When the Sun Set

A Festival

With the late sunset in the town there also came a celebratory air. Preparations had been ongoing for days in anticipation of the caravan's return. First they would welcome home their sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends. Before the returning loved ones recounted tales from a harrowing journey everyone would gather by the crystal, and the elder would perform the ceremony that would purify the crystal. The energy in the air would be nearly electrifying by that time. The crystal renewed and safety secured, the festival would truly begin.

After the ceremony a great feast was held, at which time the caravanners shared the story of what transpired on the quest for myrrh. That included details of encounters with people along the roads, and the news they heard in other cities across the miasma streams, such as in Marr's Pass, where a longer than usual rainy season was affecting harvests, forcing them to import food from the Fields of Fum. Then the villagers told the returning adventurers what had happened in their absence, leaving many feeling the true cost of being gone for so long.

At the end of the dinner the caravans' make-up for the next year became clead when retirements were announced and new members made it official that they would take up where the others had left off. Most years the caravan was around ten to twelve members, but it had been larger on recent expeditions. With five members leaving and two joining the caravan was set to be a twelve-man team the following year. It was also a reminder that it would be changinf drastically over the years with one generation filtering out while another was slowly introduced to caravan life. Roh Dahl was likely to be the last one of the old generation who would leave, while Lilias and her best friend Ryl marked the new generation's entrance, and they would likely grow into leadership positions among the caravanners with time.

The night faded into day as the festival continued with singing and dancing. When at last all had returned to their homes, mang cherished the memories they had made that night. But for one overly imaginative girl they were more than just memories. They were the essence of life.