Weeping
The Weeping are possibly the strangest and most unsettling people in the world. Every Weeping once began life like any other person, whether Creidhe, Krieger, Human, or something else. One day they died, and a short time later they became Weeping. The Weeping begin anew with no memory of who they were or how they died, with tears of blood streaming from their eyes.
What are the Weeping
The Weeping are individuals who bear the mark of an extraordinary and unsettling supernatural phenomenon. Rarely, when a mortal dies in Tirneach their body returns fully and truly to life. They are not undead and they show no signs of Gwyllt corruption. However, they have their own strange characteristics; those who have returned begin to weep blood and do not stop. Perhaps more unsettling still is the fact that they bear no memory of their former life. Though they may have been dead for mere hours or even minutes, when they reawaken their closest friends and family are total strangers to them.
Reactions to the Weeping
Hundreds of years ago, when the Weeping first appeared, most people took them to be dangerous enemies of the Shaper and their people. However, the first Réig granted them protection under a decree that became known as the Atosú Edict. The edict declared that the Weeping must not be judged on their appearance or their origins but on their actions and made all Weeping eligible to serve as Galloglaigh so that they may prove their worth. Over the centuries many who are suspicious of the Weeping have questioned the authenticity of the edict but its rulings have prevailed nonetheless.
While the Atosú Edict is usually enough to prevent Weeping from being destroyed on general principle, most people still find it hard to trust them. Apart from the unsettling appearance granted by their bloody eyes, they simply have too much in common with undead abominations and Gwyllt impostors for the average person to let their guard down around one. While friends and family might initially be excited at the return of their loved one, they are usually quickly let down by the reality. In addition to having no memory of their former life, the Weeping typically have different mannerisms and patterns of speech than they did before their return. It is common for them to have different tastes than they did before; turning their nose up at their favourite foods, taking on a completely different style of dress, or setting aside a long favoured type of weapon.
Following their return, a moment known as their Atosú, a Weeping may find they have skills and aptitudes that are completely foreign to their former life. Some Weeping even demonstrate traits and abilities not usually possible for a member of their species. This alienness from the person they were before makes it extremely difficult for a Weeping to remain settled in the place they are told was once their home. Many are ultimately driven out by their former community while others find it easiest to quietly slip away before things can get nasty.
Many have sought an explanation for the Weeping condition over the years, though many more are perfectly content to rely upon superstition and slander. As yet, there is no universally agreed upon or verifiable explanation for what causes the strange phenomenon.
Playing a Weeping
If you are playing one of the Weeping, your life is one that stands out as extraordinary and is perhaps only understood by other Weeping. From the moment you woke up, the moment that Weeping generally call Atosú, you might have been regarded variously as a loved one returning miraculously from beyond the grave, as a criminal escaping just punishment, or simply as a stranger completely disconnected from the people around them.
The Weeping are found all over the Five Realms, often in roles where their personal history or lack thereof is not a hindrance. They are particularly common in Bruid where folk are most likely to judge someone on what they do in the present moment. Many join the gallóglaigh, where they can make their own story, and where by ancient decree they are always welcome.
If you decide for your character to be a Weeping you should be prepared for the people of Tirneach, both PCs and NPCs to react uncomfortably towards you. They may simply be put on edge by your appearance, they might be distrustful or even outright aggressive towards you. There are definite downsides to playing a Weeping but we hope they offer a rewarding option to players drawn to supernatural mysteries and the role of the outcast.
Weeping Facebook Group
Players of Weeping characters can join the Weeping Facebook group to collaborate with their fellow Weeping players on things like culture, backgrounds, etc.
Costuming Requirements
To play one of the Weeping, you must phys rep crying blood from your eyes constantly. How you portray this is up to you though a suggested method of representing this would be to use black eyeshadow or face paint around the eyelids for dried and caked blood, with streaks of red face paint or stage/fake blood running down the face. You will need to apply this phys-rep in addition to the phys-rep requirements of your species.