"Need a cleric to marry me" came the thoughts of a desperate young groom one night as I lay around at the Wayside's node. Totally tapped out from a recent spate of dead, I contacted him and agreed to perform the ceremony for them. Needless to say the ceremony, while nice, was only adequate in my opinion. I resolved to do better in the future. Having now performed numerous weddings, I can only recommend to my brethren the importance of preparation. I still perform the ritual at a moments' notice, but at least I know that I am able to give them a wedding worth remembering.
Proper planning for a wedding is essential. It is to be hoped that the couple you're going to marry doesn't need the ceremony
immediately or even that very day. Take the couple off to a
quiet table and get some background information on them if you do not know them. With this
information, you can tailor a ceremony just for them. Ask them what they envision. Do they
want soft lights or do they want fireworks? Will guests be encouraged to sing or tell
stories about the couple? Do they wish to write their own vows or must you do all the
work? Even information about which higher power the couple venerates allows me to pay them
proper respect in my opening prayers in which I start any formal service.
After you got this background information, sit down and outline what you have heard and write out your preliminary ideas. At this point I usually manage to visit with one of the participants or drop them a note to get a confirmation that I am on the right track. Then I finish up my outline with notes on prayers, write out some personal information on the couple to relate, and polish up the vows. You can also take this time to invoke the Wizard macros to store some of the longer sections so that the ceremony flows along at a good pace.
The day of the ceremony dawns. First, begin by preparing yourself. A bath never hurt anyone so stop by the spring at Voln and splash around. Then dress as a priest performing one of the holiest services in your power. Try not to be wearing armor unless you're doing the service in some sort of battlefield conditions. I recently married one eloping couple in the Ruined Potter's Field so I went fully armed and armored, but this is an exception. Weapons should be put away. Plan to meet with the couple and all members of the wedding party at least 30 minutes before you are scheduled to begin.
This is a good time to remind everyone to relax and have fun. This is also a good time to Bind one or both of the participants if they start getting too nervous. Remind everyone involved what will happen and in what order. Plan for unexpected departures from the lands. It happens so just be calm and relax, it all works out. Know who has the wedding rings to save fumbling around later.
Proceed now to the site of the wedding. At the appointed time, ask everyone to be quiet and begin the ceremony. This is your stage now and as you begin to weave a magical spell called marriage for two happy people, perform to the best of your ability. I have used my magic in ceremonies to call forth raining roses, soft music and candlelight, golden canopies, and make wedding rings glow powered only by the love of the new owners. After the last "I do" and the rings are exchanged and the groom has kissed the bride, thank everyone for coming and proceed to the reception. Announce the new bride and groom in whatever manner you can (Symbol of Thought and/or amulet).
Weddings are the celebration of life in Elanthia and a fine opportunity for you to show off, not on the field of battle but within an entirely different context. You may marry many couples or do this for only close friends. Whatever you decide, do it well.
Sample Format of a Wedding
1. Arrive, thank everyone for coming, brides entrance
2. Welcoming statements, prayers to the Gods
3. Songs or other performances
4. Bride and groom exchange vows or at least express their love for one another
5. Priestly vows
6. Exchange rings, kiss bride, thank everyone again
By Megalon Time
Scions of a darker age,
A time of trouble, a time of fear
Of blood and death the common wage
Ye who in darkness, ride the waves
In blood again must you be paid
Ye kindred of the night.
Start again the eternal battle,
Wage the age old fight
Raise again the battle standard,
Hold fast against the evil tide.
Sally forth, to end the struggle
For Voln, and for right!
By Myrathrimbul Kruventhrall
Having been fortunate enough to have traveled extensively through Elanthia, I have indeed seen a great many wonders and been through a great many cities. Yet, I have never seen anything quite so disturbingly peverse as the state of religion here in Western Elanith. It seems to me to be a mockery of all that is true in the world. If it were not for the widespread nature of this disease, I would surely think it nothing more than a hoax played on simple dwarves from afar. Yet it goes beyond even this.
Just this morning I was speaking to a
fellow dwarven cleric about this and that when chanced upon a lifeless elf lying by the
edge of the road, which is incidently where I would have left him. But my companion, being
on the namby-pampy side, stopped and attempted to help him. After tending to his wounds,
my young friend placed his hand on the elf's forehead and pleaded to 'Lorminstra' to come
and return this elf's life. I stared in amazement and hinted that he was begging to the
wrong source if he was really trying to save that elf's life. I received a stern glance
and decided to keep my mouth shut until later when we left the elf, who oddly enough was
regaining his life.
As soon as the elf was out of earshot, I implored my friend to let me in on the joke. Why was everyone in this region making praises for some imaginary deities? Shouldn't we just as well beg the roltons for rain? He stared at me for a second and asked what I meant by this nonsense. Apparently, my companion was even less in tune with his dwarven-self than I had previously imagined. Honestly, I can easily see silly old elves occupying themselves with this sort of bag o' nuts, but honest and forthright dwarves, not a chance!
And so I pressed him further. What in Western Elanith makes you so darn positive that you're not worshiping figments of your imagination? Is the water funny around here? Does it make you conjure up histories of dragons and omnipotent Arkati? Have you never heard of the Mighty Tor'Kaan? Can this edge of the world be so backward as to have never felt His presence? Or is it possible that He dislikes this region so much that He refuses to acknowledge Himself here?
At this point my young friend burst into a fit of giggles. He told me that I had him going there for a second. "Mighty Tor'Kaan", he snorted. He even went so far as to infer that the name was probably derived from an ancient tongue and meant a common sheep-like animal similar to a rolton. That was all I could take. I marched right up to him, stuck my tongue out just as far as it would go, and stomped off. I could hear him laughing for nearly a quad-mark.
At this point it seemed to me that this area was inhabited by tomfools and that if the truth was to be spread, it would have to be spread by me. So now, I spread it to you. Stop me on the street and ask me about my liege, the Mighty Tor'Kaan. I'll be happy to set your backwards mind straight again. Please, be sure that you speak dwarven or have an interpreter handy. I understand your common tongue well enough but be cursed if my lips will speak it.