Cometfall

During the month of Cometfall, a relentless cascade of comets rains down upon the Realm, illuminating the sky with streaks of celestial brilliance. Today, Cometfall is widely celebrated by Faians across the Realm— but it wasn’t always this way.

When the annual comet showers first began, they were met with dread. Faians saw the phenomenon as a disruptive force; a hindrance to their continued development and duty as Lightkeepers. While most comets were small and relatively harmless, an occasional mammoth comet would plunge into a village, leaving destruction in its wake. Builders were always in high demand, and fear kept most Faians confined to indoors.

However, from adversity comes innovation. Faced with such a prominent annual setback, the Archmages of the Mage’s Academy turned to their magic for solutions. They focused their efforts on adapting the combat shield spell, hoping they could increase its scope to shield entire villages. After months of experimentation, they finally discovered the key to performing large-scale spells, and with this newfound knowledge, developed the shielded dome spell.

In the following Cometfall, the four Archmages traveled from settlement to settlement, erecting protective domes and seeking out local mages. To these mages, they taught not only the process of performing the shielded dome spell, but also the light spell, an enchantment that has since become vital in keeping the wither at bay across the Realm.

With the weight of fear lifted, Faians resumed normal activity during Cometfall. Gazing skyward, they looked past the threat and saw streaks of shimmering light,  finally able to appreciate the phenomenon for its beauty. Gradually, attitudes towards Cometfall began to change, as Faians began to realize the unexpected benefits of the comet showers. In addition to the alchemic potential in the fallen comet shards, there was simply no way to put into words the feeling one experienced when watching starlit comets illuminate the night sky.

Sowara, a city formerly reduced to rubble by repeated comet impacts, was the first to hold a celebration when the yearly Cometfall began. Other settlements soon followed suit, embracing the once-dreaded event. Within a decade of the first erection of the shielded dome spell, Cometfall transformed into a Realm-wide celebration. More than just a display of splendor, Cometfall became a symbol of Faian resilience, growth, and a testament to their ability to turn fear into wonder.