Ksenia - Graveclad - Deadcember 2022

 I managed to squeeze in a 'Deadcember' entry this year, 'Ksenia Graveclad' from Hasslefree.

The Festival of Christophorus - The Feast Day

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

"The twelfth day, as one might expect, is the culmination of the Festival of Saint Christophorus. The relics, having been returned to the reliquaries, indicate that all is well and that the safety of the Imperium is restored. All that remains is to burn an effigy of the Gretch (a symbol for all hostile xenoforms) before a image of Saint Christophorus. This occurs in nearly every precinct, even outside the capitol city, and is quite a celebration. Relics and religious trappings may be sold again, and the rare pilgrim that has any money left sets out on the next stage of their journey through the Gothic Sector.”

 

 

The Festival of Christophorus - The Gretch Who Stole Christophorus

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

"On the Eve of the Feast Day of Saint Christophorus, each precinct enacts the symbolic ritual of the ‘Gretch Who Stole Christophorus’. Sacred relics of Christophorus are taken from their shrines and given over to the costumed actor portraying the Gretch. The actor portraying the loathsome green monster makes a traditional display of the stolen relics, and leaves to find a hiding place. After thirty-nine and one half minutes pass, the precinct Ecclesiarch makes a show of investigating the reliquary, loudly declaring “Saint Christophorus's Day is ruined”. The eager children then race off to recover the 'stolen' relics."

"The children roam their district hunting for the hidden Gretch and his cache. Upon finding the nefarious character, they drive it away from the relics in a ferocious mock battle. 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.”

 

 

The Festival of Christophorus - Procession of Skulls

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

"The tenth day of the Festival of Christophorus is the Procession of Skulls. The Ecclesiastic Precinct is closed to all citizens other than Ministorum, and Adeptus with special indulgence.  The nobility of the capitol assemble, bringing forth their ancient servo-skulls, which are tangible evidence of their ancestors. Many of the skulls date from the colonization of the planet. By law, the governor must be descended from the families of the original colonizers brought by Saint Christophorus. As the nobility process into the Via Sancti, citizens and pilgrims beseech the blessing of the luminaries, and children dream of founding their own noble house some day.”

 

 

The Festival of Christophorus - The Vostroyan

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

"The ninth day of the Festival of Christophorus is dedicated to the destruction of heretical and subversive writings. On this day, an archaic and fearsome device of unknown STC pattern, called ‘The Vostroyan’ by the locals, is stationed in the Plaza of Conviction.  The grim engine houses an incinerator, which serves to immolate any prohibited books hurled within. Common examples of such texts include anti-Imperial propaganda and xenologies which are too accurate in their portrayals. In the year I attended, there were an unusually high number of pro-mutant writings, which presaged a coming wave of conflict in the capitol.”

 

Disclaimer: Photoshop was used in the second image, I intended on using some LEDs inside but didn't have a bright enough setup- maybe in the future...

The Festival of Christophorus - Dia Exsolutum

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

"The eighth day of the Festival of Christophorus is ‘Dia Exsolutum’.  Saint Christophorus’s fragmentary writings include a phrase- ‘may the cages be opened’. 

 

 

 On this day, the penitent cages across the planet are opened and the prisoners are redistributed. Contrite prisoners that commited minor crimes are released. The most egregious or unrepentant offenders are sentenced to arco-flagellation, or internment in a penitent engine. If there is an excess of penitents, the Imperial Navy is often on hand to take on ‘recruits’. Although the penitents are offenders of Ministorum laws, the Adeptus Arbites provide oversight of the potentially dangerous process.”

 

 

The Festival of Christophorus - Seer's Honor

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

"The seventh day of the Festival of Christophorus is ‘Seer’s Honor’.  On this day, the Astrotelepathic Choir allows themselves to be seen for seven Terran minutes. Due to their empathic sensitivity, they do not make themselves part of the crowds that swarm the Imperial Sector. However, they fulfill their religious obligations according to Christophorus’s few writings, which state that his “Astropath and Navigator be honored for their guidance.” The Ministorum claims that Christophorus was a Missionary Galactica, but I suspect he was actually a Rogue Trader- which would account for his open mindedness toward the psykers of the Imperium.” 

The Festival of Christophorus - Steersman's Honor

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

"The sixth day of the Festival of Christophorus is ‘Steersman’s Honor’.  On this day, Navis Nobilite display their chapterhouse’s relic in the primary forum. Their conveyance bears an image of Holy Terra, wrought from Terran metal. This symbolically shows their role in spreading humanity from humanity’s home planet.  For the populace, this display is a fraught one.  Navigators are feared by most humans- and particularly the Ophatrans, who believe warp spirits cling to void travellers.  However, the chance to see the sculpture of Terra compels them to observe, and many pilgrims faint from the joy of being near a physical piece of Holy Terra.”  

