During the Remembrance of Undercity, we had a segment titled The Ceremony of Embers and Spirit in which Forsaken (and allies) were welcome to toss that which they want left behind to burn in a symbolic fire and help them move forward in their unlife or life. Anything from mementos from long past, banners or tabards or anything that they feel no longer belongs with them and no longer represents them. All were allowed to do this, but focus was put on Forsaken first. We had all who wanted their items showcased fill out a doc so we can share and forever view these small, but impactful, character moments.
Down below is everyone who chose to have their moment showcased and what their feelings are that went with it as well as the item itself.
Due to the length of this post, please hit the Read More to view all items that have been tossed into the flames.
Caleb Mcswain
Item: A blue star moss boutonnière.
This item represented resentment, hatred for Caleb's undeath, and fear of the Horde.
Shandras Korpus
Item: A stuffed animal
"...I can't possibly atone for the murderous rage my Dark Lady once inspired, but I can surely commit to do better."
Silffred Queen
Item: A patched and beaded Undercity tabard.
Silffred leaves his spot, a ratty, patched tabard of the Undercity draped in his hands. He tries to steel himself, and fails. From the crowd, a death knight comes to his side; a -Night Elf- death knight. She whispers something to him and, together, they drop the tabard onto the smoldering bonfire. The Knight puts her hand on his shoulder, and Silffred raises his head to address the crowd. "I cast off my tabard for the final time, and with it... The piece of me that could end up no where else... But the flames."
Jarisold Acridwell
Item: Wedding ring
Jarisold steps up quietly and pulls out a ring. He looks at it with a solemn expression, signing slowly with his free hand. "I have little to say here except I'm sorry. I wish I could have protected you." He grips it one last time, looking over it as he casts it into the fire.
Nicolai Wyther
Item: A Leatherbound notebook full of old alchemical research.
Nicolai looked down at his old leatherbound book. Inside were a mix of notes, research and alchemical studies he had done many years ago for the Forsaken cause. Some were helpful, but many used for harming those who dared to mess with the Forsaken. "I was naive. I didn't know any better." he muttered under his breath as his veil covered his sorrowful face. "Years of my life were written down in this book I used to be proud of it...but when I see this book on my mantle, I don't think of the time I spent with my old Order or the happy memories." his voice trembled. "I only see regret. Anguish!" He opened the book to take out a dried out Arthas Tear, holding it between his skeletal fingers "And I must...move on." As he tossed the book into the fire.
Donovan Morris Wightborn
Item: A Forsaken insignia of excellence and a medallion with a red soulstone in it.
Donovan pulls up a faded insignia from his bags. "Today, I burn two pages of history from my present so they may join the ashes of the past. First, an insignia of excellence given to me by the Dark Lady during the Gilneas campaign. With this, I burn what little respect I had for the Banshee... Along with a deep resentment for the people of Gilneas." He drops his insignia into the flames "And then..." he grasps at a silver necklace with a cracked red gem around his neck and pulls, snapping the chain as he removes it. He stares at it for a moment, in his hand, and holds it up "A soulstone medallion which was once used to twist my soul into undeath, and that I then used to imprison and punish the necromanceress responsible. With this, I let go of an old bitterness and drive: Vengeance. I slew her and her soul is long gone. No need for this to remain and remind me of her. I am Forsaken, driven by the glory and growth of our people, not unfocused hatred of an old witch." with that, he tosses it into the fire and watches it burn. He thought 'Donovan Morris died for Lordaeron. Donovan Wightborn claimed vengeance for him. Now we both live, in this glorious dark rebirth, as Forsaken.'
Nettie Ka'an
Item: Insignia of a Forsaken soldier
Nettie steps foward and takes out a small, shiny object. "This insignia represents my time as a soldier on the Gilnean-Forsaken front. I had just been raised, and unlike many of you, felt little loyalty to the Banshee Queen."She pauses. "I joined to try to preserve my home, Gilneas, despite the Forsaken's onslaught. Since then, I have met and bonded with more Forsaken than I had thought I ever would. This insignia is a reminder of a past era, of distrust towards my own people." She continues. "We have all lost our homes, in one or way another. It is time to move forward." She gently drops the insignia into the fire, where it glows, and rejoins the circle.
