Dra'Elstin/2025/Rootsong Dirge (log)

2025 Rootsong Dirge

This is a log of the Rootsong Dirge that took place as part of the 2025 Dra'Elstin Holiday. It is from the perspective of Fehala.

Anarawd hoots.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "I think it's time."

Anarawd asks, in Sylvankind, "Is it time?"

Anarawd asks, speaking in Sylvankind to a shallow lake, "Are you ready?"

Anarawd says, speaking in Sylvankind to a tree, "You're almost on."

Sirona settles her gaze on Anarawd, watching him intently.

Sirona asks, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "This is a new celebration for me,

what exactly....?"

Aihan says, speaking formally in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "I stand will Watch, if you wish it

so. The Tha'Enaketh ofer our services as required."

Anarawd kneels in the dirt of the glade, their fngers splayed wide against the dark,

breathing earth.

Anarawd kneels down.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "Come down here."

[Everyone kneels.]

Anarawd beckons with one dirty hand.

A deep hum rises from Anarawd's chest, low and steady, making the very air seem to

shimmer around them.

Aihan observes his surroundings with an almost excruciating slowness.

(Riend places her hands against the soil and closes her eyes.)

Sirona closes her eyes for a moment.

Sirona hums a seemingly random tune.

Aihan touches one hand to the ground and chants a respectful bird-like trill.

Aihan's fngernails fash briefy with a tinge of green coloring.

Sirona fushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "Put your hand in the soil and... concentrate."

Moss on a nearby stone begins to quiver slightly.

Riend hums distractedly to herself.

(Fehala gets her hands dirty frst, rubbing the dirt into her palms. Once they are thoroughly

coated, she places the fat of her hands to the ground.)

(Sirona relaxes her body and begins to concentrate and hum from her chest.)

Beneath the surface, roots begin to stir slow, deliberate movements that crack the

soil in thin, curling lines.

The earth shifts in graceful swirls, as if invisible ink were being written with root-tips.

(Aihan places one hand to the ground, sinking his fngers lightly into the loam.)

(Fehala starts to hum. It begins with spit and spats until she fnds the right rumbling tone

deep in her chest. Once she has it, she lets it out with a low, mellow sound.)

Shapes emerge, spirals, jagged arrows, looping fgures like tangled threads.

(Sirona stirs slightly but continues to hum.)

(Silvynn touches ground.)

Silvynn scans his surroundings with the alertness of a seasoned scout.

A forest wolf carefully inspects a tree for scents before nonchalantly leaving a few scent

markings of his own.

Leaves rustle overhead though no breeze is present, as if the trees themselves are

holding their breath.

(Fehala maintains her willow's grace as she sways in place while kneeling along the water's

edge. Hands to the soil, she continues the low-sounding crooning from her chest.)

[Everyone saw a diferent vision. This is what Fehala saw:]

Within the churning ground, you see the quick shape of a squirrel.

Insects pause mid-scuttle, sensing something sacred in the silence.

(Aihan begins to hum deep in his throat, a resonating sound that grows in volume to add to

the vibrating harmony.)

The patterns in the dirt ficker and fade, each one lingering just long enough to suggest

meaning.

The soil glows faintly where the roots have touched, like the afterimage of lightning

behind closed eyes.

Anarawd focuses, their gaze fxed on the dancing signs, eyes refecting the shapes like still

water.

The hum fades to silence, and the glade feels suddenly colder, as if something has

passed through.

Fehala shivers.

Arbeia arrives, her fgure partially obscured by the fickering form of an enormous scorpion

made of smoldering safron light skittering beside her.

(Sirona sighs slightly meditating in the moment.)

Arbeia clasps her hands in a reverent gesture.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "Quick, join your other hands."

Arbeia gazes with interest at a tree.

Anarawd grabs for a nearby hand.

(Riend slows her hum, letting it fall to silence, before she sits back on her haunches and

opens her eyes.)

[Everyone joins hands.]

In a voice barely louder than a sigh, Anarawd speaks a single word that trembles

through the branches.

The word echoes.

Sirona closes her eyes and chants quietly under her breath.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "The Rootsong Dirge is a song from the trees. It's a gift from

the forest."

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "But it isn't just for me."

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "And though I may be versed in reading the signs, that doesn't

mean I saw all of them."

Anarawd asks, in Sylvankind, "Tell me, what did you see?"

Anarawd asks, speaking in Sylvankind to Silvynn, "Did anything appear to you?"

Anarawd looks faintly frantic.

