When someone mentions Zanet county, the town of Cliffside comes to mind, well known for providing metals to the rest of Grara. Not far from there is a town mostly unknown to those outside of the county, a place called Greillant - pronounced Gree-yant - which is a place full of unique cultural traditions; it is also called the town where rocks run.— Takalia, Travels in Grara
Fieldstones and Flagbanners
Long before any traveler reaches the town of Greillant they will come across some of the unique landmarks that aren't found elsewhere. The fields are dotted with stones of various sizes but none seem to have arrived there naturally. They stand strangely with the smallest end on the ground or jutting out at strange angles and their color isn't the same as the other rocks near the town. These stones have been moved - some a very long time ago - from a nearby sacred site and placed in the fields to bring them a blessing from the wind and sky.
Around each of these stones is a rope of flags. Some are small and others large, some are plain and others adorned, some are new and others ragged, but all bring attention to their stone. The flags are meant to show the wind around the special stones, to reveal to the eyes the blessing they bring.
The Race to the Skystone
Each year in the spring there is an event in the town where many people run from the center of the town, along the road lined with small stones, into the nearby hills, and far from town. Atop one of the hills lies the Skystone, a large stone that appears out of place, and that is thought to bring blessings to Greillant's harvests. The race is to determine who is blessed by the wind and the one who is touches the stone first and renews its blessing for another year.
The race is more of a marathon and most people who participate do not finish but turnout is always high. It is the first large social event of the year and it ends with a celebration in the center of town filled with food, drink, music, dancing, and artistic performances.
It is said that long ago, the winner of the race would disappear or be thrown into the sky when they touched the stone; a sacrifice to maintain the blessing - or the work of an angry
fae. This is still believed by the most superstitious of the town's residents but as the winner hasn't disappeared in living memory, most people believe the stories are just meant to keep children from trying to find the stone themselves and getting lost or hurt outside of town.
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The Threshold
Every house in Greillant has two stones on either side of each door. These usually small rocks may or may not be adorned with ropes and flags - family crests are common motifs to decorate these fabrics.
The purpose of the stones is to create a barrier between the wilds and civilization. Every culture has its own past and interaction with the
fae and the people of Greillant believe that the stones keep the stranger beings away in a peaceful way that respects both parties.
Since there are no stones beside windows, entering or exiting a house through one is considered to bring very bad fortune.
"For some the race is a chore or a social event but for a fair number it becomes a competition. It is not uncommon to see those types running all over, clear or storm, hot or cold.
In the past, we ran to live, now we live to run. That's why they say that the people of Greillant love to run."— Kinnah, Greillant Elder
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