In its most essential form, it’s influenced by Ancient Greek religion. It’s polytheistic with different deities serving more or less important roles in different areas, various cults and strains, and of course rival, scheming high priests and priestesses to any given god. The chief gods are Apollon, the sun/sky god, and his wife, Vestia, the earth/marriage goddess (you can find them listed in the nature gods section, below).
PANTHEON:
primordial gods:
cosmos/order/creation/being/magic/parents (sometimes considered an aspect of ulainn) - AIANNON
chaos/magic/extinguishment/children/trickster god (sometimes considered an aspect of aiannon) - ULAINN
conceptual gods:
virgin triple goddess: fate/justice/oaths/wisdom/vengeance/time - the EMENIDES
harmony/balance/magic (twin sibling to discord) - HERAS
war/wrath/discord/strife/extremities (twin sibling to harmony) - AERINN
doorways/boundaries/change/thresholds/opportunities/victory/failure/beginnings & ends (an aspect of Jaenon) - AOROA
the hunt/journeys/duty/pathways/exploration (an aspect of Aoroa) - JAENON
nature gods:
sky/sun/storms/weather/king of the gods - APOLLON
sea/water - NEPTE
dawn/sunset/twilight - IORA
earth/vegetation/fertility/love/marriage/wives/home/hearth/queen of the gods - VESTIA
night/darkness/moon - ASTERIS
later gods:
fire/light/smiths/artisans/crafts - VEPHAESTON
travellers/messengers (daughter of Jaenon and Aoroa, sister of Evarion and Ardamon) - MERES
hospitality (son of Jaenon and Aoroa, brother of Meres and Ardamon) - EVARION
psychopomp/guide of the soul (son of Jaenon and Aoroa, brother of Meres and Evarion) - ARDAMON
healing/rest - ASLEPION
the arts and sciences - the MOSIAE
sleep/dreams/visions - SOMUS
wealth/abundance - ARDHUS
wine/revelry (brother of Noros) - BASCHIAS
wilds/forests/abandonment/hauntings/madness/horror/the wild hunt (brother of Baschias) - NOROS
Hi, Kate! So, you’ve alluded a bit to the various nations in this world...what’s going on with all of that?
Well, mostly I just want this world, and all its madness, to be a playground for us all, but! I do have some thoughts and ideas, especially as involve Aclea, Baennid, Arith, Mithiria, Vespiland, and Arkhadel.
First, I’ll get Baennid, Arith, and Vespiland out of the way. They’re i didn’t finish writing this but as i recall they’re places that once ruled themselves but which were later annexed by aclea: think britain and wales, for example.
since i didn’t finish it: the other nations ive already come up with (tho no doubt there are many more we can invent for the world!!) are:
from the same continent:
faliha
harmanil
hluidor
kinazin
nerero
qho
tuled
vyrgium
from a different continent:
abyssiya
i think there were others but idr now
In [ the pinterest board ], you include places you’ve never mentioned such as Sharyar, Golgoroth, the Library of Mithiria, and Abyssiya???
Oh, yes! Sharyar is the capitol of Harmanil, Arya’s home country. It’s heftily inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, because I’m nothing if not a sucker for ancient cultures and architecture.
Golgoroth is an Otherworld -- the others being the usual suspects of Tir na Nog (”Land of” Eternal “Youth”) and it functions here as a sort of heaven/Mt. Olympus mash up as well, Annwn (”Very Deep”/”Underworld”) basically the land of the dead both good and bad, and Tir fo Thuinn (”Land under the Wave”), which unfortunately doesn’t seem to have a wiki I can link you to but if you imagine a magical Otherworld beneath the sea...it’s that. I made up Golgoroth, but it is essentially the ~land of evil~ like Mordor meets hell, I suppose, and a lot of the evil monsters whom our dragonriders fight, come from there, essentially.
The Library of Mithiria is, physically, somewhat inspired by a mashup of the Library of Alexandria and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, but essentially its a school for great magio-scholars, such as Sebastian Talbot, who then scatter across the world to advise kings or whatever, a al the maesters of ASoIaF/GoT. Many countries have one of these. This particular Library does have something of a sordid past, however, as far as Aclea is concerned, because while Mithiria was a land of alchemists, it was considered the premiere school in all the world for alchemists and, it is even whispered, some may still learn the arcane practice there, today...
Finally, Abyssiya is yet another country in this world. It’s located on another continent so it doesn’t appear on the map I shared with you, earlier, but its one of the wealthiest nations in the world and it’s...imagine if the Ancient Egyptian culture and the Ancient Minoan/Knossan cultures had something of a mashup and existed in a Regency era world. Renowned across the globe for their art, their architecture, their maritime prowess, and their general might and splendor, the Abyssiyans are a powerhouse and not to be messed with.
I’ll also go ahead and tell you all a bit of a reveal -- House de Vere’s father was, obviously, an Aclean Marquess -- but their mother was an Abyssiyan princess who left behind her home and her status to follow her heart and marry the man she loved. Does this mean that Alaric and Dorothea have a claim to the Abyssiyan throne? Yes, technically. Is it likely they’ll ever rule? Not at all, unfortunately. Their mother was one of the sisters of the current ruler who has, just, so, so many children and, therefore, it is highly unlikely that the de Veres will ever inherit the throne, since even if half their cousins go and get themselves killed, there will still be quite a few between them and it, but they def still get their Marquessate <3
What’s the Turners’ house like? Does it have a name?
‘tba’ is what i wrote but!! its called norfield (and yes that’s just netherfield and norland run together <3) and in my imagination, its look and feel was inspired largely by sort of a mashup of two real houses: Groombridge Place, and Baddesley Clinton Hall
presumably there were going to be more questions here but i didn’t write them down, so that’s all for now, folks, but before i go, here’s a map i made back in the day:
iirc, i placed the abandoned ancient castle astley right at the river bend, so elsbridge and astley house would’ve been located around there as well, w valenmouth being, ofc, the capitol city. think i might’ve shared all that asp before now but yeah! there it is! also as you can see, abyssiya is not there and that’s bc...its on another continent
In the real world, a thaumaturge is an archaic word for a sorcerer or conjurer, defined as: “a worker of wonders and performer of miracles; a magician.”
In the world of Aclea, however, it has a far more technical meaning. Here, a thaumaturge is a trained, scholarly mage (or sometimes alchemist -- fae or not) who acts as a diplomat, notary, medic, scribe, advisor, soothsayer, scholar, seneschal, and/or court magician, generally as a high up minister in a government, but also in legal institutions, or even sometimes employed by a very, very wealthy individual (as the services of a thaumaturge are considered to be almost beyond price). Ultimately, they function in-world as something of a mix between Dune’s mentats and Bene Gesserit, GoT/ASoIaF’s maesters, and the court witches and wizards who appear in The Witcher series.
Though often using different titles to designate them within their own individual court (Aclea’s chief thaumaturge, for example, is called “His Majesty’s Most Esteemed Royal Seneschal of Sacred Magics,” and the position is currently held by Sebastian Talbot), nearly every court in our world employs at least one (though usually there is one supreme thaumaturge and a bevvy of underlings working throughout the government). They act as diplomats, viziers, tutors, physicians, historians, ambassadors, advisors, librarians, and even on occasion prime ministers of sorts, all depending on what is needed or required.
Though ‘wild’ thaumaturges (that is, those who do not necessarily have the technical qualifications as ratified by the school but are self-taught, went through an apprenticeship, or attained some other means of accessing the powers, knowledge, and abilities of a thaumaturge) do crop up, most thaumaturges are trained rigorously and for years at the [ Library of Mithiria ]. There are but three requirements to enter this school which might send one round the world: gender (males only, though there are many stories of women who have snuck in and trained in secret, as well -- ofen another route to being considered a ‘wild’ thaumaturge); high marks in school (intelligence and a studious disposition are a must!); and -- as of but a few years ago -- the status of mage.
Before Mithiria was conquered by Aclea, one was not required to be a mage in order to be a thaumaturge, and in addition, the art of alchemy was taught as a required course. Now, however, one must be a mage, and alchemy is expressly forbidden -- outwardly, anyway, as it is whispered that some instructors still secretly teach the craft if one knows whom to ask and how, just as some teachers will knowingly and willingly instruct women. Gender, after all, was also not always regulated, though it has been for the past few centuries. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, it is still occasionally permitted to educate a female thaumaturge even through official channels. So far, no exceptions have been (publically/knowingly) made for non-mages, however, since that requirement was included.
There is also a fourth, unspoken requirement: means, in all its varied senses. First, the school does not provide any transportation or recruitment, whatsoever (though it not only provides, but requires one accept the provision of both room and board while one receives their education there). The hopeful student must find their own means of getting there and staying there if they mean to study there, as well.
