Post by ♚ Psychobabble ♚ on Feb 3, 2016 21:21:35 GMT
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Table by BRY of W&&R and ADOX[/div]
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[attr="class","musetemptext"]Pitch Black
[break]When the lights go out
[break]When the lights go out
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[attr="class","category"]Rite Information
- What do you aspire to be in life? A leader? A lover? Or maybe you just want your name to mean something, long after you've been reduced to the very soil you walk upon. If these ideas interest you, then maybe you should consider taking a rite for a title of your choosing. A rite is a series of three challenges, from novice, intermediate, and, if you pass the first two, master.
- Rites will either make you into a champion or destroy your chances of becoming one. They are intended only for the best of the best- and the reward, you ask? Admiration. Responsibility. A chance to have your name be remembered only when there is talk of victory, for your deeds, your accomplishments, to be included in the stories that we will tell our future generations so that they may keep the memory alive.
- Seer
- Ah, yes. Seers. Some revere these mystical wizards, and others wish that they were wiped from existence. If you are unhappy with your measly shamanic duties, then there is always the option to give up your freedom to the gods. In exchange for your normality, your soul will become ethereal- you will be amongst the stars, brethren of the sky. Seers burn with a spiritual flame that is only as steady and warm as their devotion.
- ---
- First Rite
- The first step to becoming transcendent is to understand nature. All aspirants must venture from the safety of the pack to visit landmarks- be it an ocean, the top of a rocky slope, or even a cavern. You must learn to communicate with Gaia.
- ---
- Second Rite
- If you are successful in opening your mind and body to the gods, then you may continue with the second rite. This time, you must find an adequate amount of the following: nightshade berries; if you are female, or yew berries; if you are male. At dusk, you will be instructed to eat a very insignificant amount of the berries after a speech. The purpose of this rite is to prove your dedication to Gaia. You must trust the gods to reward you for your faith. If you refuse the berries or hesitate, then you will be disqualified from the rite process. A Seer must never question the will of the makers.
- ---
- Third Rite
- The final rite. If you have successfully completed the last two rites, then there is only one last challenge keeping you from becoming a Seer. To solidify your journey to a higher plane, you must partake in a ritual that requires you to drink ichor from a basin, created by matting elephant ear leaves together with pine sap. The content of the liquid is never revealed to the aspirant, or anyone else for that matter. The clear fluid is created by the pack leader in complete secrecy- even the ingredients are collected privately. When the moon is at its highest, the hopeful shaman will sip the ichor until nothing is left. By that time, a low flame will have been created, surrounded by an assortment of pebbles and shards. The fire is created by taking reasonably sized rocks and tossing them against a large stone formation or anything similar, which in turn causes sparks to bounce off from the impact. Tinder will be waiting below, and from there, the pack leader can add the required herbs to fuel the blaze. You will then be told to slowly inhale the rising smoke. If all goes as planned, the aspirant is expected to black out. During this time, you will likely hallucinate. The pack will be on guard and monitor your health while you are ascending. Although Seers usually do not reveal what they saw in the sleep-state, frequent pestering has yielded that the visions can be anywhere from your personal paradise to your worst nightmare. Some Seers reported that they saw deceased loved ones, and a handful have said that they felt an omniscient presence. When you eventually awaken, if the ritual was a success, you should hear and see things in a different perspective. Trees are no longer trees- they are your guardians, their tendrils gently reassuring you that all is well. The flowers are no longer flowers- they are mischievous little imps, giggling and whispering as you walk by. After some time adjusting to your new way of living, you will begin to experience visions. Don't forget to regularly speak to Gaia- you never know what knowledge she might share with you.
- ------------
- Crusader
- It is said that there is no greater hunter than that of a Crusader. With the fluidity of a serpent, the grace of a wildcat, they have harnessed the primal urge to take life only to take more life. There is no such thing as a hunting ground in the eyes of these elite few- every day is a game of life and death, and they have made it perfectly clear about who is predator and who is prey. In fact, if one were to delve into pack lore, they would find it was once believed that all Crusaders were blessed in the womb by Uia, who the older generations thought to be the goddess of all hunts.
