The Aulcinath | Clan Rhysfelgar

[The Vulgate Cycle 577]

 

Penned on the 5th of Malin’s Welcome, 245 SA

 

“I have warned you of your vain quest for glory and of your pride. You have erred many times against Aeradar. Beware of everlasting pain- for of all earthly knights and exalted lords, I most pity you. For I know well that you have no peer on any earthly sinful man.”

 

~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar

 

The Knightly Heraldry of Ser Arthur-Indocar Uthyrien

 

 

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The Aulcinath of Clan Rhysfelgar had records of ancient times survived, tracing its lineage as all do, to the followers of Harren Horenson. Though its people are ancient, time and the cyclical nature of warfare and calamity have forged and reforged the clan anew many times over. As a result, the one constant the Aulcinath can look back to in perpetuity is the ability to adapt and survive, even when the Adunian race stood at its lowest and isolated, they fought for the preservation of their people’s very soul upon the desolation of the Doom of the Harren’hil. 

 

Though now murky, the story of the present-day Aulcinath begins at the beginning of the Second Age. During the Quenta Nauthoniad, the Aulcinath were one of the many small warbands and chiefdoms scattered by the fall of Al’Ildic to the undead in the 1309th year of the First Age, and solidified its lifestyle as a semi-nomadic group after arriving to live amongst the Bowies following the shattering of Marsyr-led unity upon the first hundred years of colonizing Almaris. And in this state, the Aulcinath remained until the ascension of their newest warchief Arthmail Seisyllien, who, in his travels and his quests for greater power and recognition, heard stories of the renowned Nauthron, known as John Marsyr in the common tongue. They scrutinized and debated the merits of John Marsyr’s stories- in the Inferi Wars, his uniting of the Adunians under his banner in Amathea, and his exploits against the Svarling and Skanarri tribes from his seat in Minas Angren, until it was decided overwhelmingly that the Aulcinath would join the rest of their people there under John Marsyr.

 

What Aulcinath found, however, upon their arrival was a sickness plaguing their people. Under the stewardship of Ser Edward Thur-Elendil and his vampiric consort, the Adunian realm was falling slowly to neglect, as Ser Edward had abandoned his stewardship and left Cartref Mor to suffer ill-rule. For the rest of Arthmail’s time as Chief of the Aulcinath, he attempted in vain to rectify the problems he saw, and nearly left Minas Angren entirely, had it not been for the timely return of John Marsyr himself. Wherein the Aulcinath finally got a glimpse of the breath and presence of the one whose stories and legend they had pinned their hopes upon. Arthmail died during the time of Cartref Mor’s resurgence and left the Chiefdom of the Aulcinath to his son, Uthyr Arthmailien, who, in his dying moments, charged Uthyr with ensuring the sanctity of the Clan and, under John Marsyr, that of the rest of the Adunian people. The resurgence of prosperity did not long outlive Chief Arthmail, however – just a few short years after Uthyr’s ascension to Chief, Lord John perished against the undead and the Lordship of Cartref Mor fell to his son and heir, Aurelion.

 

It fell to a young Chief Uthyr to contend with the many follies of Aurelion in the leadup to war. First, the divine veneration of their ancestral kings, which Uthyr rejected. Second, the demonization of Malchediael and his Templars, to which Uthyr in secret welcomed each time they made their presence known among the Aulcinath. But worst of all, and hardest to contend with, was the twisting of the Adunian’s very soul, the corruption of Nauthron’s legacy. Prosperity had come to their people, but there was a sickness at its center now, which reached its zenith when Aurelion, counselled by the undead and the influence of fell magics, declared himself King, and raised his banner with the intention of conquering the Raenrlands.

 

When Aurelion called on his allies to come to his aid, Chief Uthyr made the choice to abandon Cartref Mor and called upon any willing to join him to leave alongside the Aulcinath, as they could not continence or endorse such a King as Aurelion. With what few others came, Chief Uthyr led the Aulcinath out of Mina Angren and were branded traitors. Most searing of all, by his own brother, Elisedd, who still believed in Aurelion and, in protest, turned his back on the clan as a whole, naming them all traitors to their people. It was a label Uthyr accepted willingly, as he felt his conscience was clear and the promises made to his Clan, to his father, were themselves broken. And from that day on, the Aulcinath returned to their semi-nomadic lifestyle as King Aurelion the Accursed, and Cartref Mor fell to the Norlanders under King Odin, who wrought his skull in gold. Following the end of the war, Uthyr and the Aulcinath did their best to gather as many of the survivors as possible. But many, still angry at Chief Uthyr’s supposed betrayal, instead went to Celia’nor, where the Adunians continued to erode into darkness and the hungry maw of Iblees. 

 

Worse still, the acolytes of an undead Aurelion were sent forth to make war against the Aulcinath as he still lived as a Revenant Necromancer, attempting to curl and twist the last remaining holdouts of the once mighty grace of the Adunian Culture. A conflict in which Aulcinath and the survivors of Aurelion’s war had joined him struggled ceaselessly both for survival and to seek a permanent end to the Revenant Lord. 

