The séance is a simple, if unnecessarily protracted rite, largely relying on priestess Valeria and other worshippers of the Chained God performing prayers around the divine vessels, while crowds of banquet guests — some faithful, some sceptical — interrupt their revelries to watch. Daenerys and Jacob are each identified by Valeria as ‘bearers of strength’ and asked to indulge the merrymakers in their little game. They are invited (or coaxed) to lie down on chaise beds and offered a nearly sickeningly sweet, thickened wine that slowly submerges them in a state of haze and gentle lassitude. They remain distantly aware of their surroundings, of the priests chanting for the Chained God to now wake, as he has slept, to wake and make Ephes his sword in rebirth.
Here, Daenerys and Jacob’s experiences diverge, though both find themselves narrating fragments of what they are seeing to the crowds.
Daenerys
Daenerys experiences a trembled vision — a memory, through the eyes of a man with hands covered in blood or red paint, up to his wrist. If she asks, later, she will learn this was the first Chainer, a great hero of men of the olden days. Before him ( herself, in the vision ), she sees a much taller, strangely coiled creature that might yet be a serpent, a large worm, a dragon, or perhaps a different beast altogether. It is golden, with eyes of tar, and beneath it the stone ground of the heated cave (?) it inhabits is deeply cracked, revealing black water emerging through the fissures. Daenerys cannot outright understand the old tongues spoken, but instinctively knows what is being said: the Chainer asks why the Chained God prepares to destroy the world, when he has brought honour and worship, and humanity is grateful and glad of him? Humanity prepares to learn and achieve much more, even now, to better itself. The Chained God admits love of Ephes but says this perspective is paltry and selfish, as befits ephemeral creatures such as men: it is the case, he says, that something must die, for something else to be born, and it is only time for the Chained God to bring about this transition. The earth, the Chained God says, suffers without change.
As Daenerys narrates her vision, Valeria asks her to speak on behalf of the Chained God and answer, Do the people of Ephes remain the Chained God’s chosen? Will he bless them in battle?
Respond here with Daenerys’ answer by 20 September. There is no right or wrong one, and she’d be giving it while partly intoxicated, besides, so don’t stress!
Jacob
Jacob likewise experiences a shaky, vague vision that he finds himself narrating to the crowd — a memory through the eyes of one of several human men (later, he may learn if he asks, Chainers) who gather around a bound creature. It is large, either dragon-like or serpentine, fluctuating between golden shapes. Its large shape has been fettered in parchment strips marked with runes and wards, along with eleven coils of chain that emanate power. It is posted on a heavy stone dais broken in deep cracks. The man whose memory Jacob experiences carries in his hands a twelfth long chain that he shakily approaches to fit around the creature — the Chained God, Jacob somehow understands from the other men beside him, for all he does not speak their tongue. The men ask the Chained God if he remains intent on destruction, offering to release him if only he remains a blessed protector of humanity instead. The Chained God laughs and only says the womb has already broken, and that what which he was prevented from delivering naturally has now been taken up by other hands. As he says so, the dais beneath him crumbles further, bubbling dark water emerging from the fissures, seeming to coagulate in the shape of fingers. The twelfth Chaining commences.
As Jacob narrates his vision, Valeria asks him, Does the Chained God look to have divine strength still, despite his Chaining? Will be proceed with destruction still, if he is unleashed?
Respond here with Jacob’s answer by 20 Septmeber. There is no right or wrong answer, and he’s giving it while intoxicated, so please don’t worry!
—
In the wake of the ritual, Daenerys and Jacob will feel more aware of each other for a few hours. They take up to an hour to regain their clarity of mind and physical coordination, but are okay to run, run, run, by the time knives come out. Any supernatural powers they possess may feel slightly detached and alien for up to six hours. They continue to feel a presence, or as if they are stranded in their own bodies, in that time.
They might want to look after each other, while they recover their bearings, to the enthusiastic congratulations of several banquet attendants, who supply gifts of wine, sweets and even hold.
They would not have heard the narration of each other’s vision, because they would have been experiencing their own visions at the same time.
If they study the cups from which they were given wine, they find them lined with heavy opiates.
If they approach Valeria or one of the priests of the Chained God, to inquire on the truth of what they saw, they are calmly told that the crowd needed a show, and to think little of it.
Do consider sharing some of what you learned with the rest of the class!
