A Place in the Shade: Shadow and the Draenei...

Introduction, by Father Ahbram

In the last year, I've had many opportunities to work with our new allies, the Draenei. I've been able to aid in the translation of their holy books, discussed theology and philosophy with their scholars and been privileged to observe first hand their rites and sacraments. My studies have widened my perception of the Light and given breadth to my understanding of our place in this war which has been forced on us for most of our history. In my contact with the people of the broken world, I've had many assumptions challenged, not the least being the nature of the Shadow.

As we all know, shadow magic is one of the most terrible and destructive forces that we have encountered. The practitioners of the dark arts have threatened our very existence by accessing fel energies for their own ends. So it was of great surprise to me to find that these self-professed people of the Light still allow disciples of this very tradition within their sacred priesthood.  This seemed a contradiction to me of the most basic principles of their culture. How could a people of Light worshipers allow and elevate to a position of respect and authority individuals who pursue these dark energies?

Thankfully, the draenei themselves were more than willing to discuss this facet of their culture with me, and through me with the Church of the Holy Light. After consultations with my contacts an correspondence was arranged with a member of the Ichlam, a word which defies simple translation from the draenic language. The closest literal translation of term is the “Deathwalkers”, but this imposing title does not have the same connotation as it does in our own culture. I will not go into these differences here, rather I will allow the transcript to detail this central difference in cultural outlook. So without further preface, here is my correspondence with the Anchoress Ooras Luztier, Ichlam and Mistress of the Archim Tichar.

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Father Ahbram,

First, let me say that it pleases me greatly to have this opportunity to write you. I have been following your work with Exarch Ulnoxeebahz closely and applaud your desire to exchange views of the Light between our two cultures. Now as always, secrets and misunderstandings remain one of our enemy's strongest weapons, dividing and factionalizing our efforts against the Legion. It does me great honor to add any small piece to the bridge that you have begun between our two peoples.

As to the role of the Ichlam in our rituals, I must first illuminate our understanding of the nature of the Holy Light. Metaphysically, draenic consensus  gathered from the teachings of the Naaru tells us that the Holy Light engenders all being. All that is takes existence from the manifestation of Light. Light is life, to put it simply.
That being granted, existence and experience logically imply non-existence and this implication is what gives rise to the concept of the Shadow. Being mortal, though long lived, we draenei all are familiar with death. The Light does not sustain the flesh forever, even for us. All creatures born of the Light fall into Shadow eventually. This basic truth is shown to us every day. In every meal we take, we eat of the flesh of that which has once been a living child of the Light. Death and life are entwined, inseparable. You can not have the one without the other.

The difference between our cultures' perceptions of this duality is key to understanding the way of the Ichlam. In draenic culture, death has been accepted and integrated into our forms and rituals. The role of the Ichlam is to personify this Shadow aspect of reality. The Ichlam acts as the symbol of death, taking part in the whole form in ritual. We preside over the dying, looking out into the darkness and guiding them out of existence. It is our role to ease this passage and to teach the dying not to approach it with fear. Indeed for some of the longest lived among us, the journey into Shadow is strongly wished to be begun. Every hard stone upon the road makes rest seem all the more appealing and our road has been so very long, has it not? So it is that we walk with them out into the darkness when their time has come, their companions on the beginning of the road. Then when they are ready, they leave us behind and we, the Ichlam return to our place facing out into the dark.

This is the greatest of duties but of course we have many other small daily rites to preside over and keep. The Ichlam blesses the food in our rites of feast, honoring the life that goes into the darkness to sustain us. The Ichlam anoints the new born, marking them with shadow oil in token of the darkness from which they were sprung and to which in time they must return. We preside over the breaking of bonds, allowing mates to part and take mates anew. It is the Ichlam who calls the village to reaping at the time of harvest and who preside over those festivals. Finally and maybe most importantly, it is the Ichlam who first introduces death to our children, taking them on their first ritual hunts.

I hope this small essay will be of help to you, Father. Please, accept my invitation to travel here to Azurewatch in the fall when you can take part in our harvest rites and see for yourself the rituals of Reaping. It would give me me great honor to have you as our guest and to show you first hand some of our ritual dress and implements as so that you can record them for your records. Thank you again for honoring me with this request for correspondence.

Your servant,

Anchoress Ooras Luztier