Passing the Chain

The three elf-like women stepped from behind the great fire wrapped in black cloaks. As one, their gaze met the gathered adventures, focusing upon the Volstags with unblinking solid black eyes. Their long white hair caught the wind as it crept out from under their hoods, floating about them in the cold, still air. Then, the Norns spoke…

“Blood by Blood the Chains are linked, By Broken Blood can the chains be undone. The house of Volstag is threatened. The Winter wants the Anvil, Do what you can, Yr of Volstag.”

Yric watched as his twin brother unbound the chains their father had given him from around his chest. He handed both Armyr and Yric a length. They had practiced this many times in the forest around Belis. They would stop, swear the oath and fight the witches of their daydreams. Here and now, it was real, and together they sliced open their hands to bleed upon the length of the chain. Slowly, it turned red and then began to shine bright like a torch. With a nod Yr signaled to his brothers then together, they swore the oath one last time...

“By my blood, I protect the clans lost to the Witch, May they one day be free of all, and if by my hand I can, they shall be free. “

With the oath sworn, the glowing chains took on their own life, wrapped around the brothers, and seared into their skin. It burrowed below, leaving only the scars of the ordeal. It was done. Now and until their death, they were marked, and someday, if they were lucky they could fulfill their family’s oath. If not, they would pass on the burden to their own sons. The three Norns separated, each to a brother, and spoke with them alone. Yric watched as his Norn broke the silver whistle that kept him collared to his keepers. “To the East, you must go, Wolf-son, there you will find the land where the dead walked, and someday will again. There a man will show you how to separate the wolf from the man and how the man can still be the wolf. When he pays his mortal price, you will owe him for this gift and on that day, you will know your story.”

Execution

The Sons of the Volstag Clan swear an oath to break free a clan of Dwarves their ancestor swore their line to aid. Striking a bargain with a dark power to shield the dwarves from the witch Baba Yaga until they can find a way to sever the hold she has over them. Once a Volstag's male children all come of age, they are drawn back to their father. Since the time of his own oath, a length of chains will grow from his flesh, encircling his torso from right shoulder to left hip. The length of chains will grow for each male heir that is born and until his children take the chains for themselves they provide the father with natural armor bonus.  
When his sons come of age the chains loosen from his flesh and he can pass them to his sons. Commonly the Volstag Clan travels to a sacred mountain in their domain to confer with three mystical elf-like women who observe the ritual and confer wisdom to the new chain bearers at the completion of the ritual. The ritual itself involves the brothers swearing a blood oath by cutting their palm and bloodying the chain while reciting the oath:

“By my blood, I protect the clans lost to the Witch, May they one day be free of all, and if by my hand I can, they shall be free. “

The chains mystical heat and burrow into the flesh of the Chain Bearers and begin the process anew.

Components and tools

• the chains of the father
• a dagger for the drawing
• the oath freely given
• the Norns black gaze

Participants

Male members of the Volstag clan directly linked to the ancestor who swore the original oath.

Related Ethnicities

• Clan Volstag