It is winter. For six long months, the hours of daylight have grown more and more sparse. With the departure of the sun’s warmth, nature has been embraced by winter. The nights are long and cold, and ever so starlit. Yet no night grows longer and darker forever.
The Winter Solstice marks the turn of the cycle. The end of a year, and the start of a new one. As the night crests and the very height of the darkest season, the Kaldorei gather to celebrate ends and beginnings. For these are the times to let go and start something new once more.
Honoured kin and allies, be welcomed to Winterspring for a night where we gather to celebrate the end of one cycle, and the start of another. All in the name of the Goddess who has us all blessed beneath the stars and the moonlit skies.
Illthanyn - The Winter Solstice
Opening ritual - A ceremony of renewal
With the turning of the seasons, all attendees are welcomed to start the night with a ceremony of cleansing and renewal - all in honour of Elune, Mother Moon.
The blessings of faith and the Night’s farewell
Illthanyn marks the end of a year, but also the start of a new to come. For those inclined to renew their faith for the coming year, a ritual will be hosted beseeching the blessings of Elune for the upcoming cycle. Those feeling that something weighs extra heavily on their minds after the last year may partake in a ritual to let go of past strife so to move forwards into new, brighter days.
Storytelling
No night of a solstice is complete without storytelling. Gather around the fire and tell your best tales of what happened during the past year, or what you dream to aspire to in the coming year! The more, the merrier, the better.
Bar and kitchen
During the night, there will be both food and drinks offered to anyone who need a pick-me-up during all the rituals and the revelries!
For food, none other than Balturas Strongoak will run the kitchens with all the best that Kaldorei food has to offer. Don’t miss out on the best cooking found in Kaldorei cuisine! Known from The Silver Feather inn, it is a much awaited return to Winterspring, and to Kalimdor!
Included in the year’s longest night is the year’s longest opening hours for Bar Aariam! While the night is at its longest and full of the Goddess’ closeness, make sure that your mouth is close to any of the delicious items on offering. Mulled wine? We have it! Normal, delicious red wine because Aariam would never go without it? Right again, friend! So come spend your solstice with a hostess with the mostest, feasting until the pesky rays of morning break through the canopies.
OOC Info
Greetings, Kaldorei of Argent Dawn - and all their allies and friends, of course! On the 20:th of December, we welcome you to Winterspring to celebrate ILLTHANYN! A night where we revere the winter solstice in Kaldorei style and ceremony. We seek to offer an organised yet casual event for the sake of socialising and playing a little with the culture around the seasons for a people that treasure their connection to the night, the wilds and the skies more than most. Expect a night with celebrations, ceremonies and casual activities!
Illthanyn is an event written to honour the winter solstice, and where all and any night elf are welcomed to be inspired by the turning of the seasons. Be it for letting go of what a year’s worth of happenings have brought, or to look forwards to renewal and new adventures. All in our twist on faith and ceremonies. This is a religion heavy event in parts, but not one to exclude the curious alliance visitor or the one not following the Kaldorei faith in Elune.
Details
Date: 20:th of December 2025
Time: 19:45 ST
Place: Snowden Chalet, Winterspring
Dresscode: Not mandatory, but white and silver colours are encouraged
Schedule
19:45 - Gathering and pre-ceremony mingling
20:00 - Opening ceremony
~20:15 - Bar, kitchen and all activities open
What will be happening?
The starting ceremony is the one part of the event that is common for all, but from there on, all the activities are open for those wishing to choose what to do during the night. All and sundry are welcome to partake in those parts of the event that might hold their fancy, and at their leisure.
Who may attend?
Granted the theme and it being a religious holiday to celebrate Elune, this is an event aimed at the Kaldorei most of all, but we happily welcome all our alliance friends as well! The more the merrier! However, do note that it is not a neutral event, nor is it open for both factions.
Anything else?
We understand that strife, chaos and drama are fun plot points, but for this event we would rather keep it calm and chill for the sake of creating an event that everyone can partake in for the night in a merry fashion. Thus, we kindly ask that random invasions, sudden attacks, fel or void corruption and the likes are spared for a better time.
Questions?
If you wonder about anything, or wish to ask something related to the event, simply drop a response in the thread here!
Most welcome!
The Nightblade Sisterhood
Furthermore…
Illthanyn is an important holiday, especially for the Sisterhood. Thus…
A renewal of faith - Conclave Celebration event (21/12)
Hello Kaldorei Priestesses of Argent Dawn!
I have been toying with the idea of a conclave event that is less conclave, more ceremony and celebration for a good while now, and finally, I believe it is time to realise that! Thus, the day after Illthanyn on the 20:th in Winterspring, we gather to pilgrimage and celebrate a renewal of faith as the cycle turns anew!
Schedule
20:00 Gathering
20:15 Pilgrimage to the destination for the ceremony - which will be Hyjal, and the roots of Nordrassil.
Whenever we get there - ceremony start!
The general theme is to give priestesses of Elune a chance to not only host ceremonies or discuss faith, but to also partake in a bit more ingoing rituals spared for the members of the Sisterhood alone. I expect this to be quite a small and intimate event, so hopefully we get plenty of chances to make closer ties in not only a discussion sense, but also a spiritual sense.
Questions? Thoughts? Ping me! Otherwise, see you there!
(Yes, this ceremony follows the same inclusion criteria as the Crescent Conclaves as in be a Kaldorei priestess of Elune, and thus a member of the Sisterhood. If your character fits the bill - then most welcome!)
You will find more information on this in the main post. This is, much like the Crescent Conclaves, an event for the priestesses of Elune of Argent Dawn!