Conthestani



The Conthestani people are one of the oldest human communities, outdating The Tawdonian Empire on the Material Plane. The Conthestani refers to the three communities of The Skae, The Pyren, and The Curn. These communities have formed a unified group under the name Conthestani, which in their traditional dialect, means ‘knower of stone’. This refers to the Conthestani’s religious centres, what are known as Conthestani or Psychic stones - stones of great power and significance that gather psychic energy, memories, and knowledge across generations.

The Conthestani people hold nature, tradition, unity, and psychic discipline as their core values. They are an ancient people, with many generations of oral tradition passed down. While the Imperials developed cities and vast buildings, the Conthestani chose to remain close to nature, their ancestors, and their traditional ways of life. Players who play Conthestani should take inspiration from modern druidic and pagan traditions, focusing on spirits, animals, and nature. Be careful to research, and not appropriate marginalized cultures.

= Roleplaying a Conthestani =

The biggest things that define a Conthestani is their connection to nature and the spirits, and their sense of unity as a community. Conthestani will always be friendly to other Conthestani, though this unity may also take the form of elitism, especially while keeping their fellow humans, Imperials, at arm's length. Conthestani represent tradition and keeping close to one's roots, and so it is unusual for them to feel comfortable in overly developed cities.

Looking like a Conthestani
The Conthestani people are heavily attuned to nature. Themes of plant and animal life, seasons and weather are common in their dress, as well as celestial bodies. A Conthestani with an animal themed Guardian may incorporate their image into their dress as well. Leathers are worn by the traditional warriors, but in recent decades, steel plate has made its way into the Conthestani armoury. The dress of the Conthestani people is varied, and has a lot of freedom, but they tend to avoid the look of Imperials, rejecting their gold accents, fine (but impractical) fabrics, or military influenced uniform.

Sounding like a Conthestani
Conthestani do not have any particular way of speech of note. The biggest difference between them and other humans is referring to spirits in almost everything. Where an Imperial or a Frontier human might tell you to be careful, it looks like it might rain soon, a Conthestani may word it as ‘the spirit of the storm is strong tonight’. To separate their world and existence from spirits is unthinkable, they are too intrinsic to their way of life.

Conthestani Names
Conthestani words are mixtures of words in old Germanic, a now dead language in the world outside of Mystfall. Languages that are Germanic in origin such as English, German, Dutch, Norweigion, etc. are good starting places for finding names.

Conthestani usually have one given name, and a last name that is either reflective of their family if they are of Skae origin, or the collective last name of the community if they are Curn. Pyren include titles in their names, such as “Tanner Caelen”.

Skae ex. Dagny of the Halvar family

Pyren ex. Woodworker Oscar

Curn ex. Astrid Munen (where Munen is the community name)

= The History of the Conthestani =

Shared Histories
Though there is no written record of the three communities (oral tradition being the more common practice), it is clear that their origins are similar, with the eventual fragmentation (and later reunification) of these people. The Psychic Stones are a common thread among the Skae, Pyren and Curn, as well as their shared worship of Mother Earth, Father Seasons, and the siblings Achievement and Potential (See: Religion). Powerful psychics who connect to these sacred stones find that they can communicate with psychics at similar stones almost instantaneously, though this connection was not realized until their reunification, and is physically and mentally taxing.

The Conthestani communities all seem to have similar practices in regards to their lifestyle. Sustainability is the core of their values, and the ‘buildings’ of their permanent settlements are integrated with the nature around it, built into trees, with natural rivers flowing through homes, etc. Not only does this harmony with nature match the Conthestani values of working in harmony with the gifts of Mother Earth, but also can act as an almost camouflage, allowing large communities to seem to disappear into the greenery. All three communities also practiced barter rather than a formalized monetary system, and even today, are unlikely to engage with Imperial coin, though that is becoming more and more difficult for Conthestani in the Frontier.

Imperial Invasion and Unification
It wasn’t until the Imperial expansion that the communities of the Skae, Pyren and Curn united under one banner. As the Imperial conquest reached the Eastern Woods, it became clear that their goal was to absorb the communities into the Empire and their society on their path of conquest. The leaders of the three communities simultaneously reached out to each other, and after several days, an agreement of a coalition came to be. Each community realized how much of their history and traditions was shared, though the direction they had gone in was slightly varied. They realized that together, they could hold off the Imperial invasion. With the unification, the Conthestani continued to hold off Imperial forces for decades, until the Imperials eventually pulled their forces, unable to defeat the Conthestani in their own land. Due to this decades long conflict, the Conthestani and the Imperials have a tenuous relationship, with the result being a begrudging truce between the two.

