Solstitia's Radiance

As the sun peeked over the misty jagged mountainside, as it usually did at this time in the middle of the year, Marius fixed his puff tie in the rippled reflection of the window and dreaded the day's proceedings. Dread was an appropriate word, he thought, as the hours would drag like a body in a bag or maple syrup in winter. Eschewing the silver mirror at the vanity and his pale reflection, he attempted to tame his defiant cow-lick... in vain.
Knock, knock came the chamber door before Iokab, the family butler, entered with the morning cart. As to be expected, it was bare save for a small boring pot of plain black tea.
"Good morning, young master. I trust you slept well?" The same dull, drawling greeting to accompany such dismal fare. It was not to even be dignified with a response.
"Just... tell me what to do to get this egregious holiday over with haste."
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The lilting cadence of song filled the back hallway leading to the atrium. It was accompanied by the scrubbing of a brush and the sloshing of soapy water.
Sweet love of mine

Come back, come

Your ring is on my finger

Wasting so much time
There was a reason Lumina was a housemaid and not an opera singer, but she could manage a melody. Sitting back on her heels and wiping her tawny brow, she watched the rays of the sun turn the world from gray to gold. A soft smile tugged at her lips. She had been looking forward to today for some time now. It was going to be a wonderful solstice.
"Lumina!" The housekeeper barked at her, heels clicking on the freshly scrubbed pine wood flooring. "What do you think you're doing?"
She winced and wiped her hands on her flowered apron but before she could answer, the lord's son and the butler turned the corner behind Mrs. Baciu. Lumina hastily grabbed her gear, careful not to let the bucket slosh, and bowed as they passed.
For but a moment her umber eyes caught the young master's and she saw them flicker black.
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"Early lessons it is then…" Marius grumbled with a begrudging agreement as he headed for the door. "But I would hold them in the atrium at least."
Venturing down the spiral stairs, he ruminated on his misfortune and pondered how painful the holiday would be as it was every year. He was not even allowed to don his preferred attire. What a nuisance this was. Why did anyone even celebrate fasting and self-denial? What purpose did it serve--?
The perfume of a human woman's scent pervaded his nostrils and yanked his head to the side. It was her, the little housemaid who was usually out of sight and mind. Marius felt the bestial hunger in the back of his throat and he turned his head away before the change of his face betrayed him. The boy took a metered breath to soothe himself, oblivious to Iokab droning about his parents' plans for the holiday.
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Little Lumina let out the breath she held as the young master passed, alarmed but relieved it was nothing but a glance. Mrs. Baciu clicked her tongue in disapproval when the atrium door closed; she did not seem to share her subordinate's thoughts.
"Barely with a foot in the door with a barony and that boy will bring ruin on this house if he doesn't get ahold of his appetites. Mark my words. His father should have him whipped as they did in my day." Mrs. Baciu utterly seethed, her own eyes flashing yellow with contempt.
Lumina let out a little snicker at her rhetoric in an attempt to diffuse the residual tension, "He is yet new to the city, ma'am. The baroness herself jests about her own lascivious appetite--" The housekeeper sharply held up a finger in rebuke, needing to utter nothing aloud to silence her.
The housemaid waited with bated breath, tensely awaiting punishment.
"...You are not to be working on this day, little lady. I needn't remind you." The elder woman managed through sharp gritted teeth.
Lumina hastily bowed, casting her eyes down as she tried to explain. "Of course, ma'am. I just didn't want my work to pile up--"
"Away with you. I will already get an earful from Iokab," She spat his name with disdain, "I won't have one from you too." Mrs. Baciu made a shoo-ing motion with her hand and turned her chin up.
Wanting to keep her blood inside her body lest she risk angering the housekeeper, Lumina silently bowed and retreated to her quarters. All the other human staff had left for the day to visit their families or the temples and she was alone. An excited grin broke out on her lips as she shed her servant's uniform and she changed into her plainclothes.
Before she left to join her people, she took the opportunity to kneel at her bedside. Lumina held her wooden holy symbol in her palm, running her thumb over the scales of the serpentine body and the eyes of the skull coiled together.
Father Vaht Sugaad, I thank you for your strength and good fortune this year since the last Solstitia. May I honor you in my humble work.
She lingered on the vampiric dragon.
