Pärlilnn The City of Pearl

Pärlinn is the capital city of The Kingdom of Hallow. The city extends from it's bustling docks all the way up to The Tähe Lillepalee The Star Palace, the main home of the royal family. It is the largest and most populated city in Hallow and usually a visitor's first stop.

 

Tähesalu Star Grove

An island of the winter islands and the location of Hallow's Maa tähed Earth Star, the Sacred Stone of The Kingdom of Hallow.

 

Pärlimeri The Pearl Sea

Hallow's large deep water bay.

The Kingdom of Hallow has a rich culture full of traditions, holidays, and folklore. 

The Kingdom of Hallow celebrates many holidays with old and new traditions

When

The night of the Winter Solstice

Meaning

The night when the lives of those who have died in the past year are celebrated, giving loved ones a last goodbye and a chance to ask Kalmoneiu for a good winter as Ülekäigurada, the bridge between The Pühitsetud Maa and Möödaläinud, is the shortest and most stable. 

 

It was believed by The Põhjatähe Lapsed that souls wait until this day to cross over as Ülekäigurada is the safest this night and the souls have the best chance of safely making it to Möödaläinud.

Traditions

 

Old

 

• Significant items owned by those who have died in the past year are placed in the center of the table where the family of that person will be having supper as to be a pull for those souls to come and dine with their family before their journey across. 
• Before eating everyone at the table will say something they admired about the loved one who passed and wishes them good luck on their crossing. If no loved ones have died, everyone wishes the souls they never knew good luck. 
• After supper loved ones will bring, if they have them, the ashes of the one they lost to the closest connection to the sea (the sea, a bay, river, lake, pond, etc.), empty their ashes into the water give whatever material connection that was left to Ookeani so the soul will have no problems with the sea when crossing, or when there are no ashes lay the Kingituskalm in the water as a way to ask Kalmoneiu to guide their soul across Ülekäigurada and say the last goodbye. 
• Dance and sing to music, be with loved ones, and enjoy the rest of the evening into the morning.
• Decorating homes and buildings with pinecones and pine needle crafts. 

 

New

 

• Most large cities and towns will have big festivals with games, contests, entertainment, shops, and a lot of music and dancing. These festivals will start a few hours after sundown to give everyone enough time to have supper and complete the celebration traditions.

When

When someone dies and there is a body

Meaning

• The Põhjatähe Lapsed believed that souls will still have a connection to Maaemä until that tether is burned away. If they still have that connection when they try to cross Ülekäigurada into Möödaläinud their soul could be dragged into the sea by Ookeani. 
• When a person's body is cremated their soul tether is burned and they can cross Ülekäigurada without being taken by Ookeani.

Traditions

• The body is wrapped in a white cloth and placed in a raudkirst “Iron Coffin” filled with pine wood, needles, and cones. The dead’s loved ones will share their favorite memories and then The Põleti “Burner” will close the raudkirst and light the pine on fire, watching the raudkirst till the body and pine are ash. The ash is then transferred to a decorated urn to be kept in the loved one's home till the next Möödamise Päev.
• When there is not a body it is no longer A Hingelõng Põleb, it is A Kutsuda Hauda “call to the grave”. In this ceremony, a piece of leather or parchment with the dead’s name on it is tied to a pinecone. The pinecone is then passed around to loved ones as memories of the dead are shared and it is now a Kingituskalm “A gift to Kalmoneiu” and shall be kept in the loved one's home till the next Möödamise Päev. 
• If for any reason the ashes or Kingituskalm can’t wait for Möödamise Päev, the Möödamise Päev water traditions should be performed immediately.

When

When all three moons are full

Meaning

• When all three triplets Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm are full Ookeani’s madness is at its peak. The souls that she has dragged down from Ülekäigurada are free to leave the sea for the night and spread Ookeani’s madness to the land.
• Ookeani is so desperate on this night that she will take living souls from the shore and drags them down into her waters.

