Nyx

From http://www.wowwiki.com/Tauren

Spiritual Hierarchy and Tauren Titles

The tauren possess a structure of spiritual hierarchy. The most talented and powerful shaman traditionally hold positions of power, though rulership is not limited to spellcasters. Shaman interpret the voice of the Earth Mother and the wishes of the ancestors; sometimes these interpretations lead to the rise of hunters and warriors in the tribe. Such is the case with Cairne Bloodhoof, the current chieftain. The leader of a tribe uses the title “chief” and/or “chieftain.” The three most powerful healers in the tribe support the chief, the most powerful of whom takes the title “seer.” A chief generally consults his seer and her two contemporaries before making a decision, but this consultation is not required. The leader of the United Tauren Tribes — Cairne Bloodhoof, these days — also uses the title “chieftain.” During council meetings, chiefs make recommendations to the chieftain, but again the final decision is the chieftain’s alone to make. “Chief,” “chieftain”, and “seer” are genderless titles. Aged female shaman sometimes take the title of “crone” or “elder crone”, which others use as a sign of respect.

The most notable NPC in the game that has that title is Magatha Grimtotem. She is the leader of the Grimtotem clan.

Some people have expressed surprise that Shaylarose uses that term with respect to Aitana. I get the impression that they view it as disrespect or an insult. While that might be true in some circles it isn't the case in among all Tauren tribes including Shaylarose's. Technically it might not be used correctly with respect to Aitana since she is a druidess and she is only middle-aged, not a shaman or elderly, but she is an older female Tauren that follows the teachings of the Earthmother in a position of leadership so it is reasonable that other Tauren might use that title.

On another note related to the term "crone" out of character in the real world, there are movements involving neopagans, feminists and women interested in issues related to aging that have adopted that word. See the following web sites if you want to read up on it.

http://www.yoni.com/crone.shtml
http://www.cronemagazine.com/
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/artic ... crone.html
http://cronespeaks.wordpress.com/
http://www.birthingthecrone.com/
http://www.croneways.com/
http://emergingcrone.wordpress.com/

This is only a small sampling of what is on the internet on the topic.

as a practicing Neo-Pagan, yes, crone is a important title.

The three aspects of the godess are Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Those of you familiar with the greco/roman panthaon with recognize the likeness to the three aspects of Fate. The three aspects are repeated in numerous ancient and even modern religions across the world.

Only with the coming of cristianity to europe starting in the 1st century did the term crone become a term of disrespect due to the massive suppression of pagan relegion and culture starting about the 5th century AD, with persicution and progroms contining into the mid middle ages with the crushing and forcefull conversion of the Lithuanian peoples by the Tutonic Knight, and the suppression of the Albagisian heresy (southern coastal France) in the late middle ages. (the heresy promonounced equal grace before god, and a negation of the concept of original sin, also that an intervention by the priesthood of the church was not a requirement for forgivness of sin committed in this life..very much counter to the doctrines of the Roman church of the time..for that matter, of this time.)

The meaning of the term Crone simply defines older woman, past child bearing age. It has only come to be a term of derision during the cristian era.

Theotaz sends

"The Truth depends very much on your point of view" - Obi wan Kenobi

I am incline to agree, on the title - It is a title of respect for the wisest woman (being Aitana, she be Tauren - and rightly used for her status) I like when Shaylarose calls you that..i get a nice feeling from it being used as an endearment, motherly figure, and as a sign of respect.

All I know, is if I called my grandmother Crone, she'd probably slap me. :p

(Being a Grimtotem, Slapajo should know this, unfortunately I'm not as familiar with Tauren lore as I am with Sin'dorei and Scourge lore. It's so unfortunate that the Tauren get so little of it from WC2&3.)

*Lah shudders*

I shall try and ammend my thinking....