[Clan Shrogo] Shrogo Religion

[Dragonslayerelf 654]

 

 

The Guide to Shrogo Religion

 

Aspects and Principles

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Shrogo religion, while under Znitgit is highly focused on the worship of Luara, is generally intended to honor 3 main spirits: The Immortal Spirit of the Moon, Luara, the Immortal Spirit of Drugs, Inebriation, and Celebration, Betharuz, and the Ancestral spirit  Schnub'Nub, a goblin who conquered the isle of Shroglund early in their history and gave the previously unnamed country its name after the native peoples, the Shrogo. Due to being isolated from the influences of Krugmar for so very long, Shrogo goblins have developed a diverse set of rituals, ceremonies, and religious practices for years.

 

 

The Mushob

A mushob is more than a priest to the Shrogo, the mushobs are the ones who tend to massive secret underground farms of Mad Cap mushrooms, which, while they are native to Shroglund, require very specific conditions to thrive. These underground mushroom farms are sacred places of worship that only the Mushobs and the Gobbgoth are allowed to access, and are viewed as one of the most sacred places to the Shrogo. Additionally, it almost constitutes the Mushob's part time job to ensure that all of the Shrogo goblins are highly addicted to the hallucinogenic mad cap. As a combination of these factors, the Shrogo are fierce defenders of their vast mushroom farms and would go to great lengths to defend them.

The Mushob hierarchy has no clear structure but generally age - a rare thing among Mushobs considering that they consume more of the potent drug than any of the Shrogos combined - is regarded as a loose hierarchy. There is additionally a seldom-occupied position called the Grand Mushob which is only ever occupied when the 'need' arises. Currently, Znitgit'Shrogo holds the positions of Gobbgoth and Grand Mushob simultaneously, centralizing all of the power of the Shrogo in his hands. The Grand Mushob, when he is not also the Gobbgoth, typically wears a yellow and purple hood to signify his rank, however Znitgit currently wears the red hood, an indicator of his leadership. The robes of a Mushob also differ in that they have a tapestry that goes over the front of their robes, as well as a circlet with a moon on it that they wear beneath their robes and that protrudes out, as well as a dangling moon on the top of their hood which is strung through a hole in the top.

 

 

The Mad Cap

The mad cap mushroom, or Psilocybin Schnibea as it has been called by botanical scholars, is highly hallucinogenic mushroom that is integral to Shrogo culture. It is used to induce random hallucinations that typically pertain to whatever the user is thinking of, seeing, hearing or feeling at the time of its taking or has recently, which Mushobs use as tools to deliver a religious message or tiding to the Shrogo. These visions are usually interpreted after the fact and given meaning, usually containing some religious message or general platitude, and work much the same way that tarot cards or palm readings do.

Mad Cap ingestions are also used by Shrogo "Loonz" that get themselves worked up into a fit of rage before ingesting the mad cap, which induces in them a frenzied state that lasts typically until combat has concluded. However, it is not uncommon for Loonz to go off the rails and slaughter everyone in sight if not stopped - usually by another Loon warrior who may then also go off the rails and so on until the area is secured. However, it is much more common for them to not go off the rails and merely fight with all the fervor a goblin can muster before lying down in a field and counting imaginary moons they see around them.

There are additionally certain mushobs that specialize in telling the future. Known as 'Shroomtalkaz' they regularly overdose on mad caps and, as a result, have a generally short life expectancy. They additionally rant and rave in an insane manner, and only half of what they say makes sense. However, it is this half that is interpreted by the listener to determine the future. The answers provided usually come true because of their vagueness, however, and these Shroomtalkaz have become increasingly important to Shrogo society. Mygenaba'Shrogo is a perfect example of an influential Shroomtalka.

 

 

The Bad Moon

The iconography of the Shrogo is associated with the Bad Moon, an image of a crescent moon with a usually intoxicated goblin inhabiting the inward side of the crescent, with a large protruding nose and sharp, menacing teeth. In common Shrogo religion, the Bad Moon is believed to represent the face of Schnub, the intoxication of Betharuz, and, of course, Luara, the moon. These three aspects symbolize their three patron spirits.