= Religion =

Mother Earth
Also known as The Great Mother, this is a reference to the earth itself. She is the spirit of this entire material world, but not that which is upon it: trees, rocks, streams, lakes, etc. all have their own spirits. She is generally regarded as the most powerful and important of all the Conthestani deities, but she is held to be a complete non-interventionist. Although she is concerned with all spirits, she does not ever offer any help that is not earned. All those that would work to earn what they would possess, her bounty for them is unlimited.

Father Seasons
Also known as The Great Father, this is a reference to the seasonal cycle. The Father would teach self reliance to any who would learn his lessons, and therefore is at least as unteachable as the Great Mother. His presence is indicated by summer, when he has returned with the bounty of his journeys as a gift to the Great Mother, but he will never remain for long, and his passing is denoted by the onset of winter. He rules over the domain of time, and teaches that the hard times of winter will always pass, returning the bounty of spring and summer year after year.

Achievement
A representation of the sun, Achievement is the oldest child of the Great Mother and Father. Achievement is the creator of all animals, birds, and aquatic creations. They are typified as an arrogant personality that is reliable, clever, and honest. They are however unimaginative and prone to fits of outrage at the rare occasion that they may fail at any of their endeavors. Achievement and Potential are gender neutral deities.

Potential
A representation of the moon, the younger of the two siblings (often called eternal rivals), their only creation is that of humanity, a creation that their sibling criticizes as weak and unable to fit with the other spirits of the world. Nevertheless, Potential’s creation foolishly exercises dominion over the spirits created by Achievement in ways unforeseen. Although humanity is abandoned by their Creator to seek their own way in the world, Achievement, jealous of their sibling’s creation will frequently subject humanity to tests and lessons. Potential is typified as unreliable, but subject to flashes of inspiration and moments of epiphany. Achievement and Potential are gender neutral deities.

Spirits and Spiritualists
The core belief of the Conthestani is that spirits inhabit everything, from each tree, animal, mortal, and object. Even places are said to contain a spirit. These spirits can be seen by psychics, of which there are many in the Conthestani population, and very powerful psychics called Spiritualists are considered people of the highest authority and respect.

Spiritualists tend to act as advisors to communities, with their wisdom coming from their deep connection to the spirits of the area, and the knowledge passed down through the Psychic Stones. Becoming a Spiritualist is a path of mentorship. Older Spiritualists will take on one or a few apprentices, teaching them to become more in tune with the spirits and Astral Plane, as well as passing on oral histories and wisdom to help apprentices one day become a leader in their community.

Guardians
As spirits are a central part of the Conthestani belief system, it is common practice for young Conthestani to reach out to a specific spirit called a Guardian. This Guardian will follow the Conthestani in their lifetime, guiding them, giving wisdom, and protecting them. The most common form these Guardians take are animals, but it isn’t uncommon to have the spirit of a plant, object, or the spirit of one’s ancestor. The discovery of one’s Guardian is a personal process, with no unified ritual. Some know their Guardian from a young age, some find their Guardians in an hour of need, and some spend years on voyages of self discovery in search of their Guardian. There are even some Conthestani who never attach themselves to a Guardian at all.

The Psychic Stones
The original Psychic Stones, or Conthestani Stones were erected so long ago, that the knowledge of creating and attuning them has been lost to the Conthestani. There are a limited number of these stones in the Eastern Woods and Frontier, and keeping them sacred and preserved is the duty of the Conthestani people. The loss of a Psychic Stone is a cause of great mourning, as a chapter of the community’s history is lost forever.

The Conthestani Stones have been used to convey and communicate knowledge, memory, and experience over many years. This information is passed psychically, and not in the form of words, but more of memories - brief glimpses, feelings, and experiences imprinted on the stones. Not only that, but the Conthestani stones, when used by a powerful Spiritualist or psychic, can be used to communicate near instantly with others at other stones. This gave the Conthestani a massive tactical advantage in terms of scouting, military tactics, and strategies during their war with the Imperials. As such, the Imperial military sought to destroy many of these stones. The Conthestani people have never truly forgiven the Imperials for this affront. The destruction of many stones during the war severed many connections, and only a few Conthestani Stones are capable of this long distance communication.

