The Bow-Breaking

The Aduëlian Bow-Breaking

In the cold and frigid northern hills of Noria, where the Aduëlian tribes live, most tribes are extended families that follow very simple structures. Any family within a tribe has a patriarch, who represents the family unit to the outside world, negotiates in their interest and has the main responsibility for providing enough food to ensure the survival and growth of the family.
However, as things are with mortal creatures, this task eventually exceeds the capabilities of the patriarch, when the gnawing tooth of time finally brings him low and he can no longer carry out his duties. It is then, that by whatever custom the family sees fit, a new patriarch is elected (very rarely a matriarch is chosen, despite the very gendered society Aduëlians live in). Most commonly, the successor is chosen via primogeniture, but other forms of choosing also exist.

The Ritual

Once it is determined who will be the old patriarchs successor, the Bow-Breaking is carried out in public, to signify a change in leadership, and to inform the other people who their new point of contact is to be for major topics of discussion.
During the ritual, the elder patriarch presents his bow, which he will have made himself when he was made patriarch, to the successor, often though not necessarily, with a proclamation of some ritualistic form. The new patriarch as he is from this moment, takes the bow and breaks the wood in two, symbolising that the elders duties are now complete and he may rest and find a new role, such as educating the young. The bowstring of the old bow is then used to string the new bow, the successor has prepared for the ritual. He will continue to care for this bow throughout his life, replacing parts if necessary.

After the Breaking

Despite the breaking of his bow, the elder patriarch is not forbidden from working hard jobs, as life is tough in the cold and every able body needs to pitch in to ensure survival. The only difference is, that the elder patriarch may no longer use a bow, with most switching over to the equally popular slings, if the need for hunting falls to them.
After the ritual, the new patriarch assumes his position of power and the cycle continues. If a matriarch assumes the position, this comes with a significant shift in expectations and challenges. The Matriarch is henceforth treated as if she were male, with all societal duties that come with it. She may even no longer nurse her own children if she were to have some, instead giving the job over to a wetnurse.
Despite those expectations, a Matriarch enjoys some unique benefits to her position. Despite being treated legally and socially as if she were male, she may still learn thaumatherapy, the healing spells of Aduël, and she may also talk to the gods, either by training to become a shaman, or by being assisted by one. It is because of this overlap, that many of the Matriarchs, how infrequent they may be in history, often rise to far greater heights than a Patriarch may had in the same position.