Althea_

I’m not into forum posting, never made a RP post like this here before, but figured this was worth giving it a shot. 

Special thanks to @Smol for helping me format and offering me some advice for such!

Moosik:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uUtS2CbNxU

The events described above happened over a small patch of woodland in an inconsequential Northern Forest not particularly near any northern nation. They narrate what ensued after a certain Roleplay the character - Leikn - recently underwent (#angst).

You may RP as having witnessed  some of the events which transpired or simply react to their aftermath (the fire and destruction), so long it’d make sense for your character to have been nearby (ayo Harrower gang, Popsicle-Witches, and other Northernmost Residents), or somehow be capable to watch or otherwise learn about it - I only ask you do so in good-faith.

Do note most of this was composed by hallucinations projected by the character’s head; only the “Jötunn”/Leikn, Hrodvitnir (the Direwolf), the Fire-Serpents (flamethrower) and the Burning Forest were real - nothing else could be seen or heard by any spectator.

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The Young or Prospect Ixtzûl is to venture onto subterranean depths bearing with them a set of Ceremonial Candles of Aztran, setting them onto the cave-walls one by one to light the tunnels, in a Symbolic Gesture to demonstrate the Aztran’s Light conquering and persevering even in the darkest of places. 

The Ixtzûl also carries with them a Small Lantern, to represent Aztran is with them - thus it’s imperative the lantern is kept safe from the many Horrors they are prone to encounter on their journey. Should they manage to light up the path into the depths, and return with the lantern unbroken and still-lit, they will have succeeded.

After shedding Light into Darkness, the Young or Prospect Ixtzûl then is to ascend closest to Aztran’s Domain, seeking to Rise up the Summit of the Tallest Mountain (or Vulcano) they can find in order to set up a Shrine thereat, signaling their success to those below by lighting up a Great Torch from above. The Orc then is to Evoke the Sun-Spirit (be it through an offering, ritualistic performance such as a dance, chant, etc).

Suffice to say, this journey requires quite a lot of planning, with the Orc likely traveling the lands to find a tall-enough mountain to ascend to. The temperature, weather, biome and especially the fauna offering substantial hazards for oneself unprepared. For this reason they often pursue blessings of various Spirits that may aid them on the climb.

Should they succeed though, festivities are to await home, for now they may fully consider themselves worth the name Ixtzûl - the new Clan Member being taken to <Pact with Aztran> thus (in case they haven’t already).

These Trials serve as a set of Punishments to those who have gone against the Clan’s, or the Spirits’, Ways or Will, with the ultimate purpose of Redeeming the individual in question by making them Pay for their ‘Sins’.

Those who undertake these Trials generally are White-Washes, ex-Servants of Other Deities & Voidal-Users, Orcs of Dark/Malign Ancestry (with the Ixtzûl believing Black Orcs bear such color for these reasons, therefore demanding they undergo Penance-Walking), among others.

The Trials are Dictated according to the ‘Sin’, greatly varying from one another, while generally being poetic in justice and tied to the major Spirits of the Clan. 

A thief could be forced to live without hands for a year (only later being helped by a Witch-Doctor); an ex servant of a deity could be forced to shed ties with their past by destroying a shrine of theirs and building a Spirit’s; someone who upset the natural balance (say caused a wildfire) would be burnt or/and be forced to help restore the woods.

On top of these Punishments, they are commonly forced to Repent Under Aztran’s Burning Sun on a Penance-Walk [Event], alluding to the Ancestors of the Ixtzûl that ventured into Aegis’ Deserts to plead the Spirits for forgiveness (for their original Clan - Dom - ‘s Dark Shamanism). The Individual is Left Stranded in the Desert after Being Drugged, Knocked Out and Black-Bagged. They are left in possession of No Weapons or Food, having to Rely on Spirituality, Survivalism Skills & Honor to find their way back to the Clan, pursuing Guidance of the Stars.

The Ixtzûl believe at the start stood not one but Two Supreme Creator-Gods: Ōmeteōtl (Mahuizahto: “Dual/Two Gods”; also referred to as ‘Teotl’, or “Creator/God”), a Male and a Female Deity, the two would wander alone the Lightless Void, until by chance or destiny coming across one another. In their encounter, they began to develop language itself, for otherwise communication was greatly limited, that being ‘Old Blah’. 

Though, at the same time, they had nothing to name with it, for nothing else existed. Thus they began developing Concepts sprung from conversation, ideas and thoughts, that unfortunately still remained just on their imagination. It was only then they realized the meaning of Loneliness, and decided to Come together as One Deity with Power of Two, in order to no longer be Alone ever again, but also to Birth Creation itself.

