Tapestries of Life (SC'20)
Written by Mark Sexton, Formatted and edited by Steve Tremblay
A common feature of Therian births and birthday for generations, “Quilted Tapestries” have become synonymous with healthy family bonds and an inclusive approach to family life in rural Theria.
Research has worked doggedly to discover the origin of this practice, and what has been uncovered so far has taken a dark turn indeed. While the color palettes and materials have shifted in prominence, there are rumors of a much darker meaning behind what is regarded as an innocent practice. Rumor holds that centuries ago the gift of stitching cloth from your household into the tapestries of another created a tactile and visual reminder of a bond or oath of service. Different than slavery, this was an oath bond of one-time service, no questions asked.
Thought to have originated from a long forgotten matriarch, the story goes on to explain that if the person gifted such a tapestry lost a child, they could unravel the quilt and take the squares that were gifted at that child birthing back to the women that offered them and ask a favor. This was only done once, and that square was burned at the completion of the task. It is important to note that the squares were not to be cut apart, but must be unraveled to show that deep thought had been put into this request.
Stories tell of vengeance being brought down upon rival villages by bands of women, often mistaken as a traveling coven of witches, after the murder of a son or daughter by a resident of the ill-fated town. All compassion tossed aside and replaced with the fury of a wronged mother, wells would be poisoned, buildings burned with the offender in it asleep, and havoc would be plentiful until the grieving mother was abated. Once she felt that such pain had been answered for, the central birth square for that child would be burned in a small ceremony. It is believed that there are still pockets of settlers that understand the gravity of being invited to a birthing party and make such decisions carefully.
Research has worked doggedly to discover the origin of this practice, and what has been uncovered so far has taken a dark turn indeed. While the color palettes and materials have shifted in prominence, there are rumors of a much darker meaning behind what is regarded as an innocent practice. Rumor holds that centuries ago the gift of stitching cloth from your household into the tapestries of another created a tactile and visual reminder of a bond or oath of service. Different than slavery, this was an oath bond of one-time service, no questions asked.
Thought to have originated from a long forgotten matriarch, the story goes on to explain that if the person gifted such a tapestry lost a child, they could unravel the quilt and take the squares that were gifted at that child birthing back to the women that offered them and ask a favor. This was only done once, and that square was burned at the completion of the task. It is important to note that the squares were not to be cut apart, but must be unraveled to show that deep thought had been put into this request.
Stories tell of vengeance being brought down upon rival villages by bands of women, often mistaken as a traveling coven of witches, after the murder of a son or daughter by a resident of the ill-fated town. All compassion tossed aside and replaced with the fury of a wronged mother, wells would be poisoned, buildings burned with the offender in it asleep, and havoc would be plentiful until the grieving mother was abated. Once she felt that such pain had been answered for, the central birth square for that child would be burned in a small ceremony. It is believed that there are still pockets of settlers that understand the gravity of being invited to a birthing party and make such decisions carefully.
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