 

Forged by calamity, by war, by the prospective end to his race as a whole, Uthyr Arthmailien became renowned by the Aulcinath as one of its greatest warriors, its most practical leaders, one of the few to risk their lives and reputations to stand against Aurelion. Under him, the Aulcinath had reached its greatest heights, in numbers, in combative prowess, and wealth. And at a time when the Adunians seemed close to faltering forever, when all seemed lost, the Aulcinath bestowed upon him a new title, Brannohtar. In the hopes that he would rule and point the way to the faithful, who had followed him and not fallen into darkness yet. The Adunians of yore had faltered and perished; only the Aulcinath and their Brannohtar remained. Or so they thought, until a summons from Ser Uther of Acre arrived, calling upon all the Adunians to gather about him.

 

When the summons came, Uthyr, now Brannohtar of the Aulcinath, of Clan Rhysfelgar, read it aloud so that all may hear it. To which, the Aulcinath erupted in protest, in doubt, and rejection. For they knew Ser Uther Pendraic as a student of Tar Nauthron, and they bore little trust for the Marsyr line or any who studied beneath them. They instead called upon Uthyr himself to rule, to continue as Brannohtar, and to unite what Adunians could be saved. Uthyr remained silent, willing the crowd to silence with sharp, fiery eyes and, with a single gesture, commanded the Clan Council to assemble to deliberate, as his father had, whether they would take a chance on Ser Uther Pendraic. 

 

The debate was loud and contentious. For the last time, they entrusted their loyalty and service to another, and they suffered decades of hardship, violence, and war. It lasted several weeks, and thrice the Brannohtar dismissed his council entirely in frustration. And after a fortnight of debate and argument, Uthyr emerged before the Aulcinath and declared that he would not seek a crown and sow further division among the Adunians. That he would lead them and make common cause with Ser Uther Pendraic, now Lord of Barrowton.

 

“If I am a leader trustworthy enough in your eyes to wear a crown, then you trust me enough to follow me without one.”

 

With the Aulcinath rallied and unity of purpose restored, Brannohtar Uthyr Arthmailien led the Aulcinath to Barrowton, and upon the crowning of Uther by the High Pontiff Pontian IV, declared his allegiance to Tar Uriel and the Arthalionath. In return, upon the formation of Numendil within the Midden of Aevos, was granted a hillfort for which the Aulcinath, Uthyr, and later his wife and son Arthur could make their home, guarding the frontiers of the Númenaranyë against the enemies of a now redeemed Numenedain people. In this time of peace, the Aulcinath thrived, and although unwilling to completely give up their ways, the traditions that allowed them to survive so long through the doom of the Harren’hil and beyond, they did flourish and find themselves once again amongst a people whom they can rely upon once again.

 

The past, however, would soon come to haunt the Aulcinath, for in the many years that followed the Aulcinath’s abandonment of Aurelion the Accursed, Elisedd had fallen deeper and deeper into mystic arts and exalted himself, transforming voluntarily into a Pale Lord. One who proclaimed himself, in the thrall of madness, a true successor to Aurelion’s legacy and his belief that Malchediael and Aeradar were naught but fell beings, only to be rebelled against. And the Numenedain, redeemed as they were, in his twisted eyes had fallen into Malchediael’s influence, from which they were to either be converted away from or to be slain. And it was by chance, on a routine patrol through the Midden and the far North of Aevos, that Brannohtar Uthyr and his men stumbled upon their lair. Upon discovering it, Uthyr and his men joined battle against Elisedd, now dubbing himself Tûrgoroth, and his fell magic acolytes. 

 

After a long, drawn-out fight, all of Uthyr’s companions fell, and he was forced to retreat into the wilds in an attempt to make his way back home. Several days later, halfway to the hillfort, Uthyr would find his wife, leading an expedition to find him on the road to Norland through the Midden. But Tûrgoroth, wanting to put an end to his brother and his line, pursued. Leading to a second great battle upon the Midden. A violent hour long clash where the summons and necrotic allies of Tûrgoroth were slain, and many of the Aulcinath warriors too were slain. All except Uthyr and his wife Enide, who fought side by side, even as Tûrgoroth put up a thick smog to blind them. In the end, both Uthyr and Enide were mortally wounded, but as Tûrgoroth stood over them, prepared to end them both, Uthyr took up his volatite hammer and delivered his final explosive blow to the Pale Lord’s leg, assuring his eventual death. 

 

The Pale Lord, who was once his brother, fled the field, the life waters leaking from his body, and in the dark behind him, Uthyr laughed. 

 

As Tûrgoroth died, he moved through the woods, fleeing the brother he had feared so much, even with all his vast power. The people who had once been his people, the family that he had once thought would follow him down any path. He continued, desperate, destroying anything in his path, for he had no more living allies, no place to heal, his plans having come to a sudden end. Until he spotted the hillfort of the Aulcinath in the distance and he took it upon himself to try and bring as many of his former Clansmen down with him, unto the bittermost ends.

