Bone Watcher Clan

The Bone Watcher Clan is a family both of blood and bond. It was founded by the giant Skórrei, and was originally just her and her family. They were nomadic, traveling a path across the north of Enkratis. In their travels, Skórrei welcomed into the family any strays, orphans, and outcasts who needed a home. As the clan grew, some broke off to create their own subsects, such as Clan Starlight who settled in order to protect a special mine.

Skórrei’s death 10,755 years ago is shrouded in myth. As the story goes, the clan was camped at the base of Silent Watcher Mountain when they heard rumbling and saw a rockslide coming towards them. Skórrei stepped between the rocks and the clan, giving them time to get away but being buried herself. As she lay dying, she cried so long and hard that a lake was made from her tears. The clan went into a month of mourning, building a stone memorial at the base of the mountain and naming the place Giant’s Fall.

The memorial started as a cremation altar with a place at the end to collect the ashes. Underneath was an area that functioned as a kiln. Throughout the month of mourning, Skórrei’s body was uncovered and burned. The ashes were mixed with clay and formed into beads, one for each member of the clan, and covered in a glaze that turns green once fired in the kilon. All the rest of the ashes were molded with clay into bricks, also covered in green glaze, that formed an archway over the altar. The clan wore the beads in their hair so that Skórrei would always be with them.

Since then, every clan member who dies is cremated on the altar at Giant’s Fall, preserved with Gentle Repose until they reach the mountain.. Beads are made of the ashes, coated in a clear glaze, and one is given to each clan member. There are three exceptions to this. Watching Ancestors have their beads covered in the same glaze as Skórrei. For children twelve years of age or younger, the bead is glazed in black. And for Guardians, the beads are glazed in white.

Any leftover ashes are formed into a large clay stone with the person’s name carved into it and built into a wall behind Skórrei’s arch. Designs are also carved into the clay before firing to indicate something important about the person, such as something they enjoyed doing or did well or accomplished in their life.

Because of this, it is considered dishonorable to cut your hair short, as it indicates that you are rejecting the protection of your ancestors. Only small children who don’t yet have long enough hair and beastfolk with short fur or no fur are allowed to wear their beads as necklaces.

This ceremony happens in Chama, the middle month of summer and seventh month of the year. For the entirety of this month, they stay at Giant’s Fall, celebrating and honoring any who died throughout the year. This involves the bead-making ceremonies, with each deceased person getting their own day. During the five hours that the body is burning, clan members will sit in a semi-circle facing the fire to eat and drink while telling stories about the person. There is also a time allotted for people to air their grievances about the person or ask for their forgiveness. Once the fire has died down, the two current Guardians make the beads  and stone while the rest of the clan sits in silent contemplation and communion with the Watching Ancestors.

The Bone Watcher Clan worships their ancestors and many of their traditions revolve around this, such as naming conventions. The first name is given by the Guardians at birth. The second name is chosen by the person once they decide what they want to be. Once they know their path, they take the name of an ancestor who was an expert on the same path, asking them for protection and guidance as they follow in the ancestor’s footsteps.