The Initiation Rite

The Coming of Age

 

The Meaning of the Ritual

A child lives under the protection of the community. They know they will always find shelter, that voices will guide them and hands will lift them when they fall. But an adult bears responsibility—not only for themselves, but for all. Before a young Frostborn can cross this threshold, they must face a truth rooted deep in the history of their ancestors: the truth of exile and return.
  The ritual is not held on a fixed day. There is no set season, no exact time. Instead, the child and their parents decide together when the transition should take place. Typically, this happens between the ages of 14 and 17—when the child shows they are ready to face the trial. Some enter early, determined to claim their place among the adults. Others wait, sensing their time has not yet come. But one thing is certain: once the ritual begins, there is no turning back.
 

The Forgetting – 68 Days of Solitude

With the first sunrise, the young Frostborn begins their exodus. Without words, they leave the community, and as the gates close behind them, they cease to exist for the people of the city. No one may speak to them. No one may help them. They are alone.
  By day, they wander the ice. No roof above, no guiding hand. They must rely on themselves, adapt their body, use their strength. They seek shelter in caves or snowbanks. They search for food, for water, and learn to live with the cold. Every moment is a challenge, every step a test.
  But at night, they may return. Not as a stranger, but as a son or daughter. Their family speaks with them, shares meals, offers voices and warmth. Yet when morning comes, they leave again, and the cycle begins anew.
  Day after day, this journey repeats. Solitude and return. Hunger and shelter. The young Frostborn learns that community is the foundation of their people.
 

The Final Trial – The Battle Against the Warrior

On the 69th day, they return one last time. They have survived solitude, but they are not yet an adult. One step remains—the battle against the warrior.
  Before the gathered community, they face an experienced fighter. It is not a duel for victory. No one expects them to win. It is a battle against the self. They will fall. The frost will grip them. Their muscles will ache, their limbs will grow heavy. But if they rise again, if they continue, if they do not give up, then they have passed.
  The trial is not meant to break them. It is meant to show that failure is not the end—as long as they rise again.
 

The Final Night – The Promise

After the battle, the young Frostborn stands before the community. Their body bears the marks of combat, their skin etched by cold. The leader of the ceremony steps forward and speaks the words that will decide their future: *"Are you ready to take responsibility within the community?"*
  And the young Frostborn answers—loud, clear, without doubt: *"I stand firm."* Then their family, their friends, the Frostborn who hold them close respond: *"Together."* And they repeat: *"Together."*
  These words are no magical oath. They are no formal rule. They are a promise. A bond of trust and devotion. From this moment on, they are an adult Frostborn. A part of the community.