Aloka (Overview)

## Introduction

Aloka, also known as the House of the West, are a type of Revenant. They inhabit west africa aswell as parts of the americas. Aloka practice a unique type of sorcery bound to their Wraith worship.

## History

* **Discovery of the Dreaming Elder-** It was a group of Revenants from Nubia that senses a strange influx of necromantic power coming from the far west. In the end they traveled with the Sahelian caravans and made their way in the unexplored lands of West Africa. In an overgrown grove they discovered an upright creature in a human fassade, sleeping away the ages below an ancient tree. They dared not to wake it but instead joined the creature in its endless dream through meditation. Over time more and more Revenants from north africa traveled to this sacred grove to learn the elders wisdom. In line with the local legends they gave it the name Besa Bornu, learning that is was an unliving being older than any Revenants; even older than the first necromancers of Sumeria.
* **Founding of House Aloka-** Over time they enshrined Besa Bornu and formed a constant circle of Dreamers around it. In order to better connect themselves to the Elder, they cut its wrist and covered themselves in its Essence. Many of these Dreamers entered the same eternal sleep as the

## Culture

### Faith

The Aloka believe in a single god to have created the entire world; which may either be the christian god, the yoruban god *Mawu Lisa* or any other african diety. Older Aloka will recognise this being as the Lich Besa Bornu. They offer these little worship, instead being focussed on its servants and spiritual children. These are known as *Olurun* and are a type of Wraith in Besa Bornus service. All *Olurun* are either *Imole*, benevolent spirits that practice white magic and enjoy public worship; or the forbidden *Ashkai*, malevolent spirits that can be called upon for great power. Unlike most Wraiths *Olurun* are very individualistic, usually being made from a mortal soul in Besas Realm. Most Aloka worship the *Olurun* as both divine spirits and their ancestors. While there exist countless unique *Olurun*, most of them belong to one of the following types:

* **Imole**
	+ **Simbi**, serpentine spirits that perform scyrings and divinations. As an offering they demand the heartpiece of a location or person wrapped in snakeskin and tossed into a pond of rainwater.
	+ **Orgun,** cainine spirits that grant their followers strength and luck in battle. As an offering they demand a piece of a victors weapon placed in the corpse of an animal.
	+ **Iyawo,** beautiful spirits that grant their followers charms and the key to anothers heart. As an offering they demand anothers symbol of love, presented on a plate filled with exquisite food and jewelry.
* **Ashkai**
	+ **Aburun**, cannibalistic spirits that grant their followers the physical abilities of those they sacrifice. As a sacrifice they demand a mortal or Afflicted to be ritualistically tortured and consumed.
	+ **Cheche,** nocturnal spirits that grant their followers spells in return for sacrifices. As a sacrifice they demand a mortal or Afflicted bound to a tree and left behind in the dark woods.
	+ **Eletan,** deceitful spirits that grant their followers the ability to manipulate others through false faces and voices. As a sacrifice they demand a mortal or Afflicted tricked into their own death.

In the early days it was common to only worship the *Imole* and regard the *Ashkai* as divine enemies. This changed when the Aloka and their people suffered through slavery and colonialism; after which is became increasingly popular to call upon their much stronger powers to defend themselves.

The *Hugan* are priests that excusivly worship the benevolent *Olurun* and devote their unlifes to help and lead mortals. These have inspired the depicitions of african witchdoctors and tend to travel far more than other members of their House. Then there are also the sorcerers that only worship the malevolent *Olurun* to gain their eldritch power, known as *Bocat*. These are feared not only among mortals and other Afflicted but also among their own House. In the modern times however the *Irole*, the Twilight Priests, are by far the most common, calling upon both types of *Olurun*.

## See also

* Opinions
* Aloka
* Aloka (Rules)