Nameforgot is a historical figure from Rider history: a member of the "great but doomed" Shilevasa line, descended from Hyalor and his wife Shileva. When the First Clan split into four, Nameforgot led the North Clan, who stayed just out of the glacier's reach. He did everything wrong that he possibly could, and so became an example of bad leadership to future Riders. Because of Nameforgot's many failures, the North Clan no longer exists among Riders, but was ultimately destroyed by Stelfor Westclan. Its descendants survive as the Yanadlings, who abandoned the gods after Nameforgot's defeat at Anguish Ford and focus exclusively on shamanism. They now worship Raven.
Ride Like the Wind[]
Nameforgot is first mentioned in Ride Like the Wind.
Lore[]
Your advisors have much to say about Nameforgot's failures and misfortunes.
- "Of Nameforgot's many defeats, the Battle of Anguish Ford was the worst."
- "The daughter of Nameforgot vanished while picking berries, driving him to overindulge in kumis."
- "'Elders came to Nameforgot / Said with you we ain't worth a pot.'"
- "Nameforgot often incurred obligations he never intended to repay."
- "Stelfor once captured every member of Nameforgot's council and sold them to Goldtalon Bigwheel."
- "Stelfor's foes inside his own clan went to Zenangar and Nameforgot for help. Zenangar saw the risks, but Nameforgot did not."
- "Both Nameforgot and Zenangar relied on mercenaries, but the latter did so wisely."
- "Spirits ate the contents of Nameforgot's first grain house."
- "Nameforgot, chieftain of the North Clan, came to Stelfor Westclan and said, 'Hit the East Clan instead.' That is why he is forgot."
- "To stave off challenges, Nameforgot stacked his council with close kin."
- "Nameforgot tried to slander Stelfor, but couldn't think of anything worse than what he had already truly done."
- "Nameforgot said 'I cannot afford any more tribute.' Stelfor replied, 'Your daughters look plump, and your sons well-muscled.'"
- "Nameforgot let his clan magic grow weak, and look what happened to him."
- "'Oh Nameforgot had too many spirits, too many spirits, too many spirits, and they rattled him all day long!'"
- "Nameforgot tried to ally with everyone, and wound up allied with no one."
- "Where anyone else would make a single enemy, Nameforgot had a knack for making two."
- "When the people told Nameforgot to rearrange his circle, they really meant that he should step down."
- "Nameforgot decided that ravens were not to be trusted, and gave orders to slay them on sight. That is when he lost his name, and then everything else."
Myths & Rituals[]
Nameforgot appears as a boy in the Dostal and the Snow Elk myth—as well as its corresponding ritual, Dostal Elk Hunter—wherein he and the other future chieftains learn to hunt from Dostal. It is Nameforgot who realizes that Yenfar's sending is not the elk they have been pursuing, because it has the wrong number of spots. Incidentally, this is the only time he is described as doing something right.
He also appears as a chieftain in Hyalor's Long Ride. As a chieftain, he was too afraid to help Zenangar and Basikan ride to the Gods War to help Hyalor recover from his injuries. Hyalor visited Nameforgot when he was dying: "When he went to the North Clan, he told Nameforgot that his failures would one day be redeemed, even if he himself would not. Everyone, Hyalor told him, needs someone to blame."
Lights Going Out[]
In Lights Going Out, Nameforgot is no longer a significant figure to your clan, having become Rams since the first game. However, Rider clans may compare the Forgotten Song to Nameforgot, if asked about it.
Images[]
