Memories of Lathar’lazal:

The Sailing of the Spirits

8TH DAY OF YSERELLA, WINTER’S END

The following text describes a Kaldorei headcanon tradition from Latharl’lazal, with an accompanying roleplaying event that has taken place on Wyrmrest Accord and Moon Guard since 2021.

On a late Winter’s night, several figures gather at the East terrace gardens of Lathar’Lazal. The moon hangs low above the ocean, and her bright rays illuminate the silvery colonnades and iridescent waters of the Temple. They mill about quietly, admiring the blossoming orchards as they wait for one another. After some time, they depart from the Temple through the East gate, striking deep into the dark woods. 

Along a leafy road which skirts a narrow, anfractuous stream they walk in silence, blended with the forest shadows. The air is thick with the scent of moss and blooming nocturnal flowers, and the creatures of night sing out to them as they go. Their feet are familiar with the path. Their faces are fixed with a mixture of determination and apprehension. 

They are attired in plain white robes without trimming or ornament of any kind; a bold contrast to the prevailing fashion of the epoch, so much so that it would have drawn the irresistible conclusion of protest. And so, the sisters resolve to conduct their ceremony in secrecy. 

Upon reaching the lake deep within the forest, they pause to absorb the tranquil beauty before them. Lake Falathim’s surface mirrors the night sky, with stars shimmering on each gentle ripple like cut diamonds. The pure, unadorned beauty of the moon is most evident here: It seems worlds apart from the manufactured grandeur of Lathar’lazal. 

Composed and strengthened by the Goddess’ presence in the ink black sky, they gather along the shore of the lake like a border of lunar blossoms. They have brought meticulously crafted paper boats, each bearing inscriptions of prayers and the names of ancestors. These boats, simple yet elegant, are adorned with small offerings—fragments of moonstone, petals from sacred flowers, and other tokens of reverence to Elune. With whispered hymns, they set the boats safely afloat, watching as they drift gracefully across the lake’s bright surface:

Diel na Elune (Travel to Elune)

O Bel’anore! (O goddess of our people!)

Eran na lathar (Lift to the sky)

O Bel’shanore! (O Goddess revered!)

Arama’kalar (Join (the) stars)

O’ Bel’surfore! (O Goddess beloved!)

O’ Bel’adore! (O, Goddess adored!)

O’ Elune adore! (Oh Elune adored!)

The ceremony is intimate; some are singing and laughing in high spirits, sharing songs of faith and devotion. Others are pensively quiet, their intent focused upon the small fleet of boats as they sweep across the lake. As the final boat disappears into the distance, the priestesses join in a moment of reflection, their heads bowed in quiet supplication. They will return here next year, at the end of Winter, but for now they must hurry home.

Their return to the Temple is as discreet as their departure. Like the very paper boats they set adrift they disappear into the night, avoiding Highborne eyes and the questions of the unapprised…

Though Lathar’lazal was destroyed in the Sundering, and many of its priestesses are now in the arms of the Goddess, Serilda Starsong continues the tradition yearly, encouraging the younger Kaldorei generations to take up the ceremony in their own meaningful way: