The Silent Faire (The Silent "Fair")

The Silent Faire

"We are creatures of ritual, whether we accept it or not, that is a fact. Born of ritual. Driven by ritual. Every action and reaction, mirroring an ancient rite that we were alive for but do not recall. This is the lot we are given, and we suffer it in our way. And when we can suffer no longer, we chose our own ending to the ritual. In battle or silent reflection." - Persephone, Lady of the Silent Faire, God of the Silent Death

History

The history of the Silent Faire is not well recorded or known outside of its boundaries. Some stories remark that a roaming clan of Chimera settled here, and their roots eventually led to this small community. Other stories claim that the initial purpose of the Silent Faire was a nefarious plot in the early days of the Grand Confederation, to rid their lands of unwanted Chimera. The truth is far more personal, as the Silent Faire was a gift. Gifted by the founding leaders of the Grand Confederation for bravery and feats that saved the realm in its early years.
It was a Chimera known as Chroma that was able to fend off both the Ascendant Empire and the Dominion of Deimos from invading the lands of the Grand Confederation and absorbing the multiple city-states before the formation of the Confederation could have been finalized, which likely would have brought an end to their vibrant cultures and lifestyles. The gift was to be a resting place for Chroma himself, as the stories say the gift came upon his deathbed. A place where he could be put to rest and those of his kind could also find peace. Whereas Chroma sought to meet his end in battle, the ancient purpose of the Chimera, others of his kind preferred a more peaceful end, hopefully surrounded by friends. With Chroma's given sacrifice his disparate people would have somewhere to look forward to in their chosen final days. But the reality is, not all Chimera of Nual would venture here. Their attitudes and thoughts on the concept of life and death were as varied as any other race upon Nual. And thus, the Silent Faire remained small. Quaint. The number of graves surrounding the commune numbers only a few thousand. And at least a third of them are filled with non-Chimera, who came here for the promise of a peaceful end.

Location and Layout

Technically located within the borders of the Grand Confederation, the temple known as the Silent Faire is not governed by the Confederation or required to pay any kind of tribute, despite being within its borders. The Silent Faire is given its own autonomy in its simple governance and by official decree by the Grand Confederation, and such autonomy is extended to the local village that surrounds the temple. The Silent Faire is surrounded by a village comprised of at least three dozen buildings of various size, with the largest building being the local inn, and the remaining buildings being various homes with a few sparse shops. In the center of the village resides the large temple complex of the Silent Faire. On the outskirt of the village are the multitude of graveyards that give the Silent Faire its purpose. A place of rest for those who have died or have arrived at the Faire to live out their final days.
In modern times the central temple is not dedicated to a specific god or religion, but ancient markings of some longforgotten worship can still be found on its building blocks, giving hint of a past long before this place was known as the Silent Faire. The temple houses the attendants of the Silent Faire, those who are dedicated to maintaining the nearby graveyards and specializing in assisting those guests who come to this locale in their final days.

Practices

The attendants of the Silent Faire are practiced Clerics and Paladins, dedicated to the concept of Choice, specifically the concept of choosing one's own end. It is not a concept without controversy and many outside the borders of the Grand Confederation, and even within, would see this as heartless barbarism. The reality is that the people the Silent Faire primarily caters to are the Chimera. A magically created race that was brought to life a millennium ago by the First Emperor and the First Empire. Created for the purpose of conflict and battle, they were given eternal life, never to die of old age, and bodies that would not wither or grow infirm. With this form of immortality came a price, as the mind was not given the strength of the body, and every century the mind of a Chimera would fade. Memories, experiences, and even personality would disappear and in essence they would be reborn. Some Chimera adapt to this reality, along with the support of others of their kind, and work to rebuild lost lives or experience entire new ones.
Not all are able to fully adapt and cope. Deciding that another new life is not the answer for their future. Thus, they travel to the Silent Faire to meet an ending of their own choice. Beyond the Choice, the attendants of the Silent Faire still tend to the sick and ailing. They do not foist their beliefs and practices onto anyone, as doing so would be anathema to them. As such, if the sick and ailing come to them seeking healing and solace, they will more then happily provide.

Choice of Rest

Those who wish for a peaceful end are administered a unique tincture by practiced attendants of the Silent Faire. Death is usually a quick and simple affair, following within a few hours of the tincture being given. The body is then buried in one of the graves around the village, after requested rituals are completed or basic rituals are done by attendants.

