Altar of The Twelve Trees

The Twelve Trees celebrates every festival that the city of their Altar celebrates and works towards learning them all and also towards making those festivals as much a part of the Basanic celebrations as they are the Tao of Kethlan. More importantly the Trees also works long and hard to pinpoint the exact date of the founding of the townships that they inhabit. Specifically they examine the time when the spirits first gave sponsorship to a place of civilisation and dedicate a day or sometimes up to a week in reverence to that spirit or spirits. These are the most important days in the calendar for the altar when the spirits come forth and join in the celebrations, giving guidance for the coming year and assisting with the growth of the cityscape in a way most compatible with the Tao’s guidance.


Altar of The Creeping Vine

The Altar of the Creeping Vine wisely chooses to follow the guidance of the Melkarr that owe it fealty. This is not through a want to avoid the need to observe their own ceremonies but through the dint that the traditions demand that the Melkarr are the Lords of ceremony and ritual, tradition is the way forwards. Throughout the calendar there are festivals to celebrate the power of Avvannah and Ravage but there are only three major ones that occur throughout the year. The guidance of the Spirits takes place in Frostmelt although no specific date is set. During the ritual specific Melkarr are sent into the world of the Spirits and here seek out Beyla who instructs the Melkarr as to certain targets that have broken oath or faith with the Altar and who must face the displeasure of the Lord Ravage.


Altar of The Gorgon

The Altar of the Gorgon celebrates the major harvest and planting times, calling upon Avvannah and Quinrath to bless the endeavours of those that follow the Tao. During Earthnew the First of the festivals to celebrate sowing occur all the way through to Blossom wake. The months of Sunrise through to Sunsdusk are reserved for monthly harvest festivals as different crops are returned to the silos ready for the winter months and to feed livestock.


Altar of The Broken Lady

The Ele-Strom of the Broken Lady consider every passing of judgement as a festival of sorts and hold to no specific festivals of the natural world. It is for others; Melkarr and Ulmargarn to mark passing of seasons and moments of old glory. It is for the Ele Strom to pass their judgements in the here and in the now.

The dates for every major ending of a wartime, usually coinciding with the signing of a proclamation of peace are always a signal that a yearly festival will be held by the Altar. These Festivals gain more importance should the war have directly involved the Wyld in some way even if this could lead to some denigration of the Kethlanic way. Example Festivals in this vein are the 17th of Frostmelt (The end of the first Gabrak Wars), the 24th of Leavesdown (The End of the 2nd Codex Wars) and the 23rd of Sunsdusk (The end of the Rhygahrean Wars).


Altar of The Emerald Willow

Throughout the Willow’s calendar there are festivals to celebrate the power of Avvannah and Ravage but there are only three major ones that occur throughout the year. The guidance of the Spirits takes place in Frostmelt although no specific date is set. During the ritual, specific Melkarr are sent into the world of the Spirits and here seek out Beyla who instructs the Melkarr as to certain targets that have broken oath or faith with the Altar and who must face the displeasure of the Lord Ravage.

The Second is the Summons of Ing Skuld, whereby during the months of Sunrise and Sunspeak, the Melkarr of the Altar are given a criminal to the Tao of Kethlan who has been condemned to death by the Altar of the Broken Lady. This individual is then hunted down and punished after being given the freedom to survive should they escape the hunt.

The final festival is the festival of all Ancestors which takes place in the deeps of Frostfall. During this festival the Melkarr give thanks and honour to all of the spirits that the grove worships and respects. In return they are blessed with three nights of revelry with those spirits during which time great secrets and wisdom is revealed.


Altar of The Stone Circle

Only one festival is observed by the Altar of the Stone Circle directly each year although many Vormearn end up observing the festivals that are taken up by the Altar to which they are allocated. However the Memorial Festival is held each year in the original Altar of the Stone Circle during which as many Vormearn as possible attempt to reach this hallowed location. During mid Sunsdusk they converge here and together speak the names of all those that have died in service to the Circle and of their deeds in prior years. Then the names of those that have died since the last memorial was held are added to that list and the great story recommitted to memory. At this time the ceremony takes over three days to complete during which time the Vormearn involved fast, relying on their abilities to sustain them through any hardship.

Last updated byHolly Goodall