War is comming. Must find appropriate prep music.
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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With the focus they had put on each other, neither Fendros nor Ahnasha had noticed the period of applause that had welled up from their small group of guests. Fendros did not even give it much attention after their kiss, instead returning Ahnasha's smile with a wide grin and loosening his hold on her just enough to see her face. She really did look beautiful in this light. Now she was his wife, and he her husband. It felt like it had always been this way but now he was made aware of it. He could not be happier.
"I would like to thank the friends and family of the new couple for attending today," the priest spoke over Fendros and Ahnasha with a soft smile. "I present to you all, Fendros and Ahnasha, two souls made into one."
The applause renewed for a short while. Fendros ran his hand to hold Ahnasha's fingers, sans the one severed years ago. In his peripheral vision, he could see Llarasa, Monderyn, and his mother Calia clapping with smiles on their faces. In turn, he could see the pack providing similar expressions. Even Rhazii clapped, though he did not likely understand the meaning of the ceremony as much as the rest of them.
"Now, given my previous words with the couple, all guests may remain in the temple into the late afternoon," the priest explained with his sermon tone restrained. "I will be available in the study behind the altar to Boethia if there are any matters that require my attention, but until then, I shall leave the wedding procession to its own devices. Congratulations, Fendros, Ahnasha. May your love outlive you both."
With that, the priest stepped away, leaving the brazier softly glowing behind him.
Fendros barely perceived the shuffling of feet from the pews nearby. He rubbed his thumb over Ahnasha's hand, feeling the remaining powdery ash in her fur. "Hello, dear wife," he murmured to her as if it was his first greeting of the day.
On the pews, Sabine had not stood up yet. She was sitting in a hunch with her hair covering the sides of her face. A sniff from her made Meesei next to her realise that she may have been trying to hide some emotion during the ceremony.
Janius slid one arm around Kaleeth-rei's shoulder after they stood up, giving her a smile. "I admit, I was expecting something far drier. That was a nice ceremony, don't you think?" To give Kaleeth a break, Janius stooped down and picked up newt to hold in his arms.
Meanwhile, Fendros' family had stood up and was just about queuing up to see Fendros and Ahnasha. Calia, matronly as she was, had the head of the queue with no one guiding her this time. Though her posture and gait was as commanding as ever, her small smile made her less intimidating. "Congratulations, son." She angled her head to Ahnasha. "And welcome to our family, my new daughter-in-law."
"I would like to thank the friends and family of the new couple for attending today," the priest spoke over Fendros and Ahnasha with a soft smile. "I present to you all, Fendros and Ahnasha, two souls made into one."
The applause renewed for a short while. Fendros ran his hand to hold Ahnasha's fingers, sans the one severed years ago. In his peripheral vision, he could see Llarasa, Monderyn, and his mother Calia clapping with smiles on their faces. In turn, he could see the pack providing similar expressions. Even Rhazii clapped, though he did not likely understand the meaning of the ceremony as much as the rest of them.
"Now, given my previous words with the couple, all guests may remain in the temple into the late afternoon," the priest explained with his sermon tone restrained. "I will be available in the study behind the altar to Boethia if there are any matters that require my attention, but until then, I shall leave the wedding procession to its own devices. Congratulations, Fendros, Ahnasha. May your love outlive you both."
With that, the priest stepped away, leaving the brazier softly glowing behind him.
Fendros barely perceived the shuffling of feet from the pews nearby. He rubbed his thumb over Ahnasha's hand, feeling the remaining powdery ash in her fur. "Hello, dear wife," he murmured to her as if it was his first greeting of the day.
On the pews, Sabine had not stood up yet. She was sitting in a hunch with her hair covering the sides of her face. A sniff from her made Meesei next to her realise that she may have been trying to hide some emotion during the ceremony.
Janius slid one arm around Kaleeth-rei's shoulder after they stood up, giving her a smile. "I admit, I was expecting something far drier. That was a nice ceremony, don't you think?" To give Kaleeth a break, Janius stooped down and picked up newt to hold in his arms.
Meanwhile, Fendros' family had stood up and was just about queuing up to see Fendros and Ahnasha. Calia, matronly as she was, had the head of the queue with no one guiding her this time. Though her posture and gait was as commanding as ever, her small smile made her less intimidating. "Congratulations, son." She angled her head to Ahnasha. "And welcome to our family, my new daughter-in-law."
