Svillanders celebrate some of their most important holidays in mid-winter. These festivals are known as blôts (sacrificial holidays). When their times come, folks make sacrifices fitting for Odin and other deities in the pantheon, praising their gods and praying to them for blessings in their lives, crops, hunts, and adventures. There are three blôts in mid-winter; Hjol, Disablôt, and Jolnir.

Hjol

Meaning “the Wheel”, Hjol is the celebration of the turning of the wheel, the ending of the current year and the beginning of the new year. It is a celebration of people’s stories of that year coming to an end, and it teaches the lessons to be learned from the experiences, illuminated by the wisdom of the Allfather. It is also the time for resolutions, people set their minds for new goals in their lives, communities, and adventures, asking for Odin’s blessings in them.

    Celebrations start with a long pine tree uprooted from a nearby woods and put in the middle of the village or town. According to the population, there may be several pine trees arranged this way for gatherings, especially in large cities. Then pavilions and tables are set around the tree for people to gather.

    In the gatherings, the best meals available in the settlement are prepared, along with the best ale and mead that is available or bought from nearby towns. Blood of the animals is kept in bowls, for rituals that will be done in the festival.

    Artisans craft tiny deer, boars, or other hunt animals as figures that can be put on the pine tree. They also craft miniature starts, resembling the home of gods. Tailors sew thin cloths of various colors, meters long so that they can be wrapped around the tree. 

    Men and women that have recently come to age are chosen for their merits and beauty. They dress like valkyries to serve the folks with meals and alcohol. They resemble the Valkyries in Valhalla, who will serve brave warriors when they earn their dine with the Allfather in his glorious feast.

    Folks and gothis prepare for their rituals for the gods, which are done when the time comes within the festival.

Celebration

When everything is set, people gather around tables with their families and comrades, feasting while sharing praises to each others’ accomplishments within the passing year. Elderly share their wisdom about the experiences the youth have gone through, and provide them counsel from their past stories that are piled up over many years.

    Storytellers and bards come to these gatherings. They tell stories of gods and glory along with the music they play on their instruments. Small plays take the stage, often about mythical stories of gods and goddesses, or important rulers in history. 

    If the gathering is taking place in a city, they also stage plays which include the rulers of that city, showing actions of merit, with subliminal messages to their citizens about how to do best about their community and kingdom.  

    In the middle of the night, the ritual of Resolution takes place.     

Ritual of Resolution

This ritual is done by commoners along with gothis if they are available. It is for showing Odin one’s decisions for the new year and asking for his blessing.

Casting Time: 1 hour

Components: Three decisions from each person written on a small piece of paper, leather or similar writing surface. One small cup amount of game blood for each of the three decisions. A torch to burn the pine tree when the time comes.

Requirements: The elder of the community or a gothi (preferably devoted to Odin) must fulfill the ritual. If a gothi of a deity friendly to Odin is making the ritual, add 5 + gothi’s gothi level to the roll described in the Conclusion. If a gothi devoted to Odin is making the ritual, add 10 + gothi’s gothi level to the roll.

Duration: Up to one year

When the time of the end of last year and the beginning of the next comes, the elder or gothi begins the ritual. The community starts chanting songs of praise to the Allfather, led by the conductor of the ritual. The conductor then praises of the folk’s accomplishments and gratitude for the passing year. While doing so, it pours the blood to the roots of the tree and sprays it to its branches and leaves.

    After that, the conductor makes a prayer to Odin for guidance in the community’s resolutions. With everyone finishing the last word of the prayer out loud, the conductor lights the pine tree on fire. When the tree is lit, everyone celebrates with tossing their ale and mead in the name of the Allfather.

Conclusion: According to the burning of the tree, how the Allfather responds to the ritual is acknowledged. As the Dungeon Master, roll 1d100 and determine the result according to the following:

(26-74) Tree burns normally. Odin agrees with the resolutions and grants his blessing: 

• In a long-term event such as business or crops going well, the character can add 25% to its luck roll or a related long-term skill check once within the new year.
• In an adventure or quest, the character can have advantage on the ability or skill check or an attack roll three times within the new year.

(75-99) Tree burns brightly. Odin likes the resolutions and grants his generous blessing:

• In a long-term event such as business or crops going well, the character can add 25% to its luck roll or a related long-term skill check twice within the new year. 
• In an adventure or quest, the character can have advantage on the ability or skill check or an attack roll three times within the new year.
• In an adventure or quest, the character can benefit from a spell from the gothi spell list that is up to 6th level once within the year.

(100) Tree burns in an inferno. Odin loves the resolutions and grants his sacred blessing:

• In a long-term event such as business or crops going well, the character can add 25% to its luck roll or a related long-term skill check three times within the new year. 
• In an adventure or quest, the character can have advantage on the ability or skill check or an attack roll nine times within the new year.
• In an adventure or quest, the character can benefit from a spell from the gothi spell list that is up to 6th level three times within the year.

(02-25) Tree burns but something catches fire. The fire is often a small one that can be extinguished quickly without much damage. This shows that Odin agrees with the resolutions as if Tree burns normally but will demand other sacrifices when the time comes (at Dungeon Master’s discretion).

(01) Tree does not burn. Odin disagrees with the resolutions and does not grant his blessing. In such a case, the community must seek advice from gothis and realize what they did wrong to offend the Allfather. They must find ways to atone themselves at Dungeon Master’s discretion.