Second: debt. While financial arrangements and restitution are rarely spoken of, they have a key role and, given enough money, the school has been known to overlook all other qualifications, though it does not openly admit to doing this, particularly because it does not require any payment, whatsoever, upfront. Any student may appear at the doorstep, even penniless, and given the other requirements, the school will still take them in, feed them, house them, and educate them, but it absolutely requires compensation of some sort, afterward, if none is forthcoming, beforehand.
Sometimes, the country that recruits the thaumaturge will pay for the student’s education and keep during the years in which they received their schooling; sometimes the student will serve as an instructor, steward, groundkeeper, or functionary of some sort at the school after graduating, working off the debt at the Library, itself; but most often one enters a kind of indentured servitude, going where the school sends you; doing as the school directs you. You may work high up in the government of a nation, but you are ultimately at the beck and call of the institution that put you there.
Ok, then, what is a magister?
A magister is a high-ranking thaumaturge, and/or one qualified to instruct others in the art of thaumaturgy. For instance, Sebastian is a magister as he is the highest ranking thaumaturge in Aclea, and now that he has achieved this status, he will be considered a magister for life, even if/when he no longer serves on the King’s Council, for once one has received the high honor of being a magister, it can never be taken away. Another means of becoming a magister is by becoming essentially a ‘professor’ at the Library, or serving on its High Council or that of the Guild of Sacred Magics, in general.
What is someone who is studying to become a thaumaturge called?
A famulus (masc)/famuli (pl) or famula (fem)/famulae (fem pl), is someone formally training to be a thaumaturge, whether as a student at the library, an apprentice to another thaumaturge, or even as an acolyte at temples dedicated to gods of magic. Sometimes, assistants to certain priests and clerics may also use this title, though this last is generally more of an honorary title than a true posting. In this same vein, anyone working directly under or for a Magister may be called a famulus/famula, but again this is often merely an honorific if the person in question is not actually studying to be a thaumaturge. Because of this, many politicians can be hailed this way, even without any magical knowledge or aspirations, whatsoever.
What is the different between a priest and a cleric?
Commitment and level, mostly. While both priest and cleric are formal religious positions in Aclea, a cleric is more your modernday preacher type: someone who may get married and have a home and family of their own, but they are still someone who holds formal authority and position within the church. Clerics often are not specialized within the cult of any particular god, though they can be. A cleric outranks an acolyte/famulus, but sometimes knows less than one, as their training is not nearly as rigorous and intense, and often clerics were at no time required to live in the temple, as acolytes (and priests) must. In essence, a cleric is a religious figure who may live more or less as an ordinary person. However, those clerics who do not live near a temple are often the closest thing any given villager may have to a religious leader. In the absence of a temple and priest, as well, a cleric may be the authority at a local shrine and may stand in as the head of religion in the area.
A cleric is outranked by a priest, who has committed his entire life to the god he serves, living in the temple with the other priests and acolytes, studying the god’s word, and doing his level best to become a living vessel for the god in every way that he can. Because of this, priests are considered somewhat otherworldly and beyond the sphere or ordinary cares, making them more holy but perhaps less approachable when it comes to the day-to-day matters with which a cleric is considered more intimately acquainted.
Do female priests exist?
Yes! They are called priestesses <3
What is the leader of a god’s cult called?
They are called the High Priest(ess)! The High Priests and Priestesses, in turn, take their rank from the rank of their god, though the High Priests are technically equal in rank. For example, the High Priest of Apollon is considered the highest religious authority in all of Aclea, as Apollon is the King of the Gods. There is a slight exception to this, however, in the form of the High Priestess of Aiannon, for Aiannon is Apollon’s mother and creator, though she is not considered Queen of the Gods (a title belonging to Vestia), and thus is simultaneously above and below Apollon in the pecking order and, as a above, so below: the High Priestess of Aiannon also holds this unusual position in regards to the High Priest of Apollon.
So who outranks whom -- a Magister or a High Priest?
That’s a tricky one!! Temporal authority vs religious authority! It really depends on the god, the situation, the people in question, and, honestly, just about everything else. I guess, by default, they’re about equal. That being said, however, the priest, having divine connections, is probably shown more ~awe, in general, though the magister is probably given more authority, if you see the distinction I’m getting at? At a social function, for instance, you’ll bow and scrape to the High Priest with wide eyes, but you’ll run and do what the Magister tells you to do. That being said, everyone has different feelings. You might hate them both! Your bestie might adore one and not give a flying fig about the other! Or if, instead of a party, they’re both at, say...a church service or at a Council meeting...They’re both gonna get totally different reactions, depending which one. It all depends on the person...and on the event!
