of chicken through their own form of jousting. They like to prove their bravery and strength. They wear long beak reinforcements and run at each other. One can either turn away or they try to spear each other.
Anatinae/Anatidae
Anatinae deals with geese and ducks. They all learn how to train them. They all study them, get hands on experience, learn how to control them and heal their wounds. They also learn the migration patterns of wild geese and ducks and reproduction. Soldiers with this speciality will be called into battle (if it occurs) to be the drivers these animals. Most of them go deeper into this field. Some specialize in training and train both war anatinae, simple household manners for the pets and break wild ones. Some just write books about them, but most of them only do this when they are too old to be wrestling a contrary goose. Of course, some go on and become teachers of this field for the next generation. Some become veterinarians, both during war and during peace. Some breed them, choosing anatinae with good genetics for whatever purpose. Some breed for war and battle, as larger geese and ducks pull war chariots. Others breed for fashion as showing beautiful or unique anatinae is popular among the more fortunate. One of the uses of downy feathers (chicken and anatidae) are to make comfortable mattresses for the anatidae to sleep on.
Weaponry
Weaponry deals with the making and sometimes inventing weapons. They will repair broken ones and decorate hilts. Some become well-known for their craft while others end up making more forks than daggers. Not to say that blacksmithing isn’t notable, but it is more mundane. They keep blades sharp and ready for anything unpredictable. While their skill needs a forge, they are a fairly stationary trade. Weaponry is a trade that will lead to more of a family life as it is more stable and in one place. It’s grueling work and you have to be diligent.
Mentorship
Mentorship deals with fledglings. You train them in different battle technics. An ally is teamwork and compliance. Make them do simple chores and exercises together and slowly they’ll shape into a team. They often delve deeper than just basic mentorship of all subjects. Some will teach fledglings archery, working and forming in a work and in a solid cadence. In the third year, fledglings learn how to shoot while on a moving chariot. Others will educate them in sword work and in Phasian’s national weapon, two sai. Soldiers in this profession will also train the fledglings in spear/javelin and also in strategy. Mentors might go further on and open private training facilities or become body guards.
Guard
Guard deals with guarding the castle. You keep your skills and body toned. You mentally have to be in shape too, so most of them have sworn off any type of alcoholic drink. You have a shift that you have to keep or you’re fired and the next in line takes your place. While you’re off shift you train and practice. It is one of the hardest professions to go into. It’s also a noble one. The guards walk by the servant passages which are straightforward and quicker to go by. They are taught in the castle’s defenses and weak spots. They learn how two open and close the drawbridge and traps. Every three years, they are talked to by a trusted official of the king and are questioned. This official is trained to find signs of lying. They ask hard questions about their loyalty to make sure that the guards are still for the king. If they aren’t, then they are privately executed then and there. They’ve learned too much about the castle and are a liability.
Knight
Knight deals with affairs outside of the castle. They patrol the lands and are similar to law enforcement. There are local sheriffs, but knights are the ones they call when a situation is too big for a sheriff and deputy to handle alone. They also are the ones called if the sheriff has captured a dangerous wanted criminal or fugitive from the law. They learn how to control a pair of geese or ducks from the Anatinae. They learn the land and have allies and informants everywhere. They’ve also learned some secrets that drift from one place to another. Like guards, they have to stay fit in all ways possible and most of them have sworn off drinking any strong drink. They also have to take a similar test that the guards take as well and the same fate lies ahead for them if they fail.
———
Each profession first begins with a week of shadowing masters of the craft to see which position you are interested in. If you are unhappy in your chosen craft, you have to wait until the end of the semester to quit and join a new one.
Pets
Given that they are chickens, they do not have dogs or cats. Instead they have mice as household pets and companions. Some of the more bolder and experienced trainers have tamed squirrels, but they are not like mice who are more loyal. Squirrels end up doing whatever they want to. The purpose of mice is that they are trained to protect food and grain from the wild rats. Larger animals, like geese, are used for security and for transportation. Chickens do no ride anything’s back, as they find it too unwieldy, and instead ride in wagons and carriages. Farmers are especially known to keep hoards of geese and mice.
Currency
They go by coins.
Pebble is a rounded metal ball that has a print of the king’s seal on the flat bottom. Two of these are usually a peasant’s weekly pay.
Stone is a flat small copper token that has the print of the king’s and the queen’s seal, the king on the head and the queen on the tail.
Rock is a slightly larger silver version of the Stone with the same markings except the queen is the head and the king is the tail.
