Araknavar, the Widowmaker
⇒ Offerings: Offerings to Araknavar are blood, Stinkhorn, entrails & bones.
Widow's Feast
On certain nights, particularly those with no moon, followers prepare a "Widow's Feast." This is a dark banquet of richly spiced meats and bitter herbs, symbolizing the seductive lure of death and the bitterness of betrayal. During the feast, one place is left empty to honor Araknavar herself, and a portion of each dish is placed upon her altar. Those who partake in the feast do so in silence, reflecting on their loyalty to Araknavar and the skills they wish to hone under her dark guidance. The feast concludes with a vow of secrecy and a reaffirmation of their dedication to the dark arts.
⇒The Vigil:Vigil
Followers of Araknavar gather in shadowed places, often in hidden caverns or abandoned ruins. The ritual begins with absolute silence; no words are spoken as they light black candles made from animal fat. The silence represents the quiet approach of death, a core tenet of Araknavar's teachings. Worshippers meditate on the inevitability of death, reflecting on their own mortality and the frailty of life. During this time, they may wear cloaks made of spider silk or dark fabrics to symbolize their connection to Araknavar's domain.
⇒ Blackened Heart: Some whispers speak of a Blackened Heart, a mythical artifact said to contain the essence of lost souls. It pulses with a dark energy, granting its bearer the ability to peer into the shadows of fate. However, to possess a Blackened Heart is to bear a heavy price—an unending connection to the realm of death, forever haunted by the souls that linger in its presence. Some say the only way to acquire a blackened heart is to commit severe atrocities against the innocent, turning their own heart black and cold...
⇒ The Marking Ceremony: When becoming a follower of Araknavar and being officially recognized by any Order, the individual may become marked. This marking is a sign of dedication to Araknavar & their Order. They must know the ways of Araknavar in order to bear her mark. The mark must also be willingly accepted by the bearer. The required items are spider venom, poison & blood. The leader of any Order / collective OR those who are ordained with such power by their Order / collective leader may preform The Marking Ceremony. To administer the mark you must first be bitten by a spider with a potent venom (anywhere will work but a finger is best) make sure you either have antivenom or another cure to prevent your death… You will then cut open the place you were bitten (just shallow enough to cause light bleeding) then mix the envenomed blood with deadly nightshade extract & draw the sigil of Araknavar on the bearers left forearm, just below the bend of the elbow. This will burn into the bearers flesh, leaving a permanent mark for life. “You are bound to me now, you are a Priestess (or Priest. Can also be higher rank as well) of Araknavar, the Widowmaker. You have chosen to walk this path, so it shall be. May you walk always in the shadows, Nights Blessings upon you (NAME HERE) (Priest OR Priestess) of Araknavar, the Widowmaker.” You should then grab the bearers forearm in a brotherhood handshake or warriors handshake, pressing on their new found mark.
⇒ Nights Blessings (ᚾᛁᚷᚺᛏᛊ ᛒᛚᛖᛊᛊᛁᛜᛊ) is a term often used amongst followers of Araknavar, the Widowmaker. It is used for both greetings & farewells as well as endearment.
The church of Araknavar has its own titles that can be earned and climbed. Each Order may promote or demote those within their church of Araknavar as they see fit.
The titles are as follows:
⇒ Widowmaker (ᚹᛁᛞᛟᚹᛗᚨᚲᛖᚱ)
⇒ High Priest (ᚺᛁᚷᚺ ᛈᚱᛁᛖᛊᛏ) / High Priestess (ᚺᛁᚷᚺ ᛈᚱᛁᛖᛊᛏᛖᛊᛊ)
⇒ Priest (ᛈᚱᛁᛖᛊᛏ) / Priestess (ᛈᚱᛁᛖᛊᛏᛖᛊᛊ)
⇒ Adept (ᚨᛞᛖᛈᛏ)
⇒ Disciple (ᛞᛁᛊᚲᛁᛈᛚᛖ)
⇒ Initiate (ᛁᚾᛁᛏᛟᛏᛖ)
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