Khaeros

Physiology & Appearance | Notable Characters | Additional Information

Ritual

Ritual is a very important element in the lives of most Mhordul. They believe that shortly after a Mhordul has died, the spirit exits the body, leaving behind a worthless shell to be disposed of. However, out of respect, they do not eat or use the bodies of their own dead. Before the fall of K’dath-Mal they would release them into the lava which flowed deep inside the cave complex, but now with many Mhordul not living in areas with lava, an acceptable alternative is to burn the body in a large funeral pyre. In the Mhordul death ritual, it is traditional for friends and family to sit with the body to protect it from scavengers for a day and a night before the body is disposed of. They believe this is sufficient time for the soul of the person to realise the body has died and fully leave it in order to move on. It should also be noted that after a battle with the Mhordul, finding a body of one of their fallen warriors is a rare occurance, as the Mhordul always take special care to ensure they collect their dead so that their foreign enemies cannot desecrate or dishonour their fallen hunters.

Furthermore, a Mhordul who is no longer able to be of use to himself or others, whether with fighting, crafting, or spiritual leadership, has the traditional obligation of committing ritual suicide. Tradition dictates that a close friend, relative, or preferably eldest son must assist. That person’s role is to hand the dying or crippled Mhordul a ritual dagger so that he can plunge it into his heart, remove it, and then cut the palm of the person assisting with the bloody blade, thus passing all of their worldly power on to them.

Aside from the standard marriage rituals, Mhordul rituals also include a bonding ceremony which joins two people, of either sex, together in a relationship similar to brotherhood. Of course, this bonding is not a sexual relationship, but moreso akin to that of Blood Brothers.

Mhordul warriors speak proudly to each other; they do not whisper or keep their distance. Standing far away or whispering are considered insults in Mhordul society. The worst such offence, however, is to be caught lying. Mhordul believe only the weak need to use such things as lies to hide their true intentions. If a Mhordul wants to keep something to himself, he will simply not speak of it at all, rather than lie.

Religion

Mhordul religion differs somewhat from most other religions, since they rely heavily on Animal Totems, which they believe the gods use to represent themselves, as the Mhordul Spiritual teachings say that the Gods are so all encompassing that they have no one true form for which to reveal to mortals such as themselves. They do, however, believe that the Gods’ names, as well as other sacred knowledge kept within the circle of the shaman caste, was passed down to them ages ago by the deities themselves.

Xorgoth: the main deity followed by the Mhordul, Xorgoth, is the War God, who speaks through Thunderstorms and shows his power through Lightning. His Animal Totem, the Dragon, is often conjured up before a large battle to take hold of the Mhordul and strengthen them.

Kyral: concubine of Xorgoth, Kyral is the Goddess of Death. Her name often follows Xorgoth’s in many a Mhordul warcry. It is believed by the Mhordul that the spirits of those who die bravely in battle (or otherwise honourably) are met by Kyral herself, and taken to Syrath, or the spirit world, once they have left their bodies, while those she deems unworthy are dragged by her to Kel’garr, or the Abyss. Her animal totem is a Giant Copperhead, due to the quick death such a creature brings to those who do not heed it’s warning. The circular symbol of the Serpent swallowing it’s own tail is also used by the Mhordul to represent the continuation of the spirit after death.

Bulgan: the Mhordul view Bulgan as the God of Luck. He is called upon when travelling into unknown or unfamiliar regions, to ensure the Mhordul does not fall victim to any unseen dangers or traps. Bulgan’s Totem is the Sea Serpent, who dwells in the deep waters of the world, over which Bulgan also holds sway.

Zyrgha: the Sister of Bulgan, Zyrgha resides over the open plains and fields of the world. She is the goddess of fertiliy, both for the land itself and those who dwell upon it. Offerings to Zyrgha are made frequently during Birthing and Marriage rituals. Her Animal Totem is the Stallion, which is also a symbol of Endurance.

Thorgak: holding domain over the element of Fire, Thorgak is the God of the Sun and the life it brings. Due to his link with Life and Rebirth, offerings to Thorgak are usually made by a Shaman during their attempts to heal and revive injured or fallen warriors. Prayers to Thorgak also play a dominant roll in funeral rites, when the bodies of the fallen are given over to the Lava. Thorgak’s Animal Totem is the Jaguar.

Drauglyr: wife of Thorgak and Goddess of the Wind and the Moon, Drauglyr’s Animal Totem is the Wolf, and she is also linked to the Mysterious, as well as the Occult, which is why most Medicine Men, and any Mhordul Warlock (when there is one), tends to give nightly prayers to her in the hopes she will reveal such knowledge to them. The Mhordul often tend to adorn their mounts, extremely large Dire Wolves, with symbols of this goddess as well.

The Mhordul also pray to the Spirits of their Ancestors, who they believe reside in the spirit realm. While not worshipped as Gods, Mhordul do believe the spirits of their ancestors can hear and help them when needed. However, it is beleived that calling too often on one’s Ancestors unecessarily, or for trivial reasons, can anger them.

Mhordul Medicine Men are the Spiritual Leaders of the tribe, some also act as Seers and Oracles, as well as Healers. Almost every large event in Mhordul life is overseen by a Medicine Man, from births and marriages to battles and death. Even the ritual tattooings of Mhordul Hunters are performed by the Medicine Men. Aside from their knowledge of curing Ills and healing wounds, many Medicine Men claim to also communicate with the Spirits and the Totems by using intense rituals, meditation and divining tools, as well as various herbal concoctions to aid their visions.

Before the Mhordul Civil War, and the fall of K’dath-Mal, it was of course easier to find a Medicine Man to take care of ones spiritual or sometimes medical needs. Afterwards, depending on where or how they have decided to live, not all Mhordul have this luxury anymore, even though many of K’dath-Mal’s surviving Medicine Men still serve the community as best they can, by traveling to wherever they’re needed.