Yuletide

Yuletide, also known as banishment day, is an annual holiday celebrated within the Duskfar region, celebrating the banishment of Yeenoghu to the Far Realm by Ardaru, Imastut, Pateraz, and Verj.

History
Before the banishment of Yeenoghu, gnolls and fangs wandered Duskfar, terrorizing all travelers unfortunate enough to enter their domain. As expected, this made life within the region extremely difficult, and was only made more difficult by the introduction of flinds by Yeenoghu. Duskfar was truly hell on earth, until 352BE when several gods worked together to remove Yeenoghu. After sending their followers and avatars throughout the region, annihilating the gnoll populations and destroying shrines, Yeenoghu was finally weakened enough for Imastut to subdue the demon prince with eternal slumber. He was then sealed within a mithril orb, and banished to the Far Realm, home of mind flayers and other aberrations.

This brought a time of peace to the Duskfar region, enough for mortals to enter the land and begin tribal villages, some of which have been lost to time, while others have risen to major kingdoms, such as Khondorth. This time of prosperity came to be celebrated as event as Yuletide, held on the day that the Demon Prince Yeenoghu was finally removed from the realm.

Of course, this victory was short lived. Exactly 200 years after imprisonment day, a single Fang of Yeenoghu appeared in an open plain that would eventually become Gnoll-Finger Keep. This Fang managed to kickstart the gnoll population back to dangerous levels, and brought about their return. Whether this fang was hiding, in stasis, or somehow introduced by Yeenoghu is unclear. This fang was worshipped by his fellow gnolls, eventually raising him to godhood, as Hivand, god of devastation, disease, and famine.

Abelo
Abelo was a champion of Verj, and the hero of banishment day. It was said that he himself killed a tenth of the gnolls, with more accurate reports stating he contributed to the death of one hundred fifty-two gnolls, nine fangs, and about four flinds. Abelo is commonly portrayed as a dwarf, riding in a chariot pulled by boar, smiting gnolls with hellfire.

Abelo has been deceased for centuries, with his body entombed within Sehri Nehir in the shrine of Verj. He still lives on in spirit on banishment day, as traditions commonly state he gives presents to all children within Duskfar. The origin of this tradition are the gifts from the gods to Duskfar settlers in the time after Yuletide.

