The Sunken Scars
From Mizahar Lore
| "You lecture me, on pain and sacrifice? What scars do you have to prove it? Did you leave them on your other skin, traitor?." - Unknown Author |
How long the Sunken Scars, commonly simply referred to as the Scars, have been around Falyndar is unknown. There was never a time to keep count of the seasons. It is unlikely to have been very long. There numbers remain constant around 100, rarely rising or dropping as their severe rituals and traditions rarely introduce new members into the fold. Families are small, barely three or four children, parents focused more on ensuring each of their children survives the trials of their youth than making larger families.
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Traditions
The children of the Scars undergo numerous trials at young age to prove their worth to uphold the title of the clan. While usually not fatal, the Sunken Scars does have a higher mortality rate than many other clans. These rites will be chosen for each individual by the Crone and Elders of the clan, and are chosen to test each individuals personality and eliminate what the elders see as their weaknesses. Because of this each trial will differ for every child, and it is not uncommon for there to be about 5 major trials for a Sunken Scar during the ages of 9 and 15 before The Blooding. There are stories of the young being sent out to capture various types of poisonous animals and bring them back to the clan alive, or survive in strange and dangerous circumstances for several days. The Sunken Scars enjoy capitalizing upon these tales, enhancing the aura that surrounds their secretive clan, other Myrians unsure which tales are true and which are merely myth.
For adults, one of the dominant features will be the scars that they are all adorned with. Scars are seen as marks of battle, although many will decorate their bodies in scars instead of tattoo's, in intricate designs at their own knife. The majority of these scars however are marks of their age ceremonies, and battles. The age ceremonies are chosen as different matches for every person, this time only by the Crone.
Clan Ideology
The Scars, as a whole, incorporate the idea of scars to their entire lifestyle as well as just through battle gains. They are worn by every person as a badge of office or rank, whether elder or convicted prisoner. Those of high heritage show this through the more intricate designs that cover their body, from simple vertical or horizontal lines to intricate, weaving patterns like interwoven tapestry. It has become an artwork to create such things, and gaining scars has added to every part of their life as well. Marriage usually consists of the couple dedicating scars to each-other, either at the hands of their loved ones or themselves.
The Scars only believe, however, in strength of the body rather than in magic. In many cases, those who are found to be using magic are disowned by the clan or simply killed outright dependent on the amount of magic performed, rank, age and other factors. At the very least, they are sent away to exile, either from the clan territory or Falyndar as a whole as a punishment until they are deemed fit to return through the scars that they have gained in battle for the worth of the clan, and the pain of their exile endured. This includes Malediction, Reimancy, Flux and all personal or world magics. They are incredibly distrustful of magic as they believe that it has the ability to corrupt their strength and steal it away. There is some speculation as to whether there was once a War Mistress that worked too hard in the arts of personal magic, and lost her life to overgiving which has caused this attitude, but these are only campside stories given to young in order to discourage them of trying to learn magic themselves.
Crimes are dealt with swiftly and harshly. Theft is not considered a crime as all clan members share what they find and make. Hunters, foragers, cooks, tanners, everything that is made is shared amongst the clan, your rank giving you priority upon objects, determined by your gender, age, as well as your skill in a given trade. Due to the close knit nature of the clan, incest is not unheard of, but very frowned upon, and fighting in a family circle is taken care of by the elders and Crone, for the Sunken Scars strive for clan unity in all things. Crimes are marked by jagged scars, ugly, thick and deep, usually marring other more intricate scars to show one's transgression. Once a crime is forgiven generally a symbol or mark will be engraved in the healed scar tissue.
History
Because of their rather blatantly unpredictable nature, when Myri took over the clan, there was much bloodshed on both sides of the battle. The Scars fought with everything they could, both honorably and underhanded, and when they were finally defeated many simply killed themselves rather than resign themselves to be conquered by another. However, Myri's influence and power swayed those who remained, and soon the clan became an avid worshiper and found her to be the true representation of all that mattered to the clan - she was strength, and they would follow her through all strife and even offer blood sacrifices in her name, whether it be from themselves or from those that they had slayed.
They are not the most avid in supplying the military with soldiers because of the nature of their small numbers but they have all sworn themselves to Myri as all others, and are incredibly devoted to her service, happily carrying out whatever needs to be done, whether peaceful or otherwise in the name of strength and victory.
Territory.
The Scars are collected just outside the walls of Taloba, a well fortified and small section of land compared to other clans that live outside the walls, large wooden stakes and partial walls marking their territory and warning those who may trespass. They favor grass roofed huts in favor of longhouses, a trait left over from their clan before Myri's conquering. While they are not outwardly hostile to fellow Myrians, it is far better to enter their lands with an express invitation, and many other clans avoid the land altogether if they can help it.
Religion
As with all Myrians, they have a love for Myri and see her as the personification of their main ideal, Strength Through Strife. They worship her as their idol and their savior, to take their clan to new heights - some hope to new lands to take as theirs, while others to new numbers and new victories over those that dare enter their homeland. They also hold reverence specifically to Krysus. There are some who worship Dira, Akajia and surprisingly Wysar.
Scars and their Meanings
The use of scarred flesh is what sets the tribe from all others. Scars are used for everything. If a hero fights bravely in battle, it will be described in scars upon his back as a badge of triumph. If a criminal is convicted of terrible crimes, it will be written in his scars as a brand of treachery. There is a language under the scars, that can be used to trace back through a persons history if read correctly. It can tell a person about that Myrians parents, about their childhood and upbringing; all of the deeds they have done through life. In marriage, matching scars will bind the two lovers together. To give and receive wounds during battle is considered a show of chivalry - of a fight well-fought and honored.
| Player Characters | ||
 | Kwantu | From Taloba, Falyndar. |
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Out of character note: This article was written by Kwantu of the Sunken Scars |