Elenath Celebration of Samhain

Nightsong

Nightsong

Bookworm
Her Serene Highness High Queen Solveig cordially invites King Tobias III Loðbrók of @Prydania, Prince Julius of Ulstome (@BritishBayonet), Princess Alice Dorsett of @Sil Dorsett and Queen Alycia Severyn-Sevada of Norsia (@Zyvun) to the City of Relarí for the Elenath Celebration of Samhain. This celebration shall be orchestrated and overseen by Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr and shall celebrate the end of the harvest season and the start of the coldest half of the year.



(OOC: The Elenath Celebration of Samhain shall be spread across two nights, the first night shall consist of a ritual celebrating the holiday of Samhain itself with a few interludes for mingling and chatting. I shall leave it to you to RP out your character arriving in Relarí and what they do the day of. The second night shall consist of a Feast of Remembrance honoring ancestors with several opportunities for mingling and chatting. Where necessary I shall provide a template should your character need to respond in a specific fashion. Below I have provided a brief list of tips that should help with this RP and what your character could do.

The closest airport to Relarí is the Valaina International Airport, 25km directly west of Reykholm and 68km south of Relarí. Though there is an Airport Express Train that runs from the airport to Relarí Central Station, private vehicles will be on hand to pick you up from the airport, drop you off at the hotel and then get you to and from the Grand Temple. The vehicles shall also be on hand to provide you transportation around Relarí. Those attending the celebration shall be staying at ‘The Antara’, one of the high-end hotels in the city which is located six blocks from the Grand Temple and near many tourist attractions.

Exterior of The Antara looking towards the back of the hotel from the pool.
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The rooms provided all include balconies that overlook the Bay of Arien.
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  • Távri Temple: Located on the grounds of the Grand Temple of the Elenath, it has been the royal burial grounds for Merilian monarchs since the deaths of High King Casimir in 1573 and High Queen Freydís in 1585.
  • Faer Athenaeum: Located on the grounds of the Grand Temple of the Elenath, this building details the long and storied history of the Elenathistic faith in Merilia and the role of the Lady, the Lord and the Faer play in everyday life, be it in ancient times, in the 1500’s or in the modern day. (NOTE: I ask that if you want to RP your character visiting this building, run any questions by me on the history. Some is detailed on my Forum Factbook, but most is offsite.)
  • Lofgren Museum: This museum is dedicated to exhibiting works of art, design and architecture and is the permanent home of a collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and Contemporary art pieces.
  • Mount Ilimare: Located just south of Relarí, it is a mountain ridge with spectacular and commanding views of the city and of the bay. On clear days it is possible to see the city of Reykholm to the south and the cities of Verá and Rundvik off in the distance. The hike from the base to the summit is out and back and takes roughly four hours.
  • Old City of Relarí: The heart and core of Relarí dates from 1343 and is located by the waterfront. Today it is cordoned off to vehicular traffic making it very pedestrian friendly. The winding alleyways and streets boast a number of craft and boutique stores and many established restaurants, some dating back to the 1700’s and 1800’s.
The Míre
The local restaurant at the ‘The Antara’ and serves up fresh seafood every night.
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Maiya General Store
Built in 1830, the general store sold supplies, snacks and groceries to pilgrims and residents of Relarí. Today, the store offers up classic dinner fare in the evening along with live entertainment.
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Village Tavern
Built in 1797, the tavern is still popular with the locals due to its live entertainment and food favorites such as fresh fish and meatballs.
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The Areh Inn
Built in 1709, this inn became a favorite gathering spot of the more faithful soldiers and sailors during the twilight years of the Merilian Golden Age of Trade. Guests today can stop in to see the beautiful dining room, sit down for a traditional meal, or grab a pint along with the Inn’s famous maksir (OOC: real life shawarma).
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Should you want additional details about any of the tourist spots above, feel free to send me a message here on the forums or over Discord.)
  • October 28th - October 30th
    • Merilians throughout the Kingdom don their vasarya as the Wheel of the Years turns once more to Samhain.
    • Decorations are hung throughout homes and businesses. A festive atmosphere begins to come over the Realm. Candles are lit in the window sills of many homes to invite in warmth and instill a sense of peace, insight-fullness and reflection.
  • October 30th
    • High Queen Solveig makes final preparations with Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr on the Samhain Festival. She leaves for Relarí the following afternoon.
  • October 31st
    • King Tobias III Loðbrók of Prydania and Queen Alycia Severyn-Sevada of Norsia land in Merilia and head to Lofgren Museum to spend the day admiring art before the Samhain ritual that evening.
    • Princess Alice Dorsett of Sil Dorsett arrives in Relarí and chooses to spend her day at the hotel by relaxing at the spa and not having to worry about royal duties for the time being.
    • Prince Julius of Ulstome arrives in Merilia and heads to Távri Temple to learn more about the Elenathistic faith and admire the architecture of the Grand Temple grounds.
  • November 1st
 
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The streets of Relarí seemed to glow, as if the air itself was on fire. Candles lined the streets and burnt brightly in windows, as wicker charms blew in the soft autumn breeze.

"Thank goodness for the fall" Tobias muttered. Half a world separated Prydania from their distant Makari cousins in Merilia. And while Prydania sat on the forested and rocky shores of Craviter, battered by storms and waves? Merilia sat on calmer, warmer shores. It was a change of pace, to be sure, to be this far south. It was his first trip south of Craviter. And it was for that reason that he was thankful that the fall had dulled the heat.

He sat in the chair of his hotel room, fully dressed from the waist down, but wearing only a white crew-cut shirt from the waist up. The trip had been long, and he had plenty of time to contemplate what he would contemplate on for this festival. Októberfest had been joyous. A celebration of the first successful harvest since the end of the Civil War.
This though...he had actively avoided thinking of what this festival would mean to him. Beyond shared ancestry with the Merilians? The deeper meanings of the Samhain celebration filled him with nothing but a deep forlorn feeling.

He stood and looked through his personal effects, finding a journal. It was a black moleskin book, small enough to fit in a pocket if that pocket belonged to baggy enough pants. Tobias thumbed through his journal, and found what he was looking for. It was an old picture, a bit worn at the edges thanks to all the times he had held it.

Prince Robert Loðbrók and his wife, Princess Hana Loðbrók. They looked so happy, with their two year old son, all three smiling for the camera in the gardens of Absalon's Palace. Five years later? Tobias' parents would be dead. And he had the unfortunate luck of watching it happen.

He managed to fight off the urge to shed tears, letting himself collapse back into the chair in the corner of his room. That day...it was sixteen years ago but that day was burned into his memory. Why did he have to sneak out of his room? He was curious that's why. He had no idea what was happening. He was confused, scared, and curious. And he'd seen the television broadcast that had aired his parents' execution. Would it have been better if he hadn't snuk out of his room in that first safehouse? Would it haunt him as bad if he had just been told, without having seen it?

He shook his head slowly. No. No, this wasn't about that. He sighed and looked at the picture again. It was cruel that he'd been allowed to know his parents for eight years. Enough to know them, love them, grow attached...but did he really know them?
Already he was struggling to remember if his faint memories of them were really as close to this picture as they seemed? Or had he forgotten them entirely, and this picture, the last vestige he had of them, had merely served to create false memories? The idea that he may not have known his parents enough to sufficiently honour them dug at him.

He set the picture down on the night stand and cleared the beginnings of tears from his eyes before he began to put on his tunic. It was red, like the one he'd taken to wearing for official ceremonial appearances back home. This one was different though. It had extra gold flourishes echoing the design of oak leaves. Elaborate golden aiguillettes looped over the right shoulder, with two sets of six wicker cylinders across the breast of the tunic. Elaborate embroidered stag heads on the high collar finished the look off. It was a tunic suggested to him, as it captured a pagan aesthetic. A bit more ornate, celebratory, and willing to embrace the motifs of the old ways.

He rolled his head as he finished, fidgeting his shoulders. He smiled softly looking at himself in the mirror. The outfit seemed like it would be limiting, but he felt surprisingly unencumbered. Finally he attached the Jægerblað in its scabbard, his family's coronation sword, to his belt. He didn't imagine he'd ever need to use it, but the idea of this old sword- almost from a time before the Makari cultures fractured- being here seemed too good to pass up.

"You won't be far behind?" he asked the guards outside of his room.
"No Your Majesty, we'll have eyes on you" one replied. Tobias nodded, with a smile. The freedom afforded to him here was more than a bit liberating, but he felt the need to assure himself that he'd never truly be out of sight of his guards.

Lofgren Museum...he'd never had a chance to explore the world of art outside of the limited collections that survived the Civil War in Prydania. He almost couldn't wait as he made his way there.
 
