The Gretch Who Stole Christophorus

Excerpt from Esoteric Pilgrimage Destinations of the Gothic Sector, Volume 7, by Adept Matthias Laetorius.

"One of the more charming traditions enjoyed by citizens of Ophatran Secundus is associated with Saint Christophorus. On the eve of his feast day, sacred relics of Christophorus are taken from their shrines and given over to a masked actor known as the "Gretch". The honor of portraying the Gretch in each neighborhood is given to a discharged war hero of the Imperial Guard, and they are afforded special indulgences for taking on the role."

 

"As the sun sets, members of the Ministrorum provide the children of the neighborhood fruits, and they set out to find the 'Gretch who stole Christophorus'. They roam their district hunting for the hidden cache, and upon finding the Gretch, drive it away from the relics in a ferocious mock battle. It is interesting to see the citizenry being taught proper reviling of xenoforms through a whimsical allegory. The children are awarded special confections and printed tracts detailing the lives of Imperial Saints for their enthusiasm in recovering the relics." 

 

"Although some claim that the Gretch tradition hails from ancient Terra, I have found through rigorous research that many millennia ago Ophatran Secundus was on the periphery of a large Orkish invasion, and it is my belief that the Gretch lives on as a cultural memory from that trying time. Most citizens politely refuse to dig too deep into the tradition... otherwise they would need to confront the uncomfortable fact that if all the relics of Saint Christophorus were assembled, they would provide enough bones to represent two Astra Militarum regiments."