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D. Jon Scott’s WebsiteArtFiction ► Fantasy
D. J. Scott
Part I: Imegesis

Naissance: “Initiation”

11th Month, 4th Night, 4,631st Year
Copyright © 1999 C.E. by Dustin Jon Scott
[Last Update: 2003-ish]

Introduction

The Coven gathered. A coven of Witches that had gathered since its priests and priestesses were but tiny children. The Coven gathered just as covens had been gathering since a time when Neanderthals and woolly mammoths ruled the Northlands of Borea. They gathered in worship of the Great Father and Sun God, Lucifer, and the Great Mother and Moon Goddess, Diana, just as all covens have since before the Great Father and Great Mother birthed Aradia and sent her to Gaia to free the slaves of humanity; since before the ways of the Craft were bestowed upon the thieves and outcasts; since a time when the most simple of rituals and invocations were the extent of the Human magicks.

Tonight was the beginning of Samhain, the Witches’ new year, the time that Witches celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new, the time when the spirits of the dead walk the face of Gaia, when the veil between worlds is the thinnest.

The twelve Witches were gathered in a forest glade. Candles and torches lit the ritual site as the Witches laughed, and spoke unto each other, and remembered times past. Some were drinking wine or ale, some were smoking the Sacred Herb, and some were eating ceremonial mushrooms. Sounds of joy, laughter, and ecstasy filled the forest on this night; for the Witches were celebrating their new year.

The High Priestess, Lady Fera Vulpis, stood as the Witches quieted down, eager to listen to what she had to say. She was dressed in a black, silken ritual robe that flowed down to her ankles. The robe had a large hood and bell sleeves that were trimmed in silver. She wore the robe well; as one looked down one could see her graceful, swan-like neck descending past her partially bare shoulders and barely visible collar bones, below which the robe began coming together over her large chest as it closed around her waist by a red cord tied around her. On the left breast of the robe was an embroidered silver triquetra. She wore a silver pentacle around her neck, a silver circlet with the pentacle of the Triple-Goddess on her head, a silver band symbolizing her handfasting to Lord Corvus on her left ring finger, a silver band on her right ring-finger connected by a silver chain to the silver bracelet on her right wrist, a silver anklet on her left ankle, and a silver toe-ring on the second toe of the same sandle-clad foot. The silver adornments represented Aradia’s mother, the Triple Goddess of the Moon, Diana.

Her consort, Lord Corvus Caurinus, stood to take his place by her side as the High Priest of the Coven. Corvus was a handsom young man with long, dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He kept a well-trimmed beard and mustache, both of which were dark brown. He was wearing a black, silken mantle which flowed down to his ankles with a large hood and bell sleeves trimmed in gold. On the left breast of the robe was an embroidered, golden, inverted pentagram which symbolized the Great Horned One. He wore a golden pentacle around his neck, a gilded circlet with the pentacle of the Horned God on his head, a silver band representing his handfasting to Lady Fera on his left ring-finger, and a gilded pentacle-ring on his right pointer-finger. The golden adornments all symbolized Lucifer, the Morning Star, the Horned God of the Sun.

“I call the Coven, many are mine!” the young High Priestess exclaimed, approaching the altar at the center of the glade as the rest of the Coven stood to their feet in attention, surrounded, and faced toward Lady Fera and her High Priest.

The Coven's representative of the Virgin aspect of the Triple-Goddess, their Maiden, Lady Mystica Geoterrus, who also was a half-Elf, stood directly behind the High Priest and High Priestess at the northern corner of the circle. She was dressed similarly to Lady Fera; she wore an identical black, silken robe, but with a silver pentagram embroidered on the left breast. Around her neck she wore a silver necklace with a pentacle hanging from it. Atop her head was a crown of leaves, twigs, and berries, in honor of her Elven ancestors. Held tightly under her right arm was the Coven's Grimoire, their Book of Shadows; the Book of the Morning Star.

To Lady Mystica’s right stood Lord Ophidius Animiferus, the Coven’s Summoner and Red Priest, who was also a Master of the Familiar Arts, an expert in the subject of familiars, both material and ethereal, and a teacher of the art of shapeshifting.

