LORE & FESTIVALS

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lore & festivals

While the lore of Beautiful Creatures and its religion doesn't have a significant impact on the forum as a whole, it does provide a little bit of history and insight on the creation of the Dynasties and their individual customs.

LORE

Before the creation of the Motherland and the world as we know it today there was two Goddesses, Evika and Yudire. Evrika was known as the Goddess of life, of prosperity and good fortune. Most pray to her for good health and the blessing of healthy children. She empowered the ideal of compassion and tolerance and is well known for her frivolous ways.

Her sister on the other hand was her complete opposite. Yudire was the Goddess of death, a being who was known for ushering the dead to their eternal resting place in the Ether and guarding the gates of the underworld. She was the embodiment of death and it's stillness. She's often prayed for successful hunts, victory in battle, and for quick and painless deaths.

The two Queens ruled the universe for eons before combining their powers together to create the Motherland and her inhabitants. They nourished it, watched it grow, and slowly over time it was able to sustain life without godly intervention. It was then that the queen’s established the Dynasties that we know of today. They created Arkouda, the bears of the North; giving them the ability to withstand the harsh winters and mild summers. Next came the Skotadi, the felines of the South, and stalker of the shadows. Fengari and Eleos came next, providing shelter in the East for herbivores without a home and the West where vast opening became the home of canines, free to run for however long their legs could carry them.

For generations, the dynasties and inhabitants of the Motherland lived peacefully if not secluded. It was strongly believed that life and death were in the sole control of these gods. Murder was never thought of until one day war broke out between Fengari and Skotadi after a particularly bad drought in Fengari left them weak and malnourished. In a bid for survival, the canines trespassed into the bountiful lands of Skotadi to hunt. They were found by the young prince at the time and in an effort to cover their tracks one of the warriors of Fengari attacked and killed the youthful adult. This brought upon them a war, a war that Arkouda had to intervene upon and mediate for nobody would dare stand up to the powerful and mysterious bears of the North, the being’s considered favored upon by Yudire herself. However, this brought in the questioning of the god's power over death and life. Were we all gods in the end or is it just the fabrications of our minds? Capable of killing and giving birth to life without the will of Evika and Yudire themselves. Perhaps we’ll never know.

FESTIVALS

WINTER SOLSTICE - EVERYBODY: Winter is a time of stillness and recovery and a time when death becomes the natural state of life. As such winter has become the season of Yudire where everyone who worships her comes together during a time of peace and celebrates her calamity. A bonfire is usually built in her honor and is left to burn for 3 days straight where on the third day's night it's to slowly die out. The fire dying out any time sooner is considered a dishonor to Yudire and is believed to be a sign of hard times ahead. Prey is killed and blood is spilled in her honor. Carved bones and raven's feathers are tokens of appreciation given in her honor.

SUMMER SOLSTICE - EVERYBODY: Summer is the season of Evika, Goddess of life and prosperity. During this time all creatures in the Motherland that still worship her get together to build an altar and decorate it with plants, carved objects, colorful pebbles and feathers, and various other inanimate objects. The festival is held to welcome new life and in the new mated pairings that happen during this time. New mothers are presented with gifts and tokens of appreciation to show gratitude and express a female's fertility. It's believed that by celebrating, individuals win favor with the Evika herself.

THERAVADA - ARKOUDA: The celebration of the dead is a closely followed tradition dating back since the dawn of time. Arkouda is particularly close to Yudire, goddess of death and new beginnings, believing themselves to be the embodiment of her own will. That said Arkouda pays tribute to not only her but of those, she watches over and protects, particularly those deceased from Arkouda. While the occasion is sad and dreary the festival itself is actually rather uplifting and communal. Everyone has lost someone and life is all about suffering, however, during Theravada it is a time to remember the deceased and acknowledge that they are in the safety of Yudire's arms. Theravada is held near Wakehurt lake where crudely built wooden rafts are built by Arkoudian bears and decorated with flowers, seaweed, and various items found along the lakes shore and territory. Small prey items like salmon and berries will be feasted on before the rafts are launched into the lake to drift down varenwater fjord and out to the dalheim sea. This celebration lasts roughly a week and is a time of mourning, remembrance, and coming together.

