BLURBS AND REVIEWS

This ritual is performed nightly by all Sojourners after making their camp. Once a central fire has been stoked, the leader of the congregation will begin the ritual, acting out key elements as needed and required for additional emphasis and reflection.

Leader: And what is our hope?

Congregation: The Veiled City.

Leader: So spoke the heralds, and so we have believed. For we know the truth. The Sovereign created Annulis to sit among the stars. And he placed upon it the city of Mundus and a steward to watch over it and teach the people the ways in which they should live. And there was peace for a season.

Congregation: And there was peace for a season.

Leader: And from the mighty city arose stewards to tend to one hundred more, which sprang up across Annulis like great trees across the plains. Each had a steward descended from the first. And so theMundi spread across the world and stayed true to the Sovereign and his teachings.

Congregation: May it be so with us.

Leader: But in time the people looked to their own ways and thoughts, turning aside from that which they had known to be good and true for what they desired instead. And so there came strife, division, and unrest. City rose up against city. Each coveted the other, seeking enrichment and empowerment of themselves by diminishing others. But one cannot make his candle burn brighter by snuffing out another’s. And while there were some who sought to hold back and still the divisions and discord, what had been released would not be contained. Rebellion had taken root and was now affixed firmly in the hearts of many.

Congregation: Sovereign watch over those who yet remain true.

Leader: Each of the cities tore into the other, raising up a new goddess to guide their way. In their pride and delusion they cast away the truth, holding to a lie with all their strength.

Congregation: Sovereign watch over those who yet remain true.

Leader: Even in Mundus they could not hide how far they had fallen. Though they still pretended their love for the Sovereign was as it was in the days of old, it was not. For the stewards were no more in the city, instead following after Maraud’s example, becoming
emperors instead.

But then came the heralds.

Blessed be the heralds and the one who sent them.

Congregation: Blessed indeed.

Leader: To all who would listen, they delivered their message faithfully. They condemned the cities and towns, the villages and people, for having fallen away from the Sovereign and the ways he imparted through his first steward. They spoke against the goddesses and strife, and condemned the emperors as nothing more than petty tyrants, having lost their place and right as steward long ago. But they also spoke of a war. A terrible war that was looming on the horizon.

Congregation: Let he who has ears hear.

Leader: For those who would be kept safe from the dark times and free from the corruption of the rebellious should seek out the Veiled City, whose builder is the Sovereign himself. The first city built before all others.

Congregation: Let he who has ears hear.

Leader: Those who heeded the heralds began their sojourn, as do we who follow in their footsteps. And those who stayed behind dwelled in their old lives, as they still do today. And though the others mocked the ones who first set out, their days grew darker and the terrible war came upon them. But those who sojourned were kept safe.

When peace returned to Annulis, the Dwellers thought the worst had passed, but those who held to the heralds’ message knew better. For while all were welcoming peace and brighter days, there arose sudden and terrible destruction.

Fire rained upon the world.

It fell upon all Annulis in a burning cascade. The cities that remained were toppled, and great Mundus—that would-be empire of Annulis—was crushed into dust and ash and given the sea as a shroud.

Congregation: Let he who has eyes see.

Leader: For three whole days the fire fell. And on the fourth day there was darkness, which lasted a year.

Congregation: The Year of Night.

Leader: But that was not the end. For whenever it would rain, blood fell from the skies and added to the land’s woe. Crops failed, people perished, and animals died. But we Sojourners were kept safe as the Dwellers continued to suffer. Even after the sun once more dared
shine and the rains continued their days of blood.

Congregation: But the Veiled City still stands.

Leader: And it is the only hope for all who wish to escape from this wounded, dying world. For what the heralds have spoken shall come to pass. There is only it and nothing else. Everything has proven false and will soon fade away, but to those who find the Veiled City, peace and life are their reward.

Should I not find the city before my years grow full, recall all I have spoken this night. Pass it on to others who have taken the journey with you. Keep the truth before you and let it guide you onward.

Congregation: We shall.

