Event #09: THE FETE OF KNOWLEDGE

[vivalamods]

EVENT #09: THE FETE OF KNOWLEDGE

As the month wears on, the Imperial forces withdraw, tired of scouring the seas in attempts to pick off individual Corsair ships, have slunk back to their masters. During this time, the Corsairs were hard at work finishing the Crimson Portal in Asphodel, and for the first time ever the Corsairs now have four waypoints - an enormous gain as they welcome the refugees from Vindess.

The refugees themselves are settling about as well as can be expected. Tension is still high, while the people are grateful for being saved from certain doom, a lifetime of propaganda doesn’t fade away in an instant and they remain wary, upset at the loss of their homes and way of life. Struggle is natural, and thus, the Corsairs have prepared for the second phase of the resettlement operation - the Fete of Knowledge.

As Asphodel residents stream into the Vault, music - the kind never permitted under Imperial auspices - echoes through the halls. Although the hammering of munitions is ever-present, this music is meant to reverberate through the caverns, echoing upon itself to build into even greater harmonies. This is music of the Crimson Corsairs, made to suit their purposes and circumstances. A salve for aching hearts and a beauty to bring a tear to the eye, the Vault is ready to prove that as the last repository of forbidden knowledge in the world, the wonders they hold welcome all who have the minds to seek it.

With the spring thaw well underway there is still much to be done, but the Corsairs have worked to complete it as best they can. Thus, most everyone within the three, no, four cities should find some time to partake in the Fete. As the week-long festivities commence, Corsairs are welcomed to take a much-needed break and celebrate their triumphs.

Join the Performance

The music of the day is a beautiful choral arrangement, repeated on the hour to echo through the halls, the verses building upon each other. While not enough to drown out the bombing, it’s a gorgeous piece and one that somehow provides a measure of peace and comfort. Any and all are welcome to lend their voices, there are several parts for any vocal range with the more complex vocalizations being handled by experienced musicians. And, best of all, any who aid in the song are gifted a jug of honey wine, a salve for a sore throat and a delicious delicacy besides.

Debate Hall

The Debate Hall is often lively, and during the Fete it has been repurposed to serve as the center of introduction to rhetoric. Debates between people of roughly equivalent skill are held throughout the Fete, and the topic of debate can be anything the participants choose. Debates over best foods, fashion, or even the odd lyrical exchange of truly hair-raising insults, just about any kind of confrontational discourse is currently on display for the amusement of refugees and Corsairs alike. Corsairs are free to join the stage, so long as they honor the traditions of the hall - settle disputes with words, not blades. At least while you’re in the hall, anyway.

Banquet Hall

The Corsairs have tapped their stores to create a truly enormous feast of delicacies only found in the Eternal Ocean. Aquatic creatures of all sorts grace the tables, as well as some of the native flora and fauna of Elysium’s fields, prepared to absolute perfection. And then, of course, there is the grog, free-flowing and plentiful to help take the edge off the trauma of the resettlement. The mood is mostly festive, with sober bouncers on hand to eject any Corsairs who might get a bit too belligerent while soaking in libations.

Dueling Hall

Sometimes words are not enough, and the Corsairs have set up a dueling hall within the Vault for people to test their skills against each other in controlled environments. Ether is dampened in the Dueling Hall, so while one can cast spells as they might, the lethality is far reduced, a once-searing flame is now a gentle warmth and a block of ice a pleasant mist. This, along with padded weaponry, make for a fine way for Corsairs to both test their skill and show off for the masses, with any number of interesting rules in play to make the contests of strength more interesting and enjoyable to watch. With many a pair from the Debate Hall making their way to the Dueling Hall to continue their disputes, the hall is busy for the entirety of the Fete.

Story Hall

A Story Hall has been set up near the library for actors and orators to read and sometimes act out the books and stories found within the library. While the townsfolk of Vindess are not entirely illiterate, their lower class nature as mine workers means that many cannot read, or read well, and this hall gives them an opportunity to experience the wonder of the written word, of story and legend, and to hear the histories the Empire has long suppressed. The Story Hall is always looking for more orators and actors to read or act out books and plays, and it is one of the most heavily trafficked areas in the Fete, with the Vindess residents hungry for these once-forbidden tales.

