Ideas and Morals

The Felinae worship as a tribe. Individuals may perform Tasdlk (rituals, or wardings) as they see fit. Tribal worship seems to be a time to commune with the spirits of their dead. Without a written-culture, at least one felinae per tribe, the Vialasto, can recite their maternal and paternal genealogies for up to 14 generations. They use these names to call for assistance, give thanks, and invoke the spirits around them. The older the name the more power it has.

Wary be of names older than 14 turnings
For their souls may no longer be
In the Burkai world
And calling one of the living
For the duties of the dead
Is truly bad joss

Tribal saying

Faith

The Felinae believe that gods exist - but that they are far too great to call upon.

If the gods created everything -
why then should they care
about the well-being
of just one of their creations?
And if multiple gods created things,
it becomes confusing
as to who should be called upon.

Vialasto teaching

They call instead upon the spirits of their dead. Since the dead live in the Burkai world (next world, or after-life) they understand the hierarchy of the gods far better than any living being (who has never seen their hierarchy for themselves.) And the dead has a greater interest in their tribal relations than any creator ever could.

Few felinae even try to separate the details. Do the spirits of the dead do call for divine assistance to help their living tribal relations, or do the spirits of the dead perform the intervention themselves. Instead the felinae are content to leave the details with those of the Burkai world. They have no priests, but one of their members could be considered a shaman - of sorts.

Holy Days

The Felinae have four holy days each year. The tribe celebrates each of these days in the same fashion. The celebrations begin at dawn with the Vialasto sounding a horn to awake his tribe. The father, and mother, of the tribe come out of their dwellings first, followed by all other members of the tribe.

At the Vialasto’s command the entire tribe races from their dwellings to the sacred gvalla (eating place.) The gvalla is often a short distance away from the tribe’s dwellings. The first to arrive there get the best seats closest to the food that is already laid out on long, low tables. In the winter and autumn months most bring hides upon which to sit.

The Vialasto arrives last, and takes his place in the center of the crowd. There he stands - and he tells a tale from the felinae lore best suited to the season, and tribe’s current situation. When finished he calls to the Sha’vista to come and eat from the table. As he calls the name of a dead one from each family unit - that family goes to the table and fixes themselves varr-vista (a sandwich of various contents wrapped in flat-bread) and then returns to their place in the crowd.

When everyone has a varr-vista the Vialasto leads the tribe in the sona-vista (song for the dead.) Once done - the feast begins in earnest. Often the tables of food are replenished often by servants who remain out of view (behind trees, rocks, and curtains) as much as possible. The day must be spent in games, songs, stories, and food to remind the Sha’vista what it means to be alive.

Nea-sto: Coming of the Herd (spring solstice)

Seea-sto: Time of the NewBorn (summer solstice) - longest day of the year

Ther-sto: Time of Aging (autumn solstice)

Yanth-sto: Departing of the Herd (winter solstice) - shortest day of the year

Holy and Taboo

Sites of goodness are known as places of good seeking. These are suppose to be places where good spirits and souls meet. Warm glens, rocks, and open areas are considered such good places. The felinae enter these places willingly, but will neither fight nor make waste in such places for fear of despoiling them.

Eating and drinking is permitted, but only in moderation. Good places are best for sleeping - and the peace of the sleeper is assured.

Taboo sites are known as places of bad joss. These are suppose to be places where evil spirits, and souls of lost felinae meet. Swamps, bogs, and enclosed caves are considered such evil places. The felinae avoid these places at all costs. For therein lies disheartenment, and death. If these places must be entered - then the felinae travel quickly through such places.

It is taboo to :

It is holy to:

Ethics/Commandments

The felinae live a simple life as much by intention as by their religious beliefs and actions. Just as they avoid understanding the hierarchy of the heavens (with gods) they avoid such hierarchies whenever possible in life. When dealing with humans - such avoidance becomes almost impossible, but still they try.

Their system of beliefs teaches that actions are stronger than words, and that good deeds create their own rewards, as do bad deeds. Different tribes will express this in different ways through stories of actual events recounted over time by the Vialasto.

All non-sentience are treated like young kits not yet weaned. They are immune from committing foulings of any kind. Since they are not sentient - they cannot determine right from wrong and thus should not have to suffer from there own mistakes.