- ---
- First Rite
- To live among the stars and hunt for eternity alongside Uia herself. This is no easy thing to achieve, but yet, for decades, Crusaders have managed to surpass the rites and join their brothers and sisters in a chase that never ends. The first rite is fairly simple- you are to travel to a mountainous region, located in the far west, and retrieve a bloomed rose from the highest slope. The purpose of this rite is to heighten how you sense the world around you, and to reveal just how easy it might be to overlook something so simple, yet, so important.
- ---
- Second Rite
- So, you have returned with the rose and are ready to begin the second rite. At dawn, the rose will be ground into a sticky paste and smeared onto your pelt- you can either choose a reasonable location, or allow the applicators to apply it randomly. Once you are coated with streaks of red, you may continue your journey to the stars. The next rite requires that you travel deep into a dense forest located northeast and connect with Uia. Once you have successfully praised the queen of all hunts, you are to seek out the stag Viduun. After you have slain the beast, you must return with his pelt and skull with the antlers still attached. These rewards are yours to keep, and can be fashioned into a cloak, if the thought interests you.
- ---
- Third Rite
- The end of Uia's path draws near. To seal your fate as a star-hunter, you must preform one final task. At moonhigh, the pack will migrate to the very same forest that Viduun resides in. However, instead of hunting the stag, it is you that will adopt the role of prey. After a few seconds, the hunt will commence- your goal is to avoid your brothers and sisters in arms. There will be no mercy, no pity. The very same wolves that you call friends will seek to tear into your flesh, to taste your still-warm blood. This morbid game of hide-and-seek will be over once the moon falls to the mountains. The pack will return to camp and await your return. If you managed to not be caught, then you are now apart of Uia's seekers. Her starry bow demands precision- and you will be the arrow.
[li]------------ - Praetorian
- Stone cold and ready to gut you open. Praetorians are the will of Uir, god of war and battle. Once upon a time, only Praetorians were allowed to lead the pack, as the wolves thought that there was no other able body that could secure victory quite like these beasts- and they were right. If you think you've got what it takes, you are welcome to try and please Uir. Good luck, legionary.
- ---
- First Rite
- Before you can take your place in Uir's realm, we must first test your valor. Scout the plains for a bison herd, and defeat the leading bull. If you manage to succeed, drag the carcass back to camp as proof. Assuming you are still eager to serve, the second rite will commence after a short break.
- ---
- Second Rite
- A warrior is only as efficient as his weapons allow him to be- you must learn how to use your teeth. While most wolves use their mouths for basic primitive needs, a Praetorian uses his gleaming ivories to carve the hearts out of fallen foes. But how will you ever know what hurts unless you've felt it yourself? At noon, you will be instructed to eat the flesh of the bison. Once you are satisfied, the pack will form a ring around you, and until the sun shifts, you must endure the gnashing maws of your brethren. You may not strike back- a Praetorian does not cower from flesh wounds. When the event has ceased, any gashes that have accidentally seared too deep will be tended to by any nearby Shamans.
- ---
- Third Rite
- So, your wounds have healed- perhaps you even have a few new scars to boast about. The event has strengthened your resolve- you feel bolder and better. It's time for the third and final rite. You may die- alas, that is the price to pay when such grand rewards await you on the other side. After you have readied yourself, travel east. There, you will find a plateau, towering high above the horizon. Uir has been watching you, eagerly awaiting this moment. Scale the mountain and face the spirit of the war-god, a massive grizzly bear, with the pelt of a starless night. The apparition is known as Telaviin, an entity created by its master purely to test aspiring Praetorians. Defeat him, if you can. Many lives have been taken by this supernatural force, but if your path is truly supposed to be walked as an agent of Uir, then you will succeed. There is no need for proof if Telaviin dies by your hand- When you return to camp, your aura will have shifted. Congratulations, Praetorian- you now walk as a divine amongst mortals.
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[attr="class","category"]Short-term Rites
- First Thread
- Second Thread
- Third Thread
- Etc...
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