Storytelling Day

Storytelling Day is a Malaszec holiday celebrated during the winter solstice featuring the Storytelling, when the community’s Storyteller retells one of thirty-eight stories from Malaszec animism (or other important lore, especially in non-human dominated communities). The Storyteller is chosen up to six months beforehand according to their service to the community, and is supported by various mages and/or actors who provide special effects and acting performances to enhance the experience. East story takes approximately the amount of time for the roasting of the Storytelling Rotisserie, a traditional Storytelling Day food which is served immediately after the storytelling. People then go with friends and family to eat and discuss the story. Those who have nobody to eat with go to a shrine and are known as Shrine Spirits.

Storytelling Day originated in human-dominant parts of Malaszec, but has since spread to other parts of Malaszec as well. It is practiced in foreign countries, especially by members of the Malaszec diaspora.

The Storytelling

The storyteller is chosen up to six months in advance according to their service to the community. In cities, each neighborhood may have a storyteller, whereas a rural village may have one for the entire village. The Storyteller is granted the title of Storyteller of their community (e.g. Storyteller of Kaloznizdec), even if they are not chosen for Storyteller again.

In communities that tell the original thirty-eight stories from Malaszec animism, the stories are always told in order each year so that the same story is only told every thirty-eight years for Storytelling Day. The Storyteller is expected to memorize the entire plot and to tell it from their own perspective, as if a firsthand bystander to the events of the story. Malaszec humans sometimes colloquially refer to years by the story told in the last Storytelling, so the Year of the Moth is 2069 because The Moth, the Crow, and the Moon was told on Storytelling 2068 and so on. Communities that do not tell the animism stories often select epic poetry, plays, or other significant lore.

Optionally, the Storytelling is accompanied by mages who provide special effects for the storytelling and actors who act out characters in the story according to the narration. The Storytelling has evolved over time in order for communities to outdo other communities and incorporate influences from other cultures. For example, influence from the Erothenan Heranares fire festival led to the incorporation of fire magic, where the rotisserie fire is colored and bent into the dancing shapes of key elements or characters in the story.

The Feast

Stories last for approximately the time it takes for the Storytelling Rotisserie to roast, which is traditionally lamb or beef. The food itself is not exclusive to Storytelling Day, though it is traditional to cook and eat it then. Once served, people go to eat and discuss the story with friends and family, who may have prepared their own foods to go along with the Rotisserie. Those who have nobody to go with often go to the shrine and are known as Shrine Spirits, in reference to the lost spirits thought to inhabit shrines dedicated to Malaszec animism.

An offering must be made to enter the shrine during the Storytelling day feast, and it is not necessary to believe in Malaszec animism to enter. The shrine serves food to go with the rotisserie and places to sit with other Shrine Spirits. Since shrines during the feast are frequented by lonely singles, they are popular spots for finding new relationships.

The traditional thirty-eight stories

The traditional thirty-eight stories of Malaszec animism are told each year in order in human-dominated communities. They do not necessarily have any relation to each other, although they take place in the same universe. Once a story has been told one year, the next story is told the next year.

The Traditional Thirty-Eight Stories

Category: Malaszec