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A nice, cool breeze blew slowly across the stern face of Prinz Julius von Falkenstein as he stood, completely frozen in awe at the grandeur of the temple that stood before him, which rose and flowed in a manner of utmost beauty and power much like a tapestry to form the outside of the Távri Temple towering above him like a stone giant. The suns radiance shone down, illuminating all shadows that could possibly hide the countless details that were depicted in its stone walls, from wall to wall, the ground it stood on and up to the sky.

Julius had a relaxing start to his fairly short journey from his home in Krimistlestein where he said goodbye to his Brother the Fíorscoth (King), Ulfar von Falkenstein and his family before boarding his plane, early in the morning, to go and attend the Samhain Festival in Merilia, where he would honour his mother and father the previous Fíorscoth (King) Charles and Banríon (Queen) Matilda von Falkenstein who had passed away over fifth-teen years ago.

During his short plane ride, fond memories from his childhood flooded through his mind, overwhelming his thoughts; memories of when he rode his first horse alongside his father when they visited their countryside estate, memories of when he was given his first car on his eighteenth birthday, memories of all the times they spent together as a family, memories that almost brought a river of tears running down his face as he gazed deeply out of the window at the ever distant, natural landscape below.

Once his plane had set down on the tarmac in Valaina International Airport, Julius made his way to his pre-arranged transportation and rather than go to his hotel room he asked to be taken to the Távri Temple, which he had long had an interest in visiting, so he could experience part of Merilia’s long history and distinct culture. As the car travelled north from Reykholm and towards Relarí, he took every opportunity to take in the vibrant colours and activities as he passed through the towns, taking pictures of the buildings and statues that Julius found interesting, or had not seen before in Ulstome, which he could look back on and admire in his spare time when he returned to Ulstome, as he passed through the villages on his way to visit the Távri Temple.

When Julius’s vehicle arrived outside of Távri Temple, Julius thanked his driver then stepped out, his new camera firmly in one hand and the other at his side and began to head towards the Temple’s entrance with confidence in his long strides and intrigue in his eyes. He walked along the stone paths that curved to become a set of smooth stone steps that passed by the motifs engraved on the Temple’s exterior walls which depicted various spirits of nature and of the Lady and the Lord.
 
Two years ago, she was mourning. One year ago, she was questioning.

Alice heard from her sister the story of why she left the household ten years ago; the story about how their father tried to use them as bargaining chips and marry them off to one of the aristocratic households. The revelation stunned Alice. She didn't want to believe it, but she wasn't surprised by it. Arranged marriages between households hadn't yet fallen out of favor. High society hadn't caught up to the rest of the world, and for the most part, neither had Alice until a year ago.

At a time of rememberence for some parts of world, Alice, like her sister a year ago, was on her way to Merilia. She spent the flight reflecting on years past, flipping through a copy of her family album, trying to find the good in her father that she could revere and honor. She wanted to forget the wickedness that seemed to consume him as he approached the time of his ascension and reign. The holiday family pictures struck her nerves the most; ten years of photographs with Alice, Claidie, their mother Liliane and father Stéphane posing all together as a happy family. The picture that followed was missing their mother. "Why did she leave, and why did she distance herself from us?" Alice thought to herself.

Two years later, the three that were left became the princely family, but only for another two years before another lady dropped out of the picture. At least Alice knew the reason for that one. As she progressed through each picture in the album, she remembered how serene the early years were and how more troubled the years were after Stéphane and Liliane divorced. "What was it she saw?" Alice kept thinking. By the time the flight was over, she had more questions than answers. She hadn't yet found something redeemable that couldn't be overshadowed by her father's controversies. She had spent an entire half-day trying, but it was clear that it wasn't enough.

In her hotel room, she could only continue to gaze at her album, still trying to make the trip worthwhile. Everything else seemed insignificant to her. Not even a trip to the Lofgren Art Museum interested her. She could only stay in her room to reflect upon her whole life thus far and the family that gradually broke apart.
 
Merilia was so different compared to Norsia, in both its people and culture. All of it was a welcome change, being in a distant land seeing something new; there was a certain romanticism to it that Alycia liked.
She didn’t come just for that though. She had come for the celebration and what little she knew of it gave her a sorrowful air.

Alycia had ancestors she deeply admired, she wanted to be like them and lead Norsia into another golden age but she is working from almost nothing. And what of her descendants if she gets any? Will she be an ancestor to have pride in or will she be another embarrassment; another shame on a once great name? Is Sevada even worth respect anymore?

Colart and her guardsmen weren’t here, neither was Gabriel. No one was here to help keep her focused and her mind wandered in idleness; and it soon wandered to her mother. When she heard that her mother had died she had no tears to shed, no prayers to utter; only the detached acknowledgement of the loss of a life. She still could not muster anything other than relief.

Her thoughts turned to the Landonsruh forest raid as she made her way to the balcony. What of the soldier she had killed? What was his name? Did he have family; was he a loved one? It was him or her. Did she take away a father, a son? His expression as he fell out of her sight, it stuck in her mind anytime she thought about him. Who was he and why did his loss hurt so much?

Alycia wiped away the single tear that managed to escape reminding her to the guide she has been absentmindedly holding for the past several minutes. She looked at the last page she was on. Lofgren museum, Alycia always was fascinated in culture and art even if she isn’t much of an artist herself and learning about a foreign culture may give her new perspective. Availing herself to the culture of Merilia would do her good and she has time before the events. She walked back in and put on her royal uniform. A golden trimmed long coat styled in the fashion of 1860’s Norsia. Her silver medallion necklace having been incorporated into the uniform itself. and with a golden sash belt. She had opted to not bring her sword, it wasnt entirely appropriate and it may have drawn the wrong impressions if she brought it.

Now that she was well dressed and warm she walked out the door of her hotel room, she had a museum to visit.
 
As the wheel of the year continues to turn and time marches on, the festival of Samhain is once again upon Merilia. With the leaves changing colors and cool breezes blowing across the cities as temperatures continue to drop off from the summer warmth, it is clear that the end of summer is here and that the start of winter is upon everyone. Merilians throughout the Realm were once more wearing their vasarya for the traditional eight days of celebration and festivity. Some had even chosen to carry their own athamé or revia with them so that they would be able to stop at various parks and monuments to make a blessing to the Lady and the Lord for the memories, joys and sorrows of the past year. Homes throughout the Realm had been decorated with symbols of autumn and of winter with many candles placed in window sills to invite in warmth and instill a sense of peace, insight-fullness and reflection.

High Queen Solveig herself was in her reading room discussing final plans with Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr regarding the Samhain Festival. She had made sure that the Grand Temple had additional vasarya on hand for those wishing to experience a unique Merilian tradition and custom though she was not expecting many foreigners to wear one. Discussions lasted long into the night but once they were over, Solveig stepped out onto the balcony and wrapped her vasarya around her more tightly as a cool breeze blew through Reykholm. She looked out over the city at the many lit candles that looked like a sea of stars spread out as far as the eye could see. The cold breeze brought memories of winters spent with her mother and of the many winters to come where she could make new memories with her daughter, Andrea and her husband, Tobías. As she continued to reflect on her past and her future, the candle lights and the lights of the city flickered off in the distance. Soon however she retired for the night as she was heading to Relarí the following day for the annual Elenath Celebration of Samhain with her family.

Vasarya: These garments are cloaks, both of the non-hooded and hooded variety and are worn by Merilians for a total of eight days; the three days preceding a festival, the two days of the festival itself and the three days following the conclusion of a festival.
  • The three days represent the past, present and future as well as the aspects of the Divine, for the Lady those are the Maiden, Mother and Crone and for the Lord those are the Holly King, the Horned King and the Oak King.
  • The two days represent the duality of the divine with the Lady representing femininity and the Lord representing masculinity.
  • The five days (be it the three days before and the festival or the festival and the three days after) represent the five Elements of Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit.
  • The eight days represent the Wheel of the Year and the cyclical nature of life and serve as a reminder that all things in life are fleeting and to enjoy the present moment while still maintaining a respect for the past and reflecting on the future to come.
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Athamé (Fire):
  • These are ceremonial, doubled-edged daggers used to channel and direct energy, generally conceived as etheric fire. The handles are typically inscribed with drawings or symbology that hold importance or significant meaning to the user (examples being astrological glyphs and runes). Many athamés are passed down as family heirlooms though it is common for Merilians to own more than one.
  • The ritual drawing of the boundary of a circle, also known as "casting the circle", is traditionally done with an athamé though in Temple's a ritual sword may be used. As athamés are associated with the Element of Fire, the circle is considered to be cast in etheric fire. This fire is traditionally envisioned as blue, indigo or violet; although it may equally well be envisioned as other colors. When the circle is purified after being cast, it is traditionally done with the remaining three elements of air (incense), water (water) and earth (salt). After a circle has been cast, the athamé is the tool used to invoke the Elemental Guardians of the Four Directions, called "calling the quarters".
Súlo (Water):
  • Also called a goblet, this item is symbolic for the Element of Water and of femininity. They are generally used in combination with the Athamé which represents masculinity. Combining the two tools evokes the act of procreation, a symbol of universal creativity. During rituals and festivals, the chalice is traditionally used to hold mead.
Revia (Air):
  • Also called a wand, this item is symbolic for the Element of Air and can be made from any material, be it wood, metal or rock with many being inset with gemstones or crystals. Whereas an athamé is used to command, a wand is traditionally viewed as being more gentle and used to invite and encourage. Wands are used by Merilians in rituals regarding healing and spell-casting.
Risil (Earth):
  • The risil is a disc inscribed with a sigil or magical symbol engraved upon it. The most common symbol is a pentagram within a circle, specifically a pentacle, although a triquetra may be used as well. The disc symbolizes the Element of Earth and represents that element during evocation/invocation and as a symbol to bless items and purify a circle upon clearing.
 
