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THE ICHORIAN PATH


TheIchorDruid
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ICHORIAN BY DEFINITION:

 

Ichorian is a path for those who are willing to withstand pain and anguish, those who follow this path will serve the aspects alone. For an Ichorian it is the core duty for them to endure pain and agony so that the balance may be maintained. Self-sacrifice is the word all Ichorians learn to uphold for true glory, it is what they shall revel in; for the Aspects can not be served and the balance can not be preserved if those who serve it are not willing to put themselves in harm's way. Through emotions, Ichorians are fueled.

 

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“Do not forget your duties, young one. Aspects guide you, you shall be reborn in ichor.”
Teachings and practices of the Koi Oracle Valor Caerme’onn. 4th of the Grand Harvest 1661.

 

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THE HIERARCHY OF ICHOR

 

Diraar Tal’taliyna

Diraar Tal’taliyna are seen as the cultural leaders of the Ichorian Path. Ceremonies and rites can only be hosted with the oversight of a Diraar as their knowledge within the Ichorian Path extends above the norm. These individuals are specifically chosen for these tasks as it is not a requirement of a Diraar to be an Ichorian Elder. Despite this aspect: Diraar are treated with the same amount of respect as an Ichorian Elder.

 

Ichorian Elder

The title of Elder is often granted to Ichorians who have spent a total of twelve years of active practice within the faith and hosts great respect amongst the collective community. The lessons spoken by Elders are often revered and taken with great honour as they themselves have endured the brutish bite of the Ichorian practices. 

 

Ichorian

A member of the faith who has successfully passed the Trials of Ichor. Ichorians are seen as the bulk of the Ichorian Path, though these men and women are not seen as above the elders and Diraar. 

 

Ichorian Dedicant

An aspiring Ichorian who has both shown interest and willingness to endure the hardship of the Ichorian faith, a dedicant will often partake in a two year dedicancy and will then be deemed as a fully-fledged Ichorian upon the successful completion of their dedicancy. 

 

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TRIALS OF ICHOR

 

Trial of Determination 

Trial of Determination is created as a first method to ensure the dedicant is prepared to follow through with the harsh and barbaric nature of the Ichorian Path, meanwhile it teaches the dedicant of the amount of pain which must be endured once able to hear the screams of the balance. The dedicant must walk across heated rocks, most often the heated rocks within the firelands, ten times back and forth as a show of determination for the road ahead. 

 

Trial of Escape

Trial of Escape is created to ensure the dedicant is able of utilising their mind to escape all forms of predicaments which might arrive throughout their time as a dedicant and druid. It is meant to represent one of the worst scenarios for the dedicant to release themselves from should the scenario arise in the future. One must be tied to a tree with both feet and hands -- feet tied individually to the tree and the hands locked together within a knot and tied to a different branch -- hereafter the tutor of the dedicant allows fire ants to crawl and bite, using communion to anger the ants, whereafter the dedicant must free themselves to halt the ants. 

 

Trial of Aid 

Most drui will be injured sometimes within their inquiries throughout the realms and therefore the vital knowledge of medicinal utilisation of herbs and tools is important to the new drui. An array of different herbs and medicinal tools are displayed before the dedicant, whereafter the palm of the dedicant is sliced into a wound. It is the trial of the dedicant to utilise the herbs and tools before them to patch the wound created.

 

Trial of Craft 

Dedicants must show a certain level of skill within the arts of craftsmanship from nature to a product -- however the staff of a druid is of vital importance and shall therefore be created within the dedicancy. One must find a branch of a tree which suits the history and nature of the individual, this might be all sorts of trees within the realms. Hereafter one must craft such a natural branch into the product of a druidic staff: the dedicant must think of their design and then create it through the craft of their own abilities. 

 

Trial of Technique 

Ichorians shall never use the arts gifted to them by the Aspects within combat and therefore must learn to fight without druidic abilities available to them. Dedicant and tutor, or any other individual around, must fight hand to hand within a closed environment until the first drawn blood.  

