Honoring Erimos: A ritual of Refugees By Mika Tsuki

Introduction

The Erpitoni of Lysandus actually are residents of the desert moon Erimos. This is one of the four moons of Lysandus

The Erpitoni are a species of lizard people who now live as stranded refugees on our planet. Amongst them is the original princess Roza Diamanti. Once a year they gather to remember their home world while it is the brightest of the moons in Lysandus' sky. 

History

Many rituals which honor the origins of people exist on Lysandus. The Gaian's historically brought winter gift giving festivals and myths, as well as their fall harvest traditions and such. With wars many dragons have worn tokens to honor their lost families such as amulets bearing their clan mark. 
For the honoring of Erimos the tradition started with both the grief and celebration of Princess Roza. When her mother died she waited until the moon, Erimos, was brightest in the night sky before entombing her mother's mummy. During that period she had priests perform the delicate process of mummification. They dried the former queen of Erimos in herbs and spices substituting what they found on Lysandus for their sacred mixture. This funeral ceremony, including the chanting wailing women, was then repeated the next year when the moon was once more the brightest at Princess Roza's request.

Execution

The tradition of Honoring Erimos is performed over a month to two months time. First they prepare the ceremonial "dead one" bathing her in salts and herbs traditionally used to dry their dead. This chosen priestess then is given only sacred foods of their people and kept separate. During this time which she is preparing for her "death" and "burial" the others tell stories each night of their home world. On the last night parents often recount to their children there own or there ancestors harrowing journey on the spaceships fleeing the war their queen started with Aldaria, and the destruction of their world's climate.
On the night in which Erimos glows brightest in Lysandus' sky the Erpitoni priests bring out the sacred "dead one" and place her into the ceremonial sarcophagus. The mourners wail in grief and rattles are shaken. A drape is placed over the "dead one" and the traditional Eulogy is read:

Oh Erimos, the sands which mother stepped

She steps there no more

Here I bury her in an alien land in foreign sands

Here I live on this alien shore

Oh Erimos, hear our cries that we may return

To see the sands once more

After this is done all turn from the sarcophagus their backs facing toward it with hands covering their faces. The "dead one" rises answering:

Erimos, in his wisdom, hears our cries

Mourn not for we shall see his sands again

Until then let us rejoice for our daughters live

And here we can begin anew

A cry of joy choruses from the crowd as they turn toward the now living priestess. Then the feast begins.

Components and tools

• Stories
• the moon charts to track Erimos
•  Rattles for mourning 
• mummification herbs and spices
• water
• sand
• sarcophagus
• linens and wrappings
• food and drinks 

Participants

The Priests: to prepare the body of the dead one. The Child: Reads the eulogy, this is usually a girl but does not have to be. The Dead One: One of the priestess' selected to play the ceremonial 'mother'. She also rises to give a response of hope to the Eulogy.

Observance

Observed on the day and time of the year in which Erimos is brightest therefore there is no set date.