Koru Ceremony of Arthur Octavian Sondeheim

Life, Birth

The Koru (naming) ceremony of Arther Octavian Sondeheim, son of Lord Frederick Sondeheim and Lady Lauranna Scheldt-Sondeheim

Crowds gathered in central Luxor on Tyr today, as Lord Frederick Sondeheim and Lady Lauranna Scheldt-Sondeheim held a Koru (naming) ceremony in Luxor Cathedral today for their firstborn. Lord Sondeheim is currently the front-runner to become First Ranger, the most prominent position in the Valtinist Faith.   An old Valtinist custom, each guest was invited to add to the Book of Wisdom, traditionally given to the child on their 18th birthday, present in the Cathedral. Baron Gauis Corvo (TU) added a passage on "bravery and deeds of [his own] heroism aboard the RES Luxor at the Battle of Vodhyna, where we showed those Dhau Empire that they could get f***ed” the Baron told reporters.   Among other high profile guests were Salif Madawi (ONX) and his father Demba Madawi (ONX), Princess Anastasia Valane (ONX) along with Haramirah Sofia Valane (IND), Count Royce Cutbill (ISO), Prince Thaddeus Krane (IND), Grand Duchess Lysa Moreland (RCP), Grover Grumman (IND), Fletcher Navarro (ONX), Carmilla Navarro (ONX) and her husband Dr Cevin Knottman (IND), Ward Dutton (ISO) and Sera Malouf (STW).   The child was dressed in light blue clothing and was situated on the dais after being brought out by his parents. He was placed in a hand woven basket, made from the new species of oak introduced to Tyr post terraforming.   Once the guests of honour were gathered around the infant in a circle, the parents began washing the child's feet and hands with water in a platinum bowl inlayed with purple gold patterns, while placing petals of a New Berlinese Lily on his forehead. Following a hymn, six guests were invited to present a small symbolic gift associated with a sense. Sofia Valane presented an ornate music box for hearing, Demba Madawi gifted Nysan dates for taste, Royce Cutbill presented a visual puzzle box for sight, Fletcher Navarro presented a bouquet of flowers from pre-terraformed Tyr for smell, and Athena Henson offered an intricately woven blanket embroidered with a passage from a Ranger poem for touch.   For intuition Lady Victoria Krane-Sondeheim stood up and presented a magnificent gold pendant with black and red veins running through the metal work with the Sondeheim Family Crest embossed on one side of the pedant and the Valtinist flower symbol with the Rangers symbol inlaid inside each other on the reverse.   Once the gifts had been presented, Lord Frederick and Lady Lauranna announced the name of their child was “Arthur Octavian Sondeheim”   Following the guests repeating the name three times, the ceremony came to a close. It was reported that a meal for close friends and family was held in the Sondeheim family seat of Elbar's Rest following the ceremony.