Kin Lodges

Elves of the same Kin are bound together by Spiritual bonds. A Kin is one part family and one part religion for those who have sworn the Oath of Bonding to it. In every tribe's lands there are Lodges for each Kin, places where only those of the Kin are admitted. Such places are where the mysteries of the Kin are taught, it's weapons trained, spells chanted, and beasts understood. Often the Lodgemaster is an Elder and a Shaman who can guide the Lodge members through dream visions and trances where they can speak with their Totem spirit and become closer to it, changing their form as they go.

Lodges of the Bear

Bearkin Lodges are always built mostly or entirely underground, in caves like the ones Bears dig to hibernate. These Lodges are dark and close places, filled with the scent of pine and earth, where the Bearkin rub shoulders constantly. The bodies of dead bears are brought here and separated into their constituent parts. Their claws are set into clubs, their skins made into armour, and their bones stacked in the recesses of the Lodge.

Lodges of the Fox

Foxkin Lodges are built into the roots of great and gnarled trees, often those which have been burnt out in lightning strikes or broken by storms. They have narrow earth tunnels, inaccessible to larger Elves, and full of bright things that the Foxkin have collected on their travels.

Lodges of the Hawk

Hawk-kin Lodges are always built out of stone and placed on high places, exposed hill tops surrounded by tall pines where Hawks have their nests. Hawk-kin value the ability to see far and wide, so they surmount their Lodges with wooden towers ending in platforms where the bodies of their dead are exposed to be picked clean by the birds. Afterwards their skulls are laid in niches cut into the walls of the Lodges, while the rest of their bones are scattered into the forest, to fall where they will. Bird bones are similarly scattered on the floors of the Lodge, their patterns being read by the Elders for signs.

Lodges of the Stag

Stagkin Lodges are high-ceilinged halls set amongst the tallest and straightest groves of trees, with Elk horns set above the doorways and scenes of hunting and riding carved along their doorposts. Within the roof beams are carved in the shape of tree-branches, rising to a single point in the center like a crown. The spears of fallen Stag Cavalry riders are set up against the walls to commemorate their owners.

Lodges of the Wolf

Wolfkin Lodges are erected as circles of stone in open places where the mist gathers. These stones are carved with patterns of spirals and topped with wolf-skulls, pelts and tails. In the center is a stone pit where a fire is laid. The Wolfkin place little value in material things, so their shrines have no buildings or locked chambers. Instead they are open so that the Wolf packs can constantly be in and amongst them. Wolfkin shamans say that the wolf spirits enjoy similar access.

Lodges of the Wolverine

Wolverinekin Lodges are usually built in the branches of huge Oak trees, high up off the ground where they can be easily missed by those who pass by. Despite being in the treetops the lodges are heavily built, designed for defence in combat, with fighting platforms and thick wooden walls soaked in fire-resistant saps.