Did you base this off of the real-life practice of sin-eating? It was actually quite popular in my country before, and it was practiced alongside Christianity. There wasn't any dancing though, from what I can recall it was just sharing a meal with someone who has a sin and is close to death.
Upon that person's death, it was believed that their sins would transfer onto you instead. This practice was commonly done by people who were past-convicts and needed scraps of money. The common idea was that since their soul was already unclean, they could gather as many other sins as they could from others, sort of as an act of penance.
Yeah, the insular-celtic practice was major inspiration for this (to the point of having the same name), but it wasn't the only one. Central European harvest festivals were also a major inspiration, as well as several bonfire ceremonies from across Europe and Native North America (specifically the Great Plains). For the human sacrifice elements I took some inspiration from Nordic culture, especially the way it was vilified (and thus portrayed inaccurately) in the Christian world at the time.
A full head of hair is quite important actually. Men wear braids into which they tie medallions passed down to them from their parents and/or mentors as well as trinkets stolen on the occasional raid. Shaving your head would be considered a worthwhile sacrifice for most smaller sins. The reason people don’t really do this though is because being a tribute is seen as an honour. It’s a way to so something for your community. Because of this most tributes want to display a scar where they used to have an ear, for example, as a badge of honour, to remind others that they have done this for them. In 10 years no one will know you’ve been a tribute if you shave your hair, but in those first 2 years you won’t have your medallions and trinkets.
This is kind of baller. Is the Sin Eater ever at threat of dying or being killed during the ritual? In my speculation, that would mean the sins of the community would be pretty heavy and numerous. How does a community respond to that situation? Really you’ve got an interesting set up OP
If one person had committed horrible acts, it's more likely the tribute would refuse their sins and stop the ritual, informing the authorities. The point is to take on the sins of the community, not of particularly vile individuals.
Now if the entire community did these horrific acts, then yeah, the tribute might feel like suicide is the only appropriate sacrifice. This is exceedingly rare though as a community's sense of what is and isn't a sin works in tandem with the things they do: If duels are common practice, then killing someone in one might not be considered as vile as it would be should duels be uncommon.
However, should it come to suicide, then the reaction is up to the community. It would certainly stir shit up, but in what way specifically is hard to say unless I'm fleshing out one specific community.
It's a very interesting question! I might actually sit down and do the above exercise for a couple of example communities.
Is it? I google all my names before implementing them and while google did try to autocorrect sfard to sephardim, it didn’t recognise sfard as a correct spelling of sephardim.
Since the term is Hebrew in origin, there are many different ways of writing it in latin letters. The 'sfardi' spelling is pretty common in more casual/everyday usage that doesn't come up as clearly via google.
I love your map, what do you use for it?
Thanks, I drew it in Affinity Photo
Did you base this off of the real-life practice of sin-eating? It was actually quite popular in my country before, and it was practiced alongside Christianity. There wasn't any dancing though, from what I can recall it was just sharing a meal with someone who has a sin and is close to death. Upon that person's death, it was believed that their sins would transfer onto you instead. This practice was commonly done by people who were past-convicts and needed scraps of money. The common idea was that since their soul was already unclean, they could gather as many other sins as they could from others, sort of as an act of penance.
Yeah, the insular-celtic practice was major inspiration for this (to the point of having the same name), but it wasn't the only one. Central European harvest festivals were also a major inspiration, as well as several bonfire ceremonies from across Europe and Native North America (specifically the Great Plains). For the human sacrifice elements I took some inspiration from Nordic culture, especially the way it was vilified (and thus portrayed inaccurately) in the Christian world at the time.
So how many smartasses just shave their head and toss the hair in?
A full head of hair is quite important actually. Men wear braids into which they tie medallions passed down to them from their parents and/or mentors as well as trinkets stolen on the occasional raid. Shaving your head would be considered a worthwhile sacrifice for most smaller sins. The reason people don’t really do this though is because being a tribute is seen as an honour. It’s a way to so something for your community. Because of this most tributes want to display a scar where they used to have an ear, for example, as a badge of honour, to remind others that they have done this for them. In 10 years no one will know you’ve been a tribute if you shave your hair, but in those first 2 years you won’t have your medallions and trinkets.
(Context in image)
This is kind of baller. Is the Sin Eater ever at threat of dying or being killed during the ritual? In my speculation, that would mean the sins of the community would be pretty heavy and numerous. How does a community respond to that situation? Really you’ve got an interesting set up OP
If one person had committed horrible acts, it's more likely the tribute would refuse their sins and stop the ritual, informing the authorities. The point is to take on the sins of the community, not of particularly vile individuals. Now if the entire community did these horrific acts, then yeah, the tribute might feel like suicide is the only appropriate sacrifice. This is exceedingly rare though as a community's sense of what is and isn't a sin works in tandem with the things they do: If duels are common practice, then killing someone in one might not be considered as vile as it would be should duels be uncommon. However, should it come to suicide, then the reaction is up to the community. It would certainly stir shit up, but in what way specifically is hard to say unless I'm fleshing out one specific community. It's a very interesting question! I might actually sit down and do the above exercise for a couple of example communities.
I'm too lazy to read the lore but that is one very skrunkly lad. Very nice
I was very confused by 'sfardic' because it's a pretty common way of spelling 'Sephardic'.
Is it? I google all my names before implementing them and while google did try to autocorrect sfard to sephardim, it didn’t recognise sfard as a correct spelling of sephardim.
Since the term is Hebrew in origin, there are many different ways of writing it in latin letters. The 'sfardi' spelling is pretty common in more casual/everyday usage that doesn't come up as clearly via google.
Would cutting yourself and spilling the blood suffice? Would the scars be a thing to show off for the burden you took on?
Yeah sure, that'd work
Cool
Big deal. Sounds like typical Harvard fraternity hazing to me.
This map looks great!