By Gaffeek

Settlers traveled from as far away as, Oreo, and Retirement for the Old and the Insane to ring in the Season of Lights in Mol-Rehan's Alchemist Bay. In a week of extraordinary good cheer and neighborliness, this was a place of hustle and bustle with an Impalong sponsored by Tritus of Kallana Verde, various games, building raisings, and hunting parties. Even Santa made time for a visit, handing out charming wands with devastating power and providing a feast beyond all expectations.

What started out as a mild request by Tritus, mayor of Kallana Verde, to get together during the week of Yule became an all out party by holiday end. Taking the Jen-Kellon idea of an Impalong into the untamed lands of Mol-Rehan, he sent out an open invite across the land for any interested in helping to improve tools to arrive at AB at midnight, December 20th.

Once there, crafters were sorted according to their abilities, and anyone who wanted to could drop their own tools off to be improved by 10, 20, sometimes 30 quality points. The idea was one of inclusion and comraderie, with everyone, no matter their skill level, being given a chance to improve both their skills and their tools. It was a raging success, with most items hitting the 65 quality mark before the crafters gave up in exhaustion.

To help fuel the joviality of the Impalong, Tritus included a trivia game with 10 people winning one silver each for the first correct answer to his questions. Not to be outdone, Bloodmaster created a treasure hunt for the masses. Handing each of the 10 participants a key, he then sent them out with nothing more than their courage, brawn, and a clue for the chests which held their prizes.

In addition to the Impalong and games, Gaffeek of Darkenstone sponsored a good, old-fashioned building-raising to have a working inn at AB. The Angry Unicorn opened its doors with three beds, three trunks, a forge, and a three-cart corral. There are plans to increase the beds to six in the future. Gaffeek sends out special thanks to Rosie, Tantrum, and Abduallah for their help in getting the inn up and running.

Of course, no holiday gathering is complete without a bit of hunting thrown into the mix. DragonSpawn started the week out with a trip out to gather hides for the leatherworkers, and Rosie and Gaffeek ended it with a wild ride south for clay that ended with a pet croc or two! Beyond that, the road east from AB was littered with freshly slaughtered scorpions, spiders, bears, and wolves; the hunter workiing hard to keep the roads safe for the holiday travelers.

What started out as a simple suggestion turned into a week of holiday merriment to rival all others. The freshly fallen snow and decorated trees offered up the magic needed for a perfect Yule celebration, and maybe a new tradition on Mol Rehan for all who move here.