[Lore] The Ancestors (Dark Elf Lore)

[Dakirennis 957]

((

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/117955-shaman-lore/?hl=%2Bshaman+%2Blore))

 

The Ancestral Plane

 

One of the plains of the vast, unending expanse, of the spirit realm lies the plane of ancestors. Although, this plane is most often associated with Uruk, there is a dominion forged within the plane that holds the spirits of the mali’ker. None know its origins, not even the souls who inhabit it.  Like with most aspects of the mali’ker, their ancestral home remains in complete mystery that’s open to speculation from all angles. 

 

It is here that their forebears gather after they have departed our world, drifting through an eternal night as ethereal whisps or ghostly images of themselves. But most importantly it is where they look down and watch their people endlessly. Judging their actions and deeming whether or not their work on our world was fitting enough to allow them into the Astral Plane or to simply cast their spirits into the depths of the immaterial void. Never allowing them the honor to look upon their descendants.

 

The knowledge of this domain remains completely unknown; however, its impact resonates through dark elven culture. When the world was new and the mali’ker just stepped onto the world (Their origins still remaining unknown) they fractured into a splintered clannish people. It is though that during these beginning years of the race, some clans developed aspects from uruk culture. They developed their strong sense of honor and loyalty from the sons and daughters of Krug, their clannish nature was founded here, and very few began to partake in shamanism. Through these shamanistic practices the ancestral worship found itself embedded into dark elven culture. However, now, the knowledge of the ability to contact the domain in which dark elves resides remain unknown. Only a powerful shaman who actively seeks out the domain where the mali’ker spirits reside may find its traces; however, since it remains unknown to uruk shamans have yet to search it. Dark elven ancestral spirits in this domain may actively try to avoid uruk shaman contact, as only their own people have the worth and value to speak to them, this further plunges the domain into mystery. A dark elven shaman, of which there are none, may have a much easier time locating this place when he searches out his own people. The only evidence that it exists remains in the culture of the dark elves who continue to venerate the fallen ancestors, the traditions that stem from very ancient times

 

Kinship

 

It’s no secret that dark elves value family above all other things. This adamant servitude and loyalty to their clan or family carries on into the dark elf when he dies. This often times leads the spirit to refuse to cross over, and instead remain with his/her family. The spirit eventual passes on into the ancestral plane, but until then the spirits walks, eats, and congregates with his or her clan and family. This justifies the continuation of the ancestral worship among the mali’ker. You may often times catch the glimpse of your dead brother in the corner of your eye, as you pray to his spirit. When these contacts happen, they’re on the terms of the spirt, not the mortal. The mortal has no divine or shamanistic power of the ghost, all that he or she has was the former bond with the spirit. Although the dark elf intends for the prayer to be heard by the realm of her ancestral spirits, the message is heard by the spirit who may or may not be standing in an adjacent room. Further prayers and contact with ghosts who still linger this plane usually only keeps the spirit or ghost from ever passing on.

 

 

Reverence and Veneration

 

Like with many elves, dark elves feel that their prayers to deities fall on deaf ears. Through century of age, the collective culture of all elves have come to terms that divine aid never comes by prayer or request. However, in lotc, a world in which spirits and ghosts are common place, it’s quite reasonable and logical to pray to long dead or recently fallen family members.

 

Ancestral veneration is by far not the same as the worshipping of a deity or deities. A mali’ker still may serve the will of the creator or the aspects and still pray to his long dead father for advice or aid. As spirits who were once mortals themselves, they are are more likely to understand the needs of a dark elf more than any God or Deity ever would. A dark elf wouldn't even identify this act of worship as actual worship. Rather, the act is a way to respect, honor and to seek guidance for from a long dead ancestor.

 

Funerals/Tombs

 

When a mali’ker dies, weather it’s in battle or plague, his body is to be lavished in flame and fire until all the remains is ash and bone. If there is to be a ‘funeral’, it’s done during the cremation process, in which family and friends of the fallen gather to remember and mourn the man or woman who they once knew.

 

The body is to be turned to ash, as with many elves they do feel a connection to the earth. In turning a body to ash, the dead individual’s connection to the earth is preserved in death. The dead become like the earth beneath their feet. Their ashes will one day, invediably, become nutrients for a tree, shrub, or any other kind of plant and thus will become part of the world. It’s believed, however uncertain, that this tradition stems from the druidic funerals, a time in which a tree is planted above the body to allow the body to become part of the world itself.

