Asterian Rite of Passage

Content Warning: Death

It's our sacred duty to guide the deceased on the last leg of their journey, into the open arms of our Lady. She will embrace them, and gently lead them past the veil, as they finally leave this world. But we know, that death is nothing you have to fear. It's just another step on the path of life, inevitable from the moment we are born. So don't mourn those who have moved on, but celebrate the time you had with them.

— Lemeki Samu - Animator in Asteri

Asterians have a rather different view on life and death. To them, the soul - the life energy of a person - is everything that makes them into the person they are. The body itself doesn't hold much value, once the soul has passed, and will be reanimated by an Animator to continue helping the community. But before this can happen, the ancient rite of passage has to be completed, to make sure the soul has moved on to the afterlife, and reanimating the dead body will not disturb the soul of the deceased.

Execution

As soon as possible after a person has passed, their relatives will open all windows believing that this will help the soul to move on. Afterwards, they will contact an Animator to prepare the deceased for the Rite of Passage.
The Animator will arrive at the home of the deceased, and starts to prepare the body, cleaning them and dressing them. They will light candles and incents before starting the first Rite of Passage. Often surrounded by the closest family, they will recite prayers to the Lady of Crows, asking her to take care of the deceased soul. Once the prayers have been said, a single crow feather is placed above the heart, signifying that the deceased is now in the gentle embrace of the Lady.

Oh Lady of Crows. May you guide the soul of our beloved to the peaceful embrace of the afterlife. May their soul find eternal peace and happiness in your gentle wings, beyond the veil. May their memories become a beacon of love and life for those left behind, as we hold their life and legacy in our hearts. Their Fate has called them home, but their memory shall guide us on our own path.

— Lemeki Samu - Receiting an ancient prayer

The Animator will then take away the body, preparing it for the reanimation, while the family and friends will come together for the second Rite of Passage. While the first rite is all about helping the soul move on, the second part is about remembering life. At a place chosen by the deceived, or their closest relative, everyone who knew the deceased will come together to share stories and memories with everyone present. This is not a place of mourning, but a celebration of life, fillled with music and stories, art and crafts.
This celebration usually takes the entire night, and ends with the sunrise the next morning. As the first light hits the earth, the closest relative of the deceived will take the crow feather that was placed on the heart of the deceased, and release it into the winds. As everyone watches the feather rise into the skies, it signals that the soul has moved on to the afterlife.
The next day the Animator will start the reanimation process, using a combination of magic and ancient rituals. Once the body is reanimated, they are imbued with an order - a task it shall complete - helping the community, even after the individual has passed. While this might seem very strange to outsiders, it's a way for Asterians to honor their deceased.

Work in Progress

This article is still heavily WIP and can change at any moment

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Primary Related Location

Asteri

Teldora

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