From their Union the Spirits came to be Birthed, who’d help the Ōmeteōtl organize their ideas and concepts and slowly craft the universe and all we know about it, with each Spirit embodying/representing an aspect of the whole of it, and influencing them. 

With so much Power spent though, Ōmeteōtl would soon perish, and so one such Spirit - Aztran - decided to take care of his progenitor, staying beside them until at last the Dual-God was no more, learning much from them. Aztran thus weaved their corpse and energy into a spherical shape, Making the Sun with Ōmeteōtl’s body, and becoming their inheritor of the Cosmos and the Ethereal, while the other Spirits would inherit their respective domains. 

Soon after the Creator’s Death & the Completion of the Universe, many ‘Jealous Lesser Deities’ - called Tzitzimitl by the Ixtzûl - sprung from the confines of space, wrathful about how Ōmeteōtl always preferred the Spirits over them, starting a Great Cosmic War. 

The Many Dead Tzitzimitl - casualties of war - would have their body repurposed by Aztran, being turned into Stars, symbols of Aztran’s Triumph and Conquest, with each linked to one of His Lesser Spirits; in a sense Springing New ‘Life’ - Powerful New Spirits - from his Enemies’ Death.

Nonetheless, the near endless amount of Tzitzimitl would be able to Push and Confine the Spirits into the Spirit Realms, denying them the Right to Live Among Mortals and the Rest of Creation, though The Spirits would continued to embody, influence and represent their Domains, even if from other Planes. It was then one among the Tzitzimitl arose, foulest of them all - Iblees - and turned to the Mortal Realm to sow Tragedy, Death & Chaos, without the Spirits to stop them.

It’s for these reasons the Ixtzûl seek to Wane the Power of other Deities & Free the Spirits, so that they may be able to live among Mortals, inheriting Creation, as they should have, and ushering in an Age of Spiritual-Bliss bereft of Darkness & Other-Deities. The Creation of Immortal Muyakelgs being a highly valuable practice among their people, for it allowed them to reach closer to their goal, but was unfortunately lost with the Kingdom of Tonatiuh.

Aztran is the foremost Spirit of the Ixtzûl, being the one to reach out to their ancestors - through the stars - and offer them a chance of redemption, guiding them to New Lands (Almaris). 

They believe Aztran to have been the First Spirit to be conceived by Ōmeteōtl, the Creator Dual-God, and the one to have shaped his dead body into the Sun, having the closest connection to Them.

During the rest of the Sculpting of the Universe, Aztran was responsible with assuring the Light & Warmth of the Sun reached all Realms, allowing Life to come to be and sustain itself. He was thus followed by other Spirits (such as Gazigash & Freygoth), who’d work on such spheres and planes.

Once the Work of Creation was done, The Tzitzimitl War Begun, with Aztran tearing through many of them, repurposing their dead bodies as Stars to help the Sun shed light upon the vastness of Space, while also Birthing His Lessers. 

For all those reasons Aztran is seen as a Benevolent Spirit/Deity by the Ixtzûl, evoking their uttermost Zealotry. Most Sacrifices in his homage revolve around offering Hearts, as they parallel the Sun shedding light into all directions, allowing life to be sustained - the heart doing the samething to the body, by pumping blood to every direction. Sacrifices to Aztran are meant to empower him and the Sun, lest it dims and all Life perishes.

The Tonatiuh Orcs would raise Great Pyramids & Temples in his homage, their Towns & Villages (with houses of adobe and limestone, and straw-covers) often having one at the center or apart on a jungle-clearing, or set up Shrines at Summits of Mountains and Volcanoes, for the Ixtzûl believe the higher they go, the closer to their Patron.

Likewise, different Biomes bear some significance to the Ixtzûl, tied to Aztran: Snowy/Cold Lands are seen as forsaken by Aztrân, darker and more dangerous, a place for white-washes and exiles; Deserts are lands subject to Aztran’s relentless Sun, with little life and riches to them, only desolation - a place for Orcs to be trialed, to repent beneath the Sun or find answers in the Clearest of Night-Skies, with many Ilzhonal venturing into the sands.

The Skin Color of Orcs having significance tied to Aztran for them: Gold/Yellow/Orange were Orc Lineages supposedly blessed by Aztran, Black/Charcoal-Skinned were supposedly scorched by Aztran and alluded to a Dark Ancestry; White Orcs were considered forsaken by Aztran, hence the White-Washing Orc-Exiles.

