Klah'hin

Background
The Klah'hin were 10 clans of barbarians that ruled the wilds of Atheon between The Sea of Adlas and the Shadow Mountains from The Moaning Peak to Farhold. They first began settling the region around 809 of the Age of Migration and protected their sacred lands for more than three thousand years before being almost completely wiped out during the Clan War. As the mythology goes, Onir the All-Father imparted the power of the Storm Dragon to one of his most feverant clan of worshippers. Not to be outdone, each of the other gods chose their favorite clan and imparted the powers of other fabled creatures to them. They called themselves Klah'hin, meaning warrior spirit in the old tongue. The clans fought incancessently until the Long Winter (0042-0050 of the Age of Strife). Starving to death, the clans band together to fend off predator attacks and to find food and shelter. When the Long Winter ended, the clans settled differences and formed a pact that would keep each clan equal. The strongest leaders from each clan fought in a contest of strength and wits and soon crowned the first Kral of the Klah'hin, Orgus Dar of the Dire Wolf clan (Refusing to follow the pact and restless at the idea of peace, the Minotaur clan exile themselves to Grayfrost and are never heard from again). The title would pass frequently as stronger and smarter clan Vizers would challenge for the Right of Ascendancy. After one bloody brawl that left three Vizers dead, the remaining leaders decided a challenge would be issued only if incompetency is proven in the current Kral. Although minor wars have broken out between clan rivals, for the most part, they Klah'hin have maintained a measure of peace.

After the battle at the Iron Spire, most clans realized they had lost their abilities to Join with their avatar. Even worse, the women bearing the seed of clan warriors were having difficult pregnancies, most dying in childbirth or having miscarriages. Of the 10 clans that used to populate the region, only 3 remain with their Joining abilities intact. Those that lost their abilities began to migrate throughout Atheon and intermingled sexually with the human population in order to keep their family lines alive. Women of the clan were able to carry human children to term with no ill effects. Most of the current human population of Atheon come from the survivors of this war, still using ancient family names, but retaining nothing of their Klah'hin abilities. Though each clan has an ancestral area they call home, most have intermingled with other clans or humans enough that the bloodlines aren't as pure as they were. There are few villages remaining where they still follow their old beliefs and the histories of these Klah'hin clans have been sadly lost to history.

Kral
The Kral (king/queen) of all Klah'hin was the strongest warrior of the strongest Klah'hin clan, either male or female. The title is not passed down by generation, but is decided by a Challenge of Ascendency. Corus Silverbane is considered the last Kral of the Klah'hin and there hasn't been one for the thousand years since.

Vizer
The Vizers were the leaders of each clan and the ruler of his Den. They would meet seasonally with the Kral and discuss issues of importance for a full tenday.

Challenge of Ascendency
Challenge of Ascendancy was a ritual in which a Vizer would challenge the current Kral for leadership of all Klah'hin.

The Trials
The Trials is a tenday long test of endurance, skill mastery, knowledge and understanding. Each warrior must pass these tests to consider himself a warrior and have a voice within his clan. Each warrior knows there will be a moment during the trials where they will have an epiphany that will completely change their outlook on something specific in their life. Darius's moment, for example, was when he acknowledges and comes to admire his brother's determination in proving himself and realizes why his father treated Cyrus differently from himself. Cyrus' moment was when he realizes the Klah'hin are more than just the ability to Join. It is the connection they have with others and their ability to work together for a common goal that defines them. This moment is tested throughout the story as he begins to doubt himself and his skills as his failures and inability to work as a team with his friends begin to overwhelm him.