The Weaving of the First Thread
This ritual (often just referred to as "a Weaving") is practiced in certain parts of Isturoth, where nature and community are deeply intertwined, and the Isturian people believe that their crops thrive not only on sunlight and water, but on the very fabric of their shared effort and connection to the land. The ritual is performed annually at the beginning of the planting season to ensure a successful harvest, maintain social harmony, and to honour the land and the god of agriculture in Isturian Polytheism, known as Xasan. It is led by the village's oldest living elder, known as the Threadspinner.
The Isturians believe that the land on the surface is the domain of Xasan, vitality of the world. They call the fertile earth "Xasan’s Loom" and the natural cycle of growth and decay "The Lifethread." They see their farming as a collaborative act: they prepare the land, and the land, in turn, accepts their seeds and weaves them into sustenance. The ritual is a way to honor this partnership and ask Xasan to grant them a bountiful harvest.
Execution
- The Preparation
On the eve of the first full moon of spring, a small, intricate loom made of sticks and dried roots is placed in the center of the largest field. The Threadspinner then takes a single, perfectly preserved seed from the previous year's harvest and threads it with a fine, silver strand of spun silk. The seed is then carefully placed in the center of the loom. - The Weaving
At dawn, as the first light touches the fields, the villagers gather around the loom. The Threadspinner begins to chant in the old tongue, their voice low and melodic. As they chant, they slowly begin to weave new strands of silk, which are drawn from a special pouch the Threadspinner carries. These strands are woven around the seed, forming a complex web. Each villager, in turn, takes a single thread of raw, fibrous root from a previous harvest's plant and, with a silent wish for the new season, adds it to the ever-growing web. - The Unfurling
Once every villager has added their thread, the web is a dense, intricate pattern. The Threadspinner then places their hands on either side of the loom and removes the woven threads. The silk, now imbued with the shared hopes and intentions of the community, unfurls like a shimmering tapestry, billowing in the morning breeze, with the seed at its centre. - The Planting
Immediately after the silk has passed, the villagers begin planting their first seeds. They believe that because the field has been blessed with the "woven" intentions of their community, the seeds will take root and grow strong, their growth guided and protected by their shared hope. The unraveling loom, now nothing more than a pile of branches and roots, is then tilled into the soil, returning the physical remnants of the past harvest to The Loom itself.
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