LOCATION

 

The phantom clan territory claims quite a chunk out of Saradié, settled on the southeast of the world, its territory expands a decent chunk, with mountain ranges and a dead forest which spans across the entire region. Though, when you venture a little further into this region, just a couple of miles from the riverbank, sits the capital of the phantom clan territory which sits upon rich history and a quite recent exploration into more spiritual and religious aspects of their culture; Âmelith. 

 

A century ago, the phantom clan used to live exclusively in what they called the ‘cemetery’. A cold, lifeless place which reflected the clan’s affinity towards death. However, recently (historically) the layout has changed considerably, with the housing developing out of the cemetery and instead forming around its perimeter, encompassing it to fully shield it from the outside world as it now rests as the ‘heart’ of the phantom clan’s capital. The architecture of these houses resembles something similar to French Gothic, as the houses, temples and markets have designs on the exterior which create this form of verticality to it with arches and vaults aiming towards the sky. The phantom clan believe it to be a way for them to further connect with the spirit realm and the gods as a whole by creating designs like this. In the dead centre of Âmelith is one of the most important structures, both culturally and spiritually, for the phantom clan, the Soul Cathedral. This building is where nearly all of the clan’s festivities and celebrations take place or at the very least were planned inside of. To the southeast of the capital is where the leader’s palace is located, with the farms and forges being located to the west. There are a few small villages that are near the mountain ranges and forests of the phantom clan territory but are often used as secondary sources of farming apart from Âmelith’s own farms. 

​​

​

CULTURE

​

The culture of the phantom clan can be separated into two key concepts: their philosophies on spiritualism and conservation, and their ideologies on territorialism and the military. 

 

The spiritualistic side of the clan’s culture has been prevalent ever since its initial conception and has come from their core religion, Vaelism. At its core, members of the phantom clan believe that all of life is sacred, and the journey of living is one of the many beauties that make mortality worth living. However, they remain fully aware of death and how it could affect anyone and anything at any time it pleases. As a result, instead of fearing the reaper, so to say, they instead welcome it as a fact of life and honour its purpose through celebrations, festivals, rituals and meditation. This results in most phantom Raqions being content with their lives and as they mature, they come to accept the fact that not everything will happen in their lifetime or any of their peers' life and being able to appreciate the moments they do get to witness is one of the main purposes of their existence. As a result, it is stereotyped that those in the phantom clan are stoic and calm individuals. 

 

They also believe in the existence of an afterlife and view it as the next step into a grand journey, rather than death being simply the end of it altogether. Another important aspect of Vaelism is that they believe the history of Saradié is integral knowledge and vital to understand why things have come to be. This is also one of the main reasons the phantom clan is generally considered neutral in times of war, only assisting allies rather than participating themselves in the more severe battles which take place, as an attempt to minimise potential damage they could cause to historical monuments. The higher risk there is of losing important history that may even unite the clans and live in a neutral world, the further and further the phantom clan tries their best to distance themselves away from that conflict. This reflects on the phantom population socially as many phantom Raqions hold honour very seriously and understand fully that the consequences and actions of the past will echo into the present and the far future, but also remain aware that a Raqion can change, even if it doesn’t absolve them of their deeds. 

 

On the other hand, the more volatile ideology which constantly sways with time is the beliefs the clan has about their own military and how phantom Raqions should exactly approach it. Initially, hatchlings would be taken out of their homes at the age of 8 to participate in a series of tests known as the ‘death trial’. These tests varied throughout the clan's history, as it evolved to become more difficult and complex to further toughen up their youth. Initially, the trials, or trial, was simply a fight against the clan’s leader, and over time began transforming into a series of multiple challenges which tested the child’s capabilities, before eventually reaching its apex of being part of a grand structure known as the labyrinth. In the labyrinth, the hatchlings would be left on their own to survive the wilds and dangers of the Saradié wilderness, being completely exiled from the clan until they reached the centre of a maze located within the labyrinth's structure. Of course, this resulted in the deaths of countless of Raqion hatchlings. 

