Crystalfall has begun!

It's time to get festive!

Get up to date on the latest Safira Island event through this news post.

Story

Kingsley clung to each kindle of warmth that drifted from the fire as the winter wind slashed around the blanket of his woven spell. His form huddled against the cold as he felt his lips freeze into a sculpture of pain as he mumbled the weave under his misty breath. 

So desperately he wished to be enjoying the festivities of Crystalfall, but he was locked in a vigil for the sake of those who could experience all that was merry in such frigid weather. Each syllable he spoke left his lungs in a puff of smoke and his mouth felt dry and dull. How long had he been out here, on the outskirts of the Song River, all alone, shielding his family from the cold while frost clotted his marrow and ice scattered his mind?

His head ached as he craned his neck up towards the blizzard shielded galaxies, willing an answer to emerge. Just a sliver of an upcoming sunrise is all he asked for. But the deep navy and white only whistled back at him, the fields back through an icy moonlight. Another puff of breath escaped his lungs, sacrificing itself to the sub-zero air. It would be a long night.

The sound of footfalls woke him from his frostbitten daze. He turned to see another aqualox approaching his humble camp. He suddenly grew bashful at the fire, now barely a kindle, and each minor imperfection in the threads he wove. But the other did not seem to care, as they continued at a steady pace, their pawprints slinking across the snow behind them.

“You’re up late,” they seemed to joke.

Kingsley’s response was broken by shivers and muted by the snowfall surrounding the pair. The other lox shook their head; they seemed to have heard him.

“They appreciate all you do, you know,” they replied. “It may not seem like it, but they really do.”

The aqualox reached into a tote strung across their back and pulled out a bundle of cloth, steamy warm. Kingsley’s mouth began to water at the smell of butter and coals. How hungry he had gotten. He voraciously accepted the offering without a word.

The other stood in silence as Kingsley unpacked the meal: a clay pot, heavy with rootworm mash; a helping of richly salted jerky; a freshly baked loaf of bread; and a small slab of butter–a delicacy during the harsh winter. He tore into the meal as though he had not seen a crumb in a fortnight. But the other held no judgment, for they had done the same the night before; this is simply what a night of spell-weaving would do to a fellow. Kinsley left not even a crystal of salt as he finished his meal.

“Merry Crystalfall, Kingsley.”

“Merry Crystalfall, Benji.”

Benji and Kingsley remained together for a moment longer, before Benji turned to make his way back to the main party. Kingsley watched him go, slipping into the shallow water and back home, before returning to his weave.

Event

Welcome to Crystalfall Celebration, Island Dwellers!

This is the first hosting of the event, and I hope you’re just as excited as I am!

Starting today, December 18th, are the winter festivities on Safira Island. Although some may end up like Kingsley, weaving spells to keep the cold away, many will find themselves feasting throughout the night in the warmth of their hearths. Crystalfall is a time of celebration – to get the people’s minds off of the harsh winter and commemorate all the hard work that has been done to allow families to survive the season – with parties lasting until the very last second of January 14th.

This event introduces new items, prompts, and a raffle lox fresh-off the design press! You can read all about this event’s activities and lore by clicking on the images below.

We’re excited to have you for the holidays and can’t wait to see what you create!

Reminders

• Users now have a last-seen status! By default, your last-online status will be visible, but you can visit your account settings to update it.
• Generous Spirit refreshed on the 1st of this month. It's not too late to do a little gift-giving to fellow site-members!
• Have a Safiran you no longer want or one that just doesn't quite match your tastes? Surrender a design to the Shelter for opals and, this month only, an additional 30 User EXP!
• Speaking of the Shelter, three designs by AnimatedCritter were added to it this month. Check them out, along with all of the other Shelter Safirans here, and maybe bring home a new friend!