Hoo
Hoo (a.k.a. The Watcher)
"Hoo who watches..."
Background
Baa Yalu is the most commonly worshipped religion in Minaka Vale, and Hoo is one of the three minor deities.
The religion focuses on seven tenets that focus on looking out for danger, being part of a community and the individual's responsibilities within it. Members of the religion call themselves the flock. They are known to be distrustful of strangers but extremely supportive of those in their community and have a high level of cleanliness.
The Watcher
All of what is known about Hoo comes from the Kurothic Carvings and, as a result, there is much which is not known. Only a small portion of the Carvings have been translated and the icon of Hoo appears a lot in the untranslated sections.
The story which Hoo is best known for is 'The Story of Baa and Hoo', which is sometimes also called 'The Gnarled Twigs'. It tells of how Hoo protected Baa from the darkness with a gnarled twig and led to two common Baa Yalu rituals. The first is piling gnarled twigs beside their front doors, adding to the pile daily so that if darkness dares come close to their home they will be warned. The second ritual is scattering the twigs in the area around their town or village to protect the whole settlement.
The Myth
Baa was grazing when Hoo observed darkness creeping near—a shadowy threat invisible to all but Hoo's watchful eyes. Despite Hoo's warning, Baa could not see the danger. Hoo plucked a gnarled twig and thrust it toward the darkness; the wood burst into flame. Baa asked how to stay protected. Hoo blessed gnarled twigs with watchful magic, instructing Baa to keep them close.Culture
Dedications
As a minor god, Hoo is only really called on for specific things. Below are some examples of the sort of requests which may be made of Hoo and how they might be dedicated to them.| Need | Request |
|---|---|
| Children to be safe | Hoo who watches, watch over them at school |
| Better crops | Hoo of nature, help my seeds to grow |
| Protection | Hoo who watches, keep me safe tonight |
| Knowledge | Hoo who speaks, help me find what I need to know |
Personality Traits
There are several personality traits which are associated with Hoo. Outsiders who demonstrate these traits may be accepted more quickly into the flock.- Quiet individuals
- Watchful people
- Those who listen more than they speak
- Methodical and patient types
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