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Time: Evening, March 4
Post order: Free
Participation: Mandatory by 1 post (seek exception by PM to the AW account)
Everyone have been called to meet for a ceremony of the new year, which to AniWayans begins in March. Ulilohi will have spread the word days before, as well as having howled for their attention.
Hover the Cherokee words for translations.
Her hair was carefully prepared. It was strange to take this role, strange not because she was new to this place now, but because she knew more of the male who had previously made these ceremonies. Messages had come from the Great Tribe, finally, and she had spoken to several members of him, as well. It took time to wrap her head around who Dawali had been, and how he had led these individuals. Some held him in high regard still, but most did not. Still, he had been the one to shape life in this place, and she was curious to know how he had done so. She had learned, quickly, that his ceremonies had been without knowledge. Certainly not intentionally -- he had been left here alone, after all, without aid. She believed he had done his best, but his execution of their ceremonies had been flawed. Even so, Ulilohi was not entirely certain of what she ought to do. It was usually not a councilwoman's place to lead a ceremony, but their priests, fire keepers and teachers were not skilled enough for the task. Perhaps this had been Dawali's problem, too; she would never know, most likely. The task fell to her, and she went out of the Town Hall to welcome a new year with a somewhat unteady step, and a heart that seemed to randomly add beats to its rhythm.
After calling them, she watched as they arrived, straining not to fidget. She felt she must appear a rock, a powerful symbol; someone they could gather under, and if they would not love her at least they would dislike her together. At times they seemed not like a family, but an odd group of individuals. There was too little glue in this family, but she meant to provide more. They came and did not seem to know the way of gathering, but she could teach them this in time. This time, she had not requested that the priests and fire keepers make an appearance; it was all on her. Her hair was carefully ornamented, and for once she wore sparse clothing; bracelets of leather, painted elaborately, covered her lower arms. Once most of them had come, she stepped forward to speak to them, her voice hoarse but powerful. "Ulihelisdi, AniWayans." Her huge form dwarfed those of some of her tribesmembers', but for once her strength was fully to her advantage. Swallowing once, she continued, more confident. "I have spent the moons since I came here getting to know you, this history, and this place. It is not a history of ease or lack of struggle, but I pray that now begins a time for the better, so that the past can be past. The new year begins now, under Ahnvyi." Her large form bent to pick up a packet on the ground, and she opened it, showing that it was a deer's tongue. Apparently Dawali had asked them all to sacrifice things, and while this was certainly not wrong, it was nothing she would ask of them. She flung the tongue onto the Great Fire and watched it for a moment as it fizzled and grew darker. "The next seven days, we can feast on the harvest and stores from last fall, and dance for the new planting season. We will all extinguish and rekindle our hearths for fresh beginnings and to honor the renewal of life. I pray that the renewal of the season will touch on our present, as well, so that we can begin anew with new goals in sight and forgiveness in our hearts. Mitakuye oyasin." She smiled and looked at them, waiting for their reaction, her hands clasped together so as not to show them how nervous she really was. It would not do for a leader to show her tribesmembers how their presence made her shake.
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