The Burning Forest Festival.

Cycles have come and gone, with each leaving their own array of gifts and curses for the peoples of Urkenthest, but of these blessings few are more cherished than the Burning Forest Festival. Being a nation of frequent conflict and near constant unrest it should come as no surprise that the inhabitants of Urkenthest treasure this, a holiday of feasting, drinking, and most importantly tranquility more than any celebration one of the worlds great faiths or traditions could devise. Surrounded by the crackle of bursting seed-pods the Urken are permitted the luxury of laying down their arms, stuffing their faces, and trading banter without fear of reprisal. An aura of pleasantness and cheer forms in the Burning Forest amidst the heat of high summer, shielded by shady limbs and serenaded by joyous laughter, an aura that many throughout history have been unable to resist. Tales have been past down the generations that tell of bickering scholars that crept from their halls and soldiers that turned from their battlefields for a mouthful of food and warm summer air. Such flowery accounts are partially responsible for the near deification of the Festival and the reverence with which it is treated. For how could a mere celebration rob so many of their ire and ambition? What sorcery could possibly transform a mighty clan leader into little more than a common party-goer for as long as the seed-pods continue to burst and blow away? Students of both innate and artificial magics have toiled for years to uncover the golden hex that seems to have been laid upon the legendary Burning Forest, but as of yet none have been able to replicate it or even provide evidence of its existence. Truly it is one of this worlds greatest yet most humble mysteries.

History

The Burning Forest Festival began as a local appreciation for the crackling, fire-like ambiance created by the popping of seed pods within the afore-mentioned Burning Forest, which was named-after this natural phenomenon. Short, isolated excursions to the forest soon became larger and more organized, providing opportunities for families to find respite from their duties and enjoy each-others company over good food and alcoholic beverages. In the heat of high summer (which is when most seed pods popped) sitting and feasting in the shade of ancient trees was considered preferable to toiling in the fields or watching over livestock, and the festival's appeal became rapidly apparent to residents of nearby villages, towns, and cities. It was after the surrounding noble houses got involved that the Burning Forest Festival began to outgrow its humble beginnings and transform into something greater, something beyond meaningless relaxation and revelry. For although the wealthy and privileged enjoy mead and bread as much as their serfs their reputations would not permit them to partake in a celebration for enjoyment alone. They were meant to be the best of society, warriors, generals, poets, scholars, and leaders surpassing anyone their serfs could muster, so justification had to be provided if they were to sit beside common folk, proof that they were fulfilling a higher purpose beyond resting and filling their bellies. Thus the Festival was deemed an opportunity to not only improve the moral of the commoners but assess the overall condition of the surrounding populace. Despite the artificial nature of this pretense, clan leaders have found the Festival useful when attempting to gauge the spirit of the people, and it has no doubt influenced a number of their decisions. Over the years the Festival has been granted a sort of religious significance, with various faiths (primarily those worshiping deities of fertility, merriment, nature, and the sun) holding ceremonies and bringing followers from near and far to partake in it. Under crackling bows the devout of many gods may converse and share their ideas in peace, without threat of persecution and strife, for though the Festival can become quite boisterous it is never violent, and the clans that govern it take great pains to keep it that way. In fact the Burning Forest Festival has been made a calm, neutral meeting place for a number of factions that might typically find themselves at odds. Clans, faiths, merchants guilds, mercenary groups, universities, and bands of foreign emissaries are all permitted to put aside their differences and enjoy some well-earned comfort together on the shaded forest floor. Even now amidst the Urken Civil War, soldiers and citizens from opposing sides have reveled and experienced the joys of life with nary a thought given to their personal beliefs or affiliations. In order to preserve this tranquility the Woodland Shepherds were founded, a militant order of monks appointed by the local nobility to tend the forest and ensure that all events held within it remained safe for all in attendance. At the time of their founding (which was several cycles ago) the Shepherds had little more than two hundred members, but their ranks have since grown to more than five thousand, resulting in the construction of Dieerdraa Monastery. From this monolithic citadel they patrol the entire forest, rooting out any dangers that might make it their home. In order to ensure their independence from regional politics and the self-sufficiency of their order the Shepherds have dug wells and mines, tilled fields, felled trees, built forges, and even harnessed a native salt-marsh, essentially transforming their monastery into a city state separate from the rest of Urkenthest. Although certain clan leaders have found this behavior somewhat alarming it is generally accepted that the Shepherds are only doing what's best for themselves and by extent the festival as a whole, which has given them the freedom to do what they wish with little to no judgement of supervision.

Execution

At the beginning of the festival, necessary supplies are shipped in, temporary shelters are erected, and those that wish to conduct ceremonies, give speeches, or make any sort of performance jockey for space, claiming plots of land or bargaining with those who have already done so. Once all of that is established the festivities begin in earnest. It is at this point that most of the Festivals attendants typically turn up, and as they do so units of the Woodland Shepherds ensure they leave any weapons or dangerous objects they cannot justify behind before entering the forest. Only members of the Woodland Shepherds are permitted to go armed within the perimeter of the Burning Forest, and even they are subject to restriction. Beyond these preliminary steps there is precious little to the Festival in regards to organization. It is a time for people from far and near to eat and drink together, speaking as freely as they pour their wine, not one dedicated to the tedium of planning and social strategy. Lest these words be misunderstood it is important to state that many structured rituals and displays do take place during the Festival, but these are devised by separate organizations and are in no way indicative of how the event itself is run.

Components and tools

It would be foolish to mistake the Burning Forest Festival for one of the multitudinous rites and rituals conducted by the Urken and the immigrant populations they have adopted, for it has nothing of the polished pomp or ceremony of such solemn ordeals and possesses much simpler trappings. In place of holy meals and meager yet polite refreshment it boasts a legion of tables buckled under the weight of victuals from across the east of Urkenthest and enough drink to drown a southern leviathan. Instead of prayers from a tome the Festival provides ballads and ditties from the mouths of anyone audacious or drunk enough to offer them. Finally, where other rituals might hang banners or portraits of their patron deity, the Festival hangs ribbons beyond counting, ribbons woven in the colors of summer, autumn, and merriment.

Participants

Although the majority of those present undoubtedly hail from society's lower classes it is common to see individuals of great power and influence seated alongside them. These can include members of noble clans, prosperous organizations, acclaimed scholars, decorated generals, foreign dignitaries, and many more. For in addition to the previously mentioned political and religious value of the festival, there is no denying that it holds a certain rustic charm that is difficult to resist.

Observance

Only when the seed pods of the Burning Forest reach maturity can the Festival commence, for it is their tell-tale popping that gave the woods their name and gave rise to their related celebrations in the first place. This means that the festivities do not always begin at the same time, with early or late winters shifting the moment of commencement drastically.

Related Ethnicities