be in peace, Nikitas.

The Service
Funerals to the fallen — the day everyone takes the antlers upon their necks, and together, the closest to the deceased carry the body to the boneyard to rest amongst the elk bones. It is a day of Silence; before the service, everyone is expected to remain silent. Afterward, one may speak in honor of the deceased to relive memories shared.

He will be brought to The Boneyard, a part within The Elk's Crown where many bones of deceased elk lay, some buried, partially, or not at all. Nikitas will be partially buried, and then covered by moss, with a stone to mark his grave.

This is an optional event.

@Corliss @Cynefrid @Teodora @Niklaus @Doc @Edith @Warwick @Rohesia @Melrose @Calhoun @Maral @Faust @Weirs @Seaver @Selwyn @Rahma

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"Today we lay to rest one of our own, and the first to be placed within the boneyard alongside the rest of the Apostles." With antlers upon her neck, and the body of Nikitas before her.. She spoke to the group ; looking at all who joined and as well as adjorned themselves with the sacred line of antlers. Although she could not say or ask sadly enough, who was closest to the man for near the end he truly stayed with himself, and maybe it was just she, that talked to him the most. Perhaps she should've kept him as a royal guard, but Celnes's wanted no more of it, especially when one was so distrustful.

"On of our former guard, Nikitas, was sadly struck by lightning, and now rests with the High Elk, and walks among their forest." She looked at helpers, any who wished to pick up the fallen man and bring him so. She too would participate in it, and had already prepared a separate spot for him within the yard. A small grave, where then he would be laid with moss and slowly.. Succumb to only bones, alongside of the many fallen elk that laid around.

She looked back, half expecting him to re-appear, for this place was strange as it was. Family who were lost re-appear, and cousins that should be long-gone come back as her own brood.. And yet that would not happen, and he would stay lifeless, and cold against them as the group would hold his body and make their way to the yard. He was the first, to be buried.

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Death was something Maral considered often. On her darkest days, those when her mind tormented her with cruel reminder of how she was inferior to her proud family, she'd think of it. A swift, clean demise was something she wished to face whenever her time might come. In her sleep, perhaps, one not caused by violence or cruelty.

To see the body of a fallen Elkshire guard, Maral felt an odd discomfort in her belly. She liked to think that she did not fear death, but to look upon the lifeless corpse of one of their own was... something. There was both an uncertainty and morbid curiosity within her, writhing in her gut while the ceremony of Nikitas progressed. She did not offer to play any part in the funeral and instead chose to remain in the background; to have a tainted Déorwine carry out such a role before all of Elkshire seemed improper.

Maral remained silent, as had always been expected of her.


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Edith had been wondering what the High Elk had tried to convey through Nikitas’s very sudden and gory demise. She had been replaying it all in her head—the boom of thunder, the white elk, and the fallout of her pack-mate being impaled and carried away. Had he committed a serious sin? After all, he had been taken away by the antlers of a pale elk—a creature that had inherited the sin of its predecessors. It was a mystery she would never solve.

There were some considerable details that Célnes had left out of the eulogy, but Edith wouldn’t nitpick. She knew that this wasn’t the time or place to do so. Instead, she caught the Queen’s searching eye and stood, silently offering to help with moving their his body. She stood at her mother’s side, waiting on her command.

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"May he rest with the High Elk." A few showed up to his service, but she would see the end to it. He was a man who near the end kept to himself despite minor passions she felt toward him, and wondered if it would end differently, if she had not dismissed all who was a royal guard. Her suspicions against all were heavy, couldn't even trust her own kin anymore after the strange attitudes some were taking. Much less guards who were.. Nontheless, today was not to fret of the what 'ifs.'

Quietly so would the day end, where she and alongside any other would gingerly bury him within the boneyard. Elk remains stood around, some who had fallen asleep to never wake up, and he too would join them. Although not a Deorwine, a precious member that was Elkshire, and a guard that would be missed. She hoped his next life will be just as pleasant.

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