Southern Vraccus burial ritual

Approaching the farm house a lone man stands in the middle of his field, brandishing an ax. He holds the ax skyward apparently praying to the gods. We drew closer, looking for shelter for the night and hoped he and his would be gracious enough to provide lodging and food. We did not wish to interupt his prayer and thus waited some yards away to not offend. The man finished and began chopping, slowly and with well aimed strikes. He aimed to make his cuts true and effective. But no wood could be heard cracking under the strikes. When we arrived at the clearing with the man his plite became clear. On the ground before him lay an old deceased gentleman. The dead mans left foot had been cut clear off and the ax man proceeded to sever the right. The lot of us bowed our head in silence, saying our own respective prayers. I knew first hand the sorrow of seeing your relatives twisted by the dark magic.

History

This tradition is very new and has yet to develop and bring on any longing traditions or procedures. By new It's been only two full generations. The act began when a sudden influx of dead bodies began to rise and torment the locals around Fort Hannea. Slowly the tradition spread as the threat increased it's effected territory.

Execution

When a person dies south of the capital of Vraccus yet still within the boarders of Vraccus the body then has it's feet and hands removed before being buried. This act is made to deter the decieced from returning to half life in the form of a zombie or other abomination. Removing such appendages prevents the living dead from effectively moving about and bringing harm to the living. This doesn't aways stop the dead from returning, but has significantly reduced the amount of undead in the area.

Components and tools

Often a butchers blade or ax is used, primarily due to cost. A cleric will use a ceremony knife - a black blade with a silver edge and a golden handle. The body will be placed on a special table that collects the blood and delivers it to a bucket, which is then dispensed of later. Those less fortunate will simply remove the appendages in an open field, often away from civilization. Finally the feet and hands are then crushed by the cleric using a press and then placed in urns to be buried with the body. The common folk will instead choose to feed the hands and feet to any local pigs.

Participants

Often this ceremony is done absent of onlookers as it's still not observed as a dignified procedure. Most instances involve the patriarch of the family performing the act, but if he is unavailable it then falls upon the matriarch of the family. Alternatively those more affluent and well off tend to hire the local cleric to perform the ritual.

Primary Related Location

Rixea