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Rituals

Yautja
  • “Rite of Passage.” Edward Norbeck, Bobby C. Alexander. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 11 June 2018

The major landmark of human experience - birth, puberty, marriage, and death - are celebrated with rituals and rites pf passage. They are a celebration of the passage from one stage of life into another, and both celebrate and prepare the individual for the responsibilities and joys to come. Initiation rites such as circumcisions and ritual tattooing in some societies, often involve ordeals of endurance, suffering, and torture. The communal participation in these rituals marks the common experience of humanity in the recurring cycle of the renewal and destruction of life.

Initiation rites are seen as fundamental to human growth and development as well as socialization in many African communities. These rites function by ritually marking the transition of someone to full group membership. It also links individuals to the community and the community to the broader and more potent spiritual world. Initiation rites are "a natural and necessary part of a community, just as arms and legs are natural and necessary extension of the human body". These rites are linked to individual and community development. Dr. Manu Ampim identifies five stages; rite to birth, rite to adulthood, rite to marriage, rite to eldership and rite to ancestorship.

The Blooding (Or Rite of Passage)

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Sebastian de Rosa: I think this is a manhood ritual. The humaniod ones, they've been sent here to prove that they're worthy to become adults.

Lex Woods: You're saying, they're, what, teenagers? Alien vs Predator. 20th Century Fox. 2004. Movie.

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  • Aliens vs. Predator. Briggs, Peter. DH, 1991. Print.
  • Alien vs Predator. 20th Century Fox, Aug 6, 2004. Movie.

This is a ritual where a young Unblooded Yautja goes on its first hunt. The difficulty of this hunt depends on their standing amongst the community. About a dozen Unblooded goes with a veteran, usually one of the Honored, onto the hunting grounds for the first time. Depending on the difficulty of the hunt, the young are given a certain standing in the community.

Part of the ritual goes as follows:

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Who demands the honor of facing this fresh Meat first, alone?

They would all brandish their weapons as one, fiercely yet quietly.

The leader would then mock: "You are fools all. Yet, the first part of the Path lies through the door of the fool."

The rite of passage hunts are generally conducted on uninhabited planets. Before a hunt begins, the Yautja "seed" the hunting grounds with kiande amedha Ovomorphs which are obtained from a captive Queen. Kiande amedha are accepted by the Yautja as one of the universe's deadliest predators, thus they were chosen as the Yautja's first prey.

Once the Ovomorphs hatch and the kiande amedha brood mature, a group of Unblooded warriors lands on the planet, supervised by two or three veteran warriors. These Un-Blooded Yautja often do not receive armor until this Rite of Passage. This armor, however, is often mismatched and ill-suited for them. This is intentional, and only when hunters reach Young Blood status do they get a decent, personalized set of armor. However, this armor is not Acid proof, something else that is intentional. Only after killing a kiande amedha does a then-Blooded hunter receive a standard suit of armor.

Knowing the danger presented by the kiande amedha to the local ecosystem, the Yautja will not leave a planet until every kiande amedha is killed. However, it is believed that kiande amedha infestations in the galaxy may be caused by the Yautja failing to account for every released kiande amedha.

On a difficult hunt, failure usually means death, either at the hands of the prey or by suicide; many consider death more honorable than in failure in a hunt. Should the hunters succeed, they must stand by their kill for approval and are then marked on their foreheads as one of the Blooded.

Mark of Honor

AvP
  • Aliens vs. Predator. Briggs, Peter. DH, 1991. Print.
  • Alien vs Predator. 20th Century Fox, Aug 6, 2004. Movie.

Typically in a Rite of Passage, having completed the rite and assumed their "new" identity, one re-enters society with one's new status. Re-incorporation is characterized by elaborate rituals and ceremonies.

Thus, all Yautja that make it to Young Blood have a mark burned into their foreheads to denote their position as successful Hunters. All who have this mark is recognized as a true Hunter. The mark can only be given by Elders.

Each Clan has a different insignia for the mark of the Blooded; usually they are symbols for ferocity or courage. Ceremonies often occur but most of the time, this mark is awarded after the first hunt.

Some of the Yautja have special laser scalpels for the Blooded insignias, but blooding with acidic blood and other means of permanent marking is also common. No warrior would tell another species what that mark meant, much less how to apply it. Not under any circumstances.

Blooded warriors are seldom afraid in battle. They accept that dying could come at any time.

It has been known that at least a half dozen humans have been blooded. This is looked down on most of the Yautja community, and a hunter who "bloods" a human may be considered a "Bad Blood." Some of the Ancients who respect their human foes have approved of this action, and so far the "blooding" of humans is only considered eccentric, and not criminal.

Once Blooded, there is no longer a place for the dreams of the youths. A warrior did not waste time looking over his shoulder at the past. Done was done.

Other rituals

The Chant of the Midnight Kiss: One by one, the Yautja would raise their spears and voices in the sky.

Part of the Ritual of Readiness is to advance, the spear out in front of them.

A Yautja places himself into a stance, raises their hands to their mouths, and make the Call: a high ulation punctuated by a gruff, low-pitched snarl. They let it unwind for a full 10 seconds. Then wait. This is the Summoning (ka'rik'na) and the Battle-Dreamtime (mesh'in'ga).

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