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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[purplexing]

The vibe was ruined from the moment drowned poets were mentioned.

Donnie's expression becomes increasingly more concerned as he's clearly trying to work out things that should probably just be left alone, nearly jumping when Raph nudges him.

"Huh? Oh-" he blinks, focusing on- right, yes, rice...things.

He looks at the leaf he's been handed, head tilting as Shu rolls one expertly. After taking a moment to study the leaf, he starts to curl it over, carefully adjusting the leaf and his hold around it to keep the point he forms, nice and tight.

"Like this?"

[singlemilletgrain]

Some would say the story was romantic and beautiful. Some who had souls, of course. Moving on from the dead poets in rivers, Shu reaches forward to help guide Raph's hands. They were a little on the large side to be doing delicate work, but the initial folds are not too complex.

"Yes, that's right, Donnie. Hold it firm but don't crush the cone."

When Raph has a working model, she will begin to set out the bowls.

"First, take a generous helping of glutinous rice and pack it into the cone. Leave a depression in the center so your fillings will be more evenly spread throughout. Now pick a meat you prefer." There is pork belly, leaner pork cuts, beef, sausage... "Add the extra fillings according to your preference. I like it with shiitake mushroom, salted egg, and dried shrimp. Traditionally, it is served with water chestnut, but I am less partial to the taste. I'll add one for the sake of tradition.

"When you are done, pack a little more rice on top."

[supersmashbrother]

Hunching forward, Raph tries his best to make the cone shape with Shu's guidance. It's usually a toss-up when it comes to being delicate, but he concentrates, frowning as he inspects his work.

...It's something! It will hold food, that's all he should be worrying about.

Excitement dances in his eyes as Shu gets to the next direction, hesitating before he starts with some pork belly. More belly than is necessary and somehow miraculously doesn't go straight into his maw. "They all sound so good." A beat. "Can we do all of it?"

[purplexing]

What are you implying shu

Donnie beams, happily dismissing whatever weird, deeper meanings of this tradition there were in favor of soaking in even that little bit of affirmation even as he eases his hand around the leaf while still maintaining enough of a hold to keep its rounded form.

He starts to pack in the first layer of rice, glancing over as Raph stuffs his own. A fond smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as his brother starts loading in the meat bits, and he can't help for the faint laugh that slips from him when Raph asks if he can just put everything. Typical Raph.

[singlemilletgrain]

you heard her

It becomes evident fairly quickly which pseudo-sibling will require more of her direct attention. Shu makes some slight adjustments to Raph's cone as she continues to explain, ensuring that all gaps are covered.

"You... can."

It does not sound like she thinks this is a good idea.

"I am not sure a mixture of several different types of meat will be harmonious. They have different textures and seasonings. But I will not stop you - you may pick whatever you desire."

Her slightly passive aggressive disapproval might, but it is not very noticeable. As for Shu's zong zi, she fills it with pork belly, picking some choicer cuts with a good mixture of fatty marbling and lean meat. When she has finished, she uses the rice ladle to pack it in gently.

"Tight, but not too tight or it might burst later. Now, when you are finished, watch my hands. This is the more complicated part."

[supersmashbrother]

Cool, Raph will translate it as a 'Nice! Go right on ahead!' in his mind. With the perk, he still goes a little ham (hah) on the ingredients now that his cone is the right shape, layering them on thick despite the advice given. "So not everything will work, but there's no harm trying?"

...Well. He can see right away where he goes wrong in this approach.

While Shu starts to explain the next step, he mulls it over, comparing his mess of a stuffed cone with hers and Donnie's. Then he glances at Shu again, nodding to show that he's following.

Taking one or two layers off of his, not-so-surreptitiously dropping said layers into his snaggle-toothed mouth.

[purplexing]

Apparently riding on and freeing cows has not made his appreciation for the taste of beef diminish as Donnie opts to use such, albeit not nearly as generously as Raph. He adds some mushrooms and has a sniff at the water chestnuts before adding a sliver or two. His eyes nearly bug out when he happens to glance over at Raph to see just how much his brother-figure's packed into his own.

