Connects to: 18.06.
When the people of Aggoth (18.06) perform their fortnightly rituals, they must do so in the sight of the Kingswood to appease the fey. But to ensure the efficacy of the ritual, they must not leave the borders of the town’s fields. This was not a problem a hundred years ago, when Aggoth was situated within spitting distance of the forest, but since then the entire town has been moved twelve miles to the west. Still the ancient traditions must be upheld, so the Aggothians developed a workaround.
At noon on the day of the ritual, the local priest leads a procession from the eastern fields of Aggoth to the Kingswood, and as he goes he scatters seeds along the path, intoning ancient law-words as he does so to ensure that for this night, the path is technically a part of Aggoth’s fields. Behind him comes the town’s chief, who carries a blue ribbon. Next there is a procession of others, carrying the blue ribbon and gradually spacing themselves out along the path until, at nightfall, the entire town is spread out from the edge of the Kingswood to the town centre. The only exceptions are the people chosen to participate in the night’s ritual (who are at the far end of the ribbon) and the watchman, who holds the near end of the ribbon attached to a pulley in his tower, and if any danger threatens Aggoth he will pull on the ribbon to recall the entire population to his aid.
The seeds sown by the priest are not cared for, and they mostly fail to grow in the hard stony soil. Over the years, however, a few have taken root. Strangely, none of the crops that grow along the path resemble anything that the Aggothians usually plant in their fields.
Hooks:
- Why did the entire town of Aggoth relocate itself?
- These rituals sound extremely complex. Who instituted them and what will happen if they’re not performed correctly?
- Has anyone ever tried to attack the town during the ribbon ritual?
- What are the properties of the mysterious seeds sown along the path?