 

This caused a moral conflict to stir within the phantom population as many argued it went against the clan’s very ideals of cherishing death by prematurely ending the lives of thousands of future citizens or prodigies that hadn’t had the chance to bloom their skills quite yet. Merchants, Blacksmiths, Acolytes, Generals, Leaders, countless have fallen victim to this death trap used to cull the weak, and many more in the future if nothing changed. This was until the most recent leader, Yūrei Aratani, made a complete renovation for the system to address its issues and offer a safer, adequate solution. Now, at the age of 8, hatchlings go through a training programme in which they are assessed on their knowledge and wit, combat prowess, and elemental affinity in a controlled, monitored environment to ensure minimal risk for these tests. Depending on the child's strong suit, they will be assigned to practice their strongest skills along with some basic training and study for the other fields. This lasts until the age of 16 where the Raqion now can freely choose if they wish to join the military and be assigned an appropriate rank, join the collective of the phantom cathedral and become a Whisper Initiate, or join civilian life and go into economically stable trades such as becoming a merchant or a forge apprentice. 

 

This decision was welcomed by an overwhelming majority of the phantom clan population, as the mortality rates for Raqion children had decreased drastically as a result. Though, some elder Raqions and those with a higher wealth status in the phantom clan have expressed some dismay on the new system as it felt ‘dishonourable to the legacy of what the labyrinth represented.’ Despite this, the phantom clan still remains highly territorial and expresses heavily how they wish to keep to themselves. Though, as time moves on, the territorial nature of the phantom clan begins to slowly die down. From being outright murderous for any non-member Raqion stepping foot into their forest, to a strong disdain, to now becoming somewhat fine, albeit reluctant, with merchants coming to their capital city to trade goods and establish potentially positive relations with adjacent clans.

 

Overall, the culture of the phantom clan is an ever-growing process about the celebration and acceptance of mortality and the afterlife that comes with it, as the shadow of the clan’s past actions loom over their conscience still to this day.

​

CELEBRATIONS
 

Soulfire Day

 

The Phantom clan is mainly known for their celebration known as Soulfire Day. This holiday occurs on the 14th day of the 11th month and lasts for all 20 hours of the day. In this celebration Raqions organise a feast and a day-long festival period for the entire clan and begin with a brief memorial service in the morning that’s held within the main cathedral. It is said that members of the phantom clan fast for 2 days as a way to cleanse their bodies and prepare for the feast in advance. There are other activities during this festival such as dances, live performances of both theatrical and musical nature, and painted murals which commemorate famous icons within phantom clan history. During the evening, after the music has died down and the feast was indulged on, families would then head into the cemetery, placing candles and other offerings like sweets or baked goods at the graves of their loved ones or family.

 

Many phantom clan scholars debate the origin of the origin of Soulfire Day, with many theories being tossed around here and there. Some believe it comes from the account of the 14th leader, Morrigan Blackwood, and comes from the account of her communion with the, at the time, primary religion known as ‘The Boundless Night’. This was one of the first steps of forming and eventually creating the initial version of the religion now known as Vaelism which is practiced now in the modern day. Other theories relate to the story of the God of Death and how they came to form the spirit realm by lighting a fire within the night sky, creating dots of light that shone down onto the world of Saradié below. Ancient phantom clan folk thought they were holes that looked into the world beyond. However, the true origin of the festival is much less…fantastical as those. 

 

The festival initially derived from the very early stages of the phantom clan, all the way back to Maverick, the first leader. Back then, a small group of 4 women, 2 of which being sisters, would practice their own religion separate from those around them. Of course, given the circumstances around the clan, this gained little traction or controversy as their primary focus was survival as a clan first and foremost. These four were particularly known for their atonement to the spirit realm, using it for reasons such as prophecy or manifesting fortune within their path. Over time, their practices would gain the attention of the clans folk around them, with many believing their success and luck in sustaining themselves for that long came from these women. Due to this, many would then begin to learn more about their religion, and some even began to practice it themselves, creating a slow, yet eventual assimilation into this religion. 

