Chaining

The Chaining is a ritual that is celebrated by Skogar in leading up to a mating ceremony and connects the concept of a mated pair to a household (regardless of whether the pair remains monogamous or not). During the ritual, the physically stronger partner is chained to a tree with thick iron chains that are twirled and twisted, decorated with colourful string and vines gathered in the forest, and it is the physically weaker partner's task now to free their partner. This can be done by finding the key which is hidden in the land that belongs to the tribe (sometimes in meaningful places such as little temples or dungeons that reward the courageous and the clever), sometimes the key is in the possession of someone in the tribe and the task is to find out with whom or overcome a fight with a tribe member to get the key (or of course break in and snatch it). While searching the partner will not be taken care of by anyone else so it is also the unchained partner's duty to feed them, give them water, and hurry up to prevent their partner having to remain on the tree. It is considered virtuous in the chained partner to keep their complaining to a minimum in that time and to encourage their partner and share insights. After the key is found and the chain clatters to the ground loudly, the tribe gathers to celebrate the couple's love for each other and then there are two ways that the celebrations continue: in the nurturing tribes, as they call themselves, it is common for the chained partner to now dote on their partner for twice the amount of time that they spent looking after them and looking for the key. In the warrior tribes, the chained partner must now show they were worth unchaining by besting one or more strong warriors in the tribe either in hand to hand combat, boxing, or another type of physical duel of their choosing.