Ball

Many clans host balls. These are meant to strengthen alliances and promote one's own clan.

The only clans who do not hosted a ball are Clans Buxenus, Myrsina, Abellio, and Arava.

## Dates

Heiress balls are usually held on the full moon, except for the Glitrós Midsummer Grand Ball and Suma Midwinter Ball, which are held on the solstices. No balls are held during the Quiet Moon and Ice Moon due to bad weather.

See Moons for corresponding Gregorian calendar months.

* Quiet Moon – none
* Ice Moon – none
* Awakening Moon – Petaja Awakening Ball
* Planter’s Moon – Sadira Spring Ball
* Rain Moon – Aiken Sword Festival
* Midsummer within the Rose Moon – Glitrós Midsummer Grand Ball
* Mead Moon – Dodatrad Mead Moon Ball
* Sweltering Moon – Itamar-Islwyn Beach Festival
* First Harvest Moon – Suma First Harvest Moon Festival
* Second Harvest Moon – Topola Second Harvest Ball
* Hunter’s Moon – Sadira Hunter’s Moon Ball
* Winterfinding Moon – Kimura Winterfinding Ball
* Midwinter within the Dark Moon – Suma Midwinter Ball

Clan Buxenus used to host one on the Mead Moon, but they stopped after Eilat Dodatrad reduced their land to a fraction of the original size. Clan Dodatrad later resumed that ball, although they made it open to nobles and invited commoners.

Clan Itamar used to host a massive ball on the Sweltering Moon, considered the best party of the year, until Clan Glitrós destroyed them and burned the islands. Later, the reformed Itamar would jointly host a ball with Clan Islwyn.

## Traditions

### Truce

All clans who attend a ball bring their banner, which is flown or hung alongside all other clans, as a sign of truce during the event.

Fighting is strictly prohibited. The host clan is responsible for the safety of all guests. Should a clan member be attacked while under the banner of truce, the host clan is at fault for not guarding properly.

### Ages

Experienced heiresses dance in one room along with their protector-brothers, and granddaughter-heiresses or inexperienced heiresses separate into another room, along with their protector-brothers. Granddaughter-heiresses continue to attend the "youth ball" until they are promoted to heiress. If a clan chieftain is long-lived, this means a granddaughter-heiress can remain attending "youth balls" well into her 40s.

A young heiress must attend the youth balls for a minimum of five full years. This is meant to give her experience and time to overcome heated emotions, so she does not humiliate herself (and her clan) in the more important adult heiress ball. Upon her 22th birthday, she joins the adult heiresses. In this situation, a representative of the clan may attend the adult heiress ball until the young heiress comes of age.

### Restrictions

Most of these balls are exclusively for nobles. In such clans, husbands are not allowed inside the rooms for the ball, although they may be at the host castle for dinners.

The Glitrós Midsummer Grand Ball, Kimura Winterfinding Ball, and later the Dodatrad Mead Moon Ball, are exceptions, where all ages are blended, husbands and children are encouraged to attend, younger siblings and minor family are in the same room with them, and commoners of high standing (village leaders, wealthy landowners, guild leaders, overseas traders, etc.) are allowed to attend with invitation.

Balls are not restricted by gender, although clans rarely choose a male heir.

### Responsibilities of the Host

The host is responsible for food, drink, musical entertainment, and security. It is a chance to show off culture and wealth. They may put heiresses and granddaughter-heiresses up in rooms, if they have a large enough castle.

If not, the attending clan is responsible for housing their members and retinue, usually in tents around the castle grounds. It is common for an attending clan to bring a security force, but these are not allowed at the party nor inside the inner ward. Many clans do not allow anyone besides people of noble blood to pass through the outer wall. Protector-brothers are seen as enough security, and it makes keeping a security detail on their guests easier.

Protections against attack are expected to be upheld by the retinue outside the castle, but should brawls break out (as they often do) the host clan is not responsible.

## Attending the Ball

### Representatives

If a clan does not have an heiress to represent them, they may choose someone related to the family, such as a chieftain's younger sister who attends until the heiress is at least 16 years of age.

### Before the Ball

The actual night of dancing is often the finale of a lengthy gathering, up to one week long, where clans may mingle in the host's castle and speak informally. Some clans keep things very low-key, while others have strict traditions. For example, Clan Sadira hosts nightly dinners, but heiresses dine on one table, granddaughter-heiresses dine on another, while their spouses, children, and other family members dine on communal tables.

### During the Ball

If it is an exclusive ball, granddaughter-heiresses and young heiresses go into one room with their protectors, adult heiresses go into another room. Husbands usually attend a less-formal ball along with younger siblings of the heiresses.

Protector-brothers are encouraged to dance with ladies of other clans, most often to glean any gossip and spy. Heiresses are expected to be on their best behavior, as their actions are a reflection of their clan. They will often ask for updates on each other's clans. This can be idle gossip or cautious posturing.

### After the Ball

Since the dance is the finale of the event, clans will usually head home the next day, although hosts are expected to allow them to stay if the weather is bad. Some heiresses may opt to remain even longer as a way to further get to know the host clan, although this is usually only between friends.