The Atharrgeàrd
The Singers are a totally peaceful people. They do not even fight in self defence. And yet, they are people. People with all of the different psychological profiles and personal preferences thereof. And, they are exposed to all the trials and travails life can throw at travellers, including bad actors and ravenous beasts. People react to trauma in different ways, and some of those people seek out the ranks of The Tchamut. These are the Blade Priests, the protectors and healers of the Singers.
Each Singer tribe traditionally has a Tchamut to protect them. Each of the Tchamut is assigned seven Tchamut students to train, as they travel with the tribe that they have been assigned to.
The Tchamut are, ostensibly, the guards and police force of the Singer tribes. There is a Blade Priest assigned to each tribe in need. But, when that priest retires or, heavens forbid, dies in the line of duty, a new priest must be sent out to mentor the students and protect the Singers.
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History
Born of the necessity to positively identify a new Blade Priest, the Atharrgeàrd came to be. Literally meaning "changing guard", the ritual is as old as the desert's dunes. The tribe travels to a predetermined place, and makes camp. The new Tchamut meets them there, performing the ritual with the eldest member of the tribe. After that, if there is a body to be sent back to Sgàineadh, it is sent off with a Sealgair Glainne, or a desert nomad looking to make some gold.
Execution
When the Singers in need of a new Tchamut make camp, they fly a yellow pennant from a forty foot pole in front of the empty Tchamut's tent. The new Tchamut, riding into the Tribe's camp slowly, astride their spirit mount, dismounts before the pole, and lowers the flag. Folding it in a peculiar manner, he blesses the Tribe's elders, then the rest of the tribe, and then hands the pennant to the eldest hale member of the tribe. It is exchanged with a secret handshake that is never shared.
Components and tools
A forty foot pole, a campground, and a yellow pennant.
Participants
The new Tchamut, the eldest hale member of the Tribe.
Observance
The rites are observed as soon as the new Tchamut rides into the camp astride their ghostly mount.
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