|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:53 pm
Rais nodded, "Sure! Grandkids...." Wait, grandkids? He had barely met Belvah, now they were to be married and have kids? He felt he face flush at the thought, then he shook it away. He was night the kind of faun to blush! He then waited for the faun to join them and start the ceremony.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:29 pm
Earthmother had quite a few things to prepare before heading outside. First, she had to let Vanya and Takis know that they'd need to make their way outside for the firesideand the final duty of the day. She assured them both that after this, they were free to sleep for a week if they so choose.
To prepare, Earthmother donned her dark ceremonial robes with the many hidden pockets. Each pocket held a small amount of the reagent or item she'd need during this ritual. As the tribe's storyteller, she had to always be prepared to put on a dazzling display, so the mixtures and concoctions came in handy.
She'd entered the sacred circle looking a lot older than she had during the day, thanks to her old robes and large staff which often served as a walking stick.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:32 pm
The words came to her as if they were speaking in normal tones, and Vanya, unsurprised by this seeming revelation, merely gave a half-smile and a nearly imperceptible nod as Amadorine took her leave.
After the others had left, Vanya collected the runestones that she'd set on the cot during the ritual, and returned them to the velvet bag, pulling the drawstring tight so that none could accidentally escape. The Earthmother's reassurance that the hard part was over was an immense relief, and so, feeling she wouldn't need them for now, Vanya set the little bag down on the cot.
"Oh, so tempting, dear Takis," she admitted in a dreamy tone. It was like hovering halfway between being asleep and awake. But she couldn't rest, not yet. "We have one more responsibility, however, that we have to complete. It should be an easy one, however." She reached up to rest her hand on his cheek. "Come now. We must go to the sacred circle."
She braced herself and attempted to stand. She was more than a little unsteady, shaking...but she was on her hooves...at least for the moment. She kept a hand on Takis' shoulder for balance. "We can rest a bit when we get there. I'll even help you find it," she teased, a ghost of a smile on her face despite her exhaustion.
She'd have taken his hand to lead him out of the room, but she was already leaning on his shoulder for support. To be quite honest, she doubted she'd even bother to protest if he did try to carry her; but she wasn't going to ask. He seemed tired as well, so she'd do the best she could on her own two hooves for as long as she could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:35 pm
Rais got his ceremonial robes together as well. He put each piece on with seriousness. He knew what was coming was going to be party serious and partly rejoicing. It was great to have the circle back, but it was also time. Rais walk to the ceremony site to join his mother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:37 pm
Caleigh gave a nod as she got up and gave a bow to Rais before she proceeded her way to the induction circle. Much as it pains her, she left Belvah behind but knew she would see her again very soon. It was too soon when the spotted hyena arrived with the others to get inducted into the circle as Matron and the others as their assigned positions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:13 pm
Junkyard had gone back to watched the crowd once she lost the contest. It wasn't a big deal as she really didn't want to be it. She didn't really mingle yet, as she was still just seeing what was going on. It was more like her to watch.
Pan had been watching and wondering how Kishi had been doing. But things were moving along and he had his own thing to do. He was ready to take the next step and get his new life started. So, he played his flute and moved long following the others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:16 pm
The fire in the center of the circle burned big and bright, illuminating the faces of the two elder faun standing on the northern side. Earthmother stood with her son, chieftain of all faun, and watched as those chosen approached and found a smooth rock to rest on. She stood reverently, with her hands clasped in front of her, and her head down.
As the last of the faun meandered to the circle, Earthmother bowed her head and began to say a prayer.
"Laisidhiel, we thank thee for the bounty thou has provided to our people. We thank thee, for your mercy, your love, your compassion and your protection. We thank thee for the life thou has given us. We serve and honor thee, and offer these tributes, and request that thee watch over our ceremony, and provide your blessings upon those present."
