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In Flaming Revelry Journey They had lost their way, that was clear to Sir Octavian. Once such lands would’ve been littered with villages and barons eager to make their mark upon the world; now, only the occasional roadman was waiting to prey upon the half-famished farmers on their way to pay tax to the petty prince and his assembly of bureaucrats, too heavy to even make it beyond the walls of Providence. The Imperial State Army would not be here to save these men, for they were not an army but a guard force of noblemen sent there by their fathers in the name of political advancement. Reflection This was not the Empire that Sir Octavian remembered, nor the Empire that he had helped build. He frowned some then as he dismounted from his jet-black steed, plated boots clunking into the rough gravel roads of New-Esbec. He walked the streets, once full of hope and joy. Now, the town was abandoned abandoned for all but a few of the most heinous souls, set only for a parade of ghosts. The tavern's sign hung halfway off, creaking eerily in the wind. He entered, sat at the dust-covered bar, wrote a letter to a sister far away, and sent it off. Then, he waited. The Arrival - Days Later The air in New Esbec seemed abnormally warm that morning. Even for the summer, the mountain air normally seemed crisp and uncomfortably biting at the cold-blooded Dragonkin’s skin. Arthonath made his way to the gates then, a smile forming on his face as he saw the faces of his brothers and sisters climbing the mountain path before him. "Helinathe." he smiled toothily, greeting her with a brotherly hug, extending the same to Antonius then, before greeting the Heralds with a nod of his head. "Let this be a message then, to those within the Empire and those beyond, that our Father’s reach extends further than they might ever know." His sister responded, “Not only a message to the Empire, but a celebration for the arrival of Antonius who has come back to us, brother.” She clutched his arm then, determined perhaps that her newly-returned sibling not leave once more. Flames The Banner of Azdromoth was raised within New Esbec that afternoon. His worshipers made their way throughout the city, burning it to the ground, some in glee, others in solemn reluctance. Sir Octavian passed a torch onwards to the former architect of the city, "Finish now what you started." And with that, a final torch was thrown, setting the ever towering manor aflame. And thus, as the sun fell beyond the reaches of the mountains, the city stood out as a beacon for all within those accursed mountains to witness. Reverence And thus, even as the sun’s warm gaze fell beyond the reaches of the mountains, the flaming city stood out as a beacon, a flaming pillar of The Arch-Drakaar’s own image towering into the skies above for all to witness, a bonfire in celebration of sibling’s reunion made merrier by the herald’s pledge.

Haeseni Superstitions & Omens 10th of Vzmey and Hyff, 382 E.S. Well-founded belief in the supernatural and the souls of the atheistic, impious and deplorable who have not left the mortal plane for Godani has chosen to forbid them access to the Seven Skies or their wickedness has persisted in death to the ruin and destruction the of the lives of the faithful thus traditions and rational practices prevail to keep them at bay. The pious are not alone in this endeavour for the devout have transcribed the signs that Godani sends in warning and, should one pay attention, they can prevent catastrophe and ill luck from plaguing the lives of the righteous. Good Luck: For the reverent few who take notice of these signs Godani has bestowed on us in our efforts to remove any evil and impropriety from our lives, good fortune and happiness will flow in abundance. Listed below are the known causes and symptoms augured by Godani-fearing men on the causes of good luck: Bird excrement brings good luck. Doubly so for the excrement of a crow. An itch on the hands has financial repercussions. An itchy right hand brings good financial fortune whereas an itchy left ushers in bankruptcy. An awkward silence is a sign that an angel is surely passing through the room, blessing you with their presence. Carry an acorn with you to stay young looking, it is common practice for a suitor to gift one to a potential or existing match. Knock on wood to reverse a jinx. Acknowledging that you have jinxed one’s self and correcting it discourages malicious forces from acting upon it. Crying at your wedding brings good luck and a fruitful evening. Wedding bells ward off evil spirits. Godani saw fit to have unions of holy matrimony be a wholly glorious event so