Dreamkeepers
With the now fragile state of the Psychic Stones, a somewhat newer role within the Conthestani community has arisen - Dreamkeepers. Each Psychic Stone has a Dreamkeeper, a member of the community who has chosen to forgo their own potential to act as a keeper of the psychic energies of the stones. The Dreamkeeper opens their mind to the histories, knowledge, and experiences of the Conthestani Stone, acting as a vessel should it be destroyed. The Dreamkeeper remains near their Psychic Stone, constantly meditating to harmonize their spirit with the collective spirit of the stone. Some Dreamkeepers remain in a meditative state next to their Psychic Stone for years, where they become one with the essence of this holy monument. This is a role of great honour and respect, and upon the death of a Dreamkeeper, their spirit remains a part of the stone forever, forgoing their place with the ancestors. There is currently no Dreamkeeper at the Conthestani Stone in Carreg Wynn.

= The Communities =

The Skae
The Skae (sk-AY) are a warrior community, who feel a special connection to the spirits of their ancestors. The Skae believe that once they die, they will join their ancestors in the afterlife, where they will be judged by them for their life’s actions. Their ancestors are assumed to always have at least one judge observing them from the moment of their birth to their death. Those who are judged fit to join them in the afterlife will be welcomed with feasting and hunting, but those found wanting will be hunted until they earn a chance to return to Mother Earth and try again in a new form. Positive traits that the Skae try to embody are bravery and defense of traditions and lands.

Birth and Childhood
Carrying a child is considered very honourable, and those who are with child are protected and cared for in an almost overbearing manner by the whole community. This is because the Skae place great importance on lines of ancestry, and will do everything they can to keep their generation line long. Skae are taught and raised communally, but live with their biological or adoptive parents. Those who lose their parents are fought over by members of the community, eager to increase their family size. It is common for Skae families to have many children.

Children and youth attend an informal ‘school’, where prominent members of the community will take turns teaching their specialties, and children can pursue these mentors as they age for more specialized education. Group hunts, play fighting, and storytelling are common pastimes for children.

Work and Play
The Skae are a passionate and devoted community. Emphasis on martial prowess such as fighting, hunting, and tracking are encouraged, and the hunters of the Skae are adept at blending in with the foliage of the area, a tactic also used in war for ambushes. Work is spread among the community, and those who do not fight are still respected as being ‘warriors’ of their own passions.

Oral tradition is very important to the Conthestani, and stories told around the fire have evolved for the Skae into elaborate plays and retellings, with costumes and dances. This form of entertainment is often boisterous, with audience members calling out and interacting with the actors or storytellers.

Love and Marriage
Skae are fiercely loyal and devoted, and as such, Skae marriages are almost never arranged, but born of true passion and devotion. The one who proposes will, once asking their partner, propose the union to the parents of their partner. If there are no parents, then to the elders of the community. With this proposal comes a challenge - the one who proposes will issue a challenge they feel will prove their worth, be it battle, hunting, or even a specialized skill like woodworking or cooking. The parents or elders will choose a member of the community to ‘fight’ the individual, though it is less of a battle and more a chance for the individual to show off their skills and ability to care for their partner.

Marriages are celebrations, where vows are exchanged, then a great feast takes place. The new couple will often be gifted a weapon of which to ‘defend’ the home, often displayed over a mantle.

War and Politics
The Skae are the first community to pick up their weapons should war break out. They were the first of the communities to fight against the Imperials during the war, and consider themselves the defenders of the land and traditions of the Conthestani people.

Like all Conthestani, communities are led by a council of elders. The common members of a Skae council are warriors and tacticians, as well as Spiritualists and those who have lived the longest and are thus most connected to the ancestors. Their policies are often stubbornly traditionalistic - Skae believe that their ancestors set down rules, laws, and traditions, and these policies should be maintained.

Crime and Punishment
Crimes are brought to leaders of communities, and issues between people are often sorted by a council of elders composed of respected warriors and powerful Spiritualists. Issues that cannot be resolved by council can be settled by trial by combat. Because the Skae want to be considered worthy by their ancestors, crimes within the Skae community are not as common.

Death and Burial
Skae believe that once they die, they join their ancestors in the afterlife. They are judged for their life’s actions, and if worthy, join them in hunting and feasting. Those not considered worthy are instead hunted, until a time where they are given a chance to return to Mother Earth in a new form.

Skae, considering they are a warrior community, see death as an honourable thing. Even those who fall to sickness are considered to be warriors of their own right, and are buried with a weapon of some sort of significance, to either use in the final hunt, or to defend themselves if they are not worthy. With the emergence of the Plague, and the dead returning to life, burials are usually put off a day or two, in case the dead return to their body.

