Orcish Haruspexy: Rituals and Practices

[Panashea 2644]

|| RITUALS ||

 

Bone Burning: 
Burning bones, much like incense is often used to ward the haruspex from the afflictions that may arise in dealing with the dead. It is also seen as a protective mark, as warriors wash themselves in this smoke before leaving for battle.

 

 

Blood Mural

(A depiction of an orc destined for greatness)

 

A common practice before battle or to mark significant periods in an Orc’s life. Rather than depicting the posing figure, the haruspex takes violent liberal brushwork upon the canvas with whatever blood the patron provides. Once the canvas(whether parchment, cactus, animal skins) is sufficiently soaked, it is left to dry. There, it is said the future is imprinted through spirits of hope and foresight. A haruspex reads this transcribing in detail from the texture of the blood, the directions of the winds, or whatever the haruspex may glean from the abstract portrait.

 

OOC: Rather than simply drawing a traditional portrait, haruspex creates a bloodied canvas in which they perceive the future through the claret and gore they have etched into artwork. A haruspex is able to draw or take whatever liberties they want with the actual artwork, as long as they can explain it.

 

 

Grizhhun

An introductory ritual towards orcs of Krugmar. First, a hunt. A sacrifice is made to an ancestor of the party’s choice at a large offal pit (where animals and things are sacrificed). The orc then offers their blood, before submerging themselves in the blood of their people.  

 

An orc is christened into blood faith, and here decides their place within the orcish Illzpak, if one has not been chosen for them already. (Due to day/night cycles in minecraft being strange, you can roll to determine red or yellow sand)

0-8: Red Sand
8-15: Yellow Sand
16+: slight ripples on the waves, change in hue,  Red and Yellow Sand

OOC: Utilizing the old orcish zodiac lore (Orcish Zodiac),The Bloodheart ritual is to induct new players by having them grow through a basic hunt, a sacrifice as well as potentially learning about clans and spirits.)

 

 

 

 

Family Council: 

 

This ritual is often performed in the home of the deceased, though may if not available, at the darkest part of night where the stars are visible.  The haruspex constructs a person-sized totem; an effigy to represent the departed. The family, or those close to them gather, bringing tools and objects to guide them along the journey to Kor’s gates.  To ensure they never return to the mortal plane, each of the representatives curse and attack the totem, cutting free whatever strands the spirit may have within the mortal realm.  The effigy is then burned, and the smoke is ushered by the group up towards the Stargush'Stroh.  

OOC: In possessing some of the bones of those who have fallen, the haruspex is able to contact those who have passed on in the ancestral realm. Grief within the orcish people is fleeting, as every honorable orc is granted an eternal life alongside Krug.

 

 

 

 

Scar Interpretation 
With time, the traces left behind by weapons along flesh may develop tells and distinctive features, much like an aged tree hacked at with an axe in infancy. These features are capable of describing many things that may not be obvious at first glance, or even when examined by a medical professional. A haruspex over time learns to read the waves of injury and transcribe them into reality. Every haruspex has their own interpretations of the wound, but what separates them is the quality and accuracy in which they pronounce their scarred truths.

 

 

OOC: Post-combat, as well as getting injured now serves a purpose. Haruspex are doctors as well as war-clerics and soothsayers and story-tellers. Their melding of different knowledge allows them to create readings from the future.

 

 

 

 

Grishnaakt (3 Haruspices)

 

Every orcish home gathers a ghûlum-naakt, a place in which blood from sacrifices is gathered in time of festivity. These bowls are then left outside at night for the haruspices. The blood is gathered, and used as an ink. The roads are lined with blood, marking the city with good fortune. It is said the haruspices mark the good deeds of the orc within the city, writing long stanzas of old blah up and down the streets.

 

In times of great peril, the reverse is done. All of the blood is washed away, for it has stained the city with some great evil. Instead, the protective prayers are marked with bone or “written” in water(for water was a luxury in a place where little existed). There, the misfortune is washed away.

 

OOC: A larger scale event. If people have been wronged, or some misfortune has befallen the city, this is done to wash the sins away. Rather than breaking out into honor klomps, fracturing clans and groups, this ritual is practiced to ensure peace remains within the larger orcish community. 

 

 

 

PURPOSE(OOC)

A haruspex gives context to the conflict orcs face. Whether it be in hunting prey, sacrifices, or the wounds they receive in combat, a haruspex is able to twist these situations into moments of important characterization. As storytellers and preservers of history, they also help integrate new players as well as help to teach and contextualize the nature of the orcs. Their low barrier of entry means that anyone can involve themselves with spirit and religious roleplay without needing Shamanism.  Haruspexy is a roleplay religion/practice that allows the practitioner to create and weave narratives without needing magic. The “magic” is inspired by Mesoamerican, Aztec, and West-African folklore incorporated with orcish tradition and perspective.  I hope this exists as a platform for players to indulge themselves in mystic/prophetic style roleplay while including as many people as possible in interesting and engaging stories. As time goes on I plan to write stories for haruspex to tell as well as expanding the rituals and cultural practices of the orcish people..
 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Panashea

[Lojo613 1420]