Patron Spirits?

[Trehmar]

While Katie (Telomwe) and I have been visiting Donnie and Ash (Karonak and Sianhu) I've been berating the three of them with ideas and questions and goals for the guild's RP. We've all had some really good input and ideas for the future (and current) storyline(s) in the guild. One major idea we've talked about is patron spirits for the guild.

I was really inspire by Lore's (Ashwind's) event in the Charred Vale. Though his tribe, who once lived there, are gone, their ancestors and totem spirits now live on through our Fellowship. That's pretty awesome, and I think we should respect it In Character.

The idea we came up with was to have a monthly event in which we honor one patron spirit. Our nomadic life can be partially based on the patron spirit of the month as we quest for ways to honor and empower it. Obviously ALL of the Banepaw's totem spirits will always be honored and revered, but we'll specifically focus on one a month.

Does anyone not like this? Have any other input?

If we do go with this (and we will unless someone doesn't like it) what kinds of spirits should we honor? Post your ideas for cool totem spirits here!

I already have a few.

The Spirit Tree - Not many of you know the whole story behind the tree on our tabard. The legend is sacred to the Banepaw and is to be told around a late-night campfire with great reverence. This tree, according to Banepaw legend, is nestled deep in the raptor grounds and is a detour for the souls of unborn Banepaw tauren. These souls stop and nestle within fruits on the tree. When a mother is ready to conceive, the spirits of the male tauren who are always tending to the tree pluck the red fruits and give them to the spirits of the raptors, who then feed them to the spirits of the mothers, placing the soul within the mother's womb.

Now, this is obviously a very important symbol for the Banepaw. To honor the Spirit Tree, maybe the males could go to the raptor grounds where it is and plant a garden around it or something. I dunno, anyone else have ideas?

The Progenitor - The first tauren to be called Banepaw was a great hunter and sacrificed one of his hands to save a group of slaves from the centaur. He started our tribe countless generations ago and his life is the example we follow. How in the world could we honor him? Maybe by cutting our hands? Or maybe we shouldn't make him one of the monthly spirits, and consider honoring his memory in every action we make?

Telhak the Endless - Telhak is a very real raptor. Karonak met him and spoke for our tribe when we first journeyed into the barrens. However, Telhak is considered a powerful spirit in the body of a raptor. His spirit never dies. Why not? Because of us, maybe. What if we bring him some kind of symbol of eternal life? It could be a great journey questing for this symbol.

These are all the obvious ones but we could honor any kind of spirit or ancestor. I'm sure Ashwind has ideas for some of the Vale totems we now have to honor. Please, everyone post your ideas!

[Telomwe]

Do you think we are just going to be honoring Banepaw specific ancestors/spirits? I was just thinking we could do something with Kodo, and not hunt them for a few days, but just follow a herd of them out of reverence for what they have always meant to the Tauren. Just a thought to discuss.

[Trehmar]

I think hunting the kodo is part of the Shu'halo's reverence for them. That would be really cool to follow a kodo herd around, protecting them for a time or something. I think we could honor all sorts of animals.

[Gul]

You had me at MAYBE WE COULD CUT OFF OUR OWN HANDS. That sounds exactly like something a Warden character would do. I'm an orc at heart. If you're not aware of this by now, I have failed in my task. When I'm not roleplaying, something that's becoming less frequent lately, I usually spend my time on Wowwiki, thinking about how I can fill in all those gray spots in Lore, and make some of the older Clans more distinct from one another.

That said, consider the Shattered Hand - The assassins of The Horde. Now, orcs and assassins go together like wolves and prairie dogs. Where they were once tasked with policing The Horde, and ensuring that the Clans never, ever strayed from Gul'dan's vision - the most famous example being the assassination of Draka and Durotan - their roles have suddenly been reversed. While many still feel a desire to break away from the peace that Thrall has created, all of them seem to show a deep hatred for the warlocks of old. They police The Horde still, but for different reasons; They are Traitor-Hunters, killers of bad-blood.

So, why aren't they honored? Why do they have to stay in the Cleft of Shadows, hidden from the Warchief's eyes? Because they're still assassins. Which takes us back to how orcs and assassins fit together. And, in my mind, they don't exist. Many of them feel that they have no honor, so they choose to become shadows, the orcish equivalent of a Demon Hunter. And without any personal honor, they become completely free. They become an elemental force, instilling all the fears of The Horde into their enemies. As Treh said, when we discussed it, they sorta become Avatars for The Horde. By cutting off their hand, and replacing it with a blade, they symbolize this commitment, and the strength it gives them.

