Lottery

Bill, Jill, Asteria and Delos

In the warm glow of light shining from the lanterns hung around the town square, the small metal trinket glistened in Jill's plump stuffed paw.  It was worn, some of its finer details faded by years of handling, but its delicate hummingbird shape was still visible.  Jill smiled fondly at it as Bill and Asteria studied it with calm curiosity.  All around them the merry sounds of an evening gathering echoed in the air.  Wajas of all ages were coming together in this small community, as were Wajas in communites all around Solaria, to celebrate the first official tradition of the Solarian holiday season.  The Chosen Plushie and African had journeyed here with their Corps counterparts to learn and observe.  And perhaps enjoy some of the merriment for themselves.

"It is well loved," Asteria said, tilting her head a little to study the little metal bird more closely.  "You say this is what Klaus leaves for Solarian pups as presents?"

"Among other things," Jill confirmed with a nod.  "It wasn't always this way.  After all, before the Sundering Klaus didn't even leave gifts at all.  These little treasures didn't start appearing until after.  Legend says it started not with Klaus, but in a village far to the north, where the winter hit hard and the supply of coal and wood had no hope of lasting through to spring.  A blacksmith's apprentice, seeing the hopelessness in the eyes of the pups of his village, sneaked scraps of metal from his master's shop and tried to forge little toys for them in secret.  But even the forge didn't have enough heat to last."  

Jill looked around, for the movement in the gathered was changing.  Wajas were starting to approach the very center of the square, where others were starting to carefully place glowing coals on a large metal grate set over a square foundation of stone.  The warmth radiating from it was already chasing away the chill of the night air though the pile had only just begun to form.

"The Night of Heartwarming," came Delos' voice.  Until then he hadn't seemed to be paying much attention to Jill's story, his focus more on eyeing the small pastry he had been given by the village baker.  Even after several minutes his expression was still one of grim distrust.  But now he had glanced around, one paw still holding the pastry, but bobbing his muzzle towards the line of Wajas eagerly approaching the town center to depost their offering of a single glowing coal.  

"Yes," Jill agreed.  "This is the tradition born from when Klaus became what he is now, and it started with that blacksmith's forge.  Nobody knows how it came to be that the old spirit was watching the apprentice try and forge his gifts for the pups in the dying embers.  But the sight lit the fire in his heart.  On that night, Klaus gathered all of the strength and power he possessed and raced through the cold black night, sparking a single glowing coal in every hearth and forge.  This coal was special, for it never burnt out or stopped giving blessed warmth.  Even the old forge kept burning, and let that old apprentice finish making his presents.  He couldn't make them very large, but none of the pups of his village minded that.  Together the two gifts granted our land's very first spark of real hope."

"And this gift became tradition?" Asteria asked.  

"It is said that Klaus doesn't actually light the coals himself, but only guides the fire of hope and strength in every Solarian's heart to where it needs to go to kindle the embers.  Happens every year."  Delos nodded again towards the town center.  "The coal of yesteryear burns out on the eve the new coal is lit, so we have taken to gathering our coals on the last days and bringing them together.  Sharing the last of the warmth with the whole community and all that."  The African of the Corps huffed and looked back at the pastry.  "I don't trust this.  Looks like cranberry to me.  I don't like cranberry."

"It is a raspberry caramel tart, Delos.  Just eat it," Jill chided, rolling her eyes.

"A good tradition," Bill said calmly.  "But does Klaus not gift the children of Solaria?  Why did that start?"

"Another inspiration he gained from the old blacksmith's apprentice.  Well...he became a full blacksmith eventually, and every year until his passing he kept making trinkets for the children of his village.  But the first year afterward, Klaus sensed the sadness in the pups.  With no blacksmith there would be no treasures.  So he took up the mantle.  It started with these..." Jill held up the little metal hummingbird.  "...and over time it grew to toys and treats, warm scarves and mittens, and other good things that pups used to enjoy before the Sundering.  He wanted all of the warmth of the season to come back, not just the warmth of the hearth, so he started bringing it himself."

Jill looked at Delos again, gave a sigh, and abruptly planted her other paw against the African's raised foreleg, pushing his paw forward and shoving the tart into his mouth.  The responding protest came out as little more than an "uuuumph!" as caramel and raspberry jam filling gelled in the cool night air turned to sticky glue in his teeth. 

"As I was saying," she continued, "over time the traditions grew and spread.  Pups used to find their toys on their doorsteps or den entrances, the same the old blacksmith's apprentice did, but in winter weather that isn't always practical.  So Klaus turned to other ways to surprise the pups of Solaria."

"Such as?" Asteria asked, even as she turned and started trying to help Delos unstick his jaws.  "It would probably be best to eat them while they're warm next time.  Let's go find that old Earth passing out the hot cider.  That should help..."

******

Well, looks like these four may be distracted for a bit, so why don't we discover the answer for them?  That is the second lore question I wish to ask the site today!  After all, Solaria suffered a great deal after the Sundering.  In many places, a decorated tree simply wasn't an option, and stockings normally hung over the fireplace were needed more to keep paws warm.  So what did that jolly clever Klaus do to surprise the pups of Solaria?  How did he bring the trinkets, the toys and the treats into homes and leave them for pups to find?

Give us your most clever and heartfelt answer!  As before, the winner's suggestion will become an official part of site lore for the Solarian holiday season!

And with this, I am proud to announce the winners of the first lore question!  Their suggestions both spoke to us on staff, so much so that we couldn't go with one or the other, so we took them both!  Much congratulations to:

Trench (#73919)
Lycan Lover (#259994)

Your CWP prizes will be sent to you shortly!

This lore question will be open until December 17th EOD, with winners announced with the next lore question to come at week's end.

Speaking of treats and treasures...there's a whispering in the park.  Another yearly tradition has begun, and it seems there are little extra treasures included!  Take a visit to the Wajas Park and find out for yourselves!