Mourning Wars

Mourning Wars are a tradition amongst the tribal Bosmeri of Valenwood. It is followed nearly everywhere outside the major cities.

In Bosmer warfare, the death of one's enemies is rarely pursued. Deaths during raids do occur, but they are incidental and usually regretted and many raids conclude with no fighting whatsoever.

When a tribe member is slain, he or she is symbolically replaced via a hostage-taking raid. The tribe will seize a captive from a neighboring band. If the deceased was an especially powerful or prestigious member of the tribe, multiple captives may be taken to replace them.

After a period of physical torture (supposedly to test their worthiness) the captive is joyously welcomed into the clan. Traditionally the victim was given the deceased tribe member's position, possessions, and family, though this practice may be rarely honored nowadays.

Trivia
The term is borrowed from the real-life practice of "Mourning Wars" carried out by the indigenous American tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy.