Feast of Stars
The Bear reaches the Whispering Star. Beneath their watch we remember and we set aside the Vices of Wrath and Hate and reach to the Virtues of Charity and Temperance. ~A traditional opening to the blessing over the feast
When the bear constellation rises high in the sky to touch the Whispering Star each year, those of Delmin descent celebrate the Feast of Stars. In places that are mostly inhabited by the Delmin the feast is a community wide event, but even Delmin who are far from their kin hold private celebrations this night. It is a day of celebration, remembrance, and reconciliation.
History
Long ago, before any but the Dwarves had discovered the arts of forging steel and iron was only known to humans as a ward against the Sidhe and the Nakmar Empire had not yet begun, much less fallen, the tribes of the Delmin began joining together from many into one great clan. As so often happens in the final stages of such things, they found themselves with not one faction but two, equal in strength.
Neither chieftain would yield one to the other, for reason each held sufficient. And so they warred. Equal in strength. Equal in skill. Equal in resolve. It seemed there would be no good end to the war until Fate took a hand. Fate's Minstrel gave warning to the son of one clan. When he found himself war-prisoners he heeded it, behaving with humility and dilligence, no matter how demeaning the work that was set to him. His captor's daughter, and only living child, saw his actions and convinced her father to treat honor with honor, and with his blessing she kept the worst of the torment from him. The work was still often dangerous, and always the lowest of taskes, but he no longer had to deal with the beatings of the men, or the more subtle cruelties of the women. Over the course of his imprisonment the two spoke and grew to respect each other. She respected his perserverence and willingness to serve what tradition demanded. He cherished the mercy and kindness she showed him, beyond what tribal laws required.
A year and a day after his capture he presented himself to his captor and recieved the parol tradition demanded. His reception at home was warm... until he refused to use his knowledge to lead a secret raiding party to the heart of enemy territory. The raid found another guide, and when he discovered the rival cheiftain's daughter was amonst the prisoners brought back, he was furious. He was more furious when he discovered his father's plans for her. There was no honor in this.
In the dark of night he released the prisoners, himself leading the woman back to her father's camp. His father found them first. The search party cornered the pair in the high mountains in a pass so narrow only one man could fight in it. But what could one man do against to many, one man must sleep, and while her courage was great, she was no trained warrior. Yet they prepared to make their stand.
That night the Bear constellation rose high in the sky and touched the Whispering Star which stands unmoving through all the long seasons and years. At that moment Fate's Minstrel once more appeared speaking one word: Follow. Warrior and woman both followed. Through narrow passes, over trecharious ledges. Yet it seemed no time had passed when they found themselves in the camp her father had prepared to free her from imprisonment.
As they emerged from the mountain the warrior's father found them and rushed upon them to slay the woman. His son raised his spear and his father's spear shattered with a flash of light from the Whispering Star. His father fell to his knees for whatever fate would befall him. But the death blow did not come, instead the warrior turned to his father's followers and also to those who had been his enemies. And proposed a solution: He and the daughter of his enemy, the woman for whom he had risked so much, and who had also risked for him, would wed, and the great clan would be formed in joy and mercy rather than war and death. Her father agreed.
And so that night became a night of celebration of reconciliation and the Whispering Word's own mercy. For the Peace held, and brother forgave brother. Kin forgave kin for the actions of that war. And it was counted a miricle for such was not the natural way of such conflicts.
Neither chieftain would yield one to the other, for reason each held sufficient. And so they warred. Equal in strength. Equal in skill. Equal in resolve. It seemed there would be no good end to the war until Fate took a hand. Fate's Minstrel gave warning to the son of one clan. When he found himself war-prisoners he heeded it, behaving with humility and dilligence, no matter how demeaning the work that was set to him. His captor's daughter, and only living child, saw his actions and convinced her father to treat honor with honor, and with his blessing she kept the worst of the torment from him. The work was still often dangerous, and always the lowest of taskes, but he no longer had to deal with the beatings of the men, or the more subtle cruelties of the women. Over the course of his imprisonment the two spoke and grew to respect each other. She respected his perserverence and willingness to serve what tradition demanded. He cherished the mercy and kindness she showed him, beyond what tribal laws required.
A year and a day after his capture he presented himself to his captor and recieved the parol tradition demanded. His reception at home was warm... until he refused to use his knowledge to lead a secret raiding party to the heart of enemy territory. The raid found another guide, and when he discovered the rival cheiftain's daughter was amonst the prisoners brought back, he was furious. He was more furious when he discovered his father's plans for her. There was no honor in this.
In the dark of night he released the prisoners, himself leading the woman back to her father's camp. His father found them first. The search party cornered the pair in the high mountains in a pass so narrow only one man could fight in it. But what could one man do against to many, one man must sleep, and while her courage was great, she was no trained warrior. Yet they prepared to make their stand.
