The Blind Night

The Blind Night is a ritual observed in the Bandit Lands to confer the largely honourific title of "Bandit King" (or whatever name is selected) onto the new leader of the primary camps in the Bandit Lands. The Blind Night only takes place after a new leader is identified either through the Campest (a test of skill among those nominated from their camp) or through other agreed on circumstances.

History

The Blind Night began as a tradition once the main populations of the primary camps shifted from war criminals to those otherwise condemned in the Borian nations. Though status, rank, and war experience had little influece over who controlled any piece of land in the Bandit Lands in the years following the Great Borian War, small camps began to form around those from specific nations, units, or other groups. Once these connections held lesser sway, the camps began to separate more based on crime committed than any other measure.
After a major feud between Coin and Anchor led to the accidental destruction of Pick, the relatively peaceful primary camps decided to convene regular "councils" of the camps as well as a structure that could help mitigate these types of issues in the future. They realised that a nominal head was likely a good idea (to be the last arbiter of anything that required such), and they decided to put such leadership to a test of skills. The Blind Night was implemented in recognition to the third Bandit Prince, Pinch, who demonstrated his skill during the Campest by stealing from every member of the "council" before the event.

Execution

After a new Bandit leader has been identified, the next night is always the Blind Night. During the Blind Night, all villagers must leave open one access to their abode and they have to leave out (in an obvious place) a small piece of stone or glass painted a bright colour. During the Blind Night, the new leader goes from home to home and "sneaks" i, taking these rocks or glass and stashing them somewhere on their person. The new Bandit leader must do this from the first moment of darkness to the last (making the task longer or shorter depending on the deoch).
While there is no requirement that the Bandit leader take all such items left out, their goal is usually to collect as much as possible. But the real test of the Bright Night is that, the next passing, all of those items are taken away from the Bandit leader and they melted down and formed into a bell, which becomes the sound that marks all meetings held by the Bandit leader.
Only after this ritual is complete is the Bandit leader considered to be fully confered in their role.