However, to the Cult of Luara, the Bad Moon represents something different entirely. To the Cult of Luara, it represents a relatable image of Luara herself, teeth bared in defense of the Shrogo, snarling at the rising or setting Sun depending on the time of night. The Bad Moon the Cult of Luara constructs is very similar to the other Bad Moon excepting the facial expression and features. While the regular Bad Moon's face is said to be that of Schnub's, the Bad Moon of the Cult of Luara varies greatly, with expressions also varying greatly. A Cult of Luara Mushob who views Luara as a benevolent god might create a smiling, tender Bad Moon with a rounder nose, while a Cult of Luara mushob who sees the moon as being victorious in the war of the skies every night might draw an angrier, more aggressive Bad Moon with larger teeth and a pointier nose.

 

 

The Cult of Luara

Znitgit'Shrogo currently presides over a religion known to the majority of Shrogos as the  'Cult of Luara', a monothiestic offshoot of the main Shrogo religion that has been gaining the ascendency in recent years mainly due to the efforts of the Gobbgoth, Znitgit'Shrogo. The Cult of Luara believes that the Bad Moon only represents Luara, and focuses entirely on giving praise and power to her with the belief that eventually Luara will become powerful enough to challenge and defeat Aztran, and thus cause an eternal night. While this is a misconstrued goal, they nonetheless seek to advance the goals and position of Luara at all costs, an effort which has been redoubled after a spirit walk with Burbur’Lur the farseer, where the Grand Mushob and Gobbgoth, Znigit'Shrogo, was able to personally speak with Luara. To them, the Bad Moon represents Luara's kinship with the Shrogo goblins, as, to them, it is she who allows them to walk in the night while the day rejects them, it is she who provides them with the comforting light of the moon at night, it is she who guides the Shrogos to an unforeseeable future, but one that they know will benefit them.

While the Cult of Luara still respect the influence Schnub'Nub and Betharuz have over others, Schnub'Nub is often used as an example of the ideal goblin rather than praised as a god, and Betharuz is often ignored entirely.  As a result of their single minded devotion to Luara, they regularly find themselves at odds with other Mushobs of the traditional faith as well as shamans and orcs that hold a pantheon of spirits, or just a different spirit, in high regard. Regardless, the Cult of Luara continues to spread the doctrine of single minded devotion to Luara, using "Lop Luara" as their rallying cry.

 

 

Ceremonies

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There are a great many moon-related ceremonies that the Shrogos hold in high regard, all of them typically using the mad-cap in some way and integrating the praising of Luara, Schnub and sometimes Betharuz into their events. These events usually follow the lunar calendar rather than the solar one, and as such do not fall as neatly on certain days as other holidays

 

 

The Moon Birthing Ceremony

Every new moon, the Shrogo gather together under the night sky and begin by releasing white fireworks and other bright objects towards the sky in the hope that they will provide the moon the light it needs to continue on to the next cycle. At lunar noon, when the moon is highest in the sky, the Mushob presiding over the ceremony gathers all of the Shrogos around a great, white bonfire in a newly-constructed hut with a low roof (so the smoke can gather) and begins to burn the Mad Cap. Then, the Shrogos all inhale the smoke of the burned mad cap and experience a collective drug trip. This trip is thereafter interpreted by the Mushob as omens of the next lunar year.

 

 

The Crescent Moon Skrap

When the moon is a crescent resembling the Bad Moon, excluding the face and nose, the Mushobs gather the Shrogo together for a session of ritual combat. This skrap is held in an arena or pit and joined by volunteers who are then pissed off in various ways and given mad caps in order to induce a frenzy. Thereafter, a free for all occurs until there is one goblin remaining standing. This goblin is then given an award, usually a pendant or medallion with the Bad Moon on it, and is given the dubious honor of becoming a Loon. This event happens twice: When the crescent moon is facing west and again when it faces east.

 

 

The Full Moon Dance

Every full moon, the Shrogo gather together around the statue of the Bad Moon to give praise to Luara and Betharuz by holding a grand festival. Any who seeks to attend are invited, making this one of the few sacred events not exclusive to the Shrogo, and a night of revelry and merrymaking ensues in order to celebrate the moon's fullness. Traditional Shrogo music is played, including tunes on the goat horn and the ribcage xylophone, and at lunar noon the song "Bad Moon Rising" is sung, typically very poorly as most everyone is drunk and there are bound to be a few shrogo that have dipped into their stash of mad caps.

