The Spooky Skeletal Parade of Halween
General
The Spooky Skeletal Parade of Halween is a yearly event that occurs throughout Alézun'Teran and it signifies the beginning of Autumn. It begins and ends at the Realm of Kanzertum and is overseen by the Kynbekker Halween; a respected and feared Deity due to His intimate connection to death.
Purpose
The main purpose of the parade is quite simple: It is to lure out and collect any lost souls and spirits that have managed to evade the Hangmen of Praesdeth.
These Lost Souls will then be taken to Praesdeth, where they will be managed and sorted out by the Adjudicator.
The secondary purpose of the parade is to bring joy and festivities to the inhabitants of Alézun'Teran, as well as signal the beginning of Autumn.
Members
Halween Himself
Halween is a Kynbekker Deity and act as an unofficial intermediary between the Realm of Kanzertum and the Realm of Praesdeth.
His official objective is to oversee the Old Energies of the Tenth and Eleventh Levels of Misyn, as well as the Fabric of Reality in the Twentieth Octant.
It is said that He was the one who came up with the idea of the parade after some discussions with the Adjudicator and the Grave Keeper and that He is the one who plans it and oversees it. It is more of a hobby for him than anything else and He has made it happen for several years now. So much so that it has become an official event to most.
Anco Aems
Known also as the Spooky Skeletons, the Anco Aems are the main attractors of the parade. They mainly stand for some of the music, as maracas, bells, rainsticks and tambourines are attached to their limbs or held in their skeletal hands, all of which produce their characteristic sounds as they dance along a street.
Seemingly made from alabaster, they are said to be the creation of the Keeper of Kanzertum Himself. They are covered in soft-glowing symbols and surrounded by a faint mist that turns into something akin to smoke as the parade goes on.
While not on parade, one may find Anco Arms standing still as statues on onyx pedestals throughout Alézun'Teran, their heads raised and arms crossed against their rib cages.
While humanoid in appearance, they stand about 2 meters tall and their stone bodies will blacken and their empty eye sockets will glow with the intensity of a thousand embers as they collect Lost Souls. That is their main purpose: To act as cages for the Lost Souls that are lured out by the presence of the parade. At the end of it all, they appear to be nothing more than nightmarish scorched skeletons capable of gazing into people's very souls.
Acfeum Priests
The Acfeum Priests are native to the Realm of Kanzertum and around ten members accompany the parade every year, though it may fluctuate between one or two members. They are the ones that stand for the parade songs - usually capella performances - and musical tones.
They are dressed in dark robes with elaborate patterns and cloaked in something akin to ashy smoke; a stark contrast to their white alabaster-esque bones. Tiny embers dance around them as well and these will sometimes flare up in wondrous colors.
Acfeum Masks
These sentient Festival Masks are either worn by at least three of the Acfeum Priests and three Acfeum Jesters, or float around the parade. They are usually about twelve in numbers. They are said to be one of the main attractors for the Lost Souls and subsequently stand for some of the instrumental musical tones of the parade.
They are native to the Realm of Kanzertum, similar to the Acfeum Priests and Acfeum Knights. They vary in appearance, from being absurd and frightening, to be solemn and plain. They are either colorful or black and white, but they are always surrounded by embers and ashy smoke.
Acfeum Jesters
Also known as Grinning Reapers, these monstrosities stand partially for the musical tones, as well for the entertainment of the public. They are tall, with spindly legs and four arms, two of which are made from ashy, smoke-covered metal that protrudes from their armpits. They carry Acfeum Masks on their faces, ones that are solemn but either grinning manically or have an inflamed facial expression.
Three always accompany the parade, and they are dressed in black and white robes covered in beautiful patterns. On their heads, they wear a maroon-colored foolscap with jingle-bells that are as large as apples.
As the parade goes on, they are giving a tantalizing dance, with moves that appear too fast for one's eye to register them. They are also believed to be able to teleport short distances, which they often do in the parade, vanishing and disappearing in ashy smoke and embers and an eerie laugh.
Acfeum Knights
The Acfeum Knights are the parade's honor guard. Seemingly nothing more than animated suits of shining armor that carry a heavy spear in one hand, they are few in number: Two walks at the front and back respectively, with four on either side of the parade.
They never speak a single word, despite that they can act in unison as per a silent command from Halween. Their purpose appears to mainly be to keep civilians from interacting with the Anco Aems.
Beginning of the Halween Festivities
The parade signifies the beginning of the so-called Halween Festivities, a name that Halween Himself not exactly enjoy but after some encouraging talks with His colleagues He let it be.
It lasts for about as long as the parade goes on, so around seven days and seven nights. It is a solemn but at the same time, a hectic festival where people and entities of Alézun'Teran honor the dead and revel in food, drink, and other pleasures. Where they spend time with those they love, and pay respects tho those who have left the sphere of the living..
Farewell
to a world
of hate and love Farewell
to a body
of pain and pleasure Welcome
to an existence
of serenity
The Halls of Misyn.
The World Cities.
Primary Related Location
This sounds like a holiday that at once manages to be creepy and fun, and I imagine puts people in close contact with concepts of death and the need to make peace with it!