Song of Communion

Religious event

Varisians build the grand temples to the Gods and elements, bringing forth the cleansing power of Denev and her family to vanquish the Darkness from the realm.

As the Sea Gypsy families grew and spread across the Isle it became clear, to many, the amazing resources they had discovered. The islands were both rich in timber and animal. The mountains at their center were revealed to contain metals both valuable and useful and the great seas of the Isle were abundant with life. The young Varisians grew up on the islands and knew little of the ancient kingdom that the elders spoke of with such regard, and they asked: "Why return?"The elders met, concerned that the Song of Promise was faltering and that with its silence the people would be without purpose. They looked at the communities around them and saw decadence and idleness, and were concerned. Within the old songs were tales of the dangers of such vices, the doors to the darker realms that would be opened if these attributes were worshiped. So a plan was hatched. The tribes would band together and create temples to the four great gods of the Sea Gypsy, the gods that had created the very elements that made life easy. With this began the song of communion. The song allowed the elders to seek those places that were most attuned to a Sea Gypsy God. On the giant southern isle of Teranda in the swirling grass plains of the huge caldera, the locus of Bejarano and Air was found. A floating temple was built drawing forth boulders of pumice and connecting them with bridges of cloud. On Apicerm, the most active of the volcanic islands, they established the Temple to Corean, cut into the mountain its halls filled with steam, the ringing of steel coming from within. In the desert of Trenaja, the Temple of Chardun was built, mixing together elements of the sandstone and lava. It was created from giant blocks of Earth and considered the most formidable of structures the Varisians had built, rivaling the strongholds of the Dwarves.   The elders were pleased for they had established three of the temples and thought the Temple to Denev, most important of the gods to the Sea Gypsy, and mother of water would be quickly located. But the song's pattern grew vague, always seeming to move and twist, changing location over and over again. The elders seeking the sight traveled above and beneath the waves but every majestic location they discovered seemed to be missing an element that would make it perfect for their beloved mother.   While the elders searched the Varisian community continued to grow, the song of communion flowing through the people. Its notes brought a desire to seek and find similar spirits bringing together many couples and groups. The youth seemed particularly affected and as they grouped old feuds between the tribes of the Sea Gypsies began to flare. Since their arrival on the Isle, the tribes had been built along the lines of the boat on which they arrived and within the tribe, there was a rigid hierarchy depending on the original role on the boat, that had restricted marriage and the people's tasks. Now with the song, these rules were being broken as people's hearts drew them in different directions. The leaders of the tribe, the ex-captains, and first mates ordered their people to behave and forced new marriages to maintain control. But even their children felt the pull and a spate of adultery and divorces followed these marriages. As the captains lost control, groups began to move away from the cities of Ovest, traveling to the three temples to pay their respects and establish new towns and villages. At the temple, they were met by a spirit animal from the god. This spirit helped guide them in both travel and craft. These groups of lovers and kindred spirits became the families of the Sea Gypsy. The time of the boat tribes came to a sudden and quick end.   As the sojourning continued the elders became increasingly concerned. Many groups sought the wisdom of Denev. The elders searched and explored, traveling across each island multiple times growing increasingly frantic and distracted, ignoring the needs of the people in their quest for this final solution. They met at Merkezi and sent forth prayers to Denev to aid them in their search. The mother took pity on them on this day. Appearing before them and chastising their foolishness, she pointed out at the many boats surrounding the island and the waiting people. Her power lay in the people and it was there that a temple should be built. The elders returned to the waiting crowds and explained their plan to establish a floating city for the children most special to Denev. As they did spirit whales, dolphins and seals appeared among the boats bringing joy to the people and establishing the last great families. To this day the Ricchiutto family honor the sea mother with her floating temple, never setting foot on land.