Symbol of the Wood Elves
The Rebirth of Orion is the process by which the Wood Elves' co-ruler Orion, the King in the Woods, is reborn each year, for the fate of this powerful being is tied to the cycle of the seasons.[1a]
When the snows retreat and the breath of spring is felt once more on the air, all of Athel Loren trembles with Orion's waking dreams. Soon after, the Wild Riders come for the Elf chosen to take up the mantle of the consort-king. Their method of selection is shrouded in mystery, and other Wood Elves hold it to be ill-luck to attract the attention of Orion's riders lest this influence the choice.[1a]
On the last day of winter, the Wood Elf chosen to become the new king of the Wild Hunt is garlanded with flowers and his naked skin decorated with ancient sigils. Finally, he is led into the Oak of Ages. The following morning, on the first day of spring, Ariel awakens from her slumbers and the reborn Orion thunders from the trees, the Wild Hunt howling at his heels.[1a]
Process[]
The future King of the Forest is chosen through the auguries of the High Priesthood of Kurnous, the Elven god of the hunt. The victim is captured by the Wild Hunt and then the rites are administered, which are also referred to as the "Quickening."[3a] These rites are kept secret from all except Kurnous' priesthood and the senior members of the Wild Riders. Even Orion's consort Ariel does not know them.
Through the use of a wooden knife, runes are carved into the flesh of the future demigod, feeding several sacred sites of Athel Loren with the blood of the victim. Leaves, roots and berries are woven beneath the future king's skin, by flaying the victim alive and exposing his organs to be reinforced with plant matter and the skin replaced with bark.[2a] Afterwards, the future King in the Woods is tied behind the steeds of Kurnous and dragged through the forest until a grove is reached where his heart is replaced with an oak apple from the Sorrow Tree, the same every incarnation of Orion has kept within his chest.[2b]
The final step is stepping through the Darna-Cáoch, the Forgotten Pool, to face the judgement of the Brúidd, the Council of Beasts, the representatives of the forest spirits of Athel Loren. The spirits pass their judgement on the soon-to-be-born Orion and if he passes, he re-enters the waters of the pool. [2b] It is of uttermost importance that this happens during Ostaliss, the spring equinox, as the barriers between the worlds are too thick otherwise to allow Kurnous to be incarnated and the Chosen One remains trapped in the spirit realms.[3b]The weakened form is then taken up by the Wild Riders and brought to the King's Glade, where the spirits of past incarnations of Orion await him and join with him through a spirit song unable to be heard by anyone other than the Wood Elf who has endured the Quickening so far.[2c]
The future Orion, delirious during the process of rebirth, is carried into the Oak of Ages, where his nearly immaterial form solidifies through the adulations of the assembled highborn, giving him his final shape that has been worn by each incarnation of the King in the Woods since the Winter of Woe. He is then joined by Ariel, who welcomes her consort and rekindles their relationship. The pair enters the physical world at the first day of dawn, being greeted by their assembled court to begin their reign.[2d]