KALEVALA HAMMER

This page is for different events (small and large) that happen in the Old World. This means carnivals, festivals and similar celebrations. Also the idea is to give dates, places and some information, when do they take place and what happens there. There isn't really much official information about the dates when most of these events take place during the year, so I have created some of them.

Hexensnacht - Witching Night
Place: Everywhere
Date: Eve of the New Year.
Lenght: One day and especially the night.
Sources: WFRP2 Core Rulebook.

Origin: Unknown. Maybe since the coming of moon Morrslieb.

Description: Witching Night, or Hexensnacht by the older folk of the Empire, marks the eve of the New Year. It is considered and inauspicious night by most, for the moons cast an eerie light and the dead are said to stir. Especially Chaos Moon Morrslieb ("Beloved of Morr") is full and large, but also Mannslieb ("Beloved of Manann") gives it's light full. Ill luck befalls those who venture out of their homes. On these nights, the Priests of Morr hold solemn rites, for the gateways between the realms of the dead and the living and the sleeping and the waking are believed to stand wide open, aiding communion with the deceased and prophesy. Priest of Morr can be seen moving on the street with small lights after sunset. Sometimes initiates go door to door to collect money (common pay is 1p) and also visit any Inns and Taverns that are open. Note: Some of the text taken from WFRP Core Rulebook.
People are commonly scared of this day and especially night, and usually stay home. It is common to burn lights and pray Morr. This is very humble and small celebration time hold in the homes. There many dark legends about this night and it is told that spirits of the dead wander the lands, the Restless Dead rise from their graves and Vampires hunt for those that dare to venture out.
Those who are users of magic can benefit from this day (and night). Anybody with Magical Sense ("Witchsight") can sense the strong flow of Aethyr, the Winds of Magic. Users of any Arcane Magic gain +1 bonus to any Casting Rolls. Users of Dark Magic or Dhar gain +2 bonus to any Casting Rolls. Also Priests of Morr gain +2 bonus to any Casting Rolls they make.

Special Events: Those who workship Morr pray and may take part of rituals in Morr's temples. For users of Dark Magic this is good time for any dark rituals. It is common that workshippers of Chaos Gods and users of Dark Magic perform their rituals during this night.

Middenheim Carnival, the
Place: Middenheim (Middenland, Empire)
Date: Carnival follows a 4-year cycle through the seasons. Winter celebration is small, more private celebration. It is not uncommon that the following times change if needed.
- Spring Carnival: 1st full week of Sigmarzeit (4th month)
- Summer Carnival: 1st full week of Vorgeheim (6th month)
- Autumn Carnival: 1st full week of Brauzeit (9th month)
- Winter Carnival: 1st full week of Ulriczeit (11th month)
Lenght: One full week (8 days).
Sources: City of Chaos (WFRP1 sourcebook).

Origin: Since the days of Artur himself, chief of the Teutognens, who said: "Long has been our wandering and long our suffering. This place will be our home - So, lets party!". OR if you dont believe that story then since 1812 to celebrate the ending of the siege by the Middenlanders. This long siege also caused the use of rats as food (which is still special cuisine during the Carneval). Later on a 4-year cycle was introduced.

Description: One of the oldest and greatest festivals in the Empire (and in the Old World). People flock to the Middenheim Carnival from all corners of the Empire, and visitors from further afield are a common sight: gaudy aristocrats from Bretonnia and swarthy merchants from Estalia, laconic, heavy-drinking Norsemen and quick-witted Wastelander traders. During Carnival Week, Middenheim's population swells by thousands and in many years there have been ten to twenty thousand visitors.
During the festival people are having fun 24 hours a day and outsiders are, and feel, equals in Middenheim (which is very uncommon in Middenland any other time). Merchants, entertainers, magisters, shows, pit-fighting, games of money, opera & theatre...etc. You find everything during the Carnival in Middenheim.

Special Events: Challenges to the Graf's Champions (few people are given change to challenge the Champion in arena for his place); Jousting Tournament (there is reward); Snotball Tournament (semi-finals and finals); Minotaur and Beastmen Fights in arena (there is rewards for winners & betting); Blackpool Illuminations (great fireworks done partly by magisters who cast their spells).

Couple of Decades:

Geheimnistag - Day of Mystery
Place: Everywhere
Date: Day between Vorgeheim (6th month) and Nachgeheim (7th month).
Lenght: One day and especially the night.
Sources: WFRP2 Core Rulebook.

Origin: Unknown. Maybe since the coming of moon Morrslieb.

