Clan Stormheart

[Pesmar 66]

 

The Stormheart Clan is one of the youngest among the Dwarven Clans, having been established recently, in the 16th century of the first age. Little is known about the origins of the clan, but the manner in which its members carry themselves is plain for all to see. 

 

Members of the Stormheart clan are devout legionnaires, often spending their entire lives in military service. They also are extremely zealous in their religious practices, offering praise and worship to all of the Brathmordakin equally, not just those few they call their patrons. 

 

Furthermore, Stormhearts seem to have a deep set hatred for unnatural creatures, such as undead, and will go to greath lengths to eradicate any creature of a vile and evil nature.

 

 

Kori Stormheart fighting the drake scourge of Almaris - 11th Malons welcome year 8 of the second age.


 

Clan Culture

 

As soon as a Stormheart comes of age, they must swear two sacred oaths, as well as complete their clan trials, in order to be recognized as a full member of the clan. 

 

The Oaths:

 

An Oath of Loyalty:

 

Every Stormheart must swear an oath of unwavering allegiance to the King of Urguan, offering him their undying loyalty and devotion without question. 

 

An Oath of Faith:

 

Every Stormheart must swear an oath of undying devotion to the Brathmordakin, presenting offerings to each of the Brathmordakin on a regular basis, and offering a sacred prayer known only to the clan.

 

Tattered Robes:
When the Stormhearts are not wearing their signature tabards with blackened steel plate armour, they can be found in dull brown robes. These are made of the most basic material, often dirty and akin to a burlap sack. The robes are not mandatory under the Stormheart clan however they represent the denouncement of greed, the dwarven curse laid upon the dwarves.

 

The Trials

 

Trial of the Warrior:

The first trial of the Stormheart clan requires the beardling to prove their worth as a warrior. In order to do this, the beardling must partake in an honor duel against any worthy non-dwarf. The trial is completed only when the beardling triumphs over their opponent. 

 

Trial of the Slayer:

The second trial of the Stormheart clan requires the beardling to prove themselves capable of carrying on the monster hunting tradition. The beardling must track down any evil creature, slay it, and return to the clan with a trophy as proof of their kill.

 

Trial of the Observer:

The third and final trial of the Stormheart clan requires the beardling to prove they can learn from their past battles, so that the progeny of the Stormhearts will be even more capable than their predecessors. The beardling must write down an account of one of their battles, and state clearly what they learned from the encounter.

 Clan Traditions

 

 

Studding:

 

One tradition wholly unique to the Stormheart Clan is the act of studding: Adorning one’s body with metal piercings. Each stud that a Stormheart receives is symbolic of some major achievement in their life; a physical representation of how these events have changed the spirit of each Stormheart. 

 

Typically, the first stud that a Stormheart receives is a small Iron ball in the forearm, symbolizing the dwed’s completion of their clan trial

 

However, studding marks not only the number of a Stormheart’s achievements, but their quality as well. The greater the achievement, the more valuable the material of the stud.

 

Uruan Stormheart leading the expodition to the sea slug caverns - 22th Malons welcome year 7of the second age.

 

Archaeology:

Typically given the Stormhearts values in beast slaying and observing battles it is not unusual to see some Stormhearts take on a more Scollar/Scribe role often taking great virtue in the recovery and preservation of relics and items from past times in both dwed history and others. Great value is placed on knowledge of evil and vile creatures to better understand and remove them from existence however, unlike the normal religious zeal a stormheart portrays, a stormheart will collect knowledge that may seem mundane and worthless monetarily but rather knowledge for knowledge's sake. “Nae mortal price can be placed on matters of’ tae mind” -Torrigh Stormheart. These objects are often displayed in the hopes other dwed would find meaning and purpose behind them.

 

Iron casting:

This is an old dwed tradition since time immemorial, often or not a dwed’s enemies will be cast alive in a brutal manner to take the shape of their mortal corpse. The stormhearts are masters of this craft but more so for the understanding of its true purpose. A method created by the late Ivar stormheart after discovering old dwed runes used to capture vile and evil creatures who were immortal to most forms of slaying. As such Ivar stormheart devised a manor by which creatures would be cast in iron to shape their bodies. These creations are often referred to as Trihi-Bokk, or in more common tongue ‘Screaming statues’. It's said you can still hear the souls trapped inside if you get close to these sculptures 

 

Clan History

 

The very first stormheart appeared on the plains of Axios shortly after the war of the beards under the loyalist banner of Urguan. The first of their kind, and original clan father Gilrik Stormheart. The clan father was no more than a commoner dwarf and threw his life outside of the legion wore nothing more than a blackened tattered robe. As a symbol of humility the clan continue to wear the same tattered apparel to show their abstinence of greed and respect for the first Stormheart.

 

Gilriks father, was Oliki Frostbeard who was one of the Frostbeards serving in Kaz’Ulrah. He took part in the murder of the senate and the proceeding war. Seeing his father commit such atrocities of kin slay Gilrik was forced into hiding, He would later Renounce his clan and form the Stormhearts after years of meditation.

 

Gilrik taught his kin the dark history of the clan and began the teachings of his children and threw the clergy on how to conduct themselves in the future. He believed that his children were capable of the Traitorous acts such as his father had before him and worried that the blood that ran in their veins would have them turn back to the frost beards and attempt to retake the throne. Thus only on completion of the trials is a stormheart given the full knowledge of the clans origins.

 

Edited March 18, 2021 by Pesmar

[Mickaelhz 3752]

"Took em long 'nuf." Utak Ireheart grumbled as he sat in the tavern below the ashwood tree, listening to some random elf reading about the clan for him.

 

"N' den Yemekar said, let dere be hope."