The cult of the head

A macabre ritual act practiced amongst tribes of Albion is the taking of fallen enemies heads after they have been defeated in single combat. Many of the clans still practice this old tradition of keeping the head of their foes as a trophy, seeing the head as the seat of the soul. After a battle has been fought or a dual of single combat the victor cuts the head away from the body and raises it up high in exaltation. These heads are then carried away, sometimes being skewed upon a spear and paraded proudly up high, or if the warrior has a mount they place the head on the horses bridal and ride away with it on show. If a warrior has killed many enemies they will take all of their heads. The more heads a warrior can display the more prestige surrounds his character.
With these heads they return to their homes treating them with much care and attention. Some embalm the heads in tree resin in a bid to preserve the flesh of the deceased, although they remove the eyes and innards to prevent rotting. The eyes they replace with precious stones or painted pebbles. Others nail these heads to the doors of their houses and leave the flesh to rot away. But a few cut away the crown of the skull, fashioning a bowl from the skull cap. This bowl is then elaborately decorated with gilded gold rims and painted with designs.
When visitors arrive at these dwellings the heads are taken out and proudly displayed as a mark of the warriors prowess. The heads are either on display in the house or nailed outside, or the drinking vessels are shared around. These heads are not only objects of veneration but serve as a common talking point between strangers. Giving the warrior the opportunity to tell the tale of how he smote his enemies in battle and boast about how many advisories he had killed.
So the heads of fallen enemies become the decorations on display in a warriors home. These heads are believed to carry the spirit of the deceased, the keeping of the head bounds the spirit of the dead to its owner and prevents it's soul being reborn in another life. These spirits are believed to protect the homes of their owners. In this way they are nailed to the doorways to ward off evil and serve to protect the dwelling.
There is another tradition unique to the tribes of Albion whereby the skull and bones of loved ones are collected after they have undergone the process of excarnation. These bones are often deposited in the home, being buried under the threshold or around the hearth. Bringing these remains into the home and depositing them within the building is seen as a way of forever making the ancestors a part of the home. So that their spirit may watch over their decendants and be called upon by invocations in times of need. Though the skulls of the deceased are treated differently. Once the skull of a loved one is collected the crown of the skull is carefully removed, with this disc shaped fragment three holes are drilled through the skull so it can threaded with leather string and hung up as a charm. These charms are also hung in the doorway of dwellings, some have many charms each showing how many generations of a family have resided in the home. These charms are also worn around the neck during tribal feuds that have been passed down through generations. Thinking that by carrying parts of the ancestors into battle that they receive their protection and ensure they continue and are part of the battles they count in their lives.