 

With the last of his strength and his fell magics, Tûrgoroth approached the hillfort and evoked a spell that made everyone within feel as though a powerful force was crushing their necks, robbing them of the ability to breathe. As the Aulcinath within struggled against the strangulation, the 9-foot-tall Pale Lord cut down as many as he could find. But most of all, he sought Uthyr’s son, the eight-year-old Arthur. So that as he died, so too would Uthyr’s line. The carnage lasted the whole night, but even as Tûrgoroth tore through the hillfort, he could find no sign of the young boy anywhere. Arthur had seemingly vanished, and upon realizing his final vengeance on Uthyr would fail, Tûrgoroth fell completely into his madness and used the last of his life burning and destroying all that he could before he too fell dead.

 

The attack upon that hillfort that night was devastating, and many of the Aulcinath died, scattering the survivors to the wind. Leaving only Arthur, whom the Aulcinath believed had died in the carnage, to wake up alone in what was left of the hillfort. Being only a child, he subsisted on what few food supplies had survived the fires and the devastation, before he, too, was forced to venture into the wilds to survive. For three years, Arthur travelled throughout the Númenaranyë, learning to survive with improvised tools, weapons he had managed to buy or steal, until the age of 11, when he was caught by Princess Lominzil Arthalionath stealing grain from the fields. She took it upon herself to drag him into the city, and before the rest of the Arthalionath, so he could begin his life anew.

 

47 years after Tûrgoroth’s attack on the hillfort and the scattering of the Aulcinath, on the 11th day of Sun’s Smile in the Year 241 of the Second Age, Arthur Uthyrien- now Hîr Arthur Marsyr en Rhysfelgar put out a summons, proclaiming himself Brannohtar of the Clan and calling upon the Aulcinath to reunite and begin as he once did, anew.

A R T H U R ‘ S   L E T T E R   O F   S U M M O N S
 

 

 

Spoiler

It has been 47 years since our darkest hour, and I can only imagine that much as I, the blood and horror of that day carry with you as it does with me. The night Uthyr Arthmailien and Enide died, and all that hilltop fort was bathed in blood by an enemy of Ibless. How could anyone believe otherwise? With our destruction so complete. There is nothing but ghosts left in what remains of those timbered walls and cobblestone foundations, yet I remain. And although I now name myself Ser Arthur Marsyr, I was and will always be Arthur Uthyrien. And it is by the grace of Aeradar that I survived and managed to make my way to our fair city of Numenost, and my life was forever altered and bettered by many who saw potential in me and allowed me my chance to flourish in the sun. From Tar Caraneth herself, the Princes and Princesses of the Arthalionath, to the Rangers and Templars and our oathed brothers and sisters- I have flourished. Yet never did I forget my beginnings, the Clan that could have and would have raised me, had Ibless not ripped us apart.

 

The scouting of the woods, our rites, the smell of bread baking in the ovens, Deer Hearts hanging on lines among the butchers, destined for our alchemical brews that churned in massive cauldrons beneath the shadow of the lemon trees. But above all, I remember that when the enemy comes at us with the sword and malice a forethought, that we always answer them with Awakened Steel.

 

The sun has set on Uthyr Arthmailien, but his hopes for our Clan, his dreams, remain in the world. It is for him, for Enide, for all those who fell that I claim his title of Brannohtar and invite all who remain to gather. Not simply for power, not for tradition, or even support, but so that I may know you and you may know me, take the measure of the man I have become and restore the brotherhood that we all once shared. And should there be none of Rhysfelgar left or those that remain simply not desire to come together once more, then know I pray for your well-being and understand your choice fully.

 

Though it is my hope, I will get to say it to you face-to-face. So we may rebuild what once was- Anew.

 

Galu - Galo êl erin râd lîn (Blessing - May the star shine upon your path),

 

Ser Arthur-Indocar Uthyrien 

 

 

 

“We are as much a people of gold in look and stature as we are in mail and helm.”

~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar

 

P H Y S I C A L   A P P E A R A N C E

 

The Aulcinath have, since the days of their arrival in Barrowton, been known for being a people wreathed in gold; with their most prominent haircolors being golden hair and dirty blonde hair (which they often refer to as Mud Honeyed). Though they do not, in any other meaningful way, differ from other Adunians, for in ancient days and in the days following the fall of Aurelion took in many others who assimilated into the clan. They hold a reputation for being on average, taller than the average Adunian but are not in actuality. Their complexions overall tend to be fair and red in the sun, and their eye colors equally vary as broadly as those of their Adunian Kin, though they tend to be blue or grey.

 

Born and shaped by a semi-nomadic lifestyle, and having recently settled down to live among the Numenedain following the gathering of the Adunians under Ser Uther Pendraic, their style of clothing and dress reflects a highly mobile lifestyle that sees the Clan members often move from place to place. They often wear vibrantly colored woolen tunics, often complemented by elaborate pattern designs, belts and shoulder straps, trousers that are plain or in the tartan style, as well as articles of clothing made from horse or bovine, as well as various monsters and supernatural creatures whenever they get their hands on it. Clothes for men and women both are overall made for comfortability and ease of mobility and flexibility.

