The Festival of Thyme and Spice

The Festival of Thyme and Spice is a major annual celebration in the Cavern City of Carafon.
On the south facing slopes of the mountains around Carafon, they cultivate a variety of thyme which is highly prized for its scent and flavour, whilst the dark flora of Carafon yields speld spice, often and more simply just called spice in Carafon. The summer festival takes place at the end of the thyme picking season, when these two ingredients come together in ceremonial meals conducted by the Church of Hidden Radiance.

History

Carafon - Thyme Fields at Eral Crag Gate by DMFW with Midjourney

Carafon - Thyme Fields at the Butter Vale Gate by DMFW with Midjourney

Carafon - Thyme Fields at the Sun Nest Valley Gate by DMFW with Midjourney

Wild thyme was harvested in small quantities on the slopes of the Spine Mountains long before the foundation of the Cavern City of Carafon but as the mining settlement grew, other kinds of agricultural production arose to feed the expanding population underground. Dietry staples were the main requirement but astute local farmers also knew that the species of thyme, found only in the region, would always be a very valuable crop, both as a pleasing cullinary herb and for its healing and magical uses. They reserved the high upper slopes around the city for the growing of thyme and began systematic planting in the now famously beautiful thyme fields. Now thyme has become a significant source of income for the city.
The shrub known as speld, is part of the so called, dark flora of Carafon. It yields speld berries which in turn can be used to make speld spice, a discovery which dates back around one hundred and fifty years. The spice slowly acquired a glamorous reputation as a gourmet cooking ingredient but supplies were always limited due to the risk of harvesting the berries and the haphazard nature of the growth of speld bushes. Then, eighty three years ago, Omix Troneck, the Tyrant at the time, and Haltorth Kimmerman, the Focus of Light, conceived of a way to increase production. The Church of Hidden Radiance deliberately planted speld and preached of its virtues, at the same time incorporating it within their rituals. Five years later, the first Festival of Thyme and Spice took place. In the intervening years, the ceremony has been refined somewhat, but it has been conducted in broadly the same way now for almost eighty years.

Execution

Those who are unfamiliar with Carafon might imagine that the feasting at the heart of the festival is all there is to it, but in reality that is only the culmination of a number of different stages, each with their own significance which the Church of Hidden Radiance has ritualised. The preparation for each year's feast begins on the day after winter solstace with the pollination of the speld thickets. This requires a sacrifice of blood. Traditionally a herd of goats is brought up from the farms to the south and driven into the speld under the watchful eye of the priests. There have, however, been a number of infamous occasions when the Tyrant of Carafon has sent prisoners to their death to serve the same purpose, sanctified by the Church.
Forty days later, the fruit is ripe and ready to be harvested. The harvesting of the speld berries is another formal ritual supervised by the Church and assigned to repentent sinners in need of spiritual redemption. Harvesting is not so dangeous as pollination but it is still an ordeal. Participants are dressed in thick body suits including leather gloves and net meshes to cover the face. They must wade into the heart of the speld undergrowth and recover the berries. Accidents sometimes happen and the priests of the Church interpet these as signs of guilt and dishonour - a punishment from the gods.
Over the next few weeks, the speld berries are turned into speld spice, by crushing and grinding them with salt in a mixture of a weak ale, whisky and honey. The precise ratios of these ingredients are secrets now known only in the Spicers Order of the Church. The end product is a thick red paste with the same consistency as mustard and every bit as strong in its own way, although speld spice is not especially hot.
Thyme harvesting begins in early summer and the Church has a special act of blessing for the workers in the fields before it begins.
The culmination of this whole annual cycle takes place at high summer, after the thyme has all been safely harvested and consists of a day of feasting for all the citizens of Carafon.

Components and tools

The thyme and the spice itself are the only essential ingredients in the festival. The communal consumption of the mildly addictive spice is seen as a form of communion which binds the citizens of Carafon together, and indeed in a certain very real sense it does, since a life long craving for spice is something all natives of the city share and is a reason why even those that wander more widely in the world, very often seek to return to Carafon.
It is said by connoisseurs of the spice that it is possible to tell the difference between speld berries nurtured on the blood of humans and that fed by animals. According to such people, the spice is much richer and more satisfying in the first case. It is not certain that this is true in any physical sense but at least psychologically, the belief has a hold over many people in Carafon.

Participants

The morning of the festival is a time for fasting and silent prayer, until three hours after sunrise when church chanters begin to circulate, singing the songs of joyful gathering, a number of traditional hymns in praise of Thymum, Solanum, Sanguis and Leta. This is the signal for people to emerge from their houses and congregate at one of several designated public spaces throughout Carafon, such as the one shown here in the Main Gates Level of the city.

Carafon - Festival of Thyme and Spice Hall by DMFW with Midjourney

At noon, there are services all around Carafon for the blessing of the thyme and spice, conducted by church priests.

Carafon - Festival of Thyme and Spice Blessing by DMFW with Midjourney

Once the blessings are over, the feast is offered to the people. It will, of course, include thyme and speld spice, but the other elements of the meal can vary. Very often, there is creamy cheese, red wine imported from the far south, freshly baked bread and butter, fruit of many kinds and fruit juices.

Carafon - Festival of Thyme and Spice Feasting by DMFW with Midjourney

In the evening there is public dancing, popular music and other entertainments. A certain amount of alcoholic indulgence is permitted but the Tyrant's soldiers ensure that any drunken behaviour does not usually get out of hand, although there have been a few notorious incidents in some years and some quarters.

Observance

The festival of Thyme and Spice is held on a day announced by the Church of Hidden Radiance at the turn of each year, immediately after the pollination of the speld. There is no fixed date, but it is always close to the last full moon before the summer solstice. Minor adjustments to the chosen date are made to accommodate the shifting differences between the astronomical cycles of the sun and moon and additional arcane factors which are not disclosed outside the Radiant Council but are said to influence the selection of an auspicious date.

Primary Related Location

Cavern City of Carafon

Related Organizations

• The Church of Hidden Radiance

Carafon - Thyme by DMFW with Midjourney

Carafon - Dark Flora - Speld Berries by DMFW with Midjourney