Trial of the Storm
The Trial of the Storm is a brutal rite of passage undertaken by young warriors of the Iron Fang warbands upon reaching adulthood. It is a test of endurance, resilience, and attunement to the storm itself, meant to separate the weak from the strong and determine who is worthy of the Iron Fangs' ranks.
A Rite of Power and Fear
The Trial of the Storm is not just a test of strength—it is a spiritual ordeal. The Iron Fangs believe that those who survive it are chosen by the storm, carrying its fury into battle. But those who fail? Their names are forgotten, their bodies lost to the wind and lightning.
Execution
The trial begins when the initiates are led to the Shattered Peaks, a treacherous mountain range where the Everstorm’s fury is strongest. There, under the howling winds and relentless lightning, each initiate is left to survive alone for a full cycle of the storm—often lasting several days.
The Ordeal
To pass the Trial of the Storm, an initiate must:
- Endure the Fury of the Everstorm – With no shelter or aid, they must withstand the relentless wind, rain, and lightning that crashes through the peaks.
- Prove Their Strength in Combat – The mountains are home to Storm Antelopes, Lightning Shrikes, and Dire Wolves, and many initiates must fight for their survival.
- Hunt and Survive – Food is scarce, and the storm-charged terrain is treacherous. Only those who adapt to the harsh conditions will make it through.
- Face the Trial of Lightning – The most dangerous test of all. Some initiates seek the "kiss of the storm"—a direct lightning strike. Those who survive such an ordeal are said to be storm-blessed, marked with glowing scars or white streaks in their hair.
The Outcome of the Trial
- Failure Means Exile or Death – Those who fail to return are presumed dead or abandoned by the storm. The Iron Fangs do not accept the weak; failure means permanent exile.
- Success Grants Honor and Glory – Warriors who endure the storm and return to the warband are accepted as full-fledged warriors, earning the right to wear the storm sigil and wield weapons forged from Sky-Iron.
- The Storm-Blades – Rare initiates who survive a direct lightning strike and return with the mark of the Everstorm are revered as Storm-Blades, warriors believed to have the storm itself coursing through their veins.
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