Sin/Punishment

Taboo acts are called "foulings." There are minor foulings, and major foulings. All other unjust or bad deeds are not considered sins, and most likely carry a social punishment instead of a religious one.

Minor foulings are forgivable misdeeds. Once the initial damage is repaired (asking forgiveness, and paying the price for such forgiveness, cleaning the area (ritually and physically), etc) - the guilty will be forced to quest. There are two types of quests.

Physical quests involve searching the world for a felinae, item, or creature (sentient or not.) Once found this item/felinae/creature must be returned to the tribe. Often such quests take years to puzzle out and find the item. At the beginning it is rarely clear what, exactly, the felinae is neither questing for - nor where it can be found. The felinae is not permitted back into the tribe until the quest is complete. While questing, he may only speak with those whom his quest directs, and only on the topics that will further his quest.

Spiritual quests involve sitting in a place of good seeking and fasting for days. When the body finally screams for hunger the Vialasto feeds the questor a special mixture which launches them on the spirit quest. Temporarily they are transported into the Burkai world. There, they often seek out the spirits/souls of their relatives and invoke their aide.

Major foulings requires greater acts of penitence. Sometimes even requiring that a felinae be killed and buried (not burned) so that his soul is tethered to the place until the body rots away to nothing. In these cases the body is buried beneath heavy stones so that no predator can disturb its tether.

Death/Afterlife

When the body is destroyed, the soul is free to enter the Burkai world. There, the soul spends time learning the hierarchy of life, and wanders to see the world and better understand the felinae place in all things. Only when the soul returns to its village/tribe may it be reborn into a new felinae. The birthing process is so intense that all memory of the Burkai world, and the life before is forgotten. A few elder felinae have been known to remember things of the Burkai world - or even previous live - through their dreams (or nightmares.) But such recollections cannot always be trusted.

We have the promise of the first-ones
to keep us safe
And see that the Order of things
is unchanging

Vialasto teaching

The "First Ones" or the first felinae ever created, it is said, have given up the right to be reborn so that they can protect the "Order of things" and keep the race safe and continuing.

The souls that travel the world may sometimes grow weary and try to enter life early. The Vialasto can detect and repel such souls to keep the newborn and the Order of things safe from such wrongs. Despondent souls sometimes cause mischief in life - but for the most part they take their roles of guardian of the newborn, protectors of the holy and guide to the tribe seriously. Without their help the felinae would have long ago passed into obscurity.

The Order of things has changed throughout time. Where there was once only one race, there is now three - but each of the three still believes, mostly, the same things. The Order of things assures that there will always be a place for the Felinae in the world.

Spirits and Souls

The souls of the felinae are tied to their earthly bodies by a link that cannot be broken. Only when the body is totally destroyed is the soul completely freed. If the body is eaten, or buried in parts - the soul becomes a group of like-minded spirits with less abilities and power. A soul can directly intervene in the life of a felinae, while a spirit can only act as messengers between the living and the dead. Groups of spirits can affect the outcomes of minor events - but for the most part they are considered more nuisances than powers with which to be reckoned.

The Na-Mrem believes that all things not-felinae have spirits. Only felinae have souls. The Na-Mrem believes the Order of things to be fixed.

A few village-mrem seem to believe that humans are being born with felinae souls - which explains why there are less and less mrem in, and around, the settlements. Most village-mrem believes all sentience have souls – and therefore can not be eaten regardless of the results of the sentience test.

To the village mrem, spirits are either are the remnants of a destroyed soul, or something else. What this "something else" could be is unknown to them. They teach that spirits should be left alone whenever possible.

Spirits may be friend
Or they may be foe
But we do not know their names
And we guard our names from them
So how then can we communicate?
Not knowing how to hail them, or them us?

Vialasto Teaching

The Vialasto of the Village Mrem believe the world and the "Order of things" to be currently changing. They see their species in the twilight of its years, and seek and quest for information on how to protect and change their kind so that they will survive.

