Winterfest

Winterfest is most prominent across well-established worlds, a popular event which takes place near the end of the universal year - although not every planet experiences winter at the same time, the name has stuck due to longstanding traditions on Shaia and Nexion in particular.

Winterfest leads up to another key holiday, the Rise of The New Year. Winterfest Day is about a week before this end of the year holiday, where friends and family exchange gifts and vows for what they hope to do better next year.

Extravagant feasts are held and people celebrate making it through another year together. Stories such as The Silver Star and The Northern Wizard are extremely popular, telling stories of overcoming all odds in harsh whiteouts and bringing gifts and joy to those around you.

Winterfest is a time of both joy and darkness, much like The Day of the Dead - however unlike The day of the Dead, the thematic elements focus on the harshness of winter and famous northern regions of inhabited planets.

Winterfest is a time for giving, pushing through the harsh winter and banding together. Many places celebrate it and the events are as numerous as they are varied.

Holiday Symbols and Traditions

Maloth are large creatures found in the northern regions of The Crimson Coast, used for heavy labor and sledding. During Winterfest, races are held with these massive creatures where mushers race them along a track.

The races are dangerous for the contenders due to the sheer size of Maloth, but it's a spectacle every year and with time safety precautions have gotten better and better.

Each set of races has different sled requirements, including an old-style wood sled race.

Maloth Racing

Hearth is located near the northern coast of The Crimson Coast and is home to dozens of famous stories associated with Winterfest.

Tens of thousands travel to this region during the winter season to celebrate Winterfest and participate in the celebration. Famous celebrities play music and live performances at the theater. Hunters stalk the region for rare beasts. Magicians come for the strange, magically charged snow found in the region. Everyone has a reason to visit Hearth, which has led to it being a huge trade and tourist hub.

The City of Hearth

Frahi Fruits

Frahi fruit are popular glowing fruits found on the Frahi trees in the Elatriel region. They make wonderful razel, a type of sweet, carbonated drink often mixed with alcohol or potions for varying effects.

The Frahi, however, while outwardly friendly do not like outsiders visiting their cities. They'll trade with the locals but prefer to keep their homes isolated to the trees scattered across the frozen north.

Spire Tournament

Nexion is known for the great ice spire which pierces the planet, the origins of which are still to this day unknown. During Winterfest, men and women will explore the tower - with thousands of massive camp grounds setting up around the tower base.

These camps become celebratory carnival grounds very quickly, with games and temporary rides set up to allow individuals to enjoy themselves. Raging bonfires burn effigies of old evils, replicas of the old ice witch and Krampus.

Within the tower, brave adventurers search for treasure and hunt rare monsters to bring back for parts and delicacies. Outside, the party rages on well into the new year.

String Cheese and Fondue

Popular food items in the winter, string cheese, fried cheese and fondue of both the warm chocolate and hot cheese variety are extremely popular around this time of the year.

Furrbit Eats, a popular diner in Hearth, is known for massive fondue towers which they prepare for patrons to eat from. These dishes are so large and have such a variety of meats they've become galaxy famous and people will travel just to try their legendary meals.

Violet Snow

The region of Elatriel is known for an anomalous snow which seems to tamper with magic, either enhancing it or causing spells to fail. The cause for this is entirely unknown, but it has caused many stories. Some believe Satet is responsible while others blame so-called winter spirits and other environmental factors.

The true cause may never be known, but when the violet snow falls all must be wary.

Nicholas Alteru, the modern-day "santa" is not santa as we know him but is believed to be where many of the stories come from. His history is rich and the half-goliath has lived for thousands of years. He brings gifts to children in need and helps govern over the Wondrous Land of the North and the city of Hearth.

Nicholas specializes in scrying magic using a great snow globe which projects images. His image has become a popular holliday symbol, similar to Kraruna Dolls.

Nicholas Alteru

Popular Holiday-Related Stories

The Silver Star

Years ago in the northern region of Elatriel, a celestial monk named Jinshi wandered the frozen north – alone, tired, cold and afraid. His caravan had been separated by a complete white-out, the wind and snow blinding and frigid. Not a star could be seen in the harsh conditions, and the elements encroached from all sides.

After days of travel, Jinshi had lost his way. He pushed through the snow banks, starving and exhausted. Not a soul was in sight, and the blizzard would not let up.

But then it happened. A silver glint in the night sky, the only light Jinshi could see for miles. It glittered and flashed, like a lighthouse on the coast or a flare splitting open an empty night. Jinshi, with a prayer, set forth and followed this silver spark.

After six long hours, he was free of the blizzard. And the glint high in the sky which had delivered him to salvation appeared to be a silver star, leading the way to the city of Hearth. He was greeted at the gates by the guards who had been searching for him, and all were shocked he had found his way.

When Jinshi inquired as to the source of the glow, all eyes turned skyward. But the star was not there.

The Great Deer

There are many stories of The Great Deer of the North, Satet - a being on insurmountable magic power that to this day has new stories and reports coming out about it.

In some stories, Satet is malevolant - going out of it's way to attack caravans and individuals lost out in the frozen north of Elatrel. In others, Satet is a guiding beacon who helps travelers safely pass through blizzards.

The reality is thought to be somewhere in the middle, if the deer even does truly exist. A protector of the forest who only allows passage to those who wish it and it's spawn no harm.

Provoke Satet, and the beast will impale you with mighty spikes of ice which it summons via it's magnificent antlers. Satet is said to be several men tall and long, with antlers so large they look like trees. Glowing, icy eyes illuminate it's face through even the fiercest white-outs.

Some people will bring berries to the forest as offerings for The Great Deer, as it is said to like fresh berries and fruits.

Hungry Winter Trees

An old children's story from the north tells tales of beautiful pines capable of using their roots to attack passerbyes, although for what purpose few know.

A popular monk named Karuna is said to have come across a grove of these trees after searching for one to cut down for his Winterfest celebration, as the monks often travel to Nexion to spread wealth and food in the harsh winter season.

When he came across these trees, tales say they spoke to him - asking for food and water. He, of course, being a gentleman himself, agreed.

It is said a great party took place in the forest that night, with the woodland creatures and the speaking trees feasting and dining with the lone monk. Their cries and music could be heard all through the night.

Karuna, however, returned with a warning to those living on Nexion. Make sure any trees you step by don't move on their own, else you may find yourself taken to an unknown grove and have food and drink demanded of you!

The Elatriel Express

The Elatriel Expresss is an old reconfigured war train turned gift-bringing charity icon. All year long the city of Hearth accepts donations and makes their own toys to load up onto the train and take to The Wondrous City of The North, a land ruled by Nicholas Alteru under the eye of the ruler of the second shai royal throne.

The Elatriel Express makes this trip several times a year, pulling hundreds of thousands of different toys and knick-knacks for Winterfest. These are either given to charities and orphanages or sold at lower prices for the holiday season, and everyone pitches in.

Traveling through Elatriel is no easy feat, both due to the harsh winters, dangerous weather and magic phenomenon. Despite this, The Elatriel Express has always arrived on time - never missing a stop and never disappointing the children waiting for their toys and gifts. Famous stories such as Polar Tracks and The Wondrous Train in The North speak of The Elatriel Express and its strange crews ability to always be on time, as well as the hazards they’ve faced on their trips.