Choice of Battle

Some Chimera wish to live and die in a moment of battle, as the Chimera were originally created as soldiers of the First Empire. These Chimera are usually reaching the end of a life as a soldier or mercenary and cannot suffer the thought of another life wherein they do not continue as a warrior or perhaps do not measure up. Rarely a Chimera will be suffering from nightmares and former memories of a prior life, a chaotic swirl of ancient battles and wars that they have no true memory of. Such memories compel them to an end that they do not fully understand but believe is appropriate for their past self.
Such a Choice is usually administered by dedicated warriors of the Silent Faire, well-practiced Paladins and Clerics who are skilled in weapon and spell. Over the last century these warriors have honed their skills by being the chosen opponents for Chimera who wish to meet their end in battle. The ferocity of battle varies every time the Choice is honored, as many Chimera who come to them are skilled and deadly opponents, and others suffer severely from the deprivations of the mind that come to most Chimera during the final years of one of their lives.
The fight itself is a true fight to the death, with the attendant of the Silent Faire putting their life on the line. Doing anything less would be an insult to their honored guest. Sometimes a Chimera has bested multiple attendants, either inflicting mortal wounds or death, but each time the Choice eventually concludes even if the Choice's Blade must step forward to put an end to the Chimera.

Choice of Remembrance

The Choice of Remembrance is usually combined with the two prior Choices, though in rare instances a Chimera will venture to the Silent Faire to conduct this Choice without seeking death. With this Choice the attendants of the Silent Faire attempt to assist a Chimera in recalling past lives and memories and putting such recalls to paper for posterity. Spells, potions, tinctures, and more mundane practices are put to work to try and free the Chimera's mind and bring forth ancient memories.
This Choice seems to have met with no success in modern times, as the memories of past lives appear truly lost to Chimera. Despite this reality, Silent Faire continues the practice in hopes of one day unlocking some mystery of the past and the Chimera.

People

Lady Persephone

The leader of the Silent Faire's attendants. Mistress Persephone is an anima god of Death, keeping to the Silent Faire and rarely venturing beyond its boundaries. The full depth of her powers are unknown, but it was believed before she ascended, she was a well-seasoned adventurer magess who traveled in a company of Chimera mercenaries. Unlike most other gods she does not have a steady well of worshippers to draw power from. Instead, controversially, she draws power from the willing, who offer some of their magical essence when they choose their final fate.

Apothecary Delasi Chord

A kindly old woman who is rumored to have been living on these lands before the Silent Faire was ever established. She provides potent potions and brews for the attendants of the Silent Faire to utilize in their administrations, as well as supplies to adventurers who are passing through.

Apothecary Kythal

While most other attendants of the Silent Faire involve themselves in the various practices and rituals of Choice, Apothecary Kythal focuses on healing and recovery for those who are not ready to make a final Choice. A tiefling man of middling age, he was once a soldier who dealt exclusively with death and violence. Now he tends to the sick and the ailing, using skills developed on the battlefield to provide some measure of relief. He does not have the best bed side manners though, which Mistress Persephone laments often.

The Choice's Blade

The leader of the Silent Faire's martial aspect, the Paladins and Clerics who administer the Choice of Battle. A masked man who carries an ancient blade believed to have belonged to the fallen patron of the Silent Faire, Chroma. He is wholly dedicated to making sure the Silent Faire is protected and that the Choice of Battle is properly administered.

Timadar Family

The Timadar family manages a series of local farmsteads around the Silent Faire, supplying both the temple and village with needed foodstuffs. The head of the household, a half-elf man named Istalin Timadar, is said to have traveled to the Silent Faire intending on ending his life several decades ago but changed his mind in the final moments.

Attendant Waylo

A halfling man of near impenetrable exuberance, Attendant Waylo manages the Silent Faire's records generated from the Choice of Remembrance. Although the records are sparse and not well detailed, he is hopeful of one day attending to a Chimera who recalls past ancient lives. He eagerly collects rumors and gossip from across Nual related to various political on goings and current events.

Attendant Jubei

Attendant Jubei is a wanderer from the Suns' Divide Desert and is the second in line to hold the Choice's Blade. She holds many secrets but appears to be dedicated to her new direction in life.

Type

Cemetery