Spear of Death

Thanks esongbird24601 for the inspiration. :)

A still-growing group of about twenty Mousari younglings has formed a secret society that has set as its goal to eliminate the Cheese Monster in the sewers. To recognize other members (which isn't really a big thing because they all know each other) and to distinguish the higher from the lower ranks they have found an item as "secret symbol" and established a system of colour markings on it. They found a pack of toothpicks, which they dip into colour and hand those "Spears of Death" over one by one to new or advancing members in a "big ass ceremony".

Spear of Death usage by rank

• New members (lowest rank) are cheesy: yellow end
• Apprentices (1-week members) are blushing: red end
• Adepts (2-week members) are still green: green end
• Regular members (4-week members) got blue, but the younglings forgot why and also their blue colour dried out, so they use black on one end of the toothpick now
• Inner Circle (initial founders) know the deepest secrets: two black ends

All carriers of a Spear of Death meet regularly and train attacks and defences with their spear. The toothpicks are not meant to be used for fighting though, but solely as a secret symbol to appear somewhat important. The fighting has more symbolic character and keeps the members of the small secret society together and busy.

The actual plan to fight the Cheese Monster is actually not too bad: a blacksmith has his shop right above the entrance to the sewers where the monster is located. The plan is to somehow pour liquid metal down the waste pipe, or if that fails, to make the blacksmith aware that some of his stuff fell down there. The Mousari younglings hope he is going to fight and kill the monster. First preparations have already been made but have not been communicated to the lower ranks of the society yet.

SC2020: Describe a common item that is used as a secret symbol in your world.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Current Location

Bridgeport

Owning Organization

Mousari Tribe

Weight

3g

Dimensions

4 inches long