Fire: Each day A Zalnduu must light a fire or smoke out of their sacred pipe. This is to honor the spirit of fire Sua. If this is not done the Zalnduu fear that they will burn to death in their sleep. When smoking out of their sacred pipe they must smoke the correct mixture of tobacco and herbs. Any deviation will anger the spirit of fire.
Smoke leaf: Combination of tobacco, thyme, rosemary, and Catnip





Water: A short Prayer of thanks must be said before water is drunk, taken from a river, or splashed upon the body. If this is not done the Zalnduu fear that it will boil and scald their skin when it touches them. A prayer can also be said for others. And water can be blessed using a different prayer for long journeys.

Prayer for self: “Oh ibai, eskerrik asko me, bizitza opari hau emateko.Maiatzaren nire egarria quench eta garbitu me garbitu.”

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Prayer for self, Translation: “Oh river, thank you for granting me this gift of life. May it quench my thirst and wash me clean.”

Prayer for others: “Oh ibaia. Barkatu bai bere akatsa.Eman zure ibaiaren zuzenean, bere egarria Laguntza gelditzeko zure odol.Ematen dizut nire odol tanta bueltan”



Prayer for others translation: “Oh river. Forgive their folly. Give them your life oh river, Help to stop their thirst with your blood. I give you a drop of my blood in return”

Prayer of Blessing Water: “Oh mantentzeko ibaiaren ur purua.Jarri zure bedeinkazioa ur me, nire bidaia luze bizirik mantentzeko.Eskerrik asko nirekin bat pieza ekartzea me emateagatik.”

Prayer of blessing water Translations: “Oh River keep this water pure. Place your blessing this water to keep me alive on my long journey. Thank you for letting me bring a piece of you with me.”





Earth: A Zalnduu must sleep on dirt. This means either directly sleeping on the ground or having earth placed under a mattress, Sleeping bag, Bedframe, in the bed with them, Or under their pillow. If this is not done they fear that they will contract Rheumatism, Cancer, and arthritis.

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Hunt: When prey is spotted A Zalnduu must sit and speak a prayer before killing the animal, In reverence to the spirit of the Hunt. Once the animal is killed they must say a second prayer of thanks. After the meal is finished the Waste products, scraps, and any bones that will not be used in craft must be arranged on the shoulder blade of the killed animal so that scavengers may come and dispose of it. Also one bone from the animal must be buried where the creature fell.

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Prayer before killing the animal: “Eskerrik asko dit janaria.Zure baimenik animalia hilko dira i eta nire afaria.Ez baduzu onestea piztia hiltzeko mea edo nire enbrageetam ihes.”

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Prayer before killing the animal translation: “Thank you for bringing me food. With your permission I will kill this animal and make it my dinner. If you do not approve may the beast slay me or escape my clutches”

After Successful hunt Prayer: “Eskerrik asko eta harrapatzeko me piztia hil emateagatik.Ezer ez doa hondakinen ziurtatu egingo dut.Lurperatuta dut da hezur eta zer ez i erabiltzeko beste izaki zaintzen duzula jaten utzi i izango”

After Successful hunt prayer translation: “Thank you for letting me catch and kill this beast. I will make sure nothing goes to waste. I have buried it's bone and i shall leave what i do not use out to feed the other creatures that you guard”



The Three Trails of maturity:

To be granted permission to be an adult by the spirits a Zalnduu must go through three trials.

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Trial of the soul: This happens when the Zalnduu is born. Their soul is offered to Mountain. In return they are given their Heartstone in the stone of their birth. The new born Zalnduu will become soulless and marked for death if the parents do not perform this ritual. This Ritual entails encasing the child up to the neck in the ground. The heat beat of the Mountain is felt though their body And they shall feel their soul being compressed. This is an incredibly painful experience which is why it is done when they are very small.

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Trail of life: A Zalnduu offers their live in service to the spirits and to life herself. They are given healthy hair and are never allowed to cut it. If they cut it they forfeit their lives and become a disgraced one. However, Completion of this ritual allows their hair to not have a terminal length. The length of a Zalnduu’s hair marks their age. It is half as long as they are old

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Trail of the name: A clay mask is made by the mother or father of what the name of the Zalnduu shall be. They are then taken to the place of their birth and struck by lightning from Storm. Their name is branded upon their face or back in rare cases. All Zalnduu branded on the back are named Tzatch The sound of lightning. They are only given this name if they are born when lighting hits the ground. This is done to Honor the Spirit of the storms





Ritual of battle: Before a battle An Zalnduu must sit and meditate to commune with Battle. Battle will direct the Zalnduu to victory and tell them how much flesh they demand. The amount varies. The flesh that is required can come from either the opponent or it can be ripped from the Zalnduu’s skin after battle.





