The Unsung Hymn

The melody wrapped around the clearing, as it was taken up by more and more of the Kajan. The woman at the centre pulled the long cords of her instrument, sending some strange melody up to the heavens. It was a hymn, that much was certain. Its strains were slightly sad, and yet celebratory. In that clearing, at that moment, I felt the presence of those who had come before me.
Atalia Segorna, Historian of the Kajan.

History

The Unsung Hymn is a cornerstone of Kajan life. If their oral histories are to be trusted, it has been performed since the early Precentury without fail. The existence of the hymn was first introduced to the rest of Mythia when Atalia Segorna published her works about the Kajan. Atalia traveled to the swamps in order to learn more about the Kajan, for although they had been part of Mythian trade and life for many years their customs and traditions were (and are) still shrouded in mystery.
Atalia, after her acceptance into one of the Kajan tribes, was surprised when on the day of the full moon she was stopped from going to bed. She took her notebook and quill from her room and followed her host, Sanaja, to a clearing. She was the first, and perhaps will be the only, outsider ever to participate in the Unsung Hymn. Her account is the only extant written copy of this ritual, and all other knowledge that the majority of Mythia has of the ritual has been gleaned from oral tellings from the Kajan peoples or rumour.
The Kajan do not speak of what began the ritual. Perhaps even they do not know.

Execution

The Unsung Hymn is performed on every full moon. Small groups within the Kajan tribes split up, and it is not unknown for the tribes to intermingle during this ritual. Typically, no more than 20 individuals are present in each group, and there is always at least one Riid player present in each group.
First, the members of the group seat themselves around the edges of a clearing. Often, the same clearing has been used for many years for this ritual, and there are well-worn patches where each person sits. Those who play the riid for the ritual stand in the centre of the clearing, typically on an item owned by one of their ancestors such as a rug or piece of clothing.
The group then sits silently for some time. The exact amount of time is variable, and can be anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The riid player remains standing throughout this period. And then, as though spontaneously, the riid player begins to play. The others in the group remain silent through the first refrain, before beginning to hum as the next begins.
After the first three repetitions of the hymn, those who are not playing the riid begin to stop humming. One by one, they stand and tell a story of someone from the past. However, they refrain from mentioning famed individuals - rather, they speak of those who passed from this world without being remembered. Some tell family stories of long-dead ancestors, which don't exist in common parlance; others speak of strangers they once met, or of those who died after living an unspectacular life. All the while, the riid player continues to play the strains of the hymn.
Once all the stories have been shared, those who told them sit and hum again, as the hymn reaches its climax. The last note hangs in the air, and the riid player finally sits. The group remains in the clearing until dawn breaks upon the horizon.

Components and tools

The Unsung Hymn requires a Riid to be performed, as this gives the cue for the beginning and end of the ritual. Apart from this, no physical items are required.

Participants

In order for the ritual to be performed, there must be a riid player present in each group. Nearly all Kajan have some degree of proficiency with this instrument, but typically only the best individuals perform with it in the Unsung Hymn. However, the riid player is not a controlling official in the ceremony as painted by Atalia's account - rather, they enable the ritual.