Being a record of certain phenomena found in the environs of the Lost Quarter.

The Sotted Lord

Christmas celebrations in the Lost Quarter are much as they are elsewhere in these Dominions and across the world. The customs of the various sects that have established themselves in these parts follow those that were in place in their countries of origin, with a few minor deviations that time and distance have allowed to accumulate. It has also resulted in a peculiarity where the Quarter is the only region where certain customs are currently still followed, their practice having been abandoned or forgotten elsewhere.  

The most famous such case is the Sotted Lord, who has gone by many other names in other locales. Typically such celebrations took place during Christmastide among monks, but in the Quarter it is earlier, most commonly around the winter solstice, and involves much of the local populace. Members of the community who wish to lead the celebrations put forward their names, which are voted on secretly, with the winner declared the Sotted Lord who will lead the revels into the longest night of the year. 

When Those Who Came were first settling the Quarter, the selection of the Sotted Lord would take place the same day as the revels, with homesteaders travelling to the nearest community to cast their lots, the counting of which was done immediately following. Now the voting is conducted by mail, with all those who wish to be considered having to announce their intention by the first day of December, and all those who wish to vote having to submit their ballots by the fifteenth. The counting is done by the postmaster in some communities, while others assign the task to a mayor or other important personage. The newly selected Sotted Lord is announced in the local paper along with the time of their reign.  

That time is typically sunset on the day of the solstice, the shortest day of the year. Those who wish to (and these days it must be said most do not) gather in town at the appointed place, usually a community hall, curling barn or hockey rink. The Sotted Lord is masked and calls the revels, leading those gathered throughout the town. Everyone is dressed in vibrant colours with bells attached to their toques and gloves. Masks, once common, have become less so as the celebrations have become less wild. Candles are lit and carried throughout the streets, with drink shared openly. The Sotted Lord calls upon the mayor and the priests and other town fathers to submit to the reign of the revels. And for the longest night of the year the natural law is reversed. Those who are last come first and those who are masters become servants and beggars act as kings.  

The revellers go from door to door demanding gifts and singing carols, drinking warm cider and mulled wine, until their candles have burned down or the sun has risen. There is much mockery and japes and games of duck-duck-goose in the snow. In most cases, especially in our quiet modern times, this is the extent of the revels. But, in some cases, the debauchery has become excessive (Some would say, disapprovingly, it is by its very nature excessive). Certain politicians who were unpopular have been targeted for particular abuse and have had their homes overrun. There is at least one known instance of a fire consuming several buildings on main street as a result of the revels. 

At the coming of dawn, those revellers who are left abandon the Sotted Lord, leaving them to wander through the wastes of winter, waiting for the return of spring.