Haruchai Burial Customs

[emotional leper]

I'd bring this up in the CTC forum, but it's spoilery, sort of.

I remember from the First Chronicles that the Bloodguard who fell in battle, when their bodies were recoverable, were sent back to the Haruchai home in the Mountains for burial, and then a replacement was sent. (Atleast, that's how I remember it -- I don't have my copies of the First Chronicles on hand.)

I remember in the Second Chronicles that the Haruchai do nothing for a comrade who failed in their final task.

Does anyone remember anyone mentioning from the Last Chronicles anything new about Haruchai death rituals? Like what happens for the Masters or the Humbled when they die?

[Corwin]

Well, in short... The Bloodguard's Vow was the reason for that particular ritual, hence whenever they lost a member, they needed to refill the space, so they sent their "message" saying "hey! we need another body down here!" The true attitude of the haruchai for the death of a comrade is scorn. "He failed" is what they say of hergrom after his deadly battle with the sandgorgon Nom. They look upon Death as failure, even if the striving remains. It is my opinion that the bodies would be burned if anything at all, as a possible symbol of respect, but we all know just how stringent the Haruchai can be about their ideals. peace.

[emotional leper]

That's the thing, though. The Bloodguard who died died honorably, atleast the ones who carried out their vow to protect the Lords with their very lives. If a bloodguard died trying to save their Lord, and the Lord was killed anyway, I suspect that they would have sent the body back, but merely to get a replacement.

[drew]

Yeah, the Bloodguard sending the Bodies back, wasn't so much of aign of respect, as a requirment to fulfill their vow of Five Hundred Soldiers.

Although..the Bloodguard being who they were, probebly held a bit more respect for eachother, just having lived with eachother so long, and knowing what they have each gone through.

AS far as the Masters go...They'd probebly piss of the dead body and throw it to a pack of kresh.

[dlbpharmd]

I don't have a copy of LFB with me, but I seem to recall the only time the Bloodguard sent off their dead to be replaced - shortly after the Battle of Soaring Woodhelven. IIRC, after tying the body(ies) to the Ranyhyn with clingor, they saluted and said "Hail!" Someone please check me on this.

[Ur Dead]

What did they do to Ceer and Hergrom after Nom's attack.. Just leave them??

[emotional leper]

Ceer was still alive, and they rescued him, but Hegrom was left where he fell. "He failed." Was what they said in response to recovering the body.