![More about my dumb Harkers AU [Entropy Remains]](https://cdn2.scratch.mit.edu/get_image/project/1258479753_480x360.png)
So uh, basically, this is an AU of Meadowlark where The Harkers are like fae creatures or something that feed on humans. Not inherently evil, just hungry. originally, there were only The Storyteller, the past, The Bellringer, the future, and The Enkindled, equilibrium and the wilds. But as soon as man began its expansion to conquer the wilds and take those stories from history, while taking many futures away from their owners, the Harkers felt something terrible creep upon them. They felt decay. They could keep it away, outrun it, too, but it would always return. It was patient. It was claiming. When man began to war, The Croon was borne from that corruption. It was formed from the other Harkers' desperation and hunger for/against man. A semblance of the other Harkers were still there, but they were claimed. Utilizing the followers the other Harkers collected, it formed The Lark, a wandering band of children that lure others into fae traps to feed The Croon, The Talons, a wing of hunters led by Cooper Caligayahan that strike societies where it would hurt most, (most often, political leaders) and The Teeth, those who would gather those that are desperate to believe in something and recruit them to The Croon's followers, sent out by The Playwright. This does not mean that The Croon is scared of getting human blood on its hands, however.
- I didn't draw it, but The Croon in this AU is made almost completely of void and smoke, so to keep its form, The Enkindled's ropes hold The Croon together - The Lark are under a spell, believing that they are helping the people they lure into the fae traps without realizing what is really happening. Same goes for the other two groups. - The Storyteller and Bellringer's arms replace The Croon's, but its talons replace Storyteller's hand, as it was one of the first parts of the scarecrow's body to be conquered by decay. - There are rituals for each Harker, from the worshippers of each: ~ The Ritual of The Written Past One would kneel on hay and close a book, dressed in old, tattered clothing. Then they would clasp their hands together and say the following: "Storyteller, speaker of what once was, harken to my plea. Keep this narrative in your memory. Commit this plot to history and spare it of loss and decay." ~ The Ritual of the Unwritten Narrative One would gather one or two other people and meet at a crossroads with a goat placed at the fork. The other/s would pour some sort of material (most often, ash, salt, or dirt) down the other paths while the first lights a candle and turns an hourglass. Then they should say the following: "Bellringer, watcher of what has not yet been, harken to my plea. Protect these mortals with the knowledge you keep of what will be. Warn of what will, and we shall follow." ~ Ritual of the Natural Balance One would step into a living area (a forest with mushrooms, a field, living wood, etc) with any kind of animal. (most often, it's a bird, dog pup, or rabbit) Then they would let the animal run off in into the area. Afterwards, they should recite the following: "O Enkindled, witness of the wilds, keeper of equilibrium, harken to my plea. I wish to protect this (area) with just claws and teeth. Search my soul and deem me worthy. I will follow your every command and brave every obstacle to stay." ~ Ritual of the Broken and Lost One would slay an animal (usually small, like a mouse or vole) or pick a flower in the day and perform this ritual when the moon is at its zenith. lay out a mat of feathers or place the dead fauna/flora into a skull and burn a piece of hay, a lace or bell string, or a leaf fresh off the branch. Speak the following words once finished: "Croon, sentinel of decay and entropy, understand my wish. Take from this broken body and feed the cause to protect the true beyond. Use me to bring karma on those who took from the Great Mother Tree." Then, one should blow out the candle.
