Luntine

Written by duelingburr

“Come one, come all for Lunetine is here.
Three moons are full, it comes once a year.
So don’t stand go dance!
Go give them a chance!
Springtime is near, forget winter’s fear”

-A limerick sung at the beginning of the festival day of Luntine to rouse the town to start festivities.

Many lunar festivals and celebrations dot the landscape of the continent of Algonys throughout the year, but Luntine is the most joyous of them all. There is but one time a year where the three moons (Fror, Boel, and Wadis) all lie full in the sky, and it just so happens to coincide with the end of Winter.

History

When the fallout was beginning to subside and the land became habitable again the first things the races noticed were the 3 moons that swam about the night sky. It wasn't long before celebrations began to take place, venerating these celestial bodies. The different races and societies realized that when the 3 moons were full, winter was nearly at its end. When societies began to come into contact with one another these celebrations began to evolve into one festival, Luntine. Different aspects of Luntine can be traced all the way beck to their origin, but others are more obscure, and it seems that new traditions crop up every year.

Execution

Throughout the day of Luntine there are games, music, dancing and competitions. One of the most prized competitions are those with the flute, baking, and sparring matches with the quarterstaff. At the end of the night however there is always one citizen designated to be the Lunar Emissary. When the three moons are at their highest in the night the Lunar Emissary, dressed in a robe with swirling colors of red, blue, and dark grey, makes their way through the thoroughfare of the town with a silver chalice. As they pass, the citizens all begin to sing the solemn song to respect winter's going as they follow the robed figure through the town. The procession ends with the Lunar Emissary ascending a staircase to a small platform, in full view of the three moons, and they douse themselves in the water that was within the bowl. It varies from place to place on what happens next, but the most common thing is that the citizens all say together, "May we all be washed clean of the hardships of winter, and may we be pure and worthy of the bounty brought to us in this spring."

Components and tools

There is of course great food, and supplies for all of the games and competitions, not to mention a very tall pole with ribbons strewn about it that the unmarried dance around. However, the primary component for Luntine is a silver bowl, with the cycles of the moons engraved around its edge, as well as a robe with swirling colors of red, blue, and dark grey.

Participants

Every place has their own variation on the celebration, but there is always a Lunar Emissary. This position is one of renown, and in some places it falls to the village healer or spiritual leader, in other places the individual is chosen randomly, and in still other places The Lunar Emissary never reveals their face and it is unknown how they are chosen but it is known that they will always come. The Lunar Emissary's duties before the festival vary from place to place, but on the night of the festival they are to start the chant that bids a respectful (almost fearful) farewell of winter, and metaphorically cleanse their citizens with the final pouring of pure water beneath the full moons.

Observance

The festival takes place in most towns and cities throughout the continent of Algonys, but the largest and most renowned festival takes place in the spectacular city of Ogra Vale. There the party and festival starts several days before Luntine itself, but when the day finally approaches, crowds gather in Lutlyres Square for the final ceremony. The Lunar Emissary within Ogra Vale must start their journey several hours in advance to walk through the main thoroughfares of the city and gather the citizenry, but the resulting chant is said to vibrate the walls of the Lapis Palace.

Primary Related Location

Ogra Vale