 

 

The Festival of Christophorus - Presentation Day

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

"The fifth day of Christophorus is Presentation Day. The major cities of Ophatran Secundus are divided into many precincts. Nearly all precincts (other than zones administered by the Holy Adeptus) are assigned to a noble family that ensures the productivity and spiritual well being of the citizens."

 

 

"On this day, the people of the district give the precinct’s nobility a package wrapped in decorative paper. Almost without exception, these presents contain letters wishing the Emperor’s benevolence on the family. Three generations ago, one package held an explosive device, which entirely eradicated the notorious Von Pazzi family. Consequently, that precinct was razed, its citizens dispersed, and is now the Square of Penitence. It has been whispered that the Imperial Governor wanted the Von Pazzi done away with, or perhaps that the Ecclesiarch coveted the area for a new plaza for his penance cages.”

The Festival of Christophorus - Feast Day of Saint Lewinna

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

"The fourth day of the Festival of Christophorus is devoted to Saint Lewinna. As the reader likely knows, Lewinna is the Patron of the planet Providentia Nova, as well as the Order of the Ivory Crown. She is well known through the subsector, as she was a devout pilgrim to the local shrine worlds.

Lewinna’s feast day features a parade usually including a delegation of Ivory Crown Sororitas and Ministorum officials. I was fortunate to attend such a parade, which included the Lance of Lewinna- a relic that very rarely leaves its shrine world. Due to her popularity among pilgrims, and the reverence directed toward the Sororitas, the crowds can be immense.” 

The Festival of Christophorus - Miracle of the Portals

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

"The third day of the Festival of Christophorus is devoted to the Miracle of the Portals. Hagiographies of the saint state that Christophorus returned to Ophatran Secundus at the time of the Siege of Cassius Longinus, during the Age of Apostasy. When the planetary defense forces were about to fall, Christophorus miraculously delivered weapons, ammunition, and devotional tracts to dozens of garrisons- all in the same night. In some cases, he was able to enter the bunker complexes through small ventilation shafts. During the third night, citizens with travel permits endeavor to visit as many buildings as they can, and affix printed prayer tags and devotional images to the doors.”

The Festival of Christophorus - Contemplation Day

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

"The second day of the Festival of Christophorus is spent in contemplation. Citizens without a special permit stay indoors, where they contemplate the life of The Emperor and Saint Christophorus. Workers in the Emperor's Manufactorums are given a special fifteen minute break during their shift for this purpose.

Many citizens, however, hold an unusual belief. It is said that Christophorus left the planet after it was claimed in the Emperor’s name, and ventured beyond the galactic edge in search of the fabled Second Legion of Adeptus Astartes. He will bring the Lost Legion back someday to vanquish all of the Holy Emperor’s foes. There are many books related to this topic and the tales are told behind closed doors.

 

Although not judged as heretical, this legend has caused some lively debates in the various branches of the Adeptus Ministorum and Adeptus Terra.”

 

 

The Festival of Saint Christophorus - Gretchenacht

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

“Saint Christophorus's twelve-day festival commences with the appointment of a devout Imperial citizen, usually a discharged Imperial Guard veteran, to don the costume of ‘The Gretch’. 

 

 This loathsome character, usually green and festooned with relics, is a symbolic representation of the vile xenos creatures that seek to desecrate the cities of the Imperium. 

 

 

If the Gretch finds any relic unguarded, no matter how lofty or crude the shrine, the owners are chastised by Frateris Militia and often end up in the penitent cages.  Consequently, the vast majority of relics are faithfully ‘guarded’ for the entire festival period.”  

 

 

 

The Festival of Saint Christophorus

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

"The rituals and observances associated with Saint Christophorus last twelve days, at least officially. However, centuries ago, the Ophatran Synod decreed that no relics may be sold, transferred, or bartered within the twelve day period honoring the patron Saint of the planet. As a result, the day preceding has become a boisterous market day in which hundreds of relics, books, and religious artifacts change hands. The multitudes of merchants and peddlers hawking their wares, many of dubious provenance, is a sight to behold- preferably from a balcony.”

 

Servo-Skulls on Ophatran Secundus

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

“As Saint Christophorus’s Day approaches, the children of Ophatran Secundus begin making their ersatz servo skulls. There is a commonly held (and erroneous) belief that Saint Christophorus created the first servo skull. The children’s versions are fashioned from paper strips and a starch glue, painted, and attached to sticks so that the children may simulate the hovering of the omnipresent skulls, which can be seen flitting about any imperial planet”.