|
|
Formerly performed in the Ikarthian Triangle each Burning Night, the ritual is essential to prevent the Plane of Shadows merging with Orin Rakatha and is linked the the Icarthian Nemesis. The Gawfus Hosts of the Kalid Valdemar once had responsibility for this ritual before it passed to us.
"The Shadowsmeet, Ikarthians and Valdemar drew up a contract so that the Ritual of Ashes would forever be performed. This contract was signed by Sendin, Hope Giver of the Ikarthian People; Judge Helm Brighthand of the Shadowsmeet; and one on behalf of the Bastion of Gawfus Hosts of the Valdemar. For many centuries the Valdemar performed the Ritual.
"In 7AR, responsibility for the Ritual was assumed by the Alliance.
"In 9AR, the Ritual was disrupted, with many who journeyed to perform it not returning.
"In 10AR, the ceremony failed. One major contributory factor was the lack of requisite mana of the natural elements (fire, earth, air, water). The result of this failure was that White Magic was no longer castable, Black Magic much enhanced. Initially, Red Magic became less potent until an Alliance group removed a 'heart of darkness' from the Plane of Fire.
"In 11AR, the Ritual was performed successfully. The Shadowsfall adjudged that the spirit of the contract was to ensure that the Plane of Shadows was removed from Orin Rakatha. This was achieved two days later by the removal of a strange house acting as an annex to the Plane of Shadows.
"The following day the Shadowsfall returned led by Judge Helm Brighthand. As the ceremony had been transformed into one of permanence, they declared that any attempts to perform the Ritual would be pointless, and greatly hindered by themselves in future. Thus, we slew Judge Helm Brighthand, captured and burnt the contract."
Kevralyn Soulfire, note, Snow Moon, 11AR.
It is also worth noting the price of failure to perform the ritual:
"... we were visited by a group of Shadowsfall...they had a message... they wished to impart to us. This being: that the contract that the Kern Valley Alliance has to perform the Ritual of Ashes is in force; should the Alliance not fulfil its obligations in this regard and complete the Ritual by the appointed time, then the Shadowsfall will apply punitive measures. For each month that passes subsequently without the Rituals completion, the punitive measures will escalate in nature. The contract was confirmed by the presence of symbols upon their faces."
Kevralyn Soulfire, Mission Report, Hunting Moon, 10AR
Time of Reckoning
One of the Laws of Orin Rakatha is that Tower leaders must travel to the Time of Reckoning each year, where pledged Status is judged to see if it is sufficient to keep the tower. Almost nothing is known of this meeting, though it is thought to be on Rainbow Lake, with judgement by the Mystics themselves.
The Shadowsfall announced that the Time of Reckoning would be held 7 days hence (this being All Hallows Eve).
Kevralyn Soulfire, note, Leaf Fall 11AR
"Time of Reckoning moves a little (as do most things on Orin Rakatha), but is usually around the end of the Summer / beginning of Autumn..."
Hannah of the Hospitallers, Cold Moon, 11AR
