Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

Valan Nonesuch

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Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« on: 24 December 2010, 03:03:07 »

Name

Gaffer Klas, Klas Whitebear, Klas Wintersmith Klas Hearthfire, Klas Blessedvale

Overview

Gaffer Klas, also known as Klas the Whitebear, Klas Hearthfire, Klas Wintersmith and Klas Blessedvale is one of several prominent hobbit folk figures called Blessedvales.^[1] Klas is a particularly seasonal Blessedvale, his festivals being held exclusively in winter, however there are a few stories of Klas in the Book of Blessedtales which do not feature ice and snow. Klas is a clever old halfling, though quite strong and good at working with his hands. Klas is also particularly important to the practice of gift-giving among halflings and especially the celebration of birthdays and Hearthsdays. The most reverence to Klas is given in Helmondsshire, where he is reputed to have saved the shire from wolves around 1650 b.S.

Appearance
Klas is described as a large hobbit, both in size and in height, with a white beard that stretches down to his knees, white and curly hair on his feet and toes. This is unsual, even among especially old hobbits, the hair on the feet retains its colour long after the hair on the head turns white and falls out. Halflings usually say this is because the feet "stay young while the head grows old". Klas is also described as being a blacksmith, with a great brown apron marked by singes, strong arms and hands and a broad chest from his work. While stories often depict Klas as being swarthy, the oldest portray him as being quite dark of skin "with a hide like a chestnut".

Personality

Stories describing Klas always being with his jovial smile and bright eyes. Despite having lived long enough for "his beard to turn white and the hair on his toes too" Klas still has a childish delight over making things and the giving and receiving of gifts. He is by no means an ill tempered character, or given to harsh punishment, but rewards good and just behaviour. It should be said that Klas is a hobbit and shares the general appreciation for a well played joke or prank, but does not approve of vengeful tricks or harmful endeavours, no matter their intent.

Stories also paint Klas with a discerning eye for problems, preferring to put his own hand to solving it rather than wait for the aid of others. Particular to Klas is the ability to understand what makes a good or needed gift, rather than giving someone a pointless mathom.

Mythology

Klas is one of many hobbit folk figures, and his tales are included in The Book of Blessedtales, next to those of the other Blessedvales. Fewer hobbits know stories about Klas than they do stories of Mian or of Dalireen, however, Klas and the Bear is one story certain to be heard around the hearth come snowfall in the Shires.
Those stories of Klas that do not include snow and ice often teach young halflings to avoid "complaining of cold to spite the snow".

Confusion among the Big Folk as to the nature of the Blessedvales has led some to believe that Klas is a deity, rather than referred to with cheerfulness or polite reverence. In fact, the habit of some hobbits (usually a little worse for drink) to use the Vales in oaths or cursing may have led to this unfortunate confusion.

Becoming a Patron
Klas is best known for his defeat of a large pack of wolves that crossed the Vandrina one particularly cold winter, (believed to have occured around 1650 b.S.) which actually caused the mighty river to freeze solid. What makes his story particularly interesting is that Klas did so with the aid of a great white bear. Following his mighty deed, Klas distributed the pelts and meat of the beasts among the halflings that the pack had terrorized.

Lore
Klas is represented by a large white bear, which may be worn as a badge to hold a cloak shut, and is occasionally worn as a badge of office by Mayors in Helmondshire.

Rituals/Celebrations

Klas is celebrated around hearths late in winter with feasting, as a thanks for a harvest that has lasted until then and will last until spring again. Halflings usually refer to the week long affair, during which individuals may find themselves invited to several such parties and quite sick of them at the end, as Klastide or Hearthsdays (and the illness from eating too much, Hearthsdaze). Klastide begins the morning of the Restday before the thirty-first of Frozen Rivers and lasts a week. Should the last day of Klastide fall on the thirty-first itself, festivites may extend throughout the night and into the small hours of the new year. It is common for guests to Hearthdays feasts to bring gifts of some sort, food, song or stories to share by the hearth.

Importance

Klas is a hobbit figure and has not spread to the Big Folk in the way some of the other Blessedvales have. His festival at the year's end is also replicated in a smaller form during birthday parties. The Big Folk are sometimes confused by the halfling practice of birthday parties wherein the individual whose birthday is being celebrated gives gifts to the guest and not the other way around.
Someone who is particularly adept at giving needed or useful gifts is said to have the "wisdom of Whitebeard" and if a person is generous they have "Hearthfire's heart". If an individual means to get something done despite obstacles they might say "Vales willing and the river don't freeze" to indicate this.

[1]The compendiumist must stress the importance of the fact that Klas, like the other Blessedvales is in no way a deity or otherwise supernatural. While it is a common misconception of the Big Folk that figures such as Klas, Mian and Dalireen are gods, these figures are merely well thought of and remembered and celebrated during particular times of the year. They are believed to have been actual living people at some point in history and are merely respected for
their deeds or wisdom.


