Elven Coming of Age in the Holy Forest
by Slodius Rex
In the forest that Sehanine herself visited, an annual ritual takes place. The residence take their young ones ready to join adulthood into the deep woods. There they perform dances, practices, and hunts to join the ranks of their order. The people of The Holy Forest near Rockwell have an interesting tradition to bring the young over into adulthood. Unlike nearby Rerya with its very complicated mumbo-jumbo rituals for achieving adulthood ranging from nothing to years-long excursions, the people of the Holy Forest try a different approach. Their initiation are short, bestowing much grace upon the Lady of the Moon. At the beginning of the year the elves take the ones marked for adulthood into a moon-lit tent. Here the elders adorn their foreheads with silver crescents and instruct them they must keep these always on their heads. If it falls off, they must wait until the following year. Woe to the shaky and tremor-riddled elf who wishes to be seen as an adult! They are instructed to enter their dream meditation and will be brought back once the time is ripe. In their trance, the elders perform rituals over them. This ritual is supposed to help them in their trials. As the moon approaches its zenith, the elders awaken them, telling them the time has come. Bravest hunters of the tribe escort them in random groups of four to selected locations. The trek itself is perilous as the beasts of the forest seem to be keenly awakened by the full moon. Indeed, various were-beasts assail them and the Braves are instructed to do nothing to stop them, even if it means their lives are forfeit. The initiates must defend and ward off the creatures. This is the first trial. Once all have killed the group moves on. Once at the location they must construct an altar. They gather materials from the forest to create the shrine. These material seem easy enough but are difficult to come by: silver slivers of moonlight, a jug of crystal-clear rabbit tears, a jug of doe's milk, and a metal crescent. They are not given instruction to find these things but must find them before the moon begins its descent. This is the second trial. Once these things have been acquired the group moves on. After creating the altar, they must perform dances shown by the Braves. These dances are unique per group. This is the third trial. Once the dances have been complete the group moves on. Finally, the group must trek back, again fighting off were-beasts of the woods. Once back they are taken before the elders who examine each and ensure the crescents still adorn their heads. If all qualifications are met, the initiates are welcomed into adulthood.
In the forest that Sehanine herself visited, an annual ritual takes place. The residence take their young ones ready to join adulthood into the deep woods. There they perform dances, practices, and hunts to join the ranks of their order. The people of The Holy Forest near Rockwell have an interesting tradition to bring the young over into adulthood. Unlike nearby Rerya with its very complicated mumbo-jumbo rituals for achieving adulthood ranging from nothing to years-long excursions, the people of the Holy Forest try a different approach. Their initiation are short, bestowing much grace upon the Lady of the Moon. At the beginning of the year the elves take the ones marked for adulthood into a moon-lit tent. Here the elders adorn their foreheads with silver crescents and instruct them they must keep these always on their heads. If it falls off, they must wait until the following year. Woe to the shaky and tremor-riddled elf who wishes to be seen as an adult! They are instructed to enter their dream meditation and will be brought back once the time is ripe. In their trance, the elders perform rituals over them. This ritual is supposed to help them in their trials. As the moon approaches its zenith, the elders awaken them, telling them the time has come. Bravest hunters of the tribe escort them in random groups of four to selected locations. The trek itself is perilous as the beasts of the forest seem to be keenly awakened by the full moon. Indeed, various were-beasts assail them and the Braves are instructed to do nothing to stop them, even if it means their lives are forfeit. The initiates must defend and ward off the creatures. This is the first trial. Once all have killed the group moves on. Once at the location they must construct an altar. They gather materials from the forest to create the shrine. These material seem easy enough but are difficult to come by: silver slivers of moonlight, a jug of crystal-clear rabbit tears, a jug of doe's milk, and a metal crescent. They are not given instruction to find these things but must find them before the moon begins its descent. This is the second trial. Once these things have been acquired the group moves on. After creating the altar, they must perform dances shown by the Braves. These dances are unique per group. This is the third trial. Once the dances have been complete the group moves on. Finally, the group must trek back, again fighting off were-beasts of the woods. Once back they are taken before the elders who examine each and ensure the crescents still adorn their heads. If all qualifications are met, the initiates are welcomed into adulthood.
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