Sweet is the voice of those we have lost. Sweeter still is the keen of one who has lost someone near and dear to them. In such moments are the truths of existence found.
In ancient times, Gaelic funerary traditions included the “keening” of a lost soul, a tradition that, under other names, has also been found in some parts of eastern Europe and the Far East. After an individual died, women of his family, village, clan or tribe would gather together and enter into a formalized mourning for the departed. Unlike modern funerary rituals that are often somber and near-silent affairs, keeners wept and wailed, bemoaning the loss of the departed soul while extolling his virtues at great length and volume. They shared stories and songs of his wisdom, strength and generosity, accompanied by swaying, chanting or rhythmic clapping in ritualized mourning ceremonies that carried on for days. The more formal aspects of the keening were frequently interspersed with bouts of distraught moaning and tears as the keeners showed their despondency at the loss of such a great person. The more powerful, well-known or loved an individual was, the louder and longer his mourners would keen his loss, leading to long and often outlandish spectacles after the death of particularly popular people. Such bits of drama also provided something of an “emotional screen” — in the presence of such a spectacle, those who might not normally allow themselves to grieve could do so without shame.
The more important the mourners at the funeral, the greater honor was accorded to the deceased. Thus, while a veritable army of mourners might attend a funeral, should noblewomen or other ladies of importance appear and mourn openly, they lent some of their prestige to the deceased. Some families even claimed that their families were so integral to the soul of Ireland that the fairy women came to mourn the passing of their scions. Some even claimed that the fairy women mourned them before their deaths — such families have their own bean sídhe, or banshee, who presage their deaths.
Even among the Singers in Silence themselves, the origins of the Legacy are uncertain. Oral tradition has almost certainly enhanced and manipulated the facts of the Banshee creation tale, although, as with many of the spoken Mysteries, the Truth of the story remains. What is known is that a woman of early Ireland, Brea, who led her tribe in their struggles against the Fomorii, is accorded the honor of being first of the Singers in Silence.
The Banshee are oftentimes misunderstood by those outside of the Legacy, and more than once in their history, they have been in danger of being labeled as Left-Handed. In truth, however, while some Singers have certainly been driven mad by their Attainments and nudged well into the dark ways, the Legacy is no more Left-Handed than fate — or death — itself.
Favor (and fear) of the Bean Sídhe have waxed and waned during the history of the Pentacle. During some time periods, the Singers were actively hunted. During the Great Depression, a male Singer was alleged to have “aided” in the suicides of more than a thousand Sleepers when financial disaster struck, leaving them and their families with few options for survival. Arguing that his victims “wanted it, begged for it,” the Banshee was brought up on trial by his local Consilium, and the proceed- ings erupted into violence and fervor that eventually led to his destruction after he publicly threatened to use his Attain- ments on not only the members of
the jury council but also on their Sleeper families as well.
However, in other times, the Banshee have gained a reputation as useful and dedicated counselors: the life of a mage is rarely a peaceful one, and the costs of standing against the Lie are often high. When grief strikes deep within the heart of an Awakened, threatening to send him mad with rage or depression, a Singer is sometimes able to reach within and aid the mage in purging herself of the pain. Such interventions, however, are rarely called upon in anything but the most dire of circumstances; even in the best of times, few who have heard the legends of the Banshee are willing to risk asking for their aid.
Mystagogues from outside of the Legacy sometimes attempt to use the Banshee’s inherent relationship with departed souls to glean information that is otherwise difficult to obtain or confirm. However, considering the Banshee’s reputation as the harbingers of death, only the bravest are willing to look Singers in the eye and risk seeing the reflection of their death in the Banshee’s gaze.
As for the Banshee themselves, few foster relationships with the Awakened with any more attention than with Sleepers. The particular flavor of Death Sight inflicted upon them by their Attainments shows no favoritism; doomed is doomed, whether Awakened or Sleeper. Thus, socializing with other mages is no more comfortable for a Singer than interacting with Awakened individuals.
Attainments
- The Knowing
- The Calling
- The Keening
