Post by Eloell on Jan 11, 2022 21:49:57 GMT -5
TRIBUTE
This Eldour-established holiday is, unfortunately, exactly what it sounds like (and not much of a holiday). Every year, during the last 15 days of Aestas, every citizen of Dresmond is expected to travel to the Temple Eldouir to pay tribute to the Eldouir family, an occasion quite uncreatively referred to as 'Tribute'. This tribute that the Dresmondi brings must be a sacrifice of some sort. It must hurt them to pay it. This hurt doesn't have to be physical. It could hurt them financially, hurt them emotionally, etc. But it needs to be sacrificial, thus it cannot be given out of an abundance, but should be a laborious thing to pay. It is considered their way of thanking the Eldouir family for descending upon them and liberating them from their former lifestyle and bringing them into a new age under Eldouir rule. At the time of Tribute, the citizen steps forward with their sacrifice and presents it. The Eldouir at the altar (usually one or both of the queens, but it could be any Eldouir, as none of them have the endurance to stand around all day) then decides whether the sacrifice brought to them is worthy or not. If it is found worthy, the citizen receives a mark. If the sacrifice is worthy enough, they may even receive more than one. If their sacrifice is found unworthy, however, they receive none. In fact, if a sacrifice is shamefully unworthy, the Eldouir may even remove a mark formerly given.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MARKS
What's so good about getting a mark? Well, the more marks a Dresmondi sports on his/her wrist, the more favor that individual has found with the Eldouirs. The more favor found with the Eldouirs, the more likely the family is to protect the individual; even if that protection is from themselves. Dresmondi without marks cannot hope to be defended or supported by Eldouirs in any context. This applies to both those whose pithy sacrifices haven't earned them any marks, as well as to those who haven't attended Tribute (whether due to traveling outside of Dresmond, being in Arynn Frey, or simply not going). A Dresmondi with no marks is liable to being randomly killed by an Eldouir, and there is no justice for the unfavored. Aside from Tribute, Dresmondi may earn or lose marks throughout the course of the year by Eldouirs for any given reason. This, however, is uncommon, and reserved for the highest form of praise or simply for punishment (though, really, losing a mark is a light punishment compared to amputation or death).