__Beliefs and Rituals __
of the Wolfblood Tribe
The Wolfblood tribe venerate the Wolf as the ideal hunter due to its cunning, ferocity and loyalty to the pack. These are traits that the tribe value. Many of the rituals of the tribe centre around this belief.Awakening the Hunter
When a new child is born to the clan it is brought before the elders and Priestess. The child is then anointed with a mixture of sacred herbs and wolf blood. This offering of the blood is said to awaken the spirit of the hunter within the child. The priestess dips her thumb in the mixture and presses it to the head of the child. Several members of the tribe have this mark permanently inked onto their skin as a sign of their hunter spirit.The Hunter Talismans
When a Wolfblood hunter wishes to prove themselves to the tribe they can undertake a solo hunt. The hunter is stripped of everything but the clothes on their back and released into the wilderness. There they are tasked with the hunt of one of their totem animals, a wolf. When they fell the animal they must return it to camp where they butcher the kill for parts. They may take what they desire for crafting their talismans. Most common are claws, teeth and bone which are used to make necklaces, rings or earrings. Once crafted, these items are anointed in the hearts blood of the kill so the power of the wolf may imbue them. Once this is done, they are worn with pride.The Healing of the Faithful
At some point in their history, a High Priestess of the Wolfblood was undertaking a pilgrimage to a sacred site in the Shroud. Her meditation was interrupted by a “creature with flesh of stone.” With some skill and cunning, the Priestess lured her adversary into nearby ruins where she set a trap, causing it to fall to its demise. The Priestess saw this as a trial, sent by the Goddess, one which she had apparently passed. When she took stock of her surroundings, she found herself within some ancient ruins deep in the Southern Shroud. There she found a book, the book that became part of the Sacred Texts of the Wolfblood. These texts unlocked some of the sacred arts of Healing, allowing the Faithful to look after the tribe’s health needs. To this day, the Priestesses of the Wolfblood still learn these ways.The Runelore of the Faithful
The runelore of the Tribe has been handed down from generation to generation of the Priestesses. There are runes which are drawn on the body to promote healing or protect from harm. There are runes that are carved around camp to ward all within from harm. There are also runes which are used to seek insight. The Runelore is a closely guarded secret of the Faithful.The Path of the Lone Wolf
When a male of the Wolfblood Tribe reaches the age of sixteen years, a celebration is held for his coming of age. There is a feast in his name and tales are told of his deeds, both heroic and embarrassing. The High Priestess blesses the male and drinks are raised in his honour. The following night, the male takes his belongings and is led to the entrance of the camp where he is released into the world to fulfil his duties as a Keeper of the Moon.The Blood Hunt
This is a Rite which has not been called for many years and may only be called by the Matriarch of the Tribe. Normally it is reserved for members of the tribe however in some circumstances outsiders can become the target. This is a punishment for those who have wronged the Wolfblood in some terrible, terrible way. The subject is brought forth into the centre of the camp where the tribe gather, armed and painted for the hunt. A list of their crimes against the tribe is read aloud while the tribe jeer and insult the subject. The subject is then branded, usually on the face to mark them as the prey. They are then released into the wilderness. After the passage of an hour, the Blood Hunt begins in full. The hunters of the Wolfblood take off into the forests seeking the prey. When found they are slaughtered as a beast would be, but unlike most hunts, there is no reverence in this, no respect for the prey. The hunter who fells the prey is then carried back to camp on the shoulders of their tribekin and are given the centre seat of the feast that night.The Great Hunt
Each year, during the First Umbral Moon the Wolfblood call The Great Hunt in honour of Menphina. Suitable prey is chosen, something worthy of the Goddess, a true test of the hunter’s skill. The weeks leading up to the Hunt are filled with tests for those who seek the honour of being Hunt Leader. When the time comes, the Hunt Leader chooses their hunting party from the hopefuls and the Priestess blesses them. They adorn themselves with the markings of the Great Hunt and set forth to find the chosen prey. They must return triumphant or not at all, for failing a Great Hunt is seen as a sign of the disfavour of Menphina and as such, those who fail the hunt are struck from the ranks of the Wolfblood.Trial by Combat
Those who seek to solve some dispute and cannot reach a peaceful conclusion may decide to progress to trial by combat. This can either be fought until one party yields or to First Blood. This is carried out in the centre of a circle in the heart of the camp under the eye of the Matriarch and Elders. Each party involved may appoint one of their blood kin to fight in their stead but otherwise no one else may interfere in the trial.Finding the Path
Those who feel they have lost their way on the path of their life may seek assistance from the Faithful to find their way. This is carried out by the camp Shrine. The petitioner is brought before the shrine and anointed with oils before being given a tonic made of herbs. This contains a number of potent hallucinogenic plants. The petitioner must then undertake a vision quest where they should find their way back onto the path of their life once more.The Trials of the Matriarch
A Matriarch of the Wolfblood can only be chosen by natural succession or by defeating the current Matriarch in Trial by Combat. In the former case, a new Matriarch should be chosen by the current, this is normally done from their own bloodline, and trained to command. When the time comes they must face the trials. The first trial is in combat against those who believe her unfit to rule, to prove she has the strength to rule. Should the prospective Matriarch be standing by the end of this she must then sit in judgement, asked to mediate in scenarios crafted by the Faithful to test her wisdom. If, after this, she is still deemed a fit ruler she must then take a pilgrimage into the Deep Shroud to a sacred site where she must meditate on her faith for three days and three nights. Upon her return she is deemed to have been given the approval of the Goddess and thus fit to rule the Tribe.