Huofeng Torch Festival

For thousands of years, Huofeng Village, quietly nestled in the mountains in isolation developed its own unique superstitions and festivals. By far one of the most important for the village is the Huofeng Torch Festival.

Hosted by the Firelord of the Firewind Clan, the festival has gone on for thousands of years, and always opened with the extinguishing of last years ceremonial pyre, and the lighting of a new ceremonial pyre to end it. Superstitions say the pyre gives a guiding light for ancestral Huofeng Village spirits to return, and then to follow back into the heavens by following the rising smoke back. The pyre is a well-known tradition still maintained by the Firewind Clan proper, with the pyre itself well-guarded year round by two guards taking shifts so that it may burn eternally to guide the ancestors to their home as well as lead them back to the heavens. Indeed, the Pyre Guard is done only by the highest ranking members of the Clan Guard, and to be granted the shift one of the highest honors. For thousands of years, the pyre has been continuously extinguished and lit again once a year to honor the deaths of those who have passed, but the event is not as morbid as its symbolism. Celebrated with feast and entertainment, it is a time to begin the summer new for the cold mountain village, and enjoy traditional sports such as wrestling, yak racing, and of course, feasting.

For the first time in the history of the village, Firelord Yulan Firewind has opened the event to outsiders, letting those come to enjoy and revel in the festivities. Several notices and letters to all parties interested were posted in prominent locations throughout the Grand Alliance.

The festival starts with the extinguishing of the ceremonial pyre, and then moves on towards the yak race. Any player with a yak shall be able to participate in the race. The course shall be one lap around Kun-Lai Province.



This image shows the course itself, a circuit starting at One Keg and then ending at One Keg. The winner receives a small purse and then be announced as victor, and gains the honor to participate in the closing ceremony.