The Clans have
approximately 760 Bloodnames. The name of each of the 800 warriors who joined Nicholas
Kerensky and refused to take part in the Exodus Civil War is considered a Bloodname, less
the 40 names removed when the "Not-Named Clan" was annihilated. Clan tradition
dictates that only 25 living Clan warriors may hold the same Bloodname, and each must have
a direct matrilineal link to the original progenitor.
Each Clan originally
claimed rights only to the Bloodnames of the 40 warriors Nicholas Kerensky assigned to
that Clan. This organization gradually blurred as Clans fought each other in Trials of
Possession for specific warriors' genes to enhance their individual Clan. Even if warriors
became abtakha (captured by another Clan), they still retained the right to claim a
Bloodname belonging to their former Clan. In this way, more than one Clan could claim the
same Bloodname. Additional cross-naming took place when two Clans were disbanded and their
Bloodnames spread among the other Clans. There are still some Bloodnames, however, that
are the exclusive property of a Clan. The Kerensky and Ward Bloodnames, for example, are
still held only by warriors of the Wolf Clan.
Winning a Bloodname is a
warrior's guarantee of Clan immortality. Not only is he honored with the right to use the
Bloodname as his own, but he becomes eligible for high military and political positions.
Most important to Bloodnamed warriors is the fact that, barring any subsequent action that
would bring them shame, their genes will contribute to the gene pool for the next
generation. The remains of most Bloodnamed warriors are returned to one of the 800
memorial chapels built by Nicholas Kerensky on Strana Mechty to honor each of the original
800 warriors. There, the ashes of each Bloodnamed warrior lie with the ashes of the other
warriors of the same Bloodname in the ornate tomb of their honored namesake.
When a Bloodnamed warrior
dies, a Trial of Bloodright is declared. The current Bloodnamed warriors of that name each
select one nominee from the pool of eligible candidates. The Bloodname's leader nominates
additional warriors to bring the number to 31 candidates. The 32nd slot is reserved for
all other eligible candidates, those who were not nominated but who still wish to compete
for a Bloodname. This group engages in a Grand Bloodname Melee, with the survivor being
awarded the 32nd slot. The 32 candidates then begin a series of one-on-one duels that
eventually result in one victor, who is awarded the Bloodname. This fulfills Nicholas
Kerensky's requirement that a Bloodname be won by defeating all others who make a claim to
that name.
Though winning any
Bloodname is significant, it is interesting to note that considerable prestige is attached
to certain Bloodheritages. Because lineage is traced matrilineally, each warrior is only
qualified to compete for one Bloodname. It is not uncommon for an ambitious warrior to
decline nomination for what he considers an inferior Bloodheritage, in hopes of competing
for a better Bloodheritage later on. |