Aztran’s Enemies are chiefly Creatures of the Dark (be them beings born from dark-magic, wielders of it, or merely creatures that inhabit dark places), The Void & its Wielders, alongside Other Non-Spiritual Deities (or ‘Surviving Tzitzimitl’). Most of those being burnt in offering to Aztran, for their Souls to be devoured and reduced to nothingness, cleansed from the universe - the exception being Undead, who are dedicated to Kor. 

It’s said Aztran & his Lessers Watch Over through the Sunrays and Starlight, trying ward out threats and warn those Faithful to him through the Stars and in Visions & Spirit-Walks. The Tonatiuh Ilzhonal developed a Greater Ilzpaak & Calendar System by study of the Stars and with aid of Aztran’s Lessers.

As a more trivial curiosity, the Ixtzûl have Heliocentric beliefs.

Gazigash is the second most important Ixtzûl Spirit, believed to have been Paved the Road to Animal & Descendent-Life by constructing it out of flesh, sinew and bone; and offering her utmost Gift - Blood - to allow it to persevered beneath Aztran’s Sun. 

For this reason the Ixtzûl deem Blood as Utterly Hallow, a Gift of the Spirits that shouldn’t be wantonly spilled, and why the Curse of Bloodrage should be held back: Blood is a Gift of the Spirits, for the Spirits, and should only be spilled honorably in their homage or in battle. 

Upon slaughtering foes, the Ixtzûl commonly evoke some form of praise to Gazigash, dedicating the spilled blood to her. It’s why many bladed weapons are imbued with the Blood-Mother’s essence or decorated to please or allude to her in some way; some such weapons intended to retain the spilled blood along them.

 Sacrifices to Gazigash often revolve around drying the victim of their blood, either pouring it upon shrines, altars or vases/bowls, among other practices. Another common (day-to-day) practice is Blood-letting, wherein before a Prayer an Ixtzûl slices their palms or other part of their body in offering to a chosen Spirit. 

The Clan’s Anthropophagic/Cannibalistic ways are also tied to Gazigash, as by consuming the body and blood of another worthy-dead, the Ixtzûl believe their qualities and attributes will be partially imparted onto them, since that’s the Shell which retains and grows in accordance to their Soul.

The Ixtzûl also approve of Blood-Magic, so long as the ichor is used in reverence, and due praise to Gazigash is made, often asking for her permission in oration before enacting the rites. 

Vampires & Other “Blood-Consuming” - called “Eztlipitzotilia”  (Mahuizahtotl: “Blood-Defilers”)  are churned as being most wicked and foul creatures of them all, as their actions are considered an utmost irreverence and defiance towards Gazigash and Her Gift. They are brutally burnt alive, after being severely tortured and mutilated.

Given how the Clan’s main form of relationship is Polygamy, without any real recognized relationship bonds such as marriage, two orcs may become Blood-Brothers/Blood-Sisters instead, wherein they swear to work the hardest to assure each other’s success in life, helping one another where it’s needed, avenging the other should they die and tending to their deathly remains personally.  This serves as the deepest, most sacred, bond between two Ixtzûl, requiring nothing shorter than a tragedy to justify it being broken.

As the Spirit of the Dead, Kor is obviously of utmost importance to Clan Ixtzûl, like all other Orc Clans, due to holding the Gate of the Afterlife. The Tonatiuh Orcs of Old, upon dying and joining the Stargush’Stroh - or, as they call the “Micquichantli” (Mahuizahtotl for “Hall/Home of the Dead”) - turned to plead to Kor, asking for permission to rise their own city in the Ancestral Realm to preserve their culture eternally, and restore in Death the Greatness of their Kingdom. 

Kor approved of their request, and thus Tonatiuh’Teocuitlaltepetl (mahuizahtotl: the “Golden City of the Sun”) was founded in a more peaceful, and hidden, location within the Forest of the Great Hunt, alluding to their homeland in the Mortal Realm. Their Leader (or Tlatoani) in the Afterlife being the Uruk, Ixtzûl Tonatiuh’Tlapepentli himself.

Enjoying their secrecy and sticking to their own ways, the Path to the Golden City is Hidden - only other Tonatiuh Orcs being led to the start of the Path - and Challenging, for the Ixtzûl believe All Knowledge & Skills Learned in Life must be Proven in the Afterlife - only them can they enjoy their rest with their deceased, honorable, and victorious brethren. The Path leads to a Subterranean System, wherein the Ixtzûl are tested physically, mentally and spiritually; based on their experiences and attributes. With success, they emerge into the entrance of the Golden City, awarding celebration - even if accompanied by Lutaumancers, it does not matter, for the tunnels lead each Ancestral Spirit into a different journey.