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Art was never something Tobias had much of an interest in, really. His own upbringing had never lent itself to developing a passion for the subject.

So why did he find himself at Lofgren Art Museum? He honestly wasn’t sure, aside from the notion that an art museum seemed a good place to try and develop an appreciation for a new culture. And try to understand the ways in which Makari cultures had diverged.
And truth be told he found it pleasant enough even if he didn’t quite appreciate what he was looking at. An art museum was a perfect place to be alone with his thoughts.

He found himself admiring a picture of a sunset over a idealic hillside. He studied it, wondering why pictures like this didn’t seem to exist in Prydania. Probably because the sun set so bloody early.

He smiled a bit as he watched a few people walk by wearing the cloaks appropriate for the occasion, moving onto another picture.

He suddenly felt overwhelmed by a sense of...not sadness. Just a wave of forlorn melancholy. Perhaps it was the season. The weather was warmer here than back home, but fall was fall after all. He reached up to loosen his collar on his tunic, letting out a bit of a sigh.
Perhaps it was the fall, or maybe even the anxieties of a new place and the unknown that awaited him with this ceremony.

He found himself focused on the next painting, biting on the inside of his lip for a moment before he closed his eyes and breathed deep, managing to pick his own spirits up, just a bit.
 
Pulling on his suit to smarten himself as he calmly entered the Távri Temple, Julius could strongly smell burnt sage. Looking around he was amazed by the beauty of the stained-glass windows of the entrance and the amount of skill and work that had gone into creating it for the temple. The smooth wooden carvings that were lined across the walls depicted many spirits of nature with their designs coming to life the longer that he looked at them. To Julius this was a wonderful sight and he took photo after photo, so he could look back and admire the designs later. Looking past the crowds towards the interior of the temple, he was able to see the altar in the middle of a circular room.

As he approached, one of the temple staff greeted him warmly asking if he had any questions or if he might be of any assistance. Julius greeted the staff member, “good afternoon, I was just wondering why sage is used so heavily here?” ,"That has been on my mind since I entered, hopefully this man will know" he thought, The staff member, whose name Julius had learned was David, was more than happy to explain, “the sage is used to cleanse impurities and is a requirement of all patrons, be they here for worship or visiting, before they are allowed into the ritual chamber. Would you care to undertake the smudging ceremony or are you going to remain here in the entryway?” Julius thought about this quickly but accepted David’s offer whereupon David walked off to grab a bundle of sage that could be burnt. After returning, Julius was asked to stand with his feet shoulder width apart and his hands clasped in front of him and once he had done so, David started.

Taking the sage David held it by Julius’ hands and stated, “may your hands be cleansed, that they create beautiful things.” He next moved to hold the sage by the feet and stated, “may your feet be cleansed, that they might take you where you most need to be.” Following the cleansing of the hands and feet, David moved to hold the sage by Julius’ heart and stated, “may your heart be cleansed, that you might hear its messages clearly.” Moving the sage further up and holding it by the throat, David stated, “may your throat be cleansed, that you might speak rightly when words are needed.” Coming to the end of the smudging ceremony, David held the sage near the eyes and stated, “may your eyes be cleansed, that you might see the signs and wonders of the world.” As the ceremony ended, David intoned one last prayer as he made a clockwise motion around Julius, “may this person and space be washed clean by the smoke of this sage and may that same smoke carry their prayers, spiralling, to the Lord and Lady.” Once David had finished, he thanked Julius and blessed his journey, wherever that might take him and showed him into the ritual chamber where he was left to look around take whatever photos he wanted. After the cleansing Julius had quite joyfully thought to himself "this is wonderful, the sweat smell of sage, the beauty of the temple. I must bring the family when i next come to visit, they would love this especially brother. Mother and father would of loved this if they were still here, they always had a love for things of this nature" As Julius looked around, warm sunlight shone through the numerous windows that lined the sides of the temple and highlighted the altar in the middle of the room that was surrounded in a circle by chairs.
 
High Queen Solveig had arrived in the City of Relarí mid-afternoon after having taken a private car that dropped her off at The Antara. Normally she would have headed straight to the Grand Temple of the Elenath and helped oversee final preparations for the festival but with foreign dignitaries in town, she felt the need to welcome them to Merilia. On the drive up from the palace, the Queen's aides had informed her that Princess Alice Dorsett had requested her own personal vasarya that she could keep after the festival. They were also informed of the Princesses birthday in April which meant she was born under the element of Air and in the season of Spring so the Queen had sent a her aides to various shops around Old Town Relarí looking for the perfect vasarya.

Solveig was sitting at The Antara's bar when her aides returned followed shortly by King Tobias and Queen Alycia who could be overheard talking about their recent trip to the Lofgren Museum. She smiled to herself seeing the two young royals enjoying themselves and could easily see a spark between the two. Her aides quickly approached with the new vasarya in hand which she noticed was a deep shade of crimson with hints of silver to bring out the intricate patters over the shoulders and which ran down the length of the back of the vasarya. Solveig had her aides notify the hotel staff to have them deliver the garment to Princess Alice. As her aides once more scurried off to carry out the Queen's orders, Solveig took a sip of her drink and thought about the Samhain ritual that would be starting in a few hours time.
 
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The start of the Elenath Celebration of Samhain drew near with everyone beginning to gather at the Grand Temple of the Elenath where the smell of sage was strong in the air as Merilians attending the celebration were cleansing themselves through a smudging ritual while the Temple staff helped both the children and the elderly with the ritual. The sea of people at the Grand Temple painted a vast tapestry of colors with the vasarya's being worn ranging in colors with the most prominent being black, green, brown, yellow, silver, crimson, red, gold, orange, blue, green and indigo. Each of the colors present represented not only a particular season but one of the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire and Water. As people finished their smudging ritual they were asked how they entered the ritual hall and upon the Temple staff receiving an answer, were directed into one of the four main ritual spaces, be it the Hall of Vilya [Air], the Hall of Arina [Earth], the Hall of Calina [Fire] or the Hall of Sirya [Water] where High Priests and High Priestesses were awaiting everyone's arrival before beginning the Samhain celebration.

Outside the Grand Temple, High Queen Solveig had arrived with King Tobias, Prince Julius, Princess Alice and Queen Alycia in tow after having had dinner at The Antara. During their ride from The Antara to the Grand Temple, the High Queen had explained the smudging ritual and what was expected of them before they could enter the ritual halls and move beyond the Grand Temple's entryway. As the royal limo pulled up to the Grand Temple, High Queen Solveig exited the vehicle and met up with her husband, High King Tobías, and her daughter, Crown Princess Andrea, who had arrived in a separate vehicle to give High Queen Solveig time to inform the foreign heads of state of what would be expected of them that night. They entered together as a family and both Solveig and Tobías did their smudging ritual individually before doing it together for their daughter.

With sage in hand, Solveig circled Andrea’s hands and feet while chanting, “May your hands be cleansed, that they create beautiful things. May your feet be cleansed, that they might take you where you most need to be.” She then handed the sage to Tobías who circled Andrea’s heart, throat and eyes while chanting, “May your heart be cleansed, that you might hear its messages clearly. May your throat be cleansed, that you might speak rightly when words are needed. May your eyes be cleansed, that you might see the signs and wonders of the world.” Together, Solveig and Tobías circled around Andrea with the sage while chanting the final part of the cleansing ritual, “may this person and space be washed clean by the smoke of this sage and may that same smoke carry their prayers, spiraling, to the Lady and the Lord on this most sacred of nights, this All Hallows Eve. Blessed be.”