Donnie gives him a dry look because he totally saw that.

Once Shu's done with the rice, he reaches for the ladle to layer on the last bit for his own. "Is this enough?" he asks as he eyeballs it, as though mentally measuring each layer.

[singlemilletgrain]

As Raphael casually slides a few handfuls of rice into his mouth, Shu equally casually walks up behind him and forcefully drives a fist upwards into his diaphragm so he expels the mouthful into her waiting cupped hand.

"The rice is uncooked."

Unspoken are the next words, 'you dum-dum.'

She hooks a small wastebasket with her foot and brushes the disgusting uncooked rice-saliva mixture off her hand. Then proceeds with the lesson without commenting further.

"That is plenty. Yours is fine, too, Raph." Now that it's been somewhat depleted. "Watch here. Fold over the top, fold to the side, then squeeze firmly - but not too tight. Once more -- fold down, fold to the side, then squeeze."

The end result should be a pyramid-shape with a few lumpy portions. Shu holds out a ball of twine next. "Now we tie it. If you hold it, I can do this part for you. Unless you care to try yourself?"

[supersmashbrother]

It would have been fine! Raw rice never hurt him before! Just like everything else he eats if he's able to gulp it down without intervention. So this should have been no different...

Until that happens.

"—WHUF?!"

Inward folds Raph from the unexpected punch to the plastron. Ptoo goes the small pile of rice, flying straight into Shu's hand in less than a second.

The turtle hacks, rubbing his gut area with one side of his eyes burning from a pitiful tear that peeks out from the corner, trying to recover from the hit. Not wanting to go through that again, he behaves, observing closely. "Raph can try tying it," he croaks. "How's it supposed to go?"

[purplexing]

Donnie's eyes go wide as the last thing he'd expected was for Shu to more or less punch Raph in the gut. The subsequent expulsion of rice only makes his brow twitch. He remains that way even as Shu resumes the lesson as though nothing had happened.

...she didn't even wash her hands after that, gross.

Carefully, mechanically, even, Donnie attempts to get back into the motion of things, following the next few steps after Shu's example.

"-no it's fine! I can try it!" he blurts when she offers to tie things off for them.

[singlemilletgrain]

Shu is just saving Raph from dying of Bacillus cereus. He'll thank her when he learns the valuable lesson of not stuffing random inedible objects into his mouth. Shu blinks briefly, though perhaps she is not altogether surprised when both turtles insist on finishing off themselves.

"Very well. I'll show you how to do it. Here. Tie around the center, then perpendicular the other way."

She gestures, then holds out the ball of twine to Raph first.

And look, she wiped her hands with a napkin, it's fine.

[supersmashbrother]

Raph only has so many brain cells to retain such information. He'll learn, but the chances of holding onto it is slim.

Trying not to show the fear in his eyes, he gingerly accepts the ball of twine, bowing his head out of respect. "Okay, length, tie, pretty straightforward," he says almost too quickly, snapping off the line and handing it off the rest to Donnie. And he does whatever he can to make it look the way Shu's looks, tilting his head as the string is twisted around the wrap.

[purplexing]

Not that it's unusual for Donnie to insist on doing things himself. He's definitely a hands-on learner, paying rapt attention as Shu exhibits how to tie things off. It looks simple enough at least.

He watches as Raph makes his attempt, half-expecting his not!brother to get his hand tied to the thing in the process. Accepting the twine and trying not to make a face, Donnie does his best to emulate how and where Shu had tied off the thing. "Like wrapping a package," he nods. "Albeit an oddly-shaped one."

[singlemilletgrain]

"There we are."

She claps her hands in praise of the two turtlekin and their lumpy rice packages. There was probably room for improvement, but to be honest, this part didn't matter much so long as the bamboo leaves were securely wrapped. Shu examines their work as she sets the two zong zi on a plate.

"Now we must steam it for an hour."

