"The Bard's Song" AKA "Warmth" ((Inuyoko Mass # 1 / #9))
"We represent the best of Aislingkind. And I refuse to accept that our generation will be known for one of ennui." -Merisa, "Octave, Frozen, Octave (Year of Deoch)"
"Flames dancing in a hearth. Rejuvenating warmth. Inspiration." -Galena, "Godly Impressions"
Hello everyone. My name is Inuyoko T'Alveni. I am a Cleric of this faith and have served its clergy since Deoch 53. As always, I feel blessed to be here now with you all, so thank you for sharing this experience with me. If it is your first time in this shrine, welcome. As a matter of note, I was a little bit bogged down this past double-moon, and so I am falling back on an earlier Mass that I wrote -- I apologize if you have heard these words before, but I appreciate your understanding. I promise to have a fresh presentation for you next double-moon. This Mass was my first when I returned to Temuair a while back, and it speaks to the joy that I felt from what I experienced when I returned. And so with that…
To begin, I'd like to ask you all a question. What words or feelings do you most associate with Deoch? [Words like flame, creativity, debauchery, warmth, spark, and time may come up]. All great answers. For me, warmth is the thing I most associate with Him. Now, we all know what warmth means, but it is a word that is much deeper than it seems on the surface. When I say warmth, I think of the warmth I see in the eyes of a loved one. I think of the loving feeling experienced when joy is shared. I think of the slow relief that eases the body, sitting before a fire on a cold night.
I have spent many moons among these stones, seeing reflections of my experiences in the dazzling lights that surround us. But there is only so much that lonesome reflection can give to a person. I am reminded of the words of Merisa, who in "Octave, Frozen, Octave (Year of Deoch)" wrote: "We represent the best of Aislingkind. And I refuse to accept that our generation will be known for one of ennui."
This stagnant feeling,
this emptiness,
this 'ennui' she wrote of haunted me as the Deochs passed and Temuair felt colder and colder. But then one day, floating on the winds came the words of a Bard, singing of the history of this land, its people, and its beauty. And then, for the first time in what seemed like forever, a truly new Spark entered these lands. And suddenly, I felt a new warmth. Errant, but unmistakable. A "Rejuvenating Warmth," in the words of Galena in "Godly Impressions".
Soon, we witnessed a flood of new Sparks, new Aislings being born into the dream and in short order these lands were suddenly brimming with life again. Deoch's flame burns hot and brightly, but it is creativity that fuels his love and his passion, and I have no doubt that that Bard's song helped to bring his awesome power back to us, and to guide you all through your journey that has now led you here to share in devotion with me today.
It's true that since I first wrote these words, the flames have diminished some. However, there is still plenty of life and activity where there wasn't before. I still get to experience the joy of helping new Sparks, and see Temuair through their fresh eyes. I still get to share in the beautiful community of dedicated worshippers and clergy each moon, and I am grateful for that.
Remember that as you continue on in your adventures: keep your creativity alive, and worlds like ours will never grow cold.
Mass is cast.
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