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Balbal

"Hunks of rock? No, no, no. The gods themselves, that is what we see. Look, look, look. See, don't you?"
- Bone Singer Opoea, daughter of Musa, to a group of puzzled Gorgorians, 4223 UX

The balbal are massive rock formations found throughout the Xalendrian steppes. In Crocotta mythology, these formations are naturally occurring portraits of the nature spirits they worship. While some Gorgorons try to argue the balabal are nothing more than stone which has been shaped by the elements over time to look vaguely like animals, there have been stories of destroyed balbal simply reappearing in other areas of the steppes overnight, as if by magic. These formations are so sacred that many Crocotta clans choose to construct their clan kurgans within sight of these formations.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Current balbal:

Sand Badger

Saiga

Manul

Eagle Owl

Boar

Saker Falcon

Reindeer

Brown Bear

Steppe Polecat

Raven

Bank Swallow

Wolf

Horse*

[Author's Note: Unlike other balbal, there are multiple horse formations throughout the steppes. No singular Crocotta lineage claims the horse as its sacred animal, and thus all clans worship at these balbal. They are often used as meeting places in times of peace, seeing as they are neutral ground.]

Religions