As the Royal Family participated in the smudging ritual, Temple staff came up to each of the foreign heads of state and helped walk them through the smudging ritual after explaining how the ritual was to cleanse an individual of impurities and negative energy. Following each cleansing, they were offered an opportunity to wear a vasarya during the ritual and if they so chose to disclose their birthday, the Temple staff found a vasarya of the appropriate color. Upon seeing that Princess Alice was already wearing a deep crimson colored vasarya with intricate silver decorations, a few of the Temple staff and nearby Merilians complimented her for buying a vasarya herself and for participating in one of the most ancient traditions surrounding the Elenathistic faith, the Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year.

Once everyone had gone through the smudging ritual, the Temple staff asked the assembled group, "how do you enter this ritual hall?" High Queen Solveig spoke for the entire group, "we all enter the ritual hall in perfect love and perfect trust." Upon receiving an answer they were directed into the Hall of Sirya where Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr were waiting by the altar, ready to begin the Samhain celebration.
 
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As everyone entered the Hall of Sirya, they stood in a clustered circle surrounding the altar. High Queen Solveig and her family stood directly north of the altar facing Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr who each had a sword strapped to their waist and who were waiting to start. Once the last person had entered, a nod from the High Queen to the Grand High Priestess signified that the door should be shut and that the Samhain celebration could begin. As the Grand High Priestess began to speak, temple staff that were sitting on the outer edges began to beat out a rhythm on the drums they had with them. It was very subtle but it helped to settle the mood and energy of the room.

Grand High Priestess Ástriðr began, “welcome one and all once more to the Grand Temple of the Elenath, we are pleased to see so many choose to attend our Celebration of Samhain. Before we begin, I would like to personally welcome King Tobias III Loðbrók of Prydania, Prince Julius of Ulstome, Princess Alice Dorsett of Sil Dorsett and Queen Alycia Severyn-Sevada of Norsia. Tonight, we honor hearth and home and pay respect to the Lady and the Lord for the blessings and hardships of the past while looking forward to what the future will bring. We begin this Samhain celebration with a casting of the circle.” As she was speaking, Grand High Priest Rúni had unsheathed his sword and had walked to the outer edge of the circle where he was soon joined by Grand High Priestess Ástriðr who had also unsheathed her sword. Together they chanted as they walked around the circle, “O Sacred Circle, let this place be a meeting place of love, joy and truth; a shield against all evil and wickedness; a rampart of protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we shall raise within thee. O Sacred Circle, we bless thee and consecrate thee in the name of the Lady and the Lord. So, mote it be and blessed be.” As they walked back to the altar in the middle of the room, they sheathed their swords and upon reaching the altar, Grand High Priest Rúni picked up the revia and athamé while Grand High Priestess Ástriðr picked up the súlo and the risil.

With the súlo, or goblet, filled with mead Grand High Priestess Ástriðr walked to the western side of the altar and held it high while chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the West, who resides in the Watchtower of the Setting Sun; We call upon your waters of life to give wisdom to our magick and serenity to our path; Oh, Guardians and Spirits of the Watchtower of the West, we summon you to guard our circle and witness our Rite this night.” Following this, she walked to the northern side of the altar with the risil, or disc, that had a pile of soil on it and held it high while chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the North, who resides in the Watchtower of the Darkened Sun; We call upon you Mother Earth so that our magick may be in tune this night and that our spirits are free; Oh, Guardians and Spirits of the Watchtower of the North, we summon you to guard our circle and witness our Rite this night.”

When Grand High Priestess Ástriðr finished, Grand High Priest Rúni walked to the eastern side of the altar with the revia, or wand, which held out in front of him while chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the East, who resides in the Watchtower of the Rising Sun; We call upon your breath of creation to bind perfect trust to the magick we create tonight; Oh, Guardians and Spirits of the Watchtower of the East, we summon you to guard our circle and witness our Rite this night.” As he finished, he placed the revia in his belt and took out the athamé as he walked to the southern side of the altar where he chanted, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the South, who resides in the Watchtower of the Mid-Day Sun; We call upon your endless flames. Give life to our prayers and magick to our desires; Oh, Guardians and Spirits of the Watchtower of the South, we summon you to guard our circle and witness our Rite this night.”

Both Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr walked back to the altar and placed the items down before nodding to High Queen Solveig who came up to the altar to speak, “the circle is now cast in perfect love and perfect trust. If for any reason you feel the need to step out of the circle, we ask that you do so discreetly and by using your athamé, or that of a neighbor, to cut an opening in the etheric flame so that you may leave. With that said, hail and welcome this night to All Hallows Eve.” After speaking she stepped back into the crowd and stood beside her husband and daughter.

Grand High Priestess Ástriðr,
“Let us join now in worship of the Lady and the Lord and let us give thanks for all that we have; for the love that we enjoy and for the kinship that we share.
Let us never forget what we owe to the Goddess and the God. For however our lives are shaped, they are so shaped by Our Lady and Her Lord. Theirs is the watch to keep; they are the ones who lead us on our paths.”

Grand High Priest Rúni,
“When Man and Woman were but children, did the Goddess and God ever watch over them. Our loving Lady was our mother whilst the stern, but strong Lord was our father; Man and Woman learned as they were taught, with Patience and with Love.
Naught did they receive for naught. But well were they rewarded for their pains. ‘As ye give, so shall it return’; And this they learned well. Give of yourself, your love, your life; And so, will you gain immeasurably. Take that which is yours not to take and you may find it not what it seemed.
The Lady and the Lord are just and all they do is with reason. Work well with them and you will be rewarded more than you might have ever dreamed possible.
Our Lady is Love; Our Lord is Strength. As we need them, they need us. Let us live and love together all in their sight. Love is the Law and Love is the Bond. So, mote it be and blessed be.”

Grand High Priestess Ástriðr,
“Throughout the year, the Lady is both Maiden and Mother, and tonight, we honor her in her guise as the Crone.
The Lord is wild and fertile and animal, and tonight, we honor him in his guise as the Horned God.

As Grand High Priestess Ástriðr was speaking, she lit two candles that had been placed on the altar. Grand High Priest Rúni spoke as she was doing this, “these candles are lit in honor of hearth and home, the mother and the father, the Lady and the Lord.”

Grand High Priestess Ástriðr,
“As Grand High Priest Rúni said, we light these candles for the Lady and her mighty consort, the Lord, and for the safety of hearth and home. On this, this night of Samhain, when the Goddess is a wise Crone and the God is a wild stag, we honor them both. Blessed be.
This is a time between the worlds, a time of life and a time of death. This is a night unlike any other night. Ancient ones, we ask your blessing. O great Crone, Goddess and mother of all life, we thank you for your wisdom. O great Horned One, God and master of the wild hunt, keeper of the forest, we thank you for all that you provide.”

Grand High Priest Rúni,
“As Summer ends, so begins the dark months of Winter. Praise to the Lady and the Lord.
Gracious Goddess, we thank you for the joys of Summer; for the crops, the harvest; for life and for love. We, who love you, as we know you love us. Return next year, when your time is come. When your companion-love, our Lord, has led us safely through the dark. We love you and honor you, our most divine Lady. Lord of Life, of Death and of the Dark Times to come. You will guard us and guide us through the months to come. Lead us through the hardships that lie ahead, that again we may see the glory of Spring and the love of our Lady.
Now is the time for celebration of the past and the future. Our loved ones return to join us this night.
Let us greet them and one another. Let us feast and make merry.
Let us remember those who have gone on to the domain of the Lady and the Lord.
This night is for merriment before the hardships of winter enfold us. Blessed be.”

As Grand High Priest Rúni came to the end of his blessing, Grand High Priestess Ástriðr had once more unsheathed her sword and was holding it with the tip down. She spoke as soon as the High Priest was finished, “thank you for participating in this Samhain ritual this night and blessed be to our gracious Lady and her Lord. May this Circle empower and protect us till we come together once more. May our hearts stay open to their guiding light. So, mote it be. We will now go about closing the circle and then say one more blessing before you are all free to mingle and enjoy the snacks and mead provided.”

Turning to the face the south, Grand High Priest Rúni held his sword high and chanted, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the South. As you return to your fiery throne, your magick stays with us in the warmth of the day and in the flames of all fires. We give thanks and bid thee hail and farewell.” Turning to face the east, he continued chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the East. As you return to your airy throne, your magick stays with us in the sounds of the bells and the wings of the birds. We give thanks and bid thee hail and farewell.”

Grand High Priest Rúni lowered his sword and held it with the tip down while Grand High Priestess Ástriðr took over and facing towards the north, she held her sword high while chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the North. As you return to your earthly throne, your magick stays with us in the growth of the forest and the breath of the beast. We give thanks and bid thee hail and farewell.” Turning to face the west, she continued chanting, “O Ancient One, Guardian of the West. As you return to your watery throne, your magick stays with us in the waves of the ocean and the pleasures of the rains. We give thanks and bid thee hail and farewell.”

