Val’Indawo

## **Clan History**

The Val’Indawo first formed in ancient times around a spiritual leader who became the central figure to the religion that is now core to the identity of the clan.

The leader’s name is long forgotten to the common drow and she is known today as ‘’the Holy One’’, but if a scroll with her name on it would be found it would name her Ongcwele. The Holy One managed to gather a small band of raiders and ensured their loyalty and that they would have something to eat even if it meant that she must starve. After finding the Cascade, and the caverns behind it, the waterfall quickly became a home and hideout for the raiders, the rapids protecting them from large troop formations and the network of caverns providing a safe and hidden shelter from smaller bands. Through the Holy One’s tactical genius and absolute loyalty from her raiders the band quickly grew and not before long their numbers made it possible to openly claim the area along with the mana plants that flourished in the humid climate.

The most loyal of raiders began the practice of mana tattoos to grow their powers and show their devotion to Ongcwele, this spawned the tradition of priests and priestesses of the Holy One and elite drow zealots to cover their bodies in tattoos infusing them with mana.

## Clan Members of Note

**Ukufa,  First blade**

**Bob**

## **Clan Culture**

Religion and the clan create the central tenants in Val’Indawo life. Trickery and mischief is celebrated and any thievery is allowed as long as it is based in selfless service to the clan and never to further one’s own gain, just as the Holy One did so long ago. To outsiders it is said that thievery is part of ‘’the old ways’’ and that it is a thing of the past but every trader that passes through the Val’Indawo territories fears the raiders and highway men that live there. Covertly the clan employs multiple secret raiding bands that consist of ferals and drow zealots that have covered their tattoos with dark sap from plants to hide their visual ties to the clan.

The clan prospers through trade and the spoils of their raiding but for the individual life is of material modesty as prescribed by the priests of the Holy One. All the needs are provided by the clan, fish from the river, eggs from the caverns, other goods from the trading or raiding and even other services performed by the clan members. Among these services is the education of the populus performed by the priests, a bright young drow can rise quickly and procure more power, but never more wealth. Even the Val lives a life of modesty, only clothing themselves in extravagant clothes when it is time to meet outsiders or receive foreign delegations.

The leader of the clan is always the high priestess or priest of the faith and is seen as an embodiment of Ongcwele and therefore referred to as ‘’Holiest’’, a selfless servant of the people. Throughout the whole clan there is only one individual considered Val at the time and their word is law and only through them does the clan take actions to wage war or to work diplomacy. It is the Val that decides if the thievery was in the clans best interest and if it is found that it was not punishment is swift and severe but she does also delegate tasks to other individuals that have proved their devotion and loyalty. The Holiest is protected by a loyal bodyguard made up of eunuch zealots, called the Ihawu, covered in mana tattoos from head to toe. The Ihawu are sworn to secrecy and are unable to speak after their initiation ritual that involves cutting out their own tongues and placing them at the feet of the Holiest. Their loyalty is legendary and they are known to have ended their own lives if their Holiest was killed during their service.

The bulk of the Val’Indawoeen military consists of slaves in masses and mana infused illusions that take on physical forms in order to strike quick and nimble blows. These soldiers form vast regiments that are commanded and reinforced by drow zealots. These zealots gain mana tattoos over the course of their training to bolster their already impressive physical abilities turning into blurry streaks moving midst the battle. Because of their mostly purple blood full of haemerythrin, legacy of Ongwele, the boost of oxygen in their blood allows them for faster giving reflexes and more stamina, heavily preferring hit and run tactics until the enemy cannot handle more.  Should it happen that they are trapped without any way out, they are famous for spending their final life force to serve the Holiest by overcharging their mana tattoos, lighting the battlefield with massive explosions killing everything around them with their final breath.Slaves are treated as fair as possible and given a chance to make part of the clan  should they excel in battle receiving the blessing of the purple blood and war tattoos.

Alongside the main army exists another branch in the military, the covert operations. These operatives are known as Blades and are lead by the First Blade and the rumours describe her as a lethal killer, moving as a black streak through the battle slicing her way through the enemies with quick precise cuts. These Blades are the ones that form the raiding parties and do other tasks that may not be connected to the clan itself.

Outside of battle and during times of peace, the Indawo are quite proficient in weaving fibers of the mana plants in their clothing and trading the expedient. Their Fennel and Halibut fresh salads are quite appreciated for the taste and texture, their fishes firm and tasty. A special mana infused spice plant is another of the items they trade, the spice said to shake your very soul not just your taste buds.

## **Clan Fortress**

The Ibhuto bastion stands guard over the beginning of the rapids, its massive walls covered in lichen and moss from the constant humidity. It’s walls’ foundations have quite a unique shape because there are few places to anchor their foundations too and the arches that span across the rapids’ water have thick iron latices to stop enemy saboteurs from collapsing them, however unlikely it is that they would make it up the rapids. The bastion stands between the main avenue of approach and the main Val’Indawoeen city protecting the inhabitants from surprise attacks and giving them enough time to muster or flee up into the caverns that long ago were the home the whole clan.

On the towers there are siege engines constructed, designed to launch munitions infused with mana to wreak havoc in the midst of the enemies by summoning illusions or heavy javelins that let loose powerful discharges of energy on impact. Around the massive round towers there are also multiple eyries constructed in order to house the tamed U’khozi used for scouting and patrolling the caverns. Only the most senior of soldiers of the garrison or members of the Ihawu ride these giant birds and being given one by the Val is a great honour.