<BGSOUND src="#">Everyone knows that there are five major festivals celebrated anually in the "civilized" realms. The first of these is Midwinter. Also known as Deepwinter Day, it falls between Hammer and Atlturiak. (January and February) and is traditionally thought of as the coldest day of the year. Throughout the Dales, many ways of celebrating this holiday can be found, but all Dalesmen agree on one fact. No one works on Deepwinter Day. In addition to this, in Shadowdale residents celebrate the only way they know how. They drink until they pass-out. The fiery liquers native to the Dales help banish the cold, and any Dalesman worth his weight in silver loves this festival. In Daggerdale, Midwinter is more feared than celebrated, for Deepwinter Day is also tax day. All residents are encouraged to pay their taxes the easy and painless way, by lining up at local town halls and paying their assessed share. Most do this, but there are a few in every township who choose to defy this law. Daggerdale holds the unique policy of hearing it's citizens reasons for not paying, but those who listen to these pleas are notoriously merciless and residents are usually still forced to pay, or face imprisonment. Daggerdale does not condone the execution of citizens for non-payment. A lifetime spent in the dungeon is much more effective. Archendale, Harrowdale, and The High Dale spend the day renewing trade pacts and planning for the year ahead. Much time is also spent in prayer to the Goddess of Trade, Waukeen. For some reason, these prayers are only answered within these three dales, and only on Midwinter. Sages speculate that the prayers are actually annswered by a different god, as dead deities are hard pressed to grant boons to their followers. Featherdale's farmers and herders use Deepwinter Day both as a day of reckoning, when all debts must be paid, and as a day to decide what they will plant and/or raise in the next season. This avoids neighboring farmers stepping on each others toes. Perhaps this is why the dale remains so peaceful. Mistledale and Deepingdale have found that the cold of Midwinter makes it the perfect day to spend in study, meditation, and other intellectual pursuits. The elves of the region, however, celebrate the fact that winter is half over, and won't get any worse. This proves that some cultures will find any excuse to throw a party. Finally, Battledale and Scardale pass the day in arguing contests. Citizens of Battledale never come to blows over these arguments, and know that this day is a great way to blow off steam without causing any lasting damage. In Scardale the policy is the same, save that fights have sometimes resulted including one disastrous year in which seventeen were killed after a petty quarrel got out of hand. Yet the tradition continues none the less. --Sonus Irontree This information comes from my own campaigns, and is not found in any TSR or Wizards of the Coast materials. The names of the various Dales communities are copyright to TSR, inc. The Festival of GreengrassHigharvestide Midsummernight The Feast of the MoonShieldmeet Day Back to Main PageBack to Table of ContentsBack to "Articles Previously Posted on this Page" Toga Party Tonite! Please mail comments and suggestions to:[email protected] <script language="javascript1.1" src="http://adserver.ugo.com/js.ng/params.richmedia=yes&cat=games&cat2=games&cat3=g&page=111&site=rpghost&size=468x60"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://adserver.ugo.com/click.ng/params.richmedia=yes&UID=$random$&cat=games&cat2=games&cat3=g&page=111&site=rpghost&size=468x60"> <img src="http://adserver.ugo.com/image.ng/params.richmedia=yes&UID=$random$&cat=games&cat2=games&cat3=g&page=111&site=rpghost&size=468x60" border=0></a> </noscript>
Throughout the Dales, many ways of celebrating this holiday can be found, but all Dalesmen agree on one fact. No one works on Deepwinter Day. In addition to this, in Shadowdale residents celebrate the only way they know how. They drink until they pass-out. The fiery liquers native to the Dales help banish the cold, and any Dalesman worth his weight in silver loves this festival.
In Daggerdale, Midwinter is more feared than celebrated, for Deepwinter Day is also tax day. All residents are encouraged to pay their taxes the easy and painless way, by lining up at local town halls and paying their assessed share. Most do this, but there are a few in every township who choose to defy this law. Daggerdale holds the unique policy of hearing it's citizens reasons for not paying, but those who listen to these pleas are notoriously merciless and residents are usually still forced to pay, or face imprisonment. Daggerdale does not condone the execution of citizens for non-payment. A lifetime spent in the dungeon is much more effective.
Archendale, Harrowdale, and The High Dale spend the day renewing trade pacts and planning for the year ahead. Much time is also spent in prayer to the Goddess of Trade, Waukeen. For some reason, these prayers are only answered within these three dales, and only on Midwinter. Sages speculate that the prayers are actually annswered by a different god, as dead deities are hard pressed to grant boons to their followers.
Featherdale's farmers and herders use Deepwinter Day both as a day of reckoning, when all debts must be paid, and as a day to decide what they will plant and/or raise in the next season. This avoids neighboring farmers stepping on each others toes. Perhaps this is why the dale remains so peaceful.
Mistledale and Deepingdale have found that the cold of Midwinter makes it the perfect day to spend in study, meditation, and other intellectual pursuits. The elves of the region, however, celebrate the fact that winter is half over, and won't get any worse. This proves that some cultures will find any excuse to throw a party.
Finally, Battledale and Scardale pass the day in arguing contests. Citizens of Battledale never come to blows over these arguments, and know that this day is a great way to blow off steam without causing any lasting damage. In Scardale the policy is the same, save that fights have sometimes resulted including one disastrous year in which seventeen were killed after a petty quarrel got out of hand. Yet the tradition continues none the less.
--Sonus Irontree
Please mail comments and suggestions to:[email protected]
