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| | === Kingdom-wide === | | === Kingdom-wide === |
| | *[[New Year]] | | *[[New Year]] |
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| − | On the first day of the new year, the entire kingdom takes to the streets,
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| − | even if a blizzard is underway, to visit their friends and family and wish
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| − | them a blessed new year. Typically, each house sets out the best of what
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| − | they can afford by way of hand held foods that are easily portable. The
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| − | traditional offerings are nuts, dried fruits, the remaining pears, cookies
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| − | and breads, as well as dried meat sticks. Warming drinks are also kept over
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| − | the fire to chase the chill off of the company's travail into the cold.
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| − |
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| − | In the larger cities of the kingdom, the highest ranked noble in the area
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| − | will typically send out some selections of visiting foods and hot wassail to
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| − | the city square for the populace to enjoy, as a token of hospitality for the
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| − | new year. While the populace enjoys the meager offerings sent out, the
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| − | nobility of the city are typically all gathered in the home of the new
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| − | year's host, being regaled with fine foods, quality wine and musical
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| − | entertainment.
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| − |
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| − | The new year is welcomed by all people of all stations. It is considered a
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| − | holy day by the church, and frequently the people talk of making fresh
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| − | starts to go with the new year itself. The church endorses and encourages
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| − | the view of coming clean and living a pure and holy life, and holds a
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| − | special mass at sunrise for the faithful to come and avow their lives anew
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| − | as Davites. Following mass, the confessionals are packed for hours, by
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| − | people wishing to begin their new year with a clear conscience, before they
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| − | begin their visits.
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| − |
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| − | During the new year's festival, people of all ranks in the city not only
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| − | greet family and friends, but also go door-to-door as neighbors. The rich
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| − | hand out small gifts to the poor, and it has become an informal tradition to
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| − | prove one's wealth by giving the most gifts. The Holy Order distributes a
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| − | loaf of bread baked with a Chalice crest to every family in Lithmore for
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| − | each new year's winter.
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| − |
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| | *[[Summer Solstice]] | | *[[Summer Solstice]] |
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| − | Across the kingdom, the longest day of the year is a highly anticipated
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| − | event, occurring on the twenty-second day of the sixth month. It is around
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| − | this time that the summer heat becomes greatest and the workdays long and
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| − | weary. Therefore, a day off from labors to enjoy the holiday is much
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| − | enjoyed by people of all stations. Summer Solstice is a celebration of all
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| − | that is good in life: food, drink, family, friends, entertainment, and good
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| − | health. The length of the day makes it ideal for celebrating so many
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| − | blessings bestowed on all people regardless of class.
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| − |
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| − | Breezy canopies are set up in city and village alike for the populace to
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| − | cool off under. The traditional fare includes a wide array of summer
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| − | fruits and vegetables, as well as honey sweetened treats and mead. In most
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| − | areas, there is a competition to see who can concoct the best or most usual
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| − | honeyed delicacy, as a celebration of the sweetness of life. There is also
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| − | typically contests revolving around melon growth or seed spitting, and
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| − | seeing fruit juice stained faces is a common sight everywhere. The
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| − | celebrations begin at sunrise and continue until well past the late sun
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| − | setting.
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| − | ----
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| | *[[Kissing Festival]] | | *[[Kissing Festival]] |
| − | The Kissing Festival happens at the very end of Chalice Rising (at the start
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| − | of Aprilis) as a gateway from the religious holiday's austerity into the
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| − | brighter, more cheerful celebrations of Spring Awakening.
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| − |
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| − | The specific tradition originated in Wilhelm when a local woman, in a state of
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| − | drunkenness after the tilling and planting was at last completed, moved from
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| − | man to man securing a kiss from each person she encountered. Not to be
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| − | outdone, the other women of the village followed suit, and it became a yearly
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| − | tradition - particularly popular in the cities, where Spring Awakening is
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| − | less tied to the earth.
