Finding the Loa

It is dusk and the air is cool as I walk down to the Pools of Vision. Whatever will take place here tonight has already begun. The woman before me is no longer the friend and confidant I have known, here instead stands the shaman. Her mind already shifted to some other realm, she is focused and confident in her power.
She has already arranged a fire and small cauldron hangs over it a shimmering liquid bubbles inside.

As I approach, Vypra throws some herbs into the flames and she leans over to inhale the resulting fumes. She bids me to do the same and I kneel, following her example, drawing the pungent smoke into my lungs. I fight not to cough and I feel a strangeness begin to steal over me.

The mists that fill the cavern shimmer and I begin to see intricate patterns where before there were none. Magic is in the air, almost as tangible as it is in Silvermoon and I feel a sudden longing for that place I where I had studied.

But this is not magic as I know it, this is the Voodoo and I marvel as Vypra revels in it. The wolf spirit, who form she often takes is high in her tonight and her own patron Loa, Shango seems to follow her movements with crackles of static.

She puts her hand into a box beside her and removes some small creature. I try not to look too closely. Some distant part of me feels terrible for the thing, but here and now I know the Loa demand tribute. The shaman takes her knife and swiftly spills bright blood with her fiery blade and a muttered invocation passes her lips.

I briefly hear the voices of my guild mates over the spirit talk but as the animal blood drips into the cauldron it becomes the centre of my world
Dimly I feel Vypra move to my side. As I have been adjusting to this new level of consciousness, she has been busy. Adding the blood to the mixture was just the start and she now dips into the pot and smears some on my wrists and neck and the centre of my forehead. Finally she dabs a small amount on my lips which she then kisses lightly.

Immediately my body begins to tingle as if my skin is too tight. The shaman, who I can no longer continue to see as ‘Vypra’, instructs me to focus all my attention on the bubbling cauldron. As, I lean forward to peer inside she begins a low, constant litany, entreating the Loa to make itself known to me, its new servant.

Steam moistens my face and suddenly, I See…

The plains speed by below me. I spread leathery wings and propel my self through the night. As I fly over the Bluffs I see the cave and swoop down. My unique way a viewing the world allows me to find the two figures in the mist. They are still as stone to my senses until one moves slowly, offering fruit and insects for me to feast on.
Then I take flight again, seeming to hover briefly over the other form which also me

My view shifts again, I am myself but I feel a stranger in my own body, I have very little control and as the shaman rises and begins to dance, I too stand. ‘Now we dance ta da tune o’ da Loa’ she says and I feel drawn to match her movements. We are puppets, our Loa ride us now.
It is ecstasy and terror; I have never felt anything like it before. Hir’eek’s boundless knowledge frightens me but I am hers now and she will give me the strength to follow my path through life.

I do not know how long we danced but when I finally feel alone once more in my head, I drop to my knees with exhaustion. Vypra smiles and kneels before me, pressing a potion into my hand. I drink it down, not caring what it is and some of my strength returns. I realise we are not alone. I turn to see a large cat watching us curiously. It seems familiar to me and I ask it how long it has watched us. Thumping its paw on the mushroom, it tries to communicate without words but my mind is still reeling and I can’t grasp its meaning. It scratches a number 2 in the flesh of the mushroom it sits on and I think I understand now, but hunger wins out over curiosity as I remember I haven’t eaten for over a day.

As I wave farewell to Vypra there is something in her smile that tells me Hir’eek isn’t quite finished with me yet and I feel a thrill of excitement and wonder what will happen next...

Very well written I look forward to similar rituals for our other young members, such as Star.

I loved the story.
I think it is a great idea to let the younger members do it. ¨
I would love for Star to do it. I am not that certain that she would love it tough, but she would do it.
I would only need to read some informations about the Loas as I don't know anything about them. Where can I read mor about them?

Stargaazer wrote:
I would only need to read some informations about the Loas as I don't know anything about them. Where can I read mor about them?

Here, for example: https://heritageofzandalar.forumotion.com/lorekeepin-f15/gods-and-loa-t27.htm

there's also some good stuff on wowwiki:

http://www.wowwiki.com/Voodoo
http://www.wowwiki.com/Loa
http://www.wowwiki.com/Animism

Nicely done Vypra, and good on Star for volunteering !

I am not sure yet but I think that Star will get in contact with Lukou or Ezili. Just a question. How does Lukou appear if she would appear in a vision?

I haven't been able to find a discription of her but when i have mentioned loa in dream sequences, i have usually portrayed the impression they leave rather than an actual physical description. I have described shango as having a voice 'like the quiet before the storm' and his movements as 'full of a swift energy' and of course he would have a mischeivous gleam in his eyes.

I seem to visualise Lukou as the epitome of calm beauty. in comparison to Shango (her brother) she would be relaxed and graceful.

As loa of health and regeneration, perhaps in your vision, she would give you her symbol to carry. Vypra has lightening bolts on her forearms from Shango (not in her description as they are rarely seen) and the symbols of the elements (as seen on the in game monoliths) tattooed down her back, perhaps Star would have something similar to the leaf symbol that you see when you cast a healing spell?
i think in the other thread about the tattoos i mentioned that a common symbol was a palm (or similar) leaf for protection and health?

anyway, hope this has given you some ideas

Thanks it does, Vypra. I still don't know which I will choose but that will come soon or a later. I am not sure how much I will be able to be on for the next 1,5 week.. So it will have to come later on anyway.

The Loa who are not aspects of animals would look like trolls. I imagine Mueh'zala, for example, as a pale troll in a black robe, carrying a spear with which he opens the corpses to take the soul out of them; Shango as a troll with white eyes, hair which is dark as a stormcloud, and carrying a lightning spear; etc.
The primal loa can appear both in half-beast half-troll and in full beast form.

Snicka wrote:The Loa who are not aspects of animals would look like trolls. I imagine Mueh'zala, for example, as a pale troll in a black robe, carrying a spear with which he opens the corpses to take the soul out of them; Shango as a troll with white eyes, hair which is dark as a stormcloud, and carrying a lightning spear; etc.
.

Heh, i hadn't really ever thought too much about Mueh'zala but your description of Shango is very close to how i see him

Because of his role, I always thought of Mueh'Zala as the troll version of the Grim Reaper. Hence, black robe with hood, pale, almost skeletal face (for some reason, I don't imagine him as a skull-face, though), and instead of a scythe, he carries a spear (trolls don't have agriculture, so they haven't even heard about a scythe).
Talking about Luoku, I imagine her as a tall troll woman in white robe, and a golden aura around her (think of the golden animation of all healing spells). Her appearance is almost angelic. I can't decide on her hair colour, but probably white, yellow or light blue.

I think it would be a great idea if someone who has IC knowledge of this sugests at the next meeing that Star goes through this ritual. Star has no lue about it but it would be fitting in her state of mind.