 

Trial of Silence

The Balance is under a constant silence from the pain of which it suffers, at least in the perception of an ichorian, as one must learn to understand this silenced nature of the balance while under immense agony to understand the balance more than before. One must be tied to a tree to be unable to leave the area, whereafter the tutor utilises a thorned whip to slash towards the back of the dedicant without the dedicant allowed to scream or shout: silenced as the balance. This shall continue till the dedicant reaches unconsciousness. 

 

Trial of the Voices

To ensure the voices of the balance can be handled once attuned, the dedicant must enter a Fae Ring to hear the overwhelming shouts and screams and noises of the balance around them. One must stand within the Fae Ring and listen to the voices of the balance until deemed enough in the perception of one's tutor.  

 

Trial of Companionship

As a trait of the thulean, one must show their abilities to understand the nature around them -- the physical product of the natural world: the animals. The dedicant is led to a forest wherein the tutor shall call on the animals within the area to ensure one of the animals around approaches the dedicant -- hereafter the dedicant must make the animal a companion for themselves: utilising whatever means deemed appropriate in the eyes of the dedicant. 

 

Trial of Survival

The Dedicant is sent out into the wilderness without armor nor weapons at hand to aid the dedicant. Dedicant must survive within the wilderness for a year, as a sign of their abilities learnt throughout the process of the ichorian teachings with their tutor. 

 

Grand Trial of Ichor 

The Grand Trial of Ichor stands as the final trial of the Ichorian dedicant as a mixture of all which has been taught throughout the trials of the dedicant. There exists no certain grand trial of ichor as the trial shall vary from dedicant to dedicant: it is the duties of the dedicant to find a suitable trial for themselves, whereafter the tutor shall allow the specified trial and the dedicant shall complete it. 

 

Rite of Marking 

As a final rite after the grand trial of ichor, one must receive their thulean markings as a sign of the path which the dedicant has walked throughout their successful trials and shall continue to walk down after their final trial. 

 

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THE GATHERINGS OF ICHOR

 

Commonly known as a Moot within the other practices of druidism, the gathering of Ichor is an occasional summons only able to be enacted by the Diraar Tal’talyina. However, members of the faith are within their right to request the Diraar to call for a gathering, yet the decision is often discussed amongst the other collective Diraar before immediately arranging the date. In aims to maintain order and sensibility during these summons, only the Diraar Tal’talyina are able to speak freely, yet members present are permitted to raise their hand and be called upon by the seated Diraar. Even amongst the gathering of Ichor, there is a hierarchy. Diraar Tal’talyina will be seated upon chairs structured from either bone or wood, the Ichorians upon benches at both the left and right of the central Diraar, whilst dedicants are seated upon the ground.

 

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ICHORIAN CREEDS

 

As written by the Koi Druid - Valor Caerme’onn

 

i) Passivity is a sign of cowardice. To refuse to act is a refusal to perform your duties.

- Refusing violence is an ultimate sign of cowardice, not all things can be resolved in words, nor should they be.

- Always be prepared to fight for what’s just.Allowing yourself to stagnate is allowing yourself to fall victim to the cycle of redundancy. Regardless of your old achievements, you will be forgotten.

- Allowing fear to control your actions, or preventing you from making a decision is cowardice, let fear make you stronger. Release yourself from your passivity.

 

ii) Civilization breeds weakness in the hearts of our kin, learn what it means to survive.

- Always be prepared to give up your vices, what is closest to you. To become dependent is weakness. If you want something, always be prepared to fight for it.

- To not be able to hunt or fight is pure weakness, these are completely necessary in finding strength.

- If you need weapons and armour to fight or hunt, then learn to act without them. Always be prepared at the worst of times.

- To rely on only one of your senses is naive, learn to act with your ears, with your smell. Utilize what the Aspects have given you fully.

 

iii) Strive for greatness, never let yourself fall.

- Regardless of your titles and achievements, you can always continue to press yourself towards greater. As they can mean nothing in time.

- Don’t allow yourself to become passive, don’t let fear or your position stop you from gaining more.

- Regardless of the beliefs of others, you can take what you deserve with a heavy hand. But always be prepared to face the consequences.

