How the Basmoli animists do it

From: hcarteau_at_18FRpa2LYkgN3g7Kduc-_BdOTky55UNV3JQIwPz31XeeBoe8Z4jJgWZnKNx6o2NR2Xr
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:16:03 +0100


> Someone has a variant? Give us a NARRATIVE of its difference

/// Basmoli hunters gather round before a Sacred Hunt, when they must hunt only for a specific prey. Today it is for Bison meat to feed their young ones. They call for the clan's shaman to help them call their sister spirits.

If he agrees to their Hunt, the shaman Yellow-Eyes calls for Keeshrka, Great Golden Lioness Huntress, ancestor of the Pride. He offers her some meat immediately and then the heart of every Bison slain if she sends forth her children, the High Pouncers. They were her five daugthers who all could spring very high to fall on their big, strong prey. They are A, B, C, D and E Lioness spirits.

The spirits will run along with the hunters ; their presence can be felt (smelled ?) by prey animals, makes them panick and rush towards the "physical" hunters. They stay with the hunters for a short time (a day ?) and are given the slain bisons' hearts on the spot, just after a kill. Then they go back to their mother on the Lion Plains (spirit world).

This special help doesn't mean the hunters can't use their own charms, the ones their shaman made for them since they became adults. However, some of them have Spirit Brothers of their own, which might or might not go along with Keeshrka's Daugthers. In one of the hunters, Whisks-away-flies, lives Purr-Owl, a male Lion Grandfather with the Power of Great Slash. But he killed Keeshrka's sixth daugther and her sisters hate him. This hunt will be difficult for him.

IN GAME TERMS, the level of victory of the ceremony gives a lasting benefit for the Hunt for Bisons, nothing else : this is what was agreed on with Keeshrka). BUT Whisks-away-Flies' player failed the roll and gets a penalty.

If no bison is caught during the hunt, Keeshrka is disappointed and will be more difficult to contact next time (lingering penalty). That the Children's belly stays empty is punishment enough for the Clan.

If other preys are caught, and their hearts offered to the Five Daughters with proper excuses, such as rolling over to offer one's belly in submission, perhaps they will accept them and all will be well. Perhaps not.

Thus we have opportunity to play the initial ceremony, the hunt itself and the possible making-up to spirits ceremony afterwards.

This was pretty standard stuff. I need to work out how Basmoli prepare Great Ceremonies, such as calling Basmola for War. Any ideas ?            

Powered by hypermail