 

But by and large, the most prominent clothes that they are best known for are their cloaks and their various coats, vests, bands, and helms of silver, gold, and platinum. Aside from these things, however, the Aulcinath will often use the bone, hide, furs, and feathers from various animals and beasts they kill in their clothes for the sheer practicality of having the material on hand, but also as a display of achievement and status as well.

 

The Aulcinath have a reputation for being rather clean and well groomed, as well as regularly alchemically treating clothes, armor, and tools for specific circumstances. 

 

T R A D I T I O N A L   A T T I R E

A U L C I N A T H   C L O A K S

Starting with the Aulcinath cloaks, they are a prominent article of clothing made of various materials and serve many purposes amongst the clan families. Most visible are the plain cloaks worn by the warriors of the clan, which are often used as blank canvases for individual warriors to sow on the heraldry, symbols, and sigils of warriors they have slain in combat. Abstract representations of animals and monsters are also added for hunters who managed to fell great beasts in the wild or other supernatural beings. This is often used to gauge a Rhysfelgar clansman’s prowess in battle and serves as a visible indicator of their achievements in war. Often, the most experienced and oldest warriors of the clan would have so many patches and achievements that they begin to layer them atop one another, creating what essentially amounts to a menagerie of heraldry and sown art on the cloak that are displayed to both impress and intimidate friend and foe alike. These cloaks are often passed down through generations of the family to be repaired and built upon. Often, these are eventually put up on display in homes for guests and family alike to bear witness to.

 

Cloaks are, however, a universal article of clothing among the Aulcinath, and are worn by men and women for various purposes. They are a common part of dress that are often worn with family crests and heraldry, or otherwise individual symbols and writing that reflect the individual’s stylistic preferences. Sleeved, sleeveless, hooded or not, they are used prominently to display wealth, familial, and social ties. As well as practical uses such as inclement and harsh weather, hunting, and camouflage (both mundane and alchemical).

 

B U L L I O N    O R N A M E N T A T I O N

By far one of the most prominent features of Aulcinath dress is their tendency to wear their wealth directly onto their bodies, wearing a vast assortment of bands about their legs, arms, and wrists, Torcs about their necks, on their belts, and sometimes even sewn directly on additional strips and bands sewn onto their clothes. All of which are made primarily of silver, gold, and platinum, but also other rare metals such as starsteel, anorum, as well as various gemstones in various forms. This precious metal ornamentation also extends to livery chains, earrings, and necklaces. With men often wearing ornate circulates and women, elaborate head-dresses of these various precious metals and gemstones. All told, this oftentimes gives the impression of a gaudy display of opulence to outsiders looking in. In reality, however, this is a fashion choice that derives from their formerly semi-nomadic lifestyle and is their solution for transporting family and personal wealth from one place to another as efficiently as possible. This elaborate ornamentation is often decorated with segmentation built in, so when paying for wares and trade goods, they can easily just break off portions from certain parts of their ornamentation and decoration for payment. It is often discouraged for any of the ornamentation to be extremely loose, hanging, or able to be easily tangled up.

 

This tradition has changed as the Clan has come to settle down and become a part of the broader Numenedain Culture. It has become increasingly more popular for this fashion trend to be more subtle, so as not to invite robbery and violence against them. More elaborate ornamentation is reserved for holidays, celebrations, and special occasions within the Clan.

 

V A L U E S

 

"I found him in the shining of the stars, I marked him in the flowering of his fields, but in his ways with men I find him not. I waged his wars, and now I pass and die."

 

~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar

 

The moral ethics of The Aulcinath, known in the Low Adunic tongue- Rhysfelgar, have had their values heavily shaped by the Doom of Harren’hil, the scattering of the clan, and the moral character of Uthyr Arthmailien and later, his son, Ser Arthur Marsyr.

R E L I G I O N Along with Uther Pendraic, the Aulcinath embraced True Faith and are traditionally considered to be of the Owynist sect. Though they hold in deep reverence as well Malchediael and Jophiael. As many in the Clan have historically become Templars and accepted the boons of the Aengul of Courage. A D A P T A B I L I T Y One of the Aulcinath’s most prominent traits is their ability to adapt and change themselves to suit the times in which they live. It has allowed them to change from a settled to semi-nomadic lifestyle at need and back. They have embraced the idea that while tradition is important, it is not something to be turned into a rigid dogma. Not something to force them in place, that survival and one's people are more important than the monuments made and great works of stone or relics of old. C H I L V A L R Y Ever since joining the Numenedain, the Aulcinath have actively embraced the tenets of Knighthood and chivalry that their warriors should aspire to, even if they are not officially knights in their own right. To their warriors, it has become a lifestyle as much as it is a simple code of ethics. To be a knight is to walk with Aeradar. H O S P I T A L I T Y More than anything, the Aulcinath were sustained by the grace and kindness of towns, cities, and the virtuous peoples of the world during the Doom of Harren’hil and the myriad wars and struggles that have plagued the world since. In the times during the doom and ever after, they held sacred the importance of guest-right and hospitality, especially towards Adunians seeking refuge and belonging amongst their own kind. As a result, they tend to be extremely welcoming to those seeking aid or shelter.  M A R T I A L   T R A D I T I O N It is believed that it is the font of virtue for every member of the Aulcinath to know how to fight, to be capable of defending oneself and loved ones, and to be a combatant in the ever-present war against the Maw of Iblees and Demonkind. And while they do not necessarily require that every single member of the Clan be an expert in warfare or battle, they at the very least expect that every member be able to contribute something that aids in the destruction of the dark wherever it may hide. M A G I C In more recent times, the Aulcinath have taken a much gentler, more moderate stance on magic. Making them one of the least distrusting of Magic among the Numenedain. Though they heavily specialize in Alchemy, they are tolerant of standard Voidal Magic, consider Templarism sacred, and any magic that does not alter or manipulate the soul as acceptable to practice freely among them. They do, however, as always, fight against dark, fell magics and their creatures.