...She waits for Raph's inevitable exclamation of dismay.

"But do not fret. Since you have both done so well, I will give you some I made earlier to sate your hunger. But come back later and you may partake of your own work - food always tastes better when it is made by your hands."

Well, sometimes food tasted more food-poison-y when made by amateur hands, but she is fairly certain that besides trying to consume raw rice, these would be fine. She draws out a bamboo steamer from beneath the table and uncovers the top to reveal a batch of fresh zong zi, hissing and steaming gently. Unwrapping one carefully, she divides it in two with a knife and hands half a portion to each of the turtles on a small dish.

"Be careful. It is very hot. Usually, we add a bit of soy sauce for flavor, though you may eat it plain if you think it is seasoned enough."

[supersmashbrother]

Oh, but she's right. Raph's anticipation for eating his newly wrapped treat falters big time, snuffed out like a brightly lit candle wick on a birthday cake.

"An hour!" It's like he's forgotten that food mostly involves cooking time. He's not Mikey, after all. "That's gonna feel like forever..."

Fortunately, he doesn't have to bemoan waiting for the zong zi for longer than he has, and both Shu and Donnie are spared the mini-drama. His eyes are drawn to the next item Shu pulls out ("Like magic!" he exclaims in a side comment), almost drooling when she reveals the pre-made zong zi to them. He bows his head again in thanks, accepting his half with both hands. "I feel like it'll be good as it is, but nothing wrong with a little extra!"

[purplexing]

"Whaaaat?!" Donnie not quite wails, apparently just as shocked that something so small would take so long. "It's a good thing I'm not starving..."

Shu always works magic when it comes to food, so Donnie supposes he shouldn't be surprised that she has something already on hand. Already he knows half a helping isn't going to be nearly enough to fill his brother, but he accepts his own half after poking it to test the temperature.

"Guess we should try it first without, and then compare," he suggests.

[singlemilletgrain]

"You know, not all situations need to be tested by the scientific method. Sometimes, you can simply follow your instincts."

Shu murmurs in a tone that suggests she is not being altogether serious as she removes another zong zi from the steamer and divides it once again in half. Just in case Donnie absolutely needs to test it the proper way.

"The traditional method of cooking zong zi calls for boiling or steaming them for anywhere from 3 to 8 hours, by the way. I am using a more powerful steamer."

A little perspective never hurt anyone. Shu takes a small spoonful of soy sauce and drizzles it over the second rice dumpling.

"Children have a tendency to ah... soak the zong zi in a small ocean of soy sauce. I would advise against doing that - or just drink the soy sauce directly if that is the flavor you prefer."

[supersmashbrother]

"I can go for that," Raph agrees with Donnie. It's not an entire science experiment dropped in one go, but it still brings a smile to his face.

He perks again when Shu prepares another zong zi for them both, his eyes bugging again when she tells them the normal amount of time spent for the steamed wrapped rice treats. "Is waiting really part of the process?? 'Cause that's too long a time!"

Maybe he should be grateful she has a stronger steamer for this. Otherwise he'll be very sad about waiting around for food that isn't ready for him to scarf.

The soy sauce is deceptively delicious to his nose, sniffing delicately as his tongue briefly darts out. "Can't be that bad," he thinks aloud, lifting up the plain zong zi toward Donnie in a toast. "Welp! Time to try it!" Despite blowing on it before popping the thing into his mouth, he still puffs short breaths to cool it down a little more, chewing away with gusto. "Mm!"

[purplexing]

"I'm not sure how instinct factors into this," Donnie says flatly, but unfortunately he's being completely sincere.

The smell of hot food is enough to spark his appetite though, but he will absolutely test things out. He studies the amount of soy sauce that Shu applies, for future reference, before he grins at Raph and holds his own half of zong zi in completion of the toast.

...he doesn't take much smaller a bite than Raph, but at least he'd been mindful enough to try blowing it off a little before inserting it into mouth.

"Mmf...oh this is good. Still agree that that many hours is way too long for food," he says between chewing.