Geniya Zigzy
Item: Old Undercity military ID card
Geniya tosses the card into the fire, and it quickly flares up and away. "I used this only once since the fall of Undercity, as a way to pass myself off as the officer in Sylvanas' forces that I once was, for the purpose of sneaking some dissenters to safety. We are now ALL safe. We are free to be whoever we are, with no one watching over us from above. I will never need to use this card again."
Benemus Crungey
Item: Wedding Ring & Silver Dagger
Benemus steps up, twisting a tarnished ring off of his finger and dropping it into the fire. "The last trappings of when I was alive," He said simply. "Attachment to someone who has spoken of her hatred for what I have become. I do not need this reminder that only makes me upset." Then he removes a dagger from his pack, and drops it in as well. "Be well on your journey into the shadows."
Édouard Chaudron
Item: Old Academy Frying Pan
Anger at his Father who didn't support his culinary pursuits nor his soup kitchen for the poor of Lordaeron. His father would be the ghoul that sent him to his unlife, something which he clung to in anger prior to this event. Tossing it was to help let go of his difficult feelings in regards to his relationship with his father and to move past the guilt, doubt and other painful emotions that had him second-guessing his chosen path in life + unlife.
Canthar
Item: Remains preserved in jars.
"I no longer have need for these. That competitive abomination assembly were a thing is disgusting. That I got caught up in it... Regardless. Dead should only be raised willing. These morbid cadavers no longer fascinate me..."
Hylden Caspian Levanthorpe
Item: An amethyst sphere (a speakstone)
Hylden holds in his hand a stone. A beautiful amethyst sphere. Staring down at the thing, the storm of emotions that brewed on his features, in his eyes spoke to something deeper than he could express in words. He closed his fingers around it, and took a breath, staring down at the flames. “This was a gift, from a man I loved more than anythin’. Anythin’ I ever could have described, anythin’ I thought I could have felt. In that awful darkness, he called me a sweet thing. A mouse. That man would have had us believe that he was a snake. A serpent. Clever and connivin’. ...but snakes kill their prey quickly. No.” His eyes flicked upward, burning brightly, focusing directly on the man. “That man was a glue trap. Unfortunately for him, this mouse didn’t stay stuck. His grip was far too weak.” He glanced back down to the fire, opening his hand and staring back into the depths of that sphere, glowing with a life all its own. As his eyes turned from the fire, he lifted his hand and tilted it to the side, letting it roll from his palm as he said, “Goodbye. I’ll always love you. Though I’ll never know if it was my choice or not, will I?”
Vynaendra Highwood
Blood Elf
Item: Insignia of Sylvanas
Vyn feels anger seeing the image of her face. Anger and disgust and sadness.
Bagorpagork
Mok’nathal
A very old tome containing warlock spells and rituals
Gork was clutching onto an old tattered book. A black cover with fel green demonic lettering and symbols. He held it out, giving it one last look before tossing it into the flames. "As time passes, sometimes you learn that the things that made you strong, the things that help you win, come at a price. The Alliance may have essentially lost that day. But it cost a great price for the Forsaken. I think uh, Mr Eralos put it quite really... I have begun to question my own power, the price I may someday come to pay. I have decided I do not need this power anymore. It is time to move on" he ended with a small smile.
Lembri Vulpiana
Shal’dorei
Item: Menagerie Insignia
Lembri removes an insignia from her satchel, bearing the mark of Suramar's Royal Menagerie. It's been battered with age, and no longer shines like the rest of the silver that adorns her. "I used to be afraid... I thought that I had to help protect the creatures of the outside from their own h-home... I'll never be able to forgive myself fully for the animals still trapped in that sick circus but... T-This is the start of redemption." The nightborne tosses the medal into the fire, feeling great relief as it disappears amongst the flames.
Sorrel Silverblade
Kaldorei
Item: A rosary; an innumerable amount of red strings
Sorrel approaches the fire, holding a rosary befitting a priest or priestess of the Church of the Holy Light. Its beads are made of dark, worn wood and yellowed ivory, the strand of silk they're strung on yellowed and brittle. At the end is a truesilver holy symbol, tarnished with age. He opens his other hand, filled with tiny red strands of string, curled and folded as if they'd been tied into position for a long time. He clears his throat a bit. "...you deserved better. A better life. A better son. I killed in your name, as if death or life were a game I could succeed in." He lowers his eyes and ears, gritting his teeth. "...I know better now. Life and death mean much more to me, in each of their forms. To the Light I pray you find solace." He lets the rosary fall into the fire. Sorrel stares intently into the flame. "To the Shadows I pray that they may guide my hand so that I may serve my fellows honourably. To learn from the mistakes of my youth." He lets the red strands fall. "To move past my sins." With that, he returns to his friends.