The Pyren
The Pyren (PI-ren) believe that all spirits wish naturally to strive towards perfection, but that any individual spirit lacks the means to find the path. It is only through diligent striving to bring other spirits together with your own that you may pool your resources and join to become one whose boundaries of life and earth are limitless. As such, they place extra importance on understanding Achievement and Potential, and work hard to develop their material skills in an attempt to broaden their spirits. Pyren respect effort more than results, and encourage trying many different things before finding your path.

Birth and Childhood
Children born to the Pyren community are raised in the households of their parents, and given much freedom and time to play. Formal schooling does not start until mid teens, giving children many years of exploration and creativity. Art and hands on skills are encouraged, but no adult will ever dissuade a child from their interests, for it could be the path their spirit is meant to take.

Schooling is done in the community, with specialists taking turns teaching their craft to interested students. This allows students to explore many different skills and occupations, and they will reach out to apprentice under older members of the community as they are drawn to them. If a Pyren youth cannot find a passion within their own community, they are encouraged to step out into the world and find their path within other communities of Conthestani, or more recently, other species and cultures.

Work and Play
The Pyren are the craftspeople of the Conthestani. They consider fine craftsmanship to be not just a manual skill, but a truer understanding of another spirit type, the spirits of objects and creations.

The Pyren take such pride in their occupations that, after careful exploration, they specialize in a profession and remain in that trade for life. Pyren will even take a trade as part of their name, e.g. Bard Toag, or Tanner Caitrina. Using a Pyren’s full name, with their trade, is considered formal. Using just the trade is less formal, while using just their given name is reserved for close friends, family, and spouses. The exception to the naming scheme is if an individual is chosen as an elder. They are then referred to as “Elder” as their trade, even if they continue their original craft. (See: Conthestani Names)

The Conthestani tend to use a barter system or gem exchange system, but will use Imperial coin as it is the common currency. The Pyren, however, will exclusively use the old system within itself, perhaps as a snub against the Imperials due to their history, and have a dedicated gem exchange system with the other Conthestani.

Hobbies as play are commonly practiced. While a Pyren may specialize in Masonry, their free time is likely filled with explorations into secondary trades and hobbies. Pyren are always striving to find their path, and do not want to limit themselves unless they are sure about their profession. Because of this focus on objects and creations, Pyren usually have a central area in their community for displaying work that they are proud of. These areas are usually near Psychic Stones, as the stones and the spirits of objects are things of great respect.

Love and Marriage
The Pyren are a people of exploration, followed by commitment. Their relationships reflect this, with youth and young adulthood being a time filled with experimentation and exploration. Once a couple is ready to commit, they will exchange tokens of affection with each other, a sign that their choice has been made, and a promise of exclusivity. This is the closest thing Pyren have to ‘marriage’, but it is not celebrated in the same way other cultures do. It is seen as a choice of personal and spiritual development, and thus a natural part of life. Pyren who do not choose partners are considered so dedicated to their chosen path that they can not be distracted by the affairs of love.

War and Politics
The Pyren are creators rather than destroyers, and would prefer to stay out of battle at all costs. They are more likely to take a diplomatic approach to conflict. The Pyren were hit hardest by the original war with the Imperials before reunification, and tend to rely on visiting Skae to help with issues that require a firm hand.

The Pyren, like the other Conthestani, run communities with a council of elders. Elders on a Pyren council are usually individuals who have pursued a life of leadership and diplomacy, and as such have studied with the goal of joining the council. It is common to find apprentices of these elders sitting in on meetings to learn from them. There is usually also at least one Spiritualist on the council as well, as they are considered more connected to the local spirits and can convey their input.

Crime and Punishment
The Pyren are not a confrontational community, and often will use exile as their primary form of punishment, assuming that the individual’s spirit was not meant to stay in the area, and that their journey lies elsewhere. A repeat offender could find themself exiled from the entire Pyren community as they move from place to place.

Death and Burial
Death is considered the culmination of a spirit’s journey in the Material Plane. Those who die aged are buried with some of their creations, a sign of their journey. Those who die younger are buried with a great variety of tools and materials, so they may consider their journey of exploration in the afterlife. Since the Plague, burial has been put off several days in case the body comes back. Those who come back from the dead are considered to be blessed with new knowledge and direction, as they often find drive, purpose, and inspiration following these experiences.