 

iv) Protect to teach but teach those to stand on their own.

- The young ones among us are impressionable, but eventually they cannot become passive and dependent, protecting them as we have with students, but to give them strength to fight their own battles.

- Make your kin strong, only by inciting these teachings can as a nation, seed, family we begin to show true excellence.

 

v) Walk with the Aspects, and none else.

- Only the Aspects will show you the way. Let the Aspects guide you as they have our kin.

- Pass on your knowledge of the Aspects, let those know of their excellence and continue to demonstrate the potential of the Aspects through your strength and victories.

- The mani remain as nothing more but messengers of the Aspects, nor should they ever be worshipped, simply a being of the Mother and Father’s creation.

 

vi) Learn from your history, your ancestors. Honour tradition, for they walked closer to nature.

- Examine the legends of the past, the Oracles and ancestors who shaped your kin to how they are. There are many lessons to be learned from them.

- Inherit their strength, for they survived in strife for you, do not pass on your weakness, pass on the strength that flows through you.

 

vii) Honour your oaths. There’s no greater sign of weakness than unloyalty.

- Whether it’s to the Aspects, to nation or to seed. Your oaths are binding, to disregard them is an absolute sign of failure.

- Bring honour and victory to them, you have the potential to bring greatness to your kin in the name of the Aspects, use it well.

- Making an oath is not a passive task, always make them with a clear conscience, don’t forget what you stand for.

 

viii) Achieve what you must by any means necessary.

- Never be afraid of extremes, but do not make them lightly. Many big extremes have caused our kin greatness. My old mentor turned student Kairn and I have learned a lot from each other in this.

- Phaedrus liberated the elven people from persecution, yet he went to extremes to achieve it. Regardless of the status quo, always be prepared to contest it for the greater good of you and your kin.

 

ix) Do not steal from the balance. 

- There is no greater sign of damnation than taking from the Balance in which we are untrusted to safeguard, only draw what is necessary for our survival in natural means. 

- Do not cut into the hills or mountains for the ores that build mortal weaponry and armour, for the balance weeps when the soil is overturned and the rocks are torn apart. 

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SCARIFICATION

 

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Scarification is one of the many practices of the Ichor Way, by the carving of the skin either through natural means, or by ritualistic patterning. The natural ways of scarification can vary, often from pain related trials of endurance and perseverance. The wounds of determination through pain should be cherished, as they also double as a sign of struggles past.

 

Through ritualistic scarification, certain symbols can be engraved into the skin. The lengthy and painstaking process is a true sign of dedication and can even be used over traditional tattooing. An Ichorian can use these to double up their current tattoos or add more over them. It's not an easy or soft process. 

 

Other scars can be obtained from battle or trials, some of the common trials are having aspirants move through natural tundra like thorn bushes unprotected. The pain of this process can weed out the weak but bring up the strong. Other combat with dull blades can cause lacerations on the skin, which can be respected as a sign of willingness to fight. 

 

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MARKINGS IN ICHOR 

 

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The emotions are the catalyst of greatness in our kin, but they come in many forms. Especially before a challenging event such as battle, it’s looked down upon to reserve your true feelings. Regardless of the emotions you feel, you can utilize them for greatness.

 

The Ichorians brand themselves in their blood, and sometimes also the blood of their enemies or last hunt. Depending on the pattern is dependent on the emotions felt, even to mark yourself with a debilitating emotion is a sign of strength, because it displays that despite that emotion you show determination and commitment through it.

 

Spoiler

Two lines from the eyes 

When an Ichorian has finished their dedicancy, they are marked with symbolic tear tracks beneath both eyes. Such a marking is typically etched to represent the anguish the dedicant survived to get to their standing as an attuned druid. These markings would be the singular, permanent marking amongst the other more temporary ones, either marked by a blade or through ink. 

 

Singular line through the eye

A child produced from either the mother or father of an Ichorian will often don the singular, permanent, marking through the right eye. These markings sit as a sign of their birthright within the path and depiction of an Ichorian child. When such a child comes of age, they will then be permitted the choice to take up their parental path of Ichor and gain the second marking through the left eye once they have withstood an successful dedicancy. Yet, the marking of an Ichorian child sits as optional, usually left to the decision of the parent(s). 

