True-Heart

True-Name: Upon reaching the age of discernment, a young True-Heart undertakes a rite of passage, an internal trial that tests one's courage, wisdom, and resolve. Success in this trial earns the individual their Ture-Name, a unique moniker reflecting the nature of their internal self revealed during the ordeal.

Clan Epithet: Every True-Heart is born into the embrace of the clan, and the clan epithet it serves as both shield and banner. It is spoken first in formal introductions, a mark of belonging and a reminder of the collective legacy each member upholds. The clan epithet is never taken lightly; to bear it is to accept the weight of generations.

Honour-Name: The highest accolade a True-Heart can receive is the Honour-Name, bestowed by the clan elders in recognition of extraordinary service or sacrifice. The Honour-Name is rare and sacred, reserved for those whose actions have altered the course of the clan’s history or safeguarded the legacy of the Inheritors as a whole.

A True-Heart who bears all three names (Clan Epithet, True-Name, and Honour-Name) is regarded as a living legend.

The True-Heart speak a dialect of Draconic known as “Akrandic,” characterised by its resonant tones and poetic structure. This dialect is reserved for formal occasions, rituals, and the recitation of clan histories. It is seen as improper for outsiders to hear spoken Akrandic. In daily life, most True-Hearts are fluent in Trade Common, facilitating more common interaction with clan members and neighbouring peoples.

The heritage of the True-Heart is a living flame, passed from generation to generation through story, song, and the unbroken chain of oaths. The clan traces its origins to the first Inheritors, those who chose to forge their own destinies rather than serve the whims of ancient wyrms. Their history is marked by acts of defiance, sacrifice, and the forging of alliances that have shaped the fate of the True-Heart's place in Zæthéria.

Cultural pride is expressed not through ostentation, but through the mastery of craft, the maintenance of ancestral records, and the preservation of sacred sites. Each generation is expected to contribute to the continuity of the clan’s legacy, whether by expanding the family archives, perfecting a new technique, or defending the clan’s honour in times of strife.

The True-Heart clans maintain close ties with other Inheritor clans. These alliances are celebrated through joint festivals, collaborative works of art, and the exchange of apprentices and scholars. The clan’s heritage is thus both insular and expansive, rooted in tradition but open to the influences of the wider world.

The True-Heart Legacy is defined by a constellation of customs and values that shape every aspect of daily life. Chief among these is the concept of “Heart-Oath”—a binding promise made before witnesses, upheld at all costs. Oath-breaking is the gravest sin, believed to stain not only the individual but the entire lineage. Individuals who are known to have broken oaths are often considered untouchable.

Honesty, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of mastery are woven into the fabric of True-Heart society. Each member is expected to contribute to the clan’s welfare, whether through martial skill, scholarship, or the nurturing of the next generation. Failure is not shamed, but seen as an opportunity for growth; perseverance in the face of adversity is the highest form of honour.

The True-Heart also maintain a tradition of communal storytelling, gathering around the hearth to recount the deeds of ancestors and the lessons of the past. These sagas serve as both entertainment and moral instruction, reinforcing the values of courage, humility, and collective responsibility.

Etiquette among the True-Heart is both codified and intuitive, reflecting the clan’s emphasis on respect, transparency, and communal harmony. Greetings are formal, beginning with the recitation of one’s full name (Clan Epithet, True-Name, and, if applicable, Honour-Name), followed by a gesture of lowering open hands down and away from the chest, palms upward with fingers together, symbolising honesty and peaceful intent.

Interrupting another during speech is considered disrespectful, as is failing to acknowledge the contributions of others in communication and communal tasks. Silence is valued in moments of reflection or mourning, while laughter and song are encouraged during feasts and celebrations.

Gifts are exchanged with care, always accompanied by a spoken blessing or a promise of reciprocal service. Decorative offerings are politely declined unless they serve a practical or symbolic purpose, in keeping with the clan’s ethos of purposeful beauty.

