The Traveller's birthday

The birth of a Comet

The Traveller is hailed as the bringer of change and new beginnings. It's first appearance in the night sky brought great destruction and great change. It also brought the people of Salike together to create the great city that stands today. Some believe the traveller to be a divine messenger from the God Kyevyag and treat it's first appearance as it's birth into the universe. After it's first appearance The Traveller settled into a twenty year orbit around the planet making an apperance in the night sky for a few days each cycle.

History

The Vianolites are part of the Order of the Ways and as such believe the Traveller to be a divine messenger. It plays a great part in their beliefs and it's reappearance in the sky every twenty years is celebrated with great ceremony. The first celebration took place 100 years after it's first appearance, before the Vianolites took to the rivers, before the Vianolites even existed as a culture. Though all adherents of The three Orders celebrate The Messenger's passage, the Vianolite's ceremonies are much more complex and bound in a different set of beliefs to their fellow adherents.

Execution

The ceremony takes place over three days, spanning the day on which The Messenger comes closest to the planet. The river barges the Vianolites live on are pulled up on the river shore and everyone participates in the rituals.

Day one

The first day the Messenger appears is spent giving thanks to those who have helped you in the last cycle, completing any unfinished tasks and having a last meal with loved ones.

Day two

The day the Messenger is largest in the sky is spent in supplication, prayer and fasting. Each person offers their own prayers to Kyevyag, asking that he spare them for another cycle.

Day three

If the Messenger has deemed them worthy and spared them, the third day is spent giving thanks to the God, feasting and drinking, and making vows of service for the next cycle.