The History of Kindling

Following Jan's return to his people in the events of Dark Moon, Each year at the onset of winter, on the eve of the solstice, unicorns gathered for the kindling ceremony. The previous winter, which Jan had spent in captivity away from his people, saw terrible losses amongst the unicorns due to terrible cold, lack of forage and the tyrannical behavior of the King. The purpose of the kindling ceremony was to ignite the large bonfire that would be kept burning all through the winter to provide warmth to all the inhabitants of the Vale and ensure that none need suffer privation from cold or hunger ever again.

Presided over by Jan as Prince - (or Tek, in Jan's absence) the kindling ceremony was preceded by a ringdance and laysinging. The lay that was sung by Teki that night told the story of Jan's winter in the captivity of the people in the City of Fire and how he brought back with him the secret of fire in his horn and hooves.

Following the recital of the lay, Ryhenna - the Ring's Fire Priestess - was invited onto the rise. She called upon Alma, thanking the Mother-of-All for her gift of fire. Then she smote the ground with her round, fire-tempered hooves, striking sparks into a pile of gathered tinder. Once the fire was lit, and built up carefully to a roaring blaze, each of the inhabitants of the grottos were invited to come up with their own branches to alight.

"In twos and threes, unicorns approached the council rise. Each bore a dried branch clenched in the teeth. Carefully, they dipped their brands into the flame, then raised them burning aloft. The fire-bearers sprang away at a gallop, ploughing through the snow, seeking their grottoes before the firebrands guttered."

Each grotto contained similar tinder piles, and a cache of stored branches and fuel to keep their individual fires burning all through the winter. Likewise, Guardians presided over the Kindling fire through the whole of the winter season, ensuring that the bonfire would burn steadily until the birth of spring.

The Kindling Ceremony Now

Very little has changed regarding Kindling, save that as Unicorns reside in both the Vale and the Hallow Hills, it is celebrated in both locations. In the Hallow Hills, Queen Tek presides over the ceremony, and the Fire Priestess Ryhenna still strikes the sparks that ignite the bonfire.

In the Vale, Kindling is presided over by the Guardians of the Vale, Calydor and Ses, or in their absence, Ses's daughter Lell. A second Priestess of Fire has been named for the Vale as well.