True-Heart attire is a blend of function and symbolism. Daily garments are crafted from sturdy fabrics and reinforced with leather or scale, designed to withstand the rigours of labour and travel. Tunics and trousers are adorned with subtle embroidery, often in the form of clan sigils or personal achievements. Boots are a rare form of dress as they require tailored construction and serve minimal benefit for the scaled foot; as such, many true-hearts are content to live barefoot or with foot wraps in times of elevated dress.

Ceremonial dress is distinguished by the addition of sashes, cloaks, or mantles bearing the colours of the clan. Armour is meticulously maintained, with each piece inscribed internally with protective runes and the names of ancestors. During rites of passage, individuals don garments woven from the scales shed during their trial, a tangible reminder of transformation and growth.

Adornment is minimal but meaningful: beads, rings, and pendants crafted from precious metals or gemstones are worn to signify rank, achievement, or participation in significant events. The True-Heart believe that clothing is a form of armour, not only against physical harm, but as a shield for the spirit and the mind, imbued with the strength of tradition and one's identity.

Art: Carvings, tapestries, and metalwork are adorned with motifs of dragons, elements, and the draconic hearts that symbolise unity. Each piece is crafted with meticulous care, intended to endure for generations and to inspire those who behold it. Work songs, battle chants, and epic sagas are composed and performed communally, their rhythms echoing the heartbeat of the clan. Instruments are often fashioned from bone, horn, or the wood of petrified trees. Songs sung in Akrandic are of great significance and purpose.

Architecture: The ancestral halls of the True-Heart are designed to withstand both time and siege, with thick walls, vaulted ceilings, and hearths large enough to accommodate the entire clan. Windows are narrow and high, admitting light while preserving security, and doorways are tall and wide to accommodate the stature and horns of dragonborn.
Public spaces are adorned with murals depicting the clan’s history, while private chambers are reserved for contemplation and study. The central hearth is the heart of every True-Heart dwelling, a place where stories are shared and oaths are sworn. Sacred spaces, such as the Hall of Ancestors, are carved with the names of every clan member who has earned an Honour-Name, their deeds immortalised in stone.
Ancestral Halls are the most commonly seen dwelling spaces of True-Hearts. However, it is not unheard of for True-Hearts to live independently among mixed populations.

True-Heart cuisine is robust and communal, reflecting the clan’s emphasis on nourishment, hospitality and the celebration of shared labour. Meals are prepared in large hearths, with each member contributing ingredients or effort. The diet is rich in roasted meats, root vegetables, and hearty stews, often seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices cultivated in clan gardens. Feasts are occasions for storytelling and song, with each dish carrying its own history and significance.

The True‑Hearts live by a code of truth‑binding and communal sacrifice. Every oath is spoken with open palms and a bowed head, and silence is preferred over flattery. They mark important deeds with carved tokens worn over the sternum, and their daily etiquette emphasises restraint, measured speech, modest dress, and gestures that show honesty. Their language shifts between a plain dialect for daily life and a formal, rhythmic register used in ceremonies, where words are treated as binding acts.

True‑Hearts observe the end-of-year Day of the Clemence, a communal fast and feast where debts are forgiven. Birth rites keep infants unnamed until their first vow of service, while the Naming Vigil marks coming‑of‑age, a confession of the recently discovered True-Name. Funerals are communal remembrances: the dead are wrapped in prismatic cloth, and their deeds are recited before the body is returned to earth or flame.

Birth is a moment of profound significance among the True-Heart, marking the arrival of a new link in the chain of legacy. "Whelplings", as they are called, are viviparously born in the clan’s sanctum, their arrival heralded by the lighting of the Lifecandle, a sacred candle lit and set upon the clan's hearth and left to burn till half the candle remains, it is believed to carry the blessings of the ancestors to see the whelpling safely past the first days of infancy.

The whelpling is presented to the clan elders, who bestow a provisional name and wrap the child in a symbolic scarf. This scarf is used to swaddle all the young of the clan and represents the embracing of the child by all the clan who come before. A short hymn is sung, invoking the protection and guidance of the clan’s patron spirits.

The birth is recorded in the clan ledger, and the child is welcomed into the communal fold. For the first years of life, the whelpling is nurtured by both parents and the wider clan, receiving instruction in the values and customs that define the True-Heart.