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| − |
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| − | One of the foremost insults in Wilhelm stems from this festival - 'You
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| − | couldn't even get kissed at the Kissing Festival' (man to man), or 'I
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| − | wouldn't even kiss you at the Kissing Festival' (woman to man), and 'You
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| − | won't find me at the Kissing Festival' (man to woman [rare]) - and has been
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| − | known to be the cause of quite a few fistfights and more in Wilhelm. Local
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| − | midwives claim that nine months following the festival is their busiest
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| − | season. Pregnancies soon after the Kissing Festival are looked upon with
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| − | envy by other women, and the baby is considered to be one born in luck.
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| − | ----
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| − |
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| | *[[Richael's Birthday]] | | *[[Richael's Birthday]] |
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| − | In SC 298, on the 23rd day of Quintilis, the Princess of Lithmore
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| − | celebrated her En Passant. With great joy, the Royal Family proclaimed her
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| − | birthday a national holiday to be celebrated every year, and to pass down
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| − | as a legacy to her own heirs when the time came. The King made much of his
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| − | daughter's majority and sent vast supplies of wine, ale, baked goods,
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| − | fruits, vegetables and dried meats, as well as clothing to the city square
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| − | for the entire populace's enjoyment. In light of the strained time of
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| − | plague and rationing at its occurrence, the gesture endeared the king in
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| − | the eyes of the people. In the years following, similar gifts were sent to
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| − | the city in celebration of her birthday, though never in quite as grand
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| − | scale as her coming of age.
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| − |
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| | *[[The Calm]] | | *[[The Calm]] |
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| − | Quintilis 16th marks an important day across all Lithmorran and Farin
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| − | calendars. It is upon this day in the year 305 of the Lord that Queen
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| − | Richael ab Harmon and Cameron de Montford were wed, uniting the two nations
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| − | and blood lines together. During the preceding war, Cameron de Montford
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| − | offered refuge for the Queen-to-be, securing her away from those that would
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| − | see her harmed. Although Farin desired no part in war - enjoying their
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| − | period of peace - they stepped in to help the woman. This decision led to
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| − | the eventual coronation of the heir as Queen. Today, the 16th shall be
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| − | remembered as the complete end of the war and the joining of Lithmore and
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| − | Farin, known officially as "The Calm."
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| | | | |
| | === Talfore === | | === Talfore === |
| | *[[Turkey Calling Trials]] | | *[[Turkey Calling Trials]] |
| − | (Talfore) - Held in late fall each year, the turkey calling trials of
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| − | Talfore are a time wherein villagers each seek to emulate a turkey, trying
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| − | to draw the attention - and therefore the prize - of the largest 'Tom' of
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| − | the city. Contestants gather in a large circle, with the Tom in the center,
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| − | and work to garner his charge. At its culmination, all adult turkeys are
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| − | slaughtered, and a bakeoff is held, with all manner of turkey delights for
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| − | participants and spectators alike.
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| − |
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| | | | |
| | === Lithmore === | | === Lithmore === |
| − | *[[Lithmorran Wine Festival]] | + | *[[Lithmorran Wine Festival]] - Broaching of the wines. |
| − | (Lithmore) - Broaching of the wines.
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| − | | |
| − | The Lithmorran Wine Festival is held annually, on the first day of the
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| − | Realm's Chalice Rising Festival. This involves the ceremonial (by each
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| − | head of household) broaching of the wine cask from the most recently
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| − | fermented year.
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| − | | |
| − | During the Wine Festival, the citizens of Lithmore share their wines with
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| − | their neighbors, and traditionally the Royal family broaches a cask of
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| − | their best wine for the populace in the city square.
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| − | | |
| − | Wine Festival is held on the 28th day of Maritus (third month of the year)
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| − | in the city of Lithmore. Many of the outlying townships' citizens visit
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| − | Lithmore around this time to partake in the celebration, as well as make
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| − | their tributes during Chalice Rising.