VINAYA - ARKOUDA: Once every month on the night when the moon is at it's fullest shape Arkouda travel deep into their caves where a quiet serene pool of water sits with the reflection of the moon and stars cover its surface. There the bears of Arkouda sit in silence for the entire night murmur their confessions to their king or queen, ridding themselves of corruption and greed and purifying their souls while telling their hopes and dreams to their king and/or queen. This is a time of inner reflection and purification

SVARGANA - ARKOUDA: Svargana is a time to celebrate the birth of the current king and/or queen. This is a time of joy and ceremony, giving thanks to the ruling king/queen for their sacrifices and suffering. A feast will be held along with a grand hunt hosted in the honor of the continuity of Arkouda. During this time Arkodian's will renew their vows and pledges to the ruling king/queen. Gifts will be given as a token of appreciation and continued servitude. This celebration lasts around 3 days where everyone can relax and let loose. A lot of elderberry elixir tends to be consumed during this time.

LADRONKA BURNING - SKOTADI: Ladronka Burning is a sacrificial ceremony of a living being (could be an animal and/or even a blood sacrifice) to grant good luck in the name of the Gods and Godesses. This is a tradition which started 20 years ago when a King was having a hard time producing a suitable heir. After a sacrifice and a prayer to the Gods, it was said a suitable and rightful heir was born. The Ladronka Burning usually takes place on Mount Woe.

HERO'S FIGHT/WAR/DEATH - SKOTADI: While not a tradition or festivity; Skotadi believe in fighting for what you own and love. The Skotadi are well known for their battle fury. Because of this ingrained belief, it is well known that before a great battle or fight, the warriors of Skotadi may roll and ‘paint’ themselves with war-paint (brightly coloured berries or even blood). The war-paint was said to evoke fear in the enemy and is a tradition they have had ever since the first battle with Fengari. Due to the great battle with Fengari, many Felidae began to question the existence of the Gods and whether they truly held life or death in their paws. Because of this questioning, it was believed that a death where one died fighting, protecting or hunting for the good of the dynasty was considered honorable. A hero’s death.

LUPERCALIA - SKOTADI: The celebration of a new mateship and blessings of fertility. Usually the newly mated pair put together a small feast with their closest friends and family - occasionally the whole dynasty if it is a high ranking felidae. The festival is a one-night only event and consists of a lot of love-making, free-thinking and good spirits. A lot of elderberry elixir tends to be consumed on these nights.

MOONLIGHT'S CRY - FENGARI: This event celebrates the "phases" of the dynasty and its members. At varies points in life, individuals and clans are known to go through some kind of change. During the night, every member gathers around the Beryl Oasis. First, they would draw the Simádi symbol along the shore. Next, they would gather in a circle and discuss their growth (intellectually, skill sets, personality, etc) and goals (if any). The canines would also be given the opportunity to celebrate the fallen. At the end, everyone would call to the moon with the queen/king in lead. 

EYUNA'S CLEANSE - FENGARI: Powerful emotions, such as pain, anger, regret, jealousy prove to be dangerous when not addressed. At the first days of winter and fall, the shaman or queen/king would bring the clan together and ask the hunters to gather in the middle. Either the healer or leader would spin bone that has one carved side. If the carved side lands on a member, then that individual would have to join the big hunt. There would be up to 5 hunters. If there are less than five hunters, then all of them would have to hunt. Once the hunting party is established, they would go on a hunt for a large animal. The pack would linger around the kill after the hunting finishes. Together, everyone would bite through the prey and do as much damage as they would like. When there isn't any meat left, members would then throw bones into the Foxtail Rapids to complete the cleanse. 

MARROW'S TRUTH - FENGARI: Everyone encounters events, other individuals, objects, etc. that would stick to their soul. In order to celebrate or find peace, members would try to carve a bone. The carvings should represent what is held in their chest. Nobody should speak to anyone that is carving as it disrupts concentration. There would be a pit dug out in any selected Fengari territory. Members would throw their bones in and help bury them. Nobody is allowed to read another one's truth. Sharing is prohibited until the next day. This event happens at the first day of each spring. Canines can carve at any time of the day before nighttime.