 

L A N G U A G E

 

“Ahdtó súé bí gwír (To Thine own self be true).”

~Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar

 

The Aulcinath as a whole historically have spoken amongst one another a tongue which derives its lineage, as all Adunic languages do, from High Adunic. It split off early from the languages that would eventually become Low Adunic, Ildannic, amongst others and grammar, vocabulary and structure from a much more ancient time. As a result, their clan tongue, known as Cenngwar (Literally translated to: ‘True Language’), has also become a powerful symbol of their identity. A tongue they speak amongst one another and use to identify one another, as well as to talk to one another discreetly. Despite having immense pride in their tongue and going to considerable lengths to preserve and uphold their language, they have also embraced the use of Low Adunic to speak to their fellow Numenedain- the Lingua Franca of Idunia.

 

High Adunic, as always, remains the ecclesiastical and sacred tongue of the Clan, as it is for the rest of the Numenedian.

 

N A M I N G    C U S T O M S

The Aulcinath have adopted the standard naming conventions of the rest of the Kingdom of Numendil following their widespread entry into the culture under the Kingship of Ser Uther Pendraic. However, before the scattering following Tûrgoroth’s attack, it was common practice for an Oathed name to be used always until given explicit permission to use their given name. To breach this was considered a minor form of disrespect, a small faux pas. Though this is a custom that has begun to loosen and become less strict as time goes on.

 

It is generally considered bad luck by the Aulcinath to give a newborn a given name before the age of 3. However, this is more or less considered a tradition rather than a strict rule they follow, often practiced by the more superstitious Aulcinath.

 

 

Here are some resources for names that can be used.

 

 

Spoiler

[Names1] - Main list

[Names2] - Generally good to draw from since Gaulish information is somewhat scarce

[Names3] - Implied to be from among those who joined the Clan following the Doom of Harren’hil

[Names4] - Influenced by joining the Numenedain culture as a whole

 

“I die, the sun retains.” ~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar   The practices of the Aulcinath are ancient and run deep, and had circumstances allowed, could have been traced, like so many things, to the days of Harren Horenson and Sarai, when the Harrenites first came into being. Changed, but with key elements of older days, married to their new life as a part of the renewed Kingdom of Idunia, of Numendil.

 

T R A D I T I O N A L   P R A C T I S E S

B I R T H    A N D    E A R L Y    C H I L D H O O D

Once born, newborns of the Aulcinath are set in a crib with the mother, wherein the father will traditionally hang, or otherwise set above them, a weapon (traditionally a falcata) to symbolize a promise to protect them against anyone who would do harm to the family. Particularly pious members of the Clan may opt to set above the crib weapons made of Aurum or Slayersteel. Under no circumstances are the newborns and infants allowed to be willfully separated from their parents while they are recovering from childbirth. It is considered kidnapping and a social taboo to separate them, even if they are kept in close proximity to one another. 

 

From the ages of 1 through 8, children are kept out of the public eye. This is generally considered a time exclusively for the parents and their family alone. It is, of course, the right of the parents to invite others within, family and friends primarily. It is generally expected that by the time they reach the age of 8, the children of the clan know the basics of how to keep themselves safe and know the bare basics of survival.

L A T E    C H I L D H O O D

Starting at the age of 8 and going till the age of 12, Children are given more freedom to be exposed to public life within the clan and society at large. They are usually entrusted at these ages with basic chores and responsibilities, as well as given a pet that they are to be responsible for, to begin instilling in them a care for nature and other living beings. This is also the time in which children are temporarily sent off to be fostered with other families and to be apprenticed in a skill of their choice to learn and gain experience. These wardships are also used as opportunities to allow the children of the clan to socialize and foster a greater sense of community and trust. Before the gathering of the Adunians in Barrowton, the fostered children would not be allowed to return to their birth parents until the age of 12, but since becoming integrated into wider Numenedain culture, the practice has been relaxed to allow the fostered children to return to their birth families in the evenings if they so desired. This is often considered an equivalent to the Numenedain Trial of Profession and is done in place of it.

