Zalnduu:
The religion of the Zalnduu, So named after their race.

Retta and the Zalnduu regard their religion as part of themselves. Everything they do is usually in service of or for one of their gods or spirits. I will be going over these below.

First I shall go over the spirits and what kinds of things they demand as a sacrifice. And what happens when you refuse.



The Spirits
Battle: battle demands gifts of flesh or sight. You must offer the flesh of yourself or your slain enemies to appease it.  Sight is also acceptable. Failure to give tribute means your skin is stripped from your body and kept.

Hunting: Hunting demands bones. One bone of every kill must be offered if it is your food. Failure to do so means you become hunted

War: War demands bodies. The more the better. The more horribly mutilated the better. Failure to do so makes you insane. A war in your mind.

Death: Death only asks for one thing and takes it when your life ends. You cannot fail this sacrifice
Life: Life demands your life in service to it and the rest of the spirits. Life is shown though the hair. Cutting your hair, or failing to sacrifice means you are walking dead and must be destroyed. The next Zalnduu that see's you will kill you. You are not allowed to fight back. You may gain your hair back if you life has been given to another.

Breath: Breath demands the air in your lungs. Every time you breath out you pray to it. Failure to do so and your breath will be stolen away, and your lungs ripped out.

Nature: Nature demands your service. You are the keeper of nature. Do not harm it. Causing harm will strip you of your connection to nature forever and you shall never hear wind, water, or birds singing.

Animal: Animal demands a prayer before the hunt, after the hunt, and during the hunt. Failure to do so leads to starvation

Blood: Blood demands blood. Yours or someone else. Failure to do so means your blood will be drained.

River: River demands your water. If not given tribute multiple times a day you will go thirsty. You give her tribute by drinking water and saying a prayer of over it. Failure to do so will cause you to dry up as a corpse.

Snow: Snow demands Scent and cold. You must never cover yourself when in a cold environment to let snow hug you. Failure to do so will cause you to freeze to death

Storm: Storm demands praise and your name. Failure to do so marks you for death and strips your of your mind.

Mountain: Mountain demands your soul. Failure to give your should turns you into a soulless creature and marks you for death

Earth: Earth demands your feet. You must sleep on the ground. Failure to do so will cause earthquakes and back cramps

Ocean: Ocean demands your Tears. Failure to grant them when sad will leave you an emotionless shell

Dream: Dream demands your dreams. Failure to dream results in you never waking up

Sky: Sky demands your voice. Failure to roar and sing brings eternal Darkness to your world.

Fire: Fire demands your body heat. You must light a fire and sprinkle herbs on it to invoke him. Failure to do so once a day causes you to burn to death.



 

Gifts And Sacrifice
To connect further with the spirits Zalnduu often sacrifice parts of themselves. Usually this is in the form of one of their five senses But sometimes other things are given. (their skeleton, muscle, flesh, organs, ect.) When they do this they allow the spirits to feel and interact with the world.  Since this is their only way to do so. In return for this offering the spirit will give the Zalnduu something back and usually augmented from the original. However, this comes at a large price. The Zalnduuis now bound to every desire of that specific Spirit. Failure to obey that spirit results in the spirit taking back what it wave the Zalnduu. In this case the Zalnduu does not regain their original sacrifice back. For example: Sight is given to Battle. In exchange battle gives the Zalnduu better night vision, more control over their ancient eye, and clearer vision. Then the Zalnduu forsakes the battle ritual and offering of flesh. The Zalnduu is then left with empty sockets for eyes and the offering of flesh is taken from their own body.

Only a very few Zalnduu do not offer something like this to a specific spirit. It's not mandatory but is highly encouraged even if  it's very risky. In rare cases the Spirit will decline to give something in return and just keep the offering. This is their right and the Zalnduu does not complain about it when it happens. A Zalnduu will never offer anything to Death. Death does not give anything in return. Some sacrifices are Mandatory for the Zalnduu to live. See Rituals.



