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

[newmemorywhodis]

Not having seen Aira fight before, Link's curious to see how she does - her form, her technique, her tactics and strategy. So it's with quite a bit of interest that he watches.

...Although she's going at it rather hