The Ceremonies and Holiday of the Blood
Feb 28, 2018 0:42:23 GMT -5
Post by wιтcн on Feb 28, 2018 0:42:23 GMT -5
The Holiday
The most focused holiday of the Blood is Winsol. It's the celebration of the winter solstice, wherein they "dance for the glory of Witch". The Blood have, theoretically, always honored Witch and the power she can bring. However, when Witch truly visited them, most of the Blood disliked her; Jaenelle's own family called her insane and her Witch form disgusting. Winsol is a time to share gifts, drink, and laughter; it's a time of celebration and joy. Winsol lasts thirteen days and is the most widely celebrated- truly, only celebrated- custom across the realm.
The Ceremonies
The first ceremony that all Blood go through is the Birthright Ceremony. This ceremony takes place in the early years of a Blood's life, at the age of 7. This is true of both long-lived and short-lived races. This is the ceremony wherein the Blood get their first Jewel. The darkest Jewel to ever be given at a Birthright Ceremony is the Red Jewel. The Birthright Ceremony determines the first basis of power for that Blood.
The second ceremony that all Blood go through is the Offering to the Darkness. This usually takes place at the age of 18-22. The Blood can only descend three Jewels from their Birthright Jewel. For example, a Summer-Sky Jewel given at the Birthright could only descend to Green, but no deeper than that. The deepest a Blood can descend is the Black; no deeper Jewel than the Black is considered valid. The Twilight's Dawn and Ebony Jewels were both worn by Witch, and the Twilight's Dawn was later worn by Daemon SaDiablo's daughter, Jaenelle Satien. However, those Jewels haven't been worn since and are considered rare and perhaps even fake.
Female witches must have a Virgin Night. This night is dedicated to preserving the strength of her Jewels and is either done before or after her Offering to the Darkness. Oftentimes, a trained male will oversee and go through with a Virgin Night, as he is capable of preserving her strength, cradling her mind, and guiding her body safely through the experience. It is possible to break a witch and she is most vulnerable on her Virgin Night; if done incorrectly, a witch can become broken and be lost to the Twisted Kingdom. Such was the case with Tersa, Daemon SaDiablo's mother, after she became broken on a man's spear. However, being broken can occur at any time; not just on the Virgin Night, but at any point in a witch's life, regardless of how powerful she is. It is possible for a witch to avoid being broken, if she shields her mind and loses her body, but it's difficult to recover from and can leave a witch's mind even more fragile than it was to begin with. Broken witches, soon after being broken, are often in pain, crying, are cold, and need comforting.
Though not strictly a ritual, another sacred time for the Blood is a witch's moontime. To the landens, the moontime is known as the "menstrual cycle". During this time, the female witch is incapable of performing even basic Craft without severe pain. As such, all males in her Court, even loosely, are extremely possessive- this is especially the case in Warlord Princes, or even Princes with darker-colored Jewels. Strangers, unwanted visitors, or unfamiliar people are deeply unwelcome and may come under great harm and duress if they approach a witch during her moontime. The darker the Jewel, the more painful the moontime. It is possible to brew a tea capable of postponing a moontime, but it makes the next one twice as painful and twice as weakening to a witch. It's also important to note that the darker Jeweled the witch, the more painful the moontime- this is especially true if that witch attempts any Craft (even basic Craft) and postpones her moontime, as some brews can.
The second ceremony that all Blood go through is the Offering to the Darkness. This usually takes place at the age of 18-22. The Blood can only descend three Jewels from their Birthright Jewel. For example, a Summer-Sky Jewel given at the Birthright could only descend to Green, but no deeper than that. The deepest a Blood can descend is the Black; no deeper Jewel than the Black is considered valid. The Twilight's Dawn and Ebony Jewels were both worn by Witch, and the Twilight's Dawn was later worn by Daemon SaDiablo's daughter, Jaenelle Satien. However, those Jewels haven't been worn since and are considered rare and perhaps even fake.
Female witches must have a Virgin Night. This night is dedicated to preserving the strength of her Jewels and is either done before or after her Offering to the Darkness. Oftentimes, a trained male will oversee and go through with a Virgin Night, as he is capable of preserving her strength, cradling her mind, and guiding her body safely through the experience. It is possible to break a witch and she is most vulnerable on her Virgin Night; if done incorrectly, a witch can become broken and be lost to the Twisted Kingdom. Such was the case with Tersa, Daemon SaDiablo's mother, after she became broken on a man's spear. However, being broken can occur at any time; not just on the Virgin Night, but at any point in a witch's life, regardless of how powerful she is. It is possible for a witch to avoid being broken, if she shields her mind and loses her body, but it's difficult to recover from and can leave a witch's mind even more fragile than it was to begin with. Broken witches, soon after being broken, are often in pain, crying, are cold, and need comforting.
Though not strictly a ritual, another sacred time for the Blood is a witch's moontime. To the landens, the moontime is known as the "menstrual cycle". During this time, the female witch is incapable of performing even basic Craft without severe pain. As such, all males in her Court, even loosely, are extremely possessive- this is especially the case in Warlord Princes, or even Princes with darker-colored Jewels. Strangers, unwanted visitors, or unfamiliar people are deeply unwelcome and may come under great harm and duress if they approach a witch during her moontime. The darker the Jewel, the more painful the moontime. It is possible to brew a tea capable of postponing a moontime, but it makes the next one twice as painful and twice as weakening to a witch. It's also important to note that the darker Jeweled the witch, the more painful the moontime- this is especially true if that witch attempts any Craft (even basic Craft) and postpones her moontime, as some brews can.
