The Veyrda mon (a mon is the Japanese equivalent of a coat of arms.)
They watch over the Dark Forest from the shadows of the coop of Scratch Hollow. They are known for their Verdant Gaze. Their eyes, glowing green in moments of truth, are more than a mark of lineage; they are a channel of ancient power. To live as Veyrda (veh-IR-duh) is to embody the Code: discipline, loyalty, and the quiet strength of restraint. The clan’s warriors move with patience, their steps silent among bamboo thickets and misted roofs, their blade beaks only drawn in times of war, their gaze steady as the emerald glow that guides their way.
Every action is measured, every step deliberate. The Veryda act with patience, never wasting strength.
To clan, to code, to Hollow. Their bonds are unbreakable, their word unshaken.
Power is not for conquest, but for protection. The blade beak strikes only when no other path remains.
Not all who walk the halls of Scratch Hollow awaken the glow. The Verdant Gaze is not a birthright, but a covenant—earned through discipline, humility, and unwavering loyalty to the Code. When a Veyrda’s eyes blaze emerald, it is more than light: it is a living bond between spirit and strength, a flame drawn from the stillness of the Hollow itself.
The glow awakens only in moments of balance—when heart and mind are steady, when pride yields to patience, and when courage stands firm in the quiet. To outsiders, it is a marvel; to the Veyrda, it is both a gift and a burden. For the Gaze reveals not only the hidden paths through mist and shadow, but also the weight of every choice made in its light.
To witness the Verdant Gaze is to glimpse honor alive in green fire. It is sight sharpened, strength tempered, and resolve unbreakable. It is the mark of guardians who walk in silence, yet shape the destiny of Scratch Hollow.
The Verdant Gaze, granting powers when used, is a blessing, but one that must be used sparingly and with caution.
Not every Veyrda manifests all abilities. Each awakening is unique, shaped by character, discipline, and trial.
The world is laid bare before them.
Reveals hidden truths, pierces fog, shadow, and deception. Sight is enhanced, not always the same way.
The Hollow itself muffles their tread.
Moves swift and soundless, unseen even among bamboo thickets. Some can stand on a platform unseen.
The glow steadies the hearts of others.
Inspires courage, restores calm, and lifts allies in dark hours. It empowers the heart, and enhances battle strength.
When danger strikes, the Hollow defends.
Plumage hardens with green light, deflecting blows and guarding kin. Rarely can be used voluntarily.
Note: Not all the powers do the same things for each Veyrda. The Verdant Gaze is personal and unique to each and every chicken in the clan. Almost no chicken has ever had more than two of the four abilities unlocked by the Verdant Gaze.
The story of the Veyrda Clan begins deep within the Dark Feather Forest, where Scratch Hollow was carved among bamboo thickets and mist-covered roofs. In the earliest days, the Hollow was no more than a gathering of coops, each family bound by its own customs. But from this patchwork of traditions rose a single family whose discipline set them apart. They were called the Clan of the Verdant Gaze, for when their eyes glowed emerald, it was said they could pierce mist, shadow, and deceit itself. Over time, this family became the Veyrda Clan, chosen not by conquest but by the respect of all who witnessed their quiet strength.
Unlike other clans who measured their worth in feathers, combs, or spurs, the Veyrda believed that power must be tempered by restraint. They swore a covenant: that the Verdant Gaze would not be a weapon for pride or war, but a bond of spirit and discipline. To awaken the glow required years of training—silent meditation at dawn, hours of stillness in the bamboo groves, and acts of loyalty tested in hardship. Few achieved it, yet those who did became not just guardians of Scratch Hollow, but living embodiments of its code.
Legends tell of a time when fox marauders swept through the Hollow, their blades quick, their cunning unmatched. Many coops faltered, but the Veyrda stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes closed, armor gleaming, waiting for the moment when the pulse of green light surged from one to all. In unison, they defended the Hollow without breaking their covenant, blades drawn only when there was no other path. That defense became a defining moment, proving that unity and restraint could outlast speed and fury.
As generations passed, the Veyrda Clan did not seek dominion over the other coops. Instead, they took their place as keepers of balance—mediators in disputes, guardians of the bamboo paths, and teachers of patience. Their mon, the twin leaves cradling a single eye, became not a symbol of fear, but of trust. To this day, the sight of a Veyrda meditating in the mist, eyes glowing softly, reassures the Hollow that discipline, loyalty, and restraint still guard its heart.