 

 

The Gibbous Sacrifice

When the Shrogo interpreted the phases of the moon, they interpreted the gibbous phase quite literally. When the Mushobs deem that the moon is at the right stage of the gibbous phase, a pair of sacrifices are brought to the altar of Luara, traditionally two of varying races, though political climes often end up preventing that. Then, the sacrifices are forced to say "Gibbous to the moon" before being fed the mad caps. They then have their visions interpreted before their throats are cut and they are sprinkled with the powder Mushobs use to make fire white, before being lit on fire. This practice originated from a Mushob having the epiphany that gibbous sounded a lot like the words 'give us.'  This is also the only event where mad caps are permitted to be given to outsiders, these being about to die for the Bad Moon.

 

The Blood Moon Hunt

When the Shrogo see the blood moon, they know that a hunt is eminent. However, it is not animals that they hunt, rather people and great beasts of the wilds. When the Blood Moon rises, Shrogo’s chosen rise with it. During the blood moon, it is tradition to sacrifice as many people and/or animals as possible to Luara, decorating the shrine with the bodies of the slain. During the Blood Moon Hunt, all Shrogo, regardless of status, are fed the Mad Cap and enter into its frenzy before setting off, a violent, bloody ball of furious daggers, maces, flails, spears, and swords.

 

Following the phases of the moon from the beginning of the Shrogo lunar calendar, these events should occur in this order

 

 

Moon Birthing Ceremony - Crescent Moon Skrap 1 - Gibbous Sacrifice 1 - Full Moon Dance - Gibbous Sacrifice 2 - Crescent Moon Skrap 2 - repeat.

 

 

Rituals

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There are also a great many rituals that can be performed regardless of the time of year, though most occur at night. These rituals are also integral to the Shrogo faith, and typically use most of the previously mentioned elements.

 

 

The Mad Cap Reading

This is one of the most basic and essential rituals that a Mushob can perform. The mad cap reading essentially amounts to feeding one or multiple people the mad cap, allowing them to go through their drug trip with little interference, and then interpreting the vision afterwards. While it is the most fundamentally basic, the vision can vary greatly, from being a harrowing experience to an enjoyable one.

 

 

The Pontification

Whenever it is deemed necessary, the Grand Mushob or the oldest Mushob can declare a Pontification, essentially requiring that all goblins attend a sermon. These typically occur when there is dramatic religious news that needs to be delivered, and usually happen after a Mushob is brought on a spirit walk or goes on a spirit walk themselves and gleans some relevatory information.

 

 

The Skrap

The skrap is a very particular kind of ritual, usually involving a dispute or issue between two goblins. A skrap is similar to a klomp in mways, with the main exception being that

both goblins are given mad caps and put into a frenzied state before their combat begins, and are then released on each other like rabid hounds. While 'skrap' is just a general substitute for 'klomp', THE Skrap is a specific kind of fight.

 

 

The Blind Hunt

The blind hunt is a ritual where a group of goblins are given mad caps before they are sent to find and kill a beast. Usually they are given a few inspirational words before they are sent off by their mushob, sometimes never to be seen again. The beast seen is usually anathematic to the Shrogo religion, and varies depending upon the strength of the trip and the beast in question.

 

 

Moonshunning

While the Shrogo are generally a rather easy-going clan, there may be a circumstance where the Gobbgoth would seek to remove an individual from the clan or prevent an individual from joining the clan due to some slight or action against the clan. In this case, a moonshunning is applied, where the clan as a whole is not to acknowledge the moonshunned except for in a negative manner. Moonshunned are commonly met with hisses and beatings from the Shrogo. A moonshunned individual is typically captured and branded with a phase of the moon depending on severity, new being the least and full being the greatest.

 

 

OOC Forum Sidenote: If any of the future Gobbgoths want to edit this post, let them.

 

[Dragonslayerelf 654]

Edit: The Blood Moon Hunt was added to the list of ceremonies corresponding with lunar events.