When she lifted her arms, the flame roared, doubling in size, and crackling even louder for only a few seconds. And when the flame calmed, there were twelve branches laying on the ground beside the Earthmother. Each plucked from a different type of tree.
"I am the Earthmother, of the Yew tree." She said into the fire, then picked up the branch of a yew tree to toss in to the fire. It roared up again, but only for the second it took to consume the branch, and her antlers began to glow. "This is my offering."
Earthmother turned to her son and nodded as she took a step back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:19 pm
(( From this point on, it is assumed that all faun called to a position are present.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:24 pm
Rais bowed his head as his Mother started the ritual. He followed the prayer in his head and then nodded at it's finish.
Rais went the the branches and picked up the Oak branch, "I am Rais the faun Cheiftian, of the oak tree." He threw the branch in the first just as Earthmother did. He watched as it crackled and burnt. Rais' antlers glowed as bright as Earthmother's did, "This is my offering."
Rais took a step back from the fire and looked to Earthmother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:46 pm
<< Jacob we'll finish with alistair and Gulliver later >>
Gulliver joined the crowd around the fire and watched silently as Earthmother and Rais started a ritual. He wasnt sure what exactly was going on but he knew he needed to be there, his gut told him so...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:54 pm
Vanya settled in on one of the smooth stones set around the fire, musing that even a stone felt like the most comfortable bed in the world right now. Takis was close at hand, as he always seemed to be lately; today in particular. Not that Vanya minded. If needed, she could reach out and touch his arm without effort, and the thought brought her comfort.
She could feel the warmth from the fire, hear the murmurs of the Faun all around her, and she sighed, deeply but in a contented manner, as she relaxed in a semi-reclining position on the rock. While little was likely to be expected of her for this, especially in comparison to what she'd already been through today, she was still exhausted and fighting the sleep that threatened to take her over. Not yet. Just rest for now, stay awake, and focus on the events as they unfolded. She still had much to learn about her new abilities in light of the one she'd given up. She could always use this as an exercise for that. So, she focused her remaining senses on the ritual as it began, and her new spiritual sensitivity picked up on traces of power, earth magic weaving itself all through the area, the fire, the earth, the stones, and the gathered Faun themselves...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:01 pm
(( I'm here I'm here XD Sorry, had to work and was at a doll meet D <3 ))
Belvah was just grinning like a fool, letting the goings on go on. She blushed at the mention of grandchildren. She'd quite like for them to know each other a bit better first. And she had a celebration to throw before they could even wed apparently..
The silvery gray female blushed a bit more as Rais left, watching him walk away. Was he really hers? Her mind was still reeling. but she was not required to attend the circle induction. The frown was very light upon her face, and looked entirely out of place as she was now a newly betrothed faun. She really wanted to spend more time with him, exhausted or not.
Belvah quietly walked out to the outside of the circle, watching the others gather. Mostly her eyes were on Rais, after all, she loved the man. Rais of the Oak? It sounded fancy. She smiled once more, watching the induction
Fi looked from Earthmother to the newly engaged chief of the fauns. It was certainly amusing, and overwhelming. She blushed a bit as she walked into the circle, seriously hoping she belonged there. She was chosen to be the clothier for the race, surely that was a part of the circle yes?
She blinked, eyes wide as they sacrificed bits of tree into the fire. Was she to do this as well?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:13 pm
(( Sure, no problem Shicala. ))
Alistair had settled himself within the circle as well. He watched the proceedings with both wonder but also quiet respect. Even he knew that this event was one that required an air of somberness. As both Earthmother and Rias threw their branches in the fire, he tried to push way feelings of nervousness again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:15 pm
There was a moment of silence as Earthmother and Rais waited for their offerings to be accepted. This was the nerve-wracking part of any ceremony, because sometimes, the spirits could be temperamental.
