Cornelia Pembroke

The child of Pelan refugees, Cornelia Omun moved to Mocrioca at age twelve. Though the dominant religion in their new home was Xurugwi, they were accepted and welcomed in this country. As an adult, Cornelia met Sima Pembroke and moved to Kedos with him, where they were married. A smaller town than that which she grew up in, Cornelia was the only member of the community who was not Xurugwi. Though her relationship with Sima remained positive and the Kedos Temple openly respected her faith, Cornelia's journals reveal that her neighbors often scoffed at her when she didn't understand Xurugwi traditions, or when she tried to take part in things that were not part of Pelan culture, like cooking traditional Xurugwi meals.

Coming Soon: An excerpt from Cornelia Pembroke's journal about trying to cook Xurugwi food

Sima hoped to be a Trickster-Trapper, though he never acquired the musical skills necessary to be given the title. In 1575, while trying to defend his village from tricksters, he fell off a cliff, hitting the sharp rocks below. With her husband dead, Cornelia feared she would be made outcast among the Xurugwi. Determined to prevent this, she took up her husband's flute herself and declared that she would continue in his wake. She was told that if her husband had failed, she had no chance of success, as she had not been born and raised in the Xurugwi tradition, but Cornelia proved to be a far better musician than Sima and after three years, she was officially appointed the Kedos trickster-trapper, and she served in this position until her own death in 1602.

Coming Soon: An excerpt from Cornelia Pembroke's journal about taking up her husband's mantle

A Melding of Traditions

Though little is known of Cornelia and Sima's relationship, all evidence points to them having a strong romantic bond. They married in Xurugwi fashion, and Sima would have refused to marry if he did not feel genuine devotion to her. Furthermore, Cornelia took her husband's name upon her marriage, though in Pelan tradition, a man usually takes his wife's name. They also had two children, Kai and Cecil, whom she raised in her own tradition, but also visited the temple with their father. Even after Sima died, Cornelia made sure her children had the opportunity to attend regular Xurugwi services and take part in important holiday celebrations. Thus, they grew up in both religious traditions.
Though Cornelia never outwardly subscribed to the Xurugwi tradition herself, she wrote in her diary that in the time she spent in Kedos, she learned that the Xurugwi faith and her own were not so far apart as she had once believed, and asked to be given traditional Xurugwi funerary rights if the other members of the community. Cornelia's daughter, Kai, wrote that out of respect for their great trickster-trapper, the community had been prepared to offer whatever funerary rights Cornelia preferred, be that Xurugwi or otherwise.
Cornelia's body was left on the Kedos cliffs and after two weeks, several community members, went to search for the remaining bones, but all they found of her was her femur. The Kedos clergy declared that Cornelia's soul had found its way to the First Home, but her femur had been left behind to continue to protect them. Many people in the community, including both her children, decided that this was a sign from the Epaluno goddess that Cornelia had learned the lesson she had been sent to Mocrioca to learn--that both Cornelia and the Xurugwi were right in their ways of thinking.
Cornelia's femur was fashioned into a flute to be used by future trickster-trappers in Mocrioca. In honor of her Pelan heritage, the markings on the flute were painted purple, rather than the traditional teal. When it is not being used by a current trickster trapper, it is kept in the Kedos Temple, where visitors come to see it and honor Cornelia.
Cornelia's life and death in Kedos also brought about a new branch of the Xurugwi religion, which is now common across Mocrioca and especially in Kedos. Followers of this branch meld common Pelan customs with the Xurugwi tradition, including the braiding of hair, the wearing of the Ibi'an, and the worship of Epaluno goddess.

Previously Held Ranks & Titles

• Trickster-Trapper

Life

1546 1602 56 years old