That night the Bear constellation rose high in the sky and touched the Whispering Star which stands unmoving through all the long seasons and years. At that moment Fate's Minstrel once more appeared speaking one word: Follow. Warrior and woman both followed. Through narrow passes, over trecharious ledges. Yet it seemed no time had passed when they found themselves in the camp her father had prepared to free her from imprisonment.
As they emerged from the mountain the warrior's father found them and rushed upon them to slay the woman. His son raised his spear and his father's spear shattered with a flash of light from the Whispering Star. His father fell to his knees for whatever fate would befall him. But the death blow did not come, instead the warrior turned to his father's followers and also to those who had been his enemies. And proposed a solution: He and the daughter of his enemy, the woman for whom he had risked so much, and who had also risked for him, would wed, and the great clan would be formed in joy and mercy rather than war and death. Her father agreed.
And so that night became a night of celebration of reconciliation and the Whispering Word's own mercy. For the Peace held, and brother forgave brother. Kin forgave kin for the actions of that war. And it was counted a miricle for such was not the natural way of such conflicts.
Execution
The Feast is held in late summer, when the Bear constellation is high in the sky on the first day the constellation of the Bear is first touching the Whispering Star that is always at the pinnacle of the sky and does not move with the other stars. The Traditional day is slightly variable, but only slightly, and in some places the day is taking precedence over the astronomical signs that normally time it.
Components and tools
The only consistent tools involved in this celebration are the food for the feast. There is only one traditional dish that is common to all celebrations of the Feast of Stars: Puthi, a porridge like dish made from a variety of wild grains, boiled and typically with little flavor. It was the traditional food given to those serving a year and a day prison service. In remembrance of Nebron's dutiful service.
Other tools are traditional when reconciling. The Delmin have long used carved beads for many ritual things: gifts at weddings, to signify passing from apprentice ship to journeyman status, and so forth. And thus Delmin Beads are used for these purposes as well.
Other tools are traditional when reconciling. The Delmin have long used carved beads for many ritual things: gifts at weddings, to signify passing from apprentice ship to journeyman status, and so forth. And thus Delmin Beads are used for these purposes as well.
Observance
The simplest form of the traditional observances involves the gathering of family and friends, typically over a meal that is as bountiful as the year has been able to provide. It is a time to settle squabbles big and small. It is a time of rejoicing if such are few or nonexistent for the year.
Things become more formal when there are major rifts to be healed. Either party may initiate the reconciliation, typically by extending a carved bead to the other party. Acceptance of the bead opens communication, no matter how deep the rift has been. It is considered very poor form to at least not try and reconcile at this feast if it is offered. It is considered even worse form to falsely offer reconciliation. Not all these attempts succeed. But for one day both parties must try to come to an understanding and some measure of acceptance. In simple arguments typically only one bead is exchanged, but for complicated situations beads may be exchanged back and forth as each issue is sorted through.
If there is success, the second party keeps the bead to remind them of the agreement and offers one of their own. If no agreement can be reached, the carved bead is returned. Sometimes a blank bead is offered as well. The blank bead on this day is one of the saddest of all outcomes, for it signifies that the offering party believes no reconciliation possible, but wishes to part ways cleanly rather than adding more discord. Most try to avoid the blank bead.
Using the Feast of the Stars to falsely reconcile in order to deceive or gain an advantage over another is considered one of the most grievous faults a Delmin can commit. This day, of all days, cunning is set aside and the virtues of Truth and Mercy are held to the fore.
Things become more formal when there are major rifts to be healed. Either party may initiate the reconciliation, typically by extending a carved bead to the other party. Acceptance of the bead opens communication, no matter how deep the rift has been. It is considered very poor form to at least not try and reconcile at this feast if it is offered. It is considered even worse form to falsely offer reconciliation. Not all these attempts succeed. But for one day both parties must try to come to an understanding and some measure of acceptance. In simple arguments typically only one bead is exchanged, but for complicated situations beads may be exchanged back and forth as each issue is sorted through.
If there is success, the second party keeps the bead to remind them of the agreement and offers one of their own. If no agreement can be reached, the carved bead is returned. Sometimes a blank bead is offered as well. The blank bead on this day is one of the saddest of all outcomes, for it signifies that the offering party believes no reconciliation possible, but wishes to part ways cleanly rather than adding more discord. Most try to avoid the blank bead.
Using the Feast of the Stars to falsely reconcile in order to deceive or gain an advantage over another is considered one of the most grievous faults a Delmin can commit. This day, of all days, cunning is set aside and the virtues of Truth and Mercy are held to the fore.
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