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[wontturntofoam]

[Video clicks on, and lo, it is a pink faced young man, sitting in a nest of fabric in one of the empty cabins. He hasn't bothered to introduce himself on the network (he's used to just being known), and he's not personalized the cabin at all, just found an empty one and nested there.]

I have watched the winter festival celebrated each year, every year, for as long as I can recall. There is ceremony, there is song, and there is sacrifice. It is curious to me, that you celebrate the winter festivals here, although there is no snow or frost... [Curious, perhaps, but Shrieky looks quietly content, as though he finds this tradition more pleasing than strange.] ...I have seen the decorations, the feasting, and the seed of the gods hangs in the hallway. I have seen your ceremony and heard your song.

So, what do you intend to sacrifice?

[And now his agenda emerges, because in the early years, before monotheism began to take hold back in his home, a certain amount of respect was paid to certain geographical sites. Certain trees. Certain mounds. A certain river which fed into a certain moat... Meaning that sometimes when there was a sacrifice...]

What do you intend to sacrifice, and will I be getting any?

Comments

[culver]

What?

[overdraws]

...Nothing?

[ex_striking429]

Do you mean Space Christmas?

[coldhardy]

[Crisply:]

What would make you think you would get any?

[You can have pie or something! Nothing needs to be sacrificed for the sake of snow or frost!]

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[judex]

We choose sacrifices from among the people who had screaming fits on arrival.

[ He's joking. But he's also from a place where human/elf sacrifice is pretty routine, so he's only joking to an extent.

Also very confused by Space Christmas. ]

video;

[peckish4action]

One, what do you expect people to sacrifice?

Two, why are you getting what is sacrificed?

Three, the whole thing with sacrifices kinda has evolved with time. People used to sacrifice other people, then animals, then smaller animals, then flowers and herbs, and then it went symbolic, to things like lighting candles or incense. So, you know. Setting up a party, volunteering to be there and cheerful and make it festive for others? That can also be sacrifice, if it comes from the heart.

Video forever

[wontturntofoam]

Traditionally, after the feasting and the songs, a ceremonial sacrifice is made.

[wontturntofoam]

You don't sound very certain.

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[wontturntofoam]

Yes. It is the winter festival, isn't it? They use the same leaves and garlands to decorate for it.

[wontturntofoam]

Because, traditionally, I do get some. Some for the roots, some for the sheep fields, some for the roads, and some for me.

[some for the moat, technically, but same difference!]

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[wontturntofoam]

No, you have to sacrifice something that you like, or you want to keep. That's how it works, otherwise it's not a sacrifice.

[Shrieky says this like a man who is completely comfortable with the fact that he isn't wanted here. It's fiiiine.]

[voice]

[circumitus]

Aren't ceremonial sacrifices a little archaic?

video;

[wontturntofoam]

Sometimes it's apples, or sometimes it's something to drink, but usually, it's a goat. And I don't know why I get some, I just know that I do.

Some for the roots, some for the wheat, some for the waters, and some to keep. Those are the rules.

And perhaps humans have taken to doing those things instead where you are from, but I can't see how they can possibly serve the same purpose. Perhaps there are no roots or wheat here, but surely we survive thanks to the oxygen gardens, and perhaps thanks to those tubes we awaken in, but they'll gain no joy or sustenance from the festive pleasures of a celebration for humans.

So offerings should be made.

[voice]

[wontturntofoam]

In a place where the seasons never change, celebrating winter at all may be Archaic.

But if you will feast, you must offer also.

[judex]

[ I wish I had a boredly-picking-at-fingernails icon, but I don't. That's what he's doing, though. ]

Where you come from, perhaps. Where I come from they sacrifice whichever slave they'll miss the least.

[culver]

But why would you want any of it?

[voice]

[circumitus]

Not necessary. Didn't participate in the feast or celebration.

[wontturntofoam]

Then where's the point? The seasons don't want your cast offs, nothing will be appeased...

video;

[peckish4action]

Well, you could say Engineering and Agriculture departments sacrifice all their time to those, if you think about it. Maintenance, caretaking...

And I'm pretty sure Galadriel's presence itself is beneficial to the Gardens.

[ Beat. ]

Which one are you? Roots, wheat, or waters?

[wontturntofoam]

If there's a sacrifice going around, why wouldn't I want some?

[judex]

The seasons don't need appeasement. Blood fuels magic.

[voice]

[wontturntofoam]

[If there's a sound equivalent of a shrug, then Shrieky just did it.]

Not you then. They must offer.

[coldhardy]

[This line of thought is slightly harder to argue with than she anticipated.]

Why you, for winter?

[She's pretty sure that, as a queen who is also someone who can actually make it snow, she's fine with no tributes at all. She'd do it for the fun of it, if she weren't currently wary of doing it at all.]

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[wontturntofoam]

Imagine this: All year you collect berries, and I collect nuts. We work together, harmoniously, and at the end of the year, there is a great amount of food that will feed you through the winter, while I am cold and alone.

Imagine, that after we have performed this work together, you celebrate and do not invite me to join you, or share your happiness with me.

Next year, perhaps I will not be so willing to work hard with you.

Even at their best, humans can not force grain to grow. You cannot force the sun to shine kindly. You are only capable of doing half the work. So you must sacrifice.

[He doesn't know, exactly, how he knows this. Decades of absorbed knowledge gleaned from watching the ceremonies, perhaps.]

I was in the water.

[wontturntofoam]

Lots of things need appeasement. Perhaps your seasons are constantly discontent with you.

And I don't think we're talking about the same thing at all, now. What does magic have to do with Winter.