Harrowing Festivities

Piltover's largest annual celebration is BACK for 30CLE! From the Bannerstone Fairegrounds, to Grimdark Fields, all the way to Pentir North's quarries, west to Berkfordshire, and back to the heart of Piltover City, it's Harrowing everywhere!

[nithhaiahh]

*Tosses a bunch of candy towards the Banshee* HARROWING HARROWING

[piltoverharrowing]

Hoo hoo hoo! It’s here once again folks! Piltover’s Harrowing Festivities are picking up again for another year! Let’s get into the spirit of things with fun and games and faireground foods! Come and take part in the traditions of this great lil nation! It’s the safest spookiness you’ll find in Runeterra! Hoo hoo!

The fairegrounds open on the 15th! See you there!

[piltoverharrowing]

Today’s the day, folks, hoo, we grieve and say goodbye to the Harrowing Festivities for another year. Thank you one and all for coming and for taking part in our grand events.

We’ll end our Harrowing the way we always do: throughout the day, we gather up all the empty pumpkin shells that served as lanterns for the year - every single one! - and smash them. Breaking them apart by any means necessary, as tradition dictates, and throwing them into Bluewind Bay, also as tradition dictates. Don’t let a single lantern be forgotten! They must meet their fate in the sea!

And then, as the night falls, once more the fireworks will light up the sky. We close as we opened, with light and colour and sound and the smell of gunpowder. Thank you, everyone, for coming, and we hope you had fun. See you next year, hoo hoo!

[piltoverharrowing]

The Day of the Total Eclipse is a day when all and sundry take the time to see to old rites and traditions. Even a city of progress, reason, and innovation has room for faith still, and many temples, churches, shrines and houses of worship are filled as people come to renew their vows, to make new pledges, to offer up prayers, and to seek shelter and solace from the horrows that the Harrowing visits on the world.

At night, the total eclipse will snuff the moon from sight ... or turn it red, as crimson as fresh-spilled blood, as it has begun to do in the last few years. There are signs in the skies tonight, so cling tight to beads and candles and incense and loved ones.

[piltoverharrowing]

The Harrowing Festivities are beginning to come to an end. Today is the day of Prizegiving, where winners of all the competitions and sports and games and events of the Harrowing are given due honour and glory on the stages, screens, and airwaves of Piltover. Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially to those who put in above and beyond. Don’t worry, the fairegrounds will be open for a little longer, so go out there and try to win yourself a little something extra!

But, of course, today is also the day of Robot Wars, of the grand final that sees which of the automatons carefully constructed and animated will be walking away with the coveted title of Grand Champion. It promises to be a rowdy day with people cheering on their favourite fighters. Piltover loves its champions, after all, regardless of whether they were born, bred, or molded. 

Art source: [x]

[piltoverharrowing]

The cold has settled into Piltover by now, with every morning crisped with frost and one’s breath visible with every exhale. Today, Wisps’ Beckoning, recognises that the lights that were released on the marshes might be coming back, that tricksters and ghosts might abound if one is not careful. Piltover might largely safe from the Mist’s encroach, but the effects of the Harrowing are still felt here. There are old powers stirred up by the Ruined King’s forays, after all. Jealous powers.

From the old traditions of leaving out offerings, children go from house to house to collect sweets and other gifts until their baskets are full. The yordle community has taken to this particular tradition with aplomb, both in terms of giving and collecting the treats. Those who do not give proper gifts are often the victim of pranks - paper, egg, snowball and ink, mostly - as punishment. For those who aren’t planning on collecting sweets, there is still plenty to do: the faire is still open, live performances still are staged, tours to museums and art houses are discounted… until the sun goes down, and all goes to rest.

Then the only things open are the mazes. The only lights provided are hand-lanterns and the gleaming grins of the carved pumpkins placed all over the fields and paths, a rite of terror and courage that honours the darker parts of Piltover’s history. Under starlight and moonlight, guides with lanterns and torches will guide visitors across Piltover’s wide landscape, showing the sights that - by daylight - were sweeping vistas of green, now shrouded in shadow and mystery, and telling tales of the darker parts of Piltover’s history: the witches, the werewolves, the wandering spirits, the King and his Court.