Wildcard

The Fete of Knowledge is all about sharing, so there are any number of activities, and Corsairs are encouraged to come up with their own to keep the Fete moving. You may use this prompt to do whatever you wish. Enjoy the party!

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[singlemilletgrain]

"That is probably wise."

Shu agrees before sticking another toothpick in diagonally so that it creates an X shape. For BEWARE.

"Now please feel free to eat."

Kanna is handed a little flask of soy sauce for her to use as she wishes. The zong zi are quite hot, of course, but once she gingerly untwists the twine and unpeels the leaves, a delectable aroma ensues from the steaming rice.

[singlemilletgrain]

"Oh, yes, certainly."

She nods.

"Hiding far from our society. I am sure there are communities out there beyond the reach of Originium. It is an obvious symbol of the degeneration of the earth, but... at the same time, it is hard to imagine how we could repair the situation. We have become so dependent on this technology and these Arts that we could not survive without it.

"It is a shame, isn't it? For various reasons, the spirits that represent the earth cannot live freely upon it. In both of our worlds."

[singlemilletgrain]

"Masu?" She queries. "A friend of yours? The galley cook?"

She can make some assumptions, if he hasn't cooked in seven years.

"I suppose I can understand the territorial reaction. Cooks can be rather particular." She didn't especially mind if anyone disturbed her kitchen, but then, not every cook had magical powers to ensure things kept on the right track.

"...Make sure you pack in some rice at the top so it seals in the filling."

[singlemilletgrain]

"That is exactly right." Shu beams, and if Aira is looking for a perfect score, she is rewarded with: "That deserves a gold star, for you almost echoed her word-for-word. The farmer first said, 'I would love to see such a place in my lifetime. But I cannot go now, for it would be too hard to come back.'"

"In bewilderment, the Xian said, 'Why would you ever want to come back?'"

"And the farmer said, 'Who would feed my neighbors?' Ah! Truly, she was unparalleled among men." From the fond smile on Shu's face, one has the sense that this was a real person she once knew. But of course, this was just a fairy story... "No matter what the Xian said, she could not understand. Why did she need to feed her neighbors? Did she even know her neighbors? Did they do anything for her? The farmer simply shook her head and replied that it was something that must be done. And so, rebuffed, the Xian once more fell silent."

"And now the years turned to decades. The Xian learned everything from this farmer. How to read the clouds and the sun, how many days after the rainfall to turn the soil, what to plant when the season was dry and what to plant when the season was too wet. And for one reason or another, she did not leave. Until one day, the farmer set down her hoe for the very last time. Her hair was gray, her hands shook with palsy, and her gait was unsteady. They both knew that she was nearing the end."

"'Xian,' she said. 'You have been with me for longer than I ever could have asked. I know not the reason why, but I have one thing to ask of you.' And the Xian remained silent. The farmer said, 'When I go, please stay. Please stay and pass on what we have learned to the people. I will die, but my work must live on so that all of Yan can be fed. And my dream - a dream of a world where no one goes hungry - may one day come to fruition.'"

And now Shu's voice grows soft and melancholy as she asks one final question.

"Do you think you know what the Xian said?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"This weekend, then."

Shu nods to herself as if she had received confirmation, despite that nobody had actually agreed. One has the sense that this was the conclusion that would have been drawn regardless of what anybody said. One also has the sense that this is not an invitation, exactly. ...Perhaps a summons.

"I shall prepare the finest ingredients. Is there something in particular you are fond of?"

This is directed at Raph, though from Donnie's descriptions (and what she had just observed), she suspects that Raph would vacuum up even inedible objects without a second glance.

[singlemilletgrain]

"As long as their daily lives are not disturbed too badly."

