The echoing voice meets the faded memory, and finally, there is peace. Finally, there is rememberance, and not regret.
There exists a legend within both Shirotama and Vox Vaala, that merges their religions. During the height of the Second Dragon War, when the battles between Clan Drakka and Clan Kokoro had grown most vicious, a group of desendants of old Lazarus were granted a vision from the REBIS. The vision revealed a terrifying truth—one that transcended bloodlines, magic, and even the great Dragons themselves.
This knowledge was so profound that it forced both sides of the conflict to cease their fighting immediately. It was not a victory for either side, but an awakening—a mutual realization of futility, driving them to a state of collective grief. The shared sorrow became a foundation upon which peace was built. This event marked the beginning of the enduring alliance between Clan Drakka and Clan Kokoro, and the holiday of The Pink Lament was created to honor the heroism and sacrifice that led to this union.
The Lament is held annually, during the cusp of the winter solstice, when the veil between the spirit world and the physical world is at its weakest. During this day, the borders between the usually secluded lands of both clans are opened. Drakha nobles and Kokoro shamans travel freely to each other’s lands, and entire fleets of caravans gather for the shared rituals of mourning and healing. Pilgrimages to ancient shrines, particularly to Shai’Cha—the sacred lands of Kokoro—and the towering mountains of Clan Drakka’s floating islands, to witness the miracle of Dragon eggs hatching are common.
The two clans light immense pyres, each representing the flames of their blood ancestors and the ancient spirits that guide them. In Kokoro lands, the pyres are crafted from white wood and imbued with spiritual blessings, glowing with ethereal white flames. In Drakka lands, the flames burn a deep crimson, symbolizing the raw essence of Vaala and the lifeblood of their Dragons.
Despite the deeply personal and sacred nature of the rituals, The Pink Lament is also a time for unity between the two clans. As the day progresses and the rituals are completed, the mood shifts from solemn reflection to one of large-scale celebration. Hyakki Yaggos where the Spirit world unfolds in a aurora borealis of epic proportions illuminating a massive bridge from the Drakka continent, to the Kokoro continent, large-scale Dragon Knight performances, Dragons pilgraming from their seclusion inland to central Lazarus to conversate, and massive feasts held in honor of the fallen heroes and Dragons, with both clans contributing traditional dishes on both sides and drinks towards honoring each others dead who were claimed in their ancient wars, in hope to put the angry spirits of the past, and the echoing voices of angry dragons to rest.
One of the most unique aspects of the Lament is the shared silence at dusk, when both clans gather together in large open spaces to sit in complete silence for an hour. This act is a tribute to the moment when the war ended—not with a shout, but with the stillness of understanding and grief. Afterward, musicians and bards from both clans come together to play songs of remembrance, filling the night with the Vox Vaala—the voice of the blood—and the Shirotama’s performances of the spiritual.
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