Traditions

• On the night of The Kolme Kuu Hullus a pine needle is placed in a pocket to protect from the souls of the water and going near the water is avoided.

When

The Spring Equinox

Meaning

• When Kalmoneiu returns to Põhjatähe signaling the end of winter

Traditions

Old

• A celebration of spring
• After the first seeds of spring are planted there is a feast of hunted venison
• Dancing and music to celebrate

New

• Most large cities and towns will have smaller festivals that will last through the day and end before dinner.

When

The Autumn Equinox

Meaning

• Lõikuse has given a bountiful harvest. Though she can not care for children of her own she can make sure no one has to suffer losing a child during winter as she felt the pain of losing hers.

Traditions

Old

• The Harvest 
• An offering of food from the harvest is brought to the woods so Lõikuse’s children and all others lost to the woods will not go hungry
• A dinner with freshly harvested food
• Dancing and music to celebrate a good harvest

New

• Most large cities and towns will have smaller festivals that will last through the day and end before dinner.

When

The Summer Solstice

Meaning

• Koidik and Hämarus can meet on this day, symbolizing love and light and darkness coming together and being one.

Traditions

Old

• Lighting large fires to bring the day into the night 
• Unmarried young women would wear flower crowns and unmarried young men would wear oak leaf crowns to hopefully find their true love
• Dancing and music to celebrate love and the summer

New

• Most large cities and towns will have large festivals that will last through the day and night and end at the dawn. These festivals will have a lot of love themed games and activities.

When

(DATE OF FOUNDING) Lunar Calendar

Meaning

• The celebration of The Kingdom Of Hallow. The day Marev Kulev Arved Risto Hallow became the first king of Hallow.

Traditions

Old

• Parades with the Royal Family 
• National symbols displayed 
• Dancing and music to celebrate

New

• Most large cities and towns will have large festivals that will last through the day and evening.
• Parades through the cities and towns
• Dressing in traditional garb and hair

The Kingdom of Hallow has a large collection of folklore.

There has always been Öö (The Night), and there has always been Päev (The Day) and they have always despised each other. For Öö has always represented darkness, all evil in the world and all that it brings, and Päev has always represented light, all good in the world and all that it brings. Päev and Öö are opposites, good and bad, light and dark, and so were the children they had. 

 

Päev had Koidik (The Dawn), a young woman with locks as golden as the sun she brought with her and eyes as dark as the sky that came before her. Light followed her every step and she always showed happiness on her face.

 

Öö had Hämarus (The Dusk), a young man with hair as black as the sky he brought with him and eyes as light as the sun that came before him. Darkness followed his every step and he always showed sadness on his face. 

 

Just as their parents are, they were opposites, made forever to hate each other, except as they walked the earth they were similar, they were lonely. They walked and walked the earth meeting new people with every step they took but were never able to stay. 

 

There was one day year after year when Koidik would catch up to Hämarus, the summer solstice. The night was so short that Koidik could see the Hämarus walking before her. 

 

Koidik had always been told by Päev to keep away from Hämarus as he was dangerous and filled with only darkness, but Koidik didn’t heed this warning. She knew her eyes were dark and believed that if she could bring light when she too had darkness then the Hämarus too must have light.

 

Unfortunately, when Koidik would call out to Hämarus on that summer night once a year she would never get a response, for Hämarus, as much as he wanted to look back and answer her call, he believed that his darkness would hurt Koidik. So he stayed away, wistful in his solitude.

 

One summer Koidik had enough of this. She was sick of Hämarus not answering her calls and decided she was going to meet him. 

 

To do this she enlisted the help of the people she had met as she walked the earth to burn fires on the shortest night so night would become day and she could walk up to Hämarus. The people agreed and it was done, Koidik was able to walk right up to Hämarus and stop him from walking away from her. 

 

Hämarus pleaded, “ No please, my darkness will hurt you. I cannot answer your call.” but Koidik just smiled and had him look into her eyes. 

