LORE: All Harbor's Eve and the Legend of St. Stern

There are many holidays celebrated on the Monster Coast, but perhaps the most sacred is All Harbor’s Eve. When winter sets in and the days get shorter and the nights get longer, pirates from all across the ocean prepare for All Harbor’s Eve. It takes place on a super solstice, where not only is it the shortest day of the year, but once night sets in… something special happens.

No one can quite explain what it is, but all the stars wink out and the sky is so dark that it’s impossible to tell the ocean from the heavens and the waters become perfectly still. It’s like the world has turned into a pitch blank sheet. Some pirates think this is what the world was, before Doombeard created the Monster Coast. Most though just think that for a single night the bounds between Davy Jones’ Locker and the Monster Coast become thin.

It’s tradition for pirates to be on ships on All Harbor’s Eve, away from land. Once the sky winks out the only light comes from lanterns, so it’s customary to hang lanterns all over your ship, but the most important one is at the stern of the ship. All captains hang their largest lantern at the stern of their ship in honor of the coming of St. Stern.

While waiting, pirates huddle together, telling each other stories of their loved ones in Davy Jones’ Locker. As they tell these stories, you’d swear that they could see their loved ones just at the edge of the lantern light. For some it’s old friends, a former captain, family or even just your most trusted parrot. Some say you can talk to them from the beyond, others just like their comforting presence. 

It’s called All Harbor’s Eve because as you’re drifting along the dark ocean you spot the lanterns of other ships passing you by. Ships that, just that night, had been on the complete opposite side of the Monster Coast. Ships that it would be impossible to see. But on All Harbor’s Eve the entire ocean is one big harbor, bringing together all pirates.

All Harbor’s Eve ends with the arrival of St. Stern. In fact, the first pirate on a ship to spot her is considered lucky for the next year and many young pirates spend the night on lookout for her. A giant reindeer pirate that sails across the sky in her own ship, trailing behind her a glorious blue-green aurora. The aurora reignites the sky, returning the ocean and the stars and, shortly after, the dawn too.

After All Harbor’s Eve some ships find that they are exactly where they were the previous night, others find themselves in completely random spots on the Monster Coast. Pirates like to think that it’s the Monster Coast itself sending their ship to where it’s meant to go. And the whole following day is filled with festivities, presents and stories of the lost souls they spoke to the previous night. And that marks the beginning of a new year for the pirates of the Monster Coast.

Merry All Harbor’s Eve!!