Elk Naming Conventions
The focus on horse bloodlines also impacts how the Elk name themselves and their horses. The human warrior is given a relatively simple name by their herd, typically the name of a deceased and renowned member of their herd, but no secondary name (such as family name) as the Wolf might expect. Their horse, likewise, receives the name of one of its ancestors in the same bloodline, but also is identified by the progenitor of its bloodline.
Thus, while a human warrior might only be called “Bjork”, the horse they ride would be called “Ori of Injeblod”. In addition, when addressing another Elk while they are mounted on their horse (which is almost all the time), the names are combined. Using the above example, while mounted the two would be referred to as “Bjorkori of Brinjeblod”.
The reason for this convention stems from the Elk’s spiritual understanding of the horse and rider pair. The Elk believe that a warrior and his horse are bonded together at a spiritual level, each seeking the partner that can take them to the next life in a true union of souls. They do not consider one an animal and one its owner; rather, they are two parts of a single soul, trying to find its matched pair.
Elk thus do not say they “ride” a horse, instead saying they are “with” the horse or “of” the horse. To an outsider with a crass mind, this lends itself to an obvious joke, but one that is never said within earshot of an Elk.
The Elk naming convention gets even more complicated if either the horse or the rider dies. If the rider dies, their combined name is given to the horse, and the horse is given some time to bond with another rider (typically a year). A horse that has not bonded with another rider in this time is set loose and allowed to run free and feral, its spirit allowed to find its pair in another herd at another time.
If the horse dies, the rider is given their compound name (e.g. Bjork would become Bjorkori) and the warrior begins their search for a new steed. Once they bond with another horse, the same convention applies; their names are made compound when referring to the two together. In our example, Bjorkori bonds with Ifir of Aelfyrblod and together are referred to as Bjorkoriifir of Aelfyrblod.
Thus, while a human warrior might only be called “Bjork”, the horse they ride would be called “Ori of Injeblod”. In addition, when addressing another Elk while they are mounted on their horse (which is almost all the time), the names are combined. Using the above example, while mounted the two would be referred to as “Bjorkori of Brinjeblod”.
The reason for this convention stems from the Elk’s spiritual understanding of the horse and rider pair. The Elk believe that a warrior and his horse are bonded together at a spiritual level, each seeking the partner that can take them to the next life in a true union of souls. They do not consider one an animal and one its owner; rather, they are two parts of a single soul, trying to find its matched pair.
Elk thus do not say they “ride” a horse, instead saying they are “with” the horse or “of” the horse. To an outsider with a crass mind, this lends itself to an obvious joke, but one that is never said within earshot of an Elk.
The Elk naming convention gets even more complicated if either the horse or the rider dies. If the rider dies, their combined name is given to the horse, and the horse is given some time to bond with another rider (typically a year). A horse that has not bonded with another rider in this time is set loose and allowed to run free and feral, its spirit allowed to find its pair in another herd at another time.
If the horse dies, the rider is given their compound name (e.g. Bjork would become Bjorkori) and the warrior begins their search for a new steed. Once they bond with another horse, the same convention applies; their names are made compound when referring to the two together. In our example, Bjorkori bonds with Ifir of Aelfyrblod and together are referred to as Bjorkoriifir of Aelfyrblod.
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