Rihza

The **Rihza** is the youngest familial branch of the Bloodmoon, formally given their titling during the Rite of Naming in the past cycle. Yhivi, an elder huntress of the Garahl, took the name of Rihza with intention to begin a new family line within the clan following the conclusion of self-imposed seclusion that invariably evolved into unrighteous exile. Accordingly, her children - Vhela, Zohra and the yet unborn Yhi'a - will bear the same name.

The Rihza family take their name from a legendary huntress of yore of the Garahl raised to sainthood following the Great Migration of their people from dangerous Meracydia. Rihza was the first of their bloodline to set foot on Eorzea’s virgin soil after leading her people across the frozen seas on a dangerous vision quest, kits clinging to her skirts and her hand fast upon a bowstring, with express guidance and blessing from the Goddess. She earned her repute by way of defining the sacred tenets that all of her people abide by - the Red Path - and in her lifetime, she served as huntmaster, priestess and eventually, matriarch to a prolific number of children sired by wandering sons and kept brothers alike. As a storied figure, tales of her exploits (and her conquests) encompass an exciting saga of stories that have been adapted in poems, songs and plays colloquially referred to as the Sojourn. Her living relatives remember her as a wise and withdrawn woman who made the difficult choices few could.

Those who bear a direct tie to Rihza are beholden to expectations of greatness and achievement, often designated at early ages as attendants to the clan’s high priestess and her disciples to learn the word of the Goddess directly from the mouth of Her most devoted servant. Predictably, their teachings are ruthless, exacting and specific, relying upon the daughter’s ability to exist as a nigh conceptual idealization of the First Huntress and an example to all who might look to her for guidance. What caste of the sisterhood of Menphina that they join is entirely to the discretion of the individual descendant, as both provide meaningful interpretations upon the Words of the Goddess as delivered to the very first devoted sisters of the Bloodmoon. As such, the descendants of Rihza often rise to positions of considerable esteem and importance in the clan and learn to navigate the enormous responsibility and burden of the continuing prosperity of their people.

The Rihza place strong emphasis on family bonds, believing only those that are raised with the fullest understanding of the power they have over others and the necessary responsibility to act with generosity and compassion towards those less privileged can properly wield it. Tradition and clan history are of particular importance, and those who name themselves among their family line are often well known for remembering the specific rites, customs and ways of expressing the various ceremonies that formalize new life, coming of age, award of station, momentous occasions and death. To this end, they disdain any sign of self-seeking and self-indulgent behaviors and are wont to live austere and frugal lives, eschewing the luxuries that others would seek in favor of a more stringent lifestyle.