[PTTG]

The inheritance is part of the ken itself. Many are passed down to the eldest child, or to the first child born in a particular season, or to the most recent or even next-born child in the entire clan or tribe. Other kens are tied very closely to possession of an item -- generally a very durable object! And some are indeed passed on to whoever is closest at death. For obvious reasons, anyone who possesses those types of kens will seldom be left alone with outsiders.

All that said, kens are generally _also_ transferable at the will of the holder. Those that don't have that option are usually odd in other ways, such as being transferred automatically if the holder loses a board game despite their best efforts.