SMASHES IN HERE, THIS IS RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS TOO ( resident funeral director here )
Like Springstar, Highstorm is reliant on the presence of the Tree of Life as an integral part of its death rites and beliefs. While Springstar engages in cremation/pyres, with the release of the dead's soul back into custody of the Tree, engaging in a cycle of life and rebirth, Highstorm's rites differentiate in that they believe that the Tree of Life is a sieve through which souls pass — and custody is held in the waters of Highstorm.
Within the depths of the Greenwood Yards are a variety of greenhouses built out of crumbling ruins, known as the Sunset Gardens. These small islands are surrounded by crystalline springs of deep water, so clear and pure that one can see hundreds of feet down into the depths. Sometimes, when looking into the waters of the Gardens, one can see flickers of organic movement — as if something is passing through. This is the place where the souls of the dead are said to be interred in Highstorm's culture. As for the physical body: because individuals in Highstorm are often immortal or long of life, death is seen as natural but uncommon.
While the Church of Helios observes a yearly mass rite for their dead, Highstorm can afford a more personal touch: two teams of six vulture-like women, known as Khojin's Daughters, engage in the ritual practice of taking the physical remains of the dead ( whatever form those take! ) into their care. Once, they were brought to the Manor and now, they are brought to the Mausoleum on pilgrimage, before their remains are taken to the Tower of Silence — where the ladies engage in ritualistic excarnation. That is, they eat the remains. It's highly secretive and exceptionally ritualized! To some it might be terrifying, but these ladies are extremely respectful and adoring of the dead.
Once the body has been devoured, they process to the Sunset Gardens and breathe the soul into the waters.
no subject
Like Springstar, Highstorm is reliant on the presence of the Tree of Life as an integral part of its death rites and beliefs. While Springstar engages in cremation/pyres, with the release of the dead's soul back into custody of the Tree, engaging in a cycle of life and rebirth, Highstorm's rites differentiate in that they believe that the Tree of Life is a sieve through which souls pass — and custody is held in the waters of Highstorm.
Within the depths of the Greenwood Yards are a variety of greenhouses built out of crumbling ruins, known as the Sunset Gardens. These small islands are surrounded by crystalline springs of deep water, so clear and pure that one can see hundreds of feet down into the depths. Sometimes, when looking into the waters of the Gardens, one can see flickers of organic movement — as if something is passing through. This is the place where the souls of the dead are said to be interred in Highstorm's culture. As for the physical body: because individuals in Highstorm are often immortal or long of life, death is seen as natural but uncommon.
While the Church of Helios observes a yearly mass rite for their dead, Highstorm can afford a more personal touch: two teams of six vulture-like women, known as Khojin's Daughters, engage in the ritual practice of taking the physical remains of the dead ( whatever form those take! ) into their care. Once, they were brought to the Manor and now, they are brought to the Mausoleum on pilgrimage, before their remains are taken to the Tower of Silence — where the ladies engage in ritualistic excarnation. That is, they eat the remains. It's highly secretive and exceptionally ritualized! To some it might be terrifying, but these ladies are extremely respectful and adoring of the dead.
Once the body has been devoured, they process to the Sunset Gardens and breathe the soul into the waters.