@Muttonhawk Who created that Hain header for you? I want one for my dragon stories as well :"/
I took some Magic: the Gathering artwork I knew of and whacked it around in GIMP until I got roughly what I wanted. The font is the same as what is used for the Dark Crystal movie (technically someone made the font after the movie, using the logo as inspiration, but whatever).
The good thing for you is that there is FAR more artwork of dragons out there than things that look like stylised hain, so all you'd need to do is find one and either make the header yourself or ask one of us nicely to bodge it together for you.
With locked eyes as they had, the heat of the coals was further placed than the back of Fendros' mind in that moment. In the past, Ahnasha and Fendros had spent many silent periods laying side-by-side and just staring into one another's eyes, but it had never been with this much intimacy before. The oath they had taken may have just put them into a temporary hypnotic focus, some rational parts of their minds might have thought, but there was the hint that their connection was now forged by powers greater than themselves. Fendros, too, felt that he was closer to Ahnasha than he had been in all his immediate memory.
"All have born witness to this moment, where two souls are united," the priest continued. "Release the ashes, come together, and you shall embrace as husband and wife."
Fendros loosened his grip enough to let go of the ashes in their hands. With consciously restrained haste, he stepped halfway around the brazier to meet Ahnasha in an embrace and kiss to seal their marriage. He had no intention of holding back the love he felt, even if they might be pressed together too tightly to breathe.
"All have born witness to this moment, where two souls are united," the priest continued. "Release the ashes, come together, and you shall embrace as husband and wife."
Fendros loosened his grip enough to let go of the ashes in their hands. With consciously restrained haste, he stepped halfway around the brazier to meet Ahnasha in an embrace and kiss to seal their marriage. He had no intention of holding back the love he felt, even if they might be pressed together too tightly to breathe.
G'night!
For the sake of brevity, you can play out the priest reciting the words for Ahnasha. I don't think trading tiny posts like that has much of a point for this.
The priest smiled. "Then we, the reclamations, and all else present will witness your joining."
With his bare hands, the priest scooped up some of the fine ashes and poured them from the side of his closed fists into Ahnasha and Fendros' palms. Even through the fire shield, Ahnasha could feel its heat. "The fires of our lives turn to ash, through ash we let life thrive. Let the ash of your ancestors mingle to join your lives." The priest gestured towards the centre with his flat hands. "Join hands."
Fendros gave Ahnasha a reassuring smile, before reaching and turning his fingers over Ahnasha's hands. The piles of hot ash in their palms mixed, with excess falling back into the brazier. Their hands were now directly above the hottest part of the remaining coals.
"Fendros Avarul?" The priest said. "Repeat these words. Azura's light revealed you to me...
"Azura's light revealed you to me," Fendros stared into Ahnasha's eyes as he spoke.
"Mephala's webs spun us together..."
"Mephala's webs spun us together."
"Boethiah's sword cuts us free..."
"Boethiah's sword cuts us free."
"But not fire, nor frost,"
"But not fire, nor frost."
"Nor disease, nor famine,"
"Nor disease, nor famine."
"Blood, oblivion, nor hardship and power shall force our souls asunder."
"Blood, oblivion, nor hardship and power shall force our souls asunder."
"As long as I live, Ahnasha, Daughter of Gwindir,"
"As long as I live, Ahnasha, Daughter of Gwindir."
"You are as I would care for my own soul,"
"You are as I would care for my own soul."
"This I swear, for all my ancestors to hear,"
"This I swear, for all my ancestors to hear."
"And the reclaimed tribunal that guides me, blessed they be,"
"And the reclaimed tribunal that guides me, blessed they be."
As unforgettable as the words were, Fendros was grateful for the priest's recital to help him remember.
The priest turned his attention to Ahnasha. "Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir, repeat these words..."
With his bare hands, the priest scooped up some of the fine ashes and poured them from the side of his closed fists into Ahnasha and Fendros' palms. Even through the fire shield, Ahnasha could feel its heat. "The fires of our lives turn to ash, through ash we let life thrive. Let the ash of your ancestors mingle to join your lives." The priest gestured towards the centre with his flat hands. "Join hands."
