Totems
From FiranMUX
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Overview
Before the spread of Firan pantheism, or more recently, Firan monotheism, there were Firan totem worshipers. This religion, which focused upon the worship of animal spirits, was most prevalent amongst people of the Bear Clan but had its adherents in all the clans. Though a minority, scholars say that there were active totem worshippers amongst the Firan People as recently as 0 A.U. but since the Great War, totem worship has all but died out amongst Firans. It is, however, currently practiced by the tribes of the Ticanee Clan.
Ticanee Totem Worship
The Ticanee totem religion is currently overseen by Shamans appointed by the Oshta Family and they serve in the Ticanee Temple in Anarinuell as well as in the city of Vahloria. The exact historical religious practice has been lost to the Ticanee due to invasion and exodus during the Great War as well as a Ticanee tendency to adopt other religions and incorporate them into their own belief system.
For example, many Ticanee claim to have actually met the god Elik during the Exodus, and they took to him immediately. One of the Ticanee elders, Dame Urtenia, was a priestess of Elik and this did not stop her from also being a Ticanee Shaman who commanded great respect.
Additionally, the Oshta Family has claimed for years a kinship between the Firan goddess Uf and the Ticanee Falcon totem.
Adding to the religious confusion are the legends that portray the Ticanee as the lost tribe of the Firans, once beloved of the Firan battle goddess, Srenna who called them her Fire People. She is often associated with the Ticanee snake totem and panther totem amongst others.
Importance of the Totem Poles
Throughout Ticanee History, Sacred Totem Poles were used to denote tribal meeting grounds where the important business of the people was attended to. The totem poles were thought to carry with them the blessing and guidance of the spirits within them, and Ticanee Kings were made under their watchful gaze. The poles are thought to be hundreds of years old.
So important were the totem poles to the Ticanee, that during the Great War, when the Shamibelians were invading, the Ticanee dug up their sacred poles and carried them with them as they fled across the plains. The poles slowed them down, but the Ticanee's ablest warriors defended the rear in the hopes that they could rescue these precious remainders of the Ticanee culture.
Only four totem poles survived the journey, and all four were planted in the Ticanee District in Anarinuell when the Republic was formed. Of those four, one was burned by children of the Eagle Clan in an apparent attempt at vandalism in 33 A.U.. The three children were Aylina, Zeldreo, and Pentarus Tanelish (then Cyrani). In particular, the totem of the Boar was burned off the face of the pole and the Ticanee demanded the execution of these vandals, even though they were just children.
Instead, Oshta Taria found the children guilty of arson and sentenced them to be placed in the wilderness alone with only weapons and some meager supplies, not to return without having hunted down the great boar by themselves. It was thought to be as good as a death sentence, but the Ticanee let the matter alone when the children returned alive and with their boar. Even so, the names of these three are ever hated in the Ticanee Clan.
During attempts to restore the damaged totem pole, Mes Witani of the Ticanee Clan was injured and lost her hearing as a result.
Ticanee Totems
Amongst the totems, there is current religious debate over what represents a valid religious totem spiritual guide. There are some, like Oshta Taria who believe that only one of the ten major tribe totems are worthy to worship, and that they correspond roughly with some Firan deities.
Others believe that any animal can be a spirit guide, and many choose individual totems like frogs, dolphins, or other animals that call to them.
This is a matter of dispute amongst Ticanee theologians and an ongoing debate on the game for the Ticanee Clan.
Major Tribe Totems
- Wolf
- Panther
- Snake
- Horse
- Elk
- Bobcat
- Boar
- Beaver
- Falcon
- Wolverine
