Ritual of the Predator

History

The Ritual of the Predator was originally developed by Mazoran sages as a way to honor nature and prevent the wrath of the gods. Over the years, the ritual has become more prominent in Mazoran societies. The ritual has also become more complicated than its original form, requiring more time and materials.

Execution

The Ritual of the Predator begins as soon as a Mazoran hunter kills its prey. The hunter begins by removing any weapons in its prey and gently laying it on the ground while staring into its eyes. While watching its prey, the hunter will recite a short prayer, the exact wording of which varies from hunter to hunter. After completing its prayer, the hunter closes its prey's eyes and carries it back to where it will be skinned and cooked. The hunter must skin the entirety of its prey before it can begin to cook it. After skinning it, the hunter will carefully remove the meat and organs of its prey and preparing them to be cooked. While prepping the meat, the hunter recites further prayers meant to purify the food and make sure the animal's spirit has entirely left its body. The meat may then be cooked and eaten by the hunter and their family and friends. While the meat cooks or after it has been eaten, the hunter is supposed to use some of their prey's bones to create a totem or grave to remember the creature by. The remainder of the creatures parts must be used as food or a material in something else to finally complete the ritual.

Components and tools

No materials are technically required for the ritual, but most hunters will use a weapon of some kind to kill and skin their prey. Most hunters will also use some cooking supplies when cooking the meat and carving tools to make the creature's totem or grave.

Participants

The ritual is typically performed by the individual hunter who kills the prey, but it can be performed by multiple hunters. In some cases, other people will help the hunter with the later steps of the ritual.

Related Ethnicities

• Mazoran