The Stone of Time, the calendar that dictates the times at which tribe celebrations occur.
Tribe celebrations, including Tribe Moons, Tribe Weeks, and Tribe Days, commemorate a specific tribe in Polytopia. During a tribe celebration, a lore blurb and image about the celebrated tribe are released and the merchandise of the tribe is discounted on the webshop.
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Schedule[]
As there are 12 regular tribes, each regular tribe is celebrated during a certain month of the year. The name and order of these celebrations has varied from year-to-year. An official digital calendar containing all current tribe celebrations can be found here.
Tribe Days (2019)[]
In 2019, Tribe Days celebrating the regular tribes were held on last day of each month.
- January: Bardur Tribe Day
- February: Xin-xi Tribe Day
- March: Ai-Mo Tribe Day
- April: Imperius Tribe Day
- May: Kickoo Tribe Day
- June: Oumaji Tribe Day
- July: Zebasi Tribe Day
- August: Yădakk Tribe Day
- September: Hoodrick Tribe Day
- October: Quetzali Tribe Day
- November: Luxidoor Tribe Day
- December: Vengir Tribe Day
Tribe Moons[]
The original Stone Of Time. Its description on Instagram reads: "By decree of the divine ruler Midjiwan, a new age has been announced! It is the age of the Stone of Time, a sacred tablet that divides the year to honour the twelve original tribes of the Polytopian square."
Tribe Moons are month-long celebrations of the regular tribes. They are primarily celebrated on the first of each month, when the lore blurb and image are posted. Tribe Moons have been celebrated since January 2020. Their schedule is enumerated in the Stone of Time.
- January: Yădakk Tribe Moon
- February: Ai-Mo Tribe Moon
- March: Imperius Tribe Moon
- April: Xin-xi Tribe Moon
- May: Luxidoor Tribe Moon
- June: Kickoo Tribe Moon
- July: Zebasi Tribe Moon
- August: Oumaji Tribe Moon
- September: Quetzali Tribe Moon*
- October: Hoodrick Tribe Moon*
- November: Vengir Tribe Moon
- December: Bardur Tribe Moon
*In 2021, the Hoodrick and Quetzali Tribe Moons were swapped. In 2020, the Hoodrick Tribe Moon took place in September, and the Quetzali Tribe Moon took place in October.
In 2022, all Tribe Celebration posters will be made by fan-artists in the Polytopia community. (Zoythrus on Discord. / Zoythrus on Discord. )
Special Tribes[]
- Aquarion is celebrated in mid-July. It had a Tribe Day on July 20th, 2020 and a Tribe Week in 2021.
- ∑∫ỹriȱŋ is traditionally involved in an Earth Day donation event every year.
- Polaris has a Tribe Week in mid-January. Polaris Tribe Week was first celebrated in 2021.
- Cymanti has a Tribe Week in the last week of October.
Gallery[]
2019[]
Did you know that the Xin-Xi named themselves after Mt. Xin-Xi, the tallest and most sacred mountain on the Square? With the help of their mounts, a brave few climb the summit to prove themselves worthy of the Xini-Kai Spirit’s blessing, which lets them prepare the amazing Xini blossom tea.
Always ready for battle, all Imperius wear their helmets at all times. It is a momentous occasion when Imperius youth receive their first helmet, which is held in high esteem.
End of January is the Bardur Tribe Day, but Luxidoor has challenged the Bardur in a test of superiority, and they need your help! Jump onto Discord.gg/Polytopia, choose a side, fight for either the Luxidoor or the Bardur, and decide which tribe deserves to be “Tribe of the Month".
While most cacti are inedible, the Sajaa is an exception. While not as iconic as their Shebron, it is full of water and nutrients, and what makes the Oumaji way of life possible in the desert.
Have you heard the story of the famed Kickoo ship, the Innikuli? Its crew were the first Polytopians to sail to each of the four corners of the Square!
The Helarda Pillars were built to commemorate the unity of the Hoodrick people after a period of turmoil. Each of the 4 arms represents a core ideal in Hoodrick society: Justice, Kindness, Nature, and Accuracy.
“The price shows the quality,” the shrewd Luxidoorian Emperor states a price increase for their tribe on December 2nd. "It's insultingly low, and we're worth so much more!"
Celebrations in Vengir cities aren’t much like the other tribes. Instead of parties and parades, the Vengir see it as a time to mourn by singing dirges, adorning their faces with sorrow paint, and performing elaborate tragic plays.
The wily Leoon, often seen in Kickoo lands, were native to the Zebasi savannahs before the Zebasi hunted them to near extinction for their pelts. Most modern Zebasi have never seen a Leoon, so they use their textile skills to manufacture replicas to honor their ancestors.