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To Lord Ophidius’s right stood Lady ___, the Coven’s Mistress of Talismanic Arts; a specialist the design and creation of talismans, amulets, sigils, and medicine bags.

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At the western corner of the circle was Lady Tigra Hydroceanis, the Coven's Hydromancer; Mistress of Divinatory Arts that involve scrying by use of water, and also dowsing.

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To Lady Tigra’s right stood the Coven’s Necromancer, Lady ___; Mistress of Divinatory Arts which require communication with the dead.

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At the southern corner of the circle was Lord Vulcanus Inferopyrus, the Coven's Pyromancer; Master of Divinatory Arts involving the use of fire.

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To Lord Vulcanus’s right stood Lady ___, the Coven’s Mistress of Runecraft; a scholar in the ancient tongues, alphabets, and pictographs, and an expert in the use of sigil magick.

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At the eastern corner of the circle was the Coven's Aeromancer, Lady Leona Aviaeros; Mistress of Divinatory Arts that call on the powers of the air, and of smoke and incense.

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To Lady Leona’s right stood Lord ___, the Coven’s Master of Ritual Toolcraft, who himself smithed the very instruments used in the Coven’s ceremonial workings.

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Standing to the right of ___, yet just outside the circle, was Lord Maximus Brontoseismus, the Coven's Watcher, guardian of the circle as well as this particular coven’s commander of the paladins.

//////////

In the center of the circle, directly in front of Lady Fera and Lord Corvus, was a large, granite altar. The altar was adorned with thirteen white candles, in holders made of silver and bronze. In the center of the altar was a large stone pentacle, with anointed cakes set upon its surface. On the right side of the pentacle lay the High Priest's athame, his ritual knife. Next to the athame sat a black scourge. On the left of the pentacle sat the High Priestess's silver chalice, filled with sacramental wine. Next to it sat a larger bronze chalice, filled with a mixture of salt, sacramental wine, water, and honey. Bowls filled to the brim, several overflowing, with white and red grapes, ceremonial mushrooms, and the Sacred Herb were scattered about the altar’s surface. An ornate steel longsword with a gilded hilt, handle, and pommel leaned against the front of the great stone slab.

“Hail to the Grigori, Alpena and Aldebaran, the Keepers who art the Great Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East,” said Lady Leona. “We invoke thee, and pray of thee that thou wouldest guard Porta Euroum, the Eastern Gate. Powers of Air and Invention, we plea of thee to aid us in this sacred rite, for we the Congrega, the Coven, gather for the Great Sabbat, the first and last Treguenda of the Year’s Wheel. We pray of thee to lend us thy power in even greater abundance for tonight, the night of Samhain.”

“Hail to the Grigori, Settrano and Regulus, the Keepers who art the Great Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South,” said Lord Vulcanus. “We invoke thee, and pray of thee that thou wouldest guard Porta Austrinum, the Southern Gate. Powers of Fire and Passion, we plea of thee to aid us in this sacred rite, for we the Congrega, the Coven, gather for the Great Sabbat, the first and last Treguenda of the Year’s Wheel. We pray of thee to lend us thy power in even greater abundance for tonight, the night of Samhain.”

“Hail to the Grigori, Meana and Antares, the Keepers who art the Great Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,” said Lady Tigra. “We invoke thee, and pray of thee that thou wouldest guard Porta Hesperium, the Western Gate. Powers of Water and Intuition, we plea of thee to aid us in this sacred rite, for we the Congrega, the Coven, gather for the Great Sabbat, the first and last Treguenda of the Year’s Wheel. We pray of thee to lend us thy power in even greater abundance for tonight, the night of Samhain.”

“Hail to the Grigori, Taga and Formalhaut, the Keepers who art the Great Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North,” said Lady Mystica. “We invoke thee, and pray of thee that thou wouldest guard Porta Boreum, the Northern Gate. Powers of Earth and Fruition, we plea of thee to aid us in this sacred rite, for we the Congrega, the Coven, gather for the Great Sabbat, the first and last Treguenda of the Year’s Wheel. We pray of thee to lend us thy power in even greater abundance for tonight, the night of Samhain.”

