Samana: Night of the Dead

Originally of Gostic origin, Samana or Night of the Dead, is closely related to the pre-Machan celebration of harvest's end and the coming of winter (vernoxis taden). It is upon this night, as written in the Gostic Malleus Mysterium (Hammer of Mysteries), that the barriers between the living world and under-realm (Kthalas) are thinnest. As such, tales of reapers, ghouls, goblins, haunts, beasts, and other denizens of Kthalas walking the lands on this night have been told since the dawn of recorded history.

It was on Samana, in the year 70 MKII, that the Vistav usurper Lord Draeth launched his Demon War. Legend has it that his sorcerers used the weakness of the barriers to unleash their legions of the Undead and their demonic allies.

The tradition of disguising oneself as a Kthalan creature originated with King Janaris of Gos Aandia (long since absorbed into greater Gostia) circa 260 MP. It was said that a large army of "monsters" were terrorizing the northern Mindara villages. After a few months, it became evident that mere mortals could never chase them fast enough, or even get within bow range without the creatures disappearing. To counter this, King Janaris disguised his warriors as Kthalan Reaper (skeletal) Knights and were able to successfully close with and defeat the Kthalan creatures. Since then the wearing of such "disguises" by warriors, soldiers, and militia across the lands, have become both a celebration of the battle and a cautionary act of vigilance on Samana.

More recently, this Samanas tradition has emerged among the duelists of Phyrra, where many fighters don the raiments of the Reaper Knights to celebrate this ancient and hallowed night.