The Levar Clan
The Frozen Age
The lands of the Levar have changed dramatically in the 6 years. Daylan (now known as The Nameless), Ray-leen, and Alec moved to the highest mountain in the north. Inside a temple they encased themselves in ice, each one giving new life to the lands they conquered and reshaped. Alec gave the fires and lanterns that keep away the monsters with the Rite of Flame. With his power, the Lands the Levars have safety and can forged weapons to slay monsters and spirits. Ray-leen gave life to the spirits in the land, large beasts that roam and protect the forest and rivers. With her gift, the spirits can be contacted and bartered with, and the Scouts now have the power to use spirits called Umbras. The Nameless gave everything he had to the land. Sitting with his brother and sister he gave new life to the tree's and land forever giving magic to the world around them, with him he was able to bridge the world of the fey and spirits. With him, nature magic is strong and flows through the Levar land.
In this time the cities have grown into massive fortresses in a sea of Trees, the Leaf has changed its name to Helmsgrip in Honor of The Nameless’s sacrifice of magic. Many villages have been made and fortified, for the seasons bring both changes good and bad.
Watch Towers
The watch towers are used to signal cities and villages with smoke. Every smoke signal has a meaning, as explained below.
Red: War comes
Black: Monster Raids
Blue: Massive Storm
Green: Early Spring
Purple: Summer
Yellow: Fall
Fires: Winter has Arrived.
Red+Black: Dragon
New Society
With the addition of a new clan in the Levars called the Moonblades, new technologies have been given to the people along with new philosophies and knowledge. Integration of these new discoveries are still underway and as such the Age of Ice has also been known as the “Age of Steel”. These know ideologies have been helpful to both Clans and though the Moonblades have their own laws and ways of doing things, they fall under the protection of the Levars and stand side by side with them in political matters and war.
Caution of Spring:
With the coming of spring Monsters that normally lay dormant awake with hunger, Now comes the season of war and hunger. The levars take great delight in this for they eat the monsters, to them it is only fair because the monsters were going to eat them.
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Celebration of Summer:
Farming at its finest and the height of magic use, and Fey activity. Celebrations of the spirits and Fey happen during this season.
Harvest of Fall:
The fey bring forth the Fall season, and the spirits are at their strongest, monsters store up for the winter and the Final harvest happens.
Blessings of Winter:
Bitter cold and less monsters the Levar use this time to rest and regain strength, the hunting is good and the Festival of sleep is given. The Fey activity is at its lowest and the spirits as well. Monsters are hibernating.
Newcomers to the Land of Steel and Snow
Most people are welcome so long as they abide by the laws, of both Clans. Assimilation into the clan can happen with rites of the wolf or acts of valor. Worship of other gods is accepted though many Levar do not believe in such things. The Levar ate their gods and so they control their own fate.
The Faceless one:
It was said that a single entity gave the Levar the power to kill and devour the gods. The Faceless one was supposed to be worshipped as the only god to the Levars but is only seen as a saint of sorts. He too was devoured. Now statues of a faceless being can be seen in areas were ceremony happen. The levar honor the Faceless one but do not worship him.
Religion
Many in the Clan of the Levar believe that the Gods are no more than being that wish to mess with the lives of the living. Instead of an afterlife it is said that many levar become an animal spirit and roam the land of the Levar, once the spirit has reached its purpose it is taken to the great hall to drink and feast until the end times come. Weak and untrustworthy people who die become the cursed spirits, the dark ones that hunt the living never to be allowed in the great halls. To some dying and becoming a creature that attacks your own clan is a hell within itself.
Laws of the Levar and Moonblade
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Theft: When someone is caught stealing they are given a Fine and must return the thing they stole, if Fine can not be paid they will be enslaved to the city till Fine is paid through service.
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Slavery: Slaves exist in the Levar lands. Slaves captured in War are not treated as animals, they are given the basic necessities and must prove they want freedom. A strong will is never broken and can never be enslaved, once proven they will be taken to the border and set free or offered a place in the Clan.
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Murder: accused will be punished by death once found guilty.
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Raids must be approved by the council.
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No magic should be used to influence or harm another, if found guilty user will be have all powers taken away from by the ritual of the Tree.
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Rite of combat: a man can choose to fight off their executioner to live in exile
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Rebellion is punishable by death
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Dueling is for those who wish to settle a dispute through a 3 round fight. Unless parties agree to a death match.
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Execution: Blood Eagle
Rites and Rituals
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Rite of the wolf: if a clan wants to join in the levar they must pass the rite of wolf and be judged by the current leaders. Strength and courage, Bravery, Heart. All this must be shown to join the Levar clan. If they fail the clan trying to join will be killed.
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Rite of the tree: A punishment to take away the magic people can use, the accused is placed under a special tree, roots pierce inside the accused sucking away the magic and powers of the user leaving them magicless.
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Rital of sleep: a festival for the fey and spirits in Winter
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Festival of the Hollow: Spirits festival in fall
Umbra Magic
Using the spirits around them scouts can project the spirit to make a somewhat transparent aura around them that can affect the world. Many times it takes shape of an animal or nature spirit. With this they can take on the aspects of said spirit. For example a snake Umbra will allow the user to strike with poison, or climb a tree faster, A boar umbra will trample and charge with strength but at the same time the user takes on the disadvantages. A boars charge is one lines and boars cannot see well, a snake can strike fast and climb fast but moves slow on the the ground. So far only few outside of the scouts can use Umbra magic as it must be learned by the spirits that allow you to use its form. This can be dangerous as some spirits will take over the body and devour the users soul merging there life force with the spirits becoming what the Levar call “ the forsaken”
The Forsaken
A group of magic users that live in isolation, they wander around. They are normally not welcomed as they bring with them a large amount of spiritual energy that attracts both monsters and spirits. The Forsaken are no longer man or spirit but a new being losing all memory of who they were in both lives.
Black Umbra
Evil spirits of the Levar, few can control them and those who do are feared, for when a black Umbra becomes Forsaken they turn into horrid stalkers that eat all living things made of flesh.
The Fires and Lanterns
These sacred Fires and lanterns keep travelers safe and cities safe. These flames and lanterns keep away evil spirits and Monsters from the city and most traveled paths. Those who hold the lanterns travel and most villages and cities have large bone fires that keep away the Majority of Horrid influences, In these flames special weapons are imbued with the flames that allow for the destruction of spirits and some Monsters.