“ Helrin Staj Crow. As is tradition you will carry this chalice to each of the Raven Alliance clans and fill it with water from there well. By doing so you will be able to become the next patriarch of the Raven Alliance.” Sclan Ver Starling, the wizened old bird man said as he placed the ornate chalice into my hands.

“ It is my honor to carry out this sacred task Patriarch,” I said with a slight bow. The rehearsed words left my lips as I bowed towards the Raven patriarch.

“ Then fill the chalice in the well and commence your journey,” patriarch Starling said.

-Finally I’ve bin waiting years for this.

I gazed into the ornate well at my reflection. My boyish features contrasted by my deep brown eyes. The wind delicately blew a few strands of my mid shoulder disk length black hear which matched my wings. A single feather on my left wing was white. That feather marched me as the next patriarch.

I slowly dipped the ornate chalice into the water. It slowly grew warm and the engraved feathers on its silver surface grew slightly darker.

“ Behold the chalice recognizes the child. I offer you the Raven Ring may it guide your flight,” The elder said as he opened a black ring box to reveal a ring that matched the chalice.

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-The Raven Ring it will prove my claim for the throne.

I held out my hand so the elder could place the ring on my finger.

With a gentle push it slid into place on my right ring finger.

“ Now fly forth and claim your throne,” With those words I took to the sky. It was my time and no one would keep me from taking my throne. I only looked back once. My whole tribe waved as I flew off.

-One month and twenty-three villages later-

-I’m finally back.

I could see the mountain village a short distance away. The familiar buildings soothed my heart. I slowly descended next to the well. The whole village was there. Carefully I dipped the chalice back into the well and pulled it out. The water inside had turned an inky black.

Patriarch Starling stepped forward from the crowd. “ I Sclan Ver Starling offer my blood to name you the new patriarch,” Holding his hand above the chalice, pulled out a knife, and cut it.

Crimson liquid slowly trickled from the wound into the chalice. It seamed to disappear in the dark water.

“ Now drink,” With those words I placed the chalice against my lips. With only the slightest of hesitation I drained the contents.

“ I give you your new patriarch. Patriarch Helrin Staj Crow. This old one pays respect to Patriarch Helrin Staj Crow.” With those words the former patriarch bowed.

“ We pay respect to Patriarch Helrin Staj Cro*Boom*” The mountain begain to shake with the voices; yet before they could finish there was a large explosion.

Human men in black body armor rushed in firing guns.

We all fought. We gave it our all. And they died. I used a quarterstaff to fight. I swung it in large arcs trying to help my village, but in the end a bullet in the stomach rendered me unconscious.

*History*

The Raven Alliance was established between the different dark bird men(Bird men with black feathers.) tribes of china. It has existed for nearly seven centuries and gone thru twelve patriarchs. . Helrin Staj Crow was to be the fourteenth. Till the end of the alliance six years ago(When the crow village was destroyed) the bid-man tribes remained steeped in tradition. After the Inter Species Exchange Bill was passed they began to interact with other cultures. Evan today they still use very little technology.