Cult of Ursun

The Cult of Ursun is strong but far less organised than the cults of the Empire Gods. Each town and stanitsa with more than one follower of Ursun will have a chief priest (sometimes called a speaker), typically the strongest or largest among them. The chief priest speaks for all his followers and for the will of Ursun, letting his village and fellow worshippers know what the bear God wishes. He is also responsible for leading hunts, punishing those who break the strictures, and overseeing the initiation of new members and new priests. Those wishing to take the role of priest must go into the wilderness alone with only bow and knife and bring back a tamed bear. While rarely fatal, it can take years for an aspirant to find a suitable animal.

The role of chief priest is held until death, and it is considered bad luck for a chief priest to die outside of a battle or a hunt. “The bear does not die sleeping,” is the adage used. Upon the death of a chief priest, the honour passes to the strongest warrior amongst the remaining priests. At times, Ursun is known to choose a great high priest, who is the chief priest of all of Kislev. Ursun speaks to him about the fate of the whole land and the path of its people. High priests are found through signs and portents—perhaps a child born with a bear-shaped birthmark may be destined for such a role; a chief priest who slays a terrible ice bear may be called by Ursun to be his voice. The high priest before Boris Ursus, the shaman Hagrim Bear-Brother, was lost in the snow as a youngling and found alive the next spring in the care of a mother bear. And the tale of the choosing of Tzar Bokhar is well known.

Like the chief priests, the high priest is responsible for ensuring all the people of the land show proper respect to Father Bear. When the high priest is close to death, he is often given a vision of the next high priest, allowing the title to be passed on. Other times, the position lays vacant until Ursun needs such a servant again. Many believe a high priest rises when Kislev is in great need, and Ursun must prepare his followers against invasion or other great trial. Yet Tzar Boris died before the Storm of Chaos broke. Some wonder if his early death means Ursun’s favour has abandoned them. Others wonder if the Storm will all-too-soon blow back again and if they’ll have time to scan the portents for the next high priest.

Source

 * : Warhammer Fantasy RPG 2nd ED -- Realm of the Ice Queen
 * : pg. 36
 * : pg. 37

[[Category:C]] [[Category:U]]