 

Hand on the face

A bloody hand is a literal translation of feeling suffocated, which has become a symbol of fear. Some can wear it on their face, others on their neck. Fear has become known as weakness, however Ichorians know that fear can breed greatness, so they show their fear with pride.

 

Two horizontal lines

These markings over the bridge of an Ichorian’s nose shows someone’s calmness, sometimes in the gruelling experience of certain struggles, someone becomes completely desensitized to them. This can be a sign of someone’s dominance in a certain aspect, but to wear it falsely can mark anyone a fool.

 

Two lines under the cheekbones 

Lines starting from the ear under the cheekbone and sometimes straight down to the jawline is a sign of determination, bravery and loosely happiness. Someone's unwavering solidarity can be displayed through them, and in vast numbers it's a sign of camaraderie and perseverance.

 

One line from bottom lip to chin

To bring a line from either over the lip or under the lip down to the chin is a sign of a personal vendetta. If someone has a message to send, or a problem to settle, this is a mark of revenge. A murder in this light is often marked on the victim as well, the Ichorian will mark the corpse in the same marking in the victim's blood. It can be a warning.

 

Stag antlers above the eyebrows

To mark the antlers of a stag above the brow, is usually the sign of either an upcoming hunt or a past hunt that held a great significance. The antlers sculpted are done in reverence of the Horned Lord, Cernunos, father of Hunt. 

 

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CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS

 

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Sacrificial ceremonies are a sacred part of Ichorian practice, they can take place no matter the occasion. The attendees can vary from other Ichorians, Aspectists or even the unconverted. It's a way of demonstrating the core values of Aspectism and the Ichor Way. Though progressing from the sacred years of the Koi Druid’s teachings, the way of Ichor progressed in turn and ventured to other variants of ceremonies. 

 

Ceremony of the 

Beast Carcass 

 

Common occasions are generally after a hunt, or in preparation for bigger events such as monster hunting or battles. However, Ichorians can do it as a rite to the unconcerned or Aspectists to solidify their dedication to the Aspects.

 

The beast doesn't matter however, it generally applies to bigger game as there are many offshoots from the main ceremony revolving around the by-products of the carcass. This ties into one of the main Aspectists tenants' offerings, as well as the common practice of recycling and leaving little waste.

 

The beginnings of the ceremony generally start the same. To honour the beast’s death, an Ichorian will cut its heart out raising it all to see. The Ichorian will recite a prayer or a speech in Aspects name, honouring the life and death of the beast. Traditionally the ceremonial head will eat the heart raw, marking his face in the blood.

 

The next stage is removing the head of the beast, cleaning it off any meat and excess, this can either be repurposed into food for the attendees or as fertiliser for new crops. An Ichorian would comment on how in death, the fruit of the beast can be used for the growth of new life.

 

The skull of the beast can often be used for ornamental purposes for the rest of the ceremony, although it’s very traditionally worn as a headdress. This is seen as a representation of Cernunnos, as the ceremony continues the ceremonial head is acting as the spiritual vassal of Cernunnos’ will.

 

The rest of the carcass body is treated as regular, the pelts are moved on for use in clothing, some pelts are often worn around the shoulders for the rest of the ceremony to be repurposed later. The meat is divided for a feast, the inedible is used as fertilizer as aforementioned. Bones are used for a specific purpose known as bone tokens.

 

Ceremony of 

the Seasons

 

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The natural shift between seasons is a sacred change for all followers of the aspects, the celebrations of these changes differ amongst the druidic paths. For those of the path of Ichor, a much different rite of celebration is taken in comparison to the rest. 

