Thrakk’nuruk
You must prove you are of my blood to earn your place with this tribe or be cast out and fade into darkness, never to be accepted by anyone for your weakness. - Orc Father to SonThrakk’nuruk, or the Test of Blood, is a coming-of-age tradition that all Orc must go through to prove themselves worthy to be part of their tribe and that their blood is strong so they remain in it. If they do not, they will be banished and become outcasts for the rest of their days, doomed to perish for weakness.
History
Blood of the Strong
Being an Orc has never been easy, considering something is always trying to kill you, and you must worry about feeding yourself and your tribe. This is why only the strong are allowed to live in the tribe, as there is no place for the weak to live amongst them, for they are burdens that cannot be tolerated due to their way of life. From here, the strong may have children to strengthen the time, but they must prove to themselves that their blood is still strong from their parents to carry on the tribe. Thrakk’nuruk is the test to prove they are strong enough to face any hardship and get back up to carry on. They are shown no mercy; when they reach adulthood, they will receive none. They are often put through harsh conditions to prove they are willing to go through these harsh conditions for the sake of their people, for the individual does not matter, only the tribe as a whole. In doing so, they will be prepared to face anything life throws at them as their blood is strong, and it will not be so easy to defeat them that easily. Once it is over, they will no longer be a child but an adult ready and willing to secure the survival of the tribe.Execution
The Four Trials of Blood
Four trials must be faced to prove themselves to the tribe; each one is much harder than the last to prove that they are as strong as their parents and be accepted as an adult in the tribe. The trials are Jinem, Ouni'ru, Verka, and Osamid, and each one will send them over the edge to test their limits, for it is a battle of the will to face their trials to overcome any struggle that comes at them and reign victorious over them. Jinem: The trial of the elements, to know the hardships of the land, they must go through the abuse of the elements have to offer. Often being exposed to the cold and heat with little to no protection from them. They will remain here for two days and nights in the same place without leaving their designated area on the outskirts of the camp. Ouni'ru: The trial of pain, all must know it sooner or later in life, but to know pain soon will better prepare them to overcome it. Here, the child will receive a single blow from each member of the tribe of their specific gender to teach them that pain means nothing to them if they are willing to overcome it and keep moving on. They must remain awake to prove they can take the pain and not let it overcome them. Verka: The trial of Hunger, all must eat to survive, for the hunger will always remain to remind them. For three days, they will go without food and water, so they may be able to carry on even when they have become weakened without sustenance. It is here they will go about their day with many temptations around them to test their will. Osmid: The trial of the hunt, the hunt is the way of life to an Orc, for to preserve life, one must take life. All their trial will have weakened them greatly to this point where they will hunt a beast that will satisfy them. They will be sent out alone with only a weapon and set out on their hunt. Once they have made their first kill, they may feast upon their meat to satisfy their hunger and drink its blood to quench their thirst. It is here they will bring back a trophy of the beast they have killed to prove they are a hunter who has overcome all the hardships that have befallen them.Into Adulthood
Once they have passed their trials, it will be time that they are no longer and child but an adult before the tribe. It is here they will be given the right to adulthood before all of the tribe in front of the shaman of the tribe. They will be given to them from their sacred words, and they will receive their brand, representing them as a member of the tribe. A hot branding iron will be pressed into their flesh as the symbol of their tribe forever be branded onto the powder dye to help it stand out. From that moment on, they, a member of the tribe, and a celebration with food and drink shall come with this joyous occasion until it finally dies down, and the newly fledged adult may receive a well-deserved rest from all of their trials.Components and tools
Branding Iron: Used to brand the adult with the symbol of the tribe to prove that they are a member of it.
Colored Powder: A colored powder is applied to the burned flesh of the branding mark to help it stand out so all may see it.
Participants
Youth: A boy or a girl that has reached the age of puberty is to be considered ready for the trials.
Tribe: The whole tribe will be involved in the child's trials to test them to see if they are worthy of being a part of the tribe.
Observance
It will always be taken when a child reaches puberty as it is a time of growth and change in their life as they will be to take responsibilities when they finally reach adulthood. But they must first be tested to prove they are worthy of being a member of the tribe.
Primary Related Location
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Price of Failure
You are no true Orc and have no place here now, leave while you have your life. - Orc Shaman to OutcastTo win is to live, and lose is to die; that has always been the way of the Orcs, and there is no exception to that way of life. Those who fail anyone of their test have the possibility of dying in the process, as their bodies can only take so much abuse. Death is often the easy way out as their struggle is over, and they do not have to deal with the consequence of their failure. But those still alive will face a fate worse than death to an Orc, banishment from their tribe, and being sent out into the wilderness as clanless. It is not an easy life either, as they are often on their own and must face many dangers that reside in the untamed lands; everything will prey upon the weak as they are the strong, and they can take what they want when they want, even the life of someone weaker.
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