Eirithan Holy day.

All of the three clans are present on this special day, folk from the Skywatchers, Black Shields and the Prairie Thunderers. Not only is it a day precious for the goddess of their herds but also it was the day of scores upon scores of weddings...

Bisons have been cleaned and bedecked in finery and all present wear their best clothes. The air is thick with incense, both local and imported from Pavis, via the usual route of raids and thievery...

Kobal had risen early to brush down Black Hoof.  He had placed his best saddle cloth on the beast, and knotted a few beads in the animal's hair.

He himself is in his best clothes.  Even his hair is combed down, his beard (still relatively short at this stage) well groomed and also threaded with beads.  Nothing can hide the fact of his missing front teeth though.

Everything was prepared, this time with his family's help.  A blanket with fine weaving and intricate patterns that spoke of its foreign origins.  A filled basket, itself adorned with colourful ribbons.

He's not as nervous as the first time he got married.  There were a lot more people around this time, but also many more getting married.  Nor is he going to show any weakness to any who had been unhappy with him or Amara in the elders' tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Tue 25 Oct 2016.

Melock follows Kobal's example and gets up early. He uses handfuls of sand rubbed in to Stinky's hair to clean out the worst of the muck and then spends along time brushing him down, when he's finished, he barely recognises his own bison. He drapes the Raven motif blanket, that was gifted to him by his parents, over the almost gleaming Stinky. He spends less time getting himself tidy as its an easier job. He makes sure he has the copper ring for Wild Pastures, the ring itself is made up of leaves with a plant rune at the front. When he's happy with his appearance, he goes and find Kobal, "So, any words of advice?"

Amara turned up to the marriage ceremony to give her support to her fellow braves and their new wives. She was dressed plainly not wishing to eclipse any of the brides to be. Dressed in a nice but mildly adorned dress. She wore little jewellery, sticking to the necklace Ohanzee gave her and the charms she possessed just in case things turned ugly. In her hair were the three feathers from Thunderbird, kiwidinok and the Queen Harpy.

As was his habit Salen turned out in the manner expected of all Bison braves, though with no real enthusiasm. He was here for his friend and to do what must be done, but he would just as soon it was all over. Still, better to find some way to lighten the mood, and so he finds himself approaching Kobal and Melock, with a question for the former.

"Who is it today, Kobal? I'm starting to lose track..."

Henal cleans up his bison and dresses in his best gear wanting to show support for his sister Bright Cloud's wedding to the Black Thorn brave Darakan as well as his fellow Rangers.

Temush will tidy himself up a bit  and observe how weddings are celebrated among the Bison. He will copy whatever seems to be the typical batchelor behaviour bearing in mind that he is not a blood relative of any of the couples.

Kobal grips the brave on the shoulder with a smile.  "Have fun, Melock.  Not Raven fun.  Normal fun.  Drink heaps.  Eat much.  Dance a lot."



"That's very funny, Salen," says Kobal, turning to the other Bison brave.  He punches him on the arm.  Not lightly, but not too hard either.  Bad luck to disable a guest before a wedding.

The ceremony begins with future wives and husbands leading cows and bulls out towards their priests and priestesses, who with the aid of scores of Erithan initiates call forth the blessings of both ancestors, human and beast, and that of Eiritha herself. For a while those watching lose sight of the participants as they are obscured by smoke and incense and by the fact that the god plane is near.

Spirits and ancestors join the happy throng, adding their voices to the living as sacrifices are made. Blood spills on the ground, into fires and on to the heads, hands and feet of the betrothed.

Melock leads one of his bison, walking along side Wild Pastures who is wearing a flowing green ankle length skirt, with a matching long sleeved top that has been fashioned to show off her swelling belly, which has a fertility rune painted on it in white, she leads one of her white headed bison. Her hands are covered in swirling patterns drawn in henna and her hair has been woven in to a single strand that falls across her left shoulder.

They both smile at the other couples and their guests. Together they walk their offerings to the priestess of Eiritha and then step back and wait to be joined by the other couples.

Halfrid Quickeye, eldest daughter of Wiley Ko, chieftain of the Black Shields, is about average size for one of the Dedra, which means that Kobal stands about a head taller than her.

Even with blood streaked down the side of her head (with short wavy hair, shaved on the right side - unusual for a woman of the Black Shields) and the side of her face, she's still pleasing to the eye.

Her mother steps forward with a large bowl of water and stands between Halfrid and Kobal.

Kobal bows his head in acknowledgment to his mother-in-law-to-be and dips his hands into the bowl, washing away the blood on his hands.  Cupping both hands to hold some water, he pours the water over Halfrid's head, washing away the blood from her head and face.

"Herd Mother, mother of Waha, I wash away the old life of your daughter, so that she can start her life afresh with me."

He turns to regard the multitudes gathered around them, as a group of men bang drums and shake rattles, while a group of women chant and sing.  "I declare in the presence of Waha and Eiritha, and all here, that I will protect our family and herd, take life to preserve life, and build our hearth."

Next to looks into the bright, brown eyes of Halfrid.  "Halfrid, I look to you for gentleness, good nature and care of our children and our herd."

It's Halfrid's turn.  With a smile she's unable to contain, she dips her hands into the bowl to cleanse her hands.  Scooping up some water herself, she stretches her hands up and out, while Kobal dips his head to her reach, so that she can pour the water over his head.

"Eiritha, Protectoress, I wash away the old life of this man, so that he can start his life afresh with me."

Next she turns all gathered and says, "I promise before the gods and spirits, and all ancestors men women and beasts before us, that I will raise our family and herd, and tend our hearth."

She looks back at Kobal.  "Kobal, I look to you to be my shelter, my mate, my warmth."

As Halfrid's mother steps back, Kobal's father steps forward, a feather headdress in his hands - a headdress prepared by his father's wives in the days before the High Holy Day.  Kobal takes the headdress from his father and places it on Halfrid's brow.

Taking both her clean hands in his own wet hands, they turn to the chief priestess and intone together, "We promise that we will care for each other, our children, our herd.  We will be each other's strength.  We will be each other's joy.  We will be each other's voice, each other's life.  We ask that Waha and Eiritha bless our union, our children and our herd."

With so many marriages to take place, their relatively short ceremony is at an end, and they step back for the next couple to exchange vows.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Mon 21 Nov 2016.

Once Kobal and Halfrid Quickeye have said their vows, Melock and Wild Pastures turn to face each other as the blood of their gifts is poured over their heads and hands.
"Eiritha," they speak in unison, "and Waha, bless our union today," Using the blood on their hands, they draw on each others forehead the runes of fertility and family, "I" Melock states, "will protect and provide for you and our children." He places his hands on her belly, leaving bloody hand prints either side of the fertility rune. Wild Pastures smiles a satisfied smile, "This is the first of many children we will have and I will raise them while you are away providing for us. I'll ensure our herd is healthy and grows faster than our family." she blushes slightly and giggles to herself.
They look upwards and speak together, "Before our Gods," they turn to face the Priestesses, "our Priestesses," then they turn completely around to face the crowd, "and our family and friends," they hold each others hand, "we vow to be true to each other and our children." Those watching Melock closely see him winces slightly as he says the word vow. "As a token of my respect and love for you Wild Pastures, I give you this ring." He gives her a ring made up of interconnected leaves and plant runes. Her smile widens and she puts his hands back on her belly. "You already know how much I love you, but so you don't forget me while traveling." She takes a necklace made out of woven white bison hair with a Ravens head carved from bone and stained black and puts it round his neck. They kiss briefly then step back in to the crowd so the next couple can have their moment.