The transition to adulthood is marked by the Rite of the Inner Self, a trial designed to test the candidate’s courage and wisdom, and to encourage them to discover their true inner self. The initiate is tasked with burning and breathing in the fumes of a concoction of strong hallucinogenic herbs. After consumption, the individual must commit to a pilgrimage through their psyche, after which, if successful, they emerge with a new understanding of their inner self and the knowledge of their "True-Name".

Upon successful completion, the initiate returns to the clan hall, where they are greeted with song and the lighting of their remaining lifecandle half. The elders hear the True-Name, and the newly adult individual is presented to the clan. A communal feast follows, during which the initiate shares the story of their journey and receives the blessings of the clan.

Death is met with solemnity and reverence among the True-Heart. The passing of a clan member is marked by the extinguishing of the clan hall's central hearth, symbolising the end of a life’s journey and a sign of respect. The body is prepared with care, adorned with tokens of achievement and wrapped in a shroud bearing the clan’s sigil. In times where the individual dies away from the clan hall, the extinguishment of a campfire or other such conflagration is performed.

A vigil is held, during which family and friends share stories, sing hymns, and offer repaired items to the clan as signs of continued duty. The deceased’s primary tool or weapon is cleaned and either buried with them or mounted on the clan wall, serving as a reminder of their contributions.

Interment takes place in the clan’s ancestral vaults, carved deep into the stone beneath the hall. Names are inscribed upon the Wall of Remembrance, accompanied by a hymn that recounts the individual’s deeds and the lessons they leave behind. Memorials focus on contribution rather than sentiment, with the clan ledger updated to reflect the final score.

Taboos among the True-Heart are rooted in the perversion of honour, the sanctity of oaths, and the maintenance of communal harmony. Chief among these is oath-breaking, considered a stain upon the soul and a threat to the integrity of the lineage. Those who break a Heart-Oath are subject to disownment and exile.

Other taboos include tampering with or disrespecting the tools, weapons, or records of ancestors and squandering resources or failing to contribute to the clan’s welfare. Deliberate falsehoods, especially in matters of importance. and fleeing from duty or abandoning one’s kin in times of need.

Certain forms of magic, particularly those that manipulate the will or memory of others, are viewed as repugnant, as they are believed to undermine the autonomy and dignity of the individual, something which all Inheritors, but True-Hearts in particular, find distasteful.

The Rite of the Inner Self: The mystical trial that grants the True-Name finds its origin in legend. According to tradition, the path was first walked by Seraphine the Resolute, who, during the inheritor liberation, braved the mind-altering fires of the ancient wyrm "Immolatista" to allow her brethren opportunity to escape. Emerging victorious but altered, her courage and wisdom set the standard for all who would follow.

• Seraphine the Resolute: A legendary matriarch, Seraphine’s victory over Immolatista and subsequent mild journey set the standard for all coming-of-age rites. Her strength and compassion are celebrated in song and story.

Among the True-Heart, beauty is measured not in ornament or superficial grace, but in the visible marks of endurance, discipline and respect. The gleam of well-kept scales, the symmetry of horn and frill, and the clarity of one’s gaze are admired, but it is also the evidence of a life well-lived and service undergone with honour that truly captivates.

Adornment is purposeful; clan beads, etched with runes of achievement, are woven into braids or affixed to armour; ceremonial sashes bear the sigils of completed quests. Minimal jewellery is seen as respectful and proper, with typuical accoutrements often crafted from the scales shed during rites of passage, symbolising transformation and continuity.

The True-Heart, like many Inheritor lineages, place little emphasis on gender roles. Strength, wisdom, and compassion are valued above all, and both men and women are expected to embody these virtues. Partnerships are forged through mutual respect and shared purpose, with courtship rituals emphasising acts of service and the demonstration of one’s commitment to the clan.

Marriage, when it occurs, is a union of equals, often formalised through the exchange of crafted tokens and the recitation of vows before the clan’s ancestral hearth. The highest compliment one can pay a prospective partner is to invite them to share in a task of significance, be it the repair of a family relic, the tending of the clan’s sacred flame, or the composition of a new saga.