Clan Wynfrid

[Lunari]

Symbol: Wolf
Element: Earth
Colors: Forest green, stone grey and azure blue
Values: Loyalty, trust, and honesty
Leader: Alpha: Ookami Wynfrid (NPC); Betas: Lycus Wynfrid & Aspen Wynfrid
Aesthetic: here
Culture:
Society

• Wynfrids are often described as living by the ways of wolves. There is a strong sense of family among the entire clan, a “pack instinct” of sorts. They do all things together and each member plays an important role.
• Wynfrids are fiercely protective of their own. If one Wolf fights, they all fight.
  • The exception to the rule is that if you get yourself into some shit, you get yourself out.
• The clan worships the Earth as a goddess. They believe that Mother Nature speaks to/with them, each individual having their own connection with her. Many clansfolk go barefoot during the warm months, believing that they receive physical and spiritual energy from the Earth through their hands and feet.
  
• Wynfrids believe that all animal life is sacred. During hunts, they don themselves in face paint to pay homage to the sacrifice that the Earth makes in providing them with all they need. They tend to thank and say a “prayer” for the game they kill and make sure that no part of their kill goes unused. Skins are used for clothing, bedding, and any other miscellaneous thing they can use it for. Every piece of meat is made into a meal and bones are oftentimes used to craft weapons or jewelry.
• Tattoos can be a very powerful symbol within the clan. They often represent a Wolf’s many achievements or certain parts of their life stages. A vast majority of the clan has a wolf inspired tattoo somewhere on their body, each one different and unique, fitting only for the individual that wears it. It is typically used as a symbol of their bond and dedication to the clan; a declaration of their loyalty. Having a wolf-type tattoo is not a requirement and anyone can have as many tattoos as they desire and of whatever they desire.
  • Those deemed untrustworthy or as traitors are marked across their foreheads. For untrustworthiness, they receive an ‘X’ inside a circle. Traitors are marked with the letter ‘T’.
    
• If any clan member is found to be abusive or controlling, they receive a tally on their left forearm based on the number of incidents. These tallies can be done by tattoo or by scar via a hot knife. The choice is left to the afflictor.
  
• Things within the clan such as theft, infidelity (especially that resulting in a child), violent acts, and plans to conspire against the Chieftain/Chieftess are taken very seriously and dealt with in harsh punishments. The punishment type and severity can vary depending upon the charge one is being faced with.
  • While the Chieftain/Chieftess does have the final say in punishments, all clansfolk are given a trial in which the Chieftain/Chieftess, Beta(s), accuser, and any of their peers can listen to both sides of the story and vote on punishment and its level of severity. Punishments can be as benign as being pelted with rotten food in public or as gruesome as being publicly tortured until dead.
  • Infidelity, as a serious yet sensitive offense, only consists of the spouses, Chieftain/Chieftess, and Beta(s) presence for the hearing. It is on a case-by-case basis and can sometimes be a lengthy process.
• Succession is the name of the game in Wynfrid hierarchy. The firstborn of the chieftain is always the next in line to become chief of the clan someday, no matter if the firstborn is male or female, though males are clearly favored for the role. It has even gone so far that firstborn females go missing or are murdered in order to keep males at the head of the clan. In their entire history, there has only been one chieftess. It is she who led them to Aldsage.
  
• In the event an Alpha (or both Alphas) die, the eldest Beta (the child(ren) of the Alpha) will take up the title of Chieftain/Chieftess. If there are no Betas, clan members may compete with each other for the title, though it is a fight to the death. If one or both parties refuse to make the killing blow, they are seen as weak and unfit to lead the Wynfrid clan.
  • As it currently stands, each Alpha has been of Wynfrid family bloodlines as far back as their history can take them. However, in the event that clan members are able to compete for the title for Chieftain/Chieftess, it is a requirement that the successor take up the surname Wynfrid.
• While not an entirely sexist clan, it’s clear there are some very misogynistic opinions among the clansfolk. For example:
• Men are often encouraged for their sexual promiscuity while women are typically shunned.
• Women are usually expected to settle down and have children when they’re able (around the age of 18-20).
• Women are often expected to raise the young and deal with domestic duties both inside the home and within the clan as a whole.
• Men are expected to be either hunters, warriors, or trackers.
• Etc. However, this mindset has begun to shift in recent years and it has never been, and likely will never be, laws within the clan.