 

“Your darkness can not hurt me,” she said, “For I already have darkness. Just as my light can’t hurt you for you already have it too.” 

 

Hämarus had been so focused on his darkness that he never realized that he too had light in his eyes. 

 

Koidik continued, “You can have both light and dark, as long as you know they can both live within you neither side can hurt you or anyone else.” 

 

The Hämarus for the first time gave a smile. He found someone who showed him that his darkness was not a burden and that he could love and not hurt.

 

“We can only be together one night a year, when the fires are lit but you can carry this to remind you of the light in your darkness,” Koidik spoke as she handed him a bright oak leaf. 

 

Hämarus thanked her and picked a flower from the field. “This kuulill

(Moonflower) flower only blooms at night, so it can remind you of your darkness when I am not here.”

 

Koidik gave a smile and said goodbye to Hämarus as the night was over and they would have to start walking once again. But after that night once a year their young love would grow just as strong as the fires that were lit so they could be together. 

Maaemä “Mother Nature” had five sons, the eldest Päike “The Sun”, the triplets Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm “The Moons”, and the youngest Põhjatähe “The North Star”. 

 

Kalm “The Ruler of Möödaläinud, Land of the Passed”  had a daughter, Kalmoneiu “The Maiden of the Grave”.

 

Kalmoneiu was the most beautiful woman the sons had ever crossed paths with and the moment they had laid their eyes on her the five sons each declared they would be married. 

 

Päike and the triplets, the strongest sons, thinking their youngest brother as weak and inferior, saw each other as their only obstacles. Päike challenged triplets to a test of will to see who would win Kalmoneiu. They all agreed and so began their race, whoever could run around their mother for the longest amount of time before giving up would be the victor and the superior brother. 

 

Põhjatähe was not as big and strong as his brothers, but he was smart and had a stronger will than all of them combined. 

 

As Päike and the triplets were lost in competition, Põhjatähe asked his mother to create a gift to give to Kalmoneiu. An island with rich soils and plentiful forests, waters full of pearls and ground dawned with silver and amber, plenty of animals for the hunt and many people to watch over and love, beautiful summers and harsh winters that would bring many to Kalmoneiu’s home land. Maaemä thought it was a wonderful idea and agreed to do so. 

 

Põhjatähe gifted the land to Kalmoneiu and she loved the gift and Põhjatähe so much that they were wed and promised to watch over the land Kalmoneiu named The Pühitsetud Maa “The Hallowed Land”, and love it for eternity.

 

Põhjatähe and Kalmoneiu had many children that can be seen playing as the twinkling stars in the night sky. And though Kalmoneiu had to go home to Möödaläinud during the winter months to help her father guide the passed souls to the afterlife around the the longest night Põhjatähe shows his love for Kalmoneiu each night through beautiful lights in the sky. 

 

Päike, Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm, distracted by their vain thoughts, are still running to this day and will be forever. 

Kalm “The Ruler of Möödaläinud, Land of the Passed” and his wife Ookeani “The Sea” were the most devoted of partners.

 

Ookeani was a beautiful woman, just like the daughter she bore and loved. Ookeani was sweet and kind and helped all of those who were lost in her waters make it safely back to land or guide them to the afterlife. She cared for her family, the souls of Möödaläinud and all of Maaemä’s people and creatures. She lived everyday with a smile on her face and her husband by her side. She had a perfect life, a life that her sister Taeva “The Sky” was horribly jealous of.

 

Taeva was madly in love with Kalm and hated her sister for sharing a life with him. Taeva would constantly start fights with her sister, causing Ookeani to have to fight back with the power of her waves, these fights so bad that they even would sometimes be felt on land. 

 

One day when Taeva saw Maaemä’s triplets Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm “The Moons” running she had a sinister idea. She would make her sister feel the way she does. 

