Ashirad
A civilization with amnesia and nomads of the Old World. The Ashirad are an ancient race who still remember their past lives in the Oceanic Cosmos.
Basic Information
Dietary Needs and Habits
Due to living in an environment that lacks fertile soil, Ashirad predominately have a meatculture. Thus, butchers and hunters are highly important in Ashirad communities. Every part of an animal is used, whether it be for food or various tools, nothing goes to waste. Some body parts that may be considered weird or repulsive to other civilizations are a delicacy in the Arctic Circle, like eyeballs various organs, brains or genitals. One of the most common dishes an Ashirad prepares is bloodsoup, as hunters often return with a large bag full of it.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
- Some Ashirad are natural oneiromancers, they become shamans and through their ventures in the Dreamspace they protect their community from evil spirits.
- Collective memories: An Ashirad can gain another being's memories by drinking their blood. To them, blood contains a being's entire life force. And drinking it is a common practice to hunters.
Civilization and Culture
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Ancestor Ritual
In their cultures, community is important. Soon after Ashirad are born, the parents will have them look at the night sky in order for them to pick a star or constellation. Their chosen star will give them good fortune and wisdom from the former ancestors who've made the same choice as the baby. For the newborn, this is known as their own ancestral star/constellation to guide them through life.
Passing Ritual Ashirad view death as a beautiful ritual to the hereafter. When one dies, its soul splits in two. It's meant that the conscious soul travels to their ancestral star/constellation to be part of it, and enlighten it for more generations to come. While the subconscious soul, containing fond memories and emotions tied to the community will be drunk by those witnessing their passing. In fact, the blood of the deceased must be drunk, preferably by people from their own tribe. The blood coursing through their family's veins releases the soul from its earthly tethers in order for them to ascend to a new form of life. Refusing to drink a deceased person's blood will instead bind them to the world until the end of times. Turning them into wrathful, bitter spirits for not being able to unite with their ancestors. Said angry spirits will bring misfortune to the community.
The same ritual counts for animals. Ashirad view life in general as sacred, considering that there's not much of it in their part of the world. Drinking someone's blood and using every part of the animal is considered a gesture of respect and good fortune. A decomposing animal is considered haunted by its spirit, regardless they will be burned and placed on a crude raft to drift off into the ocean if possible. And any part of the animal that can be used, will be used. This may release some earthly tethers as it evaporates into the sky.
In some Ashirad communities, the passing ritual even demands that one uses parts of the body for something practical (some bones as a bow or spear thrower, the skin as crude manuscript, etc.). Some tribes even demand cannibalizing the body in order to fully free them of earthly tethers. Many tribes consider that beastly, as Storm Giants are known to practice ritual cannibalism on their deceased as well. An invasive species they're constantly fighting for territory.
In their cultures, community is important. Soon after Ashirad are born, the parents will have them look at the night sky in order for them to pick a star or constellation. Their chosen star will give them good fortune and wisdom from the former ancestors who've made the same choice as the baby. For the newborn, this is known as their own ancestral star/constellation to guide them through life.
Passing Ritual Ashirad view death as a beautiful ritual to the hereafter. When one dies, its soul splits in two. It's meant that the conscious soul travels to their ancestral star/constellation to be part of it, and enlighten it for more generations to come. While the subconscious soul, containing fond memories and emotions tied to the community will be drunk by those witnessing their passing. In fact, the blood of the deceased must be drunk, preferably by people from their own tribe. The blood coursing through their family's veins releases the soul from its earthly tethers in order for them to ascend to a new form of life. Refusing to drink a deceased person's blood will instead bind them to the world until the end of times. Turning them into wrathful, bitter spirits for not being able to unite with their ancestors. Said angry spirits will bring misfortune to the community.
The same ritual counts for animals. Ashirad view life in general as sacred, considering that there's not much of it in their part of the world. Drinking someone's blood and using every part of the animal is considered a gesture of respect and good fortune. A decomposing animal is considered haunted by its spirit, regardless they will be burned and placed on a crude raft to drift off into the ocean if possible. And any part of the animal that can be used, will be used. This may release some earthly tethers as it evaporates into the sky.
In some Ashirad communities, the passing ritual even demands that one uses parts of the body for something practical (some bones as a bow or spear thrower, the skin as crude manuscript, etc.). Some tribes even demand cannibalizing the body in order to fully free them of earthly tethers. Many tribes consider that beastly, as Storm Giants are known to practice ritual cannibalism on their deceased as well. An invasive species they're constantly fighting for territory.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Geographic Distribution
