A specific “lineage” of a Bloodname is known as a Bloodright. Unlike the conventional Clan Bloodname lineage, the members of a Bloodright need not be directly related to each other, only to the origin [..]

The Trial of Bloodright is a series of one-on-one, single-elimination duels fought by warriors to win possession of a Bloodname. Each competition consists of thirty-two entrants, the majority of which [..]

A gifted warrior on his way to a high position in the Clan is referred to as a ristar: literally, a rising star.

When a problem within a caste or Clan can be resolved by no other process, the troublesome element may be ejected from Clan society through a Trial of Abjuration. The target of the ritual is stripped [..]

A warrior adopted into the warrior caste of the Clan that captured them is known as abtakha.

The ultimate punishment in Clan society, the Trial of Annihilation calls for the destruction of the accused. Such trials may only be carried out following a unanimous vote of the Clan or Grand Council [..]

The batchall is the ritual by which Clan warriors issue combat challenges. Though the challenge may take many forms, in most cases the batchall begins with the attacker identifying himself, announcing [..]

The Bloodcount is the number of active Bloodrights associated with a Bloodname, and thus the number of individuals who may use that Bloodname. Traditionally, this is twenty-five, but in the case of in [..]

A Bloodname is the surname associated with a Bloodright, descended from one of the eight hundred and two warriors who stood with Nicholas Kerensky to form the Clans. A warrior must win the use of a Bl [..]

The warriors bearing or eligible to bear a particular Bloodname form a Bloodname House. The House acts as a substitute family for the warriors and exerts considerable political influence in the Clans. [..]