Despite their stoic appearance, the Ai-Mo love to party! One of their largest festivals is the “Ai-Yaca,” where the citizens celebrate with parades, llamo races, poetry recital, and dancing!
The Quetzali found a special kinship with the birds of the jungle, since both Polytopians and their feathered friends are genderless, egg-laying, bipedal creatures.
Most Yădakk merchants do business under the banner of the Horn Trading Company, the Square’s largest trade guild. Some like to say that the HTC is the real Yădakk government, since it even has a military!
2020[]
Despite usually being written off as simple merchants, the Yădakk invest plenty into both art and education, often building museums and schools in their trade hubs.
The iconic strips on the foreheads of the Ai-Mo are made from the dye of the Issi flower, which is believed to improve mental clarity. Originally a focus to aid monks in meditation, the strips became a symbol of serenity and community, and are a staple of Ai-Moyan culture to this day.
The highly efficient society of the Imperius has inspired them to build grand libraries, write breathtaking stage plays, erect mighty monuments, mix delicious drinks, and maintain a multitude of beautiful gardens! You'll never find a more organized or more fun place on the Square!
While every tribe has their own rituals surrounding the laying of an egg, the Xin-Xi are well known for their elaborate performances. At dawn, recently laid Xin-Xi eggs are painted with bright, vibrant colors and mesmerizing patterns, all while a troupe of village musicians play a song to ward off evil spirits.
Carts full of gold, jewels, fabrics, and incense flow out of the temple of Exigeluss, the God of Wealth, blessing even the poorest of Luxidoor with a life of extravagance. Of course, nothing is free, and the Emperor wonders what Exigeluss will ask for in return...
When Kickoo sailors aren't sailing, they prefer to play sports! Footraces, wrestling, and canoeing are common, but the most popular sport is Hak'ilani, which is similar to tennis but played by 4 players on a specially-made floating platform. Don't fall off!
M'basana Jerozi, aka the "Geroffy," was the first of many animals to be cataloged by Zebasi scholars in the Zuzanna Yaya, the Square's largest compendium of flora and fauna. Horticulture, zoology, botany, and biology are all fields of study for the curious inhabitants of Zeboya.
The Aquarion empire is vigilantly defended by the mighty behemoths, the Crabs. It was a pact long ago that brought the Crabs and the Aquarion together, and this pact will remain until peace is brought to the Square once again.
The Mausoleum at Ojibake is the final resting place of Mubehasi the Undefeated, the legendary leader of the Oumaji hordes and unifier of the Seven Oumaji Clans. The tower holds the records of their mighty reign and ensures that the memory of Mubehasi lives on in the hearts of all Oumaji!
The Hoodrick are known throughout the Square for their baked goods. Quissberries can be made into pies, cobblers, tarts, fritters, breads, jams, and a multitude of other delightful confections, and even their enemies have to agree that no one can bake like the Hoodrick.
When the reigning Quetzali 'All-Feather' dies or resigns, a successor is chosen through the Tichitelxi Ceremony. With offerings of food in hand, Quetzali children hope for selection by the Bird Gods - a shimmer of light from the Pillar of Ixquezel at the Temple of Ixte'wop.
Where do Polytopians go when they die? No one knows, but the Vengir believe that souls of the dead pass through the Gate of Power to Hirkthr, the Underworld. In remembrance, the Vengir celebrate the "Skull Party" here, where they pray, send offerings, and wear the skull of their favorite relative.
The process of choosing the next Bardur Jarl is simple, they choose candidates and roll a dice. Bardurians believe the will of the gods is best found in circumstances of chance and chaos, such as the heat of battle.
2021[]
The Yădakk are best known for their extensive network of roads. All roads are paved over by a team of road builders and every brick is blessed by a Tizjhan priest.
The Polaris Ice Bank serves as a grand display of what the Gaami are capable of. Built at the site where the Polaris first made contact with the Gaami, the rewards which flow out of it remind Polaris citizens of what they owe to their subzero saviors.
"They haunt these mountains, throwing rocks and pushing unsuspecting pilgrims to their doom!", the storyteller tells the children about the mighty Oo-Li. "But don't fret, the Oo-Li in these hills provide blessings to our cities when we give them offerings of Llamo meat and tasty fruit.
The Square's first musical superstars were the Imperius Philharmonic Orchestra, who quickly attracted Imperius citizens from all over the Empire! Remember, any rumors that the Imperius government is using the shows to hypnotize their citizens into obedience are nonsense.
The Ixi fruit is a versatile fruit that can be found in the lands of the Xin-Xi and is often handed to traveling parties to bestow them luck on their adventures.
Tending to the forest isn't just a hobby for ∑∫ỹriȱŋ citizens, but a way of life.
