Aquilan Funeral Practices

Every soldier expects some day to die in battle. Some are lucky enough to die on their own terms, but for House Aquila all deaths in service are noble. Over the years since they arrived in Acheron Rho their rituals and customs surrounding the dead have evolved in concert with those of House Lyra. Today all soldiers of House Aquila know they will one day join the Legion Terminus.

Joining this legion involves the preservation of the body by the Neshmet of House Lyra for transport back to Diomikato when possible. When it is not possible they are cremated on pyres and the ashes collected for return to the homeworld. On the homeworld brief rituals are conducted, short descriptions of their service and character by their commanding officer before cremation upon the lava rivers of Diomikato. Some, but not all, soldiers will also have a short sermon from a Chaplain of the High Church at their funeral. Their equipment, engraved with their names from their first day in the Legion is passed on, a moving memorial, but one of their two holotag pendants is brought to the complex of white temples, stained with drifting volcanic ash. The other holotag is given to a significant comrade, friend or lover. Many an Aquilan romance ballad, told in the barracks late at night, never sees the two lovers express their feelings until one has died and their tag is delivered to their comrade.

Within these temples, maintained by trained serf-acolytes of House Lyra, paid for by House Lyra and donations of visitors, there stand large stone statues, representations of skeletal eagles. The statues are in death proud and unbowed even under the weight of the thousands of chains bearing holotags hanging from their wings. A visitor is able to use a projector system there to see descriptions and depictions of the fallen and their service. Small stories, often of humorous moments of respite on the battlefield, can be heard as well, told by comrades who have outlived their siblings-in-arms.

In the past century, a new tradition has evolved surrounding the cremation of Aquilan soldiers as well. Whereas previously their ashes were allowed to rejoin Diomikato’s rivers of lava, now some portion is collected by House Lyra. For a short period after the ceremony, Meret artisans offer their services creating tattoos containing the ash of the fallen. This has become popular enough that there is rarely any such ash left, but what remains is brought to the temple complex of the Legion Terminus and scattered in small sheltered indoor gardens, opportunities for peace after a lifetime of service.