Together both Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr stood in front of the altar with the swords held tip down and facing towards High Queen Solveig. She stepped forward to join them once more at the altar and turned in a circular fashion to address everyone gathered, “the circle is now open but unbroken, may the love of the Lady and the Lord be ever in your heart. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again. Blessed be.”

Grand High Priest Rúni started on the last blessing of the evening, “as the Lady and the Lord give to us, let us share with them. And let us give thanks for all the goodness they pour out upon the earth. To the Lady and the Lord! Our thanks to the Goddess and the God for the foods they provide us. Let us always see to it that aught we have, we share with those who have nothing. Let us now enjoy these gifts of the Lady and the Lord. But let us never forget that without the Lady and the Lord, we would have nothing. So, mote it be.”

After he finished, Grand High Priestess Ástriðr spoke, “that concludes the first night of our Samhain celebration and ends All Hallows Eve. Tomorrow night we shall be hosting a Feast of Remembrance to honor our ancestors and to give thanks to those who came before and those who are still with us. We look forward to seeing you all there. For now, though, eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy the music being played from the temple staff.” With that, some of the temple staff entered the room with trays of appetizers and other assorted snacks while a bar had been set up in the entryway for those who wanted a glass of mead or another cocktail being offered. Other staff from the temple had grouped together to sing while playing drums, harps, and lutes which provided music for the attending crowd.
 
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(OOC: I shall leave it to you on how you respond to this post. You may go in depth and write a story on your characters thoughts and feelings / what they did during the smudging ritual and the Samhain ritual. Or you could go as simple as having your character speak with another character present or respond to any questions posed to them.)

High King Tobías kissed his wife on the cheek before walking over to King Tobias to chat, “Your Majesty, I hope you are enjoying the Samhain festival thus far. It’s not often that we have foreign heads of state present during one of the Sabbats. Anyways, I came over to speak with you since I heard from my wife that she noticed a definite spark between you and Queen Alycia. I wanted to ask if you are you going to act on your feelings and let her know how you feel about her?”

As her husband walked off to have a chat with King Tobias, High Queen Solveig sought out Queen Alycia who she found discussing the countries culture with a few Merilians and nobles. Pulling Alycia to the side to speak privately, High Queen Solveig finally had a rare moment of alone time with Queen Alycia to ask a question that had been on her mind since she had arrived at The Antara earlier that day. “Your Grace good evening, I hope all is well and that you’ve learned something new from attending this Samhain ritual. I wanted to come and speak with you because I had seen you and King Tobias speaking at great length about artwork when you returned from the Lofgren Museum earlier. From what I saw, it looked like the two of you were quite into each other and that maybe even a spark of love was in the air. Are you going to let King Tobias know how you feel?”

With the High Queen and the High King presently occupied in talking with the foreign visitors, some of the nobles and locals present began to pair up with their significant other to dance. This dancing however did not catch on throughout the room and instead become a localized event of some people enjoying the music more than others.
 
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Alycia talked with the Merilians, comparing Norsian and Merilian culture and faiths. she was amazed by how different the Merilians were as well as their faith. Norsian paganism had very few rituals and none in as much depth as the ones she was participating in here. She also noted the differences in their holy clothing and symbols. Alycia grew up as a princess, with a good education but the Civil War did not afford her much chance to explore and discover foreign cultures and peoples. Merilia felt almost unreal to her.


Alycia smiled and bowed her head in greeting "Your majesty good evening." and nodded along as the High Queen spoke to her, not wanting to interrupt her. Her smile began to fade halfway into what High Queen Solveig was saying and was replaced with uncomfortable nervousness. She shifted her eyes through the room for festival-goers before they came back to Queen Solveig. "Gods and Goddesses - am I really that obvious? I've been wanting to tell him but the impacts it would have for our countries are significant, I don't know how to handle that. And none of my opportunities have really felt appropriate.. What would you recommend?"
 
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High Queen Solveig noticed the uncomfortable shift in Alycia's eyes as they were talking. She laughed to herself, "Your Grace, there is nothing wrong with it being obvious that two young adults are falling in love with one another. That's just life for you, though you should be thankful that the Lady and Lord saw fit to bring you two together on this particular night and in this particular space. As to what I would recommend you do about your situation with the young Prydanian King... politics be damned, if you and King Tobias of Prydania truly do have feelings for one another then you should jump on that opportunity and let him know. Besides, you'll have quite a few opportunities to speak with him during the Samhain celebration and the breaks in the ritual. Both of you can compare notes as it were on your thoughts of Merilian culture and our unique religion which isn't seen anywhere else in the world. Don't pass up the time to speak with him as it may end up coming back later in your life as something that you regret. As for the political climate of not just Craviter but of Prydania and Norsia, you are both young... you can change hearts and minds and lead your nations and the continent into a bright future and away from the turmoil and unrest that has plagued that region of the world for so long."
 
With High King Tobías and High Queen Solveig making the rounds and chatting with the visiting foreign heads of state, Grand High Priest Rúni and Grand High Priestess Ástriðr took the time to clean up the altar and put away the various tools and items that had been used though they kept their swords with them as symbols of their status in the Grand Temple. As they finished up they too began to socialize with those who had made the trip to the Grand Temple to participate in the Samhain ritual.
 
Tobias observed the Samhain ceremony, his mind frantically jumping from what he was seeing from the Grand High Priests, and comparing what he was seeing to what he had read on ancient Makari culture. And ancient it was. The divergence of Prydanian and Merilian Makari civilization dated back aways, but the history he was taught growing up sprung to the forefront of his mind.

He couldn't help but notice how the casting circles mirrored old Prydanian Adriennic paganism, as he mentally placed old Adriennic symbols. He tilted his head as Grand High Priest Ástriðr said...

“O Ancient One, Guardian of the West, who resides in the Watchtower of the Setting Sun; We call upon your waters of life to give wisdom to our magick and serenity to our path; Oh, Guardians and Spirits of the Watchtower of the West, we summon you to guard our circle and witness our Rite this night.”

It reminded him of what Jørn Stöðuvatn had taught him, at William's instruction, about the ancient rights of his ancestors. And how what the High Priest was saying was different...yet the connective tissue was the same. Prydanian Makari culture was Merilian Makari culture passed through an Adriennic filter.

Of course he was willing these comparisons, these thoughts, to the front of his mind. His mind kept darting from Alice and Alycia, sighing as his nerves pricked up. Ástriðr's remark "eat, drink and be merry" was almost a relief. He went to turn to find the bar only for a hand to land on his shoulder.

“Your Majesty, I hope you are enjoying the Samhain festival thus far" High King Tobías said as approached him. Tobias knew of him, but had never met him. And the similar name was, of course, another reminder of the distant but real connections between their shared Makari cultures.

"It’s not often that we have foreign heads of state present during one of the Sabbats. Anyways, I came over to speak with you since I heard from my wife that she noticed a definite spark between you and Queen Alycia. I wanted to ask if you are you going to act on your feelings and let her know how you feel about her?”

Tobias had been about to formally introduce himself, but the High King's forwardness struck him like a freight truck. He'd ignored the tabloids and news, both back home and in Norsia, but he was shocked anyone would be so forward about it.

"Your Majesty..." he began, now really wishing the High King had only managed to find him after he had gotten a drink. Alas he lamented his all-to-sober state as he was confronted with something he couldn't escape.
"...this festival is about honouring those you lost, right?" He sighed, staying collected despite rising anxiety.
"Most of the people I've loved have died, Your Majesty." He smiled, looking at the elder Tobías. "When I think about her, I can't help but worry about losing her."

He sighed. It was a deep fear. One he'd hesitate to admit to most people. And yet? To a King half a world away? In a private conversation? It was comforting. No one would ever know. And it made sharing it easier.
 
Seeing that King Tobias was on his way to the bar, High King Tobías walked over with him. At the bar he ordered two glasses of mulled wine, handed one to the young King and then turned back to observe the crowds as he carried on the conversation, "yes, this festival is about honoring and paying respect to our loved ones and our ancestors, be they with us in the here and now or those who have moved on from this life. And though your parents are no longer with us, they would be very proud of you for continuing the Prydanian royal family and for attending this Samhain celebration in honor of them." Finishing off his mulled wine, High King Tobias ordered another round for the two of them before speaking again, "anyways, don't get yourself so worked up over the possibility of losing Queen Alycia or Princess Alice, it will work out in the end. As Kristján Almstedt, a famous Merilian lyricist and novelist, once said, 'when you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it'. Trust in yourself and realize that you just have to take that step and let either Queen Alycia or Princess Alice know how you feel about them."
 
