18,713
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→The Ritual of Awakening
Once a year, one of the [[Exarch]]s of a Craftworld is chosen by its [[Farseer]]s to hold the title of [[Young King]] and will be ritually sacrificed to awaken the Avatar of Khaine, if needed. If the Avatar need not be awoken that year, then the warrior will returns to the duties of their former role. On [[Biel-Tan]], the Exarch instead joins the [[Court of the Young King]] which aids in governing their craftworld alongside the seer council.{{Fn|2b}}
The Young King is typically can be an exarch, but sometimes an aspect warriorExarch or Aspect Warrior, and can be male or female. The Young King is brought before the enormous gates of the Avatar's Chamber, which is covered in stories of various Aeldari myths. Before this they are bathed in incense of dozens of different flower petals, saps of various fruit trees, and oils of countless crushed herbs.{{Fn|10}} Wearing nothing save for a wraithbone crown of thorns, the Young King stands naked in front the searing bronze gates of a stirring god.{{Fn|11}} The Exarchs of the respective craftworld usher the Young King into the scorching heat of the Avatar's Chamber, and open the gates to the roaring Avatar's domain.{{Fn|10}}
When a Craftworld prepares for a major war, its Exarchs begin to feel the Avatar's call{{Fn|1}} and should an [[Autarch]] call for war without the Avatar the naked ribs of wraithbone within the dormant avatar sound with a psychic roar heard throughout the craftworld.{{Fn|14}} The Exarchs, clad in ceremonial armour, go to the door leading into the Avatar's chamber. There they begin the ancient ritual to rouse the Avatar, where they anoint the Young King in bloody runes of [[Khaine]]{{Fn|13}} and sing battle hymns. The Young King is given the mantle of the Craftworld fastened with a golden pin, to identify to the Avatar of their allegiance, followed by filling a cup with the Young King's blood. Then the chamber's door opens and wielding ''Suin Daelle'', The [[Wailing Doom]], and the bloody '''Cup of Criel'''{{Fn|13}} in each hand the Young King waits outside the massive bronze doors of the throne room, watching as the door glows with heat and cracking flame, a [[Seer]] choir sings the "Hymn of Blood". The door opens and the assembled see the shadowed silhouette of the Avatar and as the Hymn reaches a crescendo the Young King steps forward and the doors close.{{Fn|13}}
