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vivala2025-05-09 11:31 pm
vivalamods) wrote in vivala2025-05-09 11:31 pm
Event #09: THE FETE OF KNOWLEDGE
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!
code credit
no subject
For someone with a broken leg and crutches, when faced with the wonders of the banquet table Link proves himself to be oddly mobile. Because he is everywhere trying absolutely everything.
That baked fish? He'll have that. The seafood rice balls? He'll have that too. Oh, and the crab cakes, and the trout stew, and the seaweed salad...
Eventually, he ends up stuffing a few of his half-eaten dishes into his korok-enchanted pack. Gotta have something for later, after all.
ii. Dueling hall
Over in the Dueling hall, Link roams through the space, giving intense looks to anyone even vaguely looking like they might pick up a weapon. Does he want to fight anyone?
...If he does, he's not getting any takers. No one's keen to fight the guy with a broken leg, apparently.
But maybe Link's just looking to watch a few good matches - he does end up observing quite a few, quietly watching as others spar.
iii. Story hall
Anyone knows Link at all will immediately realise that he is not in the Story Hall to tell a tale of his own. That would require him to say far too many words at once, in a public forum no less.
But Link does like listening to stories. So of course he wants to spend some time here.
Or at least he does, until some of the storytellers take note of him, and start insisting that he tell a story too. Link is pulled over to one of the speaking podiums, at which point Link just...stares, wide-eyed and faintly alarmed, at the audience that seems to have suddenly appeared.
Oh no.
ii
Except Tau is standing out in the midst of the hall, a casual smirk on his face as he faces off against a larger, rougher looking Corsair.
"I will wipe that smug look off your face!" the latter shouts, charging without further preamble.
"This is a dueling hall, not a brawling hall," the healer says, but at the last second he flips as the Corsair swings, landing on his shoulder as though weighing no more than a feather. He drops down, lashing out with a kick that sends the Corsair tumbling off past Link.
no subject
So Link watches the match with interest, standing just off to the side. And almost immediately, he can tell that the larger Corsair is outclassed. His form was poor, and his tactics mediocre. He should have taken some time to consider his opponent, rather than just charging in and assuming his greater size would give him an advantage.
So really, Link's not surprised that Tau gets the upper hand.
(Although - isn't that also the guy who was really, really weird about trees?)
no subject
Tau watches them before his gaze pins Link. Oh. That guy.
"Hey, I sure hope you're only spectating."
no subject
He is only spectating. Although that is in large part because everyone else takes one look at his broken leg, and refuses to spar with him.
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He looks down at the leg. "It's a pain, but try not to overdo it. If you get too hasty with trying to do things, you'll just end up messing up your leg worse. Possibly even permanently, and I doubt you'd want to do that."
no subject
But that doesn't mean he likes it.
Or that Link doesn't have opinions about how he'd go against some of the other combatants here. Even with a significant handicap in the form of a broken limb.
"...Could still take him," Link says, jerking his head towards the man who Tau had just very decisively beaten.
no subject
"Wouldn't exactly be much of an accomplishment," Tau remarks, smirking. "Anyway, what would be the point you're trying to make? If you're going to say some crap about wanting to keep in shape or something, I imagine you're doing enough just walking around more than you're supposed to already. So I'm sure that's not the problem."
no subject
(He also also considered how well said crutches would go as makeshift weapons. Link's pretty sure he could do some decent damage, if he wanted to.)
As for what point Link was trying to make...he shrugs. He wasn't trying to make any kind of point, really. Mostly he's just...annoyed. Here he is, standing in the middle of a dueling hall...and he doesn't get to compete. He only gets to stand around, watching.
no subject
Tau watches him a moment.
"Yeah, I know it's boring. But there are other things you can do that don't involve you possibly jostling your leg around too much."
no subject
Sure, Link has ideas of things he could do. But he gets the feeling that Tau has suggestions in mind. And also that he probably wouldn't approve of all of the wheeled-plank racing he's been doing.
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"What. You've probably already looked around at all the other halls. Don't tell me you couldn't find anything to preoccupy your time."
no subject
He'd spent quite a bit of time in that hall. But not even Link could spend the entire festival stuffing his face. But when it came to the other halls...
...Well. There was debating. And telling stories. Both of which were activities that Link was happy to watch, but not at all keen to participate in. For reasons which would be incredibly obvious to anyone who'd spent any significant amount of time around Link.
no subject
"What's your thoughts on teaching people?"
no subject
Like Zelda. Or Symin. Or Hoz. Or anyone other than Link, really. Link was perfectly happy to get up and demonstrate...as long as he didn't have to actually speak.
no subject
no subject
Then he stares back at Tau.
(Surely, he doesn't need to actually say the obvious answer here?)
no subject
"But that still doesn't explain much. You can't just say you'd want to teach people how to fight. Fighting specifically with a sword narrows it down a bit if that's the route you really want- there's plenty around who favor sabers to firearms. You could teach offense or defense.
"-but that doesn't seem like the greatest idea when you're going to be on those," he says pointedly, eyes flicking down towards the crutches.
no subject
Unless...
Link tilts his head to one side, looking at Tau.
"...You need help learning?” Tau was clearly already capable, but...maybe he secretly wanted to learn swordfighting?
no subject
Tau blinks, staring at Link for a moment, confused.
"What? No, what for? I don't use swords."
no subject
But maybe Tau would prefer something else...?
Reaching back, Link unslings the other weapon on his back; his bow. He gives Tau a questioning look as he holds it; does Tau want to learn this instead?
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"I'm not touching one of those," he says, glancing away. He's not had good experiences with the weapon, that much seems clear.
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What's wrong with bows?
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He lets out a breath, shaking his head. "I'm not here for instruction on fighting. You'll have to find someone else to teach. I'm sure there's someone who'll be interested," he says as he starts to turn, meaning to walk off.
no subject
Link isn't one of those people.
So as Tau walks away, Link doesn't say anything. He just quietly lets Tau go, and wonders.