Blessing of Chloris

Among the wealthy citizens and nobility of Etude there exist many common practices surrounding the birth of a child. Some are scientific, medical, but others are traditional or religious and frequently seem in direct contradiction with modern understanding. Established families, those who own land or hold prestigious titles will often request the presence of a priest or sage, to witness the birth in the hopes they will receive a portent or good omen to signify the potential of the baby. This can decide the fate of the child as the parents may choose to overlook a child with no obvious gifts or choose to keep them close to the family to serve in other ways.

It is extremely uncommon for any true prophecies to occur during birth like this, however this doesn't stop popular culture from making it a whole scene. This has made pregnancy and birth a social spectacle in some circles and at the time had been elevated to nearly the same importance as wedding and funerals. Making the odd choice to have a slew of half-drunk revelers at the birth of your child is not a common one. As dedicated worshipers of the primis, and Pyram in particular, the Vonner family decided to celebrate the birth of their third child by issuing an open invitation to all Pyrac Knights. Shortly after Mardella Vonner's water broke their messengers scattered to deliver messages across the city.

Three more men burst into the already busy room, arms around each others shoulders and leaning together for balance. Two of the men were drunkenly shout-singing a folksong about Pyram while the other laughed aggressively in their faces until the noise of the room absorbed them into the celebration.

The lavish manor bedroom had been hastily filled with tables and seating for guests, with Lady Dupree in a physicians bed at the far end of the room where she was surrounded by attendants and a doctor who all seem incredibly out-of-place among the tavern-like atmosphere.

Along the wall a small bar was established with three bartenders hastily filling mugs for the assembled party while several others mingled with the gathered revelers. This celebration of birth was intended to honor Pyran, deity of celebration and abundance, and the newly wealthy family issued an open invitation to all members of the Pyrac Knights with the promise of good entertainment, great booze, and the birth of a new Dupree!

When the time came and the final push was gathering strength a full hush was called over the assembled drunks. The only sound was the heavy breathing and then a wild cry of pain as Cloris Dupree was pushed into the world! The cheering could be heard throughout the entire district of Etude as likely a hundred rowdy day-drunk knights all toasted the new mother.

Among the Pyrac Knights present was a squire who had been drawn to assist the nurses during the birth. It just so happened that she was to be the one handed the newborn child as they cut the umbilical cord. As she nestled the child in her arms she was overwhelmed with a deep sense of joy and enveloped began to radiate a halo of soft divine light. As she handed the babe to her mother a moment later the glow slowly dimmed and transferred to the infant, already nodding towards sleep and breathing strongly against her mothers' breast.

The young knight was softly surrounded by a halo of soft divine light. Taking her daughter from the knight, Lady Mardella recognized the opportunity before her and quietly urged the knight to speak. Looking from the infant in her mothers arms, she smiled an unpracticed grin and faced the still awed crowd. Having no idea of what to say, she began to recite an arcane charm commonly known among the knights.

The entire assembly steadily joined the lilting syllables of the spell into a steady chant and then, true to the nature of the Pyrac Knights, it quickly became an anthem that they started to shout at each other. The energy grew with every stomping foot until a final round of singing ended and with the final note the spell released a wave of power over the infant, dazzling the newborn but otherwise seeming to have no other major effects.