 

A D O L E S C E N C E   &  Y O U N G   A D U L T H O O D

Beginning at the age of 13, Aulcinath clansmen begin to move past the ages of apprenticeship and become journeymen in their respective profession and/or field. It is a time where clan members are taught to handle and are given greater autonomy and are given more and more responsibility within the Clan. At the age of 15, they are considered old enough to knowingly take the Oath of Tar-Numenetar (a practice incorporated in after union with the Numenedain, and they are tasked with leveraging their skills to compose or create a tangible contribution to the overall welfare of the clan as well as the Kingdom of Numendil as a whole in mirror to the Numenedain Trial of Service. In a time before integration, clan members at this age would often sport scars across their palm, where it had been slashed by family to teach them humility and to remind them that they are of flesh and blood, fallible, and not untouchable. Though this custom has begun to fade in popularity, remaining prominent only among the warriors of the Clan as a form of discipline. Assuming the individual has taken the Oath of Tar-Numenetar, has done their trials of service to the Clan and the Kingdom, and is over 18, they are allowed to marry, start a family, and participate in Clan councils called by the Brannohtar.

 

M A R I T A L    P R A C T I S E

The Aulcinath, by and large observe extremely similar wedding customs to those of the broader Numenedain Culture, differing only in subtle, key ways. During a wedding ceremony, both bride and groom draw blood using an aurum blade, and each allows a few drops of blood to drip into a shared fire during the ceremony. This being so, Aerador may in the heavens above know the measure of the souls being united and bring them closer together. It is also traditional for the Aulcinath to have their gifts be delivered to the Bride and Groom anonymously. At the end of the wedding celebrations and party, the guests take turns tying red cords around the waists of the bride and groom, with alchemical, medical, and symbolic herbs they view as having properties conducive to a strong, loving marriage. After this is done, the couple is left to begin their new life together. 

 

In order to be allowed to wed among the Aulcinath, the man from the Clan MUST be a full adult and member of the Clan first. Marriage to outsiders is allowed and readily approved of, but the outsider cannot participate in the decision-making process of the Clan unless they themselves actively seek out and become full members of the Clan.

P A R E N T H O O D

Similar to that of Numenedain culture, two wedded parents of children are considered equally responsible for the raising and care of children and are conferred equal claims to the children by the Clan unless one or both prove incompetent, abusive or simply revoke their claim on the children of their own accord. In situations where both parents are members of Clan Rhsysfelgar, the children are automatically considered members of the Mother’s family and are conferred full rights over the children unless otherwise willing to share responsibility for them with the father or until both marry. Additionally, there is no concept of bastardom among the Aulcinath and they are considered equal to that of children born within the confines of marriage. The parentage of a child is not considered at issue in matters of inheritance.

 

F U N E R A L S

Like all other Numenedain, the Aulcinath cremate their dead. To do otherwise is considered a very serious taboo, and should a body be buried facing downwards into the dirt, a full-blown insult to the deceased’s friends and kin. One serious enough to start feuds. Before their integration into Barrowton, then Numendil, a specific tradition was adhered to for warriors specifically, in which the ashes of the warrior were collected and set into a firework rocket. Where it would then be launched into the sky and explode closer to the heavens to commemorate their life fighting against the enemies of the Clan and the Creation of Aeradar. Now, having become a part of the wider Numenedain culture, this tradition has begun to spread and become a more broadly Aulcinath tradition in general.

I N H E R I T A N C E

In broad strokes, the Aulcinath follow absolute primogeniture, where the inheritance of family possessions, titles, and wealth is passed down from parent to oldest child, regardless of sex. So long as they hold a rightful claim to the family and are not disqualified by virtue of having abandoned the Clan, become darkspawn, demonic, or Azdrazi, or been disowned by the family for a non-frivolous reason. Because of their experiences with Aurelion the Accursed and later Tûrgoroth’s attack on the hillfort, any member of the Clan touched by Iblees or Demonkind is automatically disinherited from the wealth and possessions of the family, even if the family itself did not officially do so and cannot inherit. This includes Cursed Children and Klones. The only exception to this is Vampirism and Werebeasts, who, like the others, can and will be disinherited, but if cured, stand to regain their proper inheritance once they are fully cured and the Brannohtar gives his consent. Anyone who is considered disqualified for being touched by Iblees, Demons, or Azdrazi is termed ‘Naturally Dead’ as far as inheritance right is concerned.

 

Families within the Clan hold the right to hold and practice their own succession rights and practices. And should there be any disputes involving inheritance, the decision can be deferred to the Brannohtar to decide how the dispute will be handled in the event that the disputing parties cannot settle to terms on their own. Oftentimes, this will take the form of the Brannohtar calling a Clan Council to decide the matter. Other methods of inheritance resolution may involve methods such as Meritocratic Sortition to minimize the chance of resentment and community conflict.

 

T H E   A R T S

“Stories require faith, not facts.”

~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar

Like all people, Aulcinath had a great affinity for the arts. For music, for painting, for writing, and for poetry. But what Clan Rhysfelgar is most famous for is their pottery, their leather working, and the metalwork.   Living for most of this history as a semi-nomadic people, the Aulcinath had great practice in creating masterful works of pottery that were both practical to use and brilliantly decorated all at once. Clan Aulcinath pottery can be distinguished from others by its characteristic glossy surface slips that range from pale orange to bright red, with a polished shine to them that ranges from a soft luster to a brilliant glaze-like radiance, with a smooth, silky quality to its surface. The art depicted on its surface more often than not indicates its purpose and their sizes, while varied, came standardized for easy transport and ease of organization. They are also remarkably robust, able to take a large portion of abuse before being able to fully shatter. Later developments to their techniques include repairing their pottery with silver, gold, and platinum joinery, a technique borrowed and adapted primarily from the Oyashi style.