 

Taeva went to Metsanõid “The Witch of The Woods” and asked her to curse Ookeani to forever be infatuated by the triplets in exchange for the promise that one of  Metsanõid’s daughters, Vetenõid “The Witch of the Waters'' can take parts of the sea to have for herself and for her future daughters. Metsanõid agreed and the deal was made.

 

Ookeani was cursed by Metsanõid to forever be pining after Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm, forever following their every move and wanting to be with them. Her old life was forgotten and the love she had for her family, the passing souls, or any of Maaemä’s people or creatures was pushed away by only thoughts of wanting what she could not have. 

 

From that point on Ookeani would take any passing soul upon Ülekäigurada that had a remaining tether to Maaemä and drag them down to her depths to one day make a pile of souls that was tall enough to reach her curse sprung love, her sister fighting her back down if she starts to get close.

 

Fortunately the love Ookeani had for her husband and daughter will never completely fade for when Kalmoneiu or Kalm tread upon Ülekäigurada Ookeani does not reach for passing souls and her water is calm for not even a curse is as strong as the love a mother has for her family.

Valdkonna “The Father of the Field” and Lõikuse “The Mother of the Harvest” had the most plentiful land. Their fields were thick with crops and their soil was richer than kings. They had a life without fear of hunger, but Lõikuse felt incompetent. 

 

Lõikuse had been unable to bore children with her husband, for as fertile as her land was, her womb was not. 

 

One day, as Lõikuse was gathering herbs from the forest, she heard the whispers of a flower behind her, a white flower, looking as beautifully bloomed as Makiellake “The lily of The Valley”. 

 

The flower asked Lõikuse why she was all alone, and the mother answered that she could bore no children to be with her. The flower felt for the childless woman and proposed a deal.

 

“I can grant you your wish for children,” the flower spoke, “But, I do not give without something in return.” 

 

Lõikuse didn’t care about what the flower would want and said yes without listening to the other side of the deal.

 

The months passed and Lõikuse had two beautiful twins, a son Seeme “The seed” and a daughter Mulada “the soil”.

 

Lõikuse, blinded by what she did not have, never noticed that the flower she met in the forest was actually Metsanõid “The Witch of The Woods” disguised as a Mai Lily “May Lily”. Metsanõid may have granted Lõikuse’s wish but she wasn’t going to do so without something in return, so Metsanõid made it so that when the children come of an age where they can walk, speak, and work a curse would be placed upon the land. This curse says that any child who doesn’t listen will be taken back by the forest never to be seen again.

 

The autumn day that the children came of the curse’s age their father tasked them with helping with the harvest. Instead of listening to their father, the children decided to go and play, only to be swiftly caught by their mother. Unfortunately, the dead had already been done. 

 

The next morning, when Lõikuse woke, she called out to her children, but this morning she heard no response and she went to check their room. 

 

Lõikuse found no children, just two white flowers where she had tucked seeme and mulada in the evening before.

 

Confused and scared for her children, Lõikuse ran to the forest to find the flower she had spoken to all those years ago.

 

Lõikuse found the flower, but it wasn’t the same. The white petals were now replaced with berries red as blood and the green stem and leaves had been swapped with a dried stick and single leaf.

 

“Where are my children!” Lõikuse cried. Metsanõid only responded with the truth, “Your children should have listened, just as you should have listened when I gave them to you.”

 

Lõikuse cried, for that was all she could do. She had lost her children forever. 

 

Her tears left her eyes and filled the soil of her lands with the fertility she wanted, gained, and lost.

