Freefyre Festival

History & Lore

The Freefyre Festival occurs in the spring and its roots can be traced back to what the Old Dwarves called the dark time. The Dark Time denotes a 3-day period during the triple eclipse in which sunlight hours are reduced to just 2 a day for most of the Dwarven territory. As such, fire became increasingly essential to combat the Dour Lynx and Noir Leopard, both high-level predators in the north that hunt in darkness. Methods for keeping fires lit in the northern climes without much light or resources became not just a point of pride for a Dwarf but substantially vital.

The celebrations of light were traditional Old Dwarvish chants, dances and ceremonies said to entreat Ignis, the God of Fire. The most notable of which are:

• The Dance of the Eternal Flame
• Smokeshow of the Immolates
• Recital of the Freefyre Oath
• Infernal Hymns

Sabislav's Dance of the Eternal Flame, was said to entreat Ignis for warmth during the winter months. Occurring on a 500 square-foot bed of hot coals, originally held at the foot of the Kawalina Volcano in Mithrigal, the tradition has been held regularly by Dwarves of Intrifiti (Old Dwarven for Blackfoot). The Immolate's Smokeshow requires the burning of 1.2 tons of incense and sage that is said to purify the city of spirits. The sage and bamboo fields outside of Nin are harvested in their entirety for the event and are a boon to the local economy as incense makers that harvest the bamboo spend the weeks before preparing the finest incense in the world. The Freefyre Oath, is part of the theatrical reenactment and celebration of the Red Commission. Throughout the celebration, groups a carolers can be found throughout the city singing Infernal Hymns.

Observances

The Freefyre Festival occurs throughout the middle of the year from Arborrun 74 until the night of Lumice 76 and is considered by many dwarves to be the official start of summer.