Rokkai Tea Ceremony: Tchhrro

Tchhrro, the Rokkai word for "comfort", is also the word used to describe the cultural activity of preparing and sharing as sacred milk-blended Aaspic Tea as a way of showing closeness, vulnerability and trust. Rokkai believe that in performing the ritual, one shares their soul and energy with those involved in a very intimate and vulnerable manner. Aan important bond in Rokkai community and culture, Tchhrro is integral to their social system and is a requirement for bonding during marriages, deaths, births, important trades and even politics.

History

The practice of Tchhrro is recorded on artwork from the First Age. Never written down, it is taught by elder Rokkai to younger by instruction and word of mouth. The specific traditions seem to have changed with culture and time, and vary across locales, but the backbone foundations of the practice are incredibly ancient.
It's thought that the aaspic tea part of the ritual came later in history than the milk element. Even older than the artwork showing aaspic consumption clearly shows Rokkai indulging in a similar circular ceremony with warm, freshly gathered milk, no signs of tea involved. Many groups of Aresian Rokkai have lived alongside yaks since the first age, and were the first to domesticate cattle. The mountain yaks that Rokkai tend to herd have incredibly thick, fat-dense milk that is unpleasant to drink. Verbal history of the Rokkai indicates that the milk was always mixed with warm water by a fire, beginning the foundations of the ritual. Tea was added later, probably introduced through trade with Orcish groups. As trade began to blossom, the tea aspect became equally important as the milk.
Some Rokkai live in places with little access to milk, and seem to have adapted the tea ritual to include other diluting agents. On Jarre, Jarre-Rokkai combine fresh fruit, a splash of seawater, and the fragrant, freshwater from seablisters to make a warm sweet-and-salty tea concoction following the same ancient ritual of their ancestors.

Equipment

Most Rokkai family groups have their own teakits. These kits are often intricate, of fantastic artisanal quality, and are passed down from generation to generation. They are considered sacred and believed to carry the guardian spirits of the family. Many times, this is actually the case. One should be mindful when purchasing Rokkai teakits and check for any identifiable energy; many have been abandoned when the last member of their family line has died, and they can be particularly haunted or cursed.
Teakits include several items, the contents varigying from family to family. Usually, they included a combination of:

• A cauldron-like pot known as a Tchhrroharth made of cast iron, usually decorated with an intricate metal chain of charms, each symbolising passed family members and ancestors. This is often intricately decorated with gold or other precious materials.
• Rath; a carefully made metal structure, usually stored around the Tchhrroharth in the kit. This stand keeps the Tchhrroharth at the right height above the fire to warm the tea
• Pawdishes; enough for the family unit, and a few for potential guests
• Multiple Krikka; runestones typically made from obsidian or another protective mineral, softly enchanted for protection and comfort.
• Charri; a fine swath of textile (often silk or finely embroidered linen) that is long enough to drape across the laps of the participants in the ceremony connecting them together in a circle.
• A teabox lined with silk or a fine skin such as Myrrowskin, occasionally velvet
• Tea scoops, usually made from fine bone or obsidian so as to not interfere with the texture or flavour of the tea
• Idols of religious or spiritual significance to the particular family
• Bags, boxes or parcels of additional ingredients
• Songsheets and small musical instruments
• A stirring rod made of obsidian, glass or bone with 4 paddles extending from the base, made to fit the Tchhrroharth and optimally keep the tea moving.

Process

The ritual is highly variable across cultures and individuals.
Generally, the participants arrive at a carefully made fire for the ritual, and assist in making each other comfortable. Pillows are placed on the ground around the fire, placed as evenly as possible. Within families before a nightly ritual, grooming and conversation will often occur, sharing of the day's events and expression of intentions for the future.
The Rath and Tchhrroharth are set on the fire to warm and water is added, as well as milk in most situations. The equipment and tea are passed out and ingredients are prepared. Once everything is ready the A'Charri is held on one end by the "head" of the family or ritual (often a father or mother). The other end is passed to each person in the circle clockwise, bringing the other end all the way around until the charri is placed in the laps of everyone involved, connecting them in a ring.
Everyone is given a pawdish, and a Krikka runestone, which is held with warmth and intention before placing it in the bowl.
Once the bowls are laid out, the tea making process begins. The group often sings songs or plays music as they collectively prepare the tea. During the ritual, the participants must only speak positively of one another, and it is a time to share love and words of affirmation. When the tea is made, each member of the group pours themselves a bowl before passing it to the person beside them clockwise, an act symbolising giving and support.
The tea is then consumed over light and positive conversation. The members of the group dip their paws in the tea and lick it off their fur. It is considered extremely rude and disrespectful to bring up heavy topics, arguments or disagreements during the process. It is intended to be a relaxing time for all involved and any disruption of this will lead to the disruptor being asked to leave, and the process must start again from the beginning.
The process is ended when everyone is finished and ready to leave, and the charri is passed back around in an anti-clockwise pattern, releasing them from the circle.