Without Souls

The few that are born without souls are considered "special." The village mrem treat these poor creatures as eternal children. They are looked after and cherished by the tribe. These are felinae who cannot, at the age of majority, pass the test of sentience. The village mrem believe these poor kits are directly related to Felinor and are the living sufferance of his crimes. The few that are born with mystical or magical abilities rarely survive more than a few years. Their innocence, coupled with their powerful abilities often creates situations that kill them, or force them to be killed.

The Na-Mrem often pass off such children to more affluent tribes. In times of suffering and hunger, such children are killed to avoid letting them suffer.

Myths and Legends

The myths of the Felinae differ greatly from the Da, Na and Village Mrem that tell them. Each tribe or settlement will have its own heroes and stories to add to the oral tradition of the race. What follows is a collection of the most common tales told.

Malakai

A child of Sanjar, he was born the year a strange new race first came to the lands. Malakai ruled the greatest tribe of felinae ever known. His power was great - and he was considered more than Geffen. Both Tribal father and Vialasto, he guided his tribe and their hunted herds to greatness. He is said to have lived beyond 40 years of age.

Tales of his greatness still haunt the lands. One day, near the end of his life, his tribe fell sick to an unknown illness. No amount of Tasdlk saved the ill. The strange new race was deemed the cause, and Malakai went with a delegation of his best hunters and best warriors to visit the new race. Malakai pleaded his case - asking them to intervene with their spirits to stop the sickness. But the new race barricaded itself away from the light.

Their lands were like swamps for the stank of foulness and waste. When Malakai called out a second time they struck at him from a great distance with spoiled foods. But none of that food touched Malakai or his delegation. When Malakai called out a third time they screamed and roared at him to scare him away. But Malakai roared back - and the settlement silenced.

"If you will not help me - I will find others who will." He declared, stalking off.

As the new race expanded -the herds fled, and the evil grew. Soon many were dead and only Malakai and his delegation were not ill. He performed Tasdlk until he could no longer speak. He quested until he was too weak to move. He called out to Felinor and Melissa for aide, and they responded:

"Rise up." The said with one voice. "Rise up and defend your place in the Order of things. Let your actions reap your rewards." And so he rose up and led his forces against the new race.

The battle was great - and as the felinae fought, the sickness fell away from them and they fought on. The evil dissipated and the strange new race went away. Malakai then turned to his people and said: "I shall always be here for you. When you need me - call, and I will come. In your greatest need I shall return and push back the danger into the sea. And when it is gone a time of great life and hunting will return." And with that he left his tribe, his mate and his position. And no living Mrem ever saw him again.

It is believed, his return will herald the start of a new way of life for the felinae.

Appearance

Malakai was a white-mrem with sea-blue eyes and dark black mane and tail. He had a booming voice that carried over many miles. It could be so loud that it would shake the distant mountains - but could be so soft as to sing a kit to sleep. He stood tall and strong, and was deemed the largest and the greatest to ever live since the First Ones by all who saw him.

Goals

Malakai wishes only to keep the Order of all things. He will return to protect his race from their ultimate destruction. Many argue over whether he will lead his race in a war against their greatest challenge, or open the way and become the first one in a new place.

Dalasto

A child of Sanjar. He was called "the Great Destroyer." He came out of the mighty deserts with a taste for blood. His battle cries were ignored by the felinae who were too busy living to understand his need for battle. Duty demanded that he hunt the herds, but it was all his fellow tribesmrem could do to keep him from slaying all the beasts that crossed his path.

His glory in battle had to be carefully controlled – for he never knew when to stop. One day his rage almost brought him to slay his mate. Fearing for the lives of those around him he went out to the center of the village. There he drew a circle and called to all his tribesmrem.

"This circle marks a place for battle. All battle within shall be to the surrender. Come brothers and sisters! Test yourselves against me and help me burn off my anger forever."

And so – they fought him. Cubs joined in and learned much in the ways of battling. By days end the circle had become a pit whose walls were difficult to leap in and out of by even the largest of the mrem present. Some were injured, but Dalasto’s anger was sated.

He returned home, feeling safe that he would not slay his mate in the night. That night he dreamed. He saw Felinore who said to him: "Do this regularly – fight in the pit and fight well. Make it a test of age and reason for all fighters who wish to make it the way of their lives. If you do not the beast magic that was in me shall overtake you. And you will kill your mate."

