Winter Solstice

[Chris Wooding]

'Thank you all for gathering here tonight, this special night.' Chris' voice is not very welcoming or warm, it is more solemn. He doesn't have the presence of a Lord, but here, the guidance of the Crone gives him an unusual central role. His hands rest in the air as he addresses everyone. 'After the shortest day our night has come. A moment to celebrate that we have survived all our previous threats and tribulations, we celebrate that we have an infinity before us to explore the darkness that is ours. The Sun - a source of light and life - is at its weakest. But we do need those things. For we are Kindred.' A wide smile crosses the Hierophant's face. Vampires are not damned in any way.

'That fact, that is something we all share.' Save the few kine taking care of the other... kine. 'Because of it, this ritual was open for everyone. This Circle is new and ever changing, yet always based on fundaments as old as our kind. Many stories exist that explain how we've become what we are. Creatures of the night, things beyond life. Since we all share this - I will let this night be free of too many personal beliefs and legends. Before we can head in one direction as a Circle, we must accept that we are the same creatures from very different backgrounds. Yet we have the Crone to symbolize all of our creations, her Embrace.' Some would know that Chris is not an Elder. He has never been confident forcing his views on others, being the Hierophant doesn't change that. One follows ancient Egyptian traditions, the other worships a Nordic Goddess. In some way they're all the same.

'For a moment, let us be thankful for the Embrace.' He rests his hand on the altar before him while he closes his eyes.

In silence, Chris thanks the Crone. A being that he can never define by any existing tradition or myth. She is it all. Maybe his sire is to thank for making the mistake of Embracing him, yet she only received that gift from her sire before her. It all leads back somewhere. That mystical force is what gets the Hierophant's eternal gratitude. Because, what would he have been as a human man? Blinded by light.

[Edwin Bridges]

"The Embrace," Edwin intoned, voice full of passion and devotion to this moment, for all moments he would thank the Crone, Hel and Felicity for the gifts of this Second Descent. He then begins to speak, actually whisper; pray some may call it.

"The daughter of sin is determined to go, to the dark house, dwelling of a dark god, to the house which those that enter cannot leave."

[Yumyumcrow]

The Haunt mumbled something, head bowed. She swayed slightly, rocking to a rhythm only she knew.

And then the moment was gone. Dirge lifted her face to the Hierophant. And waited.

[Chris Wooding]

Yes this scene has been open for a long time now :/

After a minute, Chris looks up again.

'Traditionally, Winter is also the season where we reflect upon other seasons. It is good to celebrate. One must always find moments of happiness, but those moments shouldn't be mindless, or meaningless.' He takes the fresh flowers from the altar. 'For we can now thrive in the season of darkness, yet soon the light will return. Spring is seen as a season of new beginnings, when nature is blossoming and people are cheerful. However, we as Kindred are not excluded from this. Everything happens for a reason, we should accept that, and then move on. And we all know that some kine are... easily persuaded when the time is right.' There's a sudden hint of naughtiness on Chris' face. Isn't feeding so much easier when people are happy to play around a bit? Without giving in to too distracting thoughts, the Hierophant rests his eyes on Vivian York for a second.

But then - his expression turns grim. 'It is urgent to profit from this as Spring is followed by the season of Tribulation.' He breaks the flowers in half and puts them in the bowl on the altar. Then he takes the torch in his hand and holds it up. He clenches his teeth, gathering the courage to continue with this fire now literally in his hands. 'Summer. We are in an eternal struggle. By becoming creatures of the night we have evolved, but at a cost. Our eyes are now opened to the secrets of this world, yet we cannot stand the daylight to see them clearly. Learn from this fact. Only through struggle we can find Enlightenment. Of course we are not alone in this struggle. We are a Circle. And we need each other. If you lose our touch with others, your connection with the Crone, you will not reach Enlightenment but become part of the night you used to control.' As he says that Chris steps back to lower the torch. He ignites the flowers and they meet their burning end at a rapid pace. 'Alone and without roots, we will turn to ash.'

In silence, the Hierophant waits until there's nothing left to keep the fire going. It takes a while, yes, but he uses it to put the torch away again, and to look at everyone. AJ was an interesting new arrival, and what he just said - using the symbol of a house - could show that he might be interested in the teachings of the Second Descent as well. Only time would tell.

'One of the things we learn is that we are ever moving forward. The Requiem stops us from aging, but we are never without change. There are many ways to bring creation to the world. There are many ways to have an influence. Even from ashes...' he turns the bowl upside down on the altar, of course the plant is not turned to ash immediately but it's blackened and destroyed. Chris then grabs the glass container in one hand, 'new life can grow.' With those words he smashes the container on the altar. It becomes clear what the black mass inside was as countless insects start to spread. Most of them are probably dead, another part quickly disappears, some of them fly in all directions. The Mekhet is not an expert insect-catcher, but it has the desired effect.

'Until we realize... we've made it through another year.' Now it's his turn to grin. Call him simple or naive, but he's glad to have all the time in the world - to practice his ritual and storytelling skills.

'For that, a simple 'thank you' is not enough. Like we feed on the life force of others, so the Crone must be given strength as well.' Chris gestures the kine to come closer with the bull. While they guide the animal to the table where it would meet its end, Chris starts to undress himself. Swiftly his shirt and jacket are cast away. Numerous tattoo's become visible, all sorts of celtic symbols. Then his pants go - not his underwear. This is still an open ritual and thus the soft version of it all. Then without ceremony he takes an atheme from the altar and slides the animal's throat. Before it could protest or sense the danger it was in, it was dead. With a little help from the Blood in his own undead muscles he manages to hold up the bull's head. The red liquid they all know so well flows freely.

'Mother. Take this sacrifice.' Without saying anything else, he stands there for about ten seconds. It may not be actually nourishing, but the blood still smells nice. Only with his eyes and mouth closed, Chris can stay in control. Then he carefully lays the beast on the ground. It was for the Crone, not for the Kindred. He takes a moment to send some personal prayers away in his mind, then the veneration has apparently come to a sudden end.

Half naked and covered in blood, he casually makes he pigs blood ready for serving. 'Now, let us celebrate some more.'

[Yumyumcrow]

As the bull struggled and died, the Haunt sang a prayer to Hades.

Scene has been going for a while, so yeah. Bring it into continuity. If anyone is interested in what Dirge is offering, PM me and I'll make a scene for you