Rubyfall

The arrival of a bright red comet. A twenty-seven year cycle.

Urvén has a number of comets that perform wide, elliptical orbits around its form. These vary in period of orbit from twelve to two-hundred and four years. One such comet, Rystivva, the Ruby Eye is famous for its bright red hue and close proximity to the surface at its closest point of orbit.

Rubyfall is the name for the period of time during which Rystivva is visible in the sky before dropping below the northern horizon. It is celebrated across Geganna as a sacred time due to how the change in light turns the sands scarlet. This occurs roughly once every twenty-seven years.

History

Rubyfall began as a time of wonder for the people of Great Sond. While other comets travelled overhead, few were as bright or as regular as Rystivva.

In the times after the calamity, the people of Geganna went through a period of instability as local leaders and war chiefs clashed over territories. The realm of Istabi was the first to reform and lay out its borders due to a strong claim of lineage from its ruling class, particularly King Jifir Isten III. In one last, desperate attempt to shatter the Istabi people, Chieftain Baltaf Grukobi challenged the young king to single combat and set a time limit of eight days before they would resort to poisoning the river Ist. Jifir agreed to four days time, out on the sands, under the moonlight.

What Baltaf failed to realise was that the duel fell on the night of Rubyfall. Jifir arrived bedecked in gold and crimson ceremonial armour that shimmered eerily in the red light. Unsettled and on the back foot, Baltaf was struck down and his warrior horde disbanded.

To this day, the Rubyfall is celebrated across Geganna as an auspicious day.

Summer Camp 2021

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This was an article originally written as part of the 2021 Summer Camp challenge. I have edited the article since then, so what appears on this page no longer reflects the original competition entry. - Theoclymenus