The tradition and ritual that I’m about to described is not very well known amongst all except for a small and isolated portion of highland Brudvir.

It is supposed to have originated either at the starting of the current age, or some say even before this, before the Bruvir were even a tribe.

These customs are only followed by an almost cult-like group of hunter-warriors that tend to live in and amongst some of the most hostile and severe locations. They call themselves the Hjul. They are known as being primitive, superstitious, and yet a fierce people, and are not to be underestimated.

Due to their superstitions some of their survival abilities are sometimes passed off as “Magical”, however their tracking, fighting and hunting talents, although very good, do not seem to be supernatural.

At first look they are unkempt, with wild hair and beards, if they wear armour, its leather, and will generally be covered in the pelts of animals. Their weapons are many, ranging from bows, spears, axes and various hooked and vicious looking blades.

They always have a companion animal, loosing this companion is considered to be an amputation, or equal to the loss of a close family member to a Hjul.

The one true identifier of the Hjul is that they all have been marked with a circular tattoo, (sometimes “spoked”) and generally on the inside of the right forearm, although the location can vary from family to family.

This tattoo is given to every member of their community when they come of age, and starts as a blank circle that is added to, as various tasks or quests are completed.

When the Hjul start their "wheel quest", for every task competed they gain a “spoke” for their circle tattoo, once they have all eight spokes, they have completed the “wheel”, and only Hjul that have a full wheel, are ever allowed to lead the pack.

Respect is gained for every spoke they achieve.

The tasks or quests are able to be done in any order, (the wheel signifies, no starting point or priority), and must be verified by another Hjul, lying regarding completing the tasks leads to a lifelong shunning for all involved.

In no particular order, the tasks include the following.

The task of Varjo (The Shadows) – this spoke is earned by a Hjul that makes their first kill after coming of age, AND wearing the “face of shadow”, the face of shadow is a mixture of ash, charcoal and pine sap that is applied to the face, especially around the eyes, each family will have slight variation identifiers to the pattern.

Once the first kill has been made, (This can be an animal from the hunt, or a foe in combat) the Hjul can never kill again unless the “mask” is worn. This means it is generally reapplied and continuously worn, even when sleeping, it is said you can know a Hjul your whole life without ever seeing their “real” face.

Killing without "wearing the shadow" mask, once the spoke is earned, is said to risk the displeasure of the ancient spirits and will cause bad luck. This can be to the extent that no other Hjul will want to associate with the offender.

The fierceness of what is killed is also said to determine the future of the Hunter/Warrior, killing poultry will denote a fairly ordinary life, killing a bear, a great warrior or a sea creature is said to be a sign of greatness.

The task of Bera (The Bear) – this spoke is earned by hunting the bear, and then claiming the favour of the spirit released. To do this a worn article (or talisman) needs to be made from part of the bear (Claw, tooth, or bone), it is said that the more of the bear that is utilised by the pack, the more the bear spirit will keep an eye on, and protect the hunter, If the hunter was to waste the meat or hide of the bear, by leaving it with the corpse, it would be a bad omen.

If the bear is the Hjuls first kill, the hunter has also achieved the task of Varjo, they receive two spokes as they’ve completed two tasks.

The task of Carrak (Tiny Guardian) – this spoke is earned when you have crafted a bow of the guardian and made a first kill with the bow. This is generally a travelling task as the best wood for bows in in the south, and the most honoured guardian bows are made from the wood of the Kypiq forests. The spoke is not given until the first kill has been made with the bow, as with the Varjo task, the greater the prey, the greater the honour.

The task of Trold (The Ogre) – this spoke is earned after a time of isolation, no less than a full year. While living apart from other people, you need to find an “offering of earth”, this is in many cases some type of ore or gem, ranging from the common to the most expensively rare. This “offering” is never cut or shaped to be any shape other than how it was found.

Hjul attempting this task have been known to stay in caves mining for years until they find an offering they perceive as being worthy. The item is usually worn at the neck or on the forehead, although they have been put in pommels and bracers. They are supposed to grant great strength from the spirits of what lives in the ground.

The task of Skeggid (The Bearded) – This spoke is earned for beating a great warrior (it is thought that when this tradition was first started, all great warriors had either long beards or hair), the fight can be to either submission or to the death. It seems to happen often when deciding leadership in the pack. The winner will take a lock of beard, (or hair from the unbearded) as a trophy.

The hair/beard is then attached to the winner’s belt, some of the greater warriors will have a multi coloured locks of beard and hair around the circumference of their waist almost like a skirt or kilt. If the beaten warrior has no beard or hair on their head however, the task is not completed and the spoke is not earned.

Many Hjul take this as a great insult, and they’ll usually claim another body part, usually the hand or ear, as a warning to future challengers who maybe considering a close shave before battle.

The task of Raaf (The Raven) – This spoke is earned for guiding someone, (usually a family member) on their spirit walk. Many who seem to have greater abilities at this, tend to be eccentric, often keeping company with ravens, and partaking in the psychedelic funguses of the forest.

As this “achievement” can be hard to prove, its the one that is most vulnerable to being exaggerated or earned falsely. There can be scepticism when a Hjul claims they have earned this "spoke", however suspicions are generally not voiced, who wants to anger someone who speaks to birds while high on mushrooms,..

The task of Geest (The Spirit’s) – This spoke is not earned by a Hjul until their first successful spirit walk. A warrior and hunter must know defeat as well as success. If one does not experience defeat, they are not challenging themselves enough. Although thought to be the easiest of spokes to achieve, it is also considered one of the most educational.

The task of Orka (The Ice Whale) – This spoke is given for surviving in the harsh Ocean of the north in winter. The Hjul must head to the bays of the north where the whales swim amongst the ice bergs. They need to make their way out to one of the bergs and chisel off a piece of ice, this ice is then melted and placed in a small glass or ceramic vial.

This is then sealed it is worn around the neck or wrist on leather, (seal skin is popular). It is said if this is the Hjul’s last drink before the soul finds a new body to inhabit, the new incarnation will be blessed with the ability to survive the harshest winters, including the long night.

The eight tasks are said to represent the eight children of an ancient, or more likely mythical pack leader,

They try to mirror the abilities and achievements hoping to attract the souls of these great warriors to their own families.