Kaldorei spring rites

A circle of Sentinels stood in the darkness of the village clearing, weapons held aloft in salute, armour reflecting the faint moonlight. Their hair hung loose and free in the breeze, at odds with the stillness each woman displayed. A subtle show of strength…

A dark-haired priestess stepped between them to the centre, cracking the elune-stone hard against the ground. Light pulsed outwards suddenly, making the villagers recoil and gasp at the brilliance.

The priestess lifted her arms within the light… calling to the shrouded moon above; she spoke of blessings, of the land awakening from its winter dream.

A murmur from the audience, excitement, anticipation…

The Sentinels stepped backwards, snapping their weapons aside with sharp precision. An echo of drums erupted from the darkness as the priestess followed her sisters.

The men now took centre-stage as the villagers clapped along to the rhythmic pulse of drums. Mothers grinned and their children giggled at the strangely dressed druids creeping through the crowd.

Bare-chested and bare-footed, each man masked as a bear, crow or panther. The druids stamped in time to the beat, slowly gathering around the brilliant ring of light that still reached skyward. They chanted and growled. Their deep voices calling to something darker, wilder inside each Kaldorei.

The women in the audience swayed in time to the beat, those wearing the garb of the temple began to sing, a lyrical floating counterpoint to the raw chanting of the druids.

The dancers gathered tightly around the light, travelling around arm in arm. Only glimpses could escape between them as their voices grew louder and their feet danced faster with the rising tempo.

Suddenly the men fell to their knees, a silver haired Kaldorei wearing a crown of antlers and a pale cloak appeared within the light, a cheer rose from the villagers. Lost in a trance, mouthing the name of Malorne over and over, the elder druid twisted and turned as the drums took his spirit soaring.

The druids turned to the audience eagerly, beckoning their brothers to stand and rejoice, playfully begging the women to sing to their chosen ones, dragging their friends and families up to join in the dance.

The drums echoed on mixed with laughter and song, small crackling fires were lit. Lanterns and blossoms were hung upon the branches to welcome the beginning of spring... Many would be blessed tonight.

... oh my goodness ... this was just simply excellent!! You truly captured the thrill and excitement of the scene so well that I easily felt it. I just love this so much, very vivid and very authentic <3