Description: Day of Mystery, or Geheimnistag by the older folk of the Empire, marks the middle of the year (for some also the summer). The twin moons both shine full, Chaos Moon Morrslieb ("Beloved of Morr") and Mannslieb ("Beloved of Manann"), thinning the veil between the lands of the dead and the land of the living. A good time for a foretelling, this day is considered "safer" than Witching Night. Priest of Morr can be seen moving on the street all day. Sometimes initiates go door to door to collect money (common pay is 1p) and also visit any Inns and Taverns that are open. Note: Some of the text taken from WFRP Core Rulebook.
People are commonly little scared of this day and especially night, and usually stay home. It is said that spirits of the dead roam the land. It is common to burn large fires outside and pray Morr to ward the evil spirits. This is very humble and small celebration time hold commonly in the homes, but some people wander to local Inns and Taverns.
Those who are users of magic can benefit from this day (and night). Anybody with Magical Sense ("Witchsight") can sense the strong flow of Aethyr, the Winds of Magic. Users of any Arcane Magic gain +1 bonus to any Casting Rolls. Users of Dark Magic or Dhar gain +2 bonus to any Casting Rolls. Also Priests of Morr gain +1 bonus to any Casting Rolls they make.

Special Events: Those who workship Morr pray and may take part of rituals in Morr's temples. For users of Dark Magic this is good time for any dark rituals. It is common that workshippers of Chaos Gods and users of Dark Magic perform their rituals during this night.

Wine Tasting Festival of Averheim
Place: Averheim (Averland, Empire)
Date: Festival happens during the first week of Erntezeit (8th month), which is also Halfling "Pie Week".
Lenght: One full week (8 days).
Sources: Realms of Sorcery (WFRP2 sourcebook).

Origin: 2409. Traditionally, this is a lovely week for celebration, preparing for the oncoming harvest and, of course, drinking. Partly this week has been chosen to honor the halfling Pie Week.

Description: Wine Tasting Festival brings thousands of people to Averheim. It is also good time not only to bring wines, but also longhorn cattle for slaughter and export. During the festival cattle herds gather to the fields surrounding the city and this also creates huge tent villages in these fields (looks like small army is camped outside). Many merchants in the Old World make a point of being in Averheim during the festival. Festival is a lavish but surprisingly subdued celebration, as outright drunkenness is heavily frowned upon. After all, celebrants at the Festival are supposed to be tasting and comparing various vintages, whereas drunkards pretty much don't care what is in their tankards.
Festival starts early on the morning of the second day (even first day is full of tasting also). Master of Ceremonies opens last years Best wine with a gold-plated corkscrew or the "Worm" (screw has been used since the first festival). Master of Ceremonies is honorable rank given to one of the persons in the Panel of Experts. The Panel of Experts usually has Elector Count, Averland's Lector and few other people (usually persons chosen from the most notable families, like the Alptraums and Leitdorfs). Festivalgoers, especially locals, speak very much "Winespeak" during this time. It is slang for tasting the wines. During the festival wine-prices should be about half normal (except maybe special wines). And it is Pie Week also, so there alot of pie!

Special Events: Auction of special wines; Declaring the years Best White, Best Red and Best at Festival -wines (this is done by the Panel of Experts).

Black Powder Week
Place: Nuln (Wissenland, Empire)
Date: Last full week of Kaldezeit (10th month). It is not uncommon to change this week if time doesn't suit. This is still most important celebration in Nuln.
Lenght: Six days.
Sources: Forges of Nuln (WFRP2 sourcebook), Warhammer Companion (WFRP2 sourcebook).

Origin: The original idea was to burn all the old black powder before the winter. To use all this powder someone decided to create great fireworks, which eventually became huge celebration week. 

Description: One of the most popular events in the city of Nuln is Black Powder Week. This festival marks the end of the full gunnery season. The Imperial Gunnery School gives away fireworks to common folks, and children and adults come out to set them off in the streets. Every day for Black Powder Week, the Sons come to the gates of teh Gunnery School at noon with baskets full of firecrackers, sparklers, and smoke bombs, and pass out handfuls of fireworks to anyone who asks. Altough these are mostly noisemakers, those with money to spend can invest in displays that light up the night sky. this is always a big celebration and the villagers outside Nuln come to town for one or more days to take part in the celebration of Nuln's prosperity. Note: Some of the text taken from Forges of Nuln (WFRP2 Sourcebook).
This festival usually brings thousands of visitors to Nuln. Many come from faraway (Estalia, Tilea, Border Princes, even Araby...). Number can be little lesser during the years when the Middenheim Carnival is held in the Autumn time (normal people don't have money to go both festivals), but many times visitors from faraway countries go to both festivals. Merchants, entertainers, magisters, shows, pit-fighting, games of money, opera & theatre...etc. You find everything in the "Jewel of the Empire" during this week.

Special Events: Great Masquerade in the Palace (in the last evening and for the high-society only); Great Fireworks (last night of the festival).