The Festival of Respite
Tav'nuk eh Yalamis (Festival of Respite), or simply 'Yalamis' (Respite), is a feast day observed by the Arai to ritually mark the end of the current High King/Queen's reign. It is held on Vat'Mirsal, the third new moon of the year following the death or abdication of the prior monarch, which is thought to be the anniversary of High Queen Mirsal's death centuries ago.
The Arai believe that it is of vital importance that the prior ruler's reign be closed with the observance of Vat'Mirsal prior to the coronation of the next ruler. This releases Mirsal from her obligation to the prior ruler, and allows a period of rest before the coronation of the next, which occurs within the following week.
People compete in various games meant to both occupy the ever-growing crowd and display the strengths of the individual clans. Events include log tossing, archery, fletching, dancing, storytelling, wrestling, and mock battles. Competitors vie both for material prizes (provided as displays of wealth by the attending clans) and for positions in the ritual procession. Gender is largely immaterial when it comes to who can compete in which games, though men are traditionally seen as better suited to the physical pursuits (log tossing and wrestling in particular) while women dominate the more performative games (like storytelling and dancing).
Craftsmen also take the opportunity to sell their wares. As Vat'Mirsal approaches, the festival grounds grow more and more crowded as vendors and tradesmen claim ever shrinking plots of land. Blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers, armorsmiths, and druids. Foods sold to festival-goers include mead, roasted meats, candied fruits, and various breads.
The Lasrim lead the construction of a massive bonfire in the center of the festival ground, which is lit by all of them as the sun sets. The beginning of the night is heralded by the Lasrim leading the festival goers in chants and songs recounting the unification of Shn'arai and the deeds of Mirsal.
When caught, the Lasrim is brought back to the bonfire and interrogated before the gathered crowd. They are asked three times if they know what became of Mirsal, and must deny it each time, no matter what they are threatened with. Common threats include dismemberment, being tossed into the flames, flaying, and removal of several organs. On the third denial, the Lasrim is tossed to the crowd, which pulls away their robe to leave them in whatever they were wearing at the time of their selection. At this moment, they are no longer considered Lasrim, and may join in the pursuit of their prior fellows or go about their way.
The festival is considered done when the final Lasrim is caught and interrogated. This time, however, instead of being asked if they are aware of Mirsal's whereabouts, the final Lasrim is interrogated regarding the location of the most recent monarch. The Lasrim must deny it twice, but on the third time the Lasrim must respond "They have gone past Mirsal, and call on her no longer." Once this has been said, the crowd responds with a mourning cry, and the final Lasrim is released, concluding the reenactment.
As the centuries passed, the ritual appears to have grown in importance, with the reigns of monarchs who failed to observe it (or to treat it with the appropriate amoung of reverence) failing before they could truly begin. The Lasrim first make an appearance approximately seventy years after High King Nilrax's solo venture into the forest, possibly modeled after wisps encountered by the King in his journey, and their selection process appears to have been the basis for the days-long games that now precede the festival. By the time of High Queen Gwa'line [gwəʔ.lin], the festival had reached its current iteration.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that human sacrifice (notably, the burning of the final Lasrim) ever played a role in the observance of the Festival of Respite (or, for that matter, any Arai ritual). Still, that rumor persists among the nations of the Continent.
The Arai believe that it is of vital importance that the prior ruler's reign be closed with the observance of Vat'Mirsal prior to the coronation of the next ruler. This releases Mirsal from her obligation to the prior ruler, and allows a period of rest before the coronation of the next, which occurs within the following week.
Etymology
Tav'nuk- From the Tyg'Arai noun tav [t'əβ] meaning 'day'.
- From the Tyg'Arai noun nuk [nuk] meaning 'feast, celebration, sacrifice', from the noun mok [muk] meaning 'deity, divinity'.
- Conjoining the words denotes the possessive, transforming 'tav nuk' meaning 'day feast' to 'tav'nuk' meaning 'feast's day, festival, holiday'.
- From the Tyg'Arai adjective yal [jəl] meaning 'peaceful, rested, inactive, smothered'.
- From the Tyg'Arai noun amis [əmis] meaning 'portion, segment, time'.
- The conjuction 'yalamis' indicates that the adjective modifies the noun, creating a noun that means 'respite, time of rest, withdrawal'.
Location
The official festival takes place in the forested valley located outside Tagh Shn. Smaller celebrations may occur on festival grounds throughout Shn'arai concurrently with the official celebration, centered around glades and valleys near centers of political power (typically the homes of clan leaders).Practices
Pre-Festival Activities
Contingents from the influential clans located across Shn'arai may begin gathering up to fifteen days prior to Vat'Mirsal. The time period leading up to the festival itself is utilized as an opportunity for friends and relatives from different clans, often separated by large distances, to socialize and catch up on events since the last time they had occasion to meet.People compete in various games meant to both occupy the ever-growing crowd and display the strengths of the individual clans. Events include log tossing, archery, fletching, dancing, storytelling, wrestling, and mock battles. Competitors vie both for material prizes (provided as displays of wealth by the attending clans) and for positions in the ritual procession. Gender is largely immaterial when it comes to who can compete in which games, though men are traditionally seen as better suited to the physical pursuits (log tossing and wrestling in particular) while women dominate the more performative games (like storytelling and dancing).
