Kquii

Kquii, or the Festival of Renewal, is a very important tradition/festival in Cesnis. It represents the gratitude of the Gods, the wrapping up of the previous year, renewal and rebirth, and the reunion of families all across Cesnis. Kquii festival is the time when the river spirits, minor gods, and the divine realm are closest to the Cesnisian lakes.

Before this time, preparations must be made with prayers, decorations, wishes, etc. When the week arrives, the city markets close and the activies stop, and it became the Week of Sacred Silence. During this period, no one is allowed to go in or out of the country (tourists must arrive before this period to witness the tradition). Cesnisians are to listen to the lakes, the spirits, and the Divine Ones. Each families would pray and listen, and they'd recieve advices from the spirits/gods on how to improve their lives.

## JOURNEY OF UNITY

The journey of unity is an event in the Week of Sacred Silence, in which representatives of the princedoms make a pilgrimage around Cesnis to collect waters from each lake and bring them back to the Grand Temple.

The highpriests of each Princedoms, as well as the Highprince, must take pilgrimage to each ring of their Princedom, and light up three candles from the largest temple of each ring. The highpriests would bless that ring, and will be given a vial of water extracted from every lake in that ring. The highpriests and highprinces are to make it back to the Great Lake when they're finished with the pilgrimage.

They would meet at The Grand Temple, the greatest temple in Cesnis dedicated to the three gods. They would have a three hour long ritual, where swans would sing choir to tell old tales of the gods, and musicians would play trumpets and harps. The ritual represents a way for mortals to call for the Gods and the Spirits. The Highpriests would pour the vials they collected on their pilgrimage into The Carven Bowl, symbolising unity of Cesnis, and summoning the audiences of each lakes to meet with the gods.

## JOURNEY OF SIGHT

The journey of sight is the process of the Cesnisian Emperor travelling from the material realm and to the spiritual realm to have a meeting with the Gods so that the country and people of Cesnis may flourish and overcome hardships.

The Emperor must be baptised (representing the Emperor's soul readiness to split from the body and journey to the Divine Realm), dressed in holy robes, and given prayers before entering The Chapel of Vocals. The Emperor is to be undisturbed for an hour, and all of Cesnis must be silent during this meeting. It is said that when this meetings happen, candles from all over Cesnis would turn blue and blessed/holy.

Any of those who are near religious artifacts or buildings can hear vocals singing and radiating from it, especially near very holy temples. It represents a strong connection between the material realm and the divine realm, and of the spirits singing of their Gods descending to the material realm. Cesnisians mustn't interrupt these singings as they are very scared. Lack or no singing at all signifies the Gods deemed the people unworthy of visiting, especially the Emperor.

The Emperor inside would meet the three Gods themselves, and would listen to what they have to say about the Emperor and their country. The Emperor must meditate, and must let their spirit/soul travel through The Divine Halls and meet with The Gods who would be waiting. This pilgramage is called Pathway of Sight. The highest priest in each ring must also attend the meeting in the largest temple in each ring. Outside of the Grand Temple, Cesnisians who travelled there waited outside with candles, laterns and priests tending to them. This period is called The Hour of Sight.

When the Emperor finishes their meeting with the Gods, they must return to their body before dawn or else they'd be forever lost in the Divine Realm. When the Emperor returns, they must not speak of what the Gods spoke to them for it is godly words not to be repeated by mortals. The Emperor would be baptised again, representing the soul and body joining one again, and the Emperor's return to the mortality and the Material realm. Priests from all around Cesnis would bring out their blue-flamed candles and do some more rituals to thank the Gods for visiting them, offering gifts, water shows, and choirs.

## WEEK OF REUNION

After this is another week of celebration called The Week of Reunion. It is a week where families and friends gather together and remember their past, present, and future, and to have gratitiude for what was, what is, and what is to come.

The blue-flamed candles must be kept lit and going, for it represents a divine pathway between spirits and birds. Families and relatives would meet with eachother, have celebrations, and enjoy New Year. There would be amazing performances, water shows, singings and competitions. Tourists are allowed to visit during this time to witness breath-taking festivals and dances.

Anywhere during The Week of Reunion, families can visit their ancestor's graves, and they must bring their blue-flamed candles with them. Because of this, they can feel the presence of their ancestors with them. Stories speak about spirits using the blue-flamed candles to guide the ancestor spirits back to their family for reunion. Families told stories seeing dead family members in the form of spirits, and would sit down and have talks with them. Husbands get to meet wives, and grandparents get to meet their grandchildren. Parades and songs would be held around grave sites, with joyful melodies, dancing, and children running around chasing each other.

After the Week of Reunion, people must snuff out the blue-flamed candles. This is because during the Week of Reunion, it is safe to invite spirits as it is a holy week that is blessed and protected by the Gods. But after this week, evil spirits can return and will be invited by blue-flamed candles.