“Hail to Diana the Goddess, and to Lucifer the God, the Keepers who art the Great Guardians of the Veil between Worlds, and Pillars of the Shrine,” said Lord Corvus and Lady Fera, speaking as if with a single voice. “We loveth thee with all of our hearts and souls and minds, with everything we are and haveth to give unto you, our love for thee is undying and eternal. We invoke thee, and pray of thee that thou wouldest guard Porta Supernum, the Center Gate. Powers of Ether and Spirit, we plea of thee to aid us in this sacred rite, for we the Congrega, the Coven, gather for the Great Sabbat, the first and last Treguenda of the Year’s Wheel. We pray of thee to lend us thy power in even greater abundance for tonight, the night of Samhain. We plea of the, Great Mother and Great Father, in perfect love and perfect trust.”

The Coven felt a great yet invisible energy rain upon them from above, and spring up also from the ground below.

“Blessed Be!” Lord Maximus shouted.

“Blessed Be!” the whole Coven shouted in unison, even the High Priest and High Priestess.

“The Great Father, the Morning Star, who is also many other Gods, hath blessed us tonight. He hath made His presence known with these signs, and we shall deny His presence naught. For tonight He resideth and traveleth with the God Samhain, the Dark God, the God of the Underworld and of the cycle of Death and Rebirth,” said Lord Corvus.

“The Autumnal Equinox, known to us, the Wiccae, as the Lesser Sabbat of Mabon, the Treguenda known as Equinozio di Autunno to our Streghe kin, hath passed,” said Lady Fera, “and as far as Mabon is behind us, so far ahead lay the Lesser Sabbat of Yule, when we shalt celebrate the return of Lucifer, with Amen-Ra, the God of the Sun. But tonight we honor the Dark God on the Sabbat of Samhain, the Treguenda known as Shadowfest, La Festa dell’ Ombra, as He departeth from this world, and as our Great Mother, Diana, the Goddess of the Moon and Spirit of Gaia taketh dominance over the lands. And as the Dark God descendeth into the Underworld so that He might be reborn at Yule, the Treguenda known as La Festa Dell’ Inverno, the Winter Solstice, so doth Gaia Herself slumber and await His return. For without the Sun, the living things of Gaia shalt sleep, and many shalt whither and die in waiting, but when Lucifer returneth to us as the Sun God, He shalt plant the seeds of life once more, that Gaia might bloom with the return of spring at Ostara.”

“Yet this be not an occasion to mourn, and we shall not weep,” said Lord Corvus, “for death is but the catalyst of new life; just as the rotten and dead tree giveth sustenance to the insects and the moss. We must therefore celebrate the passage of the old, for it layeth the stones for the birth of the new and rebirth of the old, and we must be prepared for the changes that occur in us also as the children of the Moon and Sun, for thus is the way of the Wiccae, and of the Streghe, the Old Ways which hath been forgotten in antiquity, of which our Blessed Messiah, Aradia, the daughter of Lucifer and Diana, hath reminded us millennia ago.”

“Tonight,” said Lady Fera, “is also the night that the dead shall walk the face of Gaia once more, so that we might give honor to the Lasa, the ancestral spirits of the Craft. And as the Lasa shalt walk among us, we shall give thanks unto them, and unto the Old Ones, and unto Lucifer and Diana, and unto the Grigori, and unto Mother Gaia Herself. In the name of the Dark God, Samhain, I hereby declare the circle properly cast!”

“So Mote it Be!” Lord Maximus declared.

“So Mote it Be!” the Coven cried out in response.

Lord Ophidius cleared his throat; “It is now time for we, the Coven of the Morning Star, to join our High Priest, Lord Corvus Caurinus, in the recitation of the Ancient Invocation.”

The Coven quieted down, each covener turning his or her attention Lord Corvus.

“Bagabi, lache bachabe,”

“Bagabi, lache bachabe,”

“Lamac cahi achababe,”

“Lamac cahi achababe,”

“Karellyos,”

“Karellyos,”

“Lamac, lamac bachalyos,”

“Lamac, lamac bachalyos,”

“Cabahagy sabalyos,”

“Cabahagy sabalyos,”

“Baryolos,”

“Baryolos,”

“Lagoz atha cabyolas,”

“Lagoz atha cabyolas,”

“Sanahac atha famolas,”

“Sanahac atha famolas,”

“Hurrayha!”

“Hurrayha!”

“Akhera goiti ? akhera beiti!”

