Witch || Hunt

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931)

Death and the Flower

Regardless of the mysticism and the mystique, the eater themselves was at one point, near indistinguishable from the common people, in part custom, and to mitigate any needless attention in their service to them.

Once called on, or in places that a release may occur; a meal could be offered though it was rarely expected.

Foods that could be given at a confession or at the death bed, if offered to the eater at all:

Bread and oil

Wine

Fruit or berries (dried or no)

Dry herbs, herb mash or pastes (sometimes eaten in practice)

Pickled meats

Simple, and very available foods in tiny quantities. It rarely required much especially regarding these isolated and deeply personal occasions. It mattered not how fresh it was, nor did it require to be anything like an immaculate feast-- it simply needed to be consumed. A symbolic act in part to shied the process. They will take only what one can offer and only if the one they're attending to is willing (or able) to part with it truly.

In some cases, the food offered was shared in part with the dying if they could take of it in preparation of what was to come. Eventually, their spirit would be taken once the candle burned low and the light snuffed. By then, the first rite would be completed and the offered meal properly consumed. From that point onwards, the sin eater would then be tasked next to lay the corpse upon herb tinder arrangement and an ash-smeared burial shroud. The binding of the flesh would soon follow so that they may then assist in the bearing of the corpse to the kilns for proper cremation. Then later, the columbaria where further rites would be preformed to conclude the ceremonious act.

Godfried Maes (1649–1700)

“Death on a Canopied Throne,” late 17th century

Should she be interrupted in the middle of speaking her spell/incantations, or if she’s silenced somehow happens to have called upon any spirits, or the dead she's risen and imparted her power upon– then they will complete it for her. How does this work? Well, in part; be it as the dead (not just the souls she’s snatched/harvested) – as in wandering corpses, in part, function as extensions of her and her will, the spirits are bound to her by will or by collection, she is composed of many dead things as is wel understood by now. They are marked by her, and function as such-- like a limb or in some cases, a spare body. In regards to the “undead” though, this can still be done even when functioning on their own with their own level of implemented sentience… Or even if they’re ravening husks, they can amplify the carry of her voice and spellwork.