[piltoverharrowing]

Diwrnod yr Arwyr, the Day of Heroes, is a time of feats of strength and courage. In the fairegrounds and throughout Bannerstone and Brigham Point, there are activities designed to challenge those who are strong of arm and body.

The Mechanical Bull stands ready to defend his flag. Red and Blue rosters await their teams for Tug-Of-War. The Harrowing Car is ready to be lifted. Measures of timber are cut and cleaned and ready to be thrown long distance in the caber arena. There are also wrestling arenas, races, and weapons demonstrations from re-enactment groups who show off Demacian, Noxian, or Rakkori battles of the past.

Many use this time to enjoy the brisker weather at the fairegrounds, or to grab themselves a cup of mulled wine, honey mead, or hot chocolate to watch others flex and fight. Otherwise, by all means... test your might.

[piltoverharrowing]

Today is known by two names: The First Frost and the Day of Remembrance. Today is the day that it starts snowing in Piltover, reliable as clockwork. Today is the day that rites of mourning are performed, that graves are visited and those enshrined on Heroes’ Walk are garlanded and thanked for their service to the nation. Tonight is the night, in the brisk cold, paper lantern ‘witchlights’ are released on every river, lake, and body of water in Piltover.

It is a day and an evening where the dead are honoured and the cold and dark is contemplated. It is a time where time hinges on a knife’s edge, as the snow begins to fall. It is, perhaps, the spiritual end of the year, and the acknowledgement of the year to come. It is cold tonight. Carry a light with you.

[piltoverharrowing]

Last Sparks is the day where the museums throughout Piltover are free. From art to natural history through to Piltover’s history (have you ever wanted to wander the underground catacombs? Now you can!) and the YASP’s own showcase of engineering marvels through the ages, every museum is open for guests, for sparks of inspiration, education, and edification of everyone who wishes to.

This is also a time where music and magic takes centre stage. Busking, marching bands, karaoke, and grander performances are here to let the hills ring with song, and those with trick and sleight of hand and even genuine powers are encouraged to spread joy and wonder and disbelief. It’s a day of brighter things, for at least one more moment before tomorrow... when the snow will begin to fall.

[band link] [magician link]

[piltoverharrowing]

Diwrnod Cysgodol, the Day of Shadows, is so named because it begins softer, gentler, kinder, like dusk. Aside from sleeping in and relaxing, people are encouraged to hayrides and poetry readings, sober thoughts expressed on the changing of the season. The time of plenty has passed, and winter is approaching.

And like all shadows, the day deepens into night. Lanterns are lit, both from the pumpkins that were carved and those to be carried, and folk are set to walk on well-marked trails the length and breadth of the nation. Do not stray from the paths, do not seek darker shadows, because there are places here where the night will become more than just night. Hold fast to the light, and shiver.

[piltoverharrowing]

It’s here! The Day of Feasting! Piltover’s fruitfulness will be enjoyed to excess on this day, as food and drink fill glasses and plates of every living soul. Everything today is focused on the consumption of the nation’s bounty. Eat! Drink! Share! See you on the other side of the food coma!

[piltoverharrowing]

The Day of the Flames is one where traditions about fire and light driving off the darkness come to the fore, though perhaps not in the way that many of our guests may expect.

The day begins with the YASP Science Fair, demonstrating more of the scientific marvels that had been shown yesterday, but a step up... and, of course, there will also be demonstrations from the Yordle Military, where munitions will be detonated. Things can and will be blown up for science. With science, too! Hoo!

And then in the evening - not just in Bannerstone but throughout Piltover - bonfires will be lit for the night-long warding against the dark. Until sunrise, there will be fire-walking, fire-dancing, fire-twirling, fire-riding, and all manner of brightness and glory and rituals of ember and spark. 

Come and join us for the fire and the flame!

[piltoverharrowing]

The Second of the Airs is a day for people to relax a little after the flurry of activity of the last two days. Hot air balloon rides are available for all and sundry, a sedate floating over the landscape. Breakfasts and brunches in mid-air are popular, if you don’t mind getting up early!

