Editing Pillars of Human Existence (section)

== The Pillars ==
===Death===
'''Death''', also known as the '''Pale''', is a pillar associated with not only the concept of Death, but also symbolic acts of crossing thresholds and boundaries in general. It is closely related to the mandate of the [[Judge#Sable|Sable Judge]].<!--search for Pale and Sable-->

Death is usually represented in rituals by a skull. Genuine skulls are preferable, such as from a dead racoon, but artificial skulls are also permissible.<ref name="1.2e1" /> Death can be represented by a "gateway" [[rune]] like a keyhole with no base.<ref name="10.3e1" />

[[Ghoul]]s are very closely tied to Death over the other major forces.<ref name="10.3e1" /> In the [[Awakening]] of the [[Kennet Trio]], [[Matthew Moss]] and [[Edith James]],<ref name="1.2M&E">Edith and Matthew entered at the same time.  Edith by skull, Matthew by the timepiece. [...]  Edith exited by coin.  Matthew exited by skull. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> all the Kennet goblins but [[Toadswallow]],<ref name="1.2Gob">The goblins came after, in through the knife-door.  They took separate paths once they were there, the little one traveling almost a three-quarter circle around, hitting two dead ends before finally joining the others by Lucy. [...]  Toadswallow left by hourglass.  The other three by skull. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> and the [[Hungry Choir]]<ref name="1.2Choir" /> were associated with the skull. 

===Fate===
'''Fate''', also known as the '''Threads''', is the pillar associated with destiny and the course of events. It can be represented by anything woven, such as a knitted doll,<ref name="1.2e1" /> a rope,<ref name="Identification" /> or a skein.<ref name="Blood">Rowan is initiated into the practice.  Death is his first step onto the bloody path.  He welcomes his pet cat Bartles into his arms, given to him as a kitten when he was four, and at his parent’s instruction, severs its head, being careful to catch every drop of blood in a prepared bowl.  The ritual calls for a skull, a coin, a dagger, a skein, a means of tracking time, a flower.  For his ritual, the cat’s head is the skull, the tag- his parents made it a coin, a long time ago.  The tendons and whiskers are the skein, woven crudely with blood-sticky fingers and tear-heavy eyes.  A drop of blood in water blossoms, to be his flower, and the weapon used to kill Bartles is his dagger.  He completes his ritual and he goes to where his parents have set up a table with common implements.  He chooses a chain and he soaks it in the blood he put in the bowl, before binding it around his arm.  A meaningful sacrifice, the first step onto his path is a binding one. - [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HDme0ZfR3CYtCSYekdePzOWZZE_5K3hC-DY6-hsKyJw/edit Pact Dice - Blood Magic]</ref> Something knitted as a gift is particularly appropriate.<ref name="1.2e1" /> Fate can also be represented by an angular C-shaped [[rune]].<ref name="10.3e1" />

In the [[Awakening]] of the [[Kennet Trio]], [[Miss]],<ref>Miss stepped out onto the diagram [... t]hrough the arch-circle with the doll, which turned its head to watch her enter and walk past it. [...] She left the same way she’d come. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> [[Maricica]],<ref name="1.2Mari">The woman with the wings came in past the thread, which seemed larger and brighter. [...] She left by way of the coin.  That was different. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> [[Guilherme]],<ref name="1.2Guil">The giant, tan and long-haired, with chiseled features partially hidden behind long hair, entered through the hourglass, almost stepping on Toadswallow. [...] He exited by way of the sewn thing. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> and [[Alpeana]]<ref>The girl with the filthy hair moved like a spider did, her movements too quick and jerky, her body low to the ground.  She navigated her way across by darkness, not the paths of the light.  In through the thread, giving oil.  [...]  The girl left the same way she’d come. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> were associated with the Threads.

===Fortune===
'''Fortune''' is a newer pillar, representing civilization and commerce. Sometimes it is used in place of Nature (the Bough), or lumped in with Fate (the Threads).<ref name="10.3e1" /> It is represented by a coin.