[li]Any woman who earns her respect in the clan is usually valued above men and seen as the perfect prospect for marriage and childbirth. It is believed that a strong woman will bear strong children.[/li][li]Women can either choose to be warriors, hunters, or gatherers, though most women seem to be gatherers and choose to remain within the safety of the clan’s homestead, tending to the children, crafting, or teaching.
[/li][li]When facing intruders, Wynfrids like to go by the ‘benefit-of-a-doubt’. They will often ask intruders to state their business. Those that do not are either killed or taken as prisoner. However, since the Wynfrids don’t prefer to take prisoners, death is almost always certain.[/li][li]Despite various rumors, the Wynfrids do not keep wolves as pets. There have only been few exceptions of wolves living among the tribes. Those that are sick, left behind by their pack, or are otherwise unable to care for themselves have been observed being taken care of by the clan. This is actually an observable behavior with many species of animal depending on the circumstances and species. Otherwise, Wynfrids are more keen on allowing wild animals to remain just that: wild.
[/li][li]When greeting clan members, the Wynfrids do not shake hands or bow. Instead, they grip each others' forearms, making eye contact as they do so. It is believed that the more firm the grip, the more respect one has for whoever they are greeting.
[/li][/ul]
Combat

• In war, Wynfrids don themselves in war paint to match their clan’s colors. They are ferocious and fearless and view dying in battle as the ultimate, honorable sacrifice.
  
• The primary choice of weaponry in the Wynfrid clan are bows and arrows, swords, and large daggers, with a few variations in between.
• Wynfrids tend to choose stealth in combat as it gives them an edge over the competition. They lie in wait for the opportune moment to strike, dealing a death blow when their opponent doesn’t expect it.
  
• Along with that, they almost always hunt in small packs. If there’s an intruder on their lands, they can track them down with ease and dispose of them just as easily. If it’s game they’re after, several groups of 2-5 will hunt until they can return to the clan with a kill. This allows for a steady stream of various game at any given time as different groups can return at different times - whether its hours, days, and sometimes weeks apart. There is always at least one active hunting party.
  • Each hunting group will almost always consist of a tracker. Not only does the tracker guide the group in the right direction to their prey, they are also responsible for tracking down signs of trespassing, ambushes, or anything else the Alpha(s) have asked him/her to look into.
  
  

Courting/Marriage/Funerals

• Wynfrids are ceremonious people. Childbirth, marriage and death are all celebrated very differently, but with the same intensity. Oftentimes, there is music, chanting, ale or whiskey, and a feast to be had.
• During celebrations of childbirth and marriage, the people gather to put on shows and tell great stories of their history. There is dancing, music, and lots of drinking. Sometimes there’s even a “fight club.”
• During celebrations of death, the body of the dead is placed upon a wooden stretcher that is decorated to fit the individual before being carried to their burial place. Depending on the individual, their body may be burned at sea or buried deep within the forest. This is usually accompanied by chanting affirmations of strength, great change, death, rebirth, or any various affirmation that suits the individual. In some cases, songs of death, mourning, and rebirth are sung.
• During formal celebrations (marriages, childbirth, etc), Wynfrids will decorate their attire with large, detailed feathers and marvelous stones (opal, pearl, sapphire, etc).
• During proposals, the men of the clan will usually present their future spouse with a hand carved necklace. The necklaces can be as simple or as complex as they would like and are held very dear. They can be made out of nearly any material that can be carved. It is believed that the more complex and difficult a necklace is to carve, the stronger the bond between the two and the more likely their marriage is to last.
• Proposals are usually a very private affair, while marriages are celebrated by the entire clan. Extravagant gifts are usually given to newlywed couples. It is not uncommon for many of the clansfolk to give the couple gifts that would hint at the prospect of having children.
• In times of great mourning, the Wynfrids can be heard singing songs well into the night, harmonizing like a pack of howling wolves.