She agrees. She has seen this many times. She did, perhaps, assign some more blame than Natalia, simply because comfortability was not a sufficient reason for inertia. But in a matter of tyrannical rule, the line between comfort and unimaginable loss was thin indeed.

"...But what of you? I misunderstood earlier, but I would like to hear about your circumstances at home."

[theriflespiral]

There's a moment, where she looks... Tired. "What to tell... a story, I think:"

"I told you of my mother, over the new year. My father, as well. What I did not tell you is this: When I was ten, and had defeated grown men in combat, and professors at chess, I quickly became a national, then international, darling. I'm sure you know the kind of child I mean, given that your world, too, has its nations and its prides."

She hums. "... When... When my younger brother, Sergey, sickened and died because of the travel, I... Gave up. I stopped doing everything. It became impossible to motivate me through normal means.

"So. They decided my parents were the problem. And the New Tsars are cut in much the same cloth as this Emperor. If a person is a problem, well. Maybe I would be better off with new parents, the men decided. They told me they sent mother and father home.

"They did not expect me, I think, to see them open fire.

"I was obedient after that." she pauses. "In fact, I was so certain they would kill me, that I set out to make sure I could kill them first."

[straykitty]

"I'm certainly not opposed to learning more, it's only natural that I would hear what you have to say as well."

[supersmashbrother]

Oh, okay, that's sooner than expected.

Raph inwardly panics as his brain catches up to the unspoken agreement, grabbing hold of his soy sauced zong zi while coming up with a reply. "Who, me? Uh."

The delay seems to confirm those suspicions. As does the following:

"Pizza's great! But I eat lots of things. Even if the ingredients aren't fine, I'll still eat them!"

[purplexing]

Donnie can only smile wanly as Shu sets the date for them. This too is expected, it seems. He's glad that he's not the one being asked about food details, but then most of what Shu's made him try has been pretty good. His problem is more the quantity served. Well, Raph's here at least.

He snorts a little laugh at the big turtle's response. Yeah, that's about expected too. He's convinced his brother would eat rocks if they looked tasty enough, and it isn't too far a stretch to imagine this Raph doing the same.

[singlemilletgrain]

"...Pizza..."

Shu briefly looks like this word physically pains her, but she will save the long-suffering sighs for the privacy of her own kitchen. ...For this dinner, perhaps she can get away with middling ingredients.

(just kidding she would die first)

"No no." She has heard plenty about how Donnie's adopted father let them eat literal dirt, and she cannot imagine that a parallel version of this family fared much differently. Do not fret, Raph. She can still save you. "Food is an art as much as it is sustenance. We shall train your palate yet."

[supersmashbrother]

Raph's face scrunches a bit as he shoots a look at Donnie, but he lets it pass. He can't really register how Shu is feeling about his first choice, puzzling it out as he scratches his chin.

"Training? Well, if they can do it for cooking competitions an' speed eating contests..."

[purplexing]

What, is he wrong? Donnie arches his brow, but Raph says nothing in response, so he shrugs. He catches the brief look that passes across Shu's face, blinking.

"You mentioned pizza before, didn't you? Although from a different country or something..." It's been a while, but hey, it had sounded tasty by description. Actually come to think of it, he's sure Link had made something similar once...

His laugh this time isn't so subtle, but it's nice to be able to laugh about such things. "I think the only training Raph is interested in is in stretching his stomach."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums softly. He can get being frustrated; he was frustrated just by not being able to go on the rescue mission. Having to be rescued, being stuck in a dungeon...Link would be feeling the same in her position, really.

"Maybe...blow some things up?" Link's always found that explosions are great for getting out frustrations.

[newmemorywhodis]

A faint frown crosses Link's face. It is sad, about the elves of Shu's world, but...Link's not sure that the koroks are necessarily the same.

"Koroks are everywhere…?" If there was anything restricting their ability to live freely throughout Hyrule...Link hadn't seen any evidence of it. It's just hardly anyone else knew they were there.