The Spring Lullaby

 

From the (Dm)icy coast to the (C) snow-brushed pine 

The (F)land we have will see (A7)spring arrives 

 

From the (Dm)amber stones to the (C) silver mined

The (F) gems we have will see (A7)spring arrives

 

From the (F)hunters deer to the (C)richest wine 

The (A7) fare we have will see (Dm)spring arrives

 

From the (Dm)freshest of lakes to (C) the seas of brine 

The (F)ships we have will see (A7)spring arrives 

 

From the (F)cold of the night to (C)sun of the sky

The (A7) strength we have will (Dm) see spring arrives 

 

From the (F)darkest of times to the (C)brightest of days

The heart(A7) we have will see (Dm)spring arrives

 

----

 

The song of passing

 

(Am - E7 - G - C - F - Dm - E7 - Am)

 

the maiden beckens over calmer seas

The souls say goodbye to the life they must leave 

A severed tie means a journey quick

A still connection makes it easier to sink 

 

The lost sailors and forest children call out 

Maiden of the grave, please I do shout 

Let me walk over the crossing my friend 

Don’t let this time be my true end

 

The maidens mother cursed with madness

Takes crossing souls to fill her sadness

She won't dare take were the madden goes

For the love she has forgotten still shows 

 

So the still tethered souls cry out in fear

please, Kalmoneiu help me cross over here 

For if not

I will hanut 

As my soul is to be forgot

 

----

 

Lullaby: Mu armastus you’ll always be mine

 

(C - Em - F - Am - G - C - G - Am)

 

A love that lasts beyond all years 

A love that feels so dear

Please know you’ll always be mine

 

Mu armastus

you’ll always be mine

 

The stars do shine

And ask my child

Do you feel all my love?

Please know you’ll always be mine 

 

Mu armastus

you’ll always be mine

 

Through the forests and seas 

Across the snow covered trees 

Please know you’ll always be mine

 

Mu armastus

you’ll always be mine

 

Like the star and the grave 

Or death and his wave 

Please know you’ll always be mine

 

Mu armastus

you’ll always be mine

Please know I’m always at your side (G)

Please know you’ll always be mine (Am)

 

----

 

Sacred Stones

 

Deep in the forest 

The stone from a star 

Beacons those alone

with conflict inside

 

A call from afar

Brings them to the gate

Shows not wants but needs 

• Silver 
• Pearl and mother of pearl
• Amber
• Lumber 
• Textiles
• Furniture 
• Paper
• Mostly Purple, and other colored dye

There are many distinct purple flowers, the wildflower fields are mostly purple. Some of these flowers are purple cornflowers that make purple dye.

• National flower: öölill Night flower
• Purple Cornflowers (Põllu Lill { po-lo lill } : Field Flower)
• North American wisteria (Vihma Lill { vee-ha-ma lill } : Rain Flower)
• Lavender (Elegants Lill { ella-gants lill } : Elegant Flower)
• Allium (Küüslaugu Lill { koo-sla-oog-oo lill } : Garlic Flower)
• Hydrangea (Pilvilill { pill-vill-ill } : Cloud Flower)
• Aster (Tähe Lill { tah-ha lill } : Star Flower)

There are more flowers but these are the abundant purple ones and their Hallow names

Waystones: The Sacred Stones (maa tähed { mah tau-head } : Earth Stars )

• Stories of people, who were alone being shown things through the stones (scrying stones)
• Stories of people, who were alone being teleported to other lands, or planes through the stones (waypoint stones)
• Believed to be made from fallen stars, they have a mind of their own and are all connected.
• They don't show, or take you where you want to go, but where the rocks feel you need to go!

The Sacred stone in Hallow is located on tähesalu ({ tah-ha-sal-low } : Star Grove) an island of the winter islands. It's protected by Kingdom guards.

Hallow has a kingdom guard (põhjavaht { po-ha-ja-va-haut } : North Guard) this military is through career recruitment and is stationed all over the kingdom with different sectors guarding different things.

• (Tähe Sektor { tah-hey sec-tor } : Star sector) stationed for government and nobility and associated buildings and grounds
• (Kuu Sektor { koo sec-tort } : Moon sector) stationed for sacred places and events.
• (Päikese Sektor { pah-ik-es-eh sec-tor } : Sun sector) city and town guard, stationed all over hallow
• (põhjatähe Sektor { po-ha-tah-hey sec-tor } : North Star sector) The royal guard, personal royal guard that also travels with them. 
• (Mere Sektor { mer-ahy sec-tort } : Sea sector) This is Hallow’s Navy/Coast guard. Stationed on Kingdom ships all over the Kingdom’s waters.