Geniya, on behalf of Gornagh Starcrusher
Undead Orc
Item: Ebon Blade Warbanner
Gornagh gave Geniya the banner to toss into the flames as a way of finally severing himself from the Ebon Blade, an organization he left very abruptly after realizing that his morals no longer aligned with theirs. He wishes to feel free of reminders that make him angry, for a group that he believes is no longer worth his energy to think on.
Kuyr Driftwood
Tauren Death Knight
Item: Decaying old Saronite gauntlet
Said: "Watching time pass me by...I should let go of this and work on my bonds. What it will bring with my new tribe. I don't know. But it's better then being alone."
Thought's: *The pain and suffering is still unbearable. I can't break free fully. Maybe this will help me fight more to be myself. But I still wish at times just...release.*
Litharial Solstar
Sin’dorei
Item: A single, grey arrow with raven fletching.
Approached the bonfire that blazed with the ashes and memories of those that fed it before her. She drew a single, grey arrow with raven fletching, so unlike her golden ones. Examining the arrow a moment, she spoke quietly, "This belonged to my sister, Asarial. We fought together at the battle for Lordaeron when the Alliance broke through the gate, she told me to go first to make sure the wounded were well cared for. Her selflessness cost her her life. And it nearly broke me. Fast forward to the relevancy of this story, I found myself before the city of Ogrimmar, ready to liberate the city. However, it became apparent that loyalists were sabotaging the weaponry." Takes a moment to sniffle, a lone tear falling down her cheek. "It was then that I found the thing of my nightmares. My sister, who was raised as a Dark Ranger to serve the Banshee Queen. It was my duty to defend Saurfang's army and I did so, quickly slaying the two other Dark Rangers with her, and after a terrible duel...her." Her eyes grew ever luminescent as they reflected the warm light of the bonfire. "She lost..." Looking at the arrow once again, she turned it over in her hands, "I understand this ceremony is to honor our Forsaken brothers and sisters. But I can never truly hate the Dark Rangers, for what became of them. I cannot even hate Sylvanas, for she will always be remembered as a hero to Silvermoon for her sacrifice. So it is my hope, that the Dark Rangers and Sylvanaas find their way into this pyre. My sister, at least, shall find hers." Litharial placed the arrow gently, almost reverently, in the consuming fire. The flashed quickly licked the arrow, turning a dark purple where the arrow touched the flames, before blazing a righteous orange again. "Al diel shala, Asarial. Elor bindel felallan morin'aminor, Belore'dorei. Shorel'aran, sister."
Dragway
Orc
Item: An old royal crest banner of the Rally family, it's dark blue banner with a falcon holding a mason hammer and pickaxe in its talons
Dragway said this about the banner "This was the crest of Baron Danton Rally, who was a warden to many internment camps for the orcs, I spent my childhood as a slave under him, he was slain when Thrall came to liberate us. I toss my grieve for the child who was living in dirt and mud, and give hope to the adult still standing here. May the orcs...no...no other races, never be put into chains ever again!”
Gotosh, on behalf of Katamar
Orc
Item: A red hair ribbon
Gotosh clutched the red hair ribbon in his palm, looking down to it. He thought of what it meant to his friend, a connection to people who are long gone and their souls lost. Part of him didn’t want to toss it into the fire, feeling the weight it carried. But he promised to do this and with one toss the ribbon joined the other items to be burned away. May they rest, he thinks, may he rest too.
The following letter is an Open Letter to the Krytan Ministry, a sealed copied delivered to every Minister and Magistrate as well as a copy to the desk of the Lord Commander of the Ministry Guard and Envoy Lius Greysmoke.
My esteemed colleagues,
I have had the pleasure of working with many of you directly as a Magistrate, a Secretary, a Minister and now as Knight Captain of the Ministry Guard. I hope that you will trust my judgement and reason when I ask you to support the legislation to add Charr to the list of races that may apply for citizenship.
There are many concerns of safety and cultural fidelity of adding these dignified citizens to our ranks and I want to put them to rest for you.
