The First Parting
The First Parting is a ceremony held for new Cartographers within their home Cartographer's Lodge before they set out to create their first original work. Prior to this ceremony the Cartographer will have been an apprentice for a number of years (typically 3-5) under the wing of their senior Cartographer sometimes called a Hen.
History
The orginal First Parting ceremony took place in 3371 at a lodge in the shadow of Mount Karnz . At the time the lodge had only 12 members and was struggling to grow. Of the previous nine apprentices none had survived their first solo expedition. The territory was hostile and while the lodge was reasonably equipped for the time, the recent assumed deaths weighed heavily on its members.
Survival rates among cartographers have historically always been low so after the original event it likely seemed natural to the members of subsequent lodges to copy the send off ritual for apprentices. While originally the ceremony contained many foods associated with rituals for the departed, modern practice favors keeping only the original Sydan Peach for its association and even that has varried region by region.
Aside from the particular foods offered during the ritual the rest of the ritual's steps do not seem to have changed since inception. Scholars of history within The Grand Atlas believe that the ritual is seen as having the power to bring the same fortune that the original mystery apprentice had been blessed with so long as the steps are followed closely. While the Scholars may not agree with that conclusion, the ritual still seems quite effective at weeding out cowwardly apprentices before they're actually ready. Today the tradition has become one of the most important ceremonies within The Cartographical Society Cartographical Society.
With the apprentice undeterred the senior cartographer next made the apprentice write two coppies of six letters each. The letters were to be addressed to the apprentice's family and loved ones, saying goodbye, and were to be written as if the apprentice was already dead. The senior cartographer insisted that the letters would be sent to their recipients when the apprentice did not return after a month away, and the lodge had declared them dead. The apprentice wrote the letters, and that night their crying was heard through out the lodge. The following morning the apprentice returned to the senior cartographer and insisted that they were ready to take the exam. When the second plan failed to scare the apprentice into quitting, the senior cartographer concluded that the apprentice must be suicidal, so as one final measure to stop his apprentices' death he conspired with the other members of the lodge. They would make the apprentice pay for the whole lodge to party three days and three nights, during which they would try to remind the apprentice all they had to live for. When the party began the table was set with all manner of delicacies. On the final eve of the party the senior cartographer used the apprentice's remaining funds to set the table with foods all asociated with a local holiday celebrating the passage of loved ones. The apprentice was sat at the head of the table with the Lodge Keeper on their left, and the senior cartographer on their right. Near the end of the meal everyone besides the apprentice suddenly became silent. The senior cartographer placed a single Sydan Peach in front of the apprentice. The apprentice hesitated initially, but eventually ate the peach in silence. After the final night of partying was over, the apprentice once again approached their senior and insisted on the graduation test. The next morning the lodge was gathered for a silent send off.
On the night that the apprentice was to be declared dead for not returning, the senior cartographer gathered up the 6 letters, two coppies each, and began the slow and solemn walk to the messenger, payment in hand. As he walked down the road towards the orange and pink skyline he spied an unbelievable site. Returning to town at that moment was his apprentice, as well as four of the other apprentices that had been presumed dead.
Survival rates among cartographers have historically always been low so after the original event it likely seemed natural to the members of subsequent lodges to copy the send off ritual for apprentices. While originally the ceremony contained many foods associated with rituals for the departed, modern practice favors keeping only the original Sydan Peach for its association and even that has varried region by region.
Aside from the particular foods offered during the ritual the rest of the ritual's steps do not seem to have changed since inception. Scholars of history within The Grand Atlas believe that the ritual is seen as having the power to bring the same fortune that the original mystery apprentice had been blessed with so long as the steps are followed closely. While the Scholars may not agree with that conclusion, the ritual still seems quite effective at weeding out cowwardly apprentices before they're actually ready. Today the tradition has become one of the most important ceremonies within The Cartographical Society Cartographical Society.
The Story of The First Parting
A cartographer who was on his third apprentice knew what was coming if his apprentice were to leave to perform this graduation test of sorts. He hatched a plan to scare his apprentice into putting off his graduation test. First the cartographer took his apprentice to buy their own coffin. The apprentice was taken to the under-taker where they were measured for coffin size and funeral clothes. The senior cartographer refused to let his apprentice leave the lodge until their coffin had been completed. Upon the coffin's completion he had the apprentice lie in the coffin before gently closing the lid. When the apprentice emerged from the coffin a few minutes later their face was white, drained of blood, and their knees shook. The evening the coffin was delivered, it was sent to the apprentice's room and leaned against the wall near their bed. After they had spent the night with their coffin just feet away they approached the senior cartographer again, and insisted on taking the exam.With the apprentice undeterred the senior cartographer next made the apprentice write two coppies of six letters each. The letters were to be addressed to the apprentice's family and loved ones, saying goodbye, and were to be written as if the apprentice was already dead. The senior cartographer insisted that the letters would be sent to their recipients when the apprentice did not return after a month away, and the lodge had declared them dead. The apprentice wrote the letters, and that night their crying was heard through out the lodge. The following morning the apprentice returned to the senior cartographer and insisted that they were ready to take the exam. When the second plan failed to scare the apprentice into quitting, the senior cartographer concluded that the apprentice must be suicidal, so as one final measure to stop his apprentices' death he conspired with the other members of the lodge. They would make the apprentice pay for the whole lodge to party three days and three nights, during which they would try to remind the apprentice all they had to live for. When the party began the table was set with all manner of delicacies. On the final eve of the party the senior cartographer used the apprentice's remaining funds to set the table with foods all asociated with a local holiday celebrating the passage of loved ones. The apprentice was sat at the head of the table with the Lodge Keeper on their left, and the senior cartographer on their right. Near the end of the meal everyone besides the apprentice suddenly became silent. The senior cartographer placed a single Sydan Peach in front of the apprentice. The apprentice hesitated initially, but eventually ate the peach in silence. After the final night of partying was over, the apprentice once again approached their senior and insisted on the graduation test. The next morning the lodge was gathered for a silent send off.
