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Action Id: 2726 Crisis: Participants: Jaenelle, Calista, Talen, Sudara, Eleyna, Mydas(RIP) and Jeffeth
Status: Resolved Submitted: Nov. 20, 2018, 1:15 p.m. Public: True GM: Puffin


Action by Jaenelle

Thirteen lit candles with thirteen objects before each surround Jaenelle as she kneels on the floor. Completely at peace, yes closed with a soft smile, she meditates before the ritual begins.

Her eyes open, and she begins, "it took me a long time to search within myself and those around me to find what I desire most for the world. In the end, I thought of my child and what I wish for them, as they will inherit not only what I wish but what we all in turn wish for. I can only hope what we've left for them is better than what we've been given."

"Love," Jaenelle states the first word, reaching for the scroll associated with it. On the paper are the vows she wrote for her wedding to Mydas. "Love for yourself. Those you surround yourself with. Those you have not met yet."

"Understanding," comes next, and burned at the second candle is a building blueprint for the Nox'alfar Embassy. "Sometimes you may not understand every action done by another, every reaction, but it is important to try."

"Traditions," a small wooden Thraxian toy ship is brought to it's candle, "and the power to embrace change when the tides do."

"Passion," a quill is held over the flame, ink mingling with the melted wax. "Whether the passions of the imagination, the arts, adventure, or personal advancement, each person should always follow what they are passionate about."

"Compassion." A piece of paper, clearly a copy of a page of an official document with names listed down the page. "These names are a handful of the refugees which came to Arx from Stormward. It is important to have compassion for those in need, for you never know when it will be you who requires aide next."

"Patience," a silk rose is burned in the tenth candle. "Patience, reasoning, logic. These are not a weakness when it comes to considering important decisions."

"Security," a chip of a boulder and the crushed dust of the rock is brought above the candle, the flame flickering, "this is a piece of the walls surrounding Arx that I took when parts of it were destroyed and rebuilt. May Arx's wall and those defending the city remain steadfast and strong."

"Loyalty," a ribbon of purple silk embroidered with a fox, "a favor I had made. Loyalty is a two way street, without showing it to others you can never expect it to be shown to you."

"Fortitude," a piece of leather. "This came from the grip of a sword won by Talen during the They Shall Rise competition. We shall always rise above pain or adversity."

"Honesty, and the ability to find you are free to be without judgement," Jaenelle says, and with this she burns a silken veil of green.

"Generosity," a key is placed within the appropriate flame, "the bedroom I lived in when I first became a Velenosa was the Generosity room. It was more than a simple name, but a virtue I embrace with every interaction whether that be stranger or friend."

"Freedom," another scroll, rolled up and burnt. This one a marriage contract, though nothing beyond that can be seen. "Freedom can mean many things to many people. From the Thralls of Thrax, the slaves within other Kingdoms, to the less extreme, freedom is needed by all."

"Prosperity, like the others can mean more than one thing to more than one person," she lifts the final object to the final flame, a handful of leaves pulled from the creeping vines found on the Velenosa grounds. "Comfort. Growth. Innovation. The ability to move forward."


Action by Mydas(RIP)

Mydas is present, a silent figure as he watches his wife's ritual, listening, watching, and more importantly, remembering. Witness to Jaenelle's ritual.


Action by Jeffeth

HOLY MACKEREL WE'RE LEARNING MAGIC. Jeffeth is definitely calm. HE'S CALM. He definitely is not hyperventilating or making a scene. That is not happening. It might be happening a little. Jeffeth is FOCUSED like no other. Probably too focused, drawing pictures of exactly how Jaenelle's standing, what she's wearing, when she pauses to take a breath. Someone should probably let him know that he doesn't have to wear the same dress Jaenelle is wearing. Jeffeth is so hype, but he's also trying to be a very good student. It's probably like watching a hyper-energetic golden retriever puppy in its first week of obedience training. Trying so hard, but... MAGIC!!! Also. Everyone here gets a hug. Jaenelle probably gets ten.


Action by Eleyna

Like her brother, Eleyna watches and listens carefully, her pale blue eyes riveted on Jaenelle as she goes through the steps of the ritual.


Action by Talen

Talen's presence is one that's abnormally silent for the majority of that ritual. There might be even one of those rare smiles when Jaenelle mentions the sword he gave her after the competition he fought years ago. He's there physically, in spirit, or whatever-- in support. Witnessing that offering, that ritual, as it was meant to be.


Action by Calista

Calista is present to observe Jaenelle's ritual. She watches quietly and becomes still like a placid lake. Each step committed to memory.


Action by Sudara

Sudara is observing with the kind of quiet intensity that suggests she is also doing her best to commit the whole thing to memory, though her expression is gentle - almost yearning.


Result

It all starts so well. People gather, some quietly, others with barely-contained excitement (looking at you, Jeffeth). But they settle quickly, calmed by the assurance Jaenelle brings to the moment. She is at peace, and that peace fills the room as she softly begins. In the thirteenth hour, on the thirteenth day, she casts her ritual to cleanse the primum and she begins with words of hope.

"I can only hope what we've left for them is better than what we've been given."

She starts with love, offering a page of her wedding vows. But in counterpoint, a man's voice whispers, "We stood witness, though you saw us not."

Understanding, and now a woman's voice whispers. "Forgive us. We could not stay."

Traditions, and there is a harsh voice, rough and scarred that adds, "Set your sights on the horizon, sail where you will. Tears in our wake, never at our wake."

And so it goes. Each emotion she mentions, and a soft voice whispers a counter, though no one in the room with them speaks save for Jaenelle herself. Until the end of the ritual, and then suddenly everyone in the room is filled with that same peace Jaenelle exudes. That same sense of self, the poise and the calm and the purpose. Even Jeffeth settles now, and as the ritual finishes, they all breathe a little lighter now. And that serenity stays with them, and takes several days to fade.