Pyremaster

Who Are They?

The Pyremaster is the one who conducts funerals for the Orcs. They act as funerary priests and usher people's spirits into the afterlife through the flames of the pyres. As their flesh is burned away, it is believed that weaknesses or impurities have been cleansed from the spirit. These rituals take an hour to perform and use sacred oils and musks. But as they conduct these rituals, in the process they become closer to the spirits and have special blessings bestowed upon them.

Who Likes Them?

Only The Horde reveres their Pyremasters. The Orcs traditionally burn their deceased, and they often turn to a Pyremaster whenever one is available. They're not just the people who conduct a funeral - they prepare and strengthen the spirit so that they can ascend to the afterlife.

Training

Requirements

Any class can become a Pyremaster except Warlock, but it is more suitable for casters.

Alliance » None

Horde » Orc Tauren (very rare) Troll (very rare)

Strengths

• The Pyremaster is fully immune to both natural and magical fire. It even heals them.

• The Pyremaster can withstand hot weather.

• They gain no bonuses to strength or HP, but can cast for very long periods of time and their fires are much hotter than normal, which naturally means they deal more damage.

Weaknesses

• The Pyremaster is more vulnerable to frost or water.

• Cold weather can rather easily cripple them, unless they have fire nearby.

• They won't lose every ounce of skill with weaponry, but their proficiency will decline.

Skills and Abilities

• Raise Dead

Summons the undead, and they are wreathed in flames.

• Flame Weapon

The Pyremaster's weapon is set ablaze in magical fire.

• Create Pyre

Flames can be created beneath the Pyremaster's feet. Aslong as they stay within it and the flames are not extinguished, they will be healed for small amounts of health at a time.

• Burst

A section of ground can burst into flames, dealing damage.

• The Pyremaster can use cremated bones to receive a portent of the future (specifically related to omens etc), but it is often quite vague.

• The Pyremaster can tap into the knowledge from dead creature's ashes. They can ask infinite questions, but their answers are limited to what the creature knew in life. The answers are usually cryptic, brief or repetitive. The Pyremaster doesn't actually speak to them, they only draw whatever is imprinted on their soul.

Training Outline

A previously existing Pyremaster shall need to be found by the one who wants to be trained. They are usually only found conducting funerals in Horde settlements, or if they are independant, then they're often found in places where there's an abundance of fire and heat. Naturally, you'll need to convince the Pyremaster to train you.

Once he or she accepts you as their pupil, you shall first be educated on what it is to be a Pyremaster before presiding over a funeral. The deceased could just be a random body, but they will be shown their art after a demonstration from the Pyremaster. Firstly, the pyre is created. Wood is gathered and stacked for the corpse to be placed on. Next, the body is mostly stripped and covered in a few simple rags. If the body is in bad condition, then whatever can be done to make the body 'whole' will be done. Their skin is covered in sacred oils, and incense and musks are burned. Either a speech or an incantation is then chanted, and what is said generally depends on the Pyremaster. The pyre is finally set alight, and the corpse is burned. The Pyremaster won't let the flames just consume the body, though. They'll concentrate and see the spirit within the corpse, and will burn away any hinderances (weaknesses, wounds, crippling injuries etc). It is all a very delicate process, which must not be rushed and done with extreme care.

As the trainee conducts many funerals (with the Pyremaster doing the burning), the spirits shall eventually see fit to bestow blessings upon them, enabling them to perform skills. The next few weeks or months will be spent practicing. Before anything however they'll practice using fire to heal them instead of burn them, before mastering the Pyremaster's spells. They'll continue conducting funerals inbetween training sessions.

Once they master all of the techniques and spells that a Pyremaster can invoke, then there is nothing else for them to do except make sure they continue to ascend spirits to the afterlife or risk having their powers being stripped.

Active Pyremasters

Currently there are no active Pyremasters, so any applicants would have to create an NPC for the training.