Template:OruchRitual

Ritual Magic

Hui-marata: Through ritual, oruch clans may cast themselves open to the Chaos ether. The act calls forth a Force from Beyond to overtake one of them. By using a member of their clan as a host, this force may speak with and interact with the world temporarily. The Vessel will act differently, and their voice may change--deepening or raising unnaturally to reflect its possessor. In this way, oruch may ask for wisdom from beyond, or weigh the results of potential actions. For a RL counterpart, think voodoun possession by the loa.

This is most commonly used to draw ancestral warriors to the battlefield, or for ceremonious occasions. For such occasions, clans maintain items which are said to resemble the items the essence wore in life--such as a weapon or set of pauldrons. Once a vessel is chosen, their clothing is exchanged for these items.

Mahoreo: Related to the hui-marata is the mahoreo. It draws on the same principles, but is more random in nature. Mahoreo is combination brutal theatre and fortune-reading done arena-style through the intervention of spiritual forces. A council of elders calls individual oruch are called upon from the audience to represent opposing forces. Forces can be anything--ancestors, aspects of the gods, even potential outcomes to future actions are capable of manifesting in this way. Omens are then drawn from their combat.

For example, oruch generals may debate over strategy for an important, upcoming battle. To settle the dispuse, one oruch might be called upon to represent Kor's fierceness in mounted combat. Another would represent the god's strength via pike and shield. Yet another would represent the enemy force that opposed the clans.

Mahoreo take place on clan grounds or a prepared site and are always overseen by a council of shamans or priests who interpret the struggle. During mahoreo, the contestants are considered to be temporarily divinely touched and influenced by the various forces of the world. This, and the council's involvement, lends the ceremony its weight. This is not to say there is not showmanship and skill involved. There is.

Oruch typically see it as an honor to be chosen, though the end result is often bloody.

Mahoreo are called to settle disagreements or to predict the future or potential outcome of a series of events. Clans possess different versions of this, and other, traditions. The mahoreo is only one example of possibilities.

Sacred Objects

Any weapon from the Old Age (when they were slaves to Chaos and blood) it is said, must be handled with care. Helms have special significance, as they're said to retain some of the owner's energies, if said owner was killed in a particularly violent way. The orich clans also take into their care items worn by great heroes, as these objects are used to cement a "presence" called upon during hui-marata.