Susan's Shrine
Crepundium | Refraction
Susan's Shrine, as it is commonly known, is a tall narrow square wooden structure closed on three sides. A stone statue of a fox sits in the center. To the right of the entrance as one looks upon it rests a stone bowl for offerings. The shrine has gone neglected in recent memory. Vines hang from the roof, light shines through holes where boards have rotted, weeds cover the statue's base, and at times the bowl fills with woodland debris.
Purpose / Function
Travelers through the Haunted Woods even now leave offerings in the bowl as they plead with the sionnach for safe passage. While there is no proof such actions make a difference, Crepundium itself is a realm of superstistion and imaginary comforts. One cannot fault the denizens for taking what precautions they can, even if such are mere placebos.
History
How long has the little shrine sat within the woods? Many wonder about its origins, but no one seems to remember it being built. Some hazard a guess that Susan herself created it to give her shelter in her exile. The sionnach has never confirmed this one way or another, but it is not outside her abilities. Perhaps it does not matter where it came from given the comfort it brings. No one instructed the shrine's visitors to take the actions they do. The bowl encouraged offerings, so it became common practice to leave a tidbit or more in hopes of bribing the sionnach to grant one her protection or at least her indifference. Fish and rabbit are among the most common offerings, though fruits are sometimes left in the bowl as well. The state of neglect the shine stands in is not simple indifference. No one knows if Susan would mistake replacing the rotten boards for dismantling the shrine itself, and none wish to face a sionnach's wrath. Some visitors will brush away the overgrowth and pull the weeds, but that is the most anyone will dare to do.
- Type
- Shrine
- Parent Location
- Haunted Woods
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Wow, this is really well written! Especially the fact that the shrine is untouched due to respect gives a great image of the culture.
So first of all, for understanding: The sionach are a species, and Susan is a specific sionach, right? And Susan is the wolf inside the Shrine? Then I'd like to know, is Susan alive? Or was she ever alive as a normal animal?
Thank you very much for the feedback and the like. The culture is a work in progress I'm enjoying fleshing out. Yes, the Sionnach are a species. As their article explains, they're a type of fox, sort of a Celtic Kitsune in ways. The fox statue inside is believed to represent Susan, though it's not of her specifically. Yes, she's currently alive and is one of the oldest known of her species. Her character article's on my to-do list once I get my notes sorted out. :)