Mossheart Brotherhood

Introduction

Kirilian Mossheart, Clan Deeryant's chieftain, around 100 years ago, founded the Mossheart Brotherhood to ensure Clan Deeryant's future for centuries to come.

Kirilian had very early on understood that power in Alven lay in the Thane's Court, the Arkivon and The Sanctuary. These three organisations now ruled Alven for better or for worse.

The Brotherhood was a secret Deeryant organisation created to further the influence of the clan within the three organisations, irrespective of ideology or beliefs. Kirilian had inherited the clan leadership after a disastrous tenure by his aunt's husband, Brook Mayhew. The clan had risen to prominence with the great chieftain Thingor Gremane who had revolutionised Alven politics, but had fallen on hard times by the time Kirilian took charge.

Beliefs and Agenda

Kirilian made his thirteen sons promise to continue his work in restoring the clan's fortune by first marrying and begetting children, then educating sons and daughters to place them within the Arkivon and the Sanctuary, or if not possible, at least marrying advantageously, all to keep Deeryant as close as possible to Alven centres of power.

Another tenet of the Brotherhood was to seek marriage to known rod bearers or yielders to make sure that there would always be a Deeryant able to power the runes on the rods of powers, for the moment safely tucked away in the Arkivon Rod Depository.

Moto, Slogan

The Brotherhood's motto is: 'The Deer will always drink from the Spring.'

  In Alven mythology, the Deer is one of the thirteen sacred animals and is closely linked to the horned god, Carnos. The Deeryants have always worshipped the dark and powerful god of the forest and nature, and Carnos still presides over the Brotherhood.

Organisation, Structure and Assets

The Brotherhood strictly reserves membership for those who become clanbearers (born Deeryant) or are born into clanbearers' families. Clansmen who marry into the family cannot enter the brotherhood - this important position ensures that no other clan can infiltrate the organisation, and it is secure in its goals.

The Brotherhood has many members - Kirilian had thirteen sons, and their descendants mainly make up the people in the organisation. Kirilian's eldest son passed away aged twenty-five but was survived by a son of his own: Mel Mossheart, who in his turn became a very influential Deeryant chieftain, and later on Thane of Alven.

List of the Brotherhood's Tuas (Houses)

Deer - Yarrow Mossheart
Bear - Sheen Mossheart
Raven - Night Mossheart
Wren - Flight Mossheart
Crane - Wing Mossheart
Bull - Tale Mossheart
Eagle - Claw Mossheart
Hawk - Farther Mossheart
Seal - River Mossheart
Fox - Reidden Mossheart
Hare - Feld Mossheart
Wolf - Pawson Mossheart
Bee - Buzz Mossheart
Boar - Rush Mossheart
Salmon - Gill Mossheart


After a hundred years or more, descendants from Kirilian are organised in Tuas within the organisation and are referred to as a Fox or a Hare. The majority of members, regardless of gender, wear a representation of their family's sacred animal somewhere on their person. It could be a silver hare on a chain or the tusk of a boar on a bracelet.

Introduction into the Brotherhood usually happens when a Deeryant is settled into the clan and has proven his value to the organisation. It usually happens when a clansman or clanswoman gains a position within the Arkivon or the Sanctuary or after their marriage.

The ceremony includes several rituals to Carnos and is celebrated in the home temple near Glashelm keep by the shores of Loch Morgunt. One of the Brotherhood's relics is a statue of a thirteen-headed beast, called The Beast (half-jokingly). It has become a central part of the rites and often brings fear to the wayward members of the clan.

Notable Mosshearts

Moss Glasstern and Kave Boulder are notable members of the Brotherhood. Moss rose to one of the highest positions in the country as the leader of the Arkivon. She is a Hawk and is a direct descendant of Farther Mossheart.

When she was younger, she used to wear a bejewelled hawk's talon in her hair - a family heirloom. Now, she sports a silver and ruby ring in the shape of a flying hawk. Kave Boulder, her second in the Arkivon, is a Fox. He wears a rare white fox's tail on his belt.
Fall has not yet been introduced into the Brotherhood - and will never be because of his life choices.

Relevance

Other clans are aware of the Mossheart Brotherhood but do not understand how tightly it controls its members. The Mossheart Brotherhood is viewed from the outside as a quaint, familial and traditional organisation. The fact that so many Mosshearts are in positions of power within Alven is often linked to Kirilian's large progeny and the clan's wealth.

Only a few people who have had more dealings with the Deeryants - for example, those who have married into the clan or have close family who have married to its members suspect that there is more to the Brotherhood than quaint rituals.

Myth

Behind the name 'Mossheart' is the story of a myth that Kirilian Mossheart heard from his parents. According to the myth, the Mosshearts have always been blessed by Carnos and the forest. A prophecy foretold that their descendants would one day rise to lead the clans and rule over Alven. More at the Mossheart.