A breeze flowed through the fireside, causing a little concern to Earthmother. She watched the candles carefully, wondering if the Air Element was not pleased. She could hear the waves crashing against the cliffs below them more furiously than they normally did and a sprinkling of rain started to trickle down upon the faun while the fire crackled and reacted to the breeze and moisture.
The elements were in a frenzy this night.
Earthmother bowed her head and closed her eyes. She started whispering, "Laisidhiel, please help us."
The ground rumbled. It was subtle, as if the Earth was answering Earthmother directly.
The wind, the rain, the crackling fire and the rumblings all ceased suddenly. Earthmother had the fleeting thought that it was odd only Void wasn't present. Where are you, Templa? she thought to herself.
"Our offering has been accepted! The candles still burn." She reached into her robe and withdrew a pinch of powder from a small hidden bag and tossed it on the fire. It didn't roar or grow, but the surrounding area began to grow hazy, blurring the edges of vision so that all present could focus on the ceremony without further distractions.
It also helped to set the mood for the storyteller.
"Welcome, my brothers and sisters. You are here because Laisidhiel chose you. You are here, because of your connection to the Earth Element itself. Some of you will serve a higher purpose, and some of you will serve our bretheren, but we are all important, all part of the same family. Our duty is to Laisidhiel, our duty is to all Faun of Telrunya, and our duty is to protect the Earth Element, and each other."
She spoke with a powerful voice, much stronger than that she'd been using within the meeting hall. Her words held weight to them, carrying images with them as they landed on faun ears. Her hands moved, emphasizing those strong words. Her posture was one full of confidence and leadership.
"We are a special people. We are born of the Earth, and embody all that it represents. We are strong, deep-rooted in tradition, and unmovable. We protect that which needs protection. We do not bend or break in the face of our adversaries, as we are solid as stone. We embody confidence and physical strength and are the foundation for the rest of Pae'il-kind."
Her hands moved and started weaving about, twirling the smoke that came off the fire. She'd toss a dash of a powder she'd pull from her sleeves as she spoke, causing the smoke to swirl into recognizable shapes and figures. First, a shape like Laisidhiel, then of Rais and then a crowd of faun.
"We were among the first life on Telrunya, co-existing with the other elements and their children; Alu and her Naiads, Templa and her Miakis, Vilya and her Sila and Naur with his Dracian.
We lived peacefully, until the arrival of the Blood Pae'il--those born of blood as we were born of the elements. We accepted them, gave them space to live among us. But they wanted more. They learned of our secrets, and our power, and they wanted it for themselves. So they decided to take it when we wouldn't give it willingly.
Our most powerful artifact, the Book of Transcendence, has the secrets to life and our universe contained in its pages. And there were prophecies that would appear on the blank pages. One day, a message appeared, and our lives change forever."
Earthmother caused the fire to roar big and bright, and as it calmed down, in its wake, written in flames above the fire were the words, "Prepare for War"
And as those fiery words burned out, the smoke started swirling, forming another phrase, "We all must die."
"Another prophecy appeared the next day.
Do not go quietly in to the night.
Prepare.
When darkness threatens,
Peace.
The Ancients will arise.
When Telrunya is in need.
Protect.
The day to protect Telrunya is nigh, my bretheren."
Earthmother was still and quiet for a minute while she meditated. She was letting the spirits guide her words and story, and was praying that the heart of each faun present would be open to accept the truth.
"Vilya informed the other leaders that we were to prepare for a war that we knew we could not win. We could not just lay down our arms and let the Blood-Pae'il take over. We would give our last breath to protect our home. We would not go quietly into the night, as we were instructed."((this is going to come in chunks, because there is a lot of information to precede each individual. Each of the faun present needs to have an understanding of the Faun(and ancient breeds) history. ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 4:25 pm
Caleigh was fascinated by the fires that was flaming up to the skies. She had never seen fires that big before or that obedient to the Earthmother and her crusades. So as a result, she sat down on a smooth rock and learned to remain quiet throughout the ceremony unless it was required of her to speak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
