Shieldwife
In the Shattered Teeth Tribe, only chieftains and sons of the chief are permitted to take wives and have children, and each of those wives is assigned a duty determined by the order in which they were wed.
Traditionally, the third wife is the Shieldwife and is responsible for protecting the chieftain and training young warriors. If she is the wife of the chieftain, she will spend a year under the tutelage of her predecessor, the last chieftain's Shieldwife. After this year, she will spend her time protecting the chieftain and training the lesser shieldwives and young warriors.
If she is the wife of one of the chieftain's sons, she will train with the chieftain's Shieldwife while she travels with the tribe and will assist in training and drilling young warriors.
Upon the deaths of their husbands -- or their ultimate dishonor -- all Shieldwives take a permanent home in Drodkur.
Qualifications
Must master the art of combat from her predecessor.
Requirements
Must be the wife of the current Chieftain.
Appointment
After being paired with the chieftain, he will make a formal declaration to the tribe announcing her elevation to the rank of Shieldwife.
Responsibilities
Protecting the chieftain, training and drilling the lesser shieldwives and young warriors.
Benefits
There is significant social capital that comes with being the Shieldwife. Although Orcish society is patriarchal, there is a strong matriarchal undertone as women are responsible for all the most critical aspects of tribal life, and the Shieldwife is honored as the one to protect the Chieftain.
Accoutrements & Equipment
- Targe of the Shieldwife: an ancient shield passed down through the generations and said to have been crafted by the first Shieldwife and blessed by Norok.
Type
Familial
Form of Address
Shieldwife
Alternative Naming
Spearwife
Source of Authority
Chieftain
Length of Term
Life, or until another Shieldwife is appointed
Reports directly to
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