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Saining is a ritual by which a Changeling discovers his or her True Name.

Overview[]

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After one of the Kithain finishes his or her time of Fosterage, they undergo a ritual called Saining whereby they become fully initiated into Kithain society. For the ritual, seers practiced in a special and highly banned Art of limited availability known as Naming, part the Mists to discover the True Name of the fae. This secret name, known only to the named one and the rite master, defines each Changeling's relationship to the Dreaming and embodies his or her essence. Obviously, after the ritual, the new member of Kithain society knows they must keep their True Name a secret told only within his or her household or Motley. Some, knowing the power of True Names, refuse to share theirs with anyone.

After the Saining a changeling swears an Oath of Fealty to the Lord or Lady of the Freehold or to the motley that discovered them. Depending on their skills and willingness, the new member of society may then take on service to the ruler in his or her Household. Whatever they decide, their time of learning is done and they are considered full members of Fae society.

Why Sain?[]

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Saining is the ritual that truly makes a changeling Kithain, at least in the view of the nobility and most of their subjects. Saining is where a fledge is given their True Name and brought into changeling society after being taught by their guardian all of the things they need to know.

Each changeling (and every thing) has a True Name made up of magical runes that symbolizes the inner essence of a person, place, or thing. In each mortal existence, a changeling forgets their True Name and must relearn it. The Saining, or naming, is the ritual when the changeling receives their True Name once again, symbolizing a return from the far shores of death back into the world of the living again, a rebirth of Spring out of Winter.

Very few changelings know or can find their True Names on their own. Those who can are destined for greatness (glory, tragedy, or maybe both). Most Kithain learn their True Names on their Saindays from the court seer or another noble who uses the Naming Art to divine the runes of the fledge’s True Name. This means that the court seer is a powerful figure, knowing as they do the True Names of many of the court’s Kithain, and sometimes having the power to alter them.

In addition to discovering their True Name, a fledge goes before the local ruler on their Sainday to be fully accepted into changeling society as a citizen of the noble’s domain. The noble may also confer onto the fledge any titles or inheritances due them upon their Saining, quite common for sidhe, although commoners might receive some remembrance or pronouncement if they are notable enough. The acceptance of the nobility is considered a formality, but is important to the changeling’s future within Kithain society. This is why the nobility make far more of Saining and other such rituals than commoners do.

Some changelings are never Sained, and this is considered to be terrible bad luck by other Kithain. Most of these unfortunates are those apart from changeling society with no others to help them and present them to the nobility. They may have undergone their Chrysalis spontaneously without any guidance from other Kithain.

These changelings often slide into Bedlam if they are not given the opportunity to take up their True Name and heritage, much like those changelings who fail to undergo the other rites of passage, such as the Togail an Ainm. Some of them end up as Dauntain, or else slip back into mundanity and forget their fae natures, soon to be Undone by Banality. Many changelings, particularly the Order of Eiliethyia, work to aid Kithain undergoing the Chrysalis to prevent these tragedies.

Saindays are always accompanied by parties celebrating the changeling’s Naming, just like a human birthday or bar mitzvah. It is quite common for friends to offer gifts and to create art, poems, or songs for the Sainday. A great deal of feasting and celebration follows the ceremonial rituals.

Many fledges, in addition to learning their True Names, take on “use names” or nicknames that they use in fae society. This may be something simple like “Shorty” among the commoners, or some of the longer and more poetic titles favored by the nobility. The name may be taken to honor a friend, ancestor, family member, or other person the changeling respects. Such use names are considered serious business by most Kithain, and a changeling taking on a new name during their Saining will definitely find it used.

Sidhe Variation[]

The Sidhe vary the Saining, making it a secret ritual attended only by members of of the noble house that has sponsored the fledge. On top of this ceremony the Sidhe undergoes the Fior-Righ, an ordeal which tests their physical, mental, and social abilities. The results of the ordeal determine his or her rank and to which noble house they belong.

Because the Sidhe will occasionally plant one of theirs into a mortal family and wait for their Chrysalis, the information gathered from the Saining is often already known.

References[]

  1. CTD. Changeling: The Dreaming Second Edition, p. 63.
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