Inception

**Inception** is the process by which is a human is transformed into a har: transfusion of blood from a har to a human. *Inception* also used as a term to describe the attendant ceremonies. Following inception, the human undergoes althaia.

### Early History

In his *Educational Primer for Harlings*, Swithe Tresillian offered a fairly detailed description of Wraeththu inception rites. He begins with the Uigenna, considered the "root" tribe of all Wraeththu.

From the section "The Inception Rites of Wraeththu":
The Uigenna were, in my opinion, undoubtably the first of the Wraeththu tribes. When they began to inception humans, the process was subject to a great deal of trial and error, as different methods were attempted. I spoke to a mature Uigenna har in Duwamish who told me:
*We had no hienama, he got killed early on and we were separated from everyhar else. We had to augment our ranks to survive and incepted any human we could get our hands on, whatever their age or gender. Nearly every one of them died.*
This is hardly surprising, since the Uigenna inception procedure of choice was simply to slash the arm of the inceptee tea with a blade or some other sharp implement and for a hara to do likewise. Then, the two wounds were held together for some minutes. Clearly, enough blood was transferred to affect the human form, but perhaps not enough to facilitate an inception. Quite often, all that was achieved was a fatal poisoning, although those who survive this method were undoubtedly hara of high caliber.
### Improvements to Inception Practices

Also in "Inception Rites," Swithe goes on to describe refinements to the process that led to a higher success rate.

The concept of hienamas, hara who were qualified to undertake inceptions, was quite a late addition to the procedure. The first Wraeththu har, and the initial wave of inceptees for whom he was responsible, no doubt understood the process far better than those who either broke away or became separated from the primal group. Eventually, because the success rate was so poor, certainly Uigenna took it upon themselves to acquire knowledge of inception, to experiment in an organized fashion and to note results. This led to a greater understanding of the procedure and methods were devised to ensure a larger success rate.
The Uigenna generally never managed to develop a consistent method, and procedures did tend to vary from group to group, but on the whole they followed a certain pattern. The tribe learned that inceptees should fast for some days prior to the operation, which minimized rejection of the Wraeththu essence. They also realize that human females could not be incepted, at least not with the methods and knowledge at their disposal. Also humans of the age group 14 -21 tended to survive the process more than those who were younger or older.
Generally, prior to inception, a group of humans would be incarcerated in dismal conditions, in a state of fear and anxiety, unsure of what would be their fate. Some even died of terror during this time, especially if they were already injured or sick. The inceptions themselves would be conducted consecutively, with several hienamas or hara of fairly high rank who worked with the inceptions, donating their blood. The method used for transfusion still tended to involve barbaric slashing of flesh while the inceptee he was in a state of full consciousness. Again, many souls were lost at this point. It never seem to occur to the Uigenna that making the process less frightening, brutal and painful would contribute to a higher success rate. But then again, it's likely the tribe prized individuals who could survive the worst experience and believed those who couldn't to be weaklings, unworthy of becoming you Uigenna. In the early days, the tribe had an abundance of humans to work with, so we're on doubted Lee rather cavalier in their attitude to fatalities.
Following transfusion, incepted were left alone to undergo althaia, the changing from human to har. Again, fatalities were common as not even basic care and hygiene was administered to these unfortunates. It seems almost a miracle that Wraeththu ever managed to spread as successfully as they have.
It was not realized for some time that aruna after inception helped "set "the process, although those who emerge from althaia intact were habitually subjected to aruna by other members of the tribe, who either had an interest in a particular new har or who simply got there first. It is hardly surprising that the Uigenna were an aggressive and hostile tribe as most of them had undergone such traumatic inception', which undoubtedly left terrible scars in both mind and body.
### Further Refinements

Swithe, who for many years lived among Varrs, provided a view of his own tribe's inception rights. Like most of the contents of his primer, the account is unapologetically biased but does offer insight:

Fortunately, but the Uigenna are alone in their barbaric inception methods. The Varrs are perhaps the acceptable face of the Uigenna: hara from the tribe who have grown up and become civilized. The Varrish way of inception is clinical, clean and structured. It also involves a small degree of ceremony as this seems to help the newly incepted to accept their condition.
Prior to inception, humans are kept in isolation to fast in medical facilities. They are physically cleansed and examined for disease and injury. Tranquilizing drugs are habitually administered, which ensures the inceptee is meek and malleable. Before the inception itself takes place, a hienama will instruct the inceptee in a basic knowledge of Wraeththukind and what inception will do to them. They are encouraged to believe they will emerge from the experience as superior beings, and that each one of them is important to the tribe as a whole.
The inception takes place in the facility after an anesthetic has been administered, and involves a clinical transfusion of blood from the hienama allotted to the inceptee. The hienama will also see the new har through althaia and is generally responsible for first aruna thereafter.
Although the Varrs do not greatly adhere to the caste system of magical training, they do provide a naming ceremony for each new har and a small rite of acceptance into the tribe.
There are occasions, of course, when humans will volunteer for inception themselves. Such recruits usually derived from groups of human slaves. Varrish hara in control of the slaves generally notice and nurture humans who are suitable for inception. These individuals inevitably go into the procedure with more knowledge than usual, and will have a harish mentor who will undertake the role of hienama for them.