Originally posted by Makkar.Voshoud(compound from words of no specific tribal origin;
Vo prefix indicating hidden, secret or guarded, and
shoud meaning knowledge, specifically what one might call "lore")
The use of Voshoud as a title was revived by a secretive group of warrior monks and resistance fighters during the years of occupation and slavery, and subsequent rebellion. The group, known as "Oracle" (referring to their sideline in the collection and protection of Minmatar customs, traditions and folklore, and their resulting status as a source of knowledge) found reference to an ancient Minmatar legend which spoke of a wandering teacher that would pass through towns on Matar.
This man bore seven tattoos on his body, in a vertical line down his spine. Each represented one of the "seven forms". (A philosophy and martial art form practiced by the warrior monks of Oracle, particularly, but the art istelf was not a guarded secret - rather, it's teaching was encouraged, and was quite widespread before the Day of Darkness.) It was said that wherever this teacher went, he brought with him learning, wisdom, hope and peace. He called himself Voshoud.
These seven forms markings have since been known to appear in Voluval, ("Hidden Destiny",) but only on exceptionally rare occasions.
In the latter part of the occupation, there were reports of these marks coming increasingly often during Voluval, although still rarely. Perhaps one a year, where there might have been decades between them before. It was as if the spirits of Matar had seen the need to preserve lore, and sent them to do it. Since the rebellion, the number of Voshoud discovered has dropped off to pre-DoD levels.
These individuals are hailed as Voshoud, and held in postions of high respect, if not universally, then certainly in a large portion of minmatar space. They take the role of leader, teacher, shaman, and spiritual guide to those that choose to follow them. They are articulate, composed and peaceful by nature, but have the capacity to take on an altogether more martial aspect when need arises.
/end of quasi-IC description.
(This next bit, presented in italics, should not be considered open, or even researchable knowledge. It's been buried deep by Oracle, and only a few remain alive who know this. No, I'm not playing one of those few. To all intents, this is entirely OOC, and pesented to add a little bit more depth and intrigue)
Oracle's first use of the title was during the resistance prior to the rebellion. The first "Voshoud" was an unknown Vherokior who did not actually recieve the marks during Voluval. Not wishing to wait and see if the marks would appear in someone's Voluval, the marks were tattooed on by Oracle monks, to raise morale and recreate the legend of the first Voshoud. The ruse worked, and morale was raised across the resistance forces. Following on from this success, Oracle "discovered" a number of other artificial Voshouds, plied them with whatever was in the Oracle archives, and deployed them where they could work best to keep traditions alive - the slave camps.
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Topic: Voshoud - an unnoficial mini-chron by Makkar (Read 1556 times)