Drygioni - the high among trickster skalds
The one thing you do to the trickster skald, is you do not trust them.
Origin of the name
The title Drygioni comes from a southern Sávenian dialect of Cymru, which literary translates to mischief.
Looks and responsibilities
Organization of chaos and living up to the name of their predecessors. One traditionally would change their hallmark to that of the first Drygioni - Tíll Ulchabhán, i.e. mirror and owl.
Election
Drygioni are elected among the highest ranked Trickster skalds, usually amsar as formshaping of time perception is a tad more complicated and was shown to give an edge among fellow tricksters. The festival is held once every 10 years, taking place in the additional day of the leap year, along with the traditional Festival of the Long Summer. The place is picked at occasional meetings within the preceding years.
When the time is nigh, the tricksters gather and play pranks on the merry folk. There is but a single rule: one is forbidden from using any hallmarks and must not be caught using formashaping or spells of any kind, under the penalty of removal from the election. This usually causes them to use strange plants, liquors and mushrooms for camouflage. In the battle of wits, almost everything goes. The victor is announced unknowingly by the folk. Whoever plays the most memorable prank becomes the next Drygioni.
Symbols
Traditionally drygioni are depicted in art and literature with an owl and a mirror. But typically no skald would sink so low and significant alterations would be made, very often by layered symbolics with the owl and mirror being a common point. Some real life examples are, e.g.: an owl feather and a well polished broche, a single Ulchabhán - owls eye mineral pendant, preferably a rare one with only slightly distinguishable ring.
Controversies
Drygioni are a living legend and make the life of villagers all the more colourful with very vivid stories. That said, everyone who came in touch with them suffered a great deal of trouble, pain or even injuries. A recurring feature is that of providing help or assistance but with performance of the task given exactly as they were given, leading to misunderstanding.
In one of the stories a travelling merchant's arrived by the bridge and learned it was broken. Since he was desparate to make it before the market days he asked a passing by stranger to help him get the grain on the other side of the river. The man agreed but had said that he will wield a dangerous spell. Not only the merchant would have to move away to the nearest settlement but also cover his eyes and ears for the whole night. The stranger seemed trustworthy and muscular, so the merchant agreed and returned to the nearest settlement. The next day, he found the cart was on the other side of the river, but instead of bags with grain, the strange man groomed one of a dozen horses. He shouted to his savior and asked where was the grain. The man smiled and patted the horse's side, shouting back that it was safe and sound and that he could rest assured.
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