 

In particular, these women were devout followers of the god of death, which they gave him the name Vael as one proclaimed to see it in a dream. The Soulfire Feast was one of the many festivities that was brought by these days of worship, and thus its first iteration was born; The Feast of Vael. It followed many of the same traditions it does now: Food, worship, meditation, and was often ended by one of the women, Saoirse Donahue, providing a blessing of peace and prosperity upon the grounds of the clan. Later on, during the reign of Cedrick, when he procured all forms of peace with every clan at the time, a feast was ensured to take place the same day the treaties were officially signed. This day would land the day after the Feast of Vael. Due to how close the two were together, and the fact that this treaty went down as one of the most important pieces of phantom clan history, it created an effect which over the years made the two begin to blend with one another, from being two separate day long feasts, to then merging into one large day-long festival, to now the cultural phenomenon it is now; Soulfire Day. The day in which the fire of every Raqion’s soul ignited with the true hope of being able to thrive by themselves as a community.

 

Red Night 

 

Another celebration which occurs in the clan is known as the Red Night and only occurs when all three moons of Saradié turn into blood moons. The origins for this holiday are more straightforward, as many Raqions believe there is a heightened connection between the spirit realm and the mortal world during this rare period. Raqions would make a hollow statue made out of wood and twine before every member of the clan would place one personal belonging of theirs which held significant sentimental value. After everyone’s belongings were collected, the statue would be set ablaze as one grand offering for death itself. Many interpret the offering as a celebration of death and serve as a reminder to the phantom clan that nothing will belong exclusively to them and them alone, for all will turn to ash and dust sooner or later.

 

Fright Night & Memorial Eve

 

One of the more light-hearted holidays which comes on the final day of the 10th month is Fright Night. During Fright Night, Raqion children dress up in colourful attire or costumes relating to either folklore or other figures in Raqion mythology and go door-to-door collecting sweets and other food related goods. The day before Fright Night, there is also a minor celebration known as Memorial Eve, in which citizens are encouraged to spend time with loved ones and meditate as a way to commune with the spirit realm. It's generally theorised that both fright night and memorial eve originated from a previous tradition brought from one of the initial refugees clans folk, and evolved into the celebration we know today!

 

Birthdays are also celebrated, although these tend to be private celebrations with family and friends.

​

​

RITUALS​

​

The phantom clan has many rituals important to its beliefs, often involving self-sacrifice and symbolising commitment. One of these rituals which has been a staple in the phantom clan since its conception is the blood sacrifice. Initially, the blood ritual was performed on a wall of names titled the ‘death wall’ as a form of memoriam. This ritual is now done as an initiation for both student reapers and seminarians in the Phantom Cathedral, pouring their blood into a cup via cutting their palm with a ceremonial knife. This blood is then used for other rituals the cathedral runs, such as blessing the fallen or leaving it as an offering for the god of death. 

 

It is also common for the leader of the phantom clan to choose the next leader when reaching the end of their life. This often ends up being their next of kin, such as a child or younger sibling, but there have been occasions where the chosen leader is completely unrelated to the current by blood, being chosen for all kinds of reasons, even tournaments testing strength, wit and wisdom have been held in the past.

 

One of the more common practices which phantom clan members uphold is often seen to be quite tragic. If an infant Raqion is born with extreme health complications or passes away during the process of being hatched, the corpse of the child is cremated and its ashes are placed into a decorative urn, often bearing the same patterns of the egg they were supposed to/had hatched out from. This process is known as The Quiet Passing and is often regarded as a time period for the family to mourn the loss, and later on hold a private meditation, as a way to honour the child’s early passing on to the spirit realm.