POSSESSION VISIONS - Daenerys, Jacob
The séance is a simple, if unnecessarily protracted rite, largely relying on priestess Valeria and other worshippers of the Chained God performing prayers around the divine vessels, while crowds of banquet guests — some faithful, some sceptical — interrupt their revelries to watch. Daenerys and Jacob are each identified by Valeria as ‘bearers of strength’ and asked to indulge the merrymakers in their little game. They are invited (or coaxed) to lie down on chaise beds and offered a nearly sickeningly sweet, thickened wine that slowly submerges them in a state of haze and gentle lassitude. They remain distantly aware of their surroundings, of the priests chanting for the Chained God to now wake, as he has slept, to wake and make Ephes his sword in rebirth.
Here, Daenerys and Jacob’s experiences diverge, though both find themselves narrating fragments of what they are seeing to the crowds.
Daenerys experiences a trembled vision — a memory, through the eyes of a man with hands covered in blood or red paint, up to his wrist. If she asks, later, she will learn this was the first Chainer, a great hero of men of the olden days. Before him ( herself, in the vision ), she sees a much taller, strangely coiled creature that might yet be a serpent, a large worm, a dragon, or perhaps a different beast altogether. It is golden, with eyes of tar, and beneath it the stone ground of the heated cave (?) it inhabits is deeply cracked, revealing black water emerging through the fissures. Daenerys cannot outright understand the old tongues spoken, but instinctively knows what is being said: the Chainer asks why the Chained God prepares to destroy the world, when he has brought honour and worship, and humanity is grateful and glad of him? Humanity prepares to learn and achieve much more, even now, to better itself. The Chained God admits love of Ephes but says this perspective is paltry and selfish, as befits ephemeral creatures such as men: it is the case, he says, that something must die, for something else to be born, and it is only time for the Chained God to bring about this transition. The earth, the Chained God says, suffers without change.
As Daenerys narrates her vision, Valeria asks her to speak on behalf of the Chained God and answer, Do the people of Ephes remain the Chained God’s chosen? Will he bless them in battle?
Respond here with Daenerys’ answer by 20 September. There is no right or wrong one, and she’d be giving it while partly intoxicated, besides, so don’t stress!
Jacob likewise experiences a shaky, vague vision that he finds himself narrating to the crowd — a memory through the eyes of one of several human men (later, he may learn if he asks, Chainers) who gather around a bound creature. It is large, either dragon-like or serpentine, fluctuating between golden shapes. Its large shape has been fettered in parchment strips marked with runes and wards, along with eleven coils of chain that emanate power. It is posted on a heavy stone dais broken in deep cracks. The man whose memory Jacob experiences carries in his hands a twelfth long chain that he shakily approaches to fit around the creature — the Chained God, Jacob somehow understands from the other men beside him, for all he does not speak their tongue. The men ask the Chained God if he remains intent on destruction, offering to release him if only he remains a blessed protector of humanity instead. The Chained God laughs and only says the womb has already broken, and that what which he was prevented from delivering naturally has now been taken up by other hands. As he says so, the dais beneath him crumbles further, bubbling dark water emerging from the fissures, seeming to coagulate in the shape of fingers. The twelfth Chaining commences.
As Jacob narrates his vision, Valeria asks him, Does the Chained God look to have divine strength still, despite his Chaining? Will be proceed with destruction still, if he is unleashed?
Respond here with Jacob’s answer by 20 Septmeber. There is no right or wrong answer, and he’s giving it while intoxicated, so please don’t worry!
In the wake of the ritual, Daenerys and Jacob will feel more aware of each other for a few hours. They take up to an hour to regain their clarity of mind and physical coordination, but are okay to run, run, run, by the time knives come out. Any supernatural powers they possess may feel slightly detached and alien for up to six hours. They continue to feel a presence, or as if they are stranded in their own bodies, in that time.
They might want to look after each other, while they recover their bearings, to the enthusiastic congratulations of several banquet attendants, who supply gifts of wine, sweets and even hold.
They would not have heard the narration of each other’s vision, because they would have been experiencing their own visions at the same time.
If they study the cups from which they were given wine, they find them lined with heavy opiates.
If they approach Valeria or one of the priests of the Chained God, to inquire on the truth of what they saw, they are calmly told that the crowd needed a show, and to think little of it.
Do consider sharing some of what you learned with the rest of the class!