“And now,” said Lord Corvus, “we shall join our Summoner, the Red Priest, Lord Ophidius Animiferus, in the recitation of the Witches’ Rune.”

“Eko, eko Azarak!”

“Eko, eko Azarak!”

“Eko, eko Zomelak!”

“Eko, eko Zomelak!”

“Eko, eko Cernunnos!”

“Eko, eko Cernunnos!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Darksome night and shining moon,”

“Darksome night and shining moon,”

“Hearken to the Witches’ Rune!”

“Hearken to the Witches’ Rune!”

“East then south, west then north,”

“East then south, west then north,”

“Here come we to call thee forth!”

“Here come we to call thee forth!”

“Earth and water, air and fire,”

“Earth and water, air and fire,”

“Work ye unto our desire!”

“Work ye unto our desire!”

“Wand and pentacle and sword,”

“Wand and pentacle and sword,”

“Hearken ye unto our word!”

“Hearken ye unto our word!”

“Cords and censer, scourge and knife,”

“Cords and censer, scourge and knife,”

“Waken all ye into life!”

“Waken all ye into life!”

“Powers of the Witches’ blade,”

“Powers of the Witches’ blade,”

“Come ye as the charm is made!”

“Come ye as the charm is made!”

“Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,”

“Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,”

“Lend your power to the spell!”

“Lend your power to the spell!”

“Horned Hunter of the night,”

“Horned Hunter of the night,”

“Work our will by magick rite!”

“Work our will by magick rite!”

“By all the power of land and sea,”

“Bt all the power of land and sea,”

“As we do will, so mote it be!”

“As we do will, so mote it be!”

“By all the power of moon and sun,”

“By all the power of moon and sun,”

“Chant the spell and be it done!”

“Chant the spell and be it done!”

“Eko, eko Azarak!”

“Eko, eko Azarak!”

“Eko, eko Zomelak!”

“Eko, eko Zomelak!”

“Eko, eko Cernunnos!”

“Eko, eko Cernunnos!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

“Eko, eko Aradia!”

The Coven remained still for a few moments, allowing the spiritual energy that had been both raised up from Gaia below and called down from the Heavens above.

Lady Fera faced the altar, took her wand in her right hand and her scourge in the left, and then turned around, facing Lord Corvus as he took his place opposite from her of the altar, facing her as she faced him.

“Because tonight also be within the quarter of the full moon, when Diana rides at her peak, we shalt perform also the ritual Esbat, or Tregua, and proceed our Sabbat by drawing down the Moon,” Lord Corvus explained.

The Coven stayed silent for several more moments, as Lord Corvus and Lady Fera then turned to face one another. Lady Fera crossed her arms in front of her chest, as Lord Corvus knelt down on both knees with his arms spread out slightly from his sides, and his palms facing Lady Fera.

////////

In response, Lady Fera raised her arms above her head, crossing the wand and scourge in an x-shape.

Lord Corvus then lowered himself onto all fours.

“Blessed be thy feet,” he said, kissing each of his High Priestess’s feet, “that have brought thee in they ways.”

“Blessed be thy knees,” he said as he kissed each of her knees, “that shall kneel at the sacred altar.” He then positioned himself closer to the High Priestess, raising himself once again to his knees.

“Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.” He then leaned forward and kissed her gently between the legs.

“Blessed be thy breasts,” he said, standing to his feet, “formed in beauty.” He then firmly took each large breast in hand and gave it a tender kiss.

“Blessed be thy lips, which shall utter Her Sacred Names.” Lord Corvus wrapped his arms around Lady Fera’s waist and began kissing her deeply, their tongues intertwining together for the briefest of moments until they released one another.

The High Priest knelt once again, stretching his left arm out to his side. Lord Ophidius quickly approached the altar, obtained Lord Corvus’s athame, and took it to him, placing it in his outstretched hand.

“I invoke thee and call upon thee, Mighty Mother of us all, bringer of all fruitfulness, by seed and by root...” he said, holding the athame in both hands, touching its tip to her right breast, and then her left. “...By bud and by stem...” he continued, touching the point of his athame to her womb, and then her right breast. “...By leaf and flower and fruit,” he declared, touching the tip of the blade to her left breast, and then to her womb, and again to her right breast. “By love and life do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this, thy loyal servant and Priestess.”

