Totem Weaving
Souls Weaved into Physical Forms
"From Rock and Runestone came the Mountain Kin, from the Mountain Kin came the Thread, and from the Thread came a fighting chance."
T
he Threading of spirits, ideas, and patrons alike is an art both powerful and sacred; even when the knowledge of such things was only a belief in place of proven practice. When totems of beast and wildlife were crafted only out of respect, reverence, and no small amount of fear. But through the skillful weaving of The Thread, those same totems can be imbued with the life of that which they represent. Or at least the idea of it.
On their own, totems are an extremely simple display of craftsmanship. A sort of statue, if you will, carved from wood or bone or stone in the image of something; oftentimes an animal, or important figure, or just of an idea. Hell, the entire point of their design is quite literally doing all of the above and stacking them atop one another. But Totem Weaving is the ritual in which someone, almost always an experienced shaman, can bind a spirit into that totem for some sort of effect or purpose.
Vessels for the Wild
What distinguishes a totem, at least aesthetically, is not necessarily a topic that matters. As you can imagine, Valkyr have more important things to worry about. As such the definition has broadened to just about anything that can be used as a vessel for this specific ritual.
From statues erected in the centers of towns or farms or homesteads, to the ornate carvings given to the pillars and rafters of important buildings, the small knickknacks that could almost qualify as talismans instead, or even Valkyr themselves.
Spiritual Aura
Totems act as a projection, a way to channel a spirit's influence into an energy that can be taken advantage of. Images of plants, pollinators, foragers, and the like to bestow growth in the bitter cold, visages of predators to bolster a fighting spirit and effigies of defenders to fortify the heart, ideas and beliefs turned to strengths and abilities.
Bonus Lore
There are legends of powerful shamans binding Patrons into totems of their own, Patrons who are then able to bring life to their vessels through sheer willpower and take the form of golems.
It's not uncommon for adventuring parties to make use of totems to aid them in their endeavors. And some Valkyr have been known to serve as totems themselves, bolstering the strength of their comrades in the heat of battle.
All the art is made by me unless labled otherwise!
Congratulations on copper - I love this concept, even though I'm a little afraid that there might be someone out there who has bad intentions with it.
Thanks so much!!!
While I would love to go on an adventure, writing them is enough for me.