Anarawd asks, speaking in Sylvankind to Aihan, "Or to you?"

Aihan quietly says, in Sylvankind, "I saw Raven, wide-eyed and curious. The keeper of

secrets."

A ghostly raven rises from the soil.

Fehala says, in Sylvankind, "I saw a squirrel." She shifts in place, attempting to hide her

unease. She smiles quickly, "Not one full of mischief, but purpose."

The raven speaks into your mind, "I cawed at the sky until it echoed back. Something

sacred stirs, even silence feels diferent."

The raven fades.

Arbeia closes her eyes for a moment.

Aihan slowly empties his lungs.

Silvynn says, in Sylvankind, "I saw a deer form within the earth."

Riend nods slowly.

A ghostly squirrel rises from the soil. [Nutterz! RIP]

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "The raven, the squirrel...."

The squirrel chitters a message directly into your mind, "I raced along branches,

scattering leaves like confetti. The trees are laughing with me!"

Aihan gives voice to a piercing caw, sounding exactly like a raven!

Riend smiles quietly to herself.

The squirrel fades.

A ghostly fawn rises from the soil.

Silvynn's concentration shifts and becomes more focused as he slightly tilts an ear in a

particular direction.

The fawn, delicate and barely present, whispers, "I stepped into the clearing and felt

the ground pulse beneath my hooves. Even the grass bowed in silence and awe."

The fawn fades.

Silvynn smiles.

Anarawd asks, speaking in Sylvankind to Sirona, "And you?"

Anarawd asks, speaking in Sylvankind to Sirona, "Did you see anything?"

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "I saw a frefy early...and a fawn."

A cloud of ghostly frefies appears.

Sirona gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

The buzz and on and of glow states, oddly clearly, "We ficker not just for the night, we

signal something ancient, glowing from within the soil."

A forest wolf barks loudly, listening with tilts of his head for any responses.

The frefies disperse into nothingness.

Anarawd asks, speaking to Arbeia, "Did. You. See. Anything?"

Arbeia says, "I did."

Anarawd speaks slowly and carefully.

Arbeia says, "I could see and hear all the animals."

Arbeia smiles.

Anarawd squeakily exclaims, "All of them?!"

Anarawd tries to pull Arbeia toward him.

Arbeia says, "The frefies just spoke."

Arbeia says, "It was... quite magical."

Arbeia nods.

Anarawd asks, "How will we be guided this coming year? What animating principle should

we follow?"

Anarawd asks, "The deer? The squirrel?"

Anarawd asks, "Who shall we be as a people?"

Anarawd looks to each face nearby.

Arbeia ponders.

Aihan quietly says, in Sylvankind, "We should be as we always have, elder. Sylvisterai."

Fehala says, in Sylvankind, "All. Each has a purpose and a function within the Green."

Anarawd slowly says, "We must Name the spirit that will guide us."

Arbeia asks, "How...does one choose that?"

Arbeia glances at Anarawd.

Anarawd asks, "Which speaks to our purpose?"

Anarawd says, "We can only send one out into the world."

Riend says, in Sylvankind, "Perhaps we will be more like the weaving birds, coming together

as a people to build a community together for the future."

The ghostly forms reappear, foating alongside you.

Sirona asks, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "The spirit that will guild all sylans

or each of us?"

Anarawd asks, "Shall we be the bird?"

Anarawd exclaims, speaking to Sirona, "All of us!"

Sirona nods understandingly at Anarawd.

Riend thoughtfully ventures, in Sylvankind, "Or, perhaps, like the beaver... taking that which

is past and building a future that is stronger and more resilient."

Arbeia humbly says, "I am not of your people so I do not believe it is for me to say."

Anarawd wrings his hands, his face a study in joy and worry.

Anarawd says, "We are living in the world now."

Fehala says, in Sylvankind, "We could take symbolism from the fawn. Already, the season

sings of joy with the snow-white yearling in the Dragonspine."

Anarawd pulls on the connected hands.

Silvynn says, in Sylvankind, "The frefies."

Anarawd says, "Choose."

Arbeia humbly says, "But..if i were to choose..."

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "The frefies."

Aihan quietly says, in Sylvankind, "The Tha'Enaketh have always relied on feathered spirits

to guide us, but I cannot speak for all sylvisterai."

Anarawd yells, "Choose! Together!"

Silvynn tilts his head toward Aihan, examining him intently as the tip of one ear twitches

briefy.

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "Something ancient."

