[240103.11 Ancient ch`Rihan]
In the early morning hours the crew within the encampment is - for the most part - as yet still unaware of the goings on that night. One of the other pilots in the Gonaiih pool, t`Yhyn runs up to the sleeping form of Gehan tr`Tahn in the shelter and shakes him awake. "Tahn!! The rekkhai wants to see au. He said it was important." the girl quickly covers a grin, "Au had better hurry. He's over near his tent!"
"Huh?" the Farien opens a bleary eye to look her way, "Oh....okay..." Quickly getting himself dressed, Gehan stumbles out of the shelter as he was still half-asleep and makes his weary-eyed way through the encampment to meet the rekkhai.
He finds not only Rylan, but a small gathering of the ship's crew. The Arrain himself is standing before a rather large tree-stump, which is currently being used as a table of sorts. On the table is a diamond-shaped black cloth with the Rihannsu Emblem embroidered in it's center, the symbols of the Elements embroidered in each corner. On top of this cloth and near their respective element-corners, lies a candle which is burning, a bowl of water, and a small mound of dirt.
As the Farien draws nearer to stop at the edge of the circle of gatherers, the crew around him all quickly stand at attention and Salute Rylan.... all but Tahn. Fixing the sleepy-eyed Farien with a glare, Rylan waits patiently, and sure enough, Tahn quickly glances around himself, then comes to attention and salutes the Arrain as well.
Ry doesn't smile, nor does his face show any emotion readable. Nodding his head towards tr`Tahn, he waits for the others around him to stand at ease, then begins.
"Crew of the Morrhae`Vnu, today we celebrate ninte valor and honor. Au have all served loyally and well, and the Elements reward those who are worthy." Rylan pauses and holds his hand out towards the Farien. As tr`Tahn looks at him rather blankly, a slight smile comes to Rylan's face as he whispers to the boy, "Ninte kalen, Farien..." and just as quickly as it appeared, the smile went away again, to be replaced by the serious expression once more.
Tahn glances at the assembly and quickly steps forward as he unsheathes the kalen. Presenting the dagger handle-first to the Arrain before him, he waits for Rylan's hand to accept the weapon, then takes a step back again.
Rylan accepts the dagger with a slight nod, "This blade takes the blood of traitors, but it gives glory to au who love ninte ship and ninte Republic." Looking to the table before him a moment, he says quietly, "I now rededicate this blade to the Elements."
Passing the blade of the kalen through the flame of the candle, Rylan states somberly, "To Fire that creates and destroys...." the blade is then dipped into the bowl of water, "To Water of our joys and our tears..." he holds the blade pointing up towards the sky, "To Air, of weapons, words, and wings...." then brings the blade down again, to thrust it into the mound of dirt, "And to Earth, our cradle and our grave."
Turning his head slightly, Ry nods at D`Tarik who stands a little off and behind to Rylan's right. DT comes forward, and opens a small black box, then holds the box out towards Rylan. Ry reaches in the box, and palms the new pips inside. Focusing on Gehan once more, he addresses the boy. "Farien tr`Tahn, step forward."
Tahn, who's still blurry-eyed with sleep, snaps to with, "Huh?" then a split second later adds, "Oh...okay." and steps up to stand in front of Rylan, accepting the new pips as the Arrain handed them off to him.
Rylan touches the tip of the blade to Tahn's forehead, and continues, "In the presence of the Elements, and by the power vested in me by the Republic, I hearby promote au to the rank of Erien." Rylan places his free hand on the boy's shoulder in a friendly gesture, as he lowers the blade, only to have the tip of the kalen hover over Tahn's heart. "Do au now pledge: To perform ninte new duties honorably and well; To loyally obey ninte Leih and Praetor; To serve ninte Republic first and always; And to uphold the honor of the Rihannsu people in all things?"
Tahn nods, glancing down at the kalen over his heart a moment, as he answers, "Ie, rekkhai..." Rylan raises a brow slightly, the hint of a smile appearing just for a moment again. Nodding to himself, as his sleepy brain remembered the proper response for this ceremony, Tahn agrees, "By Fire and by Air, by Earth and by Water, and by the Archelement which encompasses them all....I do so pledge."
The smile on his face, finally broke into a good-natured grin as Rylan presented the kalen back to the boy, handle first. "Then may ninte new rank bring great deeds and glory to ninteself and to the Republic." As the boy claims the kalen and resheaths it once more, Rylan salutes him, as the others assembled do the same. Waiting for the boy to step back once more, Rylan looks over and sees Katara's curious face as she watches the proceedings, and tosses her a wink. "Crew of the Morrhae`Vnu...." he addresses those gathered, "Au`rh dismissed."
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