II

[redprayer]

Rezo isn't here to fight either, or at least he hopes the word 'either' applies to this situation. He's here in case anyone gets seriously injured from doing something foolish, such as if still recovering patients try to join in.

Which is to say, as soon as he realizes Link is here he's doing the medical mother hen thing. But subtly!

"Hello Link," he says. "Are you here to observe the duels?"

His tone is gentle but the that's ALL you're doing, right? subtext is there.

[singlemilletgrain]

"Oh?"

Perhaps she misunderstood.

"Why do they hide from other people, then?"

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu will politely not mention that there are no real international darlings in her world, since everyone was too busy being at war with each other and/or fleeing Catastrophes and/or otherwise being occupied with constant horrific incidents to really pay attention to universal celebrities. ...Well, perhaps Kristen made enough of a splash. But she can understand the general concept. As the story continues, her expression grows more grave.

"What a horrific act."

Her hands are clasped in their usual position, a gesture vaguely invoking the appearance of prayer.

"But... why would one child be so important that such a travesty would be committed? What did they mean to do with you?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"That... is not the intended impact of the meal, even if it is something you ought to be prepared for."

At least they can all agree on one thing.

"Yes, pizza is a Siracusan meal. I believe it is tomato paste on top of dough, which is..." Inelegant and unartistic, but she will go with: "...simple enough. I know Link has made it in his world as well." She seems to recall some sort of picture or statement he had made in the past.

"Perhaps I'll try to make an inclusion. But no promises about the pizza. I will see you both this weekend, then. -- Ah. And don't forget to come back for your zong zi."

[theriflespiral]

"A joy, that you are kind. You think them long-sighted or desperate, instead of petty, cruel, and ill-inclined to give persons like my mother, my father, and myself anything other than the firing squad. To them, I was only human on the inhuman merit I displayed; how much less my mother and father?"

She shook her head. "As to what they meant for me... Five years in Kamchatka, that became increasingly desperate. Despite my assessments, they kept me from the front. I... To this day, cannot explain why."

[supersmashbrother]

Raph scowls as Donnie laughs, bringing his hands together to squish his face. "You never know!" He tries to defend his stance. "Being prepared for a food battle never hurts. An' no one wants to waste food in a battle, especially good food!"

Where was he going with that? They shall never know. He may as well munch on the other zong zi before it gets cold.

"Food's food. All food is good," he says in between bites, inhaling the soy sauce with the taste as it goes down. "But yeah! I'm down for it, pizza or no pizza."

So now they have an hour to kill before they can try their own zong zi creations. Although he sighs, Raph bows his head again, grinning as he gets up from the table, lightly swatting Donnie on the arm as he does so. "Alright! An' we'll be back for sure!"

[purplexing]

"Hey, hey, hey! There is precious cargo inside, be gentle!" Donnie protests, flailing before he tries prying those meaty fingers (ugh he didn't even wash his hands either!!) from his face.

Well, guess the dinner date is set. Donnie knows better than to try and argue it, but then he looks forward to seeing how much Raph can eat.

He shoves Raph back as he's swatted, frowning so hard at him. How dare he manhandle him! That's going to bruise!

Back..? Donnie blinks before remembering the rice packets they'd made earlier."A-ah, right. See you then, Shu. Thanks for the snack."

[testygirl]

"There's nothing wrong with standing out! I'm sure you looked amazing."

In truth, Aira would also be red in the face after making a mistake like that. She can pretend otherwise for the sake of being supportive, though!

Except she still ends up giggling into her hand. Because...

"What the heck is a dance card?"

[theriflespiral]

"Here, i show you," Natalia says, pulling out a small card, about 7cm by 13cm. On it is a blank, numbered list, with two columns...

Well. That's not quite true. The first line has, in Natalia's usual script, Bonfire Reel and the name Kaitlyn.

Too late, she realizes her mistake and pats her pockets quickly for a different example, while the cold builds a head of steam around her.

[testygirl]

Aira hums. It wouldn't be the worst way to sober up, theoretically.

"What parts would be the most interesting? It'd be kind of boring for me to just list off random facts."