Cronicas Goreanas

Ceremony

Adamark Susenko nods and clears his throat, ‘I ask that all of you be silent as I deliver a speech to the happy couple.’ AHem, ahem, ahehehehehe hehe cough cough hack hack hem. Mhm. Cough, wheeze.

“Friends and citizens, thank you for coming to witness this companionship today.”

“The Free Companionship is a duty, a pillar of the society, the rising up of the free woman to step into her place fully and with profound respect. There is no woman more respected than the Gorean Free Companion.”

“That woman is respected because she is the mother of free Gorean Men. She is a paragon of the virtues of Gorean Free Women that make them worthy to be the mothers of men. She is Strong, She is proud, she is a woman beyond values, beyond price. And may her sons, and may she have many, grow to become fine strong Gorean Men.”

“Vorenus Tatus, one of the great heroes of Ti, was known as an explorer, a wanderer, a seeker of knowledge. Fitting too, as his descendant’s hands are held by a man of similar leanings. A man who has traveled, who has explored, who has sought out knowledge. And a man who has returned home to the Home Stone of his life, the marking of his passage in the glorious City of Ti.”

“Each Companionship, Each Child of Ti is a blessing and a joy, and each is celebrated, loved, revelled in as the strengthening of the bonds of hearth and home. For what man fights more fiercely than one who has a family to protect? What woman stands straighter than one who’s sons become the men of her city? These are the ties that bind us, as a people, as a community, as Ti.”

“Garian, with this woman, Julia of the gens of Tatus, it is your intention to enter into contract of communion with her? To build and strengthen your hearth and your home? To set bonds and boundaries, to guide her, to protect her, to provide for her as your free companion of your will and choosing?”

Garian Vidor blinks slowly, looking straight at Julia and beginning to grin. “I pledge to be her companion, yes.”

Adamark Susenko: Julia, with this man, Garian of the Vidor, it is your intention to enter into contract with him? To build and strengthen your hearth and homestone? To be guided and bound to him in the confines of companionship? To honor him and your Home Stone and city in all that you do? To accept him as your free companion of your will and choosing?

Sabina Takakura lets out a long, slow, breath and speaks. “I pledge to be his companion.” and smiled.

Adamark Susenko: As it has been stated before witnesses, let it be written for perpetuity in document, that Julia of the gens Tatus, and Garian of gens Vidor have chosen each other in free companionship; that they have accepted the duties and responsibilities to themselves, to their Home Stone, and to each other. Let them mark now, on the contract, their signatures of assent and acceptance of this duty.

Garian Vidor moves toward the document, scribbling his signature with the quill swiftly, allowing it legally so

Sabina Takakura gently takes the quill from his hand, and signs her own name to it, just below his.

Adamark Susenko reaches down beside him and lifts up a ornate cup, handing it to Garian.

“Having accepted each other as free companions, you will share hearth and home, and symbolic of that, you share the cup of Free Companionship. From this day, to the end of your contract, you share cups, cups of joy, cups of sorrow, but always together at each other’s side, in honor and pride of your purpose and Home Stone”

Garian Vidor, in a matter of Gorean tradition, interlocks his arm with Julia and takes a sip of the wine for free companionship, handing it to Julia and licking his lip

Sabina Takakura takes the cup, and keeping her arm locked with his, slips the cup beneath her veils and drinks.

Adamark Susenko: The Gorean Free Companion relishes in a more protected status, but too, she is vulnerable. Expressed in the removal of the eight veils, one by one. But too, she is companion to this man, not his slave. And for each layer of protection between him and her he takes away, he must provide something in kind. Garian, as you remove each veil, speak of something that you promise to provide for your companion. And the last veil, the last promise, is private, between you both, and not for the eyes and and ears of so many witnesses.

