| Other Names | The War Master, Lord of Rojavi |
| Status | Demigod |
| Area Of Control | Weapon skill and battle training. |
| Pantheon | Ogre |
| Worshipers | Ogres, warriors, bladesmiths |
| Holy Items | Blood of a True Enemy, jhogar |
| Places of Worship | Battle fields, any piece of ground upon which a duel takes place |
| Appearance | Tall, young lean ogre with abnormally long arms. |
| Symbol | The Blue Moon, A long slightly curved blade (Talon) |
Vallaurias is the ogrish deity of battle prowess and weapon skill. He is said to be a master with every weapon made by mortal hands. However, his personal favorite is Talon, the blade which is also his symbol. This magnificent weapon is a long and slightly curved, single edged sword with a handle and pommel fashioned to resemble an eagle. The entire weapon is crafted from a single piece of black metal which sparkles slightly in the moonlight. Vallaurias appears as a rather tall, lean ogre with abnormally long arms. He has light brown skin, long flowing locks of snow white hair and coal black eyes. Depictions of Vallaurias always show him with Talon drawn and usually striking one of several stylized combat poses.
During the late years of the Great War, when the first mutations of the ogre race were beginning to appear among the ranks of the soldiers of the mighty nations that fought, one soldier distinguished himself as a master of the blade. He was a common foot soldier that fought for the Traxxian Legion named Vallaurias. It was not long before he rose to the attention of the warlords. As his victories increased, fear and honor were heaped upon his name. Eventually, these victories brought about bitter resentment by the Empire which he fought. Imperial assassins by the dozen but dispatched, but all fell before the blade of Vallaurias. As his fame grew, promotion after promotion followed. Soldiers began deserting their units to follow the unkillable swordsman. But soon, there were some within the Traxxian Legion that began to fear this undefeatable fighter. The Traxxian Legion sought to remove this perceived threat, but Vallaurias survived all attacks against him, stealthy or combative, by combat skill alone. Weary of court room politics and assassins' blades, he and his followers left both the Legion and the fighting behind and established a small retreat/school where his style of combat would be taught. For awhile, Vallaurias managed to protect his school and followers from the war, but one day, Imperial forces swept down into the valley and attacked the village including the war school. The villagers were taken prisoner as the war school was apparently the primary target. Vallaurias and his followers fought valiantly that day, but they were all eventually cut down. Their bodies were left out to rot in the sun. The next day, the villagers awoke to find their manacles shattered and the Imperial guards dead, slashed through the heart. The bodies of Vallaurias and his followers were no where to be found. News of this event spread quickly and the faith blossomed. Those who had studied under Vallaurias found students clamoring for tuition. In the following years, the masters began to experience visions and the master/student relationship slowly took on the characteristics of priest/follower.
Most ogrish warriors offer up a quick prayer to him before entering battle, but most do not actively worship him beyond the battle field. Those that do tend to be loners and fanatics who enjoy the company of their weapons more than pleasantries and conversation. Followers of Vallaurias spend endless hours training alone trying to achieve Rojae (pronounced ro-JAY-uh) which translates roughly as "Awareness" - that is, oneness with the weapon and one's surroundings. It is a unity of weapon and warrior, surroundings and the five senses that goes far beyond ordinary skill. Followers of this religion spend many years working toward this goal. While they are usually masters of their weapon and excellent warriors, many never do. Fewer than one in one hundred disciples achieve Rojae and for those few who do, it is a life altering achievement.
Followers are required to learn many different weapons, but they must master one type. Of this type, they must select the finest example and keep it with them at all times. This weapon is their jhogar (an ogre word which translates roughly as "first and chosen"). The choosing of a jhogar is not a thing taken lightly. It is common for a follower to search for many months through markets, bazaars and battlefields until they find the perfect weapon, one that fits them, physically and mentally. In fact, many followers will learn the craft of metalwork or become a bowyer so that they can craft their own jhogar. Once the jhogar is found, the follower gives it a name and from that moment on the two are inseparable. On occasion, a follower will receive a vision, channeled through their jhogar, which gives them guidance, strength, courage, etc. This is called communing. Worshipers of Vallaurias who suspect that a warrior may be communing with his god through their weapon consider it taboo to interfere until such a spiritual connection is over.
The actual act of achieving Rojae is known as the Awakening and usually follows a major battle in which the worthy disciple was greatly outnumbered. After the battle, as the enemy lay about his feet, the follower will experience a waking dream in which Vallaurias bestows a new name upon the victor. This is the Awakening and signifies that the discipline has been true to his faith and has achieved Rojae. A warrior that achieves Rojae attains the title Rojavi (pronounced ro-JAH-vee) or "he who is aware". The name given by Vallaurias is a secret name and can never be revealed to anyone, not even another Rojavi master. A master that betrays his faith forfeits his status as Rojavi and is cast from the religion.
A Rojavi master wields his weapon as if it were an extension of his own body. It is said that a master can feel his opponents movements by shifts in the air, feel the heat from a candle, hear the breathing of a rabbit and other such incredible feats. It is widely known that they are incredibly agile and fast, capable of breathtakingly fast attacks, feints and parries. Beyond this, Vallaurias also grants the new master limited spell ability. This magic almost always has something to do with, or is conducted through, the master's weapon. With the title comes responsibility. Rojavi masters act as priests of the religion, travelling the realms, recruiting young warriors and teaching at gatherings of Vallaurias.
The Church of Vallaurias is one of focused ritual and individual study. Most worship is done alone, either in training or on the battlefield. It is tradition that every warrior sacrifice blood of a True Enemy upon the altar of Vallaurias. A "true enemy" is any worthy opponent that was defeated fairly in battle by skill alone. The follower will gather some blood of the fallen enemy and (at the next gathering of his church) pour the blood upon the altar during the ceremony. The blood is absorbed by the stone altar. In this way, followers honor their god and thank him for their skills and strength.
Gatherings tend to be small and oriented toward meditation, chanting, ritualized "sword dancing", blood sacrifice and communal weapons practice in any atmosphere of restrained fellowship. Such gatherings are typically held once a week, number between 10 and 20 participants and are led by the most experienced member - that is, the member who is closest to achieving Rojae. This is, naturally, determined by challenges of non-lethal weapon combat held at the meetings. Rojavi masters do not normally participate in such gatherings as they are considered to be above normal training. On occasion, however, a Rojavi master will visit a gathering as a guest and teacher.
 | A True Warrior must learn the arts of ten weapons and not less. |
| A True Warrior must spend a part of each day in training, study and contemplation. |
| A True Warrior must gather with other of the Faith in cooperation and fellowship. |
| A True Warrior must become the master of a single weapon. |
| A True Warrior must find his first and chosen by fate or his own hand. |
| A True Warrior must offer the blood of his True Enemies upon the altar of Vallaurias. |
| A True Warrior must obey the orders of the Rojavi. |
| A True Warrior must never disturb a communing. |
This page last updated Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Copyright 1990-2009 David M. Roomes.