Heartstones

These are the crystallized forms of an Zalnduu so as given to them by Mountain. The stone itself will be whatever their birth stone is. See below for a list. Heartstones are sacred and are only given away under extreme conditions or when a Zalnduu mates. (see marriage ritual). Heartstones are kept inside of the Amphi at all times. If a Zalnduu needs access to it they can cough it up at any time they please. They do this by literally coughing it out of their mouth. If a Heartstone is ever Shattered the Zalnduu dies. To help keep tabs on their family  Soulstones are often given out to children from the mother and father and  traded between siblings. (see below for Soulstones) Heartstones are the size of a Human fist

Soulstones:

Soul stones are small round stones that reflect the Zalnduu Heartstone. The size of them varies but most are the size of a human fist. 



List of birth stones:

January Birthstone
January Gemstone: Garnet
January Birthstone Color: Deep Red

February Birthstone
February Gemstone: Amethyst
February Birthstone Color: Purple

March Birthstone
March Gemstone: Aquamarine, Bloodstone
March Birthstone Color: Pale Blue

April Birthstone
April Gemstone: Diamond
April Birthstone Color: White, Clear

May Birthstone
May Gemstone: Emerald
May Birthstone Color: Green

June Birthstone
June Gemstone: Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
June Birthstone Color: White or Purple

July Birthstone
July Gemstone: Ruby
July Birthstone Color: Red

August Birthstone
August Gemstone: Peridot, Sardonyx
August Birthstone Color: Pale Green

September Birthstone
September Gemstone: Sapphire
September Birthstone Color: Deep Blue

October Birthstone
October Gemstone: Opal, Pink Tourmaline
October Birthstone Color: Multi-color, Pink

November Birthstone
November Gemstone: Citrine, Yellow Topaz
November Birthstone Color: Yellow

December Birthstone
December Gemstone: Blue Topaz, Turquoise
December Birthstone Color: Blue

 

Names:
Names are very important to the Zalnduu. After all it is branded on them. In most cases the Parents chose the first name of their children. This is usually based on a quirk that they have, Something they enjoy doing, Or just something pretty. This name isn't used until the child is two or three usually. This is also when they go though the Trial of the Name. In rare cases the name of a child is  determined  the second they are born. Below is a list of these rare names and what they mean. The last name of an Zalnduu is where they were born. Obomsawin, For example means "On a mountain". Retta's mother, Angwusonomataqa, Was born in a field of corn. Volvoretta's name, Volvoretta Obomsawin, means "Butterfly Born on a Mountain", her mother, Sanuye Angwusonomataqa, means "Snow Princess Born in a Field of Corn." Amphi's do not have middle names. In cases where two or more last names over lap the parents chose one or combine them. Example: Beltza Ahtahkakoopgauerdianbaso. "All black child born in a forest at midnight under the stars"



First Names that are given at birth:
 

Tzatch: Born as lightning strikes the ground outside. Those with this name become Shamans and seers.
 

Heriotza: Born as their mother died. Those with this name are shunned and often do not reach maturity.
 

Tximistaren: Born in a winter thunderstorm. Those born with this  name become great warriors
 

Kaktall: Born as thunder claps. Those born with this name are praised for their roar.
 

Odola: Their mother did not bleed in birth. Sought out as mates for good genes.
 

Sanuye: Born with white fur and named after the spirit of Snow. (albinos)
 

Beltza: All black. Black eyes, fur, hair. Named after the Spirit of Death
 

Urrezko Begi: Born with golden eyes (1 in 10,000 chance). Not to be confused with the golden eyes granted after sacrifice. Those born with this are channelers. (one of four Zalnduu names that include a middle name)
 

Zilarrezko Begi: born with Silver eyes (one in 5000 chance) . Those born with this are Seers (one of four Zalnduu names that include a middle name)
 

Bakoitiak Begi: Heterochromia. These are the most beautiful Zalnduu there are. (one of four Zalnduu names that include a middle name)
 

Konbinatuak Arima: Hermaphrodites. (one of four Zalnduu names that include a middle name)
 

Urakanak: born during a tornado or hurricane. Generally wild Childs
 

Sua: born during a forest fire. Named after the spirit of fire. Are always good hunters

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Last names:
 

Obomsawin: Born on a mountain
 

Angwusonomataqa: Born in a Corn field
 

Ahtahkakoop: Born under the stars
 

Gauerdian: born at midnight
 

Eguerditikaurrera: born at noon
 

Baso: Born in a Forest
 

Neguan: Born while snowing
 

Euria: Born while raining
 

Haizetsuena: Born while wind blows
 

Pradera: Born in a meadow
 

Korapilo: born in a grove
 

Zikinkeria: Born in a den (common name)
 