Ritual of war: Before a war a Zalnduu must commune with Battle, Blood, and War. They will be instructed how to kill, how much blood must be spilled, how much flesh must be offered, and how many bodies must be given. A Zalnduu will not stop until they have filled their quota.  Symbols will be drawn on the Zalnduu body using red and white paint to note this number.



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Ritual of mating: Zalnduu must dress in popper mating chains. These can be handed down by the mother, or father respectively, or made by oneself. Their bodies are painted with gold dye, and a Prayer must be given to life and blood. Failure to do so leads to Impotence and infertility.

Mating prayer: “Geure burua entwine egingo dugu elkarrekin egin eta gurekin bat.Zaintzeko i.Ez dut egin me gorroto horiek”

Mating prayer Translation: “We shall entwine ourselves together and make us one. This is the one I care for. I shall not betray them.”



Ritual of death: Upon the end of an Zalnduu life they shall leave their possessions in their den and start to wander across the land. They will not hunt, they will not drink, they will not stop until they reach the spot chosen by death and they will die there.  Any family they may have shall rejoice in the Zalnduu final sacrifice. Their Heartstone turns black and shatters.

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Ritual of birth: An expectant mother must give prayer and tribute to blood daily to keep her baby healthy. She shall Praise life once a week and must wear a dress made from Indocrin skin at all times. Her body shall be painted with red, silver, and black dye. This dye is permanent and will forever stain her fur. The Zalnduu family shall rejoice and take care of the mother in this time. If separated the Zalnduu family will make the trek back to see the new child. The Father must hunt for the mother. He will not eat during this time as tribute. Instead he Feed upon the same milk that his child shall feed upon during this time.

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Ritual of marriage: In this ritual the two Zalnduu exchange their Heartstones. This is a symbol of love and trust as they trust the other with their very soul and essence. Same sex Marriage is not discriminated against. The stones are to be kept inside forever or until given back to the original owner. Having your Heartstone given back is a disgrace. It symbolizes that the person rejects your very being.

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Ritual of the Beast: When a Zalnduu matures they will search out the skin and bone of an Indocrin that has died naturally. This skin and bone is kept with them at all times and is considered to be a sacred item. Usually the skull is kept somewhere on their person as well. Zalnduu may not have children unless they possess this skin.





Compulsion of Protection:

There are three parts to this they are listed below:



Indocrins: If a Zalnduu happens upon an Indocrin being hunted they must rush to its defense. The Zalnduu will attempt to kill all parties hunting the Indocrin, or they will die in this attempt. No Zalnduu is exempt from this. Be they men, women, children, pregnant mother, or the elderly.



Sanctuary: If a non Zalnduu is inducted into the clan as a brother/sister, they may make a claim for sanctuary. This allows them into the homes of any Zalnduu, and allows them to have a Zalnduu companion that will protect them with their life if needed. The same is said for any Zalnduu. A Zalnduu may request the same as the inducted.



Nature: Each Zalnduu is expected to keep their territory free from invading people, harmful elements, and Grutroot taint. If they have the slightest feeling that something is offsetting the delicate balance of their territory they will seek out and destroy the cause.





Sacrifice Specific Ritruals

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Each Zalnduu in their life makes a sacrifice to one of their spirits. Each spirit Demands a specific thing to be done for them for the gift that has been given. The gifts and sacrifices are listed below.

* Thunder eye: Does not work on the Sisters of Violence

** Overpowering speech: Does not work on the Sisters of Violence



Ritual of Sacrifice: A Zalnduu removes part of their body and gives it to the spirits as their sacrifice. This part of their body is given back after the sacrifice is accepted. A large spiral must be painted on the ground with white dye. The Zalnduu sits in the center of it and chants the spirits name as they remove the part of their body. If the Specific ritual for each spirit is not met the gift will be taken back and the part of the body they originally gave up is taken away too. The sprits do not give the original body part back.





Note: only one gift is obtained. It is chosen by the Zalnduu upon the sacrifice.

           
Hunting/ Ehiza :
Gifts: Keen senses, Heightened hearing, Heightened smell, Increased movement speed, more endurance, or stronger teeth and claws.

Ritual Required: Must eat the heart of an animal once per day

Sacrifice Required: To cut off a piece of the ear, to remove a toe, or to Cut off a finger.

                                         
Death/ Beltza  : Nothing. Death does not bargin She only takes. No Zalnduu offers her anything except when their life ends.                    

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Life: Bizitza:
Gifts: Longevity, Increased immune system, or fertility

Ritual required: One drop of blood per day

Sacrifice required: All pigmentation of the body

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Breath/ Arnasa:
  Gifts: Immunity to Airborne toxins, resistance to Venom, or Acrobatic Skills

Ritual Required: one hour of deep breathing meditation every day

Sacrifice required: One lung 

           
Nature/ Izaera:
Gifts: Commune with trees, plants, and beasts, or a thicker hide

Ritual Required: One hour of Sunbathing each day.

