Holidays In the Grove
Grimsby Grove major holiday's are centered around the change of the seasons and happen on a quarterly basis. Each one is coordinated and hosted by one of the guilds. Each guild has their own holiday to host while the others assist as well. Each holiday has upgrades associated with it and will be found in the Extraordinary Upgrades Page!
Long ago, the Folk discovered relics that spoke of old Human traditions. While not everything the humans left was fit for Folk use, one of their summer festivals resonated with the early Folk - a celebration of self and of love, of both individuality and community, and of facing and overcoming adversity. The Folk adopted bits and pieces of what they found (as they do with all of the remnants of humanity) into something all their own. Now, every summer, Folk gather in the streets and celebrate the Prismatic Promenade, the Folk festival of love, joy, and acceptance!
An adaptation of Pride, the Prismatic Promenade is all about celebrating your sense of self, your relationships with your loved ones (both platonic and romantic), and the joy of being part of your community. The Folk use the same flags and language left over from humanity - so this is literally the time of year you’d draw your Folk with pride flags and themed face paint and outfits, having a parade through the Boroughs of Grimsby Grove! But it’s not all about the parade - there are many other activities that the Folk have added to make the Promenade something all its own.
ParadesDuring the day of late June, there are parades and celebrations in the walkways and streets winding throughout Grimsby Grove. It’s common to see hundreds of Pride flags, confetti, and clouds of colored chalk dust peppering everything and everyone. It’s a real mess, but it’s incredibly fun, and the chalk dust washes away with some quick water or earth magic. Religious Observance and the Original HolidaySummer is often used in order for Folk to worship the first of their kind; Azalhai, more widely known as “The One God'' or “The Charlatan”. Summer’s celebration was often referred to as the “Solstice Festival” by Folk before Prismatic Promenade stuck and became the norm. The Solstice Festival celebrated The One God’s discovery of the first Elder Tree and the Papou fruit, which assisted the first folk in having children with their chosen partners. It’s centered around romance and family planning in a more “traditional” sense than the Prismatic Promenade, but some of its traditions have been absorbed into the now more popular holiday. A trickster god at heart, The Charlatan often used their cunning and tricks to outwit a world against them and their people. Using their wisdom from their travels they helped their people outrun those who wished them all harm. Religious Observances for The Charlatan often include public games centered around athleticism or wits such as: Marathons and Races around the Boroughs, “Manhunt”(an extreme version of Hide and Seek), Rugby, and many other athletic sports to test and show off one’s cunning, wit and strength both physical and magical. Many devoted followers of The One God often use this time as well to promote the health of the population, assist those who desire to start a family but do not have the money to purchase Papou fruit and match making. |
DancesNearly every night, the streets and halls of the Grove are full of dancers and musicians, making merry until the early morning. Lanterns and decorative lights adorn everything, and when one merrymaker leaves, another takes their place. Food stalls (serving mead and wine) and trinket stalls line the streets, peddling crafts and snacks for those that want to explore the festival at night. Shops in the heart of the Boroughs may stay open all night long to take advantage of the extra business! FireworksIn the skies above Willow Valley, magical fireworks shows are put on weekly for all to enjoy. It’s kind of hard to see from the Den, so the grand windows of the Great Tree are often converted to massive viewing platforms to see the shows. Romance and Family PlanningIn May, the Elder Tree’s largest crop of Papou fruit for the year is ready to harvest. By June, it’s readily available to the public. Folk often use this time to bring up the topic of start a family with their significant others or a Folk of their liking due to the low acorn prices for Papou Fruits - it’s not uncommon for Folk celebrating in the streets to go and make this important proposal after days of reveling with their beloveds. For those that aren’t planning to start a family, it’s also a great time to meet other Folk and try to spark romance. Many dances within Willow Valley are dedicated to helping Folk find their future partner(s) or foster romantic feelings during this time. Hotels, Inns and Tea Houses in Willow Valley host special invitation only events for romance or those who desire to be single parents. It’s also an important time to talk to younger Folk about safe behaviors, and why Papou Fruits are important - it’s a common saying to never eat a fruit salad around the Promenade unless you’re serious about having kits, just in case! |
Once the Summer dies and Autumn is reborn, the tree's leaves slowly change color and days turn into nights. Autumn is also known as “The Dawn of Shadows” or “The Times of Shadow and Bone”, due to how drastic the nights become. During the Dawn of Shadows, the balance of Ether is at its tipping point - the highest point which it will be the whole year. The moon becomes a bright blood red all Autumn long. The high amount of Ether makes it easier for Folk to perform tasks, too, often feeling more alive during this time of year. However - it does have its drawbacks.
Those with Blight and any Predators become more hostile than normal. It is unknown if it’s the red moon shining down during the night, the amount of Ether in the air, or something else entirely. However, Dawn of Shadows is always filled with death and strife, but it still doesn’t make Folk lose hope.
There is a yearly ritual to celebrate the new year ahead. Each Elder tree has a Wyld Seal, which is a small force field that deters most predators from the colony. Each year, the Wyld Seal is renewed to rejuvenate the Elder tree’s protection and life force for another year, allowing it to grow tall and house more Folk. It is a public ritual and all Folk big and small come to witness it every year.
