3. Sharessan Wedding (Comments and Criticism Appreciated)

Sharessan Wedding (Comments and Criticism Appreciated)


  • _I wrote this up for a wedding someone wants one of my characters to preform… I based most of it on this post from the Candlekeep forums

    Comments Ideas and Criticism would be greatly appreciated to make it more Sharessy

    Sorry about the rough english btw._

    Preperation-

    The preperation should take place infront of at least one live cat if at all possible to provide a conduit for Sharess to be present

    The brides meet with the priestess and discuss thier love and passion for the husband(s). They are adorned with make up as the priestess (or themselves) see fit before they offer a prayer for a happy wedding, and over a kiss to a statue of a cat.

    The grooms meet with the priestess after the brides. They also discuss the love and passion for the bride(s), and the priestess should not recant anything the brides said to the priestess. The groom may be adorned with make up but typically does not. They also offer a prayer for a happy wedding and offer a kiss to a statue of a cat.

    The groom then waits at the altar and watches as the guests arrive at the wedding. He is not allowed to leave the altar or view his brides. If the brides will be awaiting the men at the altar, he is led out of the room before the ceremony begins.

    The cat idol is presented to the crowd and placed so it can protect the goblets of holy water on the altar. The ceremony then begins.

    Ceremony-

    Both (or all women) approach the altar from seperate directions to symbolize the joining of happiness. The crowd can either be split into 3 sections (for 3 person polygamous weddings where each has unique familial groups or when the location allows those in attendence to be gathered). Those in attendance rise as the brides present themselves and return to the seat once they have passed to show thier approval. If the crowd cannot be divided the brides should approach in pairs either parallell to the altar or parallel to the seating, and then approach the altar. Anyone still standing is asked to reveal thier disagreement. The crowd may be asked to remain seated or standing while the brides approach if those to be wed are concerned they will face resounding disapapproval but wish to continue the wedding anyway. The crowd should remain standing until the last pair has passed (if they do stand)

    If the ceremony expands the existing marriage, the already inducted brides and grooms should stand behind the priestess in pairs (and trio if neccesary). If the ceremony only adds one woman or man to the marriage, one person may await him or her at the altar.

    The groom stands on the left side of the priestess (or priest) delieving the wedding. In cases with more than one groom, one stands on each side of priestess with the youngest to the inside and eldest on the outside (in the case of 4 or more husbands). If there are more husbands than brides, the approaching of the altar should be done by the grooms while the bride stands to the right of the priest(ess)

    Once the brides arrive at the altar, the grooms line then selves up in order of height (shortest to the left) with the brides lining up in between them (shortest to the right). Each woman places her left hand in the man's right. In the case of more than one husband and more than one bride the couple should have divided into pairs (and one trio if neccesary) that will hold hands at the altar. In cases where there is a ratio of at least 3 woman to one man (or vice versa) the women should be organized with the ones who have known the man the longest on the inside and the newer women on the outside.

    The priest offers a prayer to Sharess, the whole congregation rises

    [Typical Prayer to Sharess]

    These people have found happiness in eachothers company and now wish to strengthen it through your blessing.
    Let your blessing be a resounding barrier to protect these lovers from the ravanges of bad luck and despair through each other's grace as well as your own, madam.
    Allow them to savor each other in an ever
    Lead these x men and x women to continue to find happiness in the bond you bless upon them.
    We drink to you Sharess.

    The priest should motion to goblets or (a large goblet for all to drink from). The goblets should be filled with blessed purfied waters, holy water should be used if possible. The priestess may choose to explain the significance of the water and it is prefered for her to do so.

    [Significance of Consuming the Holy Water]
    During the time of troubles when the gods walked the lands of Toril, Sharess chose to be a concubine. During her stay in Faerun's lands, she became swayed by the dark evil ways of Shar, and was only saved when Sune cleansed her with holy waters. Therefore, when a couple begins a new happy chapter in thier lives they drink from the holy water to remove the evils in thier bodies for thier new happier life.

    Once each of the people to be wed has consumed the holy water, homage may be offered to Sune to blessing the union with love and to cleanse them daily in spirit. If there is a sunite present, it is expected that the Sharessan requests for them to deliever a prayer for those to be wed.

    If the couple has requested anyone to present song, prayer, or poem, they should be asked to come forward now to present thier peices.

    Sharessan wedding vows are loose to leave an open structure for the marriage, allthough the couple may choose to compose thier own more significiant vows. The couple should be asked to arrange themselves so that the pairs are holding eachothers hands and the be trio(s) be holding hands in a triangle.

    [Typical Vow]
    All gathered her concede to the happiness of your marriage.
    Do you <name>vow to maintain love and passion in your marriage? (presented to the women and then the men)
    Do you <name>vow to remain unjealous of the bonds and love your partners may develop, remaining happy throughout?(men then women)
    Do you vow to preserve the good within your lovers hearts, never allowing the darkness to consume them? (presented to all, should be answered unaminously)

    The priestess requests that all those in attendence bows her head as she offers another prayer to sharess hoping for unrelenenting love, passion, and jealousy free marriage.

    The priestess declares them married and the pairs kiss before the men cycle to each woman to give them a kiss. Women (or men) may kiss each other, if desired, after the men have finished.

    The couple attend a feast before retiring to the nicest nearby bedding area (typically the most expensive room available at an inn). A common gift for the clergy or vistors to give is wine that can induce passion, but only as the couple prepares to leave. Any wedding gifts are left with a trusted person who will give them to the couple the next morning.</name></name>


  • I think it's written for any number. The number that caused it to -be- written was one man and two women, and should happen some time in the future 🙂

  • D

    Hrm. I think what the author meant "constructive criticism," not blatant trolling.

    In that vein, the trouble I had reading involved keeping the number of men and women straight. I was especially confused when you sometimes referred to the group as a couple, as in "who will give them to the couple the next morning." It's a little unclear as to whether the marriage is between a potentially large number of people, or simply a sort of econo-marriage where a number of couples are married simultaneously.

    Maybe if you pick a certain setup, like maybe two men and three women, and stick with it just as an example, it would help clarify things.