Lord Corvus handed his athame back to the Red Priest, then let his arms down yet again, his palms facing forward.

“Hail Aradia! From the Amalthean Horn pour forth thy store of love, I lowly bend before thee, I adore thee to the end, with loving sacrifice thy shrine adore. Thy foot is to my lip,” he said, bending down momentarily to kiss the High Priestess’s right foot, “my prayer up borne upon the rising ganja smoke, then spend thine ancient love, O Mighty One, descend to aid me, who without thee am forlorn.”

The High Priest rose to his feet and stepped backward, as his High Priestess lowered her wand and pointed it at him, drawing in the air the Invoking Pentagram of Earth, and saying:

“Of the Mother, darksome and divine, mine the scourge, and mine the kiss, the five point star of love and bliss, here I charge ye in this sign.”

Lady Fera then held her arms out, as Lady Mystica came to take her wand and scourge to return them to the altar.

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Lord Corvus raised his arms into the air, crossing them at the wrists into a sort of long-legged x-shape. In one hand he held his athame, while with the other he made the sign of the Horned One.

In response to this, Lady Fera lowered herself onto all fours.

“Blessed be thy feet,” she said, kissing each of his High Priest’s feet, “that have brought thee in thy ways.”

“Blessed be thy knees,” she said as she kissed each of his knees, “that shall kneel at the sacred altar.” She then positioned herself closer to the High Priest, raising herself once again to her knees.

“Blessed be thy phallus, without which we would not be.” She then leaned forward and with one hand took up the bulk between his legs and gently kissed the thin, black cloth covering his genitals.

“Blessed be thy breast,” she said, standing to her feet, “formed in strength.” She then kissed each of his pectorals.

“Blessed be thy lips, which shall utter His Sacred Names.” Lady Fera wrapped her arms around Lord Corvus’s waist and kissed him just as he had kissed her as they drew down the moon.

The High Priestess knelt once again, stretching her left arm out to her side. Lady Mystica traveled to the altar and retrieved the Lady Fera’s wand, placing it in her outstretched hand.

“I invoke thee and call upon thee, Noble Father of us all, bringer of all light and splendor. Let the hammer strike the anvil,” she said, holding the wand in both hands, touching its tip to his right breast. “Let the lightning tough the earth,” she continued, touching the point of her athame to his left breast. “Let the lance ensoul the grail,” she declared, touching the tip of the blade to his phallus. “Let the magick come to birth!

“By His most holy name do I invoke thee to descend upon the body of this, thy loyal servant and Priest.”

Lady Fera handed her wand back to the Maiden, then let her arms down yet again, her palms facing forward.

“Hail Lucifer! From the Amalthean Horn pour forth thy store of splendor, I lowly bend before thee, I adore thee to the end, with loving sacrifice thy shrine adore. Thy hoof is to my lip,” she said, bending down momentarily to kiss the High Priest’s right foot, “my prayer up borne upon the rising ganja smoke, then spend thine ancient love, O Mighty One, descend to aid me, who without thee am forlorn.”

The High Priestess rose to her feet and stepped backward, as his High Priest lowered his athame and pointed it at her, drawing in the air the Inverted Pentagram of the Horned God, and saying:

“Of the Father, splendid and sublime, mine the dagger, and mine the hiss, the five point star of light and bliss, here I charge ye in this sign.”

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“And now,” said Lady Fera, “as we celebrate the beginning of the New Year, we will be welcoming the Dedicant, Alyssandra Elizabeth Foxley, who tonight shall be made a priestess of the Old Religion, and a cleric unto the people, into our coven.

“Bring us the Dedicant!” Lord Maximus bellowed.

At that instant, two paladins walked out of the brush and into the clearing, escorting with them a very nude Alyssandra, who was bound behind her back with black cords, blindfolded and gagged with black cloth, yet was otherwise completely skyclad. The Paladins, each holding on to one of Alyssandra’s arms, walked her to the edge of the circle.

One of the paladins gently squeezed Alyssandra’s right arm, signaling her to kneel. Alyssandra lowered herself down onto her knees and waited patiently as the High Priest made his way to the edge of the circle.