So, that's something to consider. Maybe the Wardens aren't quite so different? Either way, the honoring of the first Banepaw seems like too big a deal to simply keep to a monthly basis.

[gort]

This may not be the most appropriate place to put this but it's going here. I am not currently, and may never again be, an active member of the Banepaw, but my heart swells to read this. As of a year ago, the guild seemed in a rut. Old actions were repeated, for the simple sake of not having to strike out on a new path. The meanings and intentions were lost or ignored. That was a year ago, and many things can happen in a day. Imagine what is possible in a year. I have watched, piecing things together through what is posted here on the forums. And now, I am ready to say something.

I am proud. Very proud.

No words sum it up more appropriately than that. You have done well.

Trehmar, I do not know you. You are a name passed around in the chat, the founder, and a member of the guild who had not logged in for a while. But know this, at one point my opinion carried some level of weight in the guild. Not much perhaps, but some. And now I give my opinion of you:

You have my respect. Continue as I have seen, and you will always keep that respect. Trehmar, I salute you.

[Trehmar]

Gort, your name has come up very often, always coupled with respect and admiration. We all know how degraded the guild became, but I feel like many members still desired the progression and storytelling Banepaw once (and will again) stood for. I am proud as well. Of everyone involved who is contributing. Thank you so much for your compliment. Above all else, I want to see this guild succeed. Of course, it's not just me, but everyone involved. I merely built the back story and encouraged people to get involved. Now we have a great (and wonderfully small) community working towards the goals we have set for ourselves.

If you ever wish to get back into the guild and help us work towards these goals, Gortuk, you will be welcomed as a veteran of the old Banepaw. Your name has not been soiled by the ways of the old Banepaw.

Know that you have a place here if you seek it.

[Gul]

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE THREAD AT HAND GORTUK YOU JUST DERAILED OUR THREAD THANKS.





That's a lie. I love you very much. Come back to me.

[gort]

K so nuf wit srs bznz. The Spirit Tree is pretty awesome. I'm sitting here imagining a very ritualized approach to digging and maintaining a small garden, and it is suh-weeeet.

That is all.

[Eyodan HighVale]

Go ahead and use these for banepaw if you want, since the vale tribe is now part of the banepaw confederacy.


One thing that sets the Vale Tauren apart from their cousins is the depth to which their worship goes, In addition to the Ancestors, and the Earthmother, The Vale Tauren venerate a number of Natural Spirit Totems

Note: Every Vale Tauren has one of these as their "Spirit Guide"

* The Great Spirit - This is Aparo/Malorne, the Great White Stag, Mate of the Earthmother, and father of Cenarius, all Vale Tauren venerate this majestic and wise totemic spirit.

* The Thunder Eagle - Venerated mainly by the Tidehoof this is the totemic god of storms, before heading to sea, they always burn a sacrifice to the Thunderbird.

* The Kodo - Totemic god of endurance and plenty, the Valerunner tribe revere this spirit mainly, A Valerunner tauren must slay one to earn the right of manhood.

* The Wolf - The totemic god of tenacity and community, it is said that the greatest hunters in the Vale have this totem's backing.

* The Coyote - The totemic god of Mischief. he is venerated by tricksters.

* The Cougar - The totemic Huntress, venerated by Vale Tauren women and especially huntresses.

* The Wyvern - The totemic god of Freedom. this sky-lord's free spirit echos the heart of every Vale Tauren.

* The Panther - The totemic god of Stealth and cunning, he watches over the Vale and it's children, hiding them from harm in his great shadow.

* The Moonkin - The Totemic god of Wisdom and natural Magic, she is the matron totem of the Highcliff Tauren, under the Great Spirit.

* The Twin Bears - The Totemic god of Balance and Duality, Ursoc and Ursol are venerated by the druids of the Vale Tauren, they remind us of the dual nature of the universe which keeps balance.

* The Treant - Totemic Spirit of the Vale, the treants are the guardians of the Vale, and are venerated by all Vale Tauren Braves.