Anointment Trials

This is a first attempt at writing a series. Unfortunately, I have hit a snag. In my story, set in 1890, Kenya. My MC has to pass through five trials in order to prove himself worthy for the local natives to trust him enough to fight alongside him. I only need two more trials to finish it up, and then I will be able to pick up the story. The problem is - I can't think of anything else that my MC can be tested. These are the following trials, that I have already used. Be obliged if someone would assist me.

1.Trial of Strength = MC had to whip the villager's toughest native in a fair fight.

2. Trial of S'Hatuk = Basically, MC is to be baptized by fire. If he burns, he dies. Which proves he is not worthy. If he survives, his soul is pure. [That's the only thing I came up with].

3.Trial of Cunning = MC had to outsmart a pack of African Wild Dogs and then he had to return to the village in four days.

What group of natives would this be in this time-line.
That might help determine what might work here.

tinkerdan said:

What group of natives would this be in this time-line.
That might help determine what might work here.

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The Massai.

The Maasai are typically cattle herders. They do not break the ground - no farming -no digging for water- no ritual burial.
Although later they did adopt some agrarian aspects mostly for corn- it was not considered worthy.
For all of that most rituals are heavily involved with cattle.
Also if your character is not circumcised he probably will be.
They ritually circumcise their woman. [known by many as genital mutilation.]

I would guess one task would be to steal cattle to increase his herd (they were appointed by god to take care of the cattle so they often retrieved their herd from other people).

Perhaps after they barbeque him they douse him with fresh urine from the cattle.(for it's antiseptic properties.)

Not sure about outsmarting a dog; though he may have to kill a lion that is feeding on the cattle.

He might be required to drink blood-mixed in milk from the cattle.(Probably just social and not a trial.)

He may have to take a wife. (If I said that was a trial I'd get into trouble I'm sure; however a wealthy man has many cattle and many children.)

He might be invited to sleep with someones wife (she chooses whether she wants to or not). That takes us back to the many children thing.

The Maasai also steal meat from lions by just walking up and taking it, watch the episode of Human Planet about it.

Locrian said:

The Maasai also steal meat from lions by just walking up and taking it, watch the episode of Human Planet about it.

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I remember that video. Probably one of the most amazing things i've ever seen. *runs off* Here it is:

Two options as I see it are to invent a new tribe. You can have them semi based in real world tribes and have them follow Fula (Fulani) or Swahili based tradition.

It's important to realise Africa was not thought of as countries within a continent until they were colonised and divided up. Therefore they bound themselves tribally, and clans within those tribes. Certainly Kenya in 1890 would be perceived in a totally different way prior to globalisation.

In that regard you can invent one. To use the Maasi would complicate and risk appropriation issues and this would avoid that and enable you a bit more freedom.

As far as rites and initiations go, I've photographed some book covers I have that you might check out:



pH

I would like to apologise to you all. I should have explained it a bit better. The MC represents an American; an outsider. The long run of it. The MC is a gunfighter for hire who has been sent to Kenya to fight the Maasai, but soon discover he had been had. In order to right the wrong he has done. For the Maasai to fight alongside him, he has to prove to them he is worthy. That is the whole idea behind the trials. I understand that it probably doesn't make sense. I am attempting to write a series of books inspired by "Have Gun - Will Travel" and "Indiana Jones".

It sounds more like Quigley Down Under moved from Australia to Kenya.

It still would involve cattle and a lot of meat with little if any hunting and farming unless you make a special tribe as someone mentioned.

Try this site for insight::
Maasai introduction - Traditional Music & Cultures of Kenya

If you see it as an RPG game, you've already tested strength, the soul, and the smarts (although the cunning test sounds a bit lame, no offence). You still need to test endurance (getting hurt without complaining, drinking poison, withstanding a jog through the desert at high noon with a backpack full of rocks... that sort of thing), test of agility/speed (outrunning a cheetah or something ), and test of reflexes (catching an arrow?). Those are off the top of my head.

The combination of arrow and off the head::

Ihe said:

(catching an arrow?). Those are off the top of my head.

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:: bring to mind (overtures) of William Tell.

Thank you all for helping me. I really do appreciate it very much.