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====== LAKIRA SHIME CEREMONY ======

===== Overview =====

  * **Type:** Annual Spiritual Ceremony
  * **Location:** [[Starry Mirror|Starry Mirror]], [[bilu_oruzi_mountains|Bilu Oruzi Mountains]], [[ralar_region|Ralar Region]], [[dark_side|Dark Side]] of [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]
  * **Duration:** Two days (March 17 in the human calendar)
  * **Participants:** Spiritual leaders of the six great [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]]

The Lakira Shime ceremony is a cornerstone of Native Tribes' culture on VOI 700 D, symbolizing their spiritual connection to the planet and its energies. Held annually at Starry Mirror, an icy expanse in the Dark Side’s Ralar Region, this mystical gathering brings together the spiritual leaders of the six great tribes for a profound communion with the gods.

At the heart of the ceremony is the preparation and consumption of a psychoactive soup made from the bioluminescent caps of [[luminofera|Luminofera dualis (Shika Me La)]]. This sacred ritual blends sensory elements—visual, auditory, and gustatory—into an immersive experience that guides participants toward enlightenment and collective goals for the coming year.



===== The Myth Behind the Ceremony =====

According to Native legend, after the Tidal Lock transformed VOI 700 D into its current state, a spiritual leader at Starry Mirror heard the voices of the gods. These celestial beings provided guidance on how the tribes could navigate the planet's new reality and free it from its "captivity." The Lakira Shime ceremony commemorates this moment, continuing the tradition of seeking divine wisdom to ensure balance and survival.

===== The Ritual =====

**Preparation**
  * **Firewood Tradition:** Each tribe leader brings a piece of firewood to the ceremony, symbolizing their contribution to the collective. These are placed in a central fireplace at the ritual site.
  * **Master of Ceremonies:** The Landa, a highly revered figure, leads the event. Their role includes preparing the Shika Me La soup, ensuring each ingredient is handled with care and reverence.
**The Soup**
  * **Key Ingredient:** The bioluminescent caps of Shika Me La mushrooms, harvested from the Dark Side or the [[habitual_belt|Habitual Belt]], are known for their psychoactive properties.
  * **Ceremonial Sharing:** Once the soup is ready, it is served in handmade bowls, with each leader partaking in the sacred meal.
**The Experience**
  * **Psychoactive Effects:** As the soup takes effect, participants experience vivid hallucinations, kaleidoscopic visions, and synesthetic sensations.
  * **Meditative Journey:** Guided by the Landa, the leaders chant or recite mantras to pose three key questions to the gods: Where are we? Where are we going? What must we pay attention to? The responses—perceived as divine revelations—help shape the tribes' collective goals and strategies for the year ahead.

===== Cultural and Ecological Reverence =====

The Lakira Shime ceremony underscores the Native Tribes’ profound respect for VOI 700 D’s natural balance. By consuming Shika Me La as a sacred sacrament, they reinforce their connection to the environment and their role as caretakers of its ecosystems. This ritual is not only a spiritual journey but also a celebration of their unity, resilience, and shared heritage.

===== Misuse of Shika Me La Soup =====

The sacred Shika Me La soup, central to the Lakira Shime ceremony, has been desecrated and exploited by criminal elements, primarily the [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]]. By distilling the psychoactive compounds into a potent drug known as [[shika|Shika]], the gang has transformed a spiritual sacrament into a black-market commodity. This illicit trade desecrates the Native Tribes’ traditions, further deepening tensions between the Natives and Exohumans. Shika’s misuse has also fueled addiction and social decay, particularly in [[Firetown|Firetown]], where it is sold covertly in bars and backrooms, tarnishing the mushroom’s sacred legacy.
===== Exohuman Conjectures About the “Voices of the Gods” =====

Before the [[great_war|Great War]] and the travel-restrictions of the [[peace_treaty|Peace Treaty,]] after the [[the_humans|exohuman]] surrender, one exploration teams of the [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]] has investigated Starry Mirror and its surroundings, uncovering intriguing anomalies:

  * **Evidence of Advanced Technology:** Remnants of what appears to be a spacecraft landing site and a hidden corridor leading to an artificially constructed chamber beneath the ice.
  * **Biological Antennas:** Studies during the [[great_war|Great War]] revealed that some Natives possess biological "receivers," enabling them to convert electromagnetic waves (such as radio signals) into neural impulses. 

This unique adaptation may explain their perception of “voices of the gods.”
While no definitive answers have emerged, these findings suggest a fascinating interplay between ancient Native spirituality and potentially extraterrestrial influences.

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

The Lakira Shime ceremony offers Dungeon Masters a rich narrative tool to immerse players in the cultural and spiritual dynamics of VOI 700 D. Consider the following tactics:

  * **Cultural Encounters:** Introduce the ceremony as an opportunity for players to witness or even participate in Native rituals, offering insights into the spiritual significance of Shika Me La.
  * **Conflict and Choices:** Create moral dilemmas where players must decide whether to protect the sanctity of the ceremony or exploit it for personal or factional gain.
  * **Mystery and Exploration:** Leverage the myths surrounding Starry Mirror and the “voices of the gods” to deepen the mystery of VOI 700 D’s history. Players could uncover ancient technologies or encounter remnants of extraterrestrial activity.
  * **Drug Trafficking Connection:** Tie the sacred soup to Shika’s black-market trade. Players might be tasked with disrupting the Jane Mendoza Gang’s operations or navigating tensions between Natives and Exohumans.
  * **Environmental Challenges:** Use the icy and treacherous terrain of Starry Mirror to create obstacles during the ceremony, adding urgency and danger to the experience.
===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[luminofera|Luminofera Dualis]] (Shika Me La Mushroom)
  * [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes of VOI 700 D]]
  * [[shika|Shika]]
  * [[the_zark|Zark Tribe]]
  * [[dark_side|Dark Side]]
  * [[ralar_region|Ralar Region]]
  * [[bilu_oruzi_mountains|Bilu Oruzi Mountains]]