 

Spoiler

The Dawn of Autumn 

 

As the leaves of the forest fall towards the soil beneath and the dawns of the summer falter towards the darkness of the realms, a transformation of the ever-lush scenes within the forest drift into an eternal slumber for the lives which litter the woodlands: such event, to an Ichorian, marks the end of the olden lives to allow the newer lives of the flora. However, these lost lives should be naught but celebrated within the Ichorian halls as death remains of vital importance within the circulation of the balance and therefore celebration deemed fit for these losses of life. As such, the Ichorians hold a celebration of the end within the start of the seasons of autumn, as a token of admiration towards the balance and its circulation of life, wherein events around the ideals of the embracement of death is done: such can be the craft of trinkets with the material of bone from animals, often hunted preparatory to the celebrations, and the lighting of candles as an emblem of the start and end of all natural material. Ichorians can often be seen within a rite of alighting old bones and skulls of animals at the end of the festivities. 

 

The Dawn of Winter

 

When summer's end and days grow shorter, Ichorians gather together upon the first bitter evening of the winters. From where, each Ichorian will produce a branch of their chosen tree - weaving together a towering bonfire in which will remain ignited throughout the evening. It is believed that each branch represents each individual gathered amongst that evening and with the ignition of the bonfire - such light will guide the Ichorians through the darkness of winter. Amongst this sacred evening, a prior hunt would have been arranged in preparation of the evening - the bounties of the animal, much like the ceremony of the Beast’s Carcass, will be blessed beneath the name of Cernunnos and a grand feast to be hosted. Upon the concluding of the evening stories are usually shared amongst the blazing bonfire. 

 

The Dawn of Spring

 

When spring first peaks through the wilven forests, lush greenery, and bountiful harvests sprout through all of Aos and Eos for descendants to reap. To welcome the season of life, the Ichorians bundle together a half of their harvest, bringing a plentiful bounty of wheat bales, sacks of potatoes, and other cultivated foods to a spawning sapling. There, a young fawn is slain, its blood spilled over the small tree and the harvest surrounding it, the animal’s life and soul given to propagate the season’s bounty. This tradition is often done in belief that the fawn’s sacrifice will gain the favour of the Mother - Cerridwen, offering the animal’s life in her name in belief such will gain her blessings for a fruitful spring. 

 

The Dawn of Summer

 

As life returns once more to the woodlands of the realms and the flora of the forests arises to the pinnacle of their existence: such marks the rest of the seasons and the Ichorians as a short-lived harmony replaces the ever-chaotic nature of the Balance and its forests. Ichorians use the short-lived rest within the chaos of the woodlands as a means to come together within the warm summer eves beneath the illumination of the late sunset to discuss and unfurl their encounters and stories of the season which - in the perception of the Ichorians - have just concluded. The season of summer is used as a moment of learning and teachings amongst the silence within the chaos, a sacred moment for the usual hard-working, intensive nature of the Ichorians. Usually, labour intensive celebrations are avoided throughout this period and replaced with religious rites of the Path; such as the addition of tattoos in relation to the season which came before. Towards the end of the seasonal closure of summer almost all Ichorians gather amongst themselves for a relaxed festivities within the last sunsets of summer: wherein stories are shared while fruits and meats of the season find themselves to the Ichorian stomach.

 

 

 

Ceremony of
Childbirth 

 

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The blessing of childbearing is a feat celebrated in all forms of elven kind, yet such jubilation differs for Ichorians. Most Ichorians spend the duration of their lives dedicated to the servitude of the faith, either through fruitful combat or preaching of druidic duties thus making the gift of a child rare. Yet, when a new birth is brought, such is a time spent where Ichorians rejoice.

 

Spoiler

 

The Blessing

 

 The first formality to introduce and acknowledge a birthed child as one of Ichorian heritage, is named the blessing. A rite where the gathering of Ichorians come together, the babe settled upon a stone altar - usually swaddled in the pelt of an animal the father of said child hunted - from there each Ichorian who remain kneel before the altar whilst the parents stand beside it. The kneeling, a symbol of acceptance, in order to bring the babe within the path - all individuals must willingly kneel aside the parents.  Once such is done, an Diraar Tal'taliyna will shortly rise and approach the trio - coaxing each parent to make an incision against their palm. When their blood flows, both the mother and father dip their index finger within such and mark a singular antler upon the brow of the babe. Their combined efforts, shortly marking a set of antlers - depicting the blessing of Cernunnos - Father of the Hunt. 

