Wildlings/Going Wildling

“People speak sometimes about the "bestial" cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to beasts, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The act of going wildling, or being a wildling, is a coming of age tradition for some woodland inhabitants of the Sidhe Remant located in the Alfwood, the sprawling forest north of Gaelndor. For one to two years sometime between the ages of fifteen and twenty, young warriors will leave their tribes and lead a life of violence and freedom in the wilderness. They live like wild animals, eating raw flesh, not sleeping under any roof, not wearing woven cloth and they follow The Code of the Wild.
Those unfamiliar with the tradition, noteable anyone outside of the Alfwood, sometimes refer to wildlings as wild elves even though non-elven Sidhe also go wildling.

History

The wildlings are heirs to a long tradition among the trees of the Alfwood wherein great warriors went "wildling" for part of their youth, learning the ways of the woods and how to suffer hardship. So long as a wildling wears no sewn clothes, eats no cooked food, and sleeps under no roof, they are immune from the laws of man. Although the majority of wildlings are harmless and try to not take advantage of the traditional immunity given to them, some use it as an excuse to commit crimes such as robbing travelers and living viciously.

Execution

Between the ages of fifteen and twenty five, a Sidhe child will be deemed worthy of adulthood by a panel of village elders. This decision is based on one's ability to provide for the community. At this point the child, may chose to go wildling. On a day of their choosing, the wildling will leave the village and, using a map, will make their way to their tribe's wildling pack. These packs can be anywhere from a single member to several hundred. Traditionally, their time as a wildling is limited between 30 and 60 years and begins as soon as they arrive in their packs' camps. However, after the fall of the Sidhe Empire, some blamed the collapse on the Sidhe's abandonment of the traditional way of forest life and have decided to go wildling permanently.

The Code of the Wild

The wildling must abide by these rules or may be punished for crimes and acts committed during this time. Each wildling group will have an elder member who is supposed to enforcement this code. Actual enforcement varies from pack to pack.

1. You may not consume cooked flesh. All food must be eaten raw.
2. You may not wear woven clothing.
3. You may not knowingly sleep in a man-made structure
4. You may not use metal weapons.
5. You may not attack another wildling. A wolf does not attack itsown pack.

Components and tools

Most wildlings wear hide or leather clothing and use stone or wooden weapons if they don't have magical abilities. Each pack elder is allowed to make and wear an animal hood if they wish. No other wildling is given this honor.

Primary Related Location

The Alfwood