that the only spirits causing issues at a wedding are the ones consumed by the couples’ relatives and friends. Bad Luck: Those who do not heed the signs or commit an action that has connections to inviting spirits, wrongdoers or transgressors against Godani into one’s life will be struck with misfortune and ruin. Listen below are the known causes and symptoms augured by Godani-fearing men on the causes of bad luck: Do not go right home after a funeral otherwise you invite the spirit to follow you home and cause untold misery and misfortune on all the occupants. Whistling indoors welcomes evil spirits for they are attracted to the whimsical tune that has no air to carry it away. Knitting outside could prolong winter for you are telling Godani that you are expecting conditions to remain cold and frigid. On your wedding night do not change your slippers or you will change your man. If one cannot even be loyal to a pair of shoes for one night, then one’s eyes will certainly stray from the wedding bed. Pregnant women should avoid eating asymmetrical foods or else their offspring will be disfigured and lopsided. Do not walk into a hospital during the month of Wzuvar and Byvca or your chances of walking out will be slim to none. Do not sit at the corner of a dinner table or else you may become infertile. If you or someone else nod three times during a conversation, the conversations must end at once. Nodding multiple times implies a stagnancy in the exchange of words and a lack of sincerity. Do not wear red during a storm lest it is your intention to attract and be struck by lightning. Do not toast with water unless you want your friends to die. Opposingly to toast with a serving of Carrion Black is to wish good tidings and prosperous ventures. To enter a room with your left foot is a sign of imminent bad luck. Hide your thumbs when passing a graveyard, else you invite a spirit to hold your hand. If you are experiencing a tickling sensation in your nose, make sure to ask somebody to slap you on the hand and slap them back otherwise you are risking getting into much more serious trouble, as the streltsy believe an itchy nose is a sign of an upcoming fight. To have an uneven number of livestock can cause disease to run rampant through the community of them. This has been a long-standing tradition kept within the streltsy. Being knocked over a fence in a tourney grounds results in a year’s bad luck. Long persisting injuries are the most common of the ill-fated fortunes. A Haeseni Chess game left unfinished will upset the stomach. Do not place two mirrors across from one another otherwise a wandering spirit may be trapped between them. These spirits are liable to cause nightmares and misfortune in whichever household they have become entrapped in. Yellow flowers cause infidelity. To be gifted them is an insult equivalent to calling one an adulterer or sodomite. The name Franz is a cursed one or so it is to be believed if you listen to the streltsy populace. One named Franz is bound to have a hard life with an unfortunate end. Should a man’s weapon break, his body is sure to follow. The breaking of a weapon signifies a significant loss in one’s life and Godani sees it fit to blind a good portion of the sinners whose weapon breaks. Omens: Some signs are not as easily recognisable as a sign of good triumphing over evil or actions that could usher in the ill-meaning and disastrous into one’s life, these are called omens. Omens are a signal from Godani that something is coming which can be a righteous or calamitous event for he can see into the lives’ of men and foretell a decision they can make for good or worse or he gives forewarning of nature's course. Listed below are the omens augured by Godani-fearing men on events preceding Godani’s will or that which strays from it: A crow flying right to left is a sign of good things to come whereas a crow flying from left to right is an ill omen. The most Godani-fearing believe that to stand in front of the Palace is the ideal spot to construe these portents. A lone traveler who passes a stranger on the road can either come upon great wealth or horrible pain. One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, and four for a birth. Five for silver, six for gold and seven for a secret untold. The number of crows in a murder can determine these. Thunder without lightning is an omen for sudden change. Godani’s voice resonates throughout the heavens in times of extreme change. Penned and compiled by, Gregoryi var Borislav Ostrovsky, Last of the Hounds of Blessed John, Humble Servant of Godani and the Crown HRM, Annika Anastasija Barbanov, Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska