Hearthwake

The tradition of the Hearthwake stems back to the ancient days when the world was newly formed. Witches would individually wake all inhabitants of the land in preparation for the spring growth using songs and poems. Hearthwake is a translation of the witches original name, meaning when the warmth and light comes to wake up the land. It is a yearly ritual that is performed on the first day of the year, when the sun finally comes back up after 3 months of darkness. These days, due to the size of the world, it would be impossible for the witches to wake everyone in one day, so many species have evolved an internal mechanism that wakes them with the sun. However, the witches continue to perform the ritual every year, insisting that it promotes the growth and wellbeing of the species involved. Evidence of this is found in the thriving forest around the hidden clearing, abundant with biodiversity and life.

Ceremonial Structure

The ceremony begins at first light of the new year, with green witches coming from all over Thaele to attend and play their part in the waking of the world. Some travel over large distances, while others only need to come a few kilometers, but all witches will wake when the warm orange glow lights the sky. Fires are set around the boundary of the hidden clearing, throwing green smoke into the sky, a sign of the cleansing of the new world. As more and more witches begin to arrive, the chant that was quiet at first grows louder, there are no words exchanged, just the creation of millions of spores, smothering the air, the tiny specks like a shining beacon. For this is the nature of the Irthsong. Each witch adds their own sound into the ever growing chorus, a collection of grunts, howls, and whistles that begins to stir the land. As the Irthsong continues, the witches begin to move in intricate spirals, following each other in lines and curves, as if they were members of one body. The fires also curve inwards, tracing invisible lines to meet in the middle as one big flame. The scorched ground symbolises new growth and a fresh start. As the fire dies down, offerings carried by the witches are placed in the centre, a hole appearing where the fire once burned. As subtle as they arrived, the witches leave one by one, back to their own huts, to spread the magic there, leaving only the High Mother. When the clearing is finally silent, she will place one seed in the hole, whispering spores over the land, before the light fades for that day and the darkness covers the land again.

Individual witches may also burn their own fires, preparing their land for the coming growth and waking its inhabitants. Offerings are laid out, including dried berries and fruit for the newly emerged animals and fresh soil for the plants. The witch chants her own Irthsong to release spores, the rest of the forest joining in as they awaken, even the plants play their part, revitalised by the spores. A witch may also plant a seed in a sacred and hidden place, these are called a Nimora; meaning sapling of the earth and light.

Witnessing the Ritual

Very few people have actually managed to witness this ritual, and those that have found it hard to comprehend. The amount of spores in the air would cause even the strongest person serious side effects, and those that have come out of this alive have never been the same ever again. One person says they recall being lured into a trance by the chants, adding their own voice to the mix and waking up at dark fall without any further memories.