Boulder is a larger golden version of a Pebble. It only has the queen’s seal on the flat bottom.
Twenty pebbles equal one stone.
Twenty-five stones is a rock.
Ten rocks equals a boulder
Legends
Dillan and the Meese Riders
Date:
Author:
Dillan was not the brightest bird and he often got lost. One day, he couldn’t find his way home, so as the sun began to set, he looked for a safe place to roost for the night.
-he finds a safe place
-he is found by the meese riders
-he thought moose were legends
-the moose do not pay attention to them.
-goose are geese, so Dillan called a group of moose meese and it stuck.
WIP
King Corncob and the Monsters
Date: 1500-1600 P.T. (Phasian Time)
Author of Legend: Pot Pie (written by Argos 280360)
The chicken lords often recall the legend of the Great King Corncob. King Corncob was a haughty, noble lord who was adored by his family and everyone. He ruled in a peaceful time of no strife and always prosperity. No one hated him. EXCEPT for the evil three Hunters who killed innocent ones for fun. They hated the king and plotted to destroy him forever and they did this by deceit. They, evil and vicious, plotted to give him a gift that would assassinate him.
They claimed that instead of bioengineering them themselves that they found this strange, mythical beast. This beast was larger than any dog, fox, or coyote. It was bigger than coops and it was a burly cloud of muscle and meat with savage talons in its savage, drooling jaws (aka bear). They claimed that they killed the beast and took its wicked spawn out of
“adoration of its cuteness.” These two spawn were taken to the king’s palace as a gift and before the day was over, they killed him.
Feathers were everywhere. Blood dripped from the royal roosting room and the two evil killers rejoiced by playing and defiling the royal, righteous king’s body with their terribleness. The king was mauled, but had nobly taken the two evils down with him.
As for the three wicked Hunters, they were planned to be executed the next morning. The execution stands were built during the night, while they were in the jailhouse. The Hunters, though, had snuck in a messenger bird and sent a message to their friends to help them escape.
The very next day, the Hunters were about to be executed by the kitchen cutting knife, but suddenly, there was a great stoppage. The Hunters’ friends followed through and rescued them by sending out the dogs of the forest to kill the rest of the royal family and many more. Hundreds fell, and the three hunters and their friend were never seen again.
—
Okay, so the above is the legendary version that every chick has heard of and believes. The below is what really happened:
King Corncob had a party of hunters in the forest just outside of the city limits. The hunters were supposed to kill the wild coyotes, foxes and dogs that prowled the area as they had been killing off citizens. There had been a massacre of thirteen, with four still missing. The hunters numbered a great number of two and a half dozen and were armed to the beak and spur. They traveled through the dangerous forest and killed any canine who dared approach them. However, they were soon met with something that was not a canine.
There was another creature. A larger creature. A creature with black, dull eyes and ragged black hair which was thick and matted. What they didn’t know was this was a bear. She was a mother to two adorable cubs who caught the attention of the hunters who then cooed at them because they were adorable. However, the mother bear did not like these strange chickens looking at her babies and attacked. They died by her fangs and brute strength, but they took her down with them. Only three remained. They were still amazed by the cute cubs and decided that they could be domesticated, trained, and used to defend their king. So they took them home to the king, who received them graciously. To reward them for their courage and abilities, he gave them a feast, to which two grew drunk on wine. The other had sworn to sobriety.
The king retired with his two bear cubs by his side. They were playful things and were attracted especially by his dangling, colorful tail feathers which rippled like ribbons. They merely wanted to play with their new “father” and accidentally killed him in his own chambers.
Servants found his brutally damaged body soon after and in fear of their lives, the guards allowed the cubs to escape back into the wild. They blamed the king’s death on the hunters who had gifted the cubs to the king. The two were in a drunken sleep, but the sober one was struggling to tie a message to a squawking messenger bird. The three were taken into the prison hold where there was a little window at the very top of the cell, too small to squeeze through. However, the messenger bird was small enough and the only awake one sent a note to a friend, telling of what had happened.
The stands were ready in the morning and the execution knives had been sharpened. The three were led up to their own platform. Each panted with the idea of death and dying. However, they did not die. The message had reached their ally in time, who had somehow captured and then released three wild dogs inside the square—an act that would kill over fifty innocent chickens. The three hunters, though, survived and, in the busyness of the situation, escaped.
They tried to find a way to prove that they did not mean to bring a gift that would kill their king and the fact that they did not mean to assassinate him at all. They ventured wide and far, moving under false names and pretenses. They never did.
Summer 
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