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Every step of the way, from the smudging and cleansing to every chant and blessing, Alice's feelings of intrigue and curiosity strengthened. Perhaps it was to her benefit that her religious upbringing was weak and that she wasn't zealously attached to any particular creed. Not being so devout made it easier for her to accept and acclimate to new cultures and faiths, she realized. It dawned on her that while her father wasn't the type to reach out and engage the world around, he could prepare his daughters to do what he could not. It was all part of the plan, and it brought Alice comfort.

Following the first day's rituals, the crowd was left to socialize and be merry. It seemed like a good time to reconnect with King Tobias (of Prydania). It had been a few months since they last met in person, but he appeared to be occupied by the other Tobías, the High King, and so she decided to defer to another time.

As she noticed that Grand High Priestess Ástriðr was conversing with others and eventually became free, Alice had the urge to satisfy some of her curiosity.

"Lady Ástriðr Florén," Alice said, greeting the Grand High Priestess, "beg your pardon, but I have a question. I've been thinking about my sister and her curiosity about the Elenathistic faith... and mine too, to be honest. I was wondering... Are there any useful books that you would recommend as study material? I'd like something that I could take back to her."
 
Grand High Priestess Ástriðr was busy conversing with a few of the noble families from Reykholm and the surrounding lands and saw that the young Dorsettian princess was making her way over. She gave a curt nod, "Lords, Ladies, if you'll excuse me." As Princess Alice approached, Ástriðr clasped her hands together in front of her and bowed, "merry meet Alice Dorsett, Princess of Sil Dorsett. I hope you find yourself well this evening", before listening to the question being asked. "Ah, it is rare for foreigners to want to learn about the Elenathistic faith though I hear you are the exception tonight since High Queen Solveig had her aides buy you a vasarya before tonight's event. And we did entertain your sister, Claidie, last year during our Beltane celebration, I fondly remember her being very invested in the proceedings of the whole sabbat and festival. Also, I have a feeling she would love her younger sister bringing her home a vasarya of her own. To answer both you and your sisters curiosity, the most important text that we have in Elenathism is the Lírae of the Divine which is composed of four books: the Teachings of the Elenath which are a collection of religious traditions, practices, rituals and chants; the Lé and Nyarna Edda's which detail and record the history and mythological tales of the Elenath; and the Lirit which are a collection of poems and sayings, originally passed down orally before transitioning into being passed down through the written word, at first using the Sael runic alphabet and at present using the Umbrial alphabet. If you are interested in acquiring a copy, I can let the Grand Temple staff know and they will procure two copies, one for you and one for your sister. As you are not that familiar with Elenathism I will make sure they include a set of notes and observations for you to make sense of what you are reading. However, if you do not want a full copy of the Lírae, we do have an abridged version that gives a very brief overview of the Elenathistic religion and what it means to be a practitioner of the Elenath. Though if you and Claidie really want to learn more about Elenathism, regardless of getting a full or abridged copy of the Lírae, then I highly recommend you pick up a Book of Shadows for yourself and for her. These Books are very personal mementos and act as a gateway to record one's thoughts, feelings and to keep note of any ritual, prayer, chant or saying that might be important to that person. You can generally find them mass produced and sold in bookstores throughout the Kingdom but I'd highly recommend commissioning one of the local artists to create personalized ones which will carry a much deeper and special meaning. If you do pick up your own, let High Priest Rúni or myself know and we can send along a self-dedication ritual for you and Claidie to do as we cannot do it for you, it's a very personal ritual and one that forms a bond between the person, their book and the divine powers of the universe. Alas I find myself rambling, was there anything else you had questions about?"
 
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Tobias took a sip of the drink the elder Tobías had brought.

"It's hard not to get worked up" he said to the older man who shared his name, "it's just too much."
He sighed. There was a Prydanian saying. allir eru dýrlingur í paradís- it meant "everyone is a saint in paradise." William had taught it to him, when he was old enough to ask why others weren't helping them fight the Syndicalists. Good people, well meaning people, can lose sight of the struggles of others if they're insulated enough. Was High King Tobías someone like that? He didn't know, but he couldn't help but remember the phrase.

"I don't know how to explain it" he continued, and he was right. He didn't know how to explain what he was feeling. He'd been through incredible emotional trauma at a young age, and again years later. And again, and again. Parents, family, friends, romantic partners...all lost. He'd never actually dealt with any of it. A warzone is hardly the place to find a psychologist after all. At least one who kept reliable hours.
He was comforted by those he loved that managed to survive, but he'd soldiered on, all while hanging onto all of it.

"Whenever the prospect of coming forward with my feelings seems imminent I just...I choke up. Sometimes I wallow in it. Let it drag me down for hours, or even days, other times I push it out of my mind entirely. I focus on other things and let those thoughts drift away. I just think about who else I've cared for, who have died. It's an overwhelming thought I can't shake..."

He noticed a waiter serving drinks, and he quickly grabbed one. He sipped the champagne flute, before setting it down.
"I'm sorry if I've burdened you with my troubles" he said with a smile, "but in my defence, you did ask."
 
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Alycia clasped her hands in front of her, trying to reign in her nervousness and compose herself and even laughed a little bit. she spoke but her voice was uncertain. "Your Majesty, I have power unlimited over an entire nation. I struggle every day with having this power and trying to steer my nations helm just right, testing my powers while learning when and where I go too far. I have been raised and trained for this my entire life. I am a Soldier, a General, and a Stateswoman. The one thing I have not been able to do is to confess my devotion. I don't know how to. I have had several perfect moments but every time I have come close I have shut down.

Politics be damned as you say, I do not care that he is the Prydanian King, I wouldn't care if he was a peasant. I do not care about the societal norms on Craviter, they are why Craviter is still so unstable. But how do you profess something you have never been given, how can I be sure what I feel is actually love?" Her monologue ended on the same uncertain but now more dour note.
 
Alice listened intently as Ástriðr her question. The more the priestess described the Lírae, the more curious she was about it and the more she wanted to research it. Although the Ástriðr's reply was long, at no point did she feel bored or wish for a more concise answer. She could tell why the Grand High Priestess was the Grand High Priestess; her devotion and willingness to share the faith was apparent.

"It's quite alright," Alice responded. "It's a lot to take in, but I'm happy you took the time to share it. I have to say it sounds fascinating, and I'd like to explore it more. If I know my sister as well as I think I do, she'd be disappointed if didn't bring a full copy of the Lírae back for her. If I could request two full copies of the Lírae to take home, I would appreciate it, and I think Claidie would as well.

"Now, as far as the Book of Shadows is concerned, I think Claidie would appreciate a personalized copy. We'll have to make a return trip together. My sister and I used to be very distant years ago, but I think we've made a lot of progress on mending our wounds. A return for the commissioning and the rituals would give us another chance to bond.

"Anyways, thank you Lady Ástriðr Florén for taking the time to speak to me. If you'll excuse me, I should speak to Her Majesty and thank her for the vasarya she chose for me. It's very lovely, and I'll have to find one for my sister. She'll be so jealous if I don't bring one back for her."

She finished with a small curtsey and went off to speak to the High Queen, smiling the whole way.
 
High Queen Solveig responded once Queen Alycia finished, "uncertainty is a way of life. Love is not something you plan, it is something you fall into, generally headfirst if you are letting fate have its way. You say you are not sure what you feel might not be love... well... the only way you are going to know for sure is to put yourself out there and talk with King Tobias. Tonight is a perfect night to finally confess your devotion, we are all gathered here in this Grand Temple in perfect love and perfect trust in the eyes of the Lady and the Lord. Deep down in your heart, you know what to do and say. You just have to be willing to take that leap of faith into the unknown and put yourself out there." With that the High Queen started to walk over towards her husband who had wandered over to the bar. She looked back over her shoulder, "well come along now. No time like the present to take that leap of faith."

High King Tobías laughed to himself before taking on a somber tone, "yes I did and don't worry about saddling me with your life story. I am familiar with the tragic fate that befell your parents when you were seven years old. It is daunting to come into your own when you are scarred by that kind of tragedy and it can make meaningful relationships difficult to form and maintain. As the Lady and the Lord have taught us however, the past is past... we lean on it for the lessons it can teach us and for the memories it leaves us with but we must live in the present moment. Doing otherwise means you will miss out on the opportunities that life is throwing your way. You must seize every second of your life, savor it, and value the present moment." Indicating the young Queen Alycia, Tobías continued, "and here tonight you have a beautiful, young, and single monarch who has shown interest in you. You can honor and make your parents proud by honoring them tomorrow night at the Feast of Remembrance but here tonight you can do so in another way by possibly finding love and making yourself happy." Seeing his wife walk over, Tobías embraced her and went to kiss her on the cheek but was interrupted by his daughter, "pabbi... come and dance with me!". Before giving his attention to Andrea, Tobías spoke to the two young monarchs, "well your Majesty, your Grace, it looks like tonight is your night if you want it to be. Please excuse me, my daughter demands my wife's and I attention now that she's run her course of playing with the other children here."
 