History:
Before they came to rest on Aldsage, the Wynfrids were travelers, usually sailing by sea. Often confused with pirates, they were fierce in their endeavors, generating fear in the people that had the misfortune of crossing their paths. While not really the violent or conquering type, it was clear that they were formidable foes and would fight when they needed to. Simply, the Wynfrids wanted to see the world, to understand the variety of people that called the Earth home.

In 275b, they landed upon Aldsage. Their chieftess at the time, a well-rounded woman with a fighting spirit, saw it fit for the Wynfrid clan to settle into a place they could call home, permanently. However, attempting to make a place for themselves in Aldsage proved to be quite the feat. Mere days after landing on the island, they were met with hostility from clans already established there. While some welcomed the new people to the island, others were much less welcoming and showed that in great acts of violence towards the clan. Civil war soon struck up between the Wynfrids and those that opposed their presence, but the Wynfrids were victorious, earning their place through dedication and blood, coming to be referred to as wolves thanks to their fighting spirit and pack-like mentality. They were a force to be reckoned with and have since been left to live in peace. Even the most vicious clan on the island, the Drachs, have not seemed to have the courage to put Wynfrids’ defenses and willingness to fight to the test.


Hierarchy: 

• Alpha: The Alpha governs all and can be male or female, though in a perfect world, there will be both at the same time. Alphas mate for life and those that commit adultery are stripped of their position as Alpha and shunned harshly by the entire clan, oftentimes forcing their hand in leaving the safety of their pack.
  
• Beta: Betas are the second in command. Only the children of the Alpha may claim title as Beta. Betas are the first ones in charge of training clan members to be hunters, warriors, and guards of the clan. They also hold the responsibility of dealing with any discrepancies within the clan, oftentimes being the ones to get their hands dirty at the Alpha's direction. When the Alpha is not present, Betas take control until the Alpha returns. They demand just as much respect as the Alpha and any disrespect is handled with ferocity.
  • NOTE: Children born to an unfaithful Alpha cannot take up rank as Betas under any circumstance, nor can they ever claim the title of Chieftain/Chieftess, even in the event that both Alphas pass and there are no Betas. 
• Delta: Deltas are in charge of training clan members to be warriors and hunters (when the Alphas or Betas are unable to do so). They are also the mediators in sparring matches.
  
• Healer: The healers of the clan are to avoid any sort of physical altercation. They are protected by the clan at all costs as they are beneficial to ensuring the clan remains healthy. They specialize in tending to the injured and sick and are viewed as nearly as important as the Alphas and Betas.
  
• Tracker: Not only does this group track down potential prey, they are trained to have a sharp eye for anything that might be amiss within the territory's borders. They can spot the slightest signs of disturbance quicker than the other clansfolk and are even used as spies (a title that is only reserved for those who have proved their worth, skill, and trustworthiness). Trackers are also responsible for getting information back to the homestead(s) as quickly as possible. Like Deltas, they may come and go from the homestead as they please, but their absence is typically limited to two days unless they are accompanying a hunting party/carrying out orders for the Alpha(s).
  
• Hunter: Just as the name implies, these are the hunters of the clan. They often hunt in groups of 2-5, but have been known to hunt in larger parties as well. Hunting parties almost always consist of a Tracker and sometimes even a Delta. Groups are sent out every few days, with at least one group returning each day with a kill. They are expected to hold their own when in danger. Those that cannot are not viewed as worthy to be called a Wynfrid. Those that have failed to hunt successfully are reduced to the rank of Omega.
• Warrior: The warriors are responsible for being on the front-lines when in battle. They are among the strongest of the clan, second only to the Alphas and Betas. When not in battle, their job is stay close to the clan’s homestead, protecting them from outside threats by any means necessary. Like hunters, any warrior not able to hold their own is seen as unworthy to be called a Wynfrid and oftentimes outcasted by the entire clan.
• Omega: At the bottom of the food-chain are the Omegas. These members are not allowed to hunt with the hunters though they can be used to fight with the warriors. In battle, they are oftentimes the pawns, disposable to the rest of the clan. Omegas do well to know their place and remain there, lest they meet their demise at the hand of any clan member ranking above them. The primary job of an Omega is to help tend to the children of the clan and care for domestic duties such as cooking, cleaning, and decorating for ceremonies. Beyond that, they are voiceless in any decisions being made for the clan.