The Longest Night

Greetings, Idja.

I recount now a strange tale, which I would not myself believe had I not been the central actor of it; and this tale will itself explain my most recent discovery.

I had learned of a Flame scholar named Bonsho, an expert in the field of rituals and traditions across the land. She and I wrote to each other frequently, exchanging our knowledge about any topic that came to us. Several months ago, she cordially invited me to a celebration of the Longest Night, in a small camp within her native region. Of course, I accepted. I had for many years longed to attend one of the Flame’s famous midwinter festivals, and any excuse to leave the cold weather of the Knot province was welcome.

As soon as I stepped off of the Blood Stallion that had carried me into the mesas, an exuberant crowd surged from their tents to greet me and thread metal beads into my hair. I could barely understand their Flame dialect. Thankfully, Bonsho soon came to my rescue. She explained that these people had come from all corners of the plateaus to celebrate the Longest Night, and that many were distantly related to her or to friends of hers. The nomadic nature of many Flame tribespeople ensured that families spread wide across the wastes. As night fell, she led me to a tent that had been prepared for me. The hospitality of these people will never cease to humble me.

In the morning, I was awoken by the laughter of children and the sound of flutes. The crowd that had encircled me yesterday was now merrily occupied with the construction of bonfires and the preparation of small cakes. I sought to repay the people’s hospitality by assisting in their endeavors, but my inability to understand much of their speech made me more of an amusement than anything else. Still, it was time well-spent, for the children began to recognize me as more than simply a foreigner.

Evening came, and the darkening of the skies brought a certain solemnity to the small camp. The ritual nature of the festival was made much more evident in the light of the crackling bonfires, made to dance by the arid winds. We gathered in a rough circle around the largest fire. Bonsho sat next to me, and quietly translated from the Flame dialect. The eldest member of the congregation stood before the fire, holding several ritual objects.

“Friends and siblings, it warms my heart to see all of you gathered here. This night is the longest and darkest of the year. In this time, we must remember to stay near the fire’s warmth, and stay especially near our closest friends. Without them we cannot endure the dark.” At this point, the elder cast colorful powders into the fire, and the smoke began to exude a wonderful aroma.

“We remember the spirits of those who have passed from this life into the next. Their works and their actions are remembered by us all, and Drata smiles upon them.” For several minutes, the elder and the crowd were completely silent, each remembering lost loved ones. Then, she threw into the fire several minerals that were unfamiliar to me, and the flames began to glow a muted burgundy color.

“Finally, we think of all our siblings beyond the horizon.” She brought forth a set of worn leather pouches, covered in crude runes . As she called the name of each tribe, she cast into the flames a component from one of the pouches.

“From Flame, the fire that warms the soul and lights the path. From Knot, the use of knowledge to fuel the flame. From Rose , the proof of the fiery power of the wild. From Blood , the testament that hardship can make one’s flame burn hotter. With these gifts, we remember that we are not alone.” As soon as she added the last material, the flames bulged outwards, and I heard a sound louder than any I had heard before. I looked to Bonsho in shock, but she only smiled at me.

“This concludes the ceremony of the Longest Night. May the Flame always light your way and warm your heart, and may Drata smile upon you and your kin.”

I stood on hesitant legs, and turned, incredulous, to face my smiling host. A thousand questions ran through my mind.
“What was it that the elder threw in the fire, that produced such a tremendous noise?” I asked Bonshon.

“Each ingredient comes from a different corner of the world. The fire is our contribution, of course. Then she adds the excrement of the stump bat , which Knot uses as fuel and fertilizer. From Rose comes a mineral of impressive power that is found near the mighty volcanoes. Blood simply adds charcoal, left behind by fierce fires and made to burn even hotter.”

“And this combination caused the sound I heard?”

“Yes- it happens like that every year. Perhaps it is Drata, the cunning artisan, who makes it so.”

The festival continued long into the night, with many sweets eaten and jokes shared. I only began to make my way home several days after the Longest Night.

Bonsho’s answers had not convinced me. For weeks after I returned home, I mulled the event over in my mind. Eventually, I could not bear it any longer. I sent for samples of every material Bonsho had named, no matter the expense or the time. I simply had to know why the fire had behaved in such a way. A few long weeks later, I had them all. Bat guano I was familiar with, for it was commonly harvested and used in the Knot town where I grew up. A friend of mine in the Currant Isles identified the Rose mineral as raw sulfur, and kindly sent me several carefully-wrapped chunks of it. Finally, I arranged for a steady supply of pure charcoal to be shipped to me.

I admit to my shame that I was not as careful as I should have been. Upon setting the mixture alight, a mighty flame was produced. It had such intensity and was so fierce that I was, I am sure, almost killed, and my surroundings almost burnt to the ground. A daring neighbor came to my assistance upon hearing the commotion, and with his help we soon extinguished the unnatural fire. Still, this strange accident failed to deter my efforts. Rather, it only invigorated me, for I had now twice seen the power of this combination. After many more tests, I had found a way to contain this power. Each ingredient can be ground to a coarse powder, and combined to create a black mixture. This mixture, when lit, produces either a fierce flame or a powerful force, depending on the amount of purified stump bat guano included. I have attached to this letter a substantial sample of this substance, so that you might experiment with it at your leisure.

Most cordially,

Giya, alchemist.