Additionally, this is assuming they’re in Aclea. Outside Aclea, the Magister is still a looming figure, but the gods of Aclea are really only worshipped ~in Aclea, so the High Priest won’t really have the same status elsewhere, just an emissary of a foreigner’s god.
kinazin, hydra (modern) -- black & gold, before it was (i forgot to fill this in so i’ll have to see if i have any other notes lying around to tell me what it was)
GO TEAM!!!!!!!!! Not only have we hit 2,000 points -- at which point I owe us the next tier!!! -- we’re over 3,000!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even tell you how DELIGHTED I am by all this beautiful, beautiful activity!!!!!!!! It feels like a wonderful little step back into the old days <3333333
Anyway, “before” -- as Mr. Collins would say -- “I am run away with my feelings,” (because if you can quote the redoubtable Mr. Collins, you should! ;D) I’m going to get to my announcement: in honor of all this lovely activity, 1) is there anything you would really love to see from tfw, at large? Say, any characters, events, challenges, and/or plots that you’d really love to see to help develop for your characters or push your plots forward or whatever, I’m sure we can make magic happen ;D esp since: 2) I was toying with simply gifting the remaining points after the Tag Sale (which is regrettably this weekend) and posting a double-decker character drop. Would that be a fun treat? Let me know!!!! And lmk about anything you’d like to see happen here!!!!! You deserve smth a lil special!!!!!! <33333333
so i made up house crests for some of the nobles of aclea and its subsidiary nations (arith, arkhadel, baennid, mithiria, & vespiland), based on my nerdy escoteric love of coats of arms irl, so if you’re so inclined, you can find here both the crests and their meanings!
acheson
title(s): margrav(in)e of arkhadel, prince(ss) of voraena
colors: yellow (generosity, elevation of the mind) & blue (truth, strength, loyalty)
sigil: three gold stars/mullets (divine quality from above, mark of a third son)
motto: honor begets valor
acton*
title(s): duke of breston, marquess of astilia, earl of parra, earl of clarendon
sigil: double headed eagle with four wings (nobility, strength, bravery, and alertness; one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious; protection; conjoining of two forces), quartered w the houses the actons have consumed from whom they inherited their three subsidiary titles
motto: none provoke me with impunity
ardenne*
title(s): king of aclea, prince of arith, prince(ss) of aclea
colors: purple (royal majesty, sovereignty, justice, nobility, authority) & gold (generosity, elevation of the mind) -- king; purple (majesty, justice, nobility, authority) & silver (peace, sincerity) -- arith; white (peace, sincerity) & tawny (worthy ambition, vitality, importance) -- royal prince(ss) quartered w the princely arms of arith
sigil: crowned sword over a fortress at the edge of water (royal justice & military honour; conquest) -- king; crowned sword over a fortress at the edge of water (royal justice & military honour; conquest) or phoenix (resurrection) arith; bear (strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred) -- prince(ss)
motto: the lion’s wrath is noble (note: the lion -- dauntless courage -- is the symbol of aclea and therefore also a symbol of the king, himself)
astley
title(s): lord astley
colors: blue (truth, strength, loyalty) & white (peace, sincerity)
sigil: magical flowering vine similar in appearance to wisteria (strong & lasting friendship, hope & joy, light & purity, grace & beauty, love & faith)
motto: let justice be done though the world perish
colors: black (constancy, grief, heartache, reliability) & green (hope, joy, loyalty)
sigil: sphinx (omniscience & secrecy)
motto: often i remember
*note: if you’re wondering why the ardennes have so much going on...i have an explanation! the ardennes are not the first dynasty to rule aclea (or arith, for that matter). the purple crests they inherited from the first dynasty. the bear crest, on the other hand, is the original ardenne family crest from long before they were ever kings. the second (optional) phoenix crest of arith is its original crest, used before its annexation to aclea, long ago. in the case of the quarterings, i should have more info but uhhhh my brain is fried from all of this and i couldn’t think of more...which is the same reason i didn’t mention the actons’ quartering...though their individual titles certainly have their own insignias, given they original arose from independent families etc themselves...). the house of ardenne does, however, still retain a pre!conquest (im not super original so its first dynastic king was firstname the conqueror a la william...) symbol of aclea, its original crest: the lion.
a further note: i did not invent any of these mottos (though i did tweak one or two slightly), they’re real, historical ones!
