Bart Allen's Memorial Service: Serenity Cove (Saturday at noon)
The memorial service was held on the flat hilltop overlooking the ocean, and at its edge rested an old-fashioned wooden boat, worn and weathered. There were chairs for those still too weak to stand and four torches, burning steadily, set in the ground at the four cardinal points. The day was bright and clear, a light breeze blowing out to sea, but despite that, the torches never flickered.
Karal, dressed in formal robes of black and gold, stood in front of the boat, waiting patiently while people arrived.
When everyone had settled, he stepped forward and began to speak, voice carrying strong and clear across the hilltop. "Thank you, all of you, for coming. I know the notice was short, and many of you are still suffering the after effects of the illness.
We are here today to remember Bart Allen, a bright, joyful, innocent young man who should not have died." He paused, glancing down for a moment before he lifted his chin. "But we are also here because we want to know why. Why this happened, why here, why to us. I have those answers, but they are deeply sorrowful ones.
We are not the first community this island has held. Three hundred years ago there was another. Like this one, its people came from diverse places, and like this one, they knew magic and wonder and hope.
Three hundred years ago, they were deliberately struck down by ill will and malice, loosed on this island in the form of a sickness. Why? Because those who lived here were different. Because they did not follow the ways of those who lived on the mainland." He paused again, looking from person to person, eyes solemn. "Because they possessed unique gifts, and used them to help their community.
When they used those gifts to try and save their fellows, the illness grew far worse. It had been created to do so, and it fed on its victims' illness to lock the island away from the world.
They knew they would not survive. This boat--" He turned and walked to lay his hand against the hull. "They used their gifts, binding it to find a safe harbour, and tried to send it forth carrying those who were still in good health. They didn't know how thoroughly they were trapped, you see, and it was a noble effort. The final death set the boat free to drift across the ocean."
Karal paused again, taking a deep, calming breath before he continued. "On Friday it returned and the cycle began again.
What happened here this week began here three hundred years ago. It ends here, today, because of all of us. Every single person on this island who came together, who refused to give up, who kept fighting this sickness with everything they had in them.
We lost one of our own. Bart should not have died. But he will be remembered; he will be remembered by all of us. We will not forget him, and we must never forget that together, we survived.
I would like us to take a moment of silence to remember Bart. Afterwards, there are others who I have asked to speak, but anyone who wishes to will have their chance."
He bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him. When the minute had passed, he stepped back, making way for the first speaker.
[ooc: Word of the service was handwavily passed by word of mouth, and by way of announcement and on the radio. Please wait for OCD is up!]
Karal, dressed in formal robes of black and gold, stood in front of the boat, waiting patiently while people arrived.
When everyone had settled, he stepped forward and began to speak, voice carrying strong and clear across the hilltop. "Thank you, all of you, for coming. I know the notice was short, and many of you are still suffering the after effects of the illness.
We are here today to remember Bart Allen, a bright, joyful, innocent young man who should not have died." He paused, glancing down for a moment before he lifted his chin. "But we are also here because we want to know why. Why this happened, why here, why to us. I have those answers, but they are deeply sorrowful ones.
We are not the first community this island has held. Three hundred years ago there was another. Like this one, its people came from diverse places, and like this one, they knew magic and wonder and hope.
Three hundred years ago, they were deliberately struck down by ill will and malice, loosed on this island in the form of a sickness. Why? Because those who lived here were different. Because they did not follow the ways of those who lived on the mainland." He paused again, looking from person to person, eyes solemn. "Because they possessed unique gifts, and used them to help their community.
When they used those gifts to try and save their fellows, the illness grew far worse. It had been created to do so, and it fed on its victims' illness to lock the island away from the world.
They knew they would not survive. This boat--" He turned and walked to lay his hand against the hull. "They used their gifts, binding it to find a safe harbour, and tried to send it forth carrying those who were still in good health. They didn't know how thoroughly they were trapped, you see, and it was a noble effort. The final death set the boat free to drift across the ocean."
Karal paused again, taking a deep, calming breath before he continued. "On Friday it returned and the cycle began again.
What happened here this week began here three hundred years ago. It ends here, today, because of all of us. Every single person on this island who came together, who refused to give up, who kept fighting this sickness with everything they had in them.
We lost one of our own. Bart should not have died. But he will be remembered; he will be remembered by all of us. We will not forget him, and we must never forget that together, we survived.
I would like us to take a moment of silence to remember Bart. Afterwards, there are others who I have asked to speak, but anyone who wishes to will have their chance."
He bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him. When the minute had passed, he stepped back, making way for the first speaker.
[ooc: Word of the service was handwavily passed by word of mouth, and by way of announcement and on the radio. Please wait for OCD is up!]