The om'riggor was a rite of passage in orcish society marking the transition to adulthood,[1] taking place at the age of 12.[2] In the modern day, it has been replaced by the om'gora.
Background[]
Om'riggor required the initiate to track and slay a target by themselves, in what was referred to as a "solo kill". Originally, the target was a talbuk, but it was later adapted by Azerothian orcs to native creatures. Initiates were permitted to bring only a single weapon with no armor or provisions. If the initiate was successful in the solo kill, they would paint the blood of the prey upon their face as proof. Upon the initiate's return, a clan shaman would taste the blood and, if deemed genuine, the initiate would be inducted into adulthood through a formal ceremony, conducted by the clan's shaman and presided over by the clan leader who would declare the initiate(s) full members of the clan.[3] During the ceremony, the initiate's face was anointed with blood from their father, kept carefully in a small stoppered leather bag.[4][5]
Following the rise of the Horde, om'riggor and various other orcish traditions stopped being practiced, skipping an entire generation of orcs. With the founding of Durotar and Orgrimmar and the return of peace, shaman reclaimed the ancient ways, and om'riggor began being practiced once again.[6] In connection to the re-introduction of the Kosh'harg, Aggralan suggested the introduction of a new rite of passage, the om'gora, to replace the om'riggor. She had always felt that the latter was inadequate, as it only teaches participants of the hunt and not the rest of what it means to be an orc, and many orcs—including her life-mate Thrall—were never given a chance to attempt it.[7] One of the three portions of the om'gora, the Blessing of the Clan, is inspired by the om'riggor.[8]
Notes[]
- After a battle at the start of the genocide of the draenei, Blackhand anointed Orgrim Doomhammer's face with draenei blood in the same fashion as the final om'riggor ceremony.[5]
References[]
- ^ [Faded Note]
- ^ Rise of the Horde, pg. 20
- ^ Rise of the Horde, pg. 64
- ^ Rise of the Horde, chapter 4
- ^ a b Rise of the Horde, chapter 8
- ^ Rise of the Horde, chapter 4 - "[...] a young male was initiated into adulthood. It was the first time I have had the chance to be part of this ritual, the Om'riggor. In my earlier years, I was cut off from the rites and traditions of my people; and truth be told, all orcs had been cut off from such rites for too long. And once I had set my feet on my destiny's path, I had become embroiled in battle. War consumed me. Ironically, the need to protect my people from the Burning Legion and to give them a place where our traditions could again flourish took me far away from these things. But now, Durotar and Orgrimmar are established. Now, there is a peace, tenuous though it might be. Now there are shaman reclaiming the ancient ways, young males and females coming of age who, if the spirits will it, may never know the ashy taste of war. Last night, I participated in a timeless ritual that had been denied an entire generation."
- ^ [50-70] A People in Need of Healing
- ^ [50-70] The Long Knives