Fehala says, speaking in Sylvankind to Aihan, "The Keeper of Secrets."

Aihan nods to Fehala.

Aihan says, speaking succinctly in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "Raven."

Ghostly forms foating within the tree branches ficker in and out of sight.

(Arbeia glances at each of the faces around her.)

Arbeia smiles.

Arbeia gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

Fehala says, speaking in Sylvankind to Aihan, "It is how we brought word to the others

during the Coming."

Silvynn tilts his head toward Fehala, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches

briefy.

Anarawd turns, shifting his weight from knee to knee.

Riend says, speaking in Sylvankind to you, "If we are to choose from the visions we have

seen today, then I would agree with you on the fawn. It has already become a symbol of

hope among our people."

The forms start to ficker out of existence.

Anarawd yells, "THE FAWN!"

Sirona nods at Anarawd.

Arbeia takes a moment to observe Anarawd.

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "The fawn."

Fehala says, in Sylvankind, "The fawn."

Aihan tilts his head down.

The forest exhales, birds call out, leaves tremble, and the roots still once more.

Aihan quietly says, in Sylvankind, "The fawn."

Silvynn says, in Sylvankind, "The fawn."

Something gathers near the lake, a swirling ball of energy and light and warmth.

Arbeia gazes with interest at a shallow lake.

Aihan turns to face a shallow lake.

Sirona gazes in wonder at a shallow lake.

Anarawd says, "Speak its name."

Anarawd exclaims, "The fawn!"

Aihan says, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to a shallow lake, "Fawn."

Riend nods almost imperceptibly.

Riend whispers aloud, in Sylvankind, "Fawn."

The mirror images surrounding Teevai undulate and grow stronger.

Teevai renews her songs.

Sirona says, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to a shallow lake, "Fawn."

Somewhere beyond the trees, the wind begins to move again, carrying the spirit's

name into the world.

The ball of light disappears into the sky.

Silvynn says, in Sylvankind, "Fawn."

Anarawd falls forward in exhaustion.

Anarawd quietly says, "We will be guided by the fawn. We will walk carefully, but will not

hide our beauty."

Fehala says, in Sylvankind, "A fawn is young and needs guidance. It may become the

responsibility of all to nurture this newborn into our world."

Anarawd shakily says, "Yes."

Anarawd adopts an agreeable expression.

Sirona nods slowly.

Riend nods slowly to Fehala.

Anarawd weakly says, "Thank you."

Aihan quietly says, in Sylvankind, "I feel that this spirit will need guidance and protection. It

is new in the world."

Anarawd nods at Aihan.

Silvynn says, speaking in Sylvankind to Fehala, "That is appropriate. The purpose of the

encampment is a place to gather the new and lost."

Anarawd shakes his head.

Fehala nods at Silvynn.

Anarawd says, "I fast until the Feast of Borrowed Voices."

Anarawd scrubs his dirty hands through his hair.

Anarawd stands up.

Anarawd says, "Anarawd."

Anarawd places a hand over his heart.

Anarawd bows.

Arbeia glances at Anarawd and clasps her hands in a reverent gesture.

Fehala listens for the fawn's true-name. She hears Vyshath'lyra, but there is so much noise

from the awakening forest, who is to know if it is truth or imgination.

Sirona quietly says, in Sylvankind, "Sirona."

Aihan says, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "Ai'han, of the Tha'Eneketh kinship."

Riend kindly says, in Sylvankind, "Riend."

Sirona says, speaking quietly to Anarawd, "Thank you for guiding us in this ceremony."

Riend kisses her fngertips and presses three of them to her heart.

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "Thank you so much for your aid."

Anarawd says, in Sylvankind, "I will go to deliver this message to the rest of the Council.

They will want to know before the Veil begins."

Sirona says, speaking quietly to Anarawd, "This was quite new for most of us, and we are

learning more of our culture. I thank you so."

Anarawd says, speaking to Arbeia, "Be welcome."

Anarawd rubs a hand on his face, smearing his cheek with dirt.

Aihan says, speaking quietly in Sylvankind to Anarawd, "It is as it should be for sylveristai.

You have no need to thank us."

Anarawd beams beatifcally.

Anarawd says, "Here. Here."

Anarawd splashes around in the water!

Sirona quietly says, "This is all so new to me."

Sirona blushes a glowing shade of red.

(Fehala keeps her hands dirty. Already, the loamy earth is beginning to dry, crack, and fake

of from her palms.)

Anarawd dashes of, calling out, "The fawn! The fawn!"