Craftsmen also take the opportunity to sell their wares. As Vat'Mirsal approaches, the festival grounds grow more and more crowded as vendors and tradesmen claim ever shrinking plots of land. Blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers, armorsmiths, and druids. Foods sold to festival-goers include mead, roasted meats, candied fruits, and various breads.
Lasrim
The selection of the Lasrim [ləʃ.rim] occurs at noon on Vat'Mirsal. Chosen based on exceptional performance in the games hosted in the preceding week, the Lasrim are meant to represent High Queen Mirsal and her companions in the following rites. Anywhere from three to ten may be chosen, depending on the number of candidates, and all are dressed in loose fitted robes of light blue (regardless of gender) so as to resemble Mirsal. To be chosen as Lasrim is a high honor, indicative of both peronal skill and high moral character.The Lasrim lead the construction of a massive bonfire in the center of the festival ground, which is lit by all of them as the sun sets. The beginning of the night is heralded by the Lasrim leading the festival goers in chants and songs recounting the unification of Shn'arai and the deeds of Mirsal.
Mah-eh-ahn'Mirsal
The ritual the festival is based around, entitled Mah-eh-ahn'Mirsal [məʔ.ɛʔ.ən.mir.ʃəl], is the reenactment of High Queen Mirsal's journey to meet with Mox Arisara. Shortly after dusk, as the recitations draw to a close, the Lasrim rise and run from the bonfire in the direction of Tagh Shn. Pursued by the festival goers, they intially stay together before breaking off and attempting to disappear into the surrounding forest.When caught, the Lasrim is brought back to the bonfire and interrogated before the gathered crowd. They are asked three times if they know what became of Mirsal, and must deny it each time, no matter what they are threatened with. Common threats include dismemberment, being tossed into the flames, flaying, and removal of several organs. On the third denial, the Lasrim is tossed to the crowd, which pulls away their robe to leave them in whatever they were wearing at the time of their selection. At this moment, they are no longer considered Lasrim, and may join in the pursuit of their prior fellows or go about their way.
The festival is considered done when the final Lasrim is caught and interrogated. This time, however, instead of being asked if they are aware of Mirsal's whereabouts, the final Lasrim is interrogated regarding the location of the most recent monarch. The Lasrim must deny it twice, but on the third time the Lasrim must respond "They have gone past Mirsal, and call on her no longer." Once this has been said, the crowd responds with a mourning cry, and the final Lasrim is released, concluding the reenactment.
Post-Festival
With Mirsal's End observed, the gathered clans then proceed to the coronation of the next monarch. From this point on, the clan of the next monarch is responsible for funding any festivities, feeding the gathered Arai, and rewarding the victors of any games. The coronation ceremony itself, and the process of selecting the next monarch, is covered elsewhere.History
The first recorded instance of a festival marking the end of an Arai monarch's reign is found in the <Error: Word Not Found>, a poem that recounts the reign of High King Nilrax [nil.rəx], the heir of High Queen Silrem [ʃil.rɛm], herself the heir of High Queen Mirsal. The festival is present at the end of the tale, noted only as a 'procession to find Mirsal and her Lady', apparently in an effort to inform the now-dead High Queen of Silrem's passing. There is no mention of the Lasrim (with Nilrax undertaking the journey himself), and no indication that any amount of people gathered at Tagh Shn to observe the ritual. Additionally, it was not followed by a coronation, since Nilrax had already been made High King. Instead, the festival is followed by the stabilization of Nilrax's reign, and (presumably) a period of peace.As the centuries passed, the ritual appears to have grown in importance, with the reigns of monarchs who failed to observe it (or to treat it with the appropriate amoung of reverence) failing before they could truly begin. The Lasrim first make an appearance approximately seventy years after High King Nilrax's solo venture into the forest, possibly modeled after wisps encountered by the King in his journey, and their selection process appears to have been the basis for the days-long games that now precede the festival. By the time of High Queen Gwa'line [gwəʔ.lin], the festival had reached its current iteration.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that human sacrifice (notably, the burning of the final Lasrim) ever played a role in the observance of the Festival of Respite (or, for that matter, any Arai ritual). Still, that rumor persists among the nations of the Continent.
by Wes Hicks
Table of Contents
"To watch a Lasrim run is to witness desperation. To run as a Lasrim is to feel The Lady's gaze."
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