Coming of Age in Clan Moonrider

Sora awoke, and looked around. They had deposited her in a crumbling ravine, with scrawny bushes clinging to the rocks that threatened to fall down on her. She set her sights on a tiny, nearly invisible trail that led up to the lip of the ravine, and began to climb. It would be a long journey home.

Clan Moonrider of Kethendia is a very tradition-bound clan, and one such tradition is the coming-of-age trial set for each new adult on their 15th birthday.

The Feast

On the night of one's 15th birthday, a feast is held for the new adult, called a drake, and their family by one of the clan's spiritual leaders. This feast is comprised of foods that are considered "adult" - bitter fruit, rare meats, and a good portion of strong wine. The feast marks the drake's transition into an adult role within their tribe and symbolizes the letting go of childish desires and tastes.

This feast generally lasts into the early hours of the morning, depending on the will and stamina of the drake. The feasting only ends once they have declared themselves sated. At this point, they are presented with a single glass of a very powerful sleeping draught, which they must drink to continue the ceremony.

At the feast, the drake is given a set of gifts meant to help them on the next part of their journey. These generally include a small parcel of money, three days' worth of rations, a sturdy knapsack, and a drinking flask. Wealthier families often gift their children weapons or special charms at these ceremonies to increase their offspring's chances of completing the next portion of the ceremony.

The Trial

After the feast is completed and the drake rendered unconscious, the next part of the ceremony begins. They are carried far to the south while unconscious, either by boat or on horseback, to an undisclosed location and left alone there. Once the drake awakens, they must make the journey alone back to their home city, Nessira.

It is not just a matter of making it back alive, however. The drake is on a time limit. This portion of the trial must be completed within two weeks or they will face the possibility of banishment.

Left with nothing but the gifts from the feast, the young dragonborn must survive the wilds of Kethendia and navigate their way across the mountains. This trial is meant to test the skills and resourcefulness of the drake. Clan Moonrider places great value in qualities such as independence, self-sufficiency, and bravery, and this trial puts all of these to the test. Families are expected to drill such skills into their younglings from hatching. Successful drakes will quickly get their bearings and set off towards home, while those who fail waste time hemming and hawing and failing to make decisions.

The dragonborn on trial is not monitored during the trial, which means that one may use any means necessary to do so. Some have even made their way first to a different settlement, where they buy additional supplies and tools and even ask for directions. This is acceptable and a known way of mastering the trial.

Completing the Trial

The coming-of-age trial has three outcomes: success, failure, and death.

When a drake returns successfully, they are greeted by their family and a member of the clan's council. It is a sign of good luck in the drake's future, and they are gifted with more rewards. They also take part in the ceremonial bearing of the colors, where they are given a badge bearing Clan Moonrider's coat of arms, which is pinned onto them by the Council member. This signifies their induction as a full-fledged adult of the clan.

If a drake returns unsuccessfully, they are not met with such a welcome. Many are simply turned away at the city's gates by guards who are given a careful list of which drakes are still on track for success. The few who are not turned away at the gates tend to be members of influential families, especially the families of council members. In these cases, the drake is shunned and even disowned by their family, and left to live in shame for another year until they are allowed to attempt the trial again. Should they fail a second time, however, not even their family's influence can save them and they too are turned away.

Should a drake fail to return after five weeks, they are declared dead. In this case, all traditional funeral rites are held and the drake is memorialized by their family as one whose potential was taken away too quickly. They are declared legally dead, and should they somehow turn up at Nessira's gates after this, they are turned away without notifying their families.