Ibaiaren: born near a river
 

Korrontea: born near a stream
 

Udaberrian: born near a hot spring
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Udan: born in great heat
 

Hotza: born in great cold
 

Uhinak: born near an ocean
 

Hiria: Born in a city (insult name)
 

Loreak: born in a field of flowers
 

Arroka: born in or on rocks/rocky terrain
 

Basamortuan: born in a desert
 

Kaktomuakz: Born near a volcano
 

Aintzira: born near a lake
 

Urmael: born near a pond
 

Arroila: born in/near a canyon
 

Ilargia: born under a full moon

Herbal mixes
 

Smoke leaf: Combination of tobacco, thyme, and rosemary
 

Spirit powder: sage, belladonna, Indian paintbrush, columbine, and wolfsbane

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Dyes and stain symbols
 

Spiral: Fluidity
 

Square spiral: Strength
 

Circle: Awareness
 

Handprint: honor
 

Band: Service
 

Double band: Respect
 

Triple band: Love
 

Eye line: Beauty and trust
 

Long line: Dedication
 

Short line: Trust
 

Spots: Binding/bound
 

Crescent: Life
 

Thorn: Courage
 

V: Determination
 

X: Marked for death.
 

Triple Diagonal lines: disgrace
 

Triple Vertical line: Murderer
 

Claw mark: Huntress/hunter
 

Arrow: Warrior
 

Third eye: Seer
 

Flame: shaman
 

Infinity sign: Soulless
 

Sideways six: Lifeless
 

Circle with a dot: Newborn
 

Chain/double helix: Slave
 

Upside down Triangle: Mother
 

Right side up Triangle: Father
 

Circle in a circle: mated
 

Circle within a Circle and a slash though the inner circle: Divorced

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Sacred Beasts
There is a group of Animals that the Zalnduu consider sacred. They are Considered the walking vessels of the spirits and are never hunted, nor ever killed. These are the Indocrins. They are 30 feet tall, 40 feet long, Giant rhino like creatures that weigh between 20 and 50 tons.  If an Zalnduu sees one being hunted by humans or other things they are compelled to defend the beast with their life. Taking the life of an Indocrin is the most egregious crime an Zalnduu can commit. If they commit this crime they will kill themselves on the spot. If an Zalnduu kills itself they will not go to the afterlife

Afterlife
Zalnduu believe that when you die your spirit if deemed worth becomes a star in the sky. To gain this honor you must adhere to all of the Tenants and rituals of Zalnduu, have children, mate, and have achieve the peak of your ability in your given profession. If you have not completed these tasks then you will become a blade of grass.

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Classes:

All Zalnduu hunt for their own food unless pregnant
 

Shaman: Weavers of nature and conjurers of spirits. They have the ability to manifest the Spirits into the physical plane. Must have the proper first name to be one. Dangerous in fights and will weave other's souls and Heartstones if asked by the spirits. Usually have a single patron that they give their entire body (with the exception of life and mountain, and storm) too. (Effect status in fights, stamina, strength, ect) Only bound by their chosen Spirit

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Seer: Fortune tellers. They pass on the religion to the next generation and  can divine people fortunes. Do not fight. Are not bound by Battle nor War.  Must have proper first name

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Channeler: Spirit Speakers. They Constantly let the spirits Speak though them and have no control over their own voice. They weave spells and use them in battle. Must have proper first name. Ranged Class

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Hunter: At home in the forest and nearly every Terrain they specialize in large, or hard to take down prey. They are the fastest of the classes. They are NOT allowed to use weapons except in war. Only then are they allowed a spear.

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Warrior: Well balanced and fantastic fighters. They are skilled with shields, axes, and hammers. They are the strongest of all the classes

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Disgraced ones: No magical ability, no weapon ability, no great hunting skill. This is a class comprised of those who have forgone their tenants, broken pledges to spirits, have no souls, no emotions, or no live. These are marked for death and bare an X on their chest, face, and arms. If seen by another Zalnduu they will be killed on sight.