A piece of the spirit of those who have passed is considered to be in the objects they make. It is common to keep a creation of the deceased in memory of them, and Pyren will speak to these objects as if speaking to their ancestors.

The Curn
While all Conthestani respect and work with the spirits, the Curn (kERn) are the spiritual centre of the Conthestani people. 3 in 5 Curn are actively psychic, and the Curn produce many Spiritualists, who then go out and become respected Spiritualists in Pyren, Skae, and blended communities as well.

The Curn have a love for spirits that is not quite matched by the other communities. They see the spirits as full of personality and power, and truly know that the more powerful spirits are not ones to be trifled with. The Curn community is the most in tune with nature, their ancestors being attributed with the creation of the great Tree Cities (See: Important Places), cities built into nature atop high branches and connected with bridges. They are also considered the true keepers of the Conthestani or Psychic Stones, for Curn Spiritualists were the ones who first discovered that communication between the stones was possible.

Birth and Childhood
Curn children are raised communally. Individuals will take childcare roles within the community, hosting children of all ages in large buildings, or ‘schools’. This fosters a sense of community, giving the impression of being one large family. The parents of a Curn child are usually not that important in their development. They may know who birthed them, but parents do not take as much of a role in their life as in other communities. All parents will take turns assisting with childcare, the load shared among the community.

Childhood is spent in these ‘schools’, playing and getting close to each other. These schools often include a centralized garden, taken care of by children to teach them responsibility, teamwork, and respect for nature. It is usually in this time where they find themselves drawn to a specific Guardian spirit, and Curn schools are considered highly spiritual places of intense power and potential.

Work and Play
Unlike the specialized Pyren, Curn developed a more balanced sense of work. All members know a little bit about how to cook, how to hunt, how to tan, etc. The community works together to keep itself running, and if someone falls ill, there is always someone else to take their place in the interim.

The Curn are always looking for reasons to celebrate. Feasts, parties, and gatherings are held for anything from a good harvest to the end of a particularly strong rainstorm. Storytelling is popular at these celebrations, but the real draw is music. The Curn are musically minded, sharing songs that have been passed down for many generations, with accompanied dances.

Love and Marriage
Curn do not have marriage in the traditional sense. Polyamory is much more common in Curn communities than other Conthestani ones, and intimacy and love are considered things to be shared. Curn partners may parent children, but because children are raised communally, there is less importance put on retaining a relationship to raise a child. A Curn may go through many partners in their lifetime, or retain a few partnerships for a long time.

War and Politics
The ruling body in a Curn community, as with all Conthestani, is a council of elders. These elders are almost all Spiritualists as well as historians, lorekeepers, or war commanders.

The other Conthestani communities look to the Curn for wisdom in times of crisis, relying on their deep connection to the Conthestani history and spirits. The community as a whole is held to this standard, so it isn’t unusual for a wandering Curn to be asked to mediate strangers’ disputes, much to their annoyance.

Curn greatly value unity, and Curn communities near Skae or Pyren ones are often influenced by their culture and traditions.

Crime and Punishment
The Curn take on a policy of the greater good, making judgements that benefit the community rather than the individual. This stems from the hurt caused by the lack of unity during the war with The Empire. These scars run deep, and the Curn believe that unity and community comes before all things.

This can mean that conflict resolution may not be considered ‘fair’ by some standards. Food stolen for a starving family is often judged in favour of the thief, for making sure the people of the community survive is considered the priority over the profit of one person. However, the elders of Curn communities hold great authority, and it is not often that their judgements are questioned, more complained about behind closed doors.

Death and Burial
Death is not seen as much as an ending as a transition. Curn love life, and wish to maintain living for as long as possible, but when death finally comes, it is only the continuation of their journey into the spirit world.

Ceremonies are reflections on the departed soul, led by a Spiritualist. Storytelling, art, and music dedicated to and inspired by the deceased are presented. The Spiritualist will ask the spirits to watch over and protect their new companion, and to give them company and companionship as they begin the next leg of their journey. Once the ceremony is complete, there is a celebration of the departed life - a happy farewell and joyful promise of meeting again in the spirit world.

Cremation was the most common burial method before the Plague, the idea that the body was no longer needed, and the spirit would be freed from its tether. This has fallen out of practice, as people now can return to their bodies a few times before their final rest. It is only once three days have passed with no return that the body is burned ceremonially.

