Editing Hungry Choir (section)

== The Ritual ==
You sign your full name up to the website. No matter what time it is, you are now in the ritual world and it is midnight. 

You must then follow the singing to the ritual site, and join the other eight participants in singing the Devouring Song. Part-way through, an animal will appear; you have to eat some of it before the song ends. 

<div class="mw-collapsible">
<blockquote>'''The Devouring Song'''</blockquote><blockquote>“A song for your supper,</blockquote><blockquote>A morsel for a melody,</blockquote><blockquote>A ballad for your board,</blockquote><blockquote>A chorus for your collation,</blockquote><blockquote>A tune for your tuck,</blockquote><blockquote>A refrain for your refreshment,</blockquote><blockquote>A piece for the potluck,"</blockquote><blockquote>(repeat)</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “A song for your supper,"</blockquote><blockquote>"If the tune is merry enough, will the dish be sweet?</blockquote><blockquote>If the song is jolly enough, will the plate be neat?</blockquote><blockquote>And if the ballad is lively enough, can we hope for meat?"</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “A song for my supper!”</blockquote><blockquote>“How shall we cut it, if we have no knife?</blockquote><blockquote>With our teeth, and with our nails,</blockquote><blockquote>Digging in, and singing out!”</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “How glad we are to dine!”</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “A song for my supper!”</blockquote><blockquote>“I’ll come to the table, every phase this moon.</blockquote><blockquote>And ne’er again find myself picking--up a spoon!</blockquote><blockquote>Nor fork, nor blade!</blockquote><blockquote>Nor plate, nor cup!</blockquote><blockquote>Oh I’ll have stayed fully supped, and sated since this tune.”</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “A song for your supper!”</blockquote><blockquote>“I shall not miss a single beat, or else I’ll offer tonight’s treat.</blockquote><blockquote>I shall not miss a single word, or else I’ll be the one who’s served.</blockquote><blockquote>And we’ll tell you, that on these nights. Oh, we shan’t fail to take a bite.</blockquote><blockquote>To you alone, I’ll share this…</blockquote><blockquote>If a single meal I miss… </blockquote><blockquote>Then I shall be but skin and bone… </blockquote><blockquote>And I will be a mess,” </blockquote><blockquote>(All) “Oh, this shall be a mess!”</blockquote><blockquote>“A song for your supper!</blockquote><blockquote>A ditty for some din!</blockquote><blockquote>A crooning for some chow.</blockquote><blockquote>A helping for a hymn.</blockquote><blockquote>A song for your supper!</blockquote><blockquote>A morsel for your melody!</blockquote><blockquote>A ballad for your board!</blockquote><blockquote>A chorus for your collation!</blockquote><blockquote>A tune for your tuck!</blockquote><blockquote>A refrain for your refreshment!</blockquote><blockquote>A piece for your potluck!</blockquote><blockquote>(All) “A song for your supper!”</blockquote><blockquote>“Come moons eight, I’ll be surfeit,</blockquote><blockquote>Full even when I’m emp-ty,”</blockquote><blockquote>[text missing]</blockquote><blockquote>(Waifs join) “Come moons eight, they’ll be surfeit.</blockquote><blockquote>Full even when they’re emp-ty.</blockquote><blockquote>Or else they’ll be… </blockquote><blockquote>forever a waif, </blockquote><blockquote>barred from the horn of plen-ty.”</blockquote></div>

On completing the ritual, you gain a tattoo corresponding to the phase of the moon, and any injuries gained during the ritual magically become healed-over injuries you had since birth. 

The eighth time you attempt the ritual, you're given a different version which involves a different song and removing parts of the other contestants. If you complete the ritual eight times for the eight phases of the moon, you will be forever satisfied - no need to eat or drink, no negative effects on your body from overindulging, and fate will arrange for you to have endless supplies of whatever food, drink, or drugs you desire.

=== Rules ===
These rules are enforced by the Waifs, which will attack anyone breaking them. 

The rules governing Hungry Choir participants are drawn from the wording of the song:
* "Have no knife" - no weapons. Sufficiently armoured clothing risks breaking this rule. The waifs will attempt to take the item, only attacking if it's held onto or used.
* "Not miss a single word" - no speaking, even single-syllable cries, that isn't part of the song.
* "Not miss a single beat" - once the song starts, failure to sing along is punished.
* "Shan't fail to take a bite" - you must eat some of the sacrificial animal before the song ends. This is required to complete the ritual.
* Although not strictly a rule, you must follow the singing to the ritual site or the waifs will drag you there.
On anyone's eighth night, the song and rules are different. They include that:
* You must eat seven specific body parts from each of the other contestants.<ref>“It took her a while to get back to her place after. The winner, the
 sobbing girl, took seven parts from each of the seven contestants. 
Reagan isn’t in good shape. She’s blind, and she’s convinced she’s 
going to die, and the other six aren’t much better off. The next night 
is tomorrow.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/stolen-away-2-7/ excerpt] from [[Stolen Away 2.7]]</ref> One of the parts that must be claimed from each contestant is one of their eyes.