For those who would rather keep their feet on the ground, it’s time to witness some of Piltover’s technological progress, and get a glimpse at what gizmos and gadgets are going to be available in the year to come. Those who own automobiles are encouraged to bring them, to show off their magnificent machines, while students, inventors and businesses bring out their latest wares and show off some technological marvels.

[piltoverharrowing]

From midnight now to midnight tomorrow, a spell is cast over Piltover. Masks hide identities, and music fills the air. The Masquerade Ball takes place, and there are plenty of stories of people dancing all night without feeling the slightest moment of fatigue, almost as though the masks and costumes imbue the wearers with great power…

While the official opening of the dance takes place in Piltover City, in southern-centreside’s Gildenbrough Dance Hall, the day is not constrained to one location. In fact, it’s something of a tradition to go from party to party across the whole nation. It’s a good thing Piltover has an extensive rail network, to help people party from one side of the country to the other. The majority, of course, will be in and around Bannerstone, but that certainly won’t stop the Masqued Express - yes, even the railway gets a little tizzied up for the occasion, with specialised party carriages between every passenger car.

What are you waiting for? There are only 24 hours in a day, and the Day of Faces is no exception!

[piltoverharrowing]

Hoo hoo! It’s time, it’s time! It’s time for PUMPKINS! 

It’s First Pumpkin Day in the Piltover Harrowing, and from all over are brought gourds so everyone can carve themselves a creative little lantern. The guts from the hollowed out pumpkins are brought to be baked into pies... for later!

Today is the day for those with creative culinary skills to take part in The Great Piltover Bake-Off! If you have talent with food or drink, then by all means enter your delights into any of the available categories, and show us your talents!

And then, and then, and then, hoo hoo! After the fancy food has been judged, all those pumpkin pies are brought out, and a great feasting begins! How many pumpkin pies can someone eat in one sitting? There will be prizes to those with the most bottomless gullet! 

First Pumpkin Day! Calloo, callay! Come join in the fun!

[piltoverharrowing]

Welcome to the Day of the Steeds! Today we celebrate one of Piltover’s horses in events designed to showcase their speed, stamina, and cooperation with their riders. Horses are marvellous beasts, and have long played a part in Piltover’s history, development, and mythology.

The polo teams are as follows:

Piltover Technological College (Upper Piltover)

Piltover Finishing School (Upper Piltover)

Northern-Seaside Horse Riding School (Haven-On-Sea)

Outer Villages’ Horse Riding Club (Brigham Point/Trylford)

Gibbs’ Technological College (Lower Piltover)

University of Western Piltover (Berkfordshire)

There will also be races with not only natural horses striving for the Piltover Harrowing Cup, but mechanical steeds crafted by teams of engineers and techmaturgists.

Natural Horses:

Vessemar 

Bessy-Anne-Marie-Toulouse (retirement race)

Crassic Lock

Balls of Lightning (retirement race)

Rollin’ Heyo

Long Bao Bao (retirement race)

Shen Long Hao 

Legs And All

Bill Bill Bill Bill

The Butler Did It (retirement race)

Classic Gaffe

Practical

Spent A Bit Too Much

Formally Bluebell (retirement race)

Mechanical Horses:

One More Run 

Stirrup Some Trouble (retirement race)

They Might Come Fourth (retirement race)

Berries And Cream 

Yúchǔn de mǎ míng

Hi-BeamZ

I’m Here Now 

This Machine Kills Demons 

Loose Boots (retirement race)

Hand It To Her

After Me

OK-40R53 (retirement race)

Cheer on your favourite team, your favourite horse, and your favourite rider, and don’t forget to dress up for the see-and-be-seen event of the season!

[piltoverharrowing]

Tonight, look up to the Partial Eclipse, a shadow falling over the moon in a prelude and a warning to the darkness that will fall across Runeterra in the weeks to come. Whether you see silver and darkness at war, holy light and void’s deep darkness opposed, or the natural forces of nature versus the unnatural forces of undeath and corruption, there is no doubt this vision overhead speaks to us all about power beyond our control or understanding. It’s a grim time, and a quiet one, but it will pass. Gods willing, it will pass.