Eve of the Dead

The winter solstice is a time of fear and dread for some culture, raucous revelry for others. Increasingly however it is becoming a day when the Shadow World impinges on Cerilia and shadow-fiends and undead walk the face of Cerilia.
Amongst the people of Anuire, the Eve of the Dead is the day when the Crown of Haelyn (the star at the top of his constellation) disappears beneath the southern horizon and they are vulnerable to the terrors of the Shadow World; the day is spent in doors with fires built high.
Amongst the Rjurik the day is celebrated as Midwinter and is a time of great joy as the people have survived the worst of winter.
Amongst the Vos this is the most sacred day of Belinik. Belinik's faithful consider this the day to cull the weak from a tribe, and prove the strength of those remaining. The elderly are often cast out, as are those maimed or simply weak. The warriors then raid other tribes seeking loot to prove themselves to the tribe ? typically foodstuffs or women that can be presented to the clan as proof of a warrior's might.
The Khinasi consider the day a welcome respite from the heat of summer, and it is not uncommon for rain to fall even in otherwise arid areas. As such Khinasi farmers pray to Avani that the rains will come on this day.
The Brecht, like the Rjurik celebrate midwinter as a sign that the days will get longer and warmer thereafter. They deck their halls with bright ornaments, blow horns and bang drums to drive out evil spirits and it is considered a family day when all should try and gather with family and celebrate life.
The faithful of Nesirie hold the Eve of the Dead sacred, on this day they honor the memories of those who have died and comfort those that grieve for them. This ceremony is critical to the Nesirians, for they believe that only through the memories of the living can a spirit find peace and that the spirits of those who are forgotten after death are easy prey for the power of The Shadow. This aspect is weaker in temples which tend mostly to those who make their living from the sea, but not absent - the sea has ever been a dangerous profession.
Priests of Ruornil also hold the day sacred, well aware of the increasing darkness of the Shadow World and the weakening barriers of the two worlds, in Medoere and other concentrations of strength the priests of Ruornil cast great magics on this day to strengthen the evanescence, in areas where the faith is weaker the priests seek to detect any breaches in the evanescence and either rescue Cerilians who pass to the Shadow World unwittingly or more commonly, destroy or drive back the inhabitants of the Shadow World who escape during the period of weakness.

Observance

Rjurik Celebrations

Midwinter is a Rjurik festival during the winter solstice. The annual celebration elicits great rejoicing, feasting, and drinking. A great part of the festival focuses on Vani and rituals encouraging her to return. Women have a central role in these festivals. One popular ceremony involves a recreation of a story from one version of Hervarar Saga. Álfhildr, the daughter of king Álf of Álfheim, was kidnapped by Starkad Aludreng while she was reddening a horgr with blood. While she was kidnapped, Álf wept and was inconsolable. Because of his bond to the land of Álfheim, his depression caused the land to wither. The hero Adils, a ranger of Erik, pursued the kidnappers and rescued Álfhildr, and Álf's rejoicing brought a rebirth of the land of Álfheim. Other sagas and tales tell of Erik's loneliness and suggest that if Vani doesn't return to him, Erik will forget his duties in his sadness and the Rjurik will perish under an endless winter.
In Stjordvik, the festival of Midwinter is also accompanied by the Kyndelsting, when the people gather at Sundsvaal. There is a great circular stone structure from the time shortly after Stjorndahl. It was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on winter solstice. The light illuminates a stone basin below intricate carvings -- spirals, eye shapes, solar discs. Admission to the circle is granted to winners of craft and other competitions at a great fair held on the site. Once the shaft of light is witnessed, a great feast is prepared. The feast is followed by dancing, singing, and other merriment. Outsiders who witness these festivities are often surprised at the wildness and mayhem of such events. They are even more surprised to discover the esteemed druids lead the way in these revelries.

Primary Related Location

Cerilia

Related Ethnicities

• Brecht
• Rjurik
• Vos