Caves in fact have an importance to the Ixtzûl, and ties to Death: they are places where Aztran’s Light does not reach, and where life struggles and perishes - unless it’s ‘of the Dark’. For this reason Lutaumans of the Clan go into caves for Spirit-Walks to the Ancestral Realm, figuring they are closer to the Realm of the Dead there. They make sure to purge the Cave of any wretched creatures that could disrupt the ritual, Hallowing the Cave with Incenses of Kor (made of powder and ashes from deathly remains) whilst chanting to the Spirit. It’s also in the Depths wherein one of the Clan Trials happens.

Rites to Kor are made Before & After Battle, with Spirits tied to Battle also being evoked (Vulka, Enrohk, Leyd, Kezt & Dazkur). Chants and praises are made before battle, for Kor to welcome the Ixtzûl should they fall in Battle; after battle is won, the fallen are gathered - both allies & enemies - with a sacred rite to Kor, such as a dance, taking place around their bodies. 

The Destination of the Corpses is thus defined: to which Spirit is to be sacrificed and how; nonetheless, the Bodies are Eaten, Burnt or Destroyed - not buried - in fear dark forces may reanimate or use them. In this light, Undead are dedicated to Kor, for the Spirit to punish or handle them as he sees fit.

Elders on the Brink of Death are sent to a Death-Quest, in hopes they may die honorably like a true orc: battling. An alternative, for those who Shamed the Clan, the Spirits or White-Washes, is a Blood-Eagle Ritual to Kor, where they must endure slowly dying as their ribcage is torn, without screaming or begging - one last ditch attempt to recover their honor and be welcomed in the Ancestral Realm.

For the Clan Death isn’t the End, only a New Chapter: what matters to the Ixtzûl is the Soul, with the Body being a mere Shell conceived and sustained by Gazigash, with odd instances where it is miraculously reconstructed without dark magic - for Each person has a Purpose to Fulfill in the Mortal Realm. At times too, one of the Dead - an Ancestral Spirit - may find New Purpose in the Mortal Realm, bound to Return as a Muyakelg, a practice seen as legitimate by the Ixtzûl, so long as the Dead has Kor’s Permission.

The Ixtzûl believe Aztran - worried about the Mortal Realm falling into Darkness when his Sun settles - reached out to his younger sister - Luara - requesting her to create a cosmic body to shine and illuminate the land during Night-Time.  Thus Luara raced across the cosmos hounding after scattered meteorites and debris destroyed during The Battle of the Spirits & the Tzitzimitl, collecting all of them together to create The Moon.

Luara since is said to Watch over the Mortal Realm through the surface of the chalk-moon, conversing with Aztran during Dawn & Dusk, when their astral bodies ‘swap places’ in the Skies. She is Revered as a Guardian, keeping the villages, the Orcs, and other descendents safer during the Night, Guiding them with the Moonlight and Preventing Darkness & Terror from choking the lands. For this reason, many Ixtzûl utter Prayers to when Venturing at Night, or Before Sleep, also Carrying Protection Idols of her.

It’s also believed she is responsible for Protecting Nocturnal Animals that aren’t offspring of the Darkness, the howls of coyotes and wolves seen as a form of Worship to her. For this reason the Ixtzûl Howl to the Moon, in Praise to Luara, enacting Rituals to Her in High-Peaks. 

The Ixtzûl are faithful that Luara, alongside the Stars, will be the foremost Spirit to warn them about threats from the beyond, be it through alignment or phenomena in the Night-Skies. The Cycle of the Moon represents Birth, Life, Death & Rebirth; and also portrays Luara’s War with Malignant Forces of the Beyond. 

The Blue-Moon signals great fortune is to fall upon the Ixtzûl, leading to rituals and even festivals to the Spirit; meanwhile the Blood-Moon is a clear bad omen, that impending doom and hardship is to follow, for Luara bleeds, Darkness Triumphant, leading to the Ixtzûl sacrificing more to her in hopes she heals, while staying on high-alert for enemies.

Luara is often the Spirit of Ixtzûl who find themselves stray from Aztran’s Luminous Path, her guidance sought to help them find their way back to it, instead of falling into darkness themselves.

The Clan refers to 1 IRL/OOC Day as 1 Luara/Moon Cycle, and 1 IRL Minute as 1 Luara/Moon Pace.

The Ixtzûl are closely tied to Land & Nature, believing the Spirits Directly Influence the World; it’s for this reason they seek to strike and maintain Nature & the Elements Balanced, lest the Mortal Realm plunges into Chaos. 

