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Action Id: 2574 Crisis: Participants: Aleksei, Audric(RIP), Luca(RIP), Lianne and Saedrus
Status: Resolved Submitted: July 31, 2018, 2:47 a.m. Public: True GM: Puffin


Action by Aleksei

It's time for Aleksei to do his part to help heal the Poison.

After having assisted in the rite, Aleksei asks several others to be a part of his, to watch and assist and learn it for themselves so that they can go out and then lead their own ritual and spread it further. On the thirteenth day of the month, at the thirteenth hour, Aleksei borrows the inner sanctum of the Shrine of the First Choice, because that is the theme of his ritual: choice. Freedom. He's choosing a world in which magic is free, in which people are free to discover the Dream around them. He's choosing a world in which magic belongs to all of them.

Thirteen candles are lit as part of the ritual, and thirteen individual sacrifices are offered. One of Aleksei's first letters from Skald. A notebook containing his earliest thoughts and ideas for the Doctrine of Skald. A framed letter from Orazio ("a framed letter from Legate Orazio"). His first Godsworn tabard ("a white tabard embroidered with the sigil of the Faith"). A baby blanket of Fitz's he kept from two years ago. A carved figure from his childhood in Sanctum he held onto all these years. Many and more things beyond that, all adding up to thirteen. All mementos and keepsakes of different moments of choice in his life, different times and crossroads. His ritual is something deeply personal, and it isn't about good or bad, or light or dark. It's about freedom. He'll never fool anyone into thinking his heart isn't golden and new and full of fierce light, but it's also full of a deep dedication to how people have to have the freedom to choose their own paths. He treats it like an opening for both light and dark, because he knows that it will take both to heal the Poison.

Hopefully it will be enough for his part.


Action by Luca(RIP)

Luca has been invited to assist with this thing, because of course he has! It's a party! Who doesn't want Luca at their part-..w-..wait it's not a party? Well. It's for Aleksei, and Luca will do anything for Aleksei. So he'll show up, still, and watch and learn and be as well-behaved as possible so as to not disturb a thing. After all, he has to figure this out so he can repeat it. Maybe /his/ ritual /will/ be a party. He'll help in any way he can, if he's asked to.


Action by Audric(RIP)

Audric is... 'helping'. Which is to say, he's not actually DOING anything, but he'll be there, and in usual Audric style, proooobably making snide comments and preparing to stab any monsters that arrive.


Action by Lianne

Lianne possesses sufficient familiarity with these sorts of rituals to assist when needed and to keep out of the way while Aleksei works. Her primary purpose in attendance is to observe and understand, to learn not only the methods but the meanings, to understand the connections that she can build her own and recreate a similar ritual into which she can pour her all.


Action by Saedrus

It is theory of these rites, that Saedrus has gotten his head around, but it's his heart that is will Aleksei in these moments. He is present for Aleksei, his paramour, and here to support him. No doubt there is a spiritual sense of being there as well. Watchful, learning, and understanding. When there is something a hand is needed for Saedrus will offer it but otherwise remains as quiet succour.


Result

It's an interesting group Aleksei has assembled - Lianne, Audric, Saedrus, and Luca. Interesting indeed. And very much in keeping with his nature and the feel of his ritual. There is something freeing about it; even gathering they can all feel it, like a breath of fresh air after too long indoors. Like a sunny day after days of rain.

As he feeds each of his "sacrifices" to the fire, it becomes clear that this cleansing is less about giving things up, and instead is a sharing. He is not giving up his thoughts on the Doctrine of Skald - he is sharing it with the ritual. It is something intensely private, now sacrificed by sharing it with the primum. With the ideals of the world. This is what Aleksei would see, how he does see the world, and what he would have the primum do.

There is in that moment a weight lifted from the shoulders of all those participating. Lianne finds her spirit lighter. Saedrus finds a moment of deep serenity and joy. Luca finds a certain joy too - it's not quite a party but it's pretty close. Audric being Audric puts his hand on his weapon - not in threat but because it's all he can do not to just draw it and go out and kill some monsters, because that's what he loves to do.

Each of them has this moment of freedom, of choice, of seeing this world as Aleksei sees it. And when the fire at last burns out, they are left with touch of that wild joy that burns in Aleksei's core always and ever. And the cleansing continues.