Ankhny An

The Plainlanders have a most peculiar tradition. On a youngling's fifteenth birthday; and this is irrespective of their race; they will be given their choice of two weapons and led to the wilderness. They will then be stripped entirely of clothing and tasked with surviving a week with naught but their wits and weapons. This is 'ankhny an': The First Hunt, and should the youth survive, they are welcomed back to the clan as an adult, and given all the responsibilities and rights that follow. Should they die, they return to the arms of the night, the Plainlanders say, and will hunt with the stars and clouds until they are ready to attempt Ankhny An once more.

— Credimus Falsaar - On Plainlander Traditions, in Explorer's Digest 152(3)

Ankhny An occurs on a child's fifteenth birthday. The ritual is usually a somber one, though this does vary among the clans of the Plainlands. It is divided into three distinct phases: Ankhny Amisgal, Tolgoi Ergekh and Ghertee Kharij Baina.

Ankhny Amisgal

At dawn, the youth is blessed by a burkhanchlan, a Plainlander priest. The youth is bathed, then anointed with oils of lavender, pear and birch. Together with their immediate family and the burkhanchlan, the youth eats a meal. The youth then chooses their two weapons. These weapons have almost always been selected before the day, and added to the assembled armory for the purpose of ritual. Following the weapon choosing, the youth is presented to the clan, and the clan chief speaks of the youth's lineage and deeds.

Tolgoi Ergekh

The youth is then blindfolded and saddled atop a mount. The mount is led by the youth's parents away from the clan's settlement until the sun is overhead, at which point the youth is helped from the saddle. The parents sing a hymn to the gods of the plains, repeating it until they return to the clan. When the youth can no longer hear the hymn, the youth removes their blindfold, takes up their weapons, and pits their wits and instincts against the wilderness. Tolgoi ergekh lasts until the seventh sunset following the ankhny amisgal or the youth's death, whichever comes first.

Ghertee Kharij Baina

The Great Return Home follows the seventh sunset, when the youth returns to their clan. They are welcomed into adult Plainlander society and given their hunting name by the burkhanchlan who blessed them. The adults of the clan revel, thanking the sun and the moon for the return of the child and their journey to adulthood.

The Significance of Weapon Choice

The Plainlanders believe the weapons a youth choose have implications for the youth's future.
The spear suggests that their life will be one with few troubles, and few joys.
The sword suggests that their life will be a humble but fruitful life.
The bow suggests that they will overcome adversity through wit.
The staff suggests a future with many offspring.
The club suggests a future of extremes.