Fendros gave Ahnasha a reassuring smile, before reaching and turning his fingers over Ahnasha's hands. The piles of hot ash in their palms mixed, with excess falling back into the brazier. Their hands were now directly above the hottest part of the remaining coals.
"Fendros Avarul?" The priest said. "Repeat these words. Azura's light revealed you to me...
"Azura's light revealed you to me," Fendros stared into Ahnasha's eyes as he spoke.
"Mephala's webs spun us together..."
"Mephala's webs spun us together."
"Boethiah's sword cuts us free..."
"Boethiah's sword cuts us free."
"But not fire, nor frost,"
"But not fire, nor frost."
"Nor disease, nor famine,"
"Nor disease, nor famine."
"Blood, oblivion, nor hardship and power shall force our souls asunder."
"Blood, oblivion, nor hardship and power shall force our souls asunder."
"As long as I live, Ahnasha, Daughter of Gwindir,"
"As long as I live, Ahnasha, Daughter of Gwindir."
"You are as I would care for my own soul,"
"You are as I would care for my own soul."
"This I swear, for all my ancestors to hear,"
"This I swear, for all my ancestors to hear."
"And the reclaimed tribunal that guides me, blessed they be,"
"And the reclaimed tribunal that guides me, blessed they be."
As unforgettable as the words were, Fendros was grateful for the priest's recital to help him remember.
The priest turned his attention to Ahnasha. "Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir, repeat these words..."
That makes sense, I guess. I changed the explanation, but I'll edit it in like that instead.
Edit: Done. I'll ask you if there are any other details like that. I'm honestly making up this ceremony without too much thought ahead. I don't think there are any sources on Dunmer marriage in the lore.
Edit: Done. I'll ask you if there are any other details like that. I'm honestly making up this ceremony without too much thought ahead. I don't think there are any sources on Dunmer marriage in the lore.
Fair enough, I just made guesses and assumptions there. I wasn't sure if Ahnasha had been given a surname or not.
I think I'll edit that bit to possibly make more sense.
I think I'll edit that bit to possibly make more sense.
The motions to take seats and begin spread swiftly amongst the guests. Fendros' family seated themselves on the front pew on the left, alongside the pack. Rhazii, Sabine, and Gallus sat with the pack as well, Rhazii trying to slot in next to Newt and Kaleeth.
What proceeded was a few more minutes where some discussions sprung up. Despite the priest's signal, he spent a few minutes turning the coals of a brazier in front of him until it formed a fine ash. The smell of the burning wood actually reminded many in the pack of their campsite, making the scene oddly familiar. Ahnasha and Fendros stood opposite one another, either side of the softly smoking brazier, silently waiting for proceedings to begin.
When the priest was finally satisfied, only a small amount of glowing coals remained amongst the white dusty ash. He spoke softly, the temple carrying his voice only as far as it needed to with the few guests present.
"The union of two souls in harmony has been as sacred and ancient a tradition as any amongst the Dunmer. The words that we speak and the oaths that are taken are often attributed exclusively to us elves of Morrowind. The fire and ash..." The priest leaned down and scooped up a handful of the still hot and powdery ash and let it fall in a settling cloud back into the brazier. "Dunmer, indeed, have a proud history and culture. The reverence of our ancestors, the mission of our houses to better themselves. Marriage, ostensibly, is all in their service. However, in my many years of life in Cheydinhal and around Tamriel, I have witnessed the greatness of all souls. With my very eyes, I witnessed Mehrunes Dagon opened up portals to Oblivion and threatened all of Nirn. I witnessed all worthy souls push him back. It was not even known whether the hero of Kvatch, the champion who found Septim's heir and brought Dagon's invasion to a halt, was even a Dunmer himself. Nay, neither the Nerevarine of years behind the Oblivion crisis had such a determined nature, in spite of his or her presence in Vvardenfell at the relevant time."
His tone shifted to a less epic note. "But what are we in that situation? What are we to our reclamations? To Azura, Mephala, Boethia, blessed they be? Our souls stand in the same light in eternity, regardless of what their original circumstances landed them in. We are souls of a kind. Mortal and alone. In this, souls of a nature other than Dunmer may even thrive amongst us. Some may even find affection, intimacy, sacrifice." He spread his arms. "And that is why, against conventional tradition, I stand in favour of uniting these two souls in the eyes of our patrons. For, what is the tradition of marriage, if not to unite us lonely souls against eternity?" He lowered his arms and nodded to the couple in front of him. "Fendros Avarul, Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir. You shall be united."
