Obrusinium

What is known is that Obrusinium is monotheist. There is reference in both Hythnetic and Gnoman sources to ‘the strong fighter of Obrus’, a phrase that appears frequently in reference to the faith. Clearly, there is some ambiguity here, but it will be commonly assumed that Obrus refers to the god himself.

Versions of the legend of Obrus appear only in Gnoman texts, the describe the sole survivor of his tribe, tortured with cuts to his face, who claims the strength of his burning homestead to fight back. Unlike his enemies who had put flame to his family, Obrus fights only the opposing soldiers, eventually sowing enough fear amongst them that they would flee at the sight of him. Obrus challenged the chief of the opposing tribe, slaying him in single combat and going on to rule it. As leader, he then undergoes various trials, overcoming each, teaching his once foes the virtues of honour. There is no record of his death, merely that one day he claimed to have done all he could for the tribe, and travels over the horizon

Obrus is believed to have been portrayed in icons and masks, which illustrate his torture with six cuts to his cheeks, three on either side. Certain Gnoman sketches have also suggested that the faithful may have painted their face in a similar pattern.

Might and Right

According to both Hythnetic and Gnoman sources, their faith heavily influenced warfare for the Obrusi. Many smaller skirmishes would take place and when one side began to prevail, the two war leaders would duel one another, with the winner claiming rulership of the others tribe. Trial by combat was also a valid method for rulership internally to. Any male could challenge the leader to take their place.

The right to challenge in duelling was also open to those of other faiths, and in an era of Hythnetic dominance, it did not serve the tribes well, as often it would grant easy control of tribes to Hythnetic rulers.

There was internal fighting amongst the Obrusi, which held back development and made it difficult to present a united front. Although notable duellists, Hythentic rulers tended to have an advantage distinct advantage in equipment that often saw them emerge victorious. Compounding this, when a Hythnetic warlord lost, they were not bound by the same honour code to relinquish command. This would not sit well, and would typically make the campaign against the said tribe more difficult, but the Hythnetics would likely win out in the long run due to an acceptance of better weaponry and group organisation, where Obrusi relied on traditional methods and had a focus on individual fighting.

In contrast, the Obrusi fared rather well under Gnoman rule. Although internally warlike, when the Obrusi clashed with the Gnomans, they were up against a greatly superior adversary and the Gnomans also took great advantage of duels in order to seize control. However, unlike the Hythnetics, while under Gnoman rule, while Obrusinium was far from endorsed, their was no discouragement in practising the faith, and the Gnomans recognised the benefit leaving the culture be. For the Obrusi, the Gnomans were greater fighters than they and so had a right to rule, on the rare occasion that dissent occurred, a challenge would be issued, fought, and usually lot be the Obrusi.

Honourable Fighting

For the Obrusi, combat was ritual and important. Even when going to war the tenants of Obrus would inform the actions a soldier could take. It was dishonourable to kill a wounded opponent, one should never steal the weapon of a dying soldier, and the fallen enemies in battle should be venerated as if they were your own. Where Obrusi cultures did win wars and occupy others, they were often viewed as more benevolent.

(See also Unknown)

While the religion of Obrus was heavily community focused and had no formal clergy, there were those deemed to be truly holy within it. These individuals, known as Trenchards, are the most prolific and powerful warriors of the Obrusi. These are those who have triumphed in three score of combats, be they blood or death. The path of a Trenchard was always hard, often putting themselves in harms way to seek out worthy opponents, be they man or beast.

Under Gnoman rule things became more difficult still. Stability brought peace and peace brought contentment, there was no longer a need for infighting and while allowed within limits, ritual combat was frowned upon and believed to be an improper imitation by many. As such many aspirants would turn to the arena as a natural alternative. Combat for the sake of showmanship, would often compliment the practices of honour the Obrusi embraced. Indeed, to enter the arena to earn a living was often considered an act worthy of praise in of itself, after all, was it so different to the dangerous one would have typically faced to provide for their family? The arena however, would be the end of a infamous gallery of female Trenchards, as women where often excluded from participation in such events.

Funerary Customs

The greatest honour for an Obrusi is to die in combat. At peace, the elders of the tribe would partake in duels to the death to achieve this. One would hope to die with a weapon clasped in hand, and it was a sign of great respect, that one would choose another to take their life, showing a trust that they would make their death worthwhile.

Under Gnoman administration, this pursuit of death in combat lead to vast numbers of Obrusi becoming gladiators. Their religious tenants made for good viewing, although the wider public were seldom aware that the sportsmanship shown by such fighters was base in faith.

Afterlife

Upon the death of the individual the Obrusi would cremate the body with their home, symbolising Obrus’ own loss, then bury the ashes in an pottery urn. The home could then be rebuilt by the tribe to be lived in by the descendants of the deceased. As construction evolved beyond the traditional wooden, thatch, and daub, materials, it became impractical to burn the home, instead a small bonfire would be lit over the burial urn to burn for the full day of the death. This has been suggested as the origins for the lighting of a torch in gladiator fights, (munera), upon a death in the arena.

After death, the Obrusi believe that their souls are carried by the great owl Nothus to the Hall of Heowmaeg, a spiritual realm of paradise where one rests and feasts with their ancestors for an eternity. If one’s bonfire was too weak, Nothus will not find their soul and if their remains are interred incorrectly, they will slip from her talons and be lost, becoming Leowlar. Leowlar are trapped in Scref, a freezing prison realm. A soul in Scref weakens over time and the weakest souls will dissipate, lost from the afterlife forever. The Leowlar who are strong enough to persist are not enternally trapped and will be given the opportunity to fight their way to Heowmaeg. The path can be walked any number of times if the soul is strong enough, but failure will see it cast back to Scref; imprisoned again and weakened.

The failure for an improper cremation may see one become an imprisoned spirit in Scref, but there is a worse fate for a follower of Obrus. If the cremation does not occur, the soul settles into the body and becomes inseparable from it. As the body decays, so too does the soul and so in Scref the soul manifests as an ‘unbesenged’.

In the frozen wastes that surround Scref there is a pit. A dark place within which the unburnt are thrown by the servants of the Great Owl. In contrast to those souls imprisoned within Scref, the binding of soul and body maintains both, but at great cost. As the icy frost and fiery geysers wear at the corpse, the pain of survival in this plane warps the mind and flesh. The grotesque visages of these creatures makes them unidentifiable and with their loss of identity, their minds too become fixated.

Should a soul escape its imprisonment, they will find themselves a beacon for the burning gazes of the unbesenged that wander nearby. They will tear the soul apart, envious of its fragile purity yet tortuously unable to obtain it. As the soul dissipates into nothing, the unbesenged are only driven further into their madness.