The stars shone brightly as twinkling diamonds in the sky above the tree lined clearing. The chill, moist night air clung tightly to the ground and to any still among the living they would say it was like death itself was reaching out to embrace them, and because of this the lone blind folded woman sitting in the lotus position was quite at peace. Black ceremonial robes matched her hair and hid her small, pleasing frame from view. Despite the womans beauty there was the cold specter of death that lingered about her that was unsettling.
Around her the area had been prepared for the evening. There was a massive stone slab in the center of the clearing stained with a fresh libation of blood and the nearby area also smelled strongly of a scattering of blood in a rededication and consecration ritual to banish any unwholesomeness that may have been left behind by the brood.
Flanking the alter; two small braziers each holding a small flame faintly lit the immediate area with an orange glow. At the far end of the alter was a large pit about six feet deep and on the side nearest the woman was an earthen ramp that lead up to the top. Around the area stood four small braziers unlit with one at each compass point and so they formed a massive diamond marking the perimeter of the ritual area. Outside of the ritual area stood a black bull tethered firmly to the ground and Cerberus standing watch over the animal.
Sitting patiently Dirge waited for the other members of the Circle of the Crone to arrive, a curved ritual dagger resting on the ground beside her.