“Remove the gag,” said Lord Corvus. One of the Paladins then reached behind Alyssandra’s head and untied the black cloth gagging Alyssandra’s mouth.

“Thou hast waited one year and one day,” said Lord Corvus. “Four times thou hast joined us in the Lesser Sabbat, and four times thou hast joined us in the Great Sabbat, and thirteen times thou hast joined us at Esbat. Thou hast proven thyself worthy of joining the Coven of the Morning Star, the Clan of Fanarra who are the Keepers of the Terran Mysteries, and the family of the Old Religion.

“In the name of Lucifer, God of Light, and Diana, Goddess of Night, and in the name of the Blessed Messiah, Aradia, who officiates this sacred rite, I hereby name you, Alyssandra Elizabeth Foxley, Priestess of the Coven of the Morning Star, and of the Fanarra Clan, and of the Old Religion of the Wiccae and the Streghe, Witch-child of Lucifer and Diana, sister of the Blessed Messiah, and cleric unto the people of Gaya. Arise to thy feet and enter the circle, for tonight and forever, thou shalt be known unto the Gods as Lady Phoenix Blah, Priestess and Witch!”

As Alyssandra began to weep, with tears of joy running down her face, one of the paladins pulled a knife from the sheath on his belt, knelt down behind Alyssandra and cut the black cord binding her wrists together. Alyssandra stood to her feet and let her arms fall to her sides as the bits of black cord drifted gently to the ground.

With a confident smile upon her face and tears still trickling down her cheeks, Alyssandra held her chin high, threw her shoulders back, stuck out her aboundingly ample chest, and strode confidently into the circle.

Alyssandra walked past Lord Corvus to the altar at the center of the circle, where the High Priestess and Maiden awaited her. There, Alyssandra knelt down as Lady Fera placed a necklace with a silver pentacle hanging from it around Alyssandra’s neck. Alyssandra then began to speak:

“Our past forgotten, hiding in the shadows, too scared to leave. Like conjurers we weave the lights of day through all hours of the night. I call you now upon the rivers of the wind, and the heart beats. I beckon you to me! The ability to know, the strength to dare, the fortitude to will and secrets kept. I enter upon the path of light. With strength and conviction the Gods await me. I fear not what must come. Power be mine forever in time. In this I will see the Witches’ Key. So Mote it Be!”

“So Mote it Be!” the Coven shouted back.

Lady Fera then took the bronze goblet from the altar, a red, satin bag, and a waterskin, and handed them to Alyssandra.

Alyssandra hung the small red bag from her left wrist by its straps, set the waterskin down, held the chalice in both hands, threw her head back, and began slowly pouring the contents onto herself.

“Thus do I seek Aradia! Aradia! Aradia! At midnight, at midnight I go into a field, and with me I bear water, wine, and salt, I bear water, wine, and salt, and my talisman -- my talisman, my talisman, and a red small bag which I ever hold in my hand -- con dentro, con dentro, sale, with salt in it, in it. With water and wine I bless myself, I bless myself with devotion to implore a favor from Aradia, Aradia.”

During this, Alyssandra finished pouring the wine over herself and had begun to empty the waterskin upon her, and finishing that as well, took a pinch of salt from her satin bag and sprinkled herself with it as she concluded the first part of the invocation.

Once the last word was spoken and the last bit of salt sprinkled upon her, she continued:

“Aradia! Blessed Aradia! Thou art the daughter unto Him Who was most rebellious of all spirits, Who of old once reigned in Hell when driven away from Heaven, Who rose above the coldest depths of the Inferno to slay Mortifer, He Who is the Bringer of Death. Thou art the daughter unto Him Who hath risen above the Most High, Who by His sister did thy sire become!

“Aradia, Aradia! I implore thee by the love which She did bear for thee! And by the love which I too feel for thee! I pray thee grant the grace which I require! And if this grace be granted, may there be one of five signs distinctly clear to me: the caw of a crow, the chirp of a cricket the hiss of a serpent, the light of a firefly, or the croak of a frog!”

Alyssandra stood to her feet and removed her blindfold as the Coven waited in silence for several moments.

Finally, a single firefly floated out of the bushes and into the glade, hovered around Alyssandra’s head for a moment,

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“Congratulations, Phoenix,” said Lady Mystica.

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