There is a yearly ritual to celebrate the new year ahead. Each Elder tree has a Wyld Seal, which is a small force field that deters most predators from the colony. Each year, the Wyld Seal is renewed to rejuvenate the Elder tree’s protection and life force for another year, allowing it to grow tall and house more Folk. It is a public ritual and all Folk big and small come to witness it every year.
Sacred Dates and FlowersThe Wyld Seal always happens on October 31st at midnight. The Jarl, the Borough Representatives, and the Guild Leaders all come together in order to place all of their magic into the Seal through a special ritual using the extra Ether energy found in Spirit Willow Heart flowers. Select Spirit Willows are cultivated and used for this ritual with consent of the spirit within or their families, and once it’s done the Heart Flower dies, releasing the supposed spirit from within from its earthly bindings. |
Task of the GravekeepersPredators amass under the conditions of Autumn ether surges, emboldened and hungry, and pose an incredible danger to the Folk of Grimsby Grove and any nearby travelers. In order to guarantee an ample amount of Spirit Willows without harvesting great swaths of the Well of Remembrance, the Gravekeepers venture out in September to slay Predators and gather the Spirit Willows of their victims. In this manner, the spirits of murdered Folk can return to a kind home and help protect the future of Grimsby Grove and Folk-kind. |
Why the Wyld Seal?
The Wyld Seal is a forcefield that a healthy Elder Tree produces to deter predators, but it takes a great deal of magic and can fade if the Elder Tree is not regularly nurtured. The Grimsby Grove Wyld Seal is at its weakest during October, and this is when the predators become their most aggressive, often attacking Folk in broad daylight or even attempting to raid the colonies. It’s up to the Gravekeepers and Adventures Guild members to put a stop to them. During this weak time, Folk experience a surge of magic within their bodies, allowing them to perform feats they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.
Once the seal has been renewed, a new year starts, and those with blights calm down. The Predators choose to leave for easier targets, and all seems well.
Once the seal has been renewed, a new year starts, and those with blights calm down. The Predators choose to leave for easier targets, and all seems well.
A month-long party, the Haunted Hootenanny is a Holiday exclusively for Grimsby Grove which melds Old World tradition and New World tradition into one.
After the able-bodied go out and defend the Grove from predators and prepare the Wyld Seal, the caretakers and the many kits of the Grove keep morale up and prepare fun, spooky surprises for the warriors’ return. There are three main phases of the Haunted Hootenanny, each taking place in one of the Boroughs of the Grove.
After the able-bodied go out and defend the Grove from predators and prepare the Wyld Seal, the caretakers and the many kits of the Grove keep morale up and prepare fun, spooky surprises for the warriors’ return. There are three main phases of the Haunted Hootenanny, each taking place in one of the Boroughs of the Grove.
Welcome GuestsVisitors to the Grove often arrive at this time in order to seek protection from the volatile Ether of the autumn. Grimsby Grove, led by Lyric Grimsby, is proud of being hospitable to these travelers. Sometimes, a large group of travelers arrives, and feasts are held in their honor! (In Year 1 of the group, the Midnight Caravan was treated to such an honor!) Harvests, Haybales, Hootenanny!The first week of the Hootenanny is the Harvest Fairgrounds. Folk gather to help the last big harvest of the year, and eat Grimsby Grove’s favorite food: pumpkins! Ether and yearlong care make all crops in Willow Valley grow huge, but the massive pumpkins grown there can easily hold several kits and feed dozens of Folk each. When Folk aren’t creating pumpkin confectionery and food to share with their fellows, the rest of autumn in Willow Valley is celebrated in other ways. The many varieties of apples make many kinds of cider, the towering cornfields are ready to become corn labyrinths, and it’s the best time to come pet some farm critters that are usually busy with the harvest, like Dynabyx! |
Spooky stories and educational adventuresThe second week of the holiday is the one the holiday was named for: the Hootenanny Haunts! In the Whispering Caves, decorations both delightful and dreadful spring up to tell the scary stories of the Folk. There are “haunted attractions” where kits and adults can get a harmless scare and learn about different threats, and spooky stage plays that tell both harrowing Folk legends and the stories that the Old World left behind. (Most beloved are the classic “Hallo-ween”, “Thirteenth Friday”, and other ancient plays that share the whimsical tales of how absolutely comically bad Humans were at defeating their own Predators.) A trek around the Great TreeFinally, the last week of the holiday is dedicated to the Hootenanny Trail. Candy is incredibly popular in Grimsby Grove, and during the Hootenanny Trail many kits and adults, big and small, hike the many winding walkways of the Great Tree for the sole purpose of gathering candy. The Hootenanny Trail is a path that visits any home or business that wants to give out Tricks or Treats (Tricks are little toys, Treats are little candies or snacks) to those participating in the hike. Buildings on the Hootenanny Trail decorate with bright colors and gourds and do their best to prepare for any costumed Folk that shows up on their doorstep declaring “Trick or Treat!” |
In Memoriam
At the end of the holiday, after the Wyld Seal, those that risked their lives on the Wyld Hunt and didn’t make it back are honored by leaving offerings of gathered goodies at the Well of Remembrance, under the pale light of the moon they worked to restore.