Hated, feared, and loved - Rapt views on Mana
Some love it, some hate it, others don't even believe in it. While it is very real, some Rapt are skeptical, especially in these dark times. Others refuse to believe in it's reality or use, and/or hate and fear it, mostly the New Way-ers. Others, some facets of the Old Ways and neutral Rapt, think it's something that only Maia Herself should do, and those who try to tamper with it are fools. Others, the ones who believe and trust, the dying breed known as Manarapt...they know magick is real, and it can help Rapt kind like nothing else.
The abilities and powers here are in addition to the uncategorized spells specific to the Clans. The abilities here may be made into specific spells - this is just a breif outline of the different things that can be done. Be sure to check with the GM, though, before making and performing any spell in the RP. Forest Magick Forest Magick is the art of being one with the earth, learning all one can about the land, and being a pacifist. It's a peaceful Way, where violence is discouraged aside what's essential for one to survive. It's kind of like a version of Native American Shamanism.
Listening to the gods' Voices This is said to be the way to hear the gods Themselves, as well as the voices of spirits and souls. This is also seeing visions, kind of. This is done by meditating and clearing ones mind, sometimes by tapping claws against the ground.
Calling the Powers - Totems of the other Species It's believed that by doing a certain ceremony, one can draw power from other creatures that Rapt wouldn't normally have. Sometimes this is taken to a greater degree, and the Rapt actually transforms into the other creature, either in mind or even, rarley, form. Physical shape-changing can only be accomplished by advanced Manarapt and is often dangerous and unpredictable. The animals, what they represent, and the ceremonies are listed here:
Ridgeback(Acrocanthosaurus, a T.rex-like Carnosaur) Represents Power, Strength, Courage.
In this ceremony, the Rapt needs to be wearing a necklace or string with an Acro tooth attached. In an open feild, the Acro's homeland, they chant:
Ridgeback, my fearsome Brother
We need your power to stand against another
Give us your savagry, your courage, your strength
Towering stature, rippling muscles and long length,
Though our kinds are sometimes foes
We are all Clutchmates beneath Maia - She knows.
Come to me, my savage Brother,
The only fight is Now, there will not be another...
Bellows/Spike Paw(Iguanodons and Parasarolophus) Working Together, and Putting others before yourself
For this, the Rapt needs a Bellow crest or Spike Paw spike bone. In a swamp or near a lake, they will chant:
Spike paw, Bellows, the lifesource of my Kind,
You are the fuel for our body and mind,
You die so we may live,
And we pray you have one more gift to give.
Bind our Pack, as your great herds are bound, so we may overcome.
Let us not care for what each thinks, or where each is from,
Show us your secret, the way of the Herd, bring us together,
Let us never fight or stray, for now and forever!
Runners(Ornithomimus/Gallimimus) Speed, agility, and cunning
A Rapt needs the leg bone or tendon from a Runner, and in an open feild or plain, they speak:
Runner, swift as the wind over the plains,
Your gift of speed saves you from being slain,
Swifter then the Rapt, we now ask a favor,
Give us your speed and cunning, so the wind, we can savor!
Travelling faster then ever before,
Running, leaping, evading the claws who seek our gore,
Help us, Runners, let us join the fleeting wind.
Nippers/Squeaks(Compsognathus, Small Mammal) Overcoming limits, gaining respect, bravery despite the odds
A Rapt needs any part of either creature, or a whole dead one. This ceremony works best at night, over a burrow of either creature.
Nippers, Squeeks, small in size,
Though the Rapt you can suprise,
You are not limited by your stature or ways,
The things you dare seldom do not amaze,
Little creatures, we arrogent Rapt ask you now,
Show us your secrets, give us your bravery,
Help us defeat our barriers, free us from our slavery,
Our masters being ego and fear,
Show us the way to perservere!
Fliers (Pterodons)
Looking at things from a different angle, higher knowledge, wisdom
The wing or crest of a Flyer is needed, and if one can, do this on a cliff, or an abandoned nest of a Flyer.
Fliers, Masters of the Sky,
The highest creatures, the ones who can fly,
You see all from your view in the clouds,
From Lake Naiko to the Red Mounds,
You know the world, you watch from above,
Share with us land-bound Rapt your knowledge!
Snapper (Crocodile)
Patience, stealth, protection
A plate of skin or a jaw from a snapper will do. Do this by a river.
