Sky Festival

Flying. An ability Aarakocras have long been envied for. The Sky Festival celebrates it, and it is open to all!

Events

Sky Dancing

The whole festival revolves around aerial activities of all sorts. Multiple elaborate choregraphies are played out around the cities' edges, such as around the landing pad in Zephys, or the naturally breathtaking background of the Nalore Canyon. Colourful ribbons and flowing ethereal costumes are used to their full potential to bring an the art form to its full potential.

Aerial Competitions

During the festival, many aerial competitions, be it of agility, speed or grace are organized. Racing between checkpoints or manoeuvring in tight spaces are skills that seem particularly foreign to many and as such attract many onlookers. Strength and endurance in flight can also be evaluated, and these competitions often change with the years.

Flight for everyone

During the sky festival, every efforts are made so that as many as possible can experience the magic of flight. Tamed flying beasts, the platforms around Zephys, the Feathers of An'ki and those capable of casting spells allowing flight are all used to that intent, letting hundreds of people rise into the air as they never would otherwise have been able.

Rising Lights

On the very last night of the festival, small lanterns, carried by the hot air of the open flame with them, are let loose into the night sky. As a way to mimic a parent's wishes for their children as they leave the house and wave goodbye, adults often whisper wishes to the lanterns to be carried on the wind for the rest of the year. It is still common for such wishes to revolve around family and close friends.
After a moment of quiet contemplation as everyone watches the lantern rise in a beautiful show, the children who can fly will fly up after the lanterns and make a game out of catching them and bringing them back to their friends. This might symbolise the children catching the good fortune their parents send them. Often, young Aarakocras and Avariels will follow the open nature of the event and bring back lanterns for the children attending the event that do not have the ability to catch them themselves.

Khom Loi by Lerdsuwa

History & Origin

Adapted from a form of passing of age ceremony of the birdfolks, signifying the first flight of a chick, when a child leaves the nest to fly his own path.

When is it?

The Sky Festival is celebrated in the early summer, and lasts about a week.

Where is it celebrated?

The Sky Festival is celebrated in every Aarakocran cities, where every races gather for the time of the festivities. Those who cannot leave for the nearest aarakocran settlement might simply light a lantern at home on the last night to mimic the events happening there. Zephys and Nalore are the two most visited cities during the celebraations.