 Should any natural phenomena or mortal interaction mar the land, tip the balance, or cause harm to it or nature, the Ixtzûl shall act on behalf of Course-Correction - clearing the mess, healing the land, and worshiping spirits opposite to the element that prevailed over others. A wildfire may be combated with worship of a Lesser of Freygoth (associated to the biome burnt), to the Elemental of Water and to Urin (to usher in rains).

This is not to say the Ixtzûl befriend Druids, merely that some of their ideals are compatible - nonetheless, due to worshiping the Aspects (Tzitzimitl, Lesser, Vile, Deities), the clan members are prone to antagonize the Druii.

In the end, the Spirits mentioned here aren’t as direct and widely worshiped as the others, but Their Importance to the Mortal World is Acknowledged. When evoked though, the Ixtzûl will often do so in the form of Rituals and Festivities dedicated to those Spirits; mostly to Urin & Arwa, to assure the weather remains favorable, and harvest is bountiful.

 Zagbal, Lesser of Freygoth does take precedence over the Greater Spirit of Nature herself though, given the Ixtzûl’s preference and praise towards Jungles & Rainforests - their homeland biomes - the domains of Zagbal. They also believe Cocoa to be a Gift of this Spirit, used to make Xocolatl (Mahuizahtotl: “Chocolate”) which they utterly adore, deeming the taste divine.

While the Ixtzûl, as a Clan, worship a set of Clan Spirits in their own ways (as aforementioned), these Orcs encourage each Individual to Pursue the Spirit they Relate to the Most, to Be as close to them in the Mortal Realm as possible, both in their Connection to those Spirits and Down to Who They Are - becoming “Sons & Daughters of the Spirit”.

This applies solely to Elemental & Immortal Spirits, for Ancestrals (obviously) are other individuals that already perished. Spirits of Dishonorable Concepts are frowned upon, and prone to get the Orc who chooses them white-washed. Examples are Kesaroth, Veist, Letrothak, Etna, Paxahru, Anyhuluz, etc.

Aztran is forbidden, for no one Orc could hope to come close as somehow embodying or grasping the concepts of that Spirit (the Sun, the Stars & the Ethereal) for not only would that be immense haughtiness, but the Ethereal itself refers to things beyond mortal-grasp. Instead though, all Ixtzûl are to Champion Aztran instead.

This means the Ixtzûl through a life-long process of Self-Improvement & Discovery are to figure out this chosen Spirit of theirs, with aid of Wise Clan Members, Elders, Shamans & the Ilzhonal (through Ilzpaak Readings). They are to seek New, Different, Experiences especially during their youth, and travel the world, adventure, seek further knowledge both in the Mortal & Spiritual Realms, to Learn More about the Spirits & about Themselves.

Once they learn of this Spirit, and are sure of it, they are to venture to this Spirit’s Realm and Pact with them, turning to Champion their Chosen Spirit. From then forth, beyond merely serving this duty in the Mortal Realm, the Ixtzûl Orc is to try be the most like their Chosen Spirit, Evoking the Spirit in their Day to Day Actions and on Themselves (down to the likes of Traits, Qualities, Personality, Clothing & even Physique), albeit always Preserving their Clan’s Culture & Identity First Foremost.

In terms of Personality, the Ixtzûl would push themselves into thinking more like how their Patron would behave, with some of the (mostly ‘positive’) Traits of theirs being incorporated by the Orc.

 A Child of Isuz (Spirit of Compassion, Caring & Tranquility) for one boasting all of those attributes.

In respect to Qualities, the Child of the Spirit is to Master the Spirit’s Domain, seeking to gather as much knowledge and expertise on matters of the Spirit in question. 

A Son of Ghorza (Spirit of Travel, Movement & Good/Bad Fortune) would try to travel and map the world, always moving and organizing voyages/expeditions, learning about various types of good and bad omens and perhaps becoming an Ilzhonal to tell others their fortune. 

A Daughter of Vulka (Spirit of Warfare, Strategy & Siegecraft) would try to learn as much as possible about warfare, strategy and siegecraft, honing their minds for it, whilst also developing their bodies for martial prowess; trying partake in as many battles as possible, likely becoming a Military Leader.

In regards to Clothing & Physique, a Ixtzûl sees and treats their Bodies as Temples, even down to the literal sense: they will apply as many trinkets, paints, clothes, piercings and so on so forth to Mold Themselves after the Image of the Chosen Spirit (be it, or literally to appear similar to the form the Spirits take), some going so far as to apply the likes of Flesh-Smithing among other Mutations to do so.

The Reason for this is that the Ixtzûl not only believe it serves as an Ultimate Form of Homage and dedicated worship to the Spirits, but also a means for the Clan to Become Stronger through Diversity, which each Orc trying to achieve the highest degree of proficiency in a different area.