The Tribe of the Wild Hunt

## Description

The Tribe of the Wild hunt, located deep in the Silver Spruce Thicket, is the home of Meadow. It's a rustic tribe and is very unlike any other place in Gherhun, holding a small population of people from all walks of life. Many lycanthropes and people aligned with nature call it a safe haven, a place to be themselves and not be worried of being hunted or killed by the empire or others who'd call them a threat. The Tribe is called home by Blood Hunters, all being trained in the Order of the Lycan. However, many rangers, druids and even clerics call this place home, and appreciate the freedom that a place so in tune with Nature.

## Life in the Tribe

### Belief System

The tribe worship the deity Malar, The Beastlord, and follow his will into every way of their living. However, not all those who call the tribe home consider Malar their deity of choice, many of the druids of the tribe are simply a follower of nature, and have morals that align with the tribe, are given that they assist the Tribe in protection and harvest they are allowed to live, so long as they follow the rules of the tribe.

The Dogma of Malar that they live by is as follows:

Only those with the desire to survive will - change is a way of life and those who do not adapt, fall. A brutal and bloody hunt is vital, so is true with death. The balance between hunter and prey is the determination of who lives or dies. Be the hunter in all ways of life. Everything you do is a hunt, kill or be killed. Do not falter in your awareness, being alert is means remaining alive. Live in the wilds without fear - fear is for those who are not powerful. Control is key, do not give into savagery and ferality - put patience and planning in all things. Relish the blood of those you kill, blood is the life force of all things. Do not kill from a distance, only those who fear death will hunt from the shadows. Live in nature, do not fight it and defend nature from those who would hurt it. Killing the young or pregnant is to kill the hunt itself, you must ensure that prey remains plentiful.

### Way of Living

Those who call the tribe home live their life in a way that Malar would want, respecting nature and the animals that call it home. They live wild and free and believe that the crux of life is the challenge between hunter and the prey, the determination of who lives or dies. Control is a highly respected element of their lifestyle and is how they live their life in a state of constant control, as such they are not a savage people, as they believe that savagery and powerful emotions inhibit ones control over their self and remove reason and careful thought in all things. They live in harmony with the forest they call home, many people living in makeshift tree houses or huts, within the hollowed stumps of fallen logs, in caves formed by the roots of the trees or huts made from natural materials all within clearings that they did not clear themselves, as they see deliberately cutting down the forest as a direct crime against Malar. The tribe often comes together on a daily basis to meditate to ground themselves to nature and find peace within themselves or to attempt to commune with Malar - though only few manage to do so.

### The Tribe Crest

Despite not having any interest in politics of the great region of Gherhun, they have developed a crest of sorts to represent themselves as a people. This is something they entirely did for themselves, as they felt it was something that they could all appreciate as a way of unifying them. It's a simple knot created with two loops of rope or string. The two loops are representative of the wilds they call home - the green strand - , and of them as a people - the black strand -, living together in harmony and balance with a mutual respect for one another instead of working against nature and harming it, growing stronger in their connection.

The loops are also indicative of their nature as individuals. With the people of the tribe being stronger together as one as well as nature. It also represents that they're ever present and do not end, so long as there is a protector of nature, nature will live on, and so long as there is a place to protect the people, the people will live on.

## Rituals and Important Days

### The Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt takes place once every 10 years on the first full moon after the Winter Solstice as a way to give thanks to Malar and show him their strength by spilling blood in his name, the tribe believes it helps give Malar power and keep his will alive - as such it is the most important ritual that the tribe performs.

Being more violent and incredibly taxing on those involved, only those who have reached adulthood, typically 18 years old, and have completed their blood hunter training are allowed to participate in this ritual. However all who meet this criteria are almost expected to participate unless special circumstances are met - like those who are sick or wounded.

Once the moon reaches its apex, those who are participating transform into their beast form and begin hunting - killing everything in sight. It’s the one time that the Tribe loses their controlled nature and gives in to the beastial and animalistic nature that comes with being a werewolf.

### Ritual of the full moon

This ritual is performed every full moon to thank it for its power and to show your release and freedom from the shackles it creates, as well as remind the hunter that they have all the power that they need in order to survive.

The Ritual is as follows:

An hour or so before the apex of the full moon, a hunter will go and hunt a deer, a large rabbit or some other type of prey animal. It is to be hunted as respectfully and cleanly as possible, and is one of the few times a hunt is to be as free from blood as possible.

Under the full moon, while it's at its apex, layout offerings to represent each of the four elements: for earth, a bowl or chalice of sand, soil or mud; for water, a bowl or chalice of water; for fire, a small fire and for air, an empty bowl or chalice. The four symbols are placed around the carcase of the animal.

Carve a large cavity in the animal, from neck to stomach, allowing its blood to flow onto the ground around it, enriching the soil with nutrients. Take a small bowl or chalice, fill it with the animal's blood and drink.

Sitting in silence, under the light of the full moon take time to ground yourself and meditate, reminding lit within a bowl or chalice; and for air, an empty bowl or chalice. yourself of the power you hold and remind yourself that it is your power. When finished. Take another bowl of the animal's blood and pour it into the 4 bowls representing each element, as a symbol of you reclaiming that power.

Finally, take the dead animal far into the woods and leave it there. The meat is not to be eaten and the skin is not used. This is a way to allow nature to continue to prosper and grow anew.

This ritual is often performed en masse within the tribe, however many people still prefer to do this ritual alone or with loved ones, as it is a time to find solidarity with ones self and remind them of the power that they hold.

This Ritual was performed by Meadow in the Deltham Commune.

### Rite of Passage ritual

This ritual is performed when a student finishes their training and becomes a fully realised and acknowledged blood hunter. The training is gruelling and hard, and not everyone who begins finishes, so this ritual is very important to the tribe. This ritual focuses on cleansing, claiming and empowering someone's blood to make them stronger and gain a better grasp and understanding of it.

Meadow has not described what this ritual entails, however has talked about going through the ritual in relation to why she has her tattoo.

There are many other Rituals and important days within the tribe which do not exist in the greater regions of Gherhun. Meadow will often keep track of the moon cycles to participate in Rituals and Festivals that would be taking place at home however she can as a way to remain connected to the Tribe.

(I won't put them here as I don't want to #spoil you guys >:))

## Notable Members

* Estelle Ravenswood (Tribe Member)
* Lana of The Wild Hunt (Tribe Member)
* Magnolia of The Wild Hunt (Tribe Elder)
* Meadow of The Wild Hunt (Avatar of Malar)