He jumped up and called the Vialasto forth. Between the two of them they created the sport of pit-fighting.

Appearance

Delasto was a black-mrem with sea-green eyes and black mane and tail. He had a mighty roar that inspired fear in all that opposed him, but a soft speaking voice. He was well loved by his tribe, and his anger was matched only by his kindness. It is said he had many kits – all of who became champion pit fighters. Many champions trace their lineage to him, or one of his tribesmrem to this day.

Goals

Dalasto wished to keep his community safe, and thus began the sport of pit-fighting.

Haldidiah

The father-mother of the tribe. A child of Martio.

When Haldidiah’s life mate died, she decided to never mate again. She stopped hunting, and began taking over the duties of the father of the tribe. The Vialasto supported her in this, and while it was considered strange by other tribes – no one complained. She told stories of her life-mate’s hunts and of her own adventures as a kit that amused all who heard them. Her ability to tell tales grew and grew until most all wandering felinae sought her out at some point in their lives. Some told her their tales in trade, others stayed for a while just to listen.

She developed a reputation for settling disputes with tales. She learned tales even from the other sentient races, and use them in her decisions. Her wisdom became so well known it is said that even the Humans sought her advice at times.

She lived to the age of 50.

Appearance

A dark gray coat, she had no mane. Her eyes were a haunting gray. She had a strong voice and stood among the tallest mrem any had ever seen. Most mistook her for a male at first sight.

Goals

Haldidiah wanted her children to survive. She bartered with the races for the right to continue the way things should be. She found that making war against the humans was not so easy – and instead taught them the Way things should be.

Valhaleth

The first Vialasto. A child of Sanjar and Martio.

Valhaleth was a female who mated for life with the father of a Village Mrem tribe. She was fair and soft spoken in all things. The tribe profited greatly from her incredible hunting abilities, and many stories were told of her adventures to feed the tribe. One day, while away hunting, a great evil attacked the tribe and killed her mate.

When she returned home, only the females who had gone hunting were left alive of her tribe. The other races she had settled with were also dead. The humans who hunted with her wanted revenge, and convinced her, and her huntresses to go after the murderers.

Their trek lasted two long years, and ended with the death of the last human. The human could not extract a promise of revenge from her, but she performed felinae burial rights for him. On the huntresses return home she met a Na-Mrem tribe who’d lost their hunters. She agreed to teach them what she knew, and tried to heal the damage done to the tribe by beast magic.

From her efforts came the first Tasdlk. She became their Vialasto, and taught many others.

Appearance

A calico male, he was said to have black eyes. He was one of the Chosen. He could run like the wind – becoming invisible when he moved very quickly. He never wore any clothes, and never made any noise while moving. His speaking voice was rich and gentle. It is said he had a large family.

Goals

He wanted to repair the rift between the Beasts of the Herds and the mrem that hunted them. So he introduced a way of talking to the spirits and the souls – the Tasdlk.

Tribertus

The greatest huntsmrem ever. A child of Martio.

Tribertus was a strong and powerful mrem who’s hunting skill was renowned before he became an adult. It seemed nothing could hide from him. There are many tales told among the mrem of his skills and adventures. One day the humans came to him. They were hunting one of their own kind who had killed many for no apparent reason.

Tribertus saw this as a challenge, and agreed. For four span of days he followed the faint trail. He led a pack of humans over rough terrain, through rivers, up trees and across plains following this one human. Each time the humans thought their prey had escaped them, Tribertus could once again find the trail that was barely there, and the hunt continued.

At long last Tribertus tracked their prey into a human city. Together they found him, and dragged him back to their home. Tribertus stayed for a while in the city, and there are many tales of this time.

Appearance

A brown male, with white socks and dark brown eyes. He was small, swift and strong – a runt among the felinae. Tales told about him often omit his small stature in regard for his great hunting skills.

Goals

He was the best huntsmrem the tribes had ever known. His goals were for the successful hunt and the continuation of the way things should be.

Community

Other than the positions explained within the social organization of a tribe, there are two positions of religious significance.