​

​

PHANTOMS HOWLING

The howl of the phantom clan is an entirely unique trait that has been passed down from generation to generation and thrives as a cultural and useful tool in a Raqion’s arsenal. It was initially used as a deterrent for trespassers to warn them that they were in phantom clan territory via frightening them, as the phantom howl has this strange, unnatural sound to it. It was like the scream of death personified and paired up with an intimidating stare that could send shivers down any creature's spine, needless to say it was very effective on all but the strongly willed few. It became an art to harness that unnatural, freakish noise that grasped the very concept of fear and used it to suffocate their targets. It was also why it was used as a war cry during battle, due to how effective it was in striking terror into their opponent’s soul. The howling technique is something which comes innate to any soul elemental, though any Raqion can learn how to do the technique with the appropriate training by a mentor. Now, the howl is commonly used as a symbol of pride within the phantom clan, a way to say that they are proud to be part of their community and celebrate exactly what it means to be a phantom Raqion.
 

 

SACRED PLACES

​

The Phantom Cathedral is a recently developed building that the phantom clan folk made to both show off their skills in craftsmanship and show their dedication of their heightened spirituality over the past few decades. The cathedral is used as a place of devotion and acts like a more elaborate memorial, one which honours the lives and names of all Raqion which perished in the phantom clan territory, believing it creates a stronger connection between the deceased who now lie in the spirit realm and the mortal world. Underneath the cathedral is a small mausoleum dedicated to the past leaders of the phantom clan, having small memorials dedicated to them with their own possessions if they still existed. There also exists a memorial for the current leader at all times, being created on their day of inauguration as a reminder that they will eventually pass on, like the rest of their kindred spirits

 

Another place which is sacred to the phantom clan is the Howling Island, a small location just out of the territories south shore. It has held a sacred reputation with the clan, with texts suggesting its notoriety existed since the early stages of the clan’s history during Cedrick’s reign.

​

​

HISTORY
 

Initially, the phantom clan was nothing more than a small group of 10 Raqions who escaped the destruction of Sarida and 12 corpses of their fallen brethren and family turned gravestones, marking the first gravestone in where current day âmelith resides. Slowly, the clan grew in population as the next, albeit tight-knit youth of tomorrow were formed. One Raqion, a fierce warrior by the name of Maverick, spoke up to take charge of this small group. They were scared; afraid their pathetic numbers would be of little resistance to the other clans around them which formed. He vowed to train the next generation in his ways and make them worth 20 soldiers each in combat prowess alone. But he didn’t want to train just any hatchling, he wanted to train the ones who could take on the challenge of what was ahead. So, he created a condition to receive the training. At the age of 8 years old, he must face them in a trial by combat, alone. And if they are able to land a hit on him just once, then they may be taught in his ways. But this was no standard trial, as in fact, Maverick was more than serious about his ideology of culling the weak to train the strong, as any hatchling which failed to pass his trial, he would kill in combat then and there. Although this led to highly trained warriors and an army that could scare a battalion of soldiers upon encountering just one phantom Raqion, the ‘acceptance rate’ was…a minority, to say the least. Through wars fought with these highly skilled warriors, and strategy made by elders of the clan, the phantom clan soon claimed the territory it now still holds to this very day, which they name Moribund. 

 

As time passed, and the phantom clan threw itself into war after war, the people came to a chilling thought. What if Maverick, the same man who single handedly trained a near unstoppable force which could destroy whole armies with just one battalion, was leading the clan into the very thing they strived to avoid: destruction? That thought infested one person's mind strongly, strongly enough that during a feast to celebrate yet another war fought, Maverick’s food was poisoned, causing him to collapse and die on his chair, right in front of his own son: Cedrick.

 

He was a bright young lad, around 20 years of age as he watched his father perish, and he was 20 still when they chose him to lead their clan. He grieved for many moons over his death, but ultimately, as he saw the operations and wars which now infested the clan and became ambitious to win, even with the strength their soldiers had, he knew it was for the best. He vowed to lead the phantom clan to an era of peace, as with a silver tongue, a bright mind, and a brighter desire for peace, he actually managed to secure an end to every single one of the wars which his father left in his legacy. This was a ripple throughout the phantom clan’s history, and developed its most highly regarded quality, honour. The honour of both the living, and the dead, and what their actions can do: good or bad, passionate or calculated, beneficial or harmful. 