The priest gestured with one hand. "Fendros," the priest began, "You stand, descended of the Avarul clan, to unite into your life and home, Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir's clan. Does this arrangement serve your clan and will, here and into the rest of your time in Mundus?"
"Yes," Fendros affirmed with a slightly nervous nod.
"Step forward and bring forth your hands."
Fendros did as he was told, stepping up to the edge of the brazier and extending both his open hands upwards over the dying flame beneath. The heat was not a bother for him, but Ahnasha would require the potion to withstand it and the rest of the ceremony.
"Ahnasha, you stand, daughter of Gwindir's clan, to unite into your life and home, Fendros of the Avarul clan. Does this arrangement serve your clan and will, here and into the rest of your time in Mundus?"
These opening statements were described by the priest previously as 'clerical' more than anything. The true oaths would be recited once they joined hands over the flame.
What proceeded was a few more minutes where some discussions sprung up. Despite the priest's signal, he spent a few minutes turning the coals of a brazier in front of him until it formed a fine ash. The smell of the burning wood actually reminded many in the pack of their campsite, making the scene oddly familiar. Ahnasha and Fendros stood opposite one another, either side of the softly smoking brazier, silently waiting for proceedings to begin.
When the priest was finally satisfied, only a small amount of glowing coals remained amongst the white dusty ash. He spoke softly, the temple carrying his voice only as far as it needed to with the few guests present.
"The union of two souls in harmony has been as sacred and ancient a tradition as any amongst the Dunmer. The words that we speak and the oaths that are taken are often attributed exclusively to us elves of Morrowind. The fire and ash..." The priest leaned down and scooped up a handful of the still hot and powdery ash and let it fall in a settling cloud back into the brazier. "Dunmer, indeed, have a proud history and culture. The reverence of our ancestors, the mission of our houses to better themselves. Marriage, ostensibly, is all in their service. However, in my many years of life in Cheydinhal and around Tamriel, I have witnessed the greatness of all souls. With my very eyes, I witnessed Mehrunes Dagon opened up portals to Oblivion and threatened all of Nirn. I witnessed all worthy souls push him back. It was not even known whether the hero of Kvatch, the champion who found Septim's heir and brought Dagon's invasion to a halt, was even a Dunmer himself. Nay, neither the Nerevarine of years behind the Oblivion crisis had such a determined nature, in spite of his or her presence in Vvardenfell at the relevant time."
His tone shifted to a less epic note. "But what are we in that situation? What are we to our reclamations? To Azura, Mephala, Boethia, blessed they be? Our souls stand in the same light in eternity, regardless of what their original circumstances landed them in. We are souls of a kind. Mortal and alone. In this, souls of a nature other than Dunmer may even thrive amongst us. Some may even find affection, intimacy, sacrifice." He spread his arms. "And that is why, against conventional tradition, I stand in favour of uniting these two souls in the eyes of our patrons. For, what is the tradition of marriage, if not to unite us lonely souls against eternity?" He lowered his arms and nodded to the couple in front of him. "Fendros Avarul, Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir. You shall be united."
The priest gestured with one hand. "Fendros," the priest began, "You stand, descended of the Avarul clan, to unite into your life and home, Ahnasha, daughter of Gwindir's clan. Does this arrangement serve your clan and will, here and into the rest of your time in Mundus?"
"Yes," Fendros affirmed with a slightly nervous nod.
"Step forward and bring forth your hands."
Fendros did as he was told, stepping up to the edge of the brazier and extending both his open hands upwards over the dying flame beneath. The heat was not a bother for him, but Ahnasha would require the potion to withstand it and the rest of the ceremony.
"Ahnasha, you stand, daughter of Gwindir's clan, to unite into your life and home, Fendros of the Avarul clan. Does this arrangement serve your clan and will, here and into the rest of your time in Mundus?"
These opening statements were described by the priest previously as 'clerical' more than anything. The true oaths would be recited once they joined hands over the flame.
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