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Tobias finished his drink and smiled. It would take a bit more than some Merilian liquor to end him. Besides, it didn’t need to. It merely needed to ease his nerves. He needed that. He hadn’t expected the Merilian couple to be so...brash.

He set the glass down, still smiling as the Merilian royal couple departed before looking at Alycia...he breathed easy.
He thought maybe he’d awkwardly apologize on their behalf for their forward behaviour. He thought maybe he’d try and make small talk. There were a million ways to get out of this, really. Perhaps any other night he’d take them. But not tonight.
When he say Alycia? Her beauty overcame him and he lost all hesitation. All the nerves that hamstrung him seemed to vanish. He reached out and took the Norsian queen’s hand.

“Ást sigrar allt, verðum við að gefa” he said softly in Makari.
“It’s a saying in Prydania, won’t you surrender to love with me, and join me in a dance?”
 
Alycia's mind raced on how she should approach Tobias, her time was short and she had to think fast. There were hundreds of ways she could do this and with each step she grew more and more nervous.

She reached Tobias and she was out of time, as she was about to say something Toby took her hand. Her nerves calmed down and she smiled wide as her mind replayed Tobias' confession over and over again, it didn't take her more than a second to take his other hand too.

"Ég elska þig líka, ég hef um stund." She said with an elated tone in her voice and a mitigated Norsi accent.
She started to pull him towards a more open section of the room. "I would love to dance!"
 
Once Crown Princess Andrea had gotten her parents attention, she got them both to come and dance with her in the Hall of Sirya where the temple staff had cleared away the chairs of not only that hall but that of the other three halls as well. This created multiple wide open spaces for everyone to mingle in outside the temple's grand entrance hall. There were already some couples dancing to the folk tunes that the singers, drummers, harpists, and lute players were performing but when the Royal Family began to dance, everyone paused what they were doing, turned towards them, and bowed in respect. Soon after, more and more began to join in dancing and to the surprise of many, King Tobias was dancing with Queen Alycia.

Grand High Priest Rúni was leaning against the doorway into the Hall of Sirya when Grand High Priestess Ástriðr walked up and laid her head on his shoulder, "the Lord and Lady would be proud tonight my dear... everyone is merry and enjoying the music and it looks like King Tobias and Queen Alycia finally got over the hurdle of their own internal dispute, they both look radiant in their youthfulness." Rúni sighed and wrapped his arm around Ástriðr, "their inner light truly is shining bright tonight. As is yours, but you always look resplendent to me. I'm pleased that we were able to host a few foreigners for this Samhain celebration, it isn't often that we open up our rituals and ceremonies to outsiders. Though they don't follow the tenants of Elenathism, I'm sure their ancestors are smiling down upon them for stepping out of their comfort zone and experiencing something that is unique and probably quite foreign to what they know and are comfortable with. Speaking of, I heard that Princess Alice was inquiring about the Elenathistic faith. How did that go?" As Ástriðr recounted her talk with Princess Alice, more continued to be swayed onto the dance floor by their significant others and soon there was a subtle energy of positivity and hopefulness that could be felt throughout the entrance hall and ritual halls. This energy continued to rise and fall as people danced and chatted late into the night though eventually people did start to leave the Grand Temple and head home to rest and prepare for the Feast of Remembrance the next day.
 
Tobias had never heard Alycia speak Makari. He had always defaulted to Mercanti first, out of respect. His heart leapt, nearly out of his chest, as she not only returned his proclamation, but did it in his own language.

He felt nervous of course, but he felt a weightlessness. An absence of fear or uncertainty. He even felt cooler...as if the mild irritation that came with this ceremonial uniform were just...gone. For the moment, at least, he knew bliss. His nerves returned for a brief moment as he began to lead, but they vanished into him again, like breath on a mirror, as he found his footing and moved to the slow music with Alycia.

"Sorry I took my sweet time" he said with soft smile, poking fun at his own overt cautiousness.
 
After speaking at length with the various nobles, locals, and foreign monarchs, High Queen Sólveig and her family had retired for the evening. The next day, she spent the morning and afternoon before the Feast of Remembrance with her husband and daughter at the Relarí Beach Boardwalk. The visiting foreign monarchs had either chosen to relax at the hotel or spend the day exploring the Old City of Relarí and its myriad of shops for mementos of their time in the Most Serene Kingdom of Merilia. As the evening drew close, everyone gathered once more at the Grand Temple where Grand High Priestess Ástriðr waited for everyone to congregate in the Hall of Sirya for the annual Feast of Remembrance. Grand High Priest Rúni meanwhile was coordinating with the Temple staff in the Hall of Hall of Vilya, the Hall of Arina, and the Hall of Calina. Once everyone was gathered and Grand High Priest Rúni had come to stand by her side, Grand High Priestess Ástriðr started to speak,

“Hail and welcome! As you join us for this annual feast of remembrance, please note that the seats here at the head of the table shall remain empty though they will have a table setting in honor of the ancestors and loved ones who cannot join us this night. Staff will be coming around shortly to pour everyone a glass of mulled wine. You will also be presented with a sprig of rosemary and three ribbons, one white, one black, and one red and I ask that for now you hold onto all the items and not lose them. With that said, let us begin.

“Samhain is here, and it is a time of transitions.
The winter season approaches, and the summer season dies.
This is the time of the Crone, a time of death and of dying.
This is the night of our ancestors, our loved ones and of the Ancient Ones.”

As Grand High Priestess Ástriðr finished speaking, Grand High Priest Rúni picked up the sprig of rosemary and took over.
“Earlier this evening as you all entered the Hall of Sirya to join us this night for the Feast of Remembrance, you were handed a sprig of rosemary. I ask you now to pick up your sprig and hold it close to your heart. The rosemary you hold is for remembrance, and tonight, we remember those who have lived and died before us, those who have crossed through the veil and those who are no longer with us. We will remember you all.

[Turning to face the West]
The West is a place of underground rivers, and the sea is a never-ending, rolling tide.
Guardians and Spirits of Water, we have welcomed you, knowing you will carry us through the ebbs and flows of our life.

[Turning to face the North]
The north is a place of cold, and the earth is silent and dark.
Guardians and Spirits of Earth, we have welcomed you, knowing you will envelope us in death.

[Turning to face the East]
The east is a land of new beginnings, the place where breath begins.
Guardians and Spirits of Air, we have welcomed you, knowing you will be with us as we depart life.

[Turning to face the South]
The south is a land of sunlight and fire, and your flames guide us through the cycles of life.
Guardians and Spirits of Fire, we have welcomed you, knowing you will transform us in death.

[Turning to face the crowd once more]
The Wheel of the Year turns once more, and we cycle into darkness and away from light.
And yet at the end of that darkness comes light. And when it arrives, we will celebrate once more.

So, mote it be and blessed be! I now invite High Queen Sólveig to come up and speak as she will be leading the next portion of this feast. As she makes her way forward, I ask that you pick up the three ribbons given to you earlier this night.”

As High Queen Sólveig makes her way to the front of the room, she brings with her, her three ribbons along with a súlo handed to her by Grand High Priestess Ástriðr.
“Once more, welcome one and all, I know you are all probably hungry, but I promise you the feast is coming quite soon and is well worth the wait. The staff have been hard at work today preparing a grand meal of local meat and fish dishes that you are all sure to enjoy. Now the ribbons you were given when you came in, they celebrate the cycles of life, White for life, Black for death and Red for rebirth. We bind these strands together this night, remembering those we have lost from our lives.

[Note: At this point during the Feast, everyone present is following along with High Queen Sólveig in binding the three strands together as a memento.]

This is the night when the gateway between our world and the spirit world are thinnest.
Tonight, is a night to call out those who came before us.
Tonight, we honor our ancestors and our loved ones.
Spirits of our ancestors and loved ones, we call to you, and we welcome you to join us for this night.
We know you watch over us always, protecting us and guiding us, and tonight, we thank you.
We invite you to join us and share our meal.”

After binding her three strands together, High Queen Sólveig drapes them around her neck while picking up the ceremonial súlo she had been handed.

“This is the cup of remembrance. Ancestors and loved one, we remember all of you.
You are no longer with us in life, but you are never forgotten by those you loved, and you live on within them. Blessed be.