In the [[Awakening]] of the [[Kennet Trio]], [[Maricica]],<ref name="1.2Mari" /> [[Edith James]],<ref name="1.2M&E" /> and the [[Hungry Choir]]<ref name="1.2Choir">The Children came in past the arch with the skull, filing in one after another.  Fifty, a hundred.  There was no singing, only silence. [...] They filed out by way of the coin. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> were associated with the coin.

===Nature===
'''Nature''', also known as the '''Bough''', is the pillar associated with life and growth. It can be represented by a forking branch rune<ref name="10.3e1" /> or possibly an animal.<ref name="4.7e1">A glowing circle appeared over his head, with a triple-layered border, the center circle filled in, and symbols at the north, east, south, and west.  It looked like a dog, an old fashioned axe, a comb, and a skeletal fish. [...] Sutton, Austin, and Leos, good effort in drawing comparisons to the pillars of the awakening ritual, fishbone as skull, axe as blade, dog as element of nature, and comb as thread. [...] The ritual is a simple one, to get deeper into the Ruins. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/09/08 Excerpt] from [[Leaving a Mark 4.7]]</ref> Several variant Awakening rituals use a flower, which may represent Nature.<ref>“More abstract things for the middle ring,” I said.  Rose gave me directions to find each object she’d already set up on her side.<br><br>A dagger.  An hourglass.  A dreamcatcher.  A small silver skull.  A coin.<br><br>“Which catches you up to where I was,”  Rose said.  “I got stumped.  A rose, and something personal.”<br><br>“Kitchen for the former,” I said.  “I can’t help with the latter.” - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/01/11 Excerpt] from [[Bonds 1.7]]</ref><ref name=":9">I put the wine aside for later before going upstairs [from the kitchen], my arms full.  Everything went into a bowl, except the rose.<br><br>The basic stuff in the inner ring.  The dagger, hourglass and all the rest in the middle ring… leaving me with one empty circle.  The personal touch.[...] The keys found their place in the empty circle.<br><br>I set out the food as well.  One offering to each bowl, for the outer ring. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/01/11 Excerpt] from [[Bonds 1.7]]</ref><ref name=":6">[[Subordination 6.2]]</ref><ref name="Blood" />

Nature is sometimes replaced by Fortune in rituals.<ref name="10.3e1"/>

===Time===
'''Time''', also known as the '''Hours''', is the pillar associated with the passage of time. It is represented by a timepiece<ref name="1.2e1" /> or an hourglass [[rune]] of two triangles.<ref name="10.3e1" />

In the [[Awakening]] of the [[Kennet Trio]], [[Toadswallow]]<ref name="1.2Gob" /><ref name="1.2Guil" /> and [[Matthew Moss]]<ref name="1.2M&E" /> were associated with the timepiece.
===War===
'''War''', also known as the '''Blade''' or the '''Edge''', is the pillar associated with conflict and strife. It is usually represented by a knife,<ref name="1.2e1" /><ref name="Identification" /> though another weapon can be used such as an axe.<ref name="4.7e1" /> War can be represented by an arrow [[rune]].<ref name="10.3e1" />

In the [[Awakening]] of the [[Kennet Trio]], [[John Stiles]]<ref>The rattling of metal drew Lucy’s attention. The knife had come free to the ground, and like a compass, pointed at John, who stepped into the knife’s arch.  It tracked his feet, shuddering toward a middle-point when both were touching the circle, and pointed after him as he ventured further in. [...] before departing the circle much in the way he’d come.  In by blade, out by blade. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/05/12 Excerpt] from [[Lost for Words 1.2]]</ref> and the [[Goblin]]s<ref name="1.2Gob" /> were associated with the knife. [[Lucy Ellingson]] tied herself especially closely to this pillar by using a knife to represent herself in the Awakening, and as such has a [[Second Sight]] dominated by blades and hurt.<ref name="1.2e1" />

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[[Category:Basic Information]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Incarnations]]