Rite of the Stag Lass

The Rite of the Stag Lass was a yearly celebration in the village of Amphail held on Flamerule 1. It commemorated the death of a local priestess of Mielikki by hunters who mistook her for a stag. Young women who completed the Rite gained the favor of the church of Mielikki, a piece of expensive jewelry, and were released of any obligations placed upon her by parents, family, guilds, or circumstances of noble birth.

Location
Amphail was located in the lower Dessarin Valley, a three-day ride north and east of Waterdeep on the Long Road. The Rite took place in the village and ended at the Stag-Horned Flagon, a tavern in the middle of the settlement.

Description
The Rite was composed of a series of actions that had to be completed by the Stag Lass in order for it to be judged a success. The details of implementation were often left to the discretion of the honoree.

The Rite began with the Stag Lass—dressed at least in dark green breeches and tunic and wearing a head-covering mask made of a stag's head with a full rack of antlers—riding bareback through the village on a horse, as if arriving from Waterdeep, and exiting the far side via the Long Road. The Stag Lass chose her own pace and route through the village, from a walk to a gallop, and was greeted by villagers who called, jeered, or joked with her as she passed by.

Once outside the village, the Stag Lass dismounted and left the horse with a waiting priest of Mielikki. She had the option of also leaving any articles of clothing or adornment that she didn't want soiled during the rest of the Rite—a family heirloom or crest, for example—the only requirement was that she return on foot by the main road (avoiding the townsfolk by cutting through fields, orchards, and backyards was not allowed) wearing the stag's-head mask. Traditionally, the Lass ran back into town, dodging villagers who chased her and threw cups of water, sour milk, or spoiled wine on her, but some Lasses walked leisurely, taking detours down side streets and giving children and even the elderly a chance to douse her. This dash or stroll back into town with its accompanying bombardment ended when the Stag Lass entered the Stag-Horned Flagon in the heart of the village.

Inside the Stag'n'Flag, the Lass was presented with the namesake of the tavern—an ancient helmet turned into a drinking cup and decorated with antlers for handles—filled with an extremely thick, strong, bitter, but otherwise untainted draught of beer. She had to consume all of this unpalatable brew but could do so at her own pace, cheered on by the crowd of onlookers. At the bottom of the cup was a piece of fine jewelry that was one of the rewards for completing the Rite. After finishing her bitter drink, a vat was brought out and set in the middle of the taproom, usually on a sturdy table, for her to bathe. She at last got to remove the mask and was also required to remove at least her footwear—any further disrobing was her choice. Once she stepped into the bath, all beer served in the tavern was free until dawn the next day. The revelers drank to her health as she bathed and the bathwater was later used on newly planted trees and gardens, blessed by priests of Mielikki for abundant growth.