House Blackstone's Ritual Actions for Descendants
The Blades’ Heritage Ceremony is a solemn and deeply symbolic tradition within House Blackstone, where direct descendants receive ancestral blades before embarking on the Rite of Honor. During this journey, they seek to earn the right to bear the Blackstone name through feats of strength, honor, and wisdom. Although these descendants are still considered “outsiders” within the house until they complete their Rite of Honor, House Blackstone has a structured set of special actions they can invoke when they encounter each other or members of Blackstone, allowing them to reinforce their bond, test their resolve, and prove their dedication.
Actions Between Blackstone Descendants
Challenge of Steel- Invocation: When two Blackstone descendants meet, either may issue a Challenge of Steel to test each other's strength and resolve through a ceremonial duel. The duel is non-lethal, ending when one party concedes or is clearly outmatched. This duel is often invoked to settle disputes or simply to gauge progress since the Blades’ Heritage Ceremony.
- Effect: The victor earns a mark of respect from the defeated descendant, symbolizing recognition of their strength and skill. This mark is carried in reputation and sometimes shared within the family, elevating the victor’s standing among other descendants and Blackstone members.
- Invocation: When a descendant requires temporary protection or wishes to journey through dangerous lands, they may invoke the Right of Guarded Passage from another descendant. The other descendant then takes on the role of a temporary guardian, prioritizing the safety of the invoking descendant until the task or journey is completed.
- Effect: The descendant who invokes this right acknowledges that they could not accomplish the task alone, a note that is officially recorded and can affect their Rite of Honor evaluation. However, they gain the practical advantage of added security and guidance. Accepting this request brings honor to the assisting descendant, while refusal carries no dishonor if a valid reason is presented.
- Invocation: When two descendants share aligned goals or paths, they may invoke the Oath of Shared Burden to formally join forces and pool resources for the task. The oath compels both descendants to support one another fully until the task is complete, regardless of personal risk or sacrifice.
- Effect: The Oath of Shared Burden binds both descendants in mutual responsibility; each party is required to support the other as if they were bonded kin. Failure to uphold this oath—by abandoning the other or failing to assist—brings censure from House Blackstone, jeopardizing the Rite of Honor for the descendant who broke the oath.
- Invocation: In moments of personal revelation or significant achievement, one descendant may request another to bear witness to an event they wish remembered in confidence. The Pledge of Silent Witness obliges the observing descendant to honor the moment without revealing details or speaking of it unless given explicit permission.
- Effect: This pledge establishes a binding promise of secrecy, respected throughout House Blackstone. Breaking this promise is a serious dishonor that reflects poorly on the violator’s character, potentially leading to forfeiture of their Rite of Honor.
- Invocation: The Right of the Blade is a high-stakes duel that can be initiated by one descendant challenging another to claim the superior ancestral weapon between them. This duel goes beyond a mere spar, carrying significant risk as the victor wins the right to wield the superior weapon. The challenged descendant may decline the duel, but doing so brings considerable dishonor to their name and lineage. The loser of the duel, if they were the initiator, may not issue another Right of the Blade challenge to the same descendant. If the challenged descendant loses, they must wait half a year before they can issue a new challenge.
- Effect: Winning the duel not only grants the right to wield the superior weapon but also reflects the victor's skill and growth, reinforcing their reputation. The winner retains the choice of which weapon they or their opponent will wield going forward, signifying their dominance and strategic insight. Losing is considered a significant dishonor, indicating poor judgment if the duel was initiated or a failure to defend one's legacy if challenged. The Right of the Blade is respected as a serious test of prowess and ambition, setting apart those worthy of their ancestors' legacies from those who must strive harder.
Interaction Between Blackstone Descendants and Blackstone Members
Call of Fealty- Invocation: Although Blackstone descendants have not yet earned the family name, they hold the right to invoke the Call of Fealty when facing grave danger or overwhelming odds. This action requests short-term assistance or guidance from Blackstone members or soldiers, who are expected to respond respectfully but without obligation for extended aid.
- Effect: Blackstone members answer the Call of Fealty with the understanding that they are aiding a prospective kin. They may assist with protection, navigation, or advice, reinforcing the house’s commitment to honor and family. However, descendants who invoke this call recklessly or irresponsibly risk damaging their Rite of Honor evaluation and may face censure if they appear overly reliant on Blackstone resources.
by Generated by DALL-E
