Last Meal

The Last Meal was a ritual marking the suicide of members of the Thanasioi sect. To achieve freedom from the material world and oneness with Phos, certain sect members would declare their intent to starve themselves to death, after a farewell dinner. Starvation lasted a number of weeks. During the Makuraner-backed uprising of Thanasioi centered in Etchmiadzin, Videssos, the mage Artapan "helped along" several members already determined to die, so the energy of their deaths could feed his power.