Unlike other tribes, the Luxidoor democratically elect their Emperor. Of course, the richest candidate always succeeds, because Luxidoorians always vote for the wealthiest. The campaign trail is littered with promises of riches and displays of power to sway potential voters.
When you live in an archipelago, fish tend to be your primary food source. The Kickoo believe that the elaborate system of movements and rhythms of the mystical "Pelona Fish Ceremony” encourages schools of fish to enter their waters for easy harvesting.
Zebasi architecture may seem simple, but is a perfect fit for the hot climate. Inspired by the mounds of Bolaza bugs, the ventilation in Zebasi structures was originally designed to keep the Royal Waongii Juice Storage cold, but now everyone can live in a naturally air-conditioned home!
Atop the Icopo Reefs are where the Aquarion built their seaside settlements, which are nestled between the cracks of pink coral islets. At home on the coast, the amphibious Aquarion prefer to live where they can see both the majesty of the clear skies and the beauty of the placid seas!
The Oumaji refer to any large grouping of people as a "hamu", which can also be applied to anywhere people congregate. Town Hall? "Hamu". Battlefield? "Hamu". The entire Square? That's right, "Hamu". It was the Battle of the Limdor Dunes that decided the proper number of people for a hamu — at least 5.
The lands of the Oumaji are home to the Onjimu Riders, an order of Shebron-back town criers who inform the townsfolk of the news through poetry! Now a crucial part of Oumaji culture, poetic delivery of the news has become a competitive sport, with rules, competitions, and even creative regional styles!
The arrival of Quetzali diplomats is heralded by the blowing of horns, rattling of maracas, and the calls of a menagerie of birds! The Quetzali believe this awe-inspiring display will make diplomatic talks easier, but nothing can make up for the impending wave of their insufferable bird-related puns.
No one really remembers why the Hoodrick and the Bardur split apart so long ago, but this split formed one of the Square's most special and bitter inter-tribal rivalries. Ranging from brutal raids to petty displays of superiority, the Hood-Bard Rivalry shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
Polytopia - Lost in the woods
No one could have expected what happened on that fateful day as a band of Polytopians ventured into the Cymantini Forest, forever to be changed by their encounter with the Ciru Bug. Normally parasites, the Ciru Bugs now live in mutualism with their new hosts, lending their enhanced senses for food and protection.
When Vengir families aren’t pillaging some city or sharpening their swords, they like to spend time vacationing. A common tourist attraction is the misty Kithkga Boneyards, a Rhino-Pig preserve where Vengirian citizens can feed the animals and learn more about the history of the mighty Rhino-Pig.
Killing a Baerion is already difficult, but what about the crazy souls who dress up like one, sneak into their lairs, and attempt to kill them with their "bear" hands? This, and other impossible challenges, make up the initiation into the Baergøffoz, the Bardur's elite fighting force.
2022[]
Treks across the harsh Khalee Plains are both dangerous and fairly boring. To keep their minds sharp, Yădakk caravans pass the time with a rousing game called 'Jikhij', a board game that forces players to use knowledge of their surroundings and encourages them to be aware of nearby food, water, and shade. By poopmaster6000#4478.
As mysterious as they are majestic, the Gaami are beings from an alien world of eternal permafrost, and the source of the ice magic that the Polaris society relies on. While the Polaris might see them as benevolent saviors, many believe that the Gaami have ulterior motives... By u/PM_ME_YOUR_API_KEYS.
The Moon may be special to most Polytopians, but it's the Ai-Mo who have a special respect for the Sun. Unlike other tribes, the Ai-Moyan calendar is based on the Sun, which is tracked and revered by a prestigious sect of astronomers, cosmologists, and priests known as the 'Sun Speakers'. By u/Random-Person-45.
The Imperius Empire unified not through weapons, but through propaganda. It was the city-state of Sumtemus that led a clever campaign of inciting rebellions among their fellow Imperius with the help of their cabal of Cloaks, which pressured them into surrendering. May the Empire stand for many years! By Manzana07#1462.
"Climbing a big rock isn't hard, can't anyone do that?" Yes, maybe a small band of people, but what about an army of people? The Xin-Xi don't just climb mountains for fun, but have perfected the science of managing troop formations, defense, logistics, and supplies around these steep summits. By Dapper Frog#1864.
“I have no friends, so I’ll have to make my own!” thought a lonely ∑∫ỹriȱŋ citizen to themself before enchanting a unicorn into the first Polytaur. Ever since, Polytaurs have been a beloved part of ∑∫ỹriȱŋ society, often as cuddly companions, cheap labor, or steadfast soldiers. By Aetholis1.
The Luxidoorian Emperor always sets the “hottest fashion” which all Luxidoorians try to emulate, even if it’s impractical in the hot sun. The current Emperor prefers turbans, but the last one loved shawls. By Beauxtron#1429.