Garian Vidor smiles, releasing his interlocked arm to reach forward to hold the first layer of the veil, saying, “I pledge to you…” he pulls it off, letting it fall to the ground between both of them, “to maintain strength for your protection.” He moves to the next one while smiling to her, watching her eyes, pulling it from her again, “to keep honour and respect to both our names.” The third falls by the time he says, “to build a family along side you.” He moves to the fourth, inhaling deeply…

Garian Vidor exhales with a bigger smile, looking at the attendance briefly before looking back into Julia’s eyes. He pulls the fourth, “I pledge to care for and maintain the health of our family.” And with the fifth, “to guide you, ensuring your focus with me.” He sees the veils are thining as he goes for the sixth, “I shall nourish you not only with food and shelter, but intellect.” He reaches for the seventh, but says before pulling it off, “and I shall respect you as a free woman.” He pulls it to fall on top of the other layers piled up, looking at the last one, the private one that remains.

Sabina Takakura tenses up, almost out of instinct with each veil he removes, then relaxes as she takes a deep breath. She couldn’t help but smile at the promises, and whispered very quietly, “Thank you.”

Adamark Susenko smiles at them both and continues. “Agreed and signed, shared and promised, the companionship contract of Garian of the Vidor and Julia of the Tatus is acknowledged and accepted by the City of Ti, will be filed in the hall of documents, and respected by each of her citizens. I wish you both a peaceful, and strong companionship, Great health, Great Wealth, and Strong proud free children.”

Ta Gor Civitatus Ti.

Garian Vidor says with Adamark, “Ta Gor Civitatis Ti.”

Sabina Takakura grins like a fool and chimes in “Ta Gor Civitatis Ti!”

A Gift

Rip Razor: I wont be attending your…feast. I bring a gift for this man….the son of Garian.

Garian Vidor looks to the man garbed in black with a puzzled look on his face

Sabina Takakura tenses, seeing the black helmet and shoots a worried look at Garian.

Adamark Susenko arches a brow and steps forward, hand at his hilt, just in case.

Lamya Seferis raises a brow and looks at the mans color, a brief flicker of hope and a smirk rise to her.

Rip Razor suddenly draws both the swords from his back with blinding speed and then crouches low before the feet of the son of his mentor, laying the swords out intricately before him. “These belonged to your father. I think he would want you to have them on this day.”

Adamark Susenko smiles and relaxes his hand, watching the gift bearing.

Sabina Takakura nearly faints dead away as soon as she realized there was no ill will there.

Garian Vidor backs up with shock at first, hand extended to Julia, before realizing the intent, “My… father’s swords…Uh, thank you.”

Lamya Seferis makes a noise that sounds a lot like, “That figures.” and rolls to her feet, hands smoothing any wrinkles out

Selene Freenote pauses in the motions of a sturdy applause, and puts her hands folded in her lap again. She says with quiet delight. “Pretty!”

Kallista Muliaina thinks what a precious gift

Rip Razor then draws the sheath from his back and tosses it over to the man as well. “One day you will wield these blades as you lead the Black Caste in to glory.”

Syngen Sohmers coughs, more than a little surprised

Garian Vidor catches it, moving the swords over to the stage, laughing slightly now, “Okay, I think it’s time for some food and Ka-la-na”

Rip Razor turns and moves away, disappearing into the ship before it sets sail.

Dance

Syngen Sohmers snaps the fans open with a bright flash, exaggerating the delicate movements of her hands and arms, watery, flowing wending her way around the space, flower petals lifting and churning in her wake. How softly she spins, the balls of her feet making the sharp tattoo on the wood in time to the lapping Olni.

(Full dance not included)

And of course…

What happens under the golden love lamps, stays under the golden love lamps.

Thank you

Minu Maktoum for the plates from the Tahari.

Sacha Kessel for the slave ring and chain.

Koh Gausman and Xaz Elephas for the “Black Gold”.

Rip Razor for the blades.

Nadia (Syngen Sohmers) for the cake and preparations.

And everyone who showed up.