 

Not all the body is allowed to be carried away along the wind, some of the ash and bone are taken by the family. Typically the bones are from fingers or knuckles, occasionally a skull will be kept; however it’s quite rare for an entire skeleton to be kept by the family. These fragments of the loved one are incorporated into a shrine, most often in an individuals home. While this shrine is often a simple hearth display, wealthier families will dedicate entire rooms or buildings to their ancestors. These shrines are referred to as.Which are thought to act as a landmark or ‘beacon’ for the ancestral spirit who is being prayed to.

 

Offerings

 

The act of drawing attention through the veil from an ancestor requires more than a few words. Often times gifts are given to give more gravity to their words. These gifts are considered a mode of communication with a dead relative. The types of offerings given usually had relevance in the lives of the ancestor. Such as a favorite food, drink, or object of significance. Usually they’re put into a fire affront alter as the prayers are said. However, if the offerings are inflammable they’re simply allowed to sit affront the shrine for the time of a week. But be weary, the wrong offering may insult an ancestor and bring misfortune upon who made said offering.

 

Ancestors

 

These were dark elves who once walked the earth, the same as any other. They lived, worked, fought, and loved. But mortal lives eventually end and this is when a dark elf transcends their physical body and their soul rises to the Astral Plane. Gaining access to the Astral Plane is not as black and white as just being kind or evil. One must work for the betterment of the dark elves to do so. This does not mean leading revolutions or slaying great beasts. It can be as simple as protecting or feeding them. Those that slay kin for sport and dishonor the dark elves never ascend and may never grace the same place forefather. But those who are deemed deserving enter this Plane will see sights they did not believe possible. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. Loved ones who had passed on centuries ago, all within the same place. They offer knowledge and answers, words they may never have had the chance to speak in life. But ultimately, once soul is allowed within the Astral Plane, they gain the sight to watch over their loved ones and join those that watched over them.

 

High Spectres

While all who join the dark elven forerunners are precious, there are some among them who are known for great deeds in life. These few are part of a small pantheon that hold high honor among the dark elves. Often receive exchange for knowledge or blessings, they are similar to human saints or druidic demi-aspects. Some may even be summoned after proper rituals, with the exception of Malin.

 

 

((Huge thanks to Bacon for helping me with this. I can honestly say I probably never would have finished this without his help. Hopefully this will bring a lot more culture to the dark elves and bring some of them away from that dang edgy side. Expect some more culture things in the future from myself, Bacon and Tony.))

[Baconthief 672]

-dibs-

[Overland 339]

  It's really nice to see some Dark Elven lore like this, as it has always been lacklustre. I don't see why this really needs to be accepted via the lore masters, as it seems to be friendly enough to the current lore that would just need to be posted in the role-play forums; unless you intend on getting this lore to be out of character canon.

[Baconthief 672]

  It's really nice to see some Dark Elven lore like this, as it has always been lacklustre. I don't see why this really needs to be accepted via the lore masters, as it seems to be friendly enough to the current lore that would just need to be posted in the role-play forums; unless you intend on getting this lore to be out of character canon.

 

Dak said, and I quote "We don't need to be like the snelves" ((I am just kidding with you guys, snelves are cool))

 

We in ker'lomi are actively rping it, I doubt whether this lore is accept or not will change that. This has been rped in darkhaven back in anthos. I've even rped an ancestral spirit twice.

 

If you are happy for dark elf lore. We have it in the making in phases, and it's going to be some non-edgy amazingness. Get ready

[Jistuma 1995]

Two things, while the spirit realm is not an orc thing only, the only ones that know how to reach it are the shamans. This meaning while the lore for the dark elf thing in the spirit realm could exist, I doubt anyone would ever know of it's existance is actually true or not.

 

And the second thing is, as I said, spirit realm thing are for the shamans, meaning greater spirits can not be contacted by dark elves, unless they learn shamanism, then move away from the probably only orc spirits, and try to find out more about dark elf ancestrals. Ikuras is the only spirit that contacts non shamans, and that's because he's evil.

[Baconthief 672]

Two things, while the spirit realm is not an orc thing only, the only ones that know how to reach it are the shamans. This meaning while the lore for the dark elf thing in the spirit realm could exist, I doubt anyone would ever know of it's existance is actually true or not.

 

And the second thing is, as I said, spirit realm thing are for the shamans, meaning greater spirits can not be contacted by dark elves, unless they learn shamanism, then move away from the probably only orc spirits, and try to find out more about dark elf ancestrals. Ikuras is the only spirit that contacts non shamans, and that's because he's evil.

Thanks for the advice. We had thought the uruk ancestral plain was sort of the plain of all spirits, meaning we had to pull from the orcs's same shaman bucket. Dak and I will make some amends, I see your reasoning.

