Rites and Honors Due in Quietus

This is a brief synopsis of the original text. It should be noted that a Justicar is normally required for all these services. The lone possible exception of course is a funeral pyre (for obvious reasons). I write this not because I have made a study of the dead, but because I have had extensive experience in fighting them. Please believe me when I say, you (we) should do everything in our power to ensure the proper rites are observed as the Hungry Dead are a plague that can easily grow both exponentially and rapidly.

If possible, having the original text of Rites and Honors Due in Quietus will help to determine such things as location and length of service based on time, location, season, position in society, and capability of the family.

Please understand this is a VERY BRIEF summary. I (Ghost Tiger) am sure that questions will be asked, “What is really necessary?” The fewer rites completed, the more likely a Spirit will be dishonored and or a Hungry Dead will return. As a loyal citizen of the Empire I (Ghost Tiger) fully support, appreciate, and understand the needs of these rites being followed. Dismiss any step at your own peril.

The two primary concerns are with the Spirit of the Ancestor (which seems to be vastly different for the spirits of the Forest). And the body so as not to be cursed as a Hungry Dead. While it is understood, if the Spirit passes there will be no Hungry Dead, it is not always apparent until it is too late that such was the case. The two basic methods are burial and burning. Both have specific requirements for the body and the Spirit.

First, Burning: The less preferred method, due to the possible perceived dishonor ones Ancestor may feel, but the quickest and safest method is burning.

• The first step is to have the body receive the 10th Change, Honored Ancestor Benison.
• Upon completion of this Change, one Blesses the Dead which is to speak words of appeasement, serenity, and sacrifice about the deceased. The more one knows and the longer one speaks, the more the Spirit will be sedated and seek rest.
• Once this is done, the body is wrapped in soft cotton cloth that has been first soaked in blessed oil for at least one day and one night. The cloth, once dried, should receive the marks of blessing. There are literally hundreds of blessings, but those used for the 8th Change will suffice.
• There should be a funeral pyre no higher than 6 feet, but no lower then 2 feet and no more than 1 foot beyond the entire radius of the body. The higher the pyre, the higher the station of the deceased. It is disrespectful to the deceased to assume anyone was lower than 2nd rank and only the Emperor shall be at a rank higher than 6th.
• The wood shall have written on each piece at least one blessing, but no more than 3 blessings (depending upon size).
• If possible a blessed bronze or gold casement should be placed so as to collect the ashes. These shall be deposited in an Earthen Urn with no less then 33 blessings, most should be related to the life of the deceased. If the ashes are not collected, they should be mixed with blessed salt and scattered to either a river, stream, or mixed with blessed water and scattered over a field of wild flowers, no less than 1 acre in size.
• During the burning, there are fans that the family and friends should wave, which have blessings and well wishes written upon them. Waved at the smoke to help the Spirit on its way. It is said, that if the smoke lingers around you even after you have waved it away with a fan, the deceased has a message meant for you it needed to deliver.
• The burning shall be done by either a Justicar or Monk (when no Justicar is available).
• If need be, multiple bodies can be burned together. I (Ghost Tiger) must confess, there have been unfortunate circumstances that dictated emergency actions and mass burnings where needed. This is highly unorthodox and were it not for the immediate safety of many others, should be avoided. Days were spent by myself and those involved in appeasing the Spirits of those deceased.

Second, Burial: The most preferred method, that of burial is the most honorable. This takes a bit more preparation.

• The tomb or ground must be sanctified. A constructed tomb would be very complicated to describe here and I (Ghost Tiger) am sure something would be left out, please refer to The 974 Proper Designs of Buildings and Landscapes.
• Burial in earth, require 4 ingredients:

1. Salt - specially prepared, purified and stored in a glass urn for just such use;
2. Copper shavings - with specific blessings and prayers written upon them forged over a fire fueled by blessed wood (which I believe was grown on sacred ground);
3. Sandalwood - collected from a sacred grove (for just such a purpose) and carved with special runes of prayers and shaved very thin;
4. Soil - kept in sacred earthen urns for no less than 7 days, one of which needs to be a full moon.

• Once these items are collected in sufficient amounts a burial plot can be properly consecrated. This is the covering dirt, I (Ghost Tiger) believe no less than 1 foot, but am unsure of specific amounts.
• The body is prepared, first by receiving the 10th Change from a Justicar of appropriate rank.
• Their bodies are then washed using special soaps and waters and wrapped in special cloths. I (Ghost Tiger) am less sure of the specifics of this part as I’ve (Ghost Tiger) not participated in this part of a burial.
• At some point the deceased’s final garments are brought, blessed by a monk with the 8th Change.
• There are typically one to three items/ keepsakes laid upon the breast, head, or stomach of the deceased prior to finale burial; these would be items that were important to the deceased or held significance concerning them.
• The body is laid in state (if possible) or placed in a closed coffin. The Coffin type/ style is directly related to the ability of family and friends to provide. While it should be no reflection upon the deceased what is provided, the more ornate the finale resting place, the more honored the Spirit is.
• Special rice and wine is left by the body for exactly 36 hours for the Spirit as well as special incense.
• If possible, a statue (made of either Rosewood, Sandalwood, clay mixed with copper, or anything made of crystals or gems) is placed on top of the coffin after 48 hours. Examples of these can be found in Masonry and Stone Work as Perfected in 825 Decorous Annotations.
• Special candles and different incense is then lit for the next week to ensure the Spirit is appeased.
• After this time, the keepsakes are removed from the body, the coffin is moved, either to the burial plot or to a tomb (please refer to the Masonry and Stone Work as Perfected in 825 Decorous Annotations as well as The 974 Proper Designs of Buildings and Landscapes) that has been prepared.
• The statue (if any) is then placed in a location that the family has already set up to honor and receive their Ancestor Spirits. The statues act as both a focus for the the family to place honor and accolades upon the Ancestor and for the Ancestor Spirit to visit. Some families will actually dedicate a whole room to one ancestor, while others of lesser means will have a closet or perhaps a simple table. There are special incense and candles burned a various times or the year, during special occasions, or when seeking particular wisdom around the statue.
• The keepsakes are used for the 11th Change (if ever needed).

If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask and if I (Ghost Tiger) do not know I (Ghost Tiger) will find out.

Ghost Tiger

3rd rank Scholar of the 3rd Glorious Advanced Expedition