Amicia is a character in the video game "A Plague Tale: Innocence" who possesses a unique ability to control rats with the help of a rune. The rune gives her the power to command swarms of rats at her will, making them her ally instead of a threat. This ability plays a crucial role in the game's storyline, as the player must navigate through various levels by strategically using the rats as a weapon or a distraction. The rune is a symbol of Amicia's connection to the rats and the plague that has ravaged the world in which she lives. It represents her ability to adapt and survive in the face of adversity, as well as her willingness to embrace her unique powers. The rune also serves as a reminder of the danger and destruction that the rats can cause if not controlled properly.
The rune also serves as a reminder of the danger and destruction that the rats can cause if not controlled properly. Throughout the game, Amicia learns to harness her power and use the rats to her advantage. She can command them to attack enemies, clear obstacles, or create diversions.
Outline & Examples for Services
The following are a set of ritual outlines meant to cover the most common situations. In a funeral or memorial service, it is appropriate to start with a safe place to grieve and then finish with a more hopeful tone.
Details and Examples
Most funerals include both an indoor and a graveside ceremony. The indoor service provides a safe haven for the community to meet and mourn the dead without worrying about the weather. Neo-Pagans should not shun such practices, as we see many examples of such indoor rites in our Pagan past. Examples of these include the long borrows found in England, where the bones of the Blessed Dead were laid to rest, and the tents raised by the Athenians to honor fallen soldiers.
Decorations
For many Neo-Pagans, it is more appropriate to decorate a hall or chapel with potted plants or small live trees than to cut flowers or wreaths that will die. In this way, the live plants and trees can become their own memorials to the dead, living on to represent that the cycle of life still goes on.
It can also be appropriate to incorporate the person’s astrological sign into the decorations by utilizing associated colors or elements. For example, for a Water sign, you might display a bowl of water with the proper-colored floating candles in it and light the candles as part of the funeral.
Additionally, having representations of the four elements can be appropriate. Here is one set of items that could be used in any setting to represent the elements:
- Water — bowl of water with flower petals
- Earth — seeds, potted plants, a potted tree
- Fire — yellow candles, stones like garnets, a bowl of sand with cinnamon sticks
- Air — a quill feather or a pen
Place pictures of the deceased and objects that he or she cherished in life where they can be seen by those gathering for the funeral. You can also include “offerings to the dead,” such as seeds to represent rebirth or other small objects that can be safely buried in the grave or given to the family.
Preparation of the Body
Two forms of funerary practices are common: burial and cremation.
In the case of burial, the body should be washed in water* if at all possible and thanked for housing the soul that no longer requires it. If the body is not going to be embalmed, this must be done with some haste as the body begins to decay immediately. In addition, the body may have been damaged by the injury that was the cause of death. Handling a damaged or decomposing body may be traumatic for family or clergy not used to this practice.
In the case of cremation, or where washing the body is not possible or desired, then you may recommend the washing of some representation of the body, such as a stone. Check to see if any of the family members wish to be there during the preparation of the body.
Casket
Depending on the condition of the body and the wishes of the family, if an open casket is used, it may be most appropriate to have an open–casket ceremony with the opening set away from the other mourners. This gives an opportunity for those who wish to view the body to do so privately and shields the open casket from those who do not want to see the body.
People require different expressions of grief to find closure. Some need to see the body and even touch it to ensure that the spirit of the person has left the body, while others wish to remember the person in life and are uncomfortable with seeing a dead body.
It is best to not embalm the body, unless this is done in accordance with the deceased’s tradition. Embalming is a very unnatural process that replaces the bodily fluids with chemicals. Instead, family or clergy may want to check with the funeral home to see if the body can be kept at a low temperature.
As for the casket itself, you may want to recommend caskets with holes in them, such as those used in traditional Jewish burials. These caskets allow the body to decay naturally and thus return to the earth from which it came. Another appropriate option is to use eco-friendly caskets, which decay over time.
Cremation
Cremation is also a popular choice for funereal rites. Many Pagan societies, including the ancient Greeks, Romans and Scandinavians, used cremation.
One way to view cremation is as a separating of the body and the spirit, with the body being returned to dust.
In most Neo-Pagan practices a beloved animal is seen as being a part of the family. Given our view of animals as sentient beings who share this Earth with us, many of us may want to hold a service for an animal.
While the rituals here focus on humans they can also provide inspiration for funerals for animals. There is some wisdom in making a ritual for an animal be of shorter duration than for a human. As an example of a ritual that was written to be given to a mixed religious audience I am including a ritual I wrote in honor of a dog. I have changed the names to protect the privacy of those who remember her.
* There is no archeological proof that I know of that ancient Pagans washed their dead. We do have extensive archeological evidence of various Pagan funerary practices, ranging from burial of the dead in a fetal position, cremation, embalming and housing bones in burrows.
Having said this, washing the deceased’s body or a representation of the body can be healing as it helps us to deal with the reality that the person is no longer alive. If dealing with the actual body, this can be very effective, as loved ones observe the profound differences between a live and a dead body.
Additionally, it is a nice way to spend some time with the body and thank it for housing the person. Obviously, there may be many instances where this cannot be done. Since the body is so connected with the earth, a stone can be an appropriate substitute.
The Minni seems to have differed a great deal from the standard symbel in its initial rounds. The first round was to the deceased followed by a vow by an heir, this is likely in ancient times to taken the form of a bragafull. The second to a diety followed by one to the deceased and then by a vow by an heir. The third followed this pattern, being first to a diety, then the deceased, followed by yet another vow by an heir. Thereafter, the order seems to have followed that of an open symbel, although no doubt, plenty of toasts were made to the deceased. The opening rounds can be roughly outlined as below:
However, she must use this ability with caution, as excessive use of the rats can attract unwanted attention and put her and her companions in danger. The rune also serves as a symbolic representation of Amicia's growth as a character. At the beginning of the game, she is initially fearful and unsure of her abilities. As the story progresses, she becomes more confident and resourceful, using the rats as a means of protection and survival. In conclusion, Amicia's possession of the rune and her ability to control rats is a central aspect of the game "A Plague Tale: Innocence." It represents her connection to the rats and the plague, as well as her growth as a character. The rune allows her to navigate through challenging levels and overcome various obstacles by using the rats as her allies. However, she must use her powers with caution, as the rats can also be a destructive force if not controlled properly..
Reviews for "The Interplay of Magic and Science: The Technology Behind Rune-Infused Amicia"
- John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Amicia that has rune". The story felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. The game also had a lot of bugs and glitches that took away from the overall experience. I wouldn't recommend it.
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - "Amicia that has rune" was a complete waste of my time and money. The gameplay was repetitive and boring, and the graphics were subpar. The puzzles were too easy and the plot was predictable. I regretted buying it.
- David - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Amicia that has rune" but it fell flat for me. The controls were clunky and the combat mechanics were unintuitive. The voice acting was also lackluster and didn't do justice to the characters. Overall, it was a forgettable experience.