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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Comments

[freearcadia]

He held his hands up, well he can't argue with that logic. "Well now I can't walk away," He moves in closer, looking over the fillings.

"I generally stay out of the galley and out of the chef's way."

[singlemilletgrain]

"Here."

She gently presses several bamboo leaves into Harlock's hands.

"First, lay them down flat, slightly overlapping. Take one end and fold it down and around so it creates a natural cone shape. ...I will guide your hands if you cannot follow."

Shu demonstrates slowly.

[freearcadia]

He lets the leaves rest in his hand, as he shifts them to overlap, the way he's manipulating them - almost overly fussy, trying to get them just right seems surprising given his general attitude towards other areas in his life.

"So... a cone shape." He repeats in a soft murmur.

[singlemilletgrain]

"That's right." She responds encouragingly. At one point, she will adjust his hands and position of the leaves very slightly to ensure that all gaps are covered.

"Now you have formed the base. Into the cone, scoop rice and any number of fillings you please. I have pork belly, sausage, mushroom, dried shrimp, water chestnut, seasoned beef..."

She will set out the bowls for his perusal.

[freearcadia]

"Not a shortage of anything," And he knew from experiencing it that it would be all good regardless.

"Can't remember the last time I really did anything related with preparing food," Masu was viciously protective and he respected his cook's claim over the Arcadia's galley. "Maybe... seven years?"

[singlemilletgrain]

"What we do not use, I will make into a stir-fry."

It is not that she thinks that Harlock is criticizing the abundance; more that she is excited about the opportunity to prepare more dishes. At his admittance, though, she arches an eyebrow.

"That is not too admirable a thing, Captain Harlock. For when one is too far removed from the source of one's life force, one forgets the necessary labor. Far from your plate, a farmer tilled the earth and watered the crops with their sweat and their blood. A family of boar dwelt in the woods until one day, a hunter disturbed their peace and took their lives for the sake of sustenance. That is part of nature - but so, too, must one remember."