The Vialasto

The Vialasto (Speaker for the Dead) is the tribal relation with the most mystic countenance. A Vialasto will choose his (or her) successor usually when the kit comes of age. Training includes learning the Father and Mother of the tribe’s genealogy back 14 generations, learning the sikki-lu, and learning the hundreds of Tasdlk.

Geffen are often first-choice as candidates for the position of Vialasto as they appear more mystical than most.

The Vialasto leads the tribe in all Tasdlk performed on the various holy days, as well as interventions requested by any individual members of the tribe. He, or she, teaches the kits enough to protect themselves and to identify both the places of bad joss and good seeking. Young Vialasto travel with scouting parties so that they can leave messages in sikki-lu as necessary.

The Chosen

Among the Felinae the chosen are born with their powers. Such powers are rare, and can be very dangerous for the surrounding tribe. The chosen are not exempt from any duties of the tribe; nor are they treated in any special way. But their powers are recognized and treated like a special tool that only the chosen felinae can wield.

Some stories say the Chosen are born with two souls. Vialasto often perform many Tasdlk over Chosen kits to try and merge those two souls together. If the souls are in harmony – the power is controllable and the kit will grow to be a powerful creature within the tribe. If the souls are not in harmony often the kit will fail the sentience test as each soul will be in disagreement. The tribe for fear that they will harm themselves, and the tribe – without ever realizing it often kills such kits.

Script

The sikki-lu is a specialized script without a pronunciation key. One symbol can represent a sentence, a saying or a person. The language is used to record the travels of the herds, which the felinae hunt. Scouts to leave markers for the rest of the tribe to follow, as well as denote places of bad joss, or good seeking can use it. Its symbols are mostly representations of the various herd beasts and their predators. There are 36 different terms for wolves, and over 40 for herd beasts.

Conflicts/Schisms

The disagreement in beliefs between the Village Mrem and the Na-Mrem are often a reason for long arguments. Both races agree that they have a place in this world – but the Na-Mrem say it is fixed, and the Village Mrem say it is changing.

Tasdlk

The Tasdlk may be performed by a felinae. Their effects are assured from a felinae’s perspective, but few others may realize the power and potency of these specialized rituals.

What follows is a list of the most common Tasdlk among the Na-Mrem and Village Mrem. Wherever a Vialasto is mentioned any Mrem may stand in. The wordings are samples, but so long as the same intent is voiced the exact words are irrelevant.

Tasdlk of Birthing

At the time of a birth, the Vialasto stands before the mother and carefully listens to her rantings and ravings. From these deranged cries he determines the kit’s birth name and the kit’s protective spirit. All kits have a protective spirit (which may or may not be a felinae soul) until they reach the age of adulthood (10.)

Through the Tasdlk of birthing the Vialasto introduces the newborn to its protective spirit:

Oh great beast of the Burkai world
You are so great, and this one so little
Honor and glory upon you for protecting
One so defenseless
Guide this kit. Protect this kit.
As you would protect your own
This kit is called [kit’s name here]
And for so long as it keeps this name
Your place in his/her house is assured.

The Tasdlk of birthing promises the guardian spirit/soul that it will be considered part of the family genealogy until the kit is 10. This means that the guardian spirit/soul may eat at the holy days and with the family in times of plenty.

Tasdlk of Burkai

At the time of death, the Vialasto leads the tribe in songs about the deceased, and performs the Tasdlk of Burkai.

You go. You leave us and we are sorrowful.
At your parting - and will rejoice anew when you return
Learn the ways of Burkai, and rejoin us when you can
Our young and we await your protection
Blaze a path for us across the night sky
So we may know dangers
Blaze a path for us through storms
So we may survive the horrors
Blaze a path old soul
For you are wise
And we follow you - always.

The Vialasto burns the bodies of the dead and scatters the ashes in a way that makes sure they will blow away from the settlement/tribal living area. The newly dead are given several generations to learn the ways of Burkai before being called upon to help the living.

Tasdlk of Cursing

When performed, this Tasdlk curses the receiver with bad luck. It asks all the surrounding felinae souls to ignore this mrem and to stop protecting him from other non-felinae influences. Usually this Tasdlk is only performed on mrem who are being kicked out of the tribe for major foulings.

