Lore:Spiritblood Clan

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Vateshran Aydolan
Vateshtan Hollows

Spiritblood Clan was one of numerous clans of Reachfolk that lived in the Reach since the ancient times, during the First and Second Era. They were known for their fierce warriors and rites of passage set in Vateshran Hollows.[1][2]

History[edit]

Spiritblood Champion
Rites Matron

The Spiritblood Clan was founded by Carinar the Sharp long before 1E 2502,[1] before the times "anyone can remember".[3]

He was born in the Reach as a son of the chief of the Quicktalon Clan. He eventually plotted against his father and killed him. His actions led to the sundering of the Quicktalon Clan, which split into two factions - Spiritblood Clan, which supported Carinar, and the other, loyal to the deceased chieftain. Carinar decided to move south. Among the first members of the Spiritblood Clan was the legendary Aydolan, the storyteller who was singing tales of the triumph and strength of Carinar during this travel. Carinar bestowed him the title of the first Vateshran of the Spiritblood Clan.[1]

The famed Vateshran Aydolan created Vateshran's Rites, a set of trials held in the ancient caves of the Vateshran Hollows, where the veil between the planes of Nirn, Deadlands, Coldharbour and Hunting Grounds was thin. They were prepared for the Spiritblood Clan members as a rite of passage[1] as well as the trial for many chieftains of the clans of the Reach.[3] Everyone who survives the Rites earns a vateshran song that will last forever and the title of Spritblood Champion. Those who passed the trial were considered adult and fully-fledged members of the Spiritblood Clan.[4]

Eventually, Aydolan died, but he decided to remain on the Nirn as an ancestral spirit to guide the next generations of the Reachfolk,[1] a practice that was not unheard of among certain clans of the Reach.[5] He was not the only Spiritblood clan member to continue to oversee the Rites after the death. A group of Reachfolk spirits maintained parts of the trial located in the Hunting Grounds.[6]

One of the Totems of the Brave in the Vateshran Hollows

Over a thousand years after the foundation of the clan, in 2E 582 the members of Spiritblood Clan still inhabited southern parts of the Reach.[7][8] They were famed for their valiant and powerful warriors, who were described to show brutality in the battle that scares foreigners and other Reachfolk alike. It was speculated whether their combat prowess stems from their ancestry or their style of combat training. Warriors of the clan were believed to be brave and unyielding, not ceasing to fight until they die.[2]

Circa 2E 582, the Vestige accepted to participate in the Vateshran's Rites and accepted the challenge to travel through the realms of the Oblivion. After Vestige completed all the challenges but the last one Aydolan greeted them in the part of the trial known as the Champion's Circle where he revealed that the final test is to best his spirit in combat.[1] The trial was interrupted by Maebroogha the Void Lich, who consumed Aydolan's soul and unmade his very being in order to be able to manifest in this realm.[9] Vestige slew the lich but spirit of the first vateshran of the Spiritblood Clan was absorbed into the Void and no more.[8]

Despite the death of the First Vateshran, the practice of the Vateshran's Rites remained alive for generations.[1] Even after his soul was destroyed the trials remained active and were maintained by three sisters of the Spiritblood Clan - Binder in the Dark, Lamenter of the Slain, and Rites Matron.[4]

Culture[edit]

Binder in the Dark
Lamenter of the Slain

The Spiritblood Clan have their children undergo dangerous trials (called the Vateshran's Rites) as a rite of passage. Those who emerge become fully-fledged members of the clan, and earn a vateshran song that will last forever.[10][4] Usually Reachfolk train their entire lives for that day. They enter knowing full well that it may mean their death.[11]

The Lamenter of the Slain, one of the proctors of the trial grounds, performs rites on behalf of all who have died during their Vateshran's Rites. Warriors of the Spiritblood who felt defending the ways of their ancestors are honored by having Totems of the Brave erected in their honor.[12] Aydolan, one of the ancestor spirits personally guides prospective challengers.[8] Binder in the Dark is responsible for keeping the balance as the power of Oblivion pushes, presses, and leaks out into the caverns.[13]. She specializes in controlling otherworldly intrusions and restrains the bleed between Vateshran Hollows and the Oblivion. Without her and the other sisters, the great spirits would overrun the Hollows.[1]

Even though they did not accept outsiders into their ranks,[4] they were not hostile to the foreigners and were not opposed to trading goods with them.[14]

They were using crossbows and grappling bows since as early as 1E 2502.[1]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Aydolan's dialogue in ESO
  2. ^ a b Vateshran Hollows loading screen in ESO
  3. ^ a b Markarth Preview—Vateshran Hollows Arena
  4. ^ a b c d Rites Matron's dialogue in ESO
  5. ^ Great Spirits of the Reach: Volume 2 — Vashu gra-Morga, Chief Daedrotheologist at the University of Gwylim
  6. ^ Reach Channeler's in ESO
  7. ^ Events of A Challenge of Worth in ESO
  8. ^ a b c Events of Vateshran's Rites in ESO
  9. ^ Maebroogha the Void Lich's dialogue in ESO
  10. ^ Angair's dialogue in ESO
  11. ^ Caddgarn's dialogue in ESO
  12. ^ Lamenter of the Slain's dialogue in ESO
  13. ^ Binder in the Dark's dialogue in ESO
  14. ^ Aydsil's dialogue in ESO
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