Post by Sofia on Sept 17, 2014 23:03:19 GMT 1
The tribe The Children of the Oaks consists of eight small tribes of pureblooded plains-dwelling elves. The smaller tribes are called Branches:
1. Branch of Water - Chief: Palepelt - Elves named: 6/17
2. Branch of Trees - Chief: Keensight - Elves named: 6/21
3. Branch of Winds - Chief: Dale - Elves named: 7/12
4. Branch of Light - Chief: Whitewater - Elves named: 5/11
5. Branch of Feathers - Chief: Blaze - Elves named: 8/14
6. Branch of Moons - Chief: Cold-Dream - Elves named: 5/13
7. Branch of Stars - Chief: Redfur - Elves named: 9/9
8. Branch of Sundown - Chief: Claw - Elves: None yet/"1"
The leader of the first Branch is also the chief of the tribe as a whole. Whenever there's a meeting of more than one branch, the elder chief is in charge. In other words the chief of "Branch of Water" ist First Chief, "Branch of Trees"'s leader is Chief's Second and so on and so forth.
The Branches usually live far from each other, spreading out over the plains and beyond, in direction away from the Tall Tree Holt remains. Each tribe has a sound-stone, a small stone tied to the end of a rope. When spun it makes a sound that can carry very far - allowing the tribes to know where the others are, or to call for help, even from out of normal sending range.
Every eight years the Branches gather together to celebrate the turn of the year and to hopefully spark a few Recognitions. Strangers are especially welcome at this time, while there is plenty of food and hope of new young (nothing sparks Recogntion like new blood).
The New Turn Feast, as it is called, lasts for three days:
- The first is the Day of Meeting. The Branches meet up and start to set up a shared camp. Firewood, collected earlier in the year, is piled to become the bonfire. When the sun sets, dancing begins and everyone, strangers of tribemates, are welcome to eat or drink what they want.
- Next day, the Day of Knowing. No one is expected to wake before the sun is high in the sky. When most people seem to be up, First Chief will call for introductions to be made, for any strangers visiting. After this it's general mingling. Many hope to find someone to Recognize - as the CotO spend most time in small groups, the largest chance they have for such things is at the Feast; strangers especially are seen as good luck. Evening once more ends in dancing, but this time more organized. Right before that, all are invited to eat what the 'cooks' of the tribe have prepared from everything the Branches brought with them (that didn't get eaten the previous night) and stories are told. Strangers are expected to contribute to the story telling.
- Last day, the Day of Games. This is perhaps the most awaited part of the celebration. The games begin as soon as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. They are split into two 'categories', children and adults. The children's games are played purely for fun. The adults' games are, on the other hand, very much a competition. There are three parts; a race, wrestling and pole-climbing. Anyone seen as adult by the rest of the tribe may partake, even strangers. The winner doesn't get anything material, but in this tribe the honor of winning is a far better prize than any trinket. Last but not least there's the council. As soon as the sun sets and the children are asleep, council is called. Here the members of the CotO can voice any issues anyone might have are addressed, to be judged by the chiefs and Elders. And of course there's always the chance to, for once, question the decisions of those 'above' you, even the decisions of the First Chief.
Other information
- Meat for the New Turn Feast is provided by a hunting party with hunters from all the Branches. Leading this hunting party is a great honor.
- Honor is very important to the Children of the Oaks, as is hierarchy. The chief is to be obeyed, because they have proved themself worthy of obedience. How seriously the members of the tribe take this differs, but they all follow the orders of their elders and chiefs - sometimes a little too blindly. Examples of "honorable" things to do: No healers on hunts. No lying. No taking credit for things you haven't done yourself, good or bad (in other words, no covering for others).
- Although this tribe has had a few visitors through the centuries, it wasn't until year "0" that they learned about animal-blooded elves' existence. Most have found the concept of "bonding" with an animal disturbing, others have been fascinated by the idea. (Side note: Most members of the Children of the Oaks, through a sending from a 'false High One', know that animal blood means an elf is mortal and can die of age.)
Elves of the Children of the Oaks. All green names are adoptables, some without CISs, and if there is a spot open in a Branch that means you can make an elf for that spot.
Current chiefs
Palepelt: First Chief, female, leads the Branch of Water.
Keensight: Second Chief, male, on-and-off furmate of Redfur, leads the Branch of Trees. Lost place as First Chief to Palepelt
Dale: Third Chief, female, leads the Branch of Winds.