The faithful of Pyre seek to share the truth of their god to all those on Annulis. Those hostile to the message are believed to have proven themselves enemies of both the god and the mercy he is said to be extending to those who embrace it.

Selection is the process by which the Pyri learn who is with them and Pyre and who is against. Conducted by priests and a selected member of the Salamandrine, it is put before every group a Pyric army comes across. The idea is that each has free will to select their fate and choose the course of action the army is to enact based upon that selection.

Those that embrace Pyre’s mercy become part of the Pyri and learn more of the truth of Pyre and their glorious approaching future. Those who fail to show honor to their god are disposed of, which helps cleanse the world for their god.

The following is the main text of the ritual. The main priest presides, the selected speaker—a knight—provides the choice to the assembly, and the other Pyri present join in with affirming refrains of their faith.

Priest: Submit or be slain. These are the words of Pyre and Salbrin, his herald.

Praise be to Pyre.

Pyri: Praise be to Pyre and his herald, Salbrin.

Priest: The time has come to select your fate. You have no other choice.

Sir (name given), please approach.

(The selected knight approaches and begins the offering of their options.)

Knight: There is coming a judgment to this world—a great fire that will burn across all Annulis. But Pyre in his mercy has allowed an escape.

There is only Pyre!

Great is he and single in power!

Pyri: Great is Pyre!

Knight: You have before you a choice. You see the fate of your false god. She, like the rest, cannot save you. But it is not so with Pyre.

There is only Pyre and his people!

Pyri: There is only Pyre and his people!

Knight: Those who wish to be purged from this world’s corruption and look forward to the Great Conflagration with joy instead of fear, step forward.

Pyre is not one to deny you a choice. He desires loyal followers ready to carry out his commands. You are free to choose whom you will. Today you can step forward and submit to Pyre, the true god, or you can remain as you are and in the end face the cleansing to follow.

Priest: Those who submit to Pyre, step forward.

(Those who submit will now step forward.)

Will no more heed Pyre’s call?

(Wait for one more moment to confirm their final choice.)

Then so be it. Selection has ended. Your fate has been sealed. Come forward and kneel. You will not be appointed unto Pyre’s displeasure but in the Great Conflagration will enter into his favor. But these will share the fate of all who refuse submission to the
great Pyre.

Let the purging begin!

(Knights and infantry slay the rejectors of Pyre’s mercy, and a final prayer is offered before the fire is set on the bodies.)

Priest: Oh Pyre, we offer you this sacrifice. May it hasten your day.

Praise be to Pyre the Purifier.

Pyri: Praise be to Pyre!

Priest: Now, my brothers, let this filth be cleansed.

Praised be Pyre!

Pyri: Praised be Pyre!

On the battlefield it becomes necessary to cremate the dead Pyric warriors who have fallen in the field along with the dead of the fallen enemy—those who aren’t killed during Selection. The fallen Pyri are honored in this ceremony that involves the highest-ranking priest among them giving what amounts to a final blessing as they send the dead to their rest withPyre. Those of the army who remain are also called to watch and see their
fallen comrades off in a sober but still-uplifting ceremony.

The start of the rite calls for the priest to gather with some others and their blaze rods around the bonfires. The army stands farther back, watching and waiting to see the flames rise and share in their professions of faith and blessing for the deceased.

Priest: May Pyre’s wings ever enfold us.

Pyri: And may his herald always lead us true.

Priest: As has been our custom since the first days of Pyre’s herald, we look to honor those who have fallen in Pyre’s service. Free from this corrupt, dying world, they’re now awaiting the coming of the Purifier, eager for a world reborn.

Pyri: May he come quickly.

Priest: As Salbrin has said, all will be purified, even our flesh. And so we lay Pyre’s kiss beneath his fallen warriors. May it burn as a beacon of hope for all who yet walk Annulis and serve as a pleasing sacrifice to our god, who has received these—his precious ones—to
his breast.

(The bonfires are lit by the priests with their blaze rods.)

Priest: There is but one god.

Pyri: Pyre!

Priest: There is but one herald.

Pyri: Salbrin is his name!