 

When such is done, each Ichorian will rise and produce a flower of their choice, swaddling it in a circular shape around the babe - such done in depicting the blessing of Cerridwen, the Mother of Life. 

 

The Marking

 

When the months have shortly passed after the first rite to the newly accepted babe and when the infant reaches a year old - the second rite commences. This rite however, is an optional celebration. The babe, similar to the first ceremony, will be placed upon a stone altar from where the Ichorians present will bear witness. An Diraar Tal'taliyna will from there produce a bone goblet, coaxing each Ichorian, including the parents, to make a small incision upon their palm, allowing the produced blood to collect within the goblet. When each member has given blood, the contents of the goblet will then be mixed within a natural ink from where the babe receives their first Ichorian marking: a singular tea track through the right eye. 

 

 

Ceremony of
Passage

 

When the child of an Ichorian, or a young Ichorian aspirant comes of age, they are often trailed with fighting a fully-fledged Ichorian, a match they will ultimately lose. However, it's not about winning, a demonstration of true determination and unwavering passion alongside the knowledge learnt from the elders. It's these which mark the passage of a young one who has passed into adulthood.

 

Ceremony of
Marriage

 

It is not often within the lives of the Ichorians, that an individual is allowed to halt the duties of the chaotic woodlands and momentarily reach a trance of calmness and satisfaction; though the ideals of matrimonial relations remain vital for the Ichorians, as one with the dedication of Ichor cannot walk within their lives towards the Eternal Forest without aid from another. Consequently such carries the notion of the Ichorian ceremonies of union an overall tone of happiness wherein those of the Path can hold a brief moment of calm within the storm.

 

 

Spoiler

 

The Union of Two

 

Ichorians unions are kept simplistic to reflect the calmed mindset which most Ichorians hold throughout these forms of rites. Though aside from the usual festivities which are done around the union of the two, there shall be hosted a small event wherein the actual union shall be fortified beneath the ideals of the Ichorians rites. 

 

Union rites, akin to other major rites, are performed with the attendance of an Diraar Tal'taliyna - an individual with extensive knowledge within the Ichorian Path, able to perform the ceremonial duties and rites of the Path - which shall serve as a form of priest throughout the union rite. The Diraar shall instruct the Ichorian to move their hands forth, whereafter there shall be created a small cut over the palm of each individual, to allow blood to flow into a small chalice beneath the hands of the soon to be married. After a substantial amount of blood has been collected into the chalice, the Diraar mixes the blood with a small branch of wood, which shall serve as a symbol for their unioned lives within the duties of the Ichorian: two becomes one through the ichor of their own. Once the Diraar deems the mixture sufficient enough, the two Ichorian are instructed to drink the blood mixture of their own while the Diraar mutters an Ichorian prayer over the two of them. 

 

The Matrimonial Rings

 

Within all cultures around the continents, there is a singular common rite utilised as a form of signature that someone had been married to another: such is the small round metal ornament. Though, as described within Ichorian Creeds, the ideals of metal and unnatural destruction of the natural woodlands is held akin to the idea of sins within their mind. Therefore, the Ichorians utilise a different form of symbolism to showcase the concluded union of the two to other Ichorians and mali’ alike. On the conclusion of the union, both the man and wife (or wife and wife / man and man) discuss and decide on a specific pattern of tattoo which is drawn around the ringfinger of the two of them. One will never find two of these tattoos similar as each pattern is unique to the individual married couple.  

 

 

 

 

Ceremony of
Death  

 

Within Ichorian ideals, death means almost naught, as it remains within the natural binds of the Balance and intertwines with the eternal duties which an Ichorian must commit their lives to. Although death is an foreseen reality of the Ichorian, there is a certain sadness behind the loss of one's fellow brother or sister which is celebrated and mourned within the rites of death. 