Sacrifice required: A one inch square piece of flesh from the throat.

                   
Animal/ Izaki:
Gifts: Feral Ferocity, Mind of the beast, or Horns.
  Feral Ferocity: Increased movement speed on all fours and increased strength 2 fold.
  Mind of the Beast: A Zalnduu can Sense where animals are, And temporarily gain A passive ability from them. The ability Varies

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Required Ritual: The Zalnduu Must not hunt one of the animals Chosen by the spirit.

Required Sacrifice: One foot, or one hand must be cut off. 

                                  
River/ Ibaiaren:
Gifts: Increased swimming speed, Ability to find water anywhere, or a greatly increased time before the Zalnduu dies of thirst (8 weeks)

Required Ritual: Must bathe once a day

Required Sacrifice: Two Quarts of Blood.

                
Snow/ Elurra:
Gifts: Astounding Beauty, Ability to charm/hypnotize others, or Youthful appearance until death.

Required Ritual: Must sit in icy water, Snow, or other cold thing for 2 hours each day.

Required Sacrifice: The nose   

                 
Storm/ Ekaitz:
Gifts: Thunder Eye, Overpowering speech, or Blade of the storm. (
                        Thunder eye: invokes the spirits that other Zalnduu have given their sacrifices too and allows temporary control over the spirit.*
                         Overpowering speech: Lets the Zalnduu slightly influence the decision of other Zalnduu with their words.**
                         Blade of the Storm is a Sword imbued with the power of a tornado

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Required Ritual:
  Thunder Eye: After Use all strength is drained from the body
  Overpowering Speech: After Use the user may not speak for two hours
  Blade of the Storm: Inflicts constant damage to its user.

Required Sacrifice: All users of these abilities are Blind and have No Sense of Smell 

             
Mountain/ Harria:
Gifts: Strength of the Mountain, Form of the Mountain, or Eye of the Seer.
  Strength of the Mountain: Strength increases 20 fold for 15 minutes.
  Form of the Mountain: Size increases by 3-5 feet, Strength increases 5 fold for 1 hour.
  Eye of the Seer: Future Sight, and the ability to tell truth from lies. Once per day

Required Ritual: Before use must break one Soulstone.

Required sacrifice: Three Ribs

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Earth/ Lurra:
Gifts: Blood of the earth, Axe of three Worlds, Body of Stone
  Blood of the Earth: Use of Metal, forging skills, and Magma Blood.
  Axe of Three Worlds: An Axe weapon Imbued with the power to cause earthquakes.
  Body of Stone: Almost impenetrable Hide, Decreased movement speed.

Ritual required: Must be completely covered in earth while sleeping.

Required Sacrifice: One arm  

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Ocean/ Bazterren:
           Gifts: Hammer of Waves, Excellent Fishing skills, or Flexibility
  Hammer of Waves: A hammer imbued with the Tidal forces of the waves.

Required Ritual: The Zalnduu Must live on the shoreline. They are never allowed to stray more than 50 miles from it.

Required Sacrifice: the Liver





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Dream/ Ametsa:
Gifts: Illusions, Shield of Dreams, or Lucid Dreaming
  Shield of Dreams: An unbreakable Shield that reflects the Nightmare of the Opponent

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Required Ritual: The Zalnduu Occasionally Hallucinates.

Required Sacrifice: The eye lids 

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Sky/ Zerua:
Gifts: Ability to Speak all Languages, Spear of the Sky, or A beautiful soothing voice while singing
  Spear of the Sky: Pierces any armor, With the exception of the Shield of Dreams

Required ritual: Once per day the Zalnduu Must sing

Required Sacrifice: the Tongue, or Voice box

                       
Fire/  Sua:
Gifts: Berzerker, Immunity to Burns, Breath of Ash.
  Berzerker: During battle a Zalnduu will become stronger as more and more damage ins inflicted upon them.
  Breath of Ash: A Zalnduu can breathe a super-heated toxic cloud.  

Required Ritual: The Zalnduu must hold a hot coal in their hand Once a day for 5 minutes.

Required Sacrifice: One leg





Sisters of Violence/Battle, War, and Blood/Borrokatzea, Gerra, Odoletan
Gift: Eyes Of Destruction
  Eyes of Destruction: The Zalnduu with this ability can bring utter terror upon a person who gazes into their eyes. If it is prolonged the eyes will Consume the victims life force and kill them. Most Victims Commit suicide before this happens.

Required Ritual: Once per week a 6 inch by 2 inch strip of skin must be ripped from the body.

Required Sacrifice: Both Eyes must be ripped out, and the user feels excruciating pain while using the eyes of Destruction

Side effect: Golden eyes. These are the only non channelers that have golden eyes.