Urijœnech
Planting good fortune, letting it grow. Then carving one's fate into what they desire.
A person doesn't accept the bare stick as all the plant to offer, and likewise, people don't merely accept their fate. They carve their own path, their own fate. That, is the meaning of urijœnech.
Also known as pathfinders, urijœnech are made of harukoumu lumber. For more information on the festival and cultural associations, read more at Star Shower Festival.
Manufacturing process
The process begins at the seed. A child will grow the harukoumu from the seed, raising it on their magic. Once the harukoumu sapling reaches a meter or so in growth, the tree is cut down. The wood is then carved by hand by the now teenager into whatever form they chose. The memento will be shaped into a form that represents their future path in life. Staves, bows, shovels, swords, and even ladles have been carved out of the lumber.
Mages from Mâhirau̯ Nation often have an advantage over their peers with their pathfinders. Compared to the staves others use, a hand-crafted urijœnech is always more responsive to the channeling of magic.
Mages from Mâhirau̯ Nation often have an advantage over their peers with their pathfinders. Compared to the staves others use, a hand-crafted urijœnech is always more responsive to the channeling of magic.
Significance
Urijœnech represent the transition between child and adult and are associated with the Star Shower Festival. They are crafted to be useful in whatever profession the person is planning on going into. After death, a person will be buried with their urijœnech, along with a flight feather if applicable. These are cleaned during the equinox festival each year.
Item type
Tool
Current Location
Related ethnicities
Rarity
Unique, but everyone in the area has one
Raw materials & Components
I really like how this one object sticks with them for their whole lives. The detail about how it helps casters use their magic is a nice touch. If you have time to expand this later, I find myself wondering a couple things. Wood carving is not a thing you just do and have it turn out nicely. Do the children all practice carving things as they are growing up so that when their sapling is ready, they can do it right? How do they prepare to know what they will do in life, to make their carvings? Are there vision quests? Do they get told? Finally, on a sad note - what happens if the urijœnech gets lost or stolen? I think the touch about how the pathfinders are buried with their makers is really beautiful. A wonderful connection to nature and to the tradition of the people. Thank you for posting this!