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]

"Zong zi."

She emphasizes the tonal accents of the words, a downwards drop for the first time and a dip for the second.

"It is glutinous rice and other fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed. You may pick what you prefer. Usually the meat is pork, but I have prepared a variety of options." Shu gestures at the table. "You may even make it sweet, if you wish."

There is only the faintest, most indiscernible tone of judgment that suggests that Shu frowns upon sweet zongzi.

[bearsperminute]

"Zong zi," she pronounces, better this time. "We used different leaves, but it sounds like the principle's similar; I'll take the pork on your recommendation."

Still, she does have an especial treat. "I also brought bird chilies, like I threatened last time."

[singlemilletgrain]

"Oh?"

Shu examines the offerings before her.

"Yes, this variety grows far to the southeast. Thus, it is... not traditionally something that is included in zong zi. Or in Yanese cooking in general. But you are welcome to put whatever you wish into your own creations. Perhaps it is not surprising that an adventurous person would prefer adventurous eating as well."

Shu thinks for a moment, then reaches under the table for something.

"Food preparation gloves. Better safe than sorry."

[bearsperminute]

"Ah, you're right. You really only need to make that sort of mistake once, don't you?" She replies, carefully slipping off the pilots' gloves that she usually wears in favor of the protective gloves. "I remember one time I was crying for what felt like days after preparing these with Dad."

She's careful to pull out the white inner support, along with the seeds, using her knife with decent precision. "Turns out I'd forgotten to wash my hands after helping him prepare some of these and I went to wipe my eyes. Dad explained what happened and considered the matter punishment enough."

[singlemilletgrain]

"When my youngest brother was very, very young, he went to use the restroom..."

Shu murmurs without continuing the rest of that story, allowing it to speak for itself.

"He is now one of the most accomplished chefs in all of Yan, but I do continue to think of him as that little boy crying and wailing."

This is probably grounds for sororicide, but Shu is allowed to tell embarrassing stories about her siblings. She sets out some bamboo leaves for Kanna and takes a heaping spoonful of the glutinous rice.

[bearsperminute]

She can't help laughing a little as she says, "Ohhh, nooooo!"

And because of all of these tales, she is, of course, careful with cutting up the chilies and placing two-- and only two-- carefully cut, into the prep area. If they make another packet, she'll probably cut up more.. "I'm not going to assume again, not after last time with the farm."

[singlemilletgrain]

"Hm?"

Shu blinks as she looks up, for she doesn't understand what Kanna is referring to, exactly.

"Assume? ...Assume what happened with Yu?"

(That is her brother's name.) She doesn't think that's what Kanna is saying, since it has no relevance to what happened with the farm before, but...

"Well. I should allow him some dignity."

[bearsperminute]

"No no, the instructions," Kanna says. "My first instinct is to dump it all in, wrap it in the leaves, and let it sit in the steamer for a while, but... being a little overly hasty is what got me into trouble on the farm, isn't it?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"...Ahh."

Shu smiles, for waiting for instructions is indeed a sign of growth. (And growth, of course, a sign of a good potential commander in combat, ahem.)

"In this case, that would turn out acceptably, though it might not be especially pleasing aesthetically or in its flavor balance. You do want to be thoughtful about where you place specific items. And if you do not distribute the rice such that it is enveloping the other ingredients, you will end up with your fillings falling out when you unwrap the leaves. Consider that at the end, it will be a small, triangular package."

[bearsperminute]

"Aha, I see now." She definitely knows these, though her versions had as much millet as glutinous rice. She carefully dips her hands in water. Lets the water run down the other hand.

Theatrically, but appropriately, slaps her hand to her other hand so they don't stick to the rice when she handles it, carefully.

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu nods approvingly and sets the various bowls of filling in front of Kanna. The other meats are set to the side, but in addition to pork, there are mushrooms, dried shrimps, water chestnuts, and salted egg. The process of filling the zongzi is fairly simple. Two leaves are placed on top of each other, somewhat staggered, then folded into a cone shape. From here, rice is packed into the bottom of the cone, followed by as many fillings as desired, with rice filling the gaps and the top.

"...This is the tricky part. Are you ready? Try to follow the movement of my hands."

[bearsperminute]

Regardless of whether she's following or not, she looks like she is, careful to add only in moderation. he chilies she very carefully spreads over her entire allotment of pork, which in turn will go into several of these; after the last person who simply filched one to bite down on she's being Careful.

Still, she nods along carefully mimicking the motions as she goes. Not for nothing is she a skilled martial artist!

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu is an experienced teacher. Fold one, fold two, crimp, and squeeze. She demonstrates the procedure a few times - slowly, then more rapidly, before allowing Kanna to give it a try. The end result is adequate, though there is a bit of glutinous rice oozing out the edges. Shu adjusts the position of the leaves slightly.

"Now you tie it."

It takes quite a lot of skill to successfully do so single-handedly, so Shu will hold out the ball of twine and gesture for Kanna to bring the completed dumpling closer.