Whitewater: Fourth Chief, male, leads the Branch of Light.
Blaze: Fifth Chief, male, leads the Branch of Feathers.
Cold-Dream: Sixth Chief, female, leads the Branch of Moons.
Redfur: Seventh Chief, male, on-and-off furmate of Keensight, leads the Branch of Stars.
Claw: Former member of the Branch of Trees, female. Short tempered, attempting to start a new Branch (with her as chief of course). Sister of Dusk, cousin of Fox.
Branch of Water - Chieftess is Palepelt
Fog: female, tanner, lifemate of Root.
Fox: CIS, male, son of Root, cousing of Dusk & Claw, furmate of Silvermist
Root: male, gatherer, father of Fox, lifemate of Fog, uncle of Dusk & Claw
Silvermist: female, cheerful huntress, a bit of a prankster, furmate of Fox.
Spotmark: male
(11 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Trees - Chief is Keensight
Dusk: male, brother of Claw, cousin of Fox, silent but not antisocical or grumpy, much more level-headed than his sister, furmate to Eclipse.
Featherfoot: CIS TBA, female, hunter/tanner.
Skyflare: male, playful and friendly, one-and-off furmate to Claw and Eclipse.
Whitelock: close friend to Hush.
Yarrow: female, herbal healer, mother of Tracker, former teacher of Stormcall.
(15 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Winds - Chieftess is Dale
Dancingflame: female, lifemate of Sabre, mother of Wasp (CIS TBA) & Thundergrace, grandmother of Cinder.
Greywater: male, father of Stormcall, Recognized to Jetvine.
Sabre: male, lifemate of Dancingflame, father of Wasp (CIS TBA) & Thundergrace, grandfather of Cinder.
Wasp: CIS TBA, female, hunter, daughter of Dancingflame & Sabre, sister of Thundergrace, aunt of Cinder.
Wind: male, hunter.
(5 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Light - Chief is Whitewater
Mayflower: female, cook.
Spin: female, best sound-stone user around, cousin of Wishpond (CIS TBA).
Sunblind: male, father of Hush.
Tracker: CIS, male, the Branch's Second, son of Yarrow.
(6 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Feathers - Chief is Blaze
Cinder: female, daughter of Thundergrace & ?, granddaughter of Dancingflame & Sabre, niece of Wasp (CIS TBA).
Deershy: male, formerly of the Branch of Winds, lifemate of Jetvine, father of Hawthorn.
Hawthorn: male, son of Deershy & Jetvine, brother of Stormcall.
Jetvine: female, lifemate of Deershy, Recognized of Kestrel, mother of Hawthorn & Stormcall.
Rushcat: male, plays the Swingah, has spiky red hair.
Thundergrace: female, mother of Cinder, sister of Wasp (CIS TBA), daughter of Dancingflame & Sabre.
Wishpond: CIS TBA, male, plays the harp, teacher of Hale (CIS TBA), cousin of Spin.
(6 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Moons - Chieftess is Cold-Dream
Evening-Fall: CIS TBA, male, entertainer, invented a dance you only dance with your hands, brother of Morning-Glow (CIS TBA).
Hale: CIS TBA, female, plays the harp, apprentice of Wishpond (CIS TBA).
Morning-Glow: CIS TBA, male, close frineds with Waterfall, brother of Evening-Fall (CIS TBA).
Waterfall: CIS TBA, female, the tribe's oldest herbal healer, close friends with Morning-Glow (CIS TBA).
(8 open spots in this Branch)
Branch of Stars - Chief is Redfur
Arrow: male, hunter, lifemate of Stormcall.
Bloodcut: CIS TBA, female, wanderer from Riverbench Holt.
Cloudshadow: CIS, female, hunter, warrior, lovemate of Firecry.
Clover: male, gatherer.
Firecry: CIS, male wolf-blood, lovemate of Cloudshadow, brother of Rainblossom.
Hush: CIS, female, tanner, daughter of Sunblind, close frind of Whitelock.
Rainblossom: CIS, female, sister of Firecry, wanderer from Riverbench Holt.
Stormcall: CIS, male, herbal healer, lifemate of Arrow.
(No open spots in this Branch)
For nostalgia's sake, here's a link to the tribe's info page on the website. It has the same info as above, with more pictures.
