[ESL - MRCA Result] The Day of Blood

[gedren_y]

The Day of Blood is being celebrated today in Stedor.

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On October 13th in the year 357 AE the war known as The Mardierian Fall claimed a casualty that has long been remembered. Consort Utur the Soulcatcher, of the Crahaish neh Triuri, was tending to fallen warriors on the battlefield when a Mardierian soldier slashed his right leg and arm with his sword. Others of the Crahaish were quick to tend to his wounds, but his fate was sealed.

Laid out on an old stone altar adjacent to the battlefield, Utur teetered on the edge of death for what seemed like hours. Many of those fighting for their freedom, nobles and common folk alike, stopped to honor the man of faith. All warriors who touched his blood found themselves filled with a battle fury, and are said to have continued to fight non-stop for the next eight days. For this, the Crahaish neh Triuri proclaimed him the Man of Days, and this date to be the Day of Blood.

While the majority of Eslandola does not consider the Day of Blood a holy day, the event is considered a pivotal moment in the nation's history, crediting it for uniting the disparate factions that would become Eslandola.

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The turn out for the Day of Blood ceremony was better than expected. In addition to the Triuri faithful, a great number of those concerned about open warfare with Mardier are taking part in the ceremony.

This is the first holy day ceremony that High Priestess Ylsbeth the Starcatcher is presiding as Prime Priestess. Here she waves the Staff of Blood, and chants in the old tongue.

Captain Hammish Grei, for his great service to the Crahaish as commander of the trade ship the Island Rose, has been afforded the honor of representing the Man of Days in today's ceremony. Yes, he is naked.

Dearji the Windsong provides the consecrated mixture of cranberry and cherry juices to simulate the blood on Captain Grei's body.

This lady captain (she declined to give her name) wasn't expecting him to be truly naked. One of the men under Admirial Bostoximus' command is tempted to touch her hair.

Dougal Darkstar is an unexpected surprise at this event. The soldier behind him (says to call him Joop), is determined to expound on his negative opinion of the King's wish to move on Granoleon.

Of course Tolan duBroise is in attendance, but Viscount Alexander Doblin is rarely seen in Stedor. His main reason for being here is to find out what actually happened to the Dark Narwhal on its most recent voyage.

Above the ceremony there are other things going on.

Captain Daffyd "Splattersquawk" Prows is grumbling about how he was only able to break even on his most recent voyage. That and the fact that the King's Port Advertiser failed to have any mention of his ship, because no one in his flotilla knew how to file their paperwork!

Consort Taliesin the Lightbringer is too drunk to make out what the captain is saying. He is about to start babbling on about his cookie.

Astronomer Solas Midori has made the long voyage away from his observatory to witness a celestial event that will be visible from Stedor in the next six days. He has just spotted a man who was his playmate as a child.

That childhood friend is Stedor Dragoon Talik Moore. He waves back while wondering where his relief is, because he is hoping to join the ceremony down below.

Who is that girl behind the Dragoon? Why is she so pale?

She is Camilla Isobel la Reiy, third cousin to the King. No one is willing to comment on why she is such a pale beauty.

Wait! Is that 'Political Officer' Byron Messuir? The last we saw him was at the Port of Terreli. What is he doing in Stedor? And what could he be paying that 'painted lady' for? (OOC: I'll let Bregir figure out what this is supposed to be about.)

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Here are a few detail shots I was able to get.

Stedor seems to be cultivating fungi and other shade loving plants.

The wooden walkway appears to be a later addition to this part of Stedor. Those 'supports', though, seem much older. Could they have held statues at one time? Maybe we should ask Governor Damaximus.

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I apologize for the quality of some of the images. They were a bit rushed because I was loosing the light.

Comments?

Edited March 10, 2017 by gedren_y

[TitusV]

Very nice build, I think you captured the Stedor-feeling if Maxim very well!

And wondering who that unnamed female captain may be...

[gedren_y]

8 hours ago, TitusV said:

Very nice build, I think you captured the Stedor-feeling if Maxim very well!

And wondering who that unnamed female captain may be...

Thanks. As to the lady captain; her accent suggested she's from Oleon. A fair reason not to give her name.