The Fall of the Bear King
The global population of the Ursidae has never been the highest, partially due to the challenges cubs had to face early on in their young years in the wild, but Ursidae also have never been known for their extensive urge for reproduction. One mated couple would bear once, maybe twice in many, many years and when their young didn’t survive the harsh winter - or the violent flora and fauna they were raised in, mates would often find themselves with only one or maybe two cubs before death came for them. Whenever their population did rise in numbers, wars among packs for resources and lands would decimate them again.
Additionally, in later years humanity would be hunting their kind - among other supernatural creatures in fear of their superiority. Bears were favored, as they made impressive trophies for a hunter’s home and - to this day, count as the strongest of the werecreatures.
In August 1923, the Great Bear King - the Alpha of one of the biggest Ursa packs in the United States of America set out on a journey across the continent to find safety for his people in a well-kept secret, a town of the name New Haven. Back then, the town was protected by a wall surrounding the entire town and the Fairies and Witches did their best to weave illusion magic along the wall to keep the town as safe as they could at the time, but the idea stayed the same. Only those who with no ill-will, who knew New Haven existed, would find their way to its gate.
The Great Bear King knew of the many rumors and when more and more of his brothers and sisters died, he decided the journey would be worth the risk - if only to save as many of his kind as he could from the cruel, merciless hands of the human race. For months they traveled, following the hidden trails nature had bestowed upon them, but as they got closer and closer to their destination, the dangers grew as much as their hope did. A group of other Werefolk, those who should be fighting beside them, not against them had prepared a trap not far from the gates, desperate in their own search for the safe haven they heard in fairy tales and bedtime stories, only they came to conquer, not to find peace and protection. The Pack of the Bear King was doomed to fail on its last steps to the gates. Trapped, surrounded and vastly outnumbered, the Bear King saw only one way out.
A brave sacrifice.
The King himself and three of his most loyal fighters took on the ambush, creating an opening - an opportunity for the rest of the pack to flee in the search of safety and survival. These four bears stood their ground in an impossible fight, knowing the outcome - yet they smiled, knowing their loved ones had a chance to find protection and their sacrifice would not be in vain. They held back as many enemies as they could and died, together, drenched in the blood of their enemies. The King himself was later found on his knees, praying to the Mother of the Moon in his last moments.
And she heard his prayer.
What those brave fighters would never know is… they fell barely two-hundred meters from the gates. Their friends and loved ones, safe. The Great Bear King’s pack marked the first Ursidae inhabitants of New Haven and they never forgot the great sacrifice that was made so they could live. The Bear King’s oldest son - would become the town’s first Ursidae council member. As for his father’s sacrifice, a statue capturing the Bear King’s love and dedication to his people was made and to this day, it adorns the town square to remind all those who made it to New Haven, that not all of them were as lucky and many lost their lives in the pursuit of happiness.
Every year in August, the town celebrates the Great Bear King’s sacrifice and honors those who died with him. The Beltane Fire Festival also celebrates the raising of the barrier that has kept the town safe ever since, which took place during the Beltane Celebrations decades after.
But, the story of how one great sacrifice can save the many shall never be forgotten, so the Town has adapted it into a show that’s performed on Sunday Night leading up to the first of May, followed by the traditional Beltane Fire where there’s music and dancing until the fire is unsoldered by the sun of the early morning.
OOC Reminder: The event will run until the end of May August. Use the event tag for starters and threads, we’d prefer you don’t start any others in the meantime.
It’s a big fair/festival with street food, candy, wooden art/toy shops - everything is bear/ursa inspired so there are special food/treats as well, etc.
Event tag: wtnhevent01 (for this event specifically, threads etc) + wtnhevent (for open starters etc.)