Aclean Winter Celebrations are here, so let’s celebrate in style! Yuletide in Aclea is a multi-day event celebrating the winter solstice/change in year, and the ritual rebirth of the sun god, Apollon. Each day includes different aspects of the festival and your character is welcomed to participate in the dances, feasts, bonfires, and Aclean!Valentines that result.
Be not afraid! There’s lots of words below so you can read as little or as much detail as you like <3 Your characters will be welcome to take part in any or all of these events should they so wish.
Your challenge? Strike up a threat with your randomly assigned partner and explore the holiday antics that follow! Each comment is worth double the usual points assigned which you can see [ here ].
AKA -- when it comes to your randomly assigned partner?
GENERAL COMMENTS: 20 points per reply
EDITS/GRAPHICS: 20 points per post
ASK REPLIES/MEMES: 10 points per reply
PLOTTING: 10 points per post
NARRATIVES/DRABBLES: 40 points per post
STARTERS: 30 points for the initial post
ANSWERING A STARTER: 30 points for the initial reply
Happy Holidays! <3 Let’s make some new connections!
If you would like more detail, I’m of course always happy to provide it, but either way, let your imagination run amock and have fun!
Throughout the season, lovers send anonymous love notes and tokens to one another, hoping to inspire love in one another -- though this tradition is sometimes also used for pranks, as well. In confjuction with the random courtship pairings (you’ll find out more about those in the ‘candlemas’ section), this tradition sometimes causes difficulties at the end of the season, if it is revealed that the love tokens came from someone other than their partner, and thus the person in question has come over the course of the season to care for each of the lovers in question.
DAY ONE: purification day
A village wide pool party -- for the sake of cleanliness. Everyone gathers in the temple pools of the sun god, Apollon, to ‘wash’ in their best bathing gowns, and basically they have a pool party to ritually purify themselves for the coming season -- and have a little fun splashing around with their friends in a heated pool! And what’s better, they emerge relaxed, clean, and smelling wonderful thanks to the herbs and flowers floating in the waters all around them.
DAY TWO: candlemas
Day one is just a prelude. This is the real day of preparation for all the rest. Ladies are randomly paired with their escort for the coming season in the morning, and in the evening, they process wearing crowns of garlands and flowers and candles and leave offerings of beeswax candles at all the temples to celebrate motherhood, love, plenty, and light, basically. This one’s arguably the most detailed of the days so I’ll give a little more info below.
part 1 -- the random pairings
In the morning, the villagers of Aclea gather at their local Temple of Vestia, the earth and love goddess and wife of Apollon. Here, each gentleman of Aclea writes down his name down on a piece of paper, folds it to conceal the contents, and places the paer in a bowl. Once this is accomplished, the priestesses then shake up the bowl and present it to each lady, who then picks an unknown name.
The gentleman they have thus selected will serve as their official escort for the duration of Yuletide. Of course, ladies are welcome to mix with other gentlemen as well throughout the event, but this gentleman becomes their official escort of the season, regardless of class boundaries or any other usual strictures which might usually restrict these two from mingling. These pairings sometimes end in disaster, sometimes in love and marriage, and in everything in between. Difficulties most often arise when partners who are not of the same social standing form an attachment, for while this pairing is tolerated for tradition's sake during the Yuletide, once the season is over, so is the tolerance, so, ladies, select your little scrap of paper with care.
Using [ this ] combination randomixer, I’ve simulated this effect. Find who your character drew below!
Arya Abbasi --> Arthur Ardenne
Beatrice Astley --> William Abbott
Constance Astley --> Horatio Allerdale
Cassandra Astley --> Robert Persimmons
Madeline North --> Roland Marks
Helen Rivers --> Aulus Acheson
Rebecca Turner --> Owen Clarke
Isabella Turner --> Aloysius Ardenne
Cecily Turner --> James Mallerton
Lucy Turner --> Nicholas Griffiths
Eleanor Turner --> Charles Acton
This pairing not quite as random as you’d hoped? Alterations are totally fine! Especially because the randomizer was apparently canon compliant hahaha and actually picked out quite a few canon couples rather than mixing it up completely hahaha so lmk if any of these don’t work for you! I’m certain we can come up with something that’ll work for everyone <3
part 2 -- the winter market
As celebrants leave the temple, they are greeted by (or man the carts of) a market that sets up for this one day, only, selling goodies perfect for the rest of Yuletide in a symbolic harvest that will help the participants survive the winter to come. This market is known as the “Gift of the Mother.”
part 3 -- wassailing and king’s cakes
Following this event, everyone returns home where crepes and pancakes are made and shared as extended family members gather, cramming into an appointed abode for the duration of Yuletide.
