Event: Lighting of the Lanterns

Lighting of the Lanterns

Date:  12 Tethys
Period:  Annual event
Restriction:  Open only to Anyelnore noble houses with living members in the Young Generation.

History

Anyelnore was constructed over the ruins of Methyr's Hold, a Nirond-Dwearoc city.  When the Aile flooded into the Northlands from the Ocean, they decimated the city with a nine-month siege.  To fend off necromancers and other fulsome powers, the Aile poured the bodies of the dead into the deep hallways of the Dwearoc undercity and pulverized them with magic power.  They then used crushed stone to fill the hallways.

The remains of city changed hands several times in the decades that followed.  Each time the Aile retook the city, the process was repeated.  When other invaders dislodged them, they took up the practice as well, creating giant cairns in the area that is now Anyelnore.

In 138 NY, Ayva Meargasdotter raised a host of the restless spirits and led them to shatter both the Aile and Jarl armies that were fighting on the edge of the Black Hills, establishing the “Ghost Line”, an invisible “line” in the world in which neither Jarl nor Aile may cross without perishing. Undaunted, both the Jarl and Aile raised even greater armies and skirted south of the Ghost Line to fight just south of it. They skirmished several times against each other as well as the armies of the Nirond Landolai and Vaen.

In 144 NY, Djauna GhostSighted, in disgust and anger over the wars, rallied the spirits of the dead once again to smash the armies. Her attack started on 4 Solumgaad and by 6 Solumgaad not a single person was stilling living in either of the armies. Only through the intercession of the Goddess Sicelenta and the music of the legendary Poet and Bard, Kindlvaas, were the spirits of the dead once again led back to peace.

Some of the dead returned to Anyelnore, especially those linked to it, haunting the cairns that still dotted the city.  On 20 Sylilnx 182 NY, a group known as Vir Thaaz attempted to overthrew the nobles in Anyelnore by rousing the spirits.  They were ultimately thwarted but out of concern that it might happen again, a cabal of the most powerful Vaen, Mour, Aile and Fierkron as well as the Arch-Priest of Ose crafted a mighty ritual that collected the spirits to specific locations in the city.  Locations that shift every year.  The rite also set in motion the rite that allows noble children to lead the dead to reincarnation.  Originally, only the "pure" could perform the rite but it was modified in 188 NY to allow any noble child of the Young Generation.  In 200 NY, the ritual was further modified to allow the spirits of the dead to be employed by the nobles for the 9 Qel Reclaiming the Land event.  This change so enraged the god Ose that he withdrew all temples and shrines from the city and charged his priests and priestess to force any Anyelnore noble to perform a divine quest to use their services.

Mechanics and Interactions

• Must be a member of one of Anyelnore's noble houses and be in the Young Generation to be a part of this event.
• The noble house elders determine which member or members will participate and ensures an invitation is sent to the correct noble child.
• If within Anyelnore or within three (3) days walk, they will be expected to attend this event.  Any who do not begin the event lose 15 personal Prestige and 45 Prestige for their noble house.
• Three days prior to the event a frenzy of activity occurs.  In this time frame, each noble house tries to knock out the others from showing up on 12 Tethys.  Everyone is expected to follow the Rules of the Game though temporary kidnapping is allowed as long as they are released immediately after the event.
• Every noble is provided a torch that bears the mark of their house.  It can only be used by a member of the Young Generation during the event.
• Each noble uses the torch to light the lanterns of the spirits and then leads them to the phantom river that flows below the city.  They either then lead them to the river so they can reincarnate or abandon them there and return to repeat the process.
• Spirits who are not allowed to be reincarnated but have their lantern lit can be forced to serve the noble house during the 9 Qel Reclaiming the Land event.
• Doing so creates negative relations with the Crystal Guard, Single Star, and Glorious Destiny Legions.
• Creates negative relations with noble houses that feel releasing the dead from their torment is a priority.
• Noble houses provide benefits to members who light up the most lanterns.
• These tend to be material and tangible benefits, as well as Prestige.
• Crystal guard provides benefits to members who elect to carry the spirits to the river, allowing reincarnation.
• These will be prestige-based and less intangible benefits.
• Creates positive relations with the Crystal Guard, Single Star, and Glorious Destiny Legions.
• Creates positive relations with noble houses that feel releasing the dead from their torment is a priority.