Found on their pottery but also their metalwork, especially their Bullion Ornamentation, armor, and jewelry, are geometric, linear designs with interlocking shapes engraved throughout, often complemented by triskeles and foliage motifs, s-scrolls, leafy palmette forms, vines, and tendrils, which are designed to evoke a romantic symbolism to nature, the divine, and scenes of grace. As well as to depict religious holiday and cultural scenes onto their ornamentations, from small, intricate pieces of jewelry to large sets of armor and scale mail.

 

Lesser known is their ability to intricately dye and stain anorum crystal for weapons, armor, and clothes.

“The wheel has come full circle: I am here. War must be, and I feel great cruelty and cowardice in my heart, the things that make me brave and kind. Let justice be done, even though the world may perish."   ~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar   The practices of the Aulcinath are ancient and run deep, and had circumstances allowed, could have been traced, like so many things, to the days of Harren Horenson and Sarai, when the Harrenites first came into being. Changed, but with key elements of older days, married to their new life as a part of the renewed Kingdom of Idunia, of Numendil.

 

Forged in war and in the scattering of the Harrenites across the world, the Aulcinath have long been forged by war- against the Demons, against the Undead, against other descendants, and even rival Adunian warbands in the days before the Harrenites found themselves united once more. It has hardened the Clan into warriors of renown, it has forced them to refine their skill with sword, their tactics upon the field of battle. Most of all, it has made them efficient warriors, the likes of which stand on par with the rest of their Numenedain brethren, despite, until recently, having less to work with materially. 

 

The traditional role of warriors of Clan Rhysfelgar are as shock infantry and skirmishers, owing in part to their preferred style of combat and their historically semi-nomadic lifestyle. They excel at infiltration, at creating or exploiting weaknesses in an enemy’s formations or defenses, and laying waste to valuable resources the enemy may have otherwise used against them. Oftentimes, they do this by attacking at a distance, picking off targets, or waiting for opportunities to loop around an enemy’s flank and catch them by surprise. But as in life and war, such a landscape is ever changing, and so are the Aulcinath.

 

Later, in large part thanks to the reforms of Ser Arthur Marsyr, a branch of mariner warriors has also begun to be trained to be capable of fighting effectively upon bodies of water and on sea going vessels and river boats. 

 

A R M O R

A highly mobile style of warfare has refined the Clan’s armoring techniques to gear them towards lighter forms of armor, the most popular of which is scale and ring mail. In particular, they wear scale mail vests about their torso to protect it from projectiles, which is then accompanied by chain male and perhaps an assortment of smaller plates. The goal overall is to sacrifice a little protection for greater mobility and speed. This reduced protection from armor however is made up for by round shields they use to protect themselves from missile fire and melee blows. These round shields are more often than not made with a softer wood around their edges to catch swords and bladed weapons with it, so the shield can then be twisted to either disarm the opponent and render the weapon useless for a short time at a minimum. 

 

Clan armor, however, is not universal and changes depending on the individual’s preference. And its quality and make often becomes dependent on the family’s ability to forge the metal themselves or afford to buy it on their travels.

 

The one piece of armor, stemmed with tradition and worn by all prospective warriors of the Aulcinath, is a full valsegarde helmet. Made with a faceplate, complete with cheek and ear guards, and flaps meant to protect the back and side of the head and neck. These helmets are especially valuable to warriors and their families. Their achievements are often engraved into the helmets themselves and turned into elaborate, complex works of gold, silver, and even platinum. And these helmets, moreover, are passed down from generation to generation as heirlooms. Where other families of the tribe of Harren and Horen may pass down axes, hammers, or swords, it is helmets that are passed on primarily among the Aulcinath. Oftentimes, each successive generation adds to the helmet, creating a continuous legacy that helps Aulcinth warriors maintain their connection to generations long past.

 

The standard colors of the Aulinath as of Ser Arthur Marsyr’s tenure as their Brannohtar are blue, red, and gold.

W E A P O N R Y

In keeping with Aulcinath’s traditional role as highly skilled and masterful shock troops and skirmishers, they often employ a wide variety of weapons to augment this preferred style of combat: javelins, slings, and composite bows of the short and long variety. Allowing them to charge into flanks and disrupt their enemy’s formations. Among the most advanced of the Rhysfelgar warriors, the halberd and billhook will often be used to hook cavalry off their horses and make them individually extremely formidable to face. And because they borrow some of their fighting technique from the Bowies and Rangers of the Numenedain, it is not uncommon for them to employ concealed and throwable daggers to use in very up close and personal engagements. Ensuring each warrior is a weapon unto themselves.

