Rush'kah
The rush'kah[1] is a special ceremonial mask worn by shadow hunters, witch doctors,[2] and other followers of the loa and used to channel the spirits of their dark gods.[3]
When trolls create rush'kahs they recreate the shape of the loa as they see them in their minds. By knowing the shape of the loa, they have a better understanding of who they are. The shape of the masks lets the loa know what the trolls expect them to be.[4] But the rush'kah doesn't necessarily need to be in the form of a mask to be called a rush'kah, and the materials used in its crafting may vary, depending on the loa that the crafters try to honor and appease.[5]
If the loa don't bless the mask, the troll expects them to be something they will never be. But if the loa does bless the mask, it means they like what the troll sees in them, and a bargain can be struck. But before then, the troll will have to face trials, that in the end will help him to connect with both the loa and his tribe.[4]
During their creation rush'kahs are infused with Mojo[4]
Unfinished rush'kahs can come to life and turn hostile to everyone around them.[6]
In the RPG
In olden times, shadow hunters donned special Rush'kah masks when performing ceremonies. As they traveled throughout the lands of Azeroth, many shadow hunters wore these unique ceremonial masks to cover their features and inspire fear in others.[7]
The Mask of the Loa is a similar item.
Notes and trivia
- Vol'jin described the face of Bwonsamdi, the loa of death, as looking like a rush'kah.[1]
- In the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos beta and later the beta for The Frozen Throne, the Shadow Hunter unit was depicted as wearing a rush'kah. Sometime during the Frozen Throne beta, however, the mask was removed from both their in-game model and their concept art. No reason was given for the change, but the idea of the mask was retained in canon as rush'kah are mentioned in the novel Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, and the mask ultimately returned to the shadow hunter model in Warcraft III: Reforged.
Gallery
Warcraft III concept art of a shadow hunter with a rush'kah.
The Frozen Throne render of a shadow hunter with a rush'kah.
Portrait of Rokhan, wearing the rush'kah in Warcraft III: Reforged.
Rokhan, wearing the rush'kah.
Vol'jin wearing his rush'kah mask.
References
- ^ a b Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 11
- ^ Witch Doctor Tzadah
- ^ Blizzard Entertainment. Shadow Hunter. Archived from the original on 2003-02-20. Retrieved on 2009-10-16.
- ^ a b c
[50-80] The Rush'kah
- ^ [50-80] The Loa Trials
- ^ Unfinished Rush'kah
- ^ Horde Player's Guide, pg. 66 - 67