Be gone. You are not one of us.
Your soul has sickened
And lost the ability to choose
Be gone. You are not one of us.
Your ancestors no longer know you
Your life is now totally your own
No kit shall call for you
No mate shall claim you
Be gone. Be gone. Be gone.

Note: This is different from being cast out of your tribe as a scatterling. A scatterling may wander freely from tribe to tribe. Being dubbed a scatterling means the felinae has no further ties to that tribe – but a scatterling of one tribe may join another tribe may mate and may produce kits.

When a mrem is cursed he/she is plagued with bad luck, and often can not find anyone to take him/her in. Such creatures cannot even find solace among other races for their bad luck infests all that deal with them.

Tasdlk of Forgiveness

When performed, this Tasdlk removes the Tasdlk of Cursing. If someone performs it other than the performer of the Tasdlk of Cursing, the effects are temporary.

I call upon my guardian Mrem
I call you Mother; I call you Grand Mother
Hear me call you forth.
Take this wretched Mrem back to your care
He/she is alone and needs your care
He/she misses his mother, misses his grandmother
Take him; protect him from those that haunt him.
He needs you
How can you turn down a kit in need?
I cannot. My life is his/her life now.
Protect us both.

The Mrem that performs this Tasdlk has the unhappy job of caring for the once-cursed mrem. The performer must share their home, food and family with the once cursed mrem until he/she is ready to live on his owns.

Tasdlk of the Good Hunt

This Tasdlk asks for the felinae spirits to point the hunters in the right direction, and then leave them alone. The good hunt occurs when nothing goes wrong. The felinae souls are asked to guard the home and hearth, and provide a distraction for the beast magic. With such a strong presence at the home, the beasts are unaware they are being stalked.

My family cries out in fear
I leave them to hunt
As I must – as you did
But now I cry out in fear
What of them?
I give my strength to protect them
I’d give my soul to protect them
But I cannot. So I ask you to protect them
As you protected me.

Sometimes a small bundle of leaves is gathered. The hunters each prick their fingers with a thorn and bleed a few drops onto the leaves. The Mother of the Tribe and the Vialasto then keeps this bundle. When the hunt is scheduled to begin in earnest, the bundle is thrown on the fire. The smell of the burning blood is said to attract spirits and beast magic from all around – but the hunter’s guardians are in the village. These guardian felinae souls protect the village while the huntsmen sneak away.

Tasdlk of the Land

This is a form of ritual, or meditation that takes the felinae to a quiet place. In this quiet place, the great herds run free. All questions are answered by studying the herds and challenging the leader of the herds.

The Herding place is the ultimate source of peace and tranquility. After a brief period of meditations the felinae finds themselves in an unpopulated (no sentience) wilderness.

Everything here has a spiritual meaning. Hunting the great herds is always difficult but often provide more insight into whatever problems the felinae brings with them. In this place, the herding beasts have their own magic.

Symbolism in this place is often explained after the meditation is over by a Vialasto.

The Leader beast represents the source of the hunter’s problem. Even seeing this beast shows insight into the felinae’s problem. Traditionally, the felinae must hunt the herds and try to bring a kill back to the place he started.

The herd represents the details of the discordance. Herd members often take on aspects of the sentience foremost in the felinae’s mind or foremost in the discordance. By hunting the great herd, the felinae is suppose to be able to find, if not the source of the discordance, then at least find a guide towards the solution.

The Vialasto can guide the uninitiated to the Herding place. Once there the Vialasto can act as a guide, explaining, often cryptically, the meanings as they happen. Most uninitiated fond the Vialasto annoying, and sometimes insulting; appearing and disappearing at the worst moments and interjecting as they see fit.

Tasdlk of Spirit-Dreams

This is a small 3 dimensional triangle made of carefully bent sticks tied off with leaves or grass still wet with morning dew, or freshly drawn water. When in a place of good seeking, it will draw all "free" spirits to it. The Tasdlk allows spirits to receive dreams of peace and tranquility. Spirits may flow through it freely, but the majority of the spirits will wish to remain within it for as long as they can. The good dreams and tranquility lasts for as long as the triangle remains wet.

T78: [Scribe's Gripes][Felinae Religion][Bribery in Tharda][All Part of the Bargain][All Things Harnic]

This page was last updated on 13 June, 2000
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