 

But by far the two most unique weapons the Aulcinath commonly employ are the Falx and Falcata. Starting with the Falx, it is commonplace, if not expected, for each Aulcinath warrior to possess either the one or two-handed variety. The smaller, one handed interaction is often employed as a secondary arm that is used to hook onto and disrupt the mobility of an enemy’s shield, forcing openings that the warrior can exploit with their main weapon. It itself can also be used as a means to attack around shields, stabbing and slashing at the body, with the opponent having little recourse but to attempt to defend its whole offensive arc or give ground. Its larger, two-handed variant operates similarly, but with the added benefit of being able to smash shields and bring its blade to bear around them to puncture plate and mail. The heavier two-handed falx, the Aulcinath, is infamous for braining its opponents and shearing open the necks of its victims. 

 

The falcata is for the Aulcinath, an extremely ancient variant of sword that is built for and excels at slash and cutting attacks, able to cleave through monster hide and bone, thanks in part to the blade’s unique shape that pitches forward towards the point, and its edge being concave near the hilt, but convex near the point. While also possessing some ability to thrust, it is a weaker weapon against full plate, meaning that, true to their practical and adaptable way of living, the Aulcinath often modify the weapon to make up for this shortcoming. One popular modification is to turn the guard, which often is shaped like a U, to wrap around the knuckle and fingers of the wielder for protection, into a thicker, reinforced bar that can be used to deal bludgeoning damage to an opponent to either break bone or disorient them. Other modifications are often made to the weapon based on the fighting needs of the individual wielding it.

 

C L A N   L E A D E R S H I P

 

“There is no worse death than the end of hope. The Adunian destiny is to unite, not to divide.” ~ Uthyr Arthmailien, Brannohtar of Clan Rhysfelgar   For as long as the Clan has existed, it has always consisted of several families all working together as one cohesive unit to survive the periods of the world, to resolve conflict, to wage war. The Aulcinath as a people have always viewed themselves more so as one large family than as a nation or kingdom of strangers. Community, collaboration, and loyalty are all facets of the Aulcinath that they hold in high regard.

 

To ensure the survival of the Aulcinath, the families of the clan gathered in what is known to them as the Mhòdi and elevated their then Chieftain, Uthyr Arthmailien, to the new title of Brannohtar. Though originally meant to imply Kingship, Uthyr rejected this and carried his people to the Numenedain, who gathered about Ser Uther Pendraic in Barrowton. And in return, trust and faith in him allowed Uthyr to retain the title of Brannohtar, so it may retain the authority he now held over his people and allowed it to be passed on to his descendants.

 

The Brannohtar of the Aulcinath is responsible for being the cultural and military leader of the clan. In war, it is the Brannohtar who is deferred to. In internal disputes, the Brannohtar can be called upon to decide the resolution of conflict to ensure the community is not rocked with turmoil and argument. Though the power of the Brannohtar among the clan is as authoritative as King or Queen, it is done in the spirit of cooperation with the many families they lead. The Brannohtar as a result, their decisions can be overruled if a Mhòdi is called and a majority of the oathed families of the Aulcinath agree. They can also further be removed should the Brannohtar be deemed tyrannical or proven to have fallen into the thrall of Iblees or the enemies of the Numenedain, and by extension, the Aulcinath.

 

The title of Brannohtar is traditionally passed down from parent to eldest child. But in cases where succession is uncertain or hotly disputed. The Mhòdi will gather, select candidates they deem worthy and skilled enough to lead the Aulcinath, and then choose among those put forward and accepted via a Meritocratic Sortition. The current Brannohtar is Ser Arthur-Indocar Uthyrien Rossion Marsyr en Rhysfelgar.

 

The Mhòdi is a clan council that can be called via popular demand or at the behest of the Brannohtar. It consists of one individual per household. Traditionally, the head of the household, the heir, or in rarer cases, someone specifically selected by the head of household to represent their family. The Mhòdi primarily meet during clan-wide emergencies, the beginning or prospect of war, the death and ascension of a Brannohtar, or whenever an issue is so contentious it cannot be decided by the Brannohtar alone.

 

 

 

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Author’s Notes

 

Hello, this is all inspired by the backstory of Ser Arthur Marsyr, my first character on LOTC. I envisioned the Aulcinath as a strange, yet familiar addition to The Kingdom of Numendil and Adunian Lore as a whole. Because Adunian culture is generally inspired by Númenor and Gondor, as well as Celt and Welsh culture, I’ve decided to have the Aulcinath fill in a Celtic niche I have not personally seen used. I primarily made the Aulcinath inspired by Gaulish culture, to imply its ancient roots and closer connection to the days of Harren and old Idunia (though they would not really know that after so long). Other places and inspiration I drew from for the Aulcinath is Dacian Culture, Arthurian Legend, and in a very small amount, Miao Culture. As well, of course, by Numenedain Culture, written by SimplySeo.

 

I would like to thank him for giving me his blessing to integrate this lore into his greater body of work, as well as shout out DN_Turkey and Ireneic for helping me come up with concepts and ideas for the Aulcinath. As well as @jihsoo for help with formatting.

If you’re interested in playing one of its founding members, feel free to message me on the forums (The Vulgate Cycle) or in-game when I'm online (TheSilmarilion).