I am Sólveig, daughter of Helena and Alexander, granddaughter of Isabel and Gabriel, and tonight, I honor my grandparents who are no longer with me in life but have shaped me into the woman I am today. I have brought with me their photo this night and I am honored that my mother, Helena, the former High Queen, and my father, Alexander, the former High King, are in attendance this evening. Growing up my grandparents always pushed me towards bettering myself, be it physically or mentally, and this drive led my parents to hiring a fencing coach to train me in the art of sword fighting. As many of you here know, that coach was none other than Tobías Alar Lindstrom, my husband and the current High King of Merilia. I am very thankful to not only my grandparents but to the Lady and the Lord for setting me on the right path towards happiness. Now, I ask that every person present take the súlo when it is passed to them and present who they are, their lineage, and who they are honoring here tonight.”

As the súlo was passed around, people began to speak up,
“I am Ástriðr, daughter of Elísabeth and Andri and a daughter of the Lady and the Lord. I am here today not only leading the Samhain Celebration and the Feast of Remembrance but also in remembrance of my parents who would be proud of where their daughter has made it to today.”
“I am Rúni, son of Mikael and Kristín and a son of the Lord and the Lady. I stand here today to not only watch over the proceedings of Samhain but to remember my parents. They never took anything for granted and taught me to always work towards my dream, even when there were many obstacles in my path.”
“I am Jóhann, son of Aron and Sara, and the current Duke of Reykholm. Tonight, I honor my parents who have retired and passed the mantle ship of Duke and Head of Household to me.”
“I am Viktoria, daughter of Lára and Erik, and the current Duchess of Reykholm. Along with my husband, I honor my parents, hardworking folk and owners of a local bookshop here in Relarí.”

On and on the súlo moved with each person stating who they were honoring with some adding little tidbits of personal information or a life story and eventually it reached the foreign monarchs who were informed earlier that day what was required of them.”
 
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“I am Tobias, son of Robert and Hannah, Prince and Princess of Prydania, and a son of the Lord and the Lady. I stand here to...” he breathed deep for a moment.
“I’m here to celebrate the ceremony of Samhain with our people’s distant kin and to remember my parents.”

He choked up as he took another breath, whimpering a bit. He tried to remember his parents, but every memory triggered that thing he saw...so many years ago when he snuck out of the room Axel had put him in, snuck into the room where William had watched the executions...where he had watched the executions. His uncles, aunts, cousins...and his parents. Shot dead. The shock so much that he, at the age of seven, couldn’t understand what he was watching..

Tears ran down his cheeks despite his best efforts to stop them, opening his eyes with his heart racing.

“They loved me. And they gave everything for me. I think of them, every day. Wondering what they’d think of the man I became. Wondering what they’d say to me...”

He looked up, his eyes red, and looked down at the braids he’d been working on.
“I’m here to honour them, and remember them for what they did for me. And to try and move on from how they died.”
 
Alycia shifts closer to Tobias and wraps him in a comforting hug completely ignoring her status and the fact she is in front of everyone. "it's okay... I am Alycia, Daughter of Elli and Jean, I stand here to remember and honor my ancestors even though I hold no personal memory of them and to celebrate the Samhain festival with distant friends."

Alycia remembered that the only real family she had any attachment to were her distant sister and her adopted family, Colart and Pashek, and Auntie Saskie. all still alive thankfully. Alycia hadn't seen Emilia since they were small kids. Alycia knew about the supposed curse Emilia had but she never cared. for her early childhood, Emilia was her only friend.

"I would like to think I make my ancestors proud, my Great grandmothers Heras, my great Grandfathers, I hope I do them honor and make them smile, bringing Norsia back to the way they envisioned, united and prosperous."
 
Seeing Tobias and Alycia so close to each other made Alice reflect on what she had thrown away at the start of the year, following the seemingly poor advice of her Prime Minister. What she gave up, Alycia now had. It made her think about how her father had tried to groom her to be a companion to a nobleman or royal, perfect in etiquette and demeanor. Now, she had forgotten it all; her sister had shown her a different path.

But then Alice recalled the other aspect of her father's teachings, the ones relating to wisdom and confidence, which prepared her for the possibility of ascending to the throne. Recalling her early antics after her sister's ascension, she realized she had ignored those lessons at first. However, now being in a position where her father's words were relevant made it all become clear.

That was the redemption for her father that Alice was seeking. Though he was controversial in his rule, he still managed to lay the foundation for his daughters to build on. After looking one more time at her album, turned to a picture of the full family, she spoke confidently to honor her father in the one way she knew she could.

"I am Alice, daughter of Liliane and Stéphane. I stand here to honor my father, who is no longer with us, for it is because of the knowledge he instilled in me through my childhood that I was prepared when called upon to watch over and serve my country. And now having spent time here to reflect on his life and what he has given me, I now know what I need to do to honor his memory by being a better servant for my people."
 
The súlo soon came into the hands of King Tobias of Prydania. The hushed whispers of the room died down with everyone turning to give their full attention to the foreign heads of state and government that were present and participating in a ceremony that was almost completely unknown to them. As King Tobias started to tear up as he spoke of his parents which prompted Queen Alycia to give him a hug, many of the nobles began to silently whisper blessings of peace and happiness for the two young royals. After King Tobias finished his heartfelt statement, the súlo passed on to Queen Alycia and Princess Alice who each made their own statements about who they were honoring.

Grand High Priest Rúni was leaning against the doorway into the Hall of Sirya when Grand High Priestess Ástriðr walked up and laid her head on his shoulder, "the Lady and the Lord would be proud tonight my dear... everyone is merry and enjoying the music and it looks like King Tobias and Queen Alycia finally got over the hurdle of their own internal dispute, they both look radiant in their youthfulness." Rúni sighed and wrapped his arm around Ástriðr, "their inner light truly is shining bright tonight. As is yours, but you always look resplendent to me. I'm pleased that we were able to host a few foreigners for this Samhain celebration, it isn't often that we open our rituals and ceremonies to outsiders. Though they don't follow the tenants of Elenathism, I'm sure their ancestors are smiling down upon them for stepping out of their comfort zone and experiencing something that is unique and probably quite foreign to what they know and are comfortable with. Speaking of, I heard that Princess Alice was inquiring about the Elenathistic faith. How did that go?" As Ástriðr recounted her talk with Princess Alice, Rúni watched as the súlo slowly but surely made its way to his place at the table. “Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat more, I really must wrap up the ceremony so everyone can start eating and enjoy the music and dancing.” With that, he kissed his wife and walked back over to his spot at the table just in time for the súlo to reach him. Taking it in hand, he held it up, “to all the ancestors and loved ones mentioned tonight, blessed be and merry shall we meet and part. To all those present, thank you for sharing your stories and I bid you to enjoy the feast that the Grand Temple has prepared for you. As the food was served, conversations began in earnest though soon many were pulled onto the dance floor by their significant other. With more and more people being swayed onto the dance floor, a subtle energy of positivity and hopefulness could be felt throughout the ritual hall and this energy continued to rise and fall as people ate, danced, and chatted late into the night.

With the hour growing late and Crown Princess Andrea falling asleep, High Queen Solveig bid goodnight to her husband and to King Tobias, Queen Alycia, and Princess Alice before retiring to her hotel room. After saying goodnight to his wife, High King Tobías continued his chat with Duke Jóhann and Duchess Viktoria about the state of affairs in the City of Reykholm. Soon however a messenger arrived, “pardon the interruption your majesty but I have a letter here from Dame Helvig and High Priestess Kari.” Taking the letters, he thanked the messenger and then began to read after excusing himself from the conversation he had been engaged in,

“Your Serene Highness, I wish to extend an invitation to King Tobias of Prydania and Queen Alycia of Norsia to come and meet with myself and the other Chancellors before they depart and head home following the end of the Samhain celebration. While the Kingdom has provided significant humanitarian aid and relief to both nations, Sir Mathison and Dame Sigurd wish to inquire with them directly on the state of affairs in their nation. All three of us want to ensure that Prydania and Norsia can rebuild and become fully functional democracies that can stand proud on the world stage and not be marred by the mistakes of the past. While it would be beneficial to meet with both, if one or the other or both cannot attend, we understand and will reach out to them via diplomatic channels through our embassies. Bright blessings upon you and yours, -Dame Katarina Helvig”​

“Your Majesty, I had received word from Grand High Priest Rúni Grand High Priestess Ástriðr that Princess Alice Dorsett was interested in learning more about the Elenathistic faith. While I’m sure she’s had an enlightening experience learning all that she can from the Grand Temple and their staff, I and the others at the Reykholm Temple wish to invite her to spend a few days with us in a more personal and intimate setting. We’ll be more than delighted to help her buy a vasarya for her sister, Princess Claidie, as well as any other books or souvenirs that she wants to purchase before heading home. Let her know that she and her sister are always welcome at the Temple and we look forward to seeing them. Blessings of the Lady and Lord upon you this Samhain, High Priestess Kari”​
 
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