Confirmation of a New Vitalor
When one of the three reigning vitalors steps down or passes on into Nykt's arms, a new vitalor is selected from among the members of his or her house. Then, a thirty day ritual commences to confirm the vitalor-elect into office.
History
In Corethe's beginning, there was little fanfare involved around the confirmation of a new vitalor. The community was still growing, and people were concerned more with survival than pomp. Leaders were needed now and there wasn't time to faff about with rituals and the like. If decisions weren't made, then people went hungry or died.
Another reason there wasn't a complicated or lengthy ritual to confirm a new vitalor in the beginning was that the first few generations after the original leader, Ellynar, were born with gods-touched. They had proof on their bodies that they were meant to lead. The gods had spoken and the people listened.
Over time, as magic waned, memories faded, and the gods-touched become supremely rare, ritual was needed... priests were needed... to confirm that this person was divinely chosen to lead.
And so, this ritual was born.
Another reason there wasn't a complicated or lengthy ritual to confirm a new vitalor in the beginning was that the first few generations after the original leader, Ellynar, were born with gods-touched. They had proof on their bodies that they were meant to lead. The gods had spoken and the people listened.
Over time, as magic waned, memories faded, and the gods-touched become supremely rare, ritual was needed... priests were needed... to confirm that this person was divinely chosen to lead.
And so, this ritual was born.
Execution
Of the thirty days, a full half of them are spent in solitary prayer in the Chamber of Darkness. During this time, the vitalor-elect only had water and a certain kind of fish that was caught daily by specially selected fishermen. The priests stood guard outside the room and the only beings the vitalor-elect was allowed to talk to were the gods.
Another week is spent in deep study about the history and laws of Corethe. At the end of this time, the High Priest spends three days quizzing the vitalor-elect on the history and laws. If the vitalor-elect gets even one answer wrong, a new vitalor-elect is chosen or the entire process starts over again.
The next two days are spent in physical trials, the likes of which change from year to year. A few times, vitalor-elects have had to swim the Corethe harbor, and then ascend the stairs of the Navi Lighthouse, and finally, play the traditional vitalor's march on an instrument of their choice. Other times, vitalor-elects single-handedly piloted a boat to a city-state on the other side of the peninsula and then hiked back, overland, hunting as they went. When they returned, they had to prepare the meat and serve it to the poor people of the town. Usually there is a component of these trials where the vitalor has to interact with the people of Corethe--the ones who are never in the palaces and manses, but who live in the streets or ships or farms.
The final three days are days of feasting and celebrating. Each of the other vitalor families host the festivities for a day and then final day is hosted by the new vitalor's house. At the end of the celebration, the vitalor is formally blessed by the priests, coronated with the crown of their house and adorned with the robes of office, and the new vitalor makes a speech to the people in the central square where they pledge their service to Corethe and formally accepts the position.
Another week is spent in deep study about the history and laws of Corethe. At the end of this time, the High Priest spends three days quizzing the vitalor-elect on the history and laws. If the vitalor-elect gets even one answer wrong, a new vitalor-elect is chosen or the entire process starts over again.
The next two days are spent in physical trials, the likes of which change from year to year. A few times, vitalor-elects have had to swim the Corethe harbor, and then ascend the stairs of the Navi Lighthouse, and finally, play the traditional vitalor's march on an instrument of their choice. Other times, vitalor-elects single-handedly piloted a boat to a city-state on the other side of the peninsula and then hiked back, overland, hunting as they went. When they returned, they had to prepare the meat and serve it to the poor people of the town. Usually there is a component of these trials where the vitalor has to interact with the people of Corethe--the ones who are never in the palaces and manses, but who live in the streets or ships or farms.
The final three days are days of feasting and celebrating. Each of the other vitalor families host the festivities for a day and then final day is hosted by the new vitalor's house. At the end of the celebration, the vitalor is formally blessed by the priests, coronated with the crown of their house and adorned with the robes of office, and the new vitalor makes a speech to the people in the central square where they pledge their service to Corethe and formally accepts the position.
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