Celebrated every December and into the New Year, the Life of Lights is a two week holiday that natives of Mandalus partake in. Similar to all festivals of the planet/city, the holiday is set deep within the culture's lore. Life of Lights is a time for the Mandalus citizens to remember that despite the hardships there is hope at the end. This is made as representation through "a light at the end of winter."
During this two week period, ribbons and banners of silver, white and ice-blue dawn the streets, businesses and homes. A small idol of marble will appear in the religious homes. The idol is of a woman with a hood holding a candle in her hands, nestled to her bosom. Ice and light are very much the themes of this holiday, so if your character celebrates the traditions of Earth, expect strange looks from the native population!
Thanks to the emergence of the C'Meni in the city's culture and politics? Traditions of the cities that were beyond the barrier of Mandalus have been brought to this holiday season. Those who were here with us last year will notice the new additions.
Lore of Enrilem and Kreyus
The Goddess Enrilem was the Goddess of cold, ice, and snow. She ruled the last three months of the year and first three months of the year, mirroring the God named Alacritas. Enrilem was the mother of Morgeis, having fallen in love with a mortal man and bearing him a son. Once Morgeis died at the hands of the Serpent-God Mes'Klou, the Goddess Messis went into a depression and ran away from the world. Crops died and refused to grow, and it seemed as if everyone would starve through the winter.
Knowing that mortals needed hope to survive, Enrilem sought a way to give mortals hope that life would return. She turned to her younger brother Kreyus the Keeper of A'Vilgi. Her younger brother provided her with leaves of the tree of the multiverse - A'Vilgi - to fashion into lights that would warm the mortals in the cold.
Winter passed as Messis's mourning lessened. Once the snow started to melt, Enrilem instructed the mortals to send the lights out over the water. There they would find their way to the roots of A'Vilgi and become leaves once again. A promise was made that for every harsh winter, the Leaves of A'Vilgi would come to mortals and provide light and warmth until the season had passed.
What To Expect
• Decorations will be in every single district of the city. Homes, businesses and public areas are decorated in colors of silver and blue in the memory of Enrilem and white for Kreyus. Each major window of each building will have a lantern lit at night to represent the lights given to mortals by the gods.
• Citizens will still be wary and quiet due to the recent events of the game, but at the same time will be oddly helpful. The particularly brave ones will over lanterns to Honored Guests in hopes of sharing traditions.
• Weather is frightful! Snow, snow, and more snow. Look out for announcement of a blizzard!
• December 31st, New Years Eve citizens will be releasing their lanterns into the ocean to symbolize their legends of the Lights of Life.
➡ THAT HOLIDAY CHEER
Even though we have lore and a plotline for this holiday season, the Mod Team has decided to let the holiday cheer hit the streets of Mandalus and let everyone be completely silly. After everything that has happened, the city and Honored Guests have earned a breather. Mandalus-style, of course.
Magic Mistletoe
By popular demand, Magic Mistletoe will be all over the city! In doorways and entryways, maybe even in an isle in the super market, Honored Guests will be forced to kiss whoever is standing with them under the mistletoe. It doesn't have to be a full on romantic dip kiss. A peck on the cheek, one on the forehead, maybe even a nose kiss! But there's no escaping some lip-to-skin action.
Tacky Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Everyone will wake up with a tacky Christmas Sweater on them at one point in the event--if you choose to of course. There's no explanation of how or when it got there. You are free to choose which sweater your Honored Guests has gotten themselves stuck in, but it is festive and cheery. Have some cocoa with it!
Winter Attractions
Ice skating? Sleigh rides? Not a problem! In the Business District a huge ice rink is being made for anyone to come and enjoy the fun! Sleigh rides will be available through out the city as well. Snowmen, snowball fights? Have it all! Caroling? You can do that too.
➡ EVENT TIMELINE
December 19 Life of Lights start. The snow storms continue and holiday cheer hits the city. Mistletoe, ugly sweaters and winter attractions all start/open to the public!
December 24 - December 25 Christmas Eve/Day. While this holiday holds no significance in Mandalus, Honored Guests are invited and encouraged to celebrate any traditions they might have for the holiday. This includes possibly not celebrating it at all!
December 27 - January 3 The plot portion of the event starts! Snow storms will continue to rise, possibly hitting blizzard conditions until the reveal of who is causing them. From here, a narrative to build to end game begins!
December 31 - January 1 New Years Eve/Day. A minor celebration for Mandalus, as Lights of Life can be considered a New Years tradition in itself. Honored Guests are welcome to celebrate the holiday however they wish, including not celebrating it!