 

Centuries passed between Cedrick’s reign and the current state of the phantom clan, 58 rulers worth of centuries to be specific. The clan shifted and morphed from ideology to ideology, a religion and fascination with the concept of death and the afterlife emerged, springing forth the phantom cathedral and well-known traditions of the clan such as fright night, the red night, and even the day of the dead. Though, one tradition stuck out most to those foreign to the phantom clan: The death trials. What was once a simple duel with the clan leader, became its own separate structure known as the labyrinth; a test of skills by letting a hatchling survive by themselves for as long as they can alone. Soon enough, the reputation of a war hungry clan turned peaceful began to subside, and the death trials became one of the most prominent traditions the phantom clan were known for. Tens of hundreds of thousands of hatchlings experienced these death trials, and yet it was exceedingly common for a majority of them to not make the return home. Whether that was starvation, sickness, the wildlife, or some other factor, the labyrinth had long stood as a testament for the cold, cruel nature of the clan’s idea of training the youth. This went on for centuries, all the way until just recently.

As centuries passed, the death trials continued to define the Phantom Clan’s ethos until a shift began to stir from within. One such shift came in the form of Yūrei Aratani, a young Raqion who, like thousands before him, was cast into the labyrinth. But where most spent days or weeks, Yūrei survived alone for an entire year. This brutal experience left a scar but also lit a fire. He emerged not just as a survivor, but as a quiet challenger to the old ways. Though initially dismissed for his lengthy trial, Yūrei’s determination and discipline eventually garnered attention. His skill, honed under the very pressure that nearly destroyed him, propelled him from obscurity to renown. The clan watched as he transformed from an underestimated hatchling into a formidable warrior and eventually, the prodigy caught the eye of then-leader Garrett Blackwood. After a public trial of strength and cunning, Yūrei earned his place as Blackwood’s right-hand the Wraith Warden.

 

Over nine years, Yūrei and Garrett forged a powerful, if ideologically opposed, bond. Garrett believed in the necessity of the labyrinth to maintain the clan’s strength; Yūrei, in contrast, envisioned a future where survival did not demand senseless sacrifice. Their mutual respect created a rare space for dialogue between tradition and change. When Garrett’s health began to fail, he summoned Yūrei one final time not to test him, but to name him his successor. With the blessing of Hecate Blackwood, the Grim, Yūrei was crowned the 60th leader of the Phantom Clan.

 

Upon assuming leadership, Yūrei did not seek to rule from above but walked among his people in the streets of Âmelith, listening to the quiet grief of families who feared for their children. At his inauguration, marked with the ceremonial blood on the Death Wall, he vowed before the entire clan and under the eyes of the Death God: no more will the young die needlessly. The labyrinth would be no more. In its place, he established a new system an educational programme to nurture the talents of hatchlings rather than cull them. In just two years, the mortality rate among Phantom youth dropped to near extinction. Two full waves of hatchlings had already begun to thrive not as survivors of cruelty, but as citizens of potential. Yūrei’s rise marked not just the end of a tradition, but the beginning of a new era one where the Phantom Clan still honours death, but now as something sacred to protect, not a tool to wield.

Such is the tale of the new system, which is in place, where hatchlings are now instead taken to an educational programme designed to hone and identify their talents rather than hope survivability is one of them. Although it has only been in place for 2 years, the mortality rate of phantom clan hatchlings plummeted down immensely, as two whole waves of future soldiers, sages and merchants now get an opportunity to thrive and show their skills rather than being thrown to the wilderness. This now takes us to the current time, with Yūrei Aratani working as the acting phantom clan leader aiming to conserve, enact diplomacy and serve his people for the foreseeable generations to come…Under the death god’s blessing, of course.