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[i]. . .Hum the hymn of battle, an ancient [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0GQlO5aZhE]tune[/url] to which the sounds of spear and shield clash in a frenzied air. Hear it sing all the way from the steep mountains of Ulgothe to the deep valleys of Ranaruun - known to some as Honor, and by others..."Diplomacy". Yet listen closer still and know the truth that lies within, for war is but a plague - intoxicating to the mad, a pestilence within nobility, and overbearing upon the frail of heart. Worse than that, listen too greatly and you may heed its warnings no longer - for wisdom falls deaf on the hollow ear. 

The detriments of conflict are not to be taken lightly - yet for the clans of the mountain-homes, as nurturing as they are brutal, war is life. Theirs in an archaic and savage way, staking claims upon their neighbors' by taking up the sword and axe...but it is also a necessity; For when the lion and bear put down their arms and cease to struggle, the Vulture comes out to play...[/i]

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[hider=Welcome To The Mountain-Homes]
In the time before time, Krolm descended from his throne atop the Ulgothe mountains to cast forth the various clans of his children. Under his watchful eye, there was peace and harmony with the land...yet strife is inevitable, and so too was the realm of Krolm eventually plagued by its presence. In the absence of wisdom, justice was soon lent out by the sword, and the children of Krolm violated his tenant of Unity and split apart from one another. Rivalry forged Strength, Strength forged Envy, and Envy gave Honor and Compassion a miss and skipped straight on into Bloodshed. Krolm grew weary of their petty disputes and constant struggles, and eventually retreated back atop his throne above the cover of the clouds and the sky, conveying his wishes to those wise few who would contact him only with the intent to listen...

...But Krolm's impatience was a foolish mistake - and in abandoning his children to their internal disputes and relative ignorance, he could do little to warn them of the impending threat of the river peoples: the rising collective of the Ranaruun. Blind to the opportunity they'd presented, the clans were pushed out of the valley beneath and up into the most inhospitable territories known to civilization...the Steps Of Krolm carry little compassion for those unworthy of it. Even in repression, the children of Krolm could not unite, and so must be content to bicker and quarrel as they do amidst craggy cliffs and death-threatening slopes - far away from the realm of progress...a poorly-aged memory of a forgotten time.

Yet, theirs is a danger not wholly forgotten - and the realm below would be better served by their absence than continued threat. The age of the Lion & Bear is drawing to its end...and by law of Nature, the Vulture must usurp them both.

. . .

...But as of now you have no need to be concerned with the cowardly existence of Ranaruun. The balance of power is shifting, and as the fading weeks of the fall come to a close, each clan now musters a warhost to meet atop the ancient battlegrounds of Krolm's Anvil. On this mighty plateau the weak will be decided through combat, and the strong will know who's best to elect tribute from in the coming winter. This battle could be an interesting one, for even the warriors of the Iron Elks (your family, your clan) seem particularly strong this generation; All those who value their strength and honor would surely rather die than forgo their family's claim for victory...
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[hider=How-To-Not-Make-An-Ass-Of-Yourself: 101]
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     1. Be courteous and respectful - you ought to know the drill.

     2. Come prepared to make an impact: This isn't to say that you need to go out of your way to progress your own character at the expense of everyone elses' (Don't be a Mary/Larry Sue), but recognize that drama comes in many forms. If your character gets themselves into a bad and/or lethal position, don't just let them go, send them out with a bang (...or at least a sympathetic whimper). Remember to also be true to your character - if they need to go against the tide to fulfill their own desires and personalities, then don't be afraid to lash out into unexpected territory...Within Reason. Similarly, recognize that every character has their strengths and weaknesses - the limits of the human ability are often a lot more commonplace than we believe them to be.

     3. Posts should be a minimum of two paragraphs, but feel free to extend it out as long as need be...Within Reason. Posts will be made in a round-the-table fashion, but you may skip an inactive player if they haven't posted by the end of the week. Try to tell us if you can't make a post or just aren't feeling invested in the plot or your character - remember that you can join and leave At Any Time without consequence, as we'll simply wrap up your end as best we can or adapt on the fly if you suddenly appear!

     4. Remember your surroundings: Recognize that the execution of another player's post is in part dependent upon your own; Try not to leave everybody scratching their heads trying to figure out how to work around the construction of your post. Note: This is less a complaint against what your character does within the RP, and more so about how you need to remember to adapt those actions within a way that (hopefully) doesn't stagnate the progress of the plot and those playing within it.

     5. Try not to spam OOC too much - if you're looking to chit-chat more than usual, check in to the Discord (https://discord.gg/KxppQcw) and while your time away like you've got no tomorrow! If you have any questions at any time, speak your mind! Other than that, enjoy the RP.
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[hider=The ALL NEW, 100% Biodegradable, Compact Luxury Edition]
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[i](The introductory post will arrive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."shortly." Also, note that the "barbarians" in this universe are more equivalent to Gaelic tribes-people than Conan...but that's not to say you can't bridge the gap between those two aesthetics.)[/i]