Satiated by their breakfast, children with lanterns group together to venture into the village, stopping at each house to wassail in hopes of receiving a treat -- crepes, spare coins, bacon, biscuits, whatever the person happens to have on hand. Back at home, the adults of the family fix a meal while occasionally pausing to allow wassailing children in to serenade them while they cook -- and reward them each in turn.
When the children return home, they are presented with a treat known as King’s Cakes, into which a bean has been cooked. The Cake is sliced up and distributed amongst the children, and the child who finds the bean in their piece is called king or queen of their family until nightfall, but must set the table for the entire extended family alone, as the symbolic provider of the feast. after the meal, as the sun sets, the child casts their crowns into the hearth fires as kindling, symbolically reinacting the death of the sun god, Apollon, at night.
part 4 -- the procession & sacrifice of light
At this event, women process to temples, and sacrifices of precious beeswax candles were offered by women for peace and, in exchange, the gods are believed to bestow fertility -- to women, to livestock, to harvests, to the world -- the greatest harvest of all being peace.
As night falls, all the candles in the house are lit, and all eating stops. At midnight, the high priestess of the local temple carries a statue of the goddess throughout the streets of the village. She is followed by by the other priestesses and acolytes, followed by married women, followed by firstborn daughters, followed by other women and female children, all clad in white with red sashes about their wastes and crowns/wreaths of mistletoe and ivy and paperwhites and snowdrops, adorned with beeswax candles. Together, the women solemnly process through town, holding candles, and singing or chanting quietly while the menfolk stand to either side, lining the streets, silently holding tallow candles and torches and lanterns, and offering up silent prayers, and trying not to move. The women finish their procession at the temples of the goddesses, singing a hymn, crowning the statue of the goddess with their own crowns and girding them with their own sashes, and leaving an array of beeswax candles on the temple floors as offers in exchange for the goodwill of the goddess.
part 5 -- bonfire
While the women are at the temples, the men and boys prepare meals for the entire family and build giant bonfires around which everyone later gathers and eats and sings and dances. It is said that this festival also allows one to live the winter season with enough light to see by.
DAY THREE: the day of the wolf
This event takes place in a local grotto. The whole village journeys there, and the randomly paired couples put their new relationship to the test, working together to solve a series of riddles and clues and find every last one in a scavenger hunt -- before all the other couples do. The winning couple is crowned king and queen and enthroned, symbolically receiving the offerings which comes next. Everyone presents something they have worked on the whole year long, be it a song, a quilt, a symbolic gesture showcasing something they’ve improved about themselves as a person. The gifts are left at the feet of the couple. At dusk, all the gifts are left at the cave for the spirits who live there, along with the kingly robes and crowns of the winning couple, and everyone returns home for a simple meal of pasties and pies, warmth to ward off the evening’s chill.
DAY FOUR: midwinter’s night
It was all leading to this: tonight, the year ends, and tomorrow, the sun rises upon a new world. Celebrations include a great feast out in the town square in which all participate; a bonfire deliberately built to be so massive it can be seen from the next town over; all night vigils to sleep which foreshadows death in the year to come and the watch for the sun’s rising; dancing and singing and charades and poetry readings and every sort of community activity there is; acts of charity to sow seeds of goodwill that will be wreaped the whole year round; gift giving in the final hours before the sun rises; optional revealing of identities of those who gave notes and tokens of love throughout Yuletide; a final song and dance as the sun rises on a new day -- and a new year, a communal feast after sunrise made and shared by everyone, regardless of rank, and give thanks all together for the year that has come and for the one that has been.
DAY FIVE: great yule
On Midwinter’s Night, the old year ends. On Great Yule morn, the new one begins. Mammoth trees are cut down and brought inside, lights and baubles and greens are strung everywhere, a great Yule log is burned in the hearth, the home of the local lord is open to all his people, and to each he gives a coin, a piece of bread, and a bit of salt. Festivities range from dawn to dawn, some choosing to participate in all of them, others choosing not to.
First off -- Happy New Year, loved ones!!! I hope you had the loveliest festivities and the most relaxing of holidays!!!
As we ease out of our holiday season and back into ordinary time, I’m going to resume point calls this week, so if you’d like your points included in the tally for this week, please post ‘em on Saturday, January 7th <3
Second, our winter holidays might be sadly ending irl, but not so in Aclea! I’m hoping to do an event drop in the coming days that should give our peeps plenty to do as we get back into the swing of things <333