[Amorphbutt 196]

*HEAVY COUGHING*

 

dunmer

[Baconthief 672]

*HEAVY COUGHING*

 

dunmer

SHHHHHHHH.

 

It was Dunmer inspired(Better than Drow, eh?) originally, but then we started pulling heavily from Japenese and African ancestral worship. Really the dunmer thing is keeping the bones and burning the body. We won't be going full dunmer, just taking a little inspiration from them in this aspect since they've a ton of non edgy lore unlike drow.

[Amorphbutt 196]

YES GOOD NO PLAGIARIZING LIKE SOME I'VE SEEN.

 

And I really do like the part of worshiping the ancestors and such. Are there any special dates for lots of ancestor worship? Like, a dark elf day of the dead (or halloween hehehehe)?

 

If not, I am severely disappointed.

[Baconthief 672]

YES GOOD NO PLAGIARIZING LIKE SOME I'VE SEEN.

 

And I really do like the part of worshiping the ancestors and such. Are there any special dates for lots of ancestor worship? Like, a dark elf day of the dead (or halloween hehehehe)?

 

If not, I am severely disappointed.

Yes! I was talking to dak about that. We have the hispanic day of the day, which is quite nearly ancestral worship. Some European pagans worshiped their ancestors on halloween(Welsh ones I believe). I want to have it very soon after halloween.

 

We are going to do that for sure.

[Jistuma 1995]

Thanks for the advice. We had thought the uruk ancestral plain was sort of the plain of all spirits, meaning we had to pull from the orcs's same shaman bucket. Dak and I will make some amends, I see your reasoning.

 

The orc's ancestral plain is the plain for all spirits, that's the problem, because shamans are taught to only search and listen to the orchish spirits.

[Amorphbutt 196]

Yes, Samhain. They used to carve onions to scare away malevolent spirits! Wonderful stuff.

 

If you need any pagan halloween assistance I could help.

 

*mythology nerd glasses intensifies*

 

And GOOD! YOU BETTER BE DOIN DARK ELF HALLOWEEN

 

EDGES ALL THE WAY AROUND HEYA

[Baconthief 672]

The orc's ancestral plain is the plain for all spirits, that's the problem, because shamans are taught to only search and listen to the orchish spirits.

What if the spirits only search out the mortal, the reverse of shamanism? An orc summons a spirits, calling it. The dark elf spirits call  the mortal. They do not need to be summoned, although setting a ritual helps with the contact(Ie 'setting the mood') The powerful kinship carries on through death and the spirits will call on their descendents.

 

 

Dark elven ancestral worship is essentially holding your ear up to the spirit realm, and waiting for your ancestors to come to you. Most times you hear nothing, on rare occasions you hear a whisper. (Really the only time you make contact with the spirit is if someone is rping that spirit.)Whereas uruks brings the spirit to them and find contact with every attempt.

 

 

Ha, I'll call on you soon then to help make the holiday. @Ion

[Burkester 1246]

The problem that Jistuma is bringing up is that your ideas clash/break the already implemented lore of the spirit plane. Only a shaman may journey into the ancestral plane and make contact with their ancestors.

Issues with your lore:

-Spirits from the ancestral plane cannot come out and contact people as you want, they are stuck in the ancestral plane. A lutauman shaman talks with these orcish ancestral spirits, ect.

-Due to the restrictions of shamanism there would not even be a way to contact the dark elf spirits through shamanism.

My Ideas:

-Maybe just have this as a write up that there is indeed a dark elven portion of the ancestral plane that may be contacted by a Dark Elf shaman? Somehow implement this lore without breaking the shaman lore.

[Baconthief 672]

The problem that Jistuma is bringing up is that your ideas clash/break the already implemented lore of the spirit plane. Only a shaman may journey into the ancestral plane and make contact with their ancestors.

Issues with your lore:

-Spirits from the ancestral plane cannot come out and contact people as you want, they are stuck in the ancestral plane. A lutauman shaman talks with these orcish ancestral spirits, ect.

-Due to the restrictions of shamanism there would not even be a way to contact the dark elf spirits through shamanism.

My Ideas:

-Maybe just have this as a write up that there is indeed a dark elven portion of the ancestral plane that may be contacted by a Dark Elf shaman? Somehow implement this lore without breaking the shaman lore.

Certainly. Mind If I pm you the edits? We tried our best to get it hammered out without harming shaminism. We had Deco help us a bit, but I think it has changed a bit from her time.

 

A question concerning ghosts then, that wander Aentheria or wherever we are. They've not passed into the spirit realm yet instead of wander about the world for a purpose. What does shamanism have to say about them?