Father Koroth Sehk, I thank you for your protection from our masters and your wisdom in this charnel house. May I honor you in my humble work.
She kissed the lich's wooden bejeweled eyes and rose to gleefully join the sunlight.
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Marius spent the day slacking in his lessons, silently lamenting his misfortune, cursing the summer solstice, and counting the days in his head he and the others in his house had been fasting from blood. Mrs. Baciu was particularly devout - and also particularly on edge - so it must have been at least a month. Iokab's silver streaks were starting to show in his raven hair, so in his case perhaps a couple of weeks at most. His tutor was new, so it was too hard to tell with her.
He fixated on mourning the loss of the single glass of blood wine he was allowed a week. His parents, heathens that they were, only worshipped to maintain appearances and only fasted for three days rather than the priest's recommended minimum of one week.
Solstitia is an excellent learning opportunity for you, my darling, his mother told him, it will teach you a lesson! A lesson your father and I have already learned. Marius was sickened at this brazen hypocrisy and cursed his family. Nightfall - an end to the fast - could not come soon enough.
He longingly watched the streets below through the windows of the atrium as festivities broke out on the streets when the sun kissed the Archduke's western mountains. As his thoughts wandered to the lovely housemaid, he began to daydream about being a human commoner and how easy it must have been for them….
When he was released from lessons, the young man bolted like a bull from a pen to strip down to common clothes. He slipped out onto the streets barefoot like the other citizens and pilgrims with no heed for his parents' agenda… whatever it was. He did not recall.
His heart thumped in his fragile young chest to the rhythm of the rejoicing city as he was caught up in the crowd. The sights, sounds, and scents of Sulaste at night overwhelmed his developing vampiric senses. Marius found himself carried to the square, where the ancient High Priest of Flesh and High Priestess of Soul was holding Mass for the mortals by glimmering candlelight.
Catching his breath, the young master took a candle and lit it on his neighbor's. He closed his eyes, letting the rapture of the crowd communing with the gods overtake him. He ached for a respite from the harrowing hunger and boredom of daily life.
His nose pricked as a recognizable scent was caught. He turned his head. Lumina stood a few paces away in the crowd with her own candle in hand. Golden light danced off of her shining eyes and one dimple creased her cheek. Marius' breath caught in his throat as he held eye contact with her. Surprisingly, she smiled. Even more so, he did as well.
As if in a trance, he found himself pushing through the crowd to be next to her, hoping - no, needing - to get closer as the priestess called for them to raise their lights to the heavens. He wanted - no, needed - to touch her, kiss her, something, anything….
Lumina gently corrected him, taking his wrist and holding the candle up. She did not wince when the hot wax dripped onto her weathered fingers. If anything she embraced it, for the sting reminded her she was alive and this moment was real.
Marius' frenzy calmed when she touched him and the hammering in his heart ceased. He gave her a sincere apologetic bow of his head before she closed her eyes for the prayer of the High Priest. He knew he should do the same, but the young master could not help but watch her face in the candlelight and feel her hand on his.
The High Priest's voice rang out over the reverent crowd. "On this night, we recall the Fathers' bounty, preserving us in our time of need. We honor his ancient gift of game and flesh by preserving our rations for lean days, reflecting on our gifts in this life, and exalting our august masters with tribute, worship, and prayer. Hail the great Lords of blood and soul, flesh and mind, earthly and arcane... and be thankful, my children."

History

Solstitia, or the summer solstice, is celebrated by all people throughout Ulvad but each nation does so differently. The practice dates back to well before the Great Storm, so the truth of the origin is lost to even the most ancient of creatures. But all nations can agree on one notion: Ulvad suffered from a great famine in a time of trial. The once-living gods in their benevolence ended the blight and restored life to the land.
Sulaste celebrates the return of the hunting game to the mountains. Halden and Zafriste, the grain to their fields. And Carovige the return of fish to their coast and delta. The people of Ulvad take time in the abundant parts of the year to reflect on their blessings with fasting and self-denial of luxuries and praise their deities in their own ways. Each nation has different customs, celebrations, and beliefs for the solstice but it is one of the few things the whole continent shares.