First is the long war between our peoples which, by the Queen’s own direction has been signed into a peace treaty. I understand the pain of families lost and ended through the brutality of war, though the pains of war were not felt exclusively by one side. Putting down one's sword after war is always hard, but I beseech you to follow the will of your Queen for peace and letting the past remain there.
Second, to the concerns that Charr citizenship will change the culture of our fair city. For nearly a decade since the cease fire, brave Charr have traveled to the Reach for work, for understanding and lived here. They have faced extreme opposition to merely existing in our city, but have assimilated into our ways of doing things and our cultural norms.
Similarly in Lion’s Arch, a city that welcomes all races, charr have lived peacefully among others, becoming captains of industry and talented negotiators, far from the beasts one would have you believe them to be. Lion’s Arch has not become a secondary Citadel filled with farrars and Legion regulations, it continues to grow with the contributions of its Charr citizens. Additionally, when the city was brutally attacked, it was the Vigil, founded and lead by a Charr that took in the displaced citizens along with the Priory and camps to the south. I am sure none of you need reminding of what a paragon of military competence and organization the Vigil is and their contributions to the Pact in keeping our entire world safe.
They are welcome around the world and recognized for their contributions everywhere but here. Instead we worry about their machines of war, their brawling and their supposed hatred for our way of life.
But what race was it that attacked our Queen’s Jubilee and killed hundreds? Not the Charr.
What race turned on their Pact allies and cut down hundreds more in the jungle? Not the Charr.
No, despite Scarlet Briar and despite Mordremoth the body of the Ministry refused to paint every Sylvari with the same brush; refused to force them from the city* on the chance that any one of them could suddenly turn violent. Instead, members of the Ministry worked to create safe havens for them, recognizing that the threat of violence against THEM for existing was far greater than any threat they posed to our people.
What race has a stranglehold on our commerce and ability to move goods throughout Tyria and brings dangerous technology into the city like bloodstone weapons? Not the Charr.
What race is known for their drunken brawling and property damage outside of our taverns and bars and turning into massive animals to inflict collateral damage in personal disputes? Not the Charr.
We allow in our citizens the Sylvari, the Asura, the Norn but not the Charr.
The latest attack on our way of life came from our own people who would see us yoked to the Mursaat. Not the Charr.
Under command to represent the Charr, Envoy Kavic Shattersteel had no responsibility to aid us or put himself at risk to protect us. However, it was this Charr Envoy whose body protected Minister Valen from the worst of an explosion from Separatists who killed a dozen humans with their hate of the Charr. It was this same Envoy who later tracked down and apprehended the dangerous Sylvari criminal, Wraith. It was the human envoy from Elona who helped the criminal escape.
As Knight Captain it is my job to keep careful track of the threats that the Ministry and humanity face. Humanity has many enemies and many troubles, but Charr who wish to join our way of life and uphold our values are not a threat to us. Just as citizens who are Sylvari and Asura and Norn have made us no less human, have created no districts to their own kind in our city, the Charr will not weaken the resolve of humanity. The Peace Treaty has been signed, not a mere Cease Fire, we have peace with the three other major races, and we allow them citizenship. We must either add Charr and boldly walk into a future of peace, or admit we are cowards; too afraid of the what ifs to do what is right and fair. We must admit we are too afraid of those who surround us to do anything but cower behind our walls and close our country to all non-humans.
I know there is a deep fear of change, but without taking risks, Prince Rurik would not have begun the journey he sadly did not get to see the end of. Without that risk and jumping into the unknown, our ancestors would be ghosts today.
We did not defeat Scarlet on our own. We did not take down three dragons and put two to sleep on our own. To accept the help of the Asura, Norn and Sylvari while excluding the contributions of the Charr is nothing but the height of hypocrisy. To only risk humanity takes in joining the rest of the world is that we WILL remain a part of it. Influential, resilient, still here and not hiding behind walls.
Humanity is strong. Our allies make us stronger.
Lady Rosalynd Havashem
Knight Captain of the Ministry Guard
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New posters would be found within all districts of Kryta, hung from the front doors of inns, businesses, and homeowners. It would seem a great effort had been undertaken during the dark of night to hang these posters so they could be seen by all within the kingdom.
Any time Rosalynd Havashem spotted one, she could be seen tearing it down with great agitation and tearing the postings to shreds with a great many expletives.