Sister Snap, patient hunter, caring mother,
A generation may pass and you simply wait another,
Looking like a harmless log, you strike feirce and fast,
Leaving a shock and terror sure to last.
Good mother, now, I ask of you,
Give me your stealth, your attack, fast and true,
Grant me with infiniate patience, and the knowledge I will prevail!
Booms(Sauropods, like Diploducus)
Size, strength, defense
This requires any part of a sauropod - given that this is hard to obtain, don't think it's being to vauge. This should be done in a low forest or feild.
Largest of Maia's chicks, Boom,
Your neck and noise will be needed soon,
Stretching for dozens of body-lengths across the ground,
And your back a giant, powerful mound,
A snapping tail that deafens the greatest of creatures,
And thundering footsteps; all these among your features,
Boom, this Rapt asks you now, give my Clan your strength,
Your size, your defense, your amazing lenght,
And may a thousand of Maia's blessings be upon you.
Familiars Rapt sometimes have spirtual connections with non-Rapt creatures, usually like nippers, squeeks, or fliers, but a few that have connections with Ridgebacks or prey animals do exist. They can communicate with these animals secretly, and understand each other perfectly. The Rapt can also sometimes share the familiar's body, doing things that would be difficult with their Rapt form.
Healing Healing is an important part of Forest magick, and a large amount of it deals with 'conventional' treatments, like plants and herbs to cure certain ailments, and the use of primitive splints to help set bones. Some practisioners of the Green Magick incorperate things like dates and seasons, and other symbolic things, believing they help the healing process.
Moon Magick The most mysterious and possibly the largest of the three Magicks. It involves things like divination and soul-travelling, as well as symbolic magic, the use of things like fetishes, carvings, jewels, or the like in rituals and assigning certain directions, weather, and colors, etc with spiritual meanings. Believed to be the most powerful of Magicks, it comes with a price. It is generally frowned upon and is often confused with Blood Magick. Divination Raptors have several strange forms of fortune telling and answer-seeking; from interpreting cracks on a Raptor's killing claws to throwing sticks and carved stones. Most Rapt, however, prefer to use dreaming and meditation to forsee the future and get their questions answered.
Dreaming, Meditating, and Soul Travelling Dreams are very important to some Rapt, and they often try to interpret them. Some Raptors will meditate, going into trances, and hoping to see a vision or have a revelation while in an unconscience state. Some have perfected this art, gaining the ability to travel through the soul realm, sometimes inhabiting other bodies and travelling to far away lands. This can be dangerous, though, as some Rapt are so drawn to the wonders of the soul realm that they never return, or if they do, thet go insane. Strange and dangerous things also lurk in the etherial world, and Manarapts advise their apprentices to only attempt soul-travel if absolutely nessicary.
Psionics Rapt psionics, psychic powers, aren't of the energy-beam-spoon-bending variety - rather, things like empathy, vauge precognition, and sensing the presance and condition of others who are far away.
Dancing Dancing is important to Raptors, and this facet of Moon and Forest magick has been incorperated into normal society. Ranging in use from mating and courtship dances, to rituals, to symbolicly reinacting great battles or hunts, to just having a good time, it's easy to see that Raptors love rhythem.
Curses This is what draws most otherwise well-meaning Rapt to the Art of Blood mana. In a fit of rage and lusting revenge, over an attack on a family member or friend, a Rapt casts a haphazard curse, not knowing the dangerous side effects. The more anger and hate put into a curse, the worse - or better, more effective at least - it will be. Unfortunatly, in a state of maddened rage, it's very easy to accidently cast the curse upon oneself or the loved one attacked instead of the attacker, especially if the caster doesn't know who did it.
Nightmares Every Rapt has nightmares from time to time, but some of them are purposly cast upon their victims by other Raptors. Sometimes these nightmares are so horrifying or vicious that the victim gains a deathly phobia of something, goes insane, or kills themselves or others in confusion or anger - sometimes while they're still asleep.
Possession While another raptor is in a trance or asleep, or generally magically unaware, this makes them vulnerable to powerful Blood Mana that allows other raptors to take over their body and spirit, even from afar.
Frenzies/Raves Another name for a Kardaro, though even non-infected Rapt can do a Rave. See Darkara - Ways of the Darkness - Kardaros
Manarapt and Naimana These are the general terms for shamans and their apprentaces. The job and abilities of Manarapt vary from Clan to Clan, not even existing in some and being the central figure in others.