 

On the death of an Ichorian, the Diraar  ensures a hunt is hosted amongst the Ichorians as a beast is hunted down and killed in honour of the dead Ichorian. On a successful hunt of the Ichorians, the animal is skinned and its pelt is utilised as a form of burial wraps  for the brother or sister.   The meat produced from the hunt is often cooked and prepared upon the conclusion of the burial. Once the pelt has been securely wrapped around the body of the fallen Ichorian, the gathering of kin are encouraged to step forward and make a small incision against their palm - the blood produced used for the making of a handprint against the pelts. There is a great significance to the marking of a handprint within the theme of death, one that differs drastically from the day-to-day marking of a handprint to one's face, instead within this rite it symbolises the hands of their people carrying them safely into the Eternal Forest. Upon the marking rite concluded, each Ichorian gathered will draw to a kneel as the commencing Diraar begins the ceremonial prayer, in which each Ichorian repeats.

 

Upon the evening drawing closer to its end, a handful of Ichorians draw the responsibility to carry the body to its final destination of rest; commonly within the forests.  The remaining Ichorians accompany this walk in a single-line formation, remaining in silence until their arrival. When each Ichorian is finally present, the body is then placed within a created hole, dirt  covering the body entirely. A young sapling (of the deceased’s choice) will be planted above them and from their remains, new life grows. 

 

Ceremony of
Combat

 

When words fail, it's not unlike us for our passion to take over. However, unlike the past senseless violence has been looked down upon. Ichorians can often challenge other Ichorians or any descendant to a trial by combat for the winning argument. The terms of this trial are agreed on mutually, but the result is final. Ichorians who lose these battles especially to non-Ichorians can often go on to do the ceremony of retribution for penance.
 

Ceremony of
Retribution

 

A trial of retribution can vary in many ways, some like to mark their failure through scarification. This can be through combat unarmed against someone with a thorny whip or unarmed against a beast with sharp claws and teeth. What specifically marks a retribution trial is the Ichorian will always be unarmed, to show that they don't need vices such as swords to be strong.

 

Ceremony of the
Monumental Totems

 

After the occurrence of a significant event such as a grand monster hunt or a battle, an Ichorian will use his control to erect a totem pole. This can be carved by hand to signify the events that occurred there, as well as those who participated.

 

This practice is synonymous with ancient traditions of passing on the stories of old to the descendants. As well as a beacon of hope to all who come past it, a totem of perseverance to install strength and dedication into the hearts of its observers.

 

Often, we wander in our defeats, but what we gain in them is strength and these displays of strength are immortalized in wooden symbols of excellence, lest we forget them. They can be adorned by bone tokens and marked in blood also, as per other Ichorian practices.

 

Ceremony of the
Bone Tokens

 

The bones are often cleaned and used for offerings, there are often enough for many of the attendees to participate to remove themselves and clean. This process can be a sign of dedication of Cerridwen's beauty, with bones being made into intricate designs such as carvings or necklaces to be offered at a shrine.

 

Certain bones such as the skull can also be mounted in sacred locations as an ornament as a symbol of Cernunnos’ watch. Ornamental bones often adore sacred locations such as shrines, as a symbol of the beast’s new life in the Eternal Forest, which is a status worth celebrating.

 

Smaller bones are again often carved and or made into decorative pieces, often necklaces. These necklaces are often cared for with sacred symbols signifying concepts such as; luck, bravery, good health and many others. These can be given as gifts, with personally or laid upon a burial site. Carving old elven into bones is also very common.

 

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Spoiler

 

Credit: 

@mitto - Original Author & Founder

@MCVDK - Aid with Document & Format

@JustGrim - Proof-Reading

@Shmeepicus - Proof-Reading

@Keefy - Emotional Support & Encouragement

@Spoon - Feedback & Support

 

 




 

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I helped woop woop

 

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yooo

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A particularly non(?)-violent medic by the name of Aobh reads over the path. She nods in approval, knowing that some days you must simply choose violence. "Perhaps these druids will be the ones to get things done." She'd say simply, returning to her studies. 

Edited by rukio
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If I did not have a lover, I think I would go for that. Do you see that beautiful head! -3-

 

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Well, at least they're not cowards, like the rest of the elves.

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