The Sacred Caves

> *"O, Xerxes, whose breath created wolvenkind, we ask you to welcome this wolf as a full member of Xassa. They have taken a task, a sacred duty, so that they may better serve you, and in doing so, devote themselves to establishing your Peace." -* Traditional Ceremonial Prayer for Taking a Task
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Xassa's Sacred Caves are located at Tell Bagastana, the main camp.

This page is still under construction!

*In Xassa, there are extensive cave systems beneath the mountains, mirroring the ravines and narrow canyons of their badlands. The wolves of Xassa have recorded their history here since the beginning, placing great importance on the keeping of records which allow the wolves trained to be Magi (and the Melchior) to recite the history of the pack and important wolves and events.*

*Most wolves who are not Magi are relatively fearful of entering the Caves, which resonate with an otherworldly power and mystique, according to most. The Melchior, too, gives off this impression.*

## **Records**

Records are *mnemonic objects* which are utilized by the Magi and Melchior to remember important names, agreements, and events. These are not “read”, for Xassa has no form of writing, but rather, they are a collection of objects which help these well-trained Magi recall details attached to the object.

Most Records are small and easily transportable - stones, bones, primary feathers, and such. Each wolf, upon taking a task, is given a **Contract Stone**, which is a Record specifically of *them,* and their existence in the pack. Each wolf is expected to memorize the shape, color, and features of their Contract Stone. Other Records tell of packs which have been absorbed into Xassa, and others tell who the Cyruses of the past were.

*Most wolves only have one Record - their Contract Stone.* Some may place additions beneath or alongside their Contract, such as feathers or dried herbs, or even bear claws, but the Contract is the lasting record which will remain in the Cave for eternity. The Cyrus usually has a multitude of Records which correspond with events that happened during their reign. These are used by the Magi and Melchior to recite the history of Xassa.

**Contract Stones**

The mountains of Xassa are rich in granite and gneiss. Contract Stones are generally picked because of their unique visual characteristics, so the variety of colors and patterns available in these rock forms means most wolves are able to identify their Contract with ease. Added to this, the shape of the stones and the marks made by the individual wolves themselves make each stone unique.

Wolves don’t choose their own stones - the Cyrus chooses the stone, and it is presented by the Melchior in a taking-a-task ceremony. Each stone is roughly the size of a chicken's egg.

Note: OOC, you *can* choose the stone your wolf is given, as long as the design is within reason.

## **Cave Map**

**Entrance**

The entrance to the Caves is fairly narrow, which often makes wolves entering for the first time claustrophobic. However, no wolf has ever been too large to successfully navigate through the entrance and the narrow, winding corridor (though for some, it has been quite a squeeze!)

**Hall of Contracts**

If one turns right at the first branch at the end of the corridor, they will reach the Hall of Contracts. This is the 'room' most often utilized by the wolves of Xassa, as it is primarily used to keep track of current contractual agreements. Each wolf, upon taking a task, is given a stone, which they will mark themselves (usually by dragging it across another stone surface, or gnawing it with their teeth, or scratching with claws) before a ceremony of placing the stone within the Hall of Contracts.

These stones are generally accompanied by other items. For instance, a wolf who takes a healing task might put some dried herbs beneath their Contract Stone, so they may find it more easily. Contract Stones remain in the Hall until a wolf dies or leaves the pack. If a wolf betrays the pack, the Contract Stone is taken out of the Caves and shattered at Mount Sumer.

The Hall of Contracts gets the most light of any room in the Caves, because of a small opening. Direct light filters through stalactites and stalagmites in the far end, giving the room a barely-perceptible glow.

**Hall of Conquests**

The Hall of Conquests is on the main route through the Caves. There are traces of previous packs here - packs which no longer exist in the Domain - which have been absorbed by Xassa, or used to be allies but have since died off. Often, it is as some sort of object unique or important to the other pack's territory - the skull of a certain kind of prey, a unique gemstone, or even - as is the case with one peculiar pack - the skull of one of their past alphas. It serves as a reminder to the wolves of Xassa of their successes thus far in achieving Xerxes Peace. Respects to the old packs is frequently paid, particularly by any of their descendants.

**Hall of Memories**

The Hall of Memories holds traces of mated pairs and their children. Wolves who have passed away have their Contracts and/or stones moved into the Hall of Memories after their death. Many times, the names of wolves from more than one or two generations away are forgotten, even by the Magi (with the exception of past Cyruses) but it is more of a memorial than a record of specifics. Ranked wolves come here to pay tribute to their deceased relatives. Even if they don't know which contracts belong to their ancestors, they will leave tributes of flowers or feathers before the dark void where the contracts are preserved.

**Hall of Histories**

The Hall of Histories is the most important, according the Magi. It tells the story of creation *backwards.* The story begins at the  moderately-sized pool of crystal-clear water at the end of the chamber, when divine knowledge and right to rule was granted to Susa by Xerxes, generations ago. The pool is called Susa's Lifewater. It is believed that Susa's Lifewater feeds the Araxes River, and thus provides for the entire region and beyond. In reality, the pool does not go anywhere.

Each Cyrus leaves his or her mark in the cave, using outside objects, scratches in the surface of the stone walls, or other means to individualize a small area to let wolves know that they once ruled - their Contract Stone will also go here. The Magi and Melchior are expected to be able to recite the names of all of the Cyruses, from Susa to Nineveh.

The Hall of Histories has the highest ceiling, and also filters in a bit of light from the world above (but very, very little).

**Pit of Souls**

This pit, believed to be bottomless but really, only about 150 feet deep (roughly 12-13 stories), is where the bodies of the Cyruses are deposited. If the Cyrus does not die within a reasonable distance of the Caves, the body will be revisited until there are only bones left, at which point, the Melchior themselves will collect only the skull and carry it to the Pit of Souls.

**The Remaining Tunnels**

There is a long corridor which is too low and narrow to navigate. Nobody knows what lies in or beyond this corridor, but the wolves of Xassa could not penetrate through, even if they wanted to. Rumor has it the ghosts of past Cyruses are the only ones who are allowed to see what is beyond this tunnel.