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| − | | |
| | *[[Festival of the Hunt]] | | *[[Festival of the Hunt]] |
| − | (Lithmore)
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| − |
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| − | The Festival of the Hunt is held in Lithmore on the sixth day of the eighth
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| − | month. It is a day for the men of the kingdom, of all classes, to show off
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| − | their hunting prowess, although more than one lady has been known to
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| − | participate in the hunt and actually win. It arises from times long past
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| − | where hunters were some of the primary food sources for the local people,
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| − | and their capabilities to provide were highly regarded. It has since become
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| − | a more formal and planned event, although still quite happily anticipated.
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| − |
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| − | The licensed hunters gather outside the city gates at dawn. There is great
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| − | pomp surrounding the initiation of the hunt with grandiose speeches and
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| − | fanfares. They are then released to begin their hunt and try to bring down
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| − | as many or as big of kills as possible until the sun reaches its apex in the
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| − | sky. The game is collected by designated helpers who return the carcasses
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| − | to the brightly colored pavillion for dressing and cooking near the city
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| − | gates. While the hunters complete their circuits, the kills are catalogued
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| − | by judges, the hart being considered the most noble of game, then turned
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| − | over to be cooked on the numerous spits set up.
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| − |
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| − | By the time the hunters have returned, a large portion of meat is already
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| − | nearly finished cooking and being distributed amongst the crowds for
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| − | consumption. Likewise, tables are usually set up with wide spreads of
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| − | dates, breads, melons and fresh raw vegetables. The organs are reserved to
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| − | give as gifts to any honored guest attendants, and some meat is given to the
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| − | dogs who helped with the hunt. Then, once the meats are prepared and
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| − | cooked, a feast with music and dancing begins, where the entire city comes
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| − | out to celebrate full stomachs after a long day's hunt.
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| − | ----
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| | *[[Magebane]] | | *[[Magebane]] |
| − | (Lithmorran) - It's commonly believed that in the late-autumn season,
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| − | when the nights are crisp and dark and the moons at their brightest and
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| − | most vivid, witches and demons are at their most powerful; the Holy Order
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| − | retreats in vigilant prayer at this time of year to banish the moons from
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| − | the very sky in a bid to protect the kingdom from them.
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| − |
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| − | The Magebane Festival is held at the end of Octobris to both celebrate a
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| − | bountiful autumn harvest and aid the Order in keeping demons away. Masks
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| − | are often employed to hide from mages, and loud revelry, shouting, and
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| − | plenty of good spirit intends to drive off demons who may more easily cross
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| − | over from the abyss. After the feasts have ended, high-spirited "patrols"
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| − | will roam the streets beating on drums, carrying candles, singing, and
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| − | shouting - there is a sense of safety and camaraderie in these night vigils
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| − | that can be comforting during a threatening time.
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| | | | |
| − | ----
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| | === Tubor === | | === Tubor === |
| | *[[Spar Balancing]] | | *[[Spar Balancing]] |
| − | (Tubori cities) - Among the seafaring folk of Tubor, great stock is
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| − | placed in the dexterity and balance of its menfolk. Each month, the Tubori
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| − | cities - or ships, if at sea - will hold a large competition wherein the
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| − | participants must maintain their balance on the topmost spar of a ship's
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| − | forecastle. Whomever has the longest hang time is the winner, and earns
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| − | the right to compete in the yearly Tubori Spar Balancing Showdown, held in
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| − | the capital of the Duchy during springtime. While many are the Tubori men
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| − | who will brag of holding one or another title in Spar Balancing, the act is
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| − | truly much more difficult than the claim, and a true master spar balancer
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| − | is a rarity.
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| | | | |
| | === The Charalin Plains === | | === The Charalin Plains === |
| − | The Charalin peoples are proud of their horse stocks and have celebrated the | + | *[[The Great Charalin Horse Races]] |
| − | swiftest of them since long before the days of the Consolidation. As they
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| − | travel about, it is quite common for them to challenge the others they meet
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| − | to a race with their fastest racing steed. This serves for each breeder to
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| − | determine the strengths and weaknesses of their chosen racer and if it
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| − | should participate in the Great Charalin Horse Races, held on the first day
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| − | of the sixth month.
