Great Raven Clan

Great Raven Clan

The Great Raven clan - perhaps most well-known as being the clan of Silver Fox - lives on the farthest northern coast of Tyedu. They are not particularly large - numbering a few thousand at most - nor particularly influential or powerful until very recently. Living on the coast, traditionally their livelihoods revolved around the sea. All manner of creatures are hunted for food, fur or other products - from reindeer to bears, martens and seals. The greatest event in their calendar, however, is the annual whale-hunt, an especially dangerous activity assigned to only the bravest and most capable seamen and warriors. Over the centuries, they have become adept at it, but it remains a perilous task - the small, swift boats they construct are easily smashed apart or capsized by their quarry, and the freezing waters hold little hope of survival for those tossed overboard. Life, understandably, is harsh.

Their spirit-god, the Great Raven, is seen as the protector of the Clan in their endeavours at sea, and the sighting of a raven means that land - home - is nearby. True worship of the Great Raven is restricted to the members of an elite cadre of shaman, who renew their ranks with fresh recruits - hand chosen - once every five years. They are the keepers of the Clan's history and traditions, and have a great influence on the governance of the clan.

The clan is led by a single chieftain, although he or she may of course surround themselves with whatever followers they choose - and this is necessary, because a chieftain rules by strength and cunning alone. A challenge to the chieftain may come at any time, from anyone. As a result, only the strongest, bravest and most cunning are ever able to achieve this post, and hold it for any length of time. Upon the chieftain's death, a general challenge is open to prospective candidates, to compete for the right to succeed him. This is highly ritualised, and overseen by the shaman. Most notably, the succession is open to all - regardless of age, sex, experience. Technically, even an outsider could compete, although it is unlikely that they would wish to, or that they would complete the grueling five-day trials of succession. All chieftains renounce their previous name and become 'Great Bear', for reasons that are obscure.

At all levels, Great Raven society is very equal - a people in such circumstances cannot afford to discriminate. For all clan members, life is harsh, and they are expected to contribute whatever they can from a very early age. Children, male and female alike, are taken on hunts from the age of five or six, where they learn the skills of survival from their elders. At twelve, if they are strong enough, they might be considered for the crew of one of the small ships. By fourteen or fifteen, they are judged to be ready to stand on their own feet - no longer a child, but a full Clan member.

Not all the clan members are warriors, for obvious reasons, although all who survive into adulthood can fight and hunt if necessary. A select few are born with a special gift - the gift of incomparable rage and bloodlust in battle; the ability to push themselves beyond the limits of human endurance for a short time. These few are considered blessed by the Great Raven, and they generally go on to become the leaders in war and hunting, and perhaps even the Clan itself.