Blended Communities
With the unification of the Conthestani people, there are far more communities with combinations of Pyren, Skae, and Curn people. The blending of cultures is more common, with so many commonalities between their history, religion, and traditions. Skae, Pyren, and Curn are more considered one's cultural heritage, but the Conthestani as a whole are one people. Only within the last century, since the Plague as receded, has the mixing of these communities increased. Many cities, towns, and communes of Conthestani heritage have mixtures of all three. The Skae tend to keep their traditional communities somewhat more separate than the other two cultures, with a stubbornness to keeping their traditions rather than blend fully with the Conthestani community.

= Important Conthestani Places =

Patience
It is rumoured that The Great Stone of Patience was the first Psychic Stone, and could have been one of the prehistoric capitals of the Conthestani. The stone sits in the middle of the forest, surrounded by treetowers and vertical farms. The powerful psychic aura interweaves itself into all the plantlife and those who live there.

The stone is known for having a strange effect upon those near it, as it can often compel people to always speak the truth. This is where business is often negotiated, promises of undying love are made, and those who break the law of the locals are placed on trial. People from this place are often thought of as more honest, if somewhat a little blunt about their opinion on certain topics. The community remains rather small, but attracts many each year who travel to various stones to transmit knowledge. (See: Patience Week)

Kel'Arizon
The fabled ‘City that Floats’. Kel’Arizon was one of the ancient tree cities, an art that was lost due to war and the Plague less than a century ago. Massive interweaving vines, twisted and cultivated over hundreds of years by the Omni’ta, a symbiotic plant life form that's only purpose is to care for the trees and vines of these great cities.

These creatures maintained the bridges between treetops, and it was they who cultivated the city to open it up towards the sky between the dense canopy of the warm forests. They were mostly wiped out by the plague, and Kel’Arizon was been teetering on destruction as the vines and trees supporting it have begun to crumble and die in the past several decades.

Citizens of this city tend to use a tree to symbolize their origins.

Deadheart
Within the heart of the Eastern Woods, a great rot has begun to spread. The bones of long forgotten animals and extinct plants have crumbled into preserved, greyish stone. From the towering redwoods, a perpetual ash slowly falls to the ground like snow. This place used to be the meeting place for old rituals. ‘Ghosts’ of the past flicker into existence to replay a memory or event. Within the centre lies the Old Stone, cracked asunder by some terrible power. Only a few old community leaders know of the tragedy that befell the place now known as Deadheart.

Those who know the truth behind Deadheart typically have criss-cross over their chest, or left eye. Many have taken vows to never speak.

= Important Dates =

See Mystfall Timeline for more.

Potential Day
December

The longest night of the year, it is a day for starting new things. Many oaths are taken on this day. Old disagreements are set aside and new friendships formed. Thanks is offered to Potential for creating humans. In many Pyren influenced villages, competitions are held on this day to demonstrate skill in crafts.

Achievement Day
June

The longest day of the year, it is a day that is taken to recognize members of the communities who have made a significant contribution. These contributions can be anything from the Skae warmaster who successfully led the defence of a town, or a Pyren smith who is marking his twentieth year in his craft, to a Curn Spiritualist who has finally mastered the ability to rend knowledge from the mind of another. On this day, games are held to demonstrate fighting and hunting skills.

Ancestor's Day
April

An annual day set aside in recognition of the spirits of the ancestors. It is celebrated throughout the Conthestani, but is considered a significantly more important holiday to the Skae. This is traditionally a day of storytelling, as the tales of the family’s ancestors are passed on to the next generation.

Festival of All Spirits
July

On this day, all spirits are recognized. Small ceremonies that different from place to place dot the day as the people thank the spirits who watch over them. Some ceremonies are personal givings of thanks to Guardians, others are large communal events. The only ceremony held in common is an evening bonfire in honour of the Great Mother and Father. This is the most important holiday for the Curn, who use this day to give the year’s knowledge and stories to the Conthestani Stones.

Founder's Feast
September

An annual feast held in recognition of the union of the Conthestani. These celebrations are biggest in cities with a large blending of cultures.

Patience Week
September

The seven days following the 10th full moon of the year. This week, which representatives of all major communities come together at Conthestani Stone in Patience, is both a ceremonial gathering as well as official meetings. Through the Eastern Woods, this gathering is imitated on a smaller scale. The similarities the communities share are recognized, their differences celebrated. It is a time for trade, demonstrations of skill, and renewing friendship. For many, this is the last chance to socialize and trade with those outside of their immediate community prior to hunkering down for winter. Traditionally, lanterns carved out of squashes are placed outside Patience Week gatherings to keep away unfriendly spirits.