Funeral of Darlings

The Funeral of Darlings is an annual event which occurs on the final week of summer, the 22nd-28th of Sun's Swell, in each of the Pearl Cities of The Most Serene Republic of Allathoné: Asha Allanar, Lyfalorian, Illstaesi, Cenodorran, and Fel-Shora. A play on the phrase kill your darlings, the week-long fête consists of a number of events including premiers of new symphonies, pop-up restaurants creating innovative feats of gastronomy, opening nights of new plays, but the major event that kicks it all off is a marathon of art starting at the first tick past midnight on the 22nd, all the way until noon on the 28th. Despite being referred to as a marathon, most artists do take breaks, although over-indulgence in caffeine, stimulants, and other substances is not uncommon.

Allathonéan Dancer by illumiinae with Midjourney

No medium is discriminated against during the Funeral of Darlings; paintings, sculpture, music composition, theatre, dance, even architectural drawings are appreciated. Artists often plan out their Darling pieces well in advance so they can make the most of their week, creating intricately detailed works which are presented during the final afternoon of the event. Pieces are displayed in windows, propped up on front porches, or on display tables set up in public spaces so that the artists, as well as general onlookers may promenade and view everyone's works. Viewers must move quickly, as when the clock strikes six, all art pieces– sheets of music, screenplays, choreography notes, canvases– will be gathered up by their creators, brought to a central area of town, and added to a large bonfire.

Purpose & Origin

Even among other elves, sun elven culture in Allathoné is known for the value which they place on consistency and endurability, the Funeral of Darlings was made to acknowledge that such qualities are not always possible, as well as a way to force artists to not fixate on their prior successes, and always continue forward. The Funeral began as a tradition between a group of friends in Lyfalorian in the 510s, and steadily grew out from their friend group to members of local artisan's guilds, eventually expanding into other cities. The founders still regularly participate in Lyfalorian's festivities.
The founders have often been quoted as saying the original Funeral of Darlings was meant to be a lesson in humility and letting go, in disenthralling themselves from pieces they desperately wished to perfect but needed to move on from. They have also described it as their own metaphorical take on The Gift of Time, part of the elven creation mythos in which representatives of the Elves were given a favor of Senetsal, then the deity of art, to deliver to Prem, the deity of death and time, and in return, they were conditionally gifted their long life spans. It served as a reminder that no matter how long they may live, and no matter what they create, all will return to Prem in time.

Dress Code

While there is no strict dress code for the Funeral of Darlings, it is often used as an opportunity to wear one's finest clothes that are dyed in the traditional sun elven mourning colors: greens, browns, and greys.

Important Locations

• Asha Allanar
• Cenodorran
• Fel-Shora
• Illstaesi
• Lyfalorian

Related Ethnicities

• Allathoné urbanite elves