« Last Edit: 20 February 2011, 10:46:37 by Artimidor Federkiel »	Logged

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seth ghibta

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #1 on: 24 December 2010, 12:50:48 »

this is brilliant, Valan! a fantastic addition to hobbit culture and folklore, and a very nice adaptation of terran practices. particularly love the nomenclature you've come up with - "Hearthsdaze" is brilliant. grin

don't realy have any suggestions for improvement, other than to note a couple of tiny things: an unnecessary apostrophe in the "Rituals/Celebrations" section>

Quote

Halfling's<Halflings usually refer to the week long affair,

and here:

Quote

The Big Folk are often sometimes<these words sort of contradict eacother, could you pick either often or sometimes? confused

clearly, these are ridiculously quibbling points, proving how well this entry stands up. brilliant work!


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Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #2 on: 29 December 2010, 18:21:57 »

Nice little entry, Valan! The posting date cannot be coincidental.

I think this entry is full and round like a hobbits belly during Hearthstide. "Hearthdaze" is neat!

I found a few little things in addition to what Seth has pointed out.

Personality section:

Quote

He is slow to temper or punishment however a fair judge of right and wrong and rewards good and just behaviour.

This is grammatically dodgy. How about:
"He is not given to ill temper, nor to dealing out punishments, but prefers to reward good and just behaviour. Nonetheless, he is regarded as a fair judge of right and wrong."

In the Rituals section, there are several things to point out:

Halflings usually refer to the week long affair, during which individuals may find themselves invited to several such parties and quite sick of them at the end ~~. This period, referred to~~ , as Klastide or Hearthsdays (and the illness from eating too much, Hearthsdaze). Klastide runs from the ~~first~~ Restday before the thirty-first of Frozen Rivers and lasts a week. Should the last day of Klastide fall on the thirty-first, festivities may extend throughout the night and into the small hours of the new year.

And finally:

Quote

His festival at the year's end is also repicated in a smaller form during birthday parties.

...replicated ...


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Valan Nonesuch

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #3 on: 30 December 2010, 04:27:28 »

The posting date was originally the inspiration, and Klas just sort of... blossomed from there. Oh I'm borrowing liberally enough from the wellspring of all things hobbity (mostly "A Long Expected Party") but that date is definetly the point of origin.

Edits are in red


« Last Edit: 30 December 2010, 05:37:09 by Valan Nonesuch »	Logged

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Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #4 on: 30 December 2010, 12:49:55 »

The "festivies" are still missing "it" (Rituals Section) - other than that: good job well done, let's have elevenses.

I have been prone to forgetting to announce my aura point donations recently - but you know you got one.


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Valan Nonesuch

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #5 on: 09 January 2011, 02:46:35 »

Right, we'll wait for the awards to be over and things to get back to normal, but unless someone else has problems, I think Klas here is done.


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Artimidor Federkiel

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #6 on: 25 January 2011, 22:46:33 »

- I guess it should be mentioned in the Overview and stressed a bit better that he originated in Helmondsshire, maybe add a rough historical date to anchor him better in history.

- I like the establishing of those "Blessedvales" as you call them - it's really neat that hobbits have a few such figures that are similar to saints for humans, yet they have this hobbitish quality to them. Dalireen been the playful, artistic one maybe, Klas being the helper, gift-giver, and thus someone who brings the people together.

- What I don't quite buy is the part where you say that Klas is "good at sorting right from wrong" or further above that he is a "fair and reasonable judge". This in my point of view is too close to the Santa Claus mentality - the similarity of the concepts of course is intended, but it seems a bit too much that he is really judging people as if he were in a superior position. Why not make him a bit more "down to earth", suggest more that he was just this good-hearted fellow, who liked if someone did something great for the community and thought that it was his obligation to reward that, either by his own means or by getting others to give gifts - and from that the whole idea of gift-giving developed. It's just a tad more realistic that way and gets us away from the "big good" or Claus/Klas won't have anything for you this time.

Some things to fix in the text:

- "Halflings usually say this is"

- The "habbit of some hobbits" lol

- ... (usually a little worse for drink) to use the Vales in oaths or cursing may have led to this unfortunate confusion.

- But basically the rest is very nice, maybe a tad more embedding as a historical figure that lived at a certain place at a certain time is in order. But aside from that he fits right into the hobbit world I'd say! Aura +1 for the idea and lovely realization so far, Valan!


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Valan Nonesuch

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #7 on: 28 January 2011, 19:01:22 »

Edits made in Yellow

Credit for the blessedvales idea has to go to Judith, Mannix and the others from the Hobbit Beliefs Discussion. I'm just a graverobber after all.


« Last Edit: 28 January 2011, 19:27:43 by Valan Nonesuch »	Logged

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Valan Nonesuch

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #8 on: 04 February 2011, 17:51:12 »

So, hey. Klas is finished I think.


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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift (Blarrow?)

« Reply #9 on: 09 February 2011, 22:27:23 »

One last prod up to the top and I'll let this sit for a while.


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Artimidor Federkiel

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Re: Gaffer Klas, a Halfling Gift

« Reply #10 on: 10 February 2011, 22:19:35 »

Ok, I've marked it for integration, Valan - I guess it looks quite fine