Skrig-Tide

Skrig-Tide is described by those outsiders who have seen it take place amongst the Whips Isles locals as a mere night-long vigil where all Skrig bow in perfectly still worship of the full moon (Moon Name), a natural event which occurs once every three years. At some point between its rising and falling in the night sky, a single or several members of the Skrig tribes will perish as sacrifice to some unknown god, and even more curiously, by some unknown cause.

Most of the lives and thoughts of the silent Skrig are hidden to all others in Sanctuary, and so many traditional activities have developed by the creatives who observe the holiday in cities and towns, together melding old-world rituals into new-world festivities based on mystery and intrigue.

History

The origins of the festival referred to by outsiders as, Skrig-Tide are known only to the Skrig along with the purpose of the traditional ritual performed in the Whips Isles of the NorthWestern corners of Sanctuary. While most festivals in Sanctuary are cheerful and full of feasting and music, it was deemed by the people of the lands that a dark and more mysterious festival would add an enjoyable relief from the drama of day-to-day work.

Components and tools

Darkly colored hooded robes are donned by all on the night of Skrig-Tide. Skrig masks with long white noses centered in dark black eyeless faces are used beneath the hoods of the robes so that all the people celebrating look like very short Skrig walking the land.

Unofficially, pranks are played on politicians or city officials, usually by miscreants of villages and towns, and always utilizing some mixture of animal furs and paint to decorate the houses and porches of the victims in unseemly ways, but nothing that can't be undone in a morning of cleaning.

Officially, along with the robes and masks, a special sort of round white candy is used to symbolize the full moon, as an enjoyable festive treat. The candy, in addition to a smooth sweet taste of sugar coated batter, is dipped in the pollen of a Whips Isles moon-flower which is known to cause mild hallucinations at most and a simple light-headed dizziness at least. The treats are hidden around towns and villages by official entourages and the night is spent in the search and enjoyment of these candies.

Participants

Candy Makers and Candy Courriers: The round white candy of Skrig-Tide, known simply as moon beads, are mass produced and spread to towns across Sanctuary in the weeks before the festive night. On the morning before the festival, courriers wander the town and village centers, hiding moon bead candies around the area for participants to find during the night.

Mask Vendors: Special masks are created each time that Skrig-Tide is observed. While many cheaper masks are handed out freely at no expense, citizens of the upper-class may have their masks commissioned and caringly crafted by skilled artists in their own way of celebritory surfeit.

Music Makers: Flutists all play a long-winding ambient tune to suit the dark and mystical festival celebration.

The Harbinger: Although some known cases of murder have occured on the night of Skrig-Tide, the official celebritory role played in each location of a harbinger character, walking the streets upon stilts beneath long lengths of torn, black robes solid white masks glinting in the moonlight, slowly find a previously appointed victim romaing the streets and, through one of several means, render them unconcious to be found the next morning in the town-square. The victim will always be nursed back to health by city officials and at the official's own expense, even to the point of rewarding them with a small bag of coins or some valuable commodity in compensation for their role in the mysterious affairs of Skrig-Tide.