The native language of The Kingdom of Hallow

 

Staar Räägib is still taught in schools and is used on older documents. Official documents switched to common during the reign of King Solvis Kulev Hanns Jacob Hallow. The farther from a large port city the more it is used and the accent is thicker.

The Royal Family of The Kingdom of Hallow is a patriarcy first started by Marev Kulev Arved Risto Hallow and has continued through the kingdom's history by following the eldist son becoming the next king.

----

Current..... Rulers:

King August Kulev Solvis Hanns Hallow

Queen Ingrid Burova Joan Hallow

Crown Princess Reynella Burova August Solvis Hallow

• Põhjatähe :(poo-oh-yat-ah-hey) : The North Star, Son of Maaemä
• Kalmoneiu :(kal-mon-ee-u): Maiden of the Grave, Daughter of Kalm
• Maaemä :(mah-eh-ma): Mother Nature, The World
• Kalm :(kal-m): Ruler of möödaläinud
• Möödaläinud :(moo-dah-la-een-oot): the land of the dead
• Kuuüks, Kuukaks, and Kuukolm :(koo-ou-kss, koo-kah-kss, koo-koh-lum): The Moons, Sons of Maaemä
• Päike :(pa-ee-keh): The Sun, Son of Maaemä
• The Põhjatähe Lapsed :(the poo-oh-yat-ah-hey lah-pss-et): The children of the north star, The original natives of The pühitsetud maa
• The Pühitsetud Maa :(the pou-heet-set-ud mah): The Hallowed land, The native name of the land where The Kingdom of Hallow is located
• Ülekäigurada :(ou-lehk-a-eekoo-rata): The bridge to between The Pühitsetud Maa and Möödaläinud used by souls to cross over, can be very dangerous
• Ookeani :(oh-keh-an-ee): The Sea, Lost wife of Kalm, Mother of Kalmoneiu, sister to Taeva
• Taeva :(tay-va): The Sky, Sister to Ookeani
• Metsanõid :(met-sahn-oo-oh-eet): The witch of the woods, The eldest evil witch and mother of the greater evil witches
• Vetenõid :(veht-en-oo-oh-eet): The Witch of the Waters, Daughter of Metsanõid 
• Möödamise Päev :(moo-dah-am-eeseh pay-v): The Day of Passing
• Hingelõng Põleb :(heenk-el-oo-oh-nk poo-oh-lehp): Soul Tether Burning
• Kutsuda Hauda :(kut-sut-ah hah-ut-ah): Call to the Grave Ceremony
• Kingituskalm :(keen-keet-usk-ahlm): A gift to Kalmoneiu to ask for help guiding a loved one to the afterlife
• The Kolme Kuu Hullus :(the ko-lmeh koo hul-lus): The three moon madness
• Tagasitulek :(taht-ahsee-tul-ek): The return of Kalmoneiu to Põhjatähe
• Valdkonna :(): The Father of the Field, husband to Saagi
• Lõikuse :(): The Mother of the Harvest, wife to Valdkonna
• Seeme :(): The seed, forest spirit, son of Saggi and Valdkonna 
• Mulada :(): The soil, forest spirit, daughter of Saggi and Valdkonna 
• Öö :(oo): The Night, Mother of Hämarus
• Päev :(pay-eev): The Day, Father of Koidik
• Koidik :(koi-deek): The Dawn, Daughter of Päev, Love of Hämarus
• Hämarus :(Hammer-us): The Dusk, Son of  Öö, Love of Koidik
• Päeva Öö :(pay-eev-ah oo): The Night Of Day, The Summer Solstice