Clan Ironblood

ᛒᛚᚩᚩᛞ ᛒᛁᚾᛞᛋ ᚢᛋ, ᛁᚱᚩᚾ ᛈᚱᚩᛏᛖᚳᛏᛋ ᚢᛋ (Blood binds us, Iron protects us)

The current Ironblood Clan is a noble family among the Ashen people, although they have minor political power outside their own people. The Ironblood Clan was founded around 350 years ago when the Ashen people entered the age of Isolationism by “Njal T. Ironblood,” the Jarl of a small region in southeast Sparwood. However, it must be noted that this isn’t the original Ironblood Clan, as the previous one was killed off by the Necrosis plague, with only one surviving member to rebuild the house, Njal Ironblood. The original home of the Ironblood family was a village in the southeast of Sparwood, but it was recently moved to Reingard. Although the new Ironbloods Clan is young, according to the founder, the Ironbloods can trace their ancestry to the ones who forged the eight weapons of Stahl, weapons of Ashen legend created thousands of years ago for the first empire.

Members
Erik B. Ironblood:  Head of the Clan (Dmarux)

Magos geðstirðr Ironblood: Adopted son of Erik Ironblood (Magos_Xel).

Charles Happ Ironblood: Adopted child of Magos Ironblood (Happychar111).

Contributions:
Since its re-founding 350 years ago, the Ironblood Clan has:

-Ensured Ashen villages were protected and well-supplied, from hiring mercenaries for protection to providing grain and livestock.

-Outside of Ashen society: Provided funds for reconstruction projects, such as Leythe’s reconstruction, before and after the Segra attack on the city.

-Created the Ulfberht swords and Rage Mead

Traditions/Culture
The Ironbloods follow traditional Ashen culture, and so they pride themselves on their smithing skills, practice Holmgang, and worship the Stahl Riesa. However, the Ironbloods have some  Traditions and cultures that aren't Ashen in origin.

Initiation Ritual
The Ironblood Initiation ritual is where new family members (family members who reach complete the Ashen rite of passage or those who married into the family) are taken to a shaman, where they’ll be blessed. Afterward, they’ll drink an anesthetic and have the Ironblood emblem branded on their back, afterward having the area cleaned with an antiseptic (they have a choice of a Hot-iron brand or a tattoo; those who take the hot-iron route are seen as the braver of the family).

Pact Making
The Ironblood way of making a pact with someone is similar to becoming someone’s blood brother. The participating pact members cut the palms of their hands and let a single drop of blood fall into a cup for each member. The cups are filled with strong alcohol ( as it should kill any diseases that may be present), and then each member drinks, completing the pact. The pact is held for an agreed amount of time or permanently. Anyone who breaks the Pact can expect severe repercussions from the Ironbloods, regardless of if their family or not.

Blood Hunt
When someone wrongs the Ironblood family, whether it's breaking an important pact or harming a family member, the Ironbloods will perform what is known as a Blood Hunt. Blood hunt is when the Ironbloods track down the offender to take blood payment. The amount of blood taken, whether it is survivable or lethal, depends on the severity of the offense. The blood taken is then mixed into a forge and forged into a cursed blade, which is then disposed of.

Founding
The current Ironblood Clan was founded at the beginning of the age of Isolationism by its founder, Njal T. Ironblood, the Jarl of a small region in Sparwood, some 350 years ago. Njal had become the last of the original Ironblood Clan at 18, as the rest were killed by the Necrosis plague, which unfortunately resulted in a majority of the original Ironblood family history, prior to 350 years ago, being lost. According to a testament from Njal, the only information he was initially entrusted with was that the original Ironblood family could trace their ancestry to the first empire, thousands of years ago, as the one who forged the eight weapons of Stahl. Njal spent 70 years re-establishing his family's house, recreating family traditions, and rebuilding the family's numbers with his firstborn at 87. Twenty years later, Njal passed away at 108.

Heads of House
Here is a list of the Ironblood "Head of House"

Njal T. Ironblood
Njal T. Ironblood is the founder of the current Ironblood Clan and the rebuilder of the family. He rebuilt the Ironblood Clan after the Necrosis plague killed off his family. Had his firstborn and heir, Theodroa M. Ironblood, at 87 years old. He died at 108 years old.

Theodora M. Ironblood
The first-born child of Njal and the first matriarch of the new Ironblood Clan. She took control of the house at 21 after her father died and would spend 53 years establishing the Ironblood's means of earning profits via agriculture and arms dealing. She had her firstborn and heir, Toke K. Ironblood, at 53 years old. She died at 74 years old.

Toke K. Ironblood
The Firstborn child of Theodora. He took control of the house at 21 after his mother's death, and spent 87 years running the Ironblood Clan and the family's businesses. He had his firstborn and heir, Erik B. Ironblood, at 58 years old. Rather than waiting to die before passing on the role of Head of House, he retired at 108, passing the role to Erik.

Erik B. Ironblood
The firstborn child of Toke. He took control of the house at 50 after his father retired and is the current head of the house. He established his family's influence in the first non-Ashen city of Leythe and donated funds to help the city's infrastructure. In recent events, Erik has received ownership of the town of Reingard and made it the new home for the Ironblood Clan.