Clan Blackroot - ᛒᛚᚨᚲᚴᚱᛟᛟᛏ

[mateolog 1551]

 

Clan Blackroot

ᛒᛚᚨᚲᚴᚱᛟᛟᛏ

Clan Traits and History

 

History

 

Clan Blackroot is a dwarven clan that has derived from the Cottonwood Clan. The clan was legitimized as a proper forest dwarf clan by the current High Chief of Hefrumm at the time; Beorn Cottonwood. The founder of the Clan Beorn’s cousin; Karl Blackroot, was a Seer of Hefrumm at the time and the de facto Religious leader of the village. Because of this Beorn offered the creation of a new clan where the focus of hunting (from the cottonwood clan) would be switched to spirituality.

Spirituality

When it comes to spirituality, the clan Blackroot is the golden child of Hefrumm. The lives of Blackroots rotate around the idea of communing with the Brathmordakin in action and in mind. Because of this members of the Blackroot clan are more likely to become seers compared to other clans.

 

Head Hunting and Funeral rites

The Blackroots practice headhunting as the head is believed to house a person's spiritual power that would make someone more powerful or more wise in the physical world. Heads that have been individuals of importance in one way or another are kept in reverence to their fallen honorable foe, ally, mentor, etc. Revered heads are taken around when possible making sure to take care of their needs. On the other hand, they also have a habit of nailing heads of individuals that have wronged them to walls or dangling them from the necks of horses to show the fate of those that break their word with a Blackroot. These heads of individuals that have wronged them are often left to the elements to be returned to nature. However, this is done in the most gruesome way  possible (bugs often attracted to the head on purpose) to hurt the spirit of those allied to the dishonorable foe.

When a Blackroot dies their body is kept and mummified to be kept in a hall where individuals will be able to talk to their ancestors. In theory Blackroots take the heads of their fallen wherever they live as they do not want their remains to be captured by Knorvad. For most of its time the body is put into the Tree of Anbella as is tradition with clans of Hefrumm until moving is required.

 

Trials and Rites

 

Trials

Trial of Courage
For this trial the Beardling is to face a creature in a hunt. The beardling must not be helped unless he/she is about to die. The beardling is to dedicate the kill to Belka and Anbella. In addition, the beardling must make use of the body of the animal in some way, be it making a weapon, clothes, or jewelry. In this way the animal becomes a guiding spirit of the beardling binded by the grace of the Brathmordakin. This trial was a tradition that came from the Cottonwoods.

 

Trial of Blood
A Blackroot should not fear to witness the death of a descendant. To this end the beardling is to build a Menhir and write their personal binded rune on it. Once this is done the beardling is to bring the head of an enemy of the brathmordakin and/or dwarves and place it at the feet of the Menhir. Once this is done the beardling is to dedicate the death to his patron Brathmordakin as sacrifice. 

 

Trial of Shadows
In the trial of Shadows the beardling will face his/her biggest fears and confront the shadow of Khorvad. To do this they will find a Seer of Clan Blackroot. The Seer will administer a drink made from hallucinogenic leaves, roots, and sap. The trial is meant to test the willpower and spirit of the beardling. In this trial it can happen that the beardling’s personality changes due to trauma or that death occurs. However, in most cases of those who pass the trial the bearding comes out of it tired but healthy.

 

Rites  

Handfasting Marriage
Handfasting is the way the dwarves of clan Blackroot get married. Marriage in the clan is a way to assure the partner that they will remain with them and that they will not look for another partner. Once a dwarf has been bound in marriage he/she can no longer go around having flings. To divorce the partner or if the partner dies there is an unfasting ceremony where the bond is burned in a fire symbolising the end of the union. Sometimes widows choose to never burn their bond and carry it with them until the end of their life.

 

Birth rite
When a child is born the family of the child must go in a hunt for a beast. The family is to slay the beast and bathe the child in the blood of the creature in a ceremony dedicated to the Tribunal. By doing so the family creates a Totem protector for the child that will protect him/her whenever they need it most.

      

Death rite

The Clan mummified their dead so they are able to carry their bodies with them in their travels to new continents as well as to keep their beards from rotting away. However, to keep the Hefrumm tradition of burying their dead in the Tree of Anbella the clan tends to put the mummified remains of their folk in the tree.

Ranks

Chief/Chieftess: As is tradition in Hefrumm clans the Clan father of the clan is called Chief and the Clan Mother Chieftess. If the Chief / Chieftess is removed by the clan Elders the Chief / Chieftess or ressignes he/she will become part of the Elders. Clan Chiefs guide the clan, serve as embodiment of the clan, and take care of the clan and their kin.

 

Elder: Under the Clan Chief / Chieftess there are the Elders. These dwarves do not need to be old. However, it is a requirement that these dwarves were once the clan Chief or Chieftess. They are the confidants of the Chief / Chieftess. Elders are able to remove the chief if he/she proves to be a danger to the clan if they have a ⅔ majority.

 

S.Dwarves: Senior Clan Dwarves are dwarves that have achieved an understanding of the Brathmordakin and the Paragons, only Senior Clan Dwarves and Clan Elders can apply to become Chief/Chieftess. As a basic requirement of knowledge of the faith is needed to lead the clan.

 

Clan Dwarves: Clan Dwarves are the members of the Blackroot clan that have finished their trials. This allows them to vote in moots for the election of a new Chief / Chieftess. Being a Clan Dwarf also allows one to vote on internal clan issues in clan meetings.

 

Beardling: Beardling is a rank given to every dwarf under 50 and those that have not done their trials yet. To be able to start one’s trials they must be at least 50 years old. Those that marry a clan member are recommended to do the trials before marriage.