Clan Ghost-Wolf

"Eyes on the Prey, not the Weak."

- Their words

 is a clan of high status seated in the Vargine Hall in Whiterun. It's family primarily consisted of Nords while various other races served as warriors and servants. It was supposedly founded by Ylgar, the youngest son of Ysgramor after the events of The Return in the Late Merethic Era. No reason has yet to be given why Ylgar founded the clan.

Their coat-of-arms depicts a white, growling wolf's head edged with black on a white background.

Seeing as the clan has roots in Ysgramor's legacy they also share some warm relations with the Companions of Whiterun.

As revealed in the Ancient Legends saga, every member of Clan Ghost-Wolf possesses the "Blood of the Wolf", meaning that they are all lycanthropes.

Structure
The clan follows the traditional ways of a clan ranking structure.

The Ways of the Wolf
The Ways of the Wolf is the name of Clan Ghost-Wolf's code book. It is an ancient script which has been passed down for generations. The earliest example was written on stone tablets during the Merethic Era, but is now written down in a tome bound in werewolf pelt. Within its pages is written the honourary ways to become a true and just warrior, heroic deeds of clanmembers, the family tree, as well as the secrets of warfare unique to the clan.

Only those who have achieved the rank of Ghost-Wolf may be allowed to read its pages, this rule goes for the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs as well. If the family head has never chosen to follow the path of the Ghost-Wolf, they may never read the ancient texts. There have been few occurences in which a family member has achieved the rank of Ghost-Wolf and only to be named the family head afterwards, thus being allowed to guide the family as well as to read The Ways of the Wolf.

The Ghost-Wolves
The Ghost-Wolves are the highest achievable rank of warriors within the clan. Few are worthy to carry such titles. Named after the clan itself it is a great honour to be named thus. What defines a Ghost-Wolf is their unmatched fighting skills and their knowledge of the secrets written in The Ways of the Wolf. Their deadly fighting style is one combined of both stealth and physical prowess.

The Berserkers
The Berserker are among the elite warriors of the clan. Few can be chosen to become a Berserker due to the dedication it takes for them to hone their skills and to focus their aggression and ferocity into warfare. They train regularly to make themselves the perfect living weapon, making it hard for them to have a normal life by the side.

The Stalkers
The Stalkers are a secretive fighting unit within a clan that primarily focuses their fighting skills to be used with stealth and discreet methods to dispatch their foes. They also serve as spies, informants and scouts. The Stalkers training schedule is set to be practiced only during the night to prevent being spotted. They most also possess some knowledge in the brewing of poisons as well as social abilites such as acting to tell whether or not someone is lying.

Pups
Those who do not want to endulge themselves in the art of warfare are called Pups within Clan Ghost-Wolf. The rank generally consists of everything from servants and farmhands to stableboys and squires.

Cadet Branches
The Cadet Branches of Clan Ghost-Wolf are:

Clan Wraith's Paw
A Khajiit named Shen'Zarr once served true and faithfully as a Berserker for Clan Ghost-Wolf during the time of Second Clan War. He was fierce in battle and just as respected as any other Nord. He rose so high in the ranks that he was eventually given the privilige to form his own clan, which he also did, but not before bowing before the Patriarch of Clan Ghost-Wolf and thanking for the honour of serving him. His clan would eventually become the primary Clan Wraith's Paw, a clan which consists mainly of Khajiits and Argonians.

The current Patriarch is Sha'Anxi, who is a direct descendant of Shen'Zarr. Despite his young age he has proven to be a capable leader and a formidable ally to Clan Ghost-Wolf, maintaining an excellent relationship between the two parties.

Clan Frost-Fang
Even though Clan Frost-Fang was originally founded by former members of the Ghost-Wolf clan, the clan has grown so large it is up to debate whether or not the clan qualifies to be acknowledged as one of the primary clans instead of a Cadet Branch.

The current Matriarch of Clan Frost-Fang is Haridsvari, a Nord woman of nearly 90 years. The relations between Clan Ghost-Wolf and Frost-Fang are generally good even though most of the founding members were exiled for their extreme ways and their refusal to accept The Way of the Wolf.

Clan Silver-Claw (denounced)
Sometime during the Second Clan War, a group of Bosmer Stalkers betrayed Clan Ghost-Wolf when the Patriarch of that time was ill. Things didn't seem to go Clan Ghost-Wolf's way during the war and therefore they saw their chance to overthrow the clan once and for all by successfully killing five of the Patriarch's children in an attempt to cut short the bloodline and the end the clan once and for all. The retaliation was swift however when the Ghost-Wolf warriors arrived to battle. A few of the elves survived and eventually retreated to the Rift where they founded Clan Silver-Claw, a clan mainly consisting of elves of all kinds.

Their current Patriarch is Andridaen. The relations between Clan Ghost-Wolf and Clan Silver-Claw has been cold and bitter for centuries, going so far that Clan Ghost-Wolf has even denounced any relations to the clan for the unjust murder of their ancestors.

Clan Ghost Oak
Clan Ghost Oak is a minor clan with only a handfull members, yet still growing strong. The clan was founded somewhere during the aftermath of the Second Clan War by Svante Thuriksson. He was a former Young Blood for Clan Ghost-Wolf who proved his valour during the conflict and was thus honoured with the opportunity to found his own clan. He named it after the material of the shield he was wearing into battle, but also in honour of his former clan.

Their current Matriarch is Ebba Thuriksson, who maintains a good and stabile relationship with Clan Ghost-Wolf.

Known Clanmembers

 * Ylgar, son of Ysgramor, Founder and the first Patriarch (deceased)
 * Bitvarg the Elder, Patriarch (deceased)
 * Hildi, his wife (deceased)
 * Lovis, Tutor (unknown)
 * Torsdolk, Berserker (alive)
 * Ulftand, Berserker (deceased)
 * Ylva, not yet classified (deceased)
 * Varg, Heir (deceased)
 * Rigvar, not yet classified (deceased)
 * Valkyrie, Matriarch (alive)
 * Hemming, not yet classified (unknown)
 * Lilja, not yet classified (unknown)

Traits and Reputation
Family members of the clan tend to have brown or golden brown hair with grey eyes and sharp facial features.

The clan has been acknowledged as being one of the more passive and loyal clans found in Skyrim. They have a tendency for helping out those who are weak or are in need, yet put honour and courage above all. They have a reputation for being overly chivalrous and trustworthy, something which has lead many good members of the clan to an untimely death.

Mods used

 * TBA

Appearances

 * Ancient Legends: A Warlord's Rebirth I (mentioned only)
 * Ancient Legends: A Warlord's Rebirth II (mentioned only)
 * Ancient Legends: A Warlord's Rebirth III (mentioned only)
 * Ancient Legends: A Warlord's Rebirth IV (mentioned only)
 * The Clan Wars - TBA