Nightal 3, 1387 Year of the Emerald Ermine - Suzail

[DM Hawk]

Nightal 3, 1387 Year of the Emerald Ermine – Suzail

Singing filled the Heartwarder’s Hearth temple as the Sunite faithful of Suzail raised their voices in praise of their goddess. Courtiers, shopkeepers, dock workers, corner workers, parents, adolescents, and those pining for love stood around the pool in the center of the temple’s candle-lit secondary chamber.

There was a chill in the air this winter morn and small wisps of steam rose from the heated pool. Scores of rose petals floated in the perfumed water, adding their scent to those bathing within.

The chorus ended and a new hymn began. It was a song of two lovers, blessed by Sune, whose enduring bond persevered while the fates conspired to keep them apart. They would come together in the end, both radically changed by the journey of ordeals, but their love remained unaltered.

The Knights of the Ruby Rose ascended from the pool as the first chorus of the new hymn filled the temple. Female and male, they stepped from the water to stand in the center of Sune’s faithful. They were unabashed in their nakedness, comfortable in the beauty given them by Lady Firehair.

Cinta Cariad. Kenneth Bonfleur. Isla Armella. Macho Redstone. Illyria Amberpike. Cassandra Truesteel. Ashdi.

While the faithful sang the song of love around them, the half-elven high priestess toweled the Champions of Sune dry from hair to toe and draped warm robes of dusky rose cloth, chased with cloth-of-gold, upon the shoulders of each. Miranda gave each knight a kiss on the cheek before moving to tend to the next.

While awaiting the high priestess, the unicorn Skittleskattle rested his chin lightly upon the bare shoulder of his bonded rider.

Behind the High Priestess came Lydia, the temple’s florist. She bore a basket of roses, cut fresh from her garden that morning. The flower girl bowed her head and offered the basket to each member of the Ruby Rose.

One-by-one They reached into the basket and selected a rose. Perfumed by the waters, adorned in soft robes, and bearing red roses the Knights of Sune turned towards the pool. They ran their left ring fingers swiftly over the rose thorns as the hymn began its fifth chorus. With hands extended over the scented pool, drops of blood fell from pricked fingers into the perfumed waters. Their arms were held aloft, fingers bleeding, until the hymn came to an end. The temple filled with silence.

Quietly the Order of the Ruby Rose closed in a circle to embrace. The faithful of Sune gathered around them, placing hands on their shoulders and kisses upon their cheeks and foreheads before turning to leave the temple. Their part in the ceremony was done.

Once the last worshiper of Sune was gone, Miranda’s voice broke the silence of the temple. She sang another hymn, this one somber, a song of lovers parting in uncertainty for an unforeseen amount of time. Beside her, Lydia stood quietly, her head bowed, her hands holding her basket of roses.

As Miranda sang, the Knights held their roses in their left hands while counting the thorns with the fingers of their right. The two with the least thorns would remain behind to guard the temple. The rest would ride.

The lots were determined and Miranda continued to sing. Ashdi and Cassandra each held a rose in hand and took one of Miranda’s hands with the other. The two knights joined in the hymn’s chorus.

The other knights moved swiftly to their arming tables. Soft, dusky robes were ceremoniously replaced fine garments, richly dyed gambesons, and beautifully etched armor stained in red and gold. Lustrous red cloaks donned their shoulders. Once their hair was styled appropriately, The female knights adorned their brows with jeweled tiaras. The men wore simple golden circlets.

Sword belts and weapon harnesses were bound and helmets were tucked into the crooks of the arms. The knights assembled before the trio who continued their song. In unison the Order of the Ruby Rose bowed at the waist and turned to exit the temple. The unicorn followed.

The Knights of Sune rode forth from the temple in search of one of the horrors of the world, firm in the belief that true love conquers all.