*A Page From Phaedra's Journal*
We* gathered at the Conclave with the items we collected the night before: weapons and fresh meat. Once we settled into an appropriately-reverent state, I began to chant for Badb. It had been a long time, and I had never called Badb myself before. Quite honestly, I was afraid.
Here is what I said:
Tonight we have gathered to talk to our goddess, Badb.
While Golem and his unwillingness to swear loyalty to a goddess
may be what precipitated this ritual, this is not the first time
that this has crossed my mind.
Badb has become more and more silent as time has gone on,
and we seek to gain an audience with Her
so that we may know Her wishes for us, and that we may carry on
the business of the Keepers as She sees most fit.
At this point, I placed the meat offering into Badb's cauldron.
Then I called out:
O Badb! Battle Raven! Your Keepers call to you!
It was here I dropped in the bag of weapons that we collected. Many very fine weapons were offered that night.
Finally, I said:
O Battle Raven! O Badb! O She of Battle! Your Keepers call to you!
We humbly ask for you to appear before us so that we may know your wishes.
At that point it was quiet for several minutes. I began to feel very tense and wonder if I had done something incorrectly, or whether Badb had decided simply to ignore us. In a column of fire, though, She appeared before me and before all of us.
Badb spoke briefly to the assembled, and then went directly to Golem. She asked him why he wanted to be a Keeper and after a brief exchange, She asked us if we would serve by the creation. We all agreed that we would, and so She made him a part of our order. It is most peculiar to think of fighting next to one such as Golem, but he seems sincere.
After that, Badb spoke to us of other worlds that needed Her. She told us that our maturity as a people had progressed to the point where She trusted us to go forth without Her. She said She might return someday, or She might not. She made no promises other than to promise us that She was very proud of our people. It was heartbreaking and exhilarating at the same time, and even the goddess Herself seemed to be moved. She said that She would miss us.
Badb also said that from now on, our Keeper oaths would not be to Her, but to the Citizenry and the Queen. She gave us new books to use as handbooks, and even a few books of oaths to keep around our offices.
With that, Badb left us, perhaps forever.
Afterward, I comforted a distraught Artegal. Sometimes I do not understand what has made him the way he is, but he is my longtime friend and has fought by my side so many times. I could do nothing but comfort him for a while. Many of us stayed to chat. We felt at once devastated and elated. Our goddess left us to our own devices, but it was with Her blessing and praise. If She must leave us, then this is the way.
I, for one, belive Badb was right. I believe that the Keepers can strike off on their own, serving country and Queen, and those two things alone. Certainly Keepers may still revere Badb if they wish, She just is no longer someone to whom we swear an oath. If this is what She wishes, then it is what we will do.
Now I must rest. It grows late.
*I apologize profusely, but I neglected to write the names down of the participants. Leave me a note under here if you joined us and I will be sure to add you to the list. For now, this is who I remember. I know there were others, but I simply am not sure.
Thanks and sorry!
Phaedra
Artegal
Bannor Warmark
Kujo
Ariel Nightshade
Augrin Ironwill
Golem
Landel
Draven Mordakane
Folta Mordakane
->This message was edited by Phaedra on 12/9/2009 12:49:41 AM(Eastern)
->Reason: Error(s) in Post
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Calling Down Badb - Badb Leaves Us: Recap
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Phaedra
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12/8/2009 3:59:50 PM
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