The turtonic ritual marks the end of the summer festival with the many turtonic islands separating and heading on their separate ways into more temperate waters. This transition marks a slow transition from warm afternoons into cool evenings as the islands move further from the warm waters well suited to a turtonic nursery.
Alongside this change in weather, a period of preparations begins as those who have moved during the summer seek out new homes and establish their stores for winter. Often, these efforts are aided by the surrounding communities with everyone helping build homes and gifting foods and materials that new residents will need through the winter.
As these preparations proceed, an old tradition also comes together in the form of a feast. While not as grand as the summer festival, this tradition is just as old, with individual communities celebrating throughout the fall as a reward for their efforts in preparing for the incoming winter. Alongside the feast, mhoats spend the end of fall visiting temples to make their final offerings, as well as, visiting the resting place of their ancestors. Unsurprisingly, these core aspects of the Slumbering Feast are what lead to many of the surrounding activities with delicious treats and spooky tricks aplenty available for Mynrosians to enjoy.
Supernatural Haunt
Prior years' spooky shenanigans have led to the creation of a new tradition where Mynrosians of all types flock to spooky locales in search of the supernatural. The nature of the season inspires rumors about various specters which haunt out of the way places, the energy of their emotions leaving a physical imprint on a location. When the magic floods these areas, these specters become active, or so the rumors go.
Even among the rumors, there are many well-known stories that fuel common superstitions and it seems that newer spooky stories are being created to add more mystery to the season. Those who overhear these stories and rumors are wandering out to abandoned locations, graveyards, or even the woods to see what strange creatures they may find. Many will find nothing, though some might even get a chill up their spine as they explore these spooky places, especially when the odd playful Mynrosian will play a spooky prank on those brave enough to wander into their traps for a proper fright.
Costume Pageant
As the winter preparations begin to wrap up, many decide to dress up in fun costumes and take part in various activities that match the fall season while encouraging them to show off a bit of silly fashion. Dressing up in costume for hay rides treat exchanges, even little costume pageants pop up all across the islands so that mhoats have plenty of reason to parade around in unique and interesting costumes to show off their sewing skills or even display the work of another. Some of the more serious tailors and designers across the island even use the costume pageant as an opportunity to test early ideas as they prepare for the more serious competitions that take place during the winter. For this activity, you can either show your mhoat taking part in an activity while dressed up, taking part in one of the costume pageants, or even just viewing the pageants for fun.
Cauldron Surprise
While the season is centered around heavy lifting, long cooking sessions and many other physically demanding activities, not all Mynrosians are suited to taking part in these activities. And so, during this time, those with illnesses and the elderly spend this time preparing for the cauldron surprise!
This activity is a core part of the Slumbering Feast, where little bags of treats or playful tricks are placed into a cauldron at the center of the feast. These surprises are available for everyone attending the feast, but are most enjoyed by the youngest Mynrosians. They will flock to the cauldron to pick out a bag or three, often with the claim it's for family members. Hurrying back to their parents to dig into these bags to find if they have been tricked or given a bag of sweets to enjoy.
In larger towns and cities there will even be secondary cauldron surprises where groups will collect a variety of these bags and hand them out in town squares or plazas where little Mynrosians can dress up in costumes and socialize with other children while their parents lead them from one cauldron to the next to gather a little stash of treats.
Haunting Wildlife
This season is often one of tricks and thrills, with Mynrosians seeking out a variety of small frights to add excitement to what is usually a busy season of harvest and winter preparation. It's a bit of fun to cut through the more serious traditions surrounding the cycle of seasons and observations of the dead.
In this spirit, Mynrosians often take to the various nature trails around Mynros at night, where various creatures take on nocturnal activities. Curious Mynosians may encounter odd glowing tracks, strange floating lights, or even get a quick fright by whatever spooky creature is rustling around in the bushes.