Video / un; Geilt

[hardestbattle]

...The spirits that inhabit this settlement are not happy. Are we- does anyone know of Samhain?

[Said while digging into a tub of ice cream.]

The time when the doors between the world of the living, and the dead, are left open.

Comments

video — un: munson

[thefreak]

I've heard of Samhain. I never celebrated it myself, but it wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've done to appease the spirits.

( Granted, his experience with appeasing spirits might be in the context of Dungeons & Dragons but he's not going to mention that fact. )

[hardestbattle]

I suppose it might be odd to anyone from a foreign land. But I assure you that it's not. There is nothing odd about appeasing the spirits, or mourning, and wishing for the return of, the sun.

[thefreak]

You'll have to forgive me. I didn't mean weird in --

( He stops momentarily, collects himself, and draws a deep breath. It's taking a lot to get used to being able to record video on this thing. )

I didn't mean to imply the act of observing would be weird. Or, I guess my choice of words was poor. I more meant that, as someone who does not usually practice any religion, I don't want to anger the gods or spirits in the process accidentally. Does that make sense?

[hardestbattle]

Religion?

...I suppose it is, isn't it? But it does make sense. Then what do you normally do during it? If anything.

[thefreak]

Uh...it's kind of become a different celebration, I guess? Kids dress up in costumes and go around door to door, and some neighbors hand out candy. It's all about spookiness and horror now.

voice; un: emet-selch

[recreator]

Well that doesn't sound ominous in the slightest.

But to answer your question, no. I am not familiar with this Samhain. In fact, I'd think it would be rather misguided and disorderly to "leave the door open" between realms for any extended length of time. What more can you tell me of it?

[hardestbattle]

It can be ominous. With the barrier between the two worlds being thin, all manner of spirits may slip through and linger through the cold months.

Samhain is that. The celebration of the coming of winter, the time of harvest, the loss of the sun. It's the time when the door between the living, and the otherworld, is thin. In order to appease the spirits that visit, whether they be the dead or otherwise, offerings are to be made, and celebrations are to be had. Lest those very same spirits cause problems during winter.

[recreator]

Would it not be easier to simply coax them back over onto their side? Assuming there is no known means of reinforcing the barrier, that is.

[Those would have been his first two responses, for the record. Not that he's foolish enough to think he could accomplish such a feat alone, but with enough assistance and enough magicks, it hardly seems an impossibility.]

The way I see it, celebrating the occasion will only encourage them to return year after year after year. ...not that I've ever known anyone (living or no) who would turn down a chance for some festive merrymaking, regardless of the sort of company that turns out for it.

Just to be clear, are you speaking of souls or elemental spirits? Or is it both?

[hardestbattle]

What would be the point? You'd most likely only offend them for being a rude guest. You can't stop the cycle of winter and fall. When the sun vanishes and the world grows cold.

[A shrug. It's all just a natural cycle.]

They can be souls of the dead, or something else. The hidden folk, gods, various spirits, and so on. They can cause mischief, or be helpful, or neutral. The best thing to do, is to just welcome them and hope they leave you alone for the winter.

[recreator]

[Yes, yes. He knows all about natural cycles, though perhaps the ones he knows are somewhat different.]

"What would be the point?" you ask. A tear in the rift between realms large enough to allow the souls of the dead to wander out on a whim would be more than cause for concern. 'Twould be a disruption of the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

And it certainly wouldn't be the first time I and one of the departed were forced to confront our differences of opinion.

I do not know of your hidden folk, and any mention of gods are limited to myths and hypotheticals, but I do know souls. You could say it is a year-round venture of mine, and one hardly limited to the colder months.

Video | un: Ourobourosed

[inlovewithmycar]

Samhain! I love Samhain! Even the missionaries couldn't completely shit that one up when they absorbed it, not like they did with Yule.

It's called Halloween in my time, and there's a lot more emphasis on chills, thrills, spooks, and general supernatural mischief and less on the whole appeasing spirits, but that hasn't entirely gone and the costumes are still a thing.

Just, uh, probably not what you'd be used to.

[hardestbattle]

Missionaries?

[Those weird men from the South and continent that liked to talk about some god that was impaled on a stick?]

To be fair, it is a rather thrilling time, and very much chilly. It's the time of the year when the veil between worlds grows thin, and trickster spirits roam about. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to continue some of the traditions here.