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abraxaslogs2021-12-11 04:23 pm
The Dimming - Thorne
Throughout the Kingdom of Thorne, the Dimming is begun. This festival, held in harmony with the annual cycle of the seasons and the slide of the Singularity into temporary dormancy, is a celebration of two halves. The mood is generally somber and reflective in the days leading to the winter solstice itself, with the promise of a fantastic explosion of life, light and renewal waiting on the other side.
The Festival begins with song. As the sun goes down across the Kingdom, a many-layered hymn the Summoned have never heard begins to rise up from the streets. The words are strange and arcane, but everyone in Thorne seems to know them. Young, old, rich and poor alike all watch the darkness fall together, each holding the flickering light of a candle as they sing an ancient promise to be light for one another.
In distant Hayle, the bitter cold has the congregants gathering in the tunnels built into the mountainside.
Borrel sees the farmhouses scattered among the fields linked to the central barracks with military processions.
Lamplight scatters on the water as a flotilla of fishing vessels line up along the lakeshore of Nott.
And in Castle Thorne, the King and Queen step out onto the royal balcony to join the ceremony with a heavily gilded lantern each.
For the week to come as the days continue to grow shorter and dimmer, all of Thorne makes the lofty pledge to rely not on the convenience of magic, but on the kindness of others. Enchantments providing light, heat and many other necessities are dispelled, replaced for the season with their mundane counterparts. Many households bring out heirloom lanterns from storage, blow the dust from tools ordinarily rendered obsolete with the simplest word of a spell and get ready for a week of wholesome back-to-basics contemplation.
Street vendors set up stalls with intricate votives and lanterns for sale alongside strengthening mugs of richly spiced mulled wine and baskets of sweetbread. Shadow puppet storytellers delight children with tales of brave Thornean heroes of old, knights accompanying a temporarily weakened mage as she carries the hope of light returning back to its source of the Singularity, fending off attack from monstrous creatures wreathed in darkness. And as midnight falls, a procession of volunteers carry candles to ring the city walls themselves in light: a hundred flickering flames to guard against the night until dawn.
The following morning, anyone who listened carefully to the words of the song will realize the Thread the Thorneans made reference to wasn't strictly metaphorical. Symbolising interconnectedness, a long, continuous cord has been strung in a winding path through the labyrinth of each city’s streets— and it isn’t long before each begins gathering colourful ribbons tied like fluttering bunting all along its length. During the Dimming, Thorneans write their wishes on these strips of fabric and affix them to the Thread... while others choose to take a ribbon from it as a vow to make that wish come true by the season’s end.
Few in Thorne believe in gods these days, but according to tradition there is unusual and bountiful luck to be found in answering another’s prayer. Should any of the Summoned ask at any of the streetside vendors for a ribbon of their own, they will be invited to write a wish and tie it to the Thread wherever they like (Don’t forget to sign it so anyone inspired to generosity knows how to find you, though!). They are also welcome to claim any already hanging there if they would like to do a little good for others in the spirit of the season.
Every community across the Kingdom has its own Thread, but the courtyard of Castle Thorne itself is the true focal point of the season’s festivities. Set up on a raised platform is a richly gilded throne, notably empty, and as the Dimmest Day approaches the courtyard begins to fill with offerings.
Laid before the throne is an ever-growing carpet of gifts. Candles in decorative lanterns, wreaths and garlands, hampers of food, bottles of wine, some with carefully written cards nestled beside them while others are accompanied by a child’s drawing. These gifts come not only from the residents of the castle and the surrounding town, but also from settlements further afield. Each of the great cities has sent something in tribute— but not to the King, the Queen, or even the High Mage. The throne is not for them.
Any of the Summoned curious enough to peek at a card or ask one of their hosts about the ceremony will discover the gifts are all intended for a mage selected to carry an impossible burden, sacrificing their life to restore magic to the world.
(Coming soon! The events of December 21st and beyond will depend on player actions...)
A Call to Action!
"As the perceptive amongst you may have noticed, this time of year is usually a somber affair, the lives of the many once again bought with the ultimate sacrifice of one individual from our ranks. Yes, to become a mage here in Thorne is to earn high honor, but we take on that mantle knowing that any one of us may be the soul chosen to venture out to the Singularity, delivering that life-giving essence that keeps our world and all other worlds stable.
"One for the many. An easy choice to make, isn't it? In theory. Until you are the one chosen, the one elected to make that sacrifice. That is the burden that all Thornean mages carry."
He pauses for effect, making eye contact with each of the assembled.
"Until now."
He extends his arms outwards as his voice expands in his own excitement, evenly paced though his words are.
"This year it is because of you, the Summoned, that we no longer need to give life to preserve others. Because it is you who can do what we can't; to breach the Singularity.
"Now, don't get ahead of yourselves. I see that look in your eyes. The last time you drew near you were all but sucked into its essence, weren't you? And those who were not part of that journey have doubtlessly heard of it by now. But that is what makes this time of year special. Once again, the power of Singularity itself is waning as the seasons grow cold and the light becomes dim. In this state, a highly trained Thornean mage can survive the journey beyond the crater's edge long enough to deliver it a gift before being consumed... but you? With a little effort, each of you should be able to approach the very center itself without being carried helplessly away to the metaphysical realm of the Horizon. The caskets, Frederick."
On cue the younger mage lifts the heavy fabric covering the table. On it sit a pile of strange, leaden caskets, each about the size of a man's fist, smoothly spherical in shape. Somehow, even through the solid metallic shell, it's possible to perceive a kind of light glowing within. A warmth. An energy.
"Each of these contains something older than magic. Raw form energy, siphoned from the Singularity during a period of excess, millennia ago. Delivering one of these during the Dimming gives the Singularity the strength necessary to recover from its diminishing. Delivering all of these gathered here could do so much more. I believe it could begin to reverse the weakening trend we have observed, the very crisis threatening reality itself that you were brought here to solve.
"Frederick here is this year's Elected. Should you decide yourselves willing to take up Thorne's cause in his stead, I invite you to take a stand by the Empty Throne in the courtyard at midday on the Dimmest Day. This quest will not be an easy one. We can expect resistance from the Free Cities, and who knows what those fools in the communes are up to after their last debacle... but you will be armed and armored, while I and my mages remain here to protect the Castle and monitor the Singularity's output. If my theory is right, the more we successfully provide to the Singularity, the stronger it will be in the coming year."
Ambrose's gaze sweeps over the assembled Summoned one last time. Beside him, the young mage's expression falters, then resolves. He covers the glowing caskets with their shroud once more.
"Our people have put a great deal of faith in the Summoned," Ambrose reminds them, as a pair of guards open the heavy doors of the hall, readying to escort the Summoned back out into the antechamber beyond where they can discuss the High Mage's request, if they wish. "I hope you do not disappoint us."
(Characters can discuss Ambrose's request in the antechamber by responding to this thread. If your character decides to join the mission to the Singularity, please use the sign-up form over here! A log for the mission itself will be posted on Saturday, Dec 18th.)