Springsong (Ogunde)

The Springsong has two separate meanings to the people of Ogunde, though some might argue they simultaneously stand for the same thing.

Springsong is most widely recognized as the first day of the Spring season, and the beginning of the new year. This is a highly celebrated day in Ogunde, representing the turn from the Winter season and the reawakening of the world. Although Winter is not “cold” in Ogunde so much as it is noticeably more dry and bereft of crop yield, Springtime brings bloom and proliferation to the flora and fauna across the continent.

For Injumakans, the Springsong is also a ritual that’s been conducted for generations, its rites supposedly passed down from the Ancients themselves. Across Ufalme Injumaka, towns and cities gather together and partake in the Springsong: a collective vocal ritual song that grows stronger with every voice chanting it.

In Ufalme itself, people gather around the sacred grounds outside the Storied Crown, where the Kumbu Highspeakers lead the entire community in the Springsong. The Sage Stones - ancient monoliths inscribed with wisdom from the time of the Ancients - rise from beneath the Storied Crown, lifted by the voices of the Song, and float high over the capital, bathing everything across the land in its light. At the conclusion of the Song, the capital is bathed in the light of Life, which spreads throughout the land. People are invigorated, plants receive a jumpstart to begin the blooming process, and the rains are summoned for the Spring season.

Springsong’s Origin
The stories inscribed on the Sage Stones regarding the Springsong tell the tale of the Ancients of long ago struggling to survive. In the earliest days of the Ancients following the Days of Fury, Ogunde was sweltering under the heat of an unrelenting sun and the oppression of the Apophixis, the Great Red Dragon. The red dragonflight claimed the arid lands of Ogunde as their own, and refused to relent in their raids of fire and claw on the other mortal races.

Desperate, the Ancients turned to the gods, and the Earth Mother answered their prayers by teaching a few Ancients an extremely simplified version of the songs she and the Stormlord had sung in the Days of Fury to bring forth life-giving rains. At first, the few Ancients tried to keep their knowledge of the ancient magic secret, singing quietly on their own...to no avail.

Finally, out of options and facing a famine that would end all of Ogunde, the Ancients shared their knowledge with the masses. With the voices of thousands, the magic took: the rains came, and the damage the red dragonflight had caused quickly scabbed over and healed.

After the Roar that Shattered the World, Apophixis was banished, and his red dragonflight was scattered to the deep caves of the world while the Age of Darkness covered the planet. Ufalme Injumaka, meanwhile, largely preserved itself by following the guidance, wisdom, and rituals of the Ancients, including the Springsong. Even as the Age of Darkness has largely passed, Injumakans continue the tradition of singing in the new year and new life.

Springsong’s Traditions
Colors - In the theme of reawakening, it is custom to wear bright and vibrant colors. Some dress their color scheme according to their tribe, others simply partake in a colorful array of robes, tunics, scarves, braids, and other accessories. Together, populations across Ogunde form a vibrant rainbow to call forth Spring.

Music - As with much of Ogunde’s traditions, music is a core aspect of the Springsong festivities. Almost every hour of the day, one can find groups or singular musicians performing out in public. Those enjoying the festivities will often stop to enjoy the show, or even lend their voice to the songs.

Food - With the anticipation of a bountiful Spring, the last of the Winter’s stores are used to create a prodigious bounty of foods that are sold by street vendors and eateries.

Community - Even more than most other Ogundean traditions, Springsong emphasizes the value and power of working together with those around you, regardless of tribe, occupation, or individual beliefs. There are communal feasts in the two days leading up to Springsong itself, which is itself a massive event of the whole city gathering to sing together.