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| − | | |
| − | For the Great Races, the Charali migrate from all over the plains to a
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| − | central location. Each family prepares a grand breakfast for their own
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| − | group, and then offers to share about with the others nearby, resulting in
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| − | one large scale breakfast buffet. While breakfasting, horses are registered
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| − | to race, and more than one breeder has dropped an entry on seeing someone
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| − | else who effectively outraced their horse before. The horses are then
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| − | slated to race in heats and bets are typically made on the quiet as to how
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| − | the fields will turn out.
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| − | | |
| − | The heats begin at noon, and the winning horse of each is then rested until
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| − | following dinner that evening. This gives the gathered people time to
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| − | socialize and party, share another meal with one another and comment on the
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| − | days results thus far. Following the evening meal, the final race is held
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| − | to determine the swiftest horse of the plains for the year. Upon the
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| − | culmination of the final race, bets are paid up, and the celebrations
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| − | continue well into the night. The crowds disperse at sunrise to go back to
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| − | their wandering ways.
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| | | | |
| | == Traditions == | | == Traditions == |
| | === Lithmore === | | === Lithmore === |
| − | (Lithmorran/Farin) - Celebration of the coming of age for females, the
| + | *[[En Passant]] |
| − | ceremony which marks their passage from a child to a woman. Typically
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| − | given within two weeks of the girl's 16th birthday, it is only after
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| − | completion of this ceremony that the woman is considered eligible for
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| − | marriage. The En Passant is celebrated with a large party, including all
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| − | of the village inhabitants (or quarter, in cities), with the girl clad in
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| − | her brightest and best woolen clothes. All attendees of the revelry
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| − | traditionally present the new woman with a gift which will help her in her
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| − | future years, either domestically or financially. It is said that this
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| − | tradition actually began in Farin, and indeed is practiced there and in
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| − | many of the larger cities of other Duchies.
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| − | | |
| | === Farin === | | === Farin === |
| − | (See En Passant) | + | ''(See [[En Passant]])'' |
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| | === The Charalin Plains === | | === The Charalin Plains === |
| | *[[Naming Day]] | | *[[Naming Day]] |
| − | When Charalin youth reach the age of thirteen, they are turned out into
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| − | the wild with nothing more than a knife. They to survive on their own wits
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| − | for the entire span of Elliuh (approx. 31 days) to prove that they have
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| − | the survival skills necessary to be an adult on the Plains.
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| − |
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| − | Until Elliueh becomes full, the Charali youth may not begin to track and
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| − | pursue their families. During this time, it is their task to clothe
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| − | themselves, creating weapons and gain some coup or honor in pursuit of
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| − | their name. As Elliueh begins to wax or wane, depending o when the cycle
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| − | started, the youth may begin to make their way through the wilds towards
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| − | their family. When they arrive, they are met with a greater celebration
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| − | than the day they entered the world. There is no birthday, but a naming
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| − | day, when the Boy or Girl gains their place in the tribe as an adult. By
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| − | gaining this, they are able to speak their opinion within their clan and be
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| − | counted among the warriors when battle is called.
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| − |
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| − | As a rule, a Charalin's surname is often the name of their birth mother.
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| − | Their Charalin name, given to them on their Naming Day, is secondary to
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| − | their mother's. Charali will often have a Davite name given or taken by
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| − | them as well to make their passage through the Western territory easier.
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| − | When a Charalin introduces himself or herself to a westerner, they will
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| − | often say, "I am (order of birth)(son or daughter) of (mother), (Davist
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| − | name)." It is rare to divulge their true Charalin name to an outsider.
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| − |
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| − | Sometimes the name given or taken by a Charali marks their place in
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| − | society.
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| | [[Category:Culture]] | | [[Category:Culture]] |