On the night that the apprentice was to be declared dead for not returning, the senior cartographer gathered up the 6 letters, two coppies each, and began the slow and solemn walk to the messenger, payment in hand. As he walked down the road towards the orange and pink skyline he spied an unbelievable site. Returning to town at that moment was his apprentice, as well as four of the other apprentices that had been presumed dead.
Execution
Once an apprentice asks to take their graduation test, and be allowed to create their first solo map, their Hen (senior cartographer) determines if they are ready yet. If the Hen believes the apprentice is ready, they begin the ritual.
The first step is to take the apprentice to see the under-taker, get measured for funeral clothes and a coffin, at which point the apprentice purchases those things. Once the coffin completed it is delivered to the apprentice's room where they are made to lie in it for about an hour, then it is placed upright against a wall beside their bed.
Once the apprentice has slept the night with the coffin against the wall in their room they are next tasked to write two coppies of a letter to each of the six most important people in their life. The letter must be from the perspective of already being dead, and it must be a final goodbye. Once the letters are written, they are handed to the Hen, as well as pay for the letters to be delivered by a variety of messengers.
Finally the apprentice must pay out of their own pocket for their lodge to eat, drink, and party with them for three days and nights. At larger lodges the apprentice must pay instead for three days and nights of partying for no less than 12 people. The Hen is charged with managing the party and its invitees, as well as ensuring the presence of a peach. Sydan peaches are preferred in regions where it is possible, but in locations where peaches (Sydan or otherwise) are unavailable another fruit said to be eaten by the dead is used instead. Both the Hen and Lodge Keeper must be present for the final eve of the party when the fruit is presented, and everyone at the party sits in silence as the apprentice must consume the fruit.
When the party is over, on the next dawn the apprentice must approach their Hen and insist on the graduation test. At this point the Hen has no right to refuse and must file the appropriate paperwork with the Cartographer's Lodge. When this is done the lodge members present for the party meet the apprentice out front of the lodge for silent goodbyes.
In the unfortunate event that the Apprentice does not come back to the lodge within 30 days, the Hen must take the money, and letters on the eve of the final day, and walk slowly towards the nearest messenger. Once there the Hen must wait until the last light of the setting sun fades before handing the letters and the money to the messengers.
This ritual is kept from apprentices until they have completed it to increase its dramatic weight. If the apprentice drops the request at any point during the process they must either leave the society or remain an apprentice for another full year before they can again request to take the test. If an apprentice backs out a second time they are booted from the lodge and from society.
The first step is to take the apprentice to see the under-taker, get measured for funeral clothes and a coffin, at which point the apprentice purchases those things. Once the coffin completed it is delivered to the apprentice's room where they are made to lie in it for about an hour, then it is placed upright against a wall beside their bed.
Once the apprentice has slept the night with the coffin against the wall in their room they are next tasked to write two coppies of a letter to each of the six most important people in their life. The letter must be from the perspective of already being dead, and it must be a final goodbye. Once the letters are written, they are handed to the Hen, as well as pay for the letters to be delivered by a variety of messengers.
Finally the apprentice must pay out of their own pocket for their lodge to eat, drink, and party with them for three days and nights. At larger lodges the apprentice must pay instead for three days and nights of partying for no less than 12 people. The Hen is charged with managing the party and its invitees, as well as ensuring the presence of a peach. Sydan peaches are preferred in regions where it is possible, but in locations where peaches (Sydan or otherwise) are unavailable another fruit said to be eaten by the dead is used instead. Both the Hen and Lodge Keeper must be present for the final eve of the party when the fruit is presented, and everyone at the party sits in silence as the apprentice must consume the fruit.
When the party is over, on the next dawn the apprentice must approach their Hen and insist on the graduation test. At this point the Hen has no right to refuse and must file the appropriate paperwork with the Cartographer's Lodge. When this is done the lodge members present for the party meet the apprentice out front of the lodge for silent goodbyes.
In the unfortunate event that the Apprentice does not come back to the lodge within 30 days, the Hen must take the money, and letters on the eve of the final day, and walk slowly towards the nearest messenger. Once there the Hen must wait until the last light of the setting sun fades before handing the letters and the money to the messengers.
This ritual is kept from apprentices until they have completed it to increase its dramatic weight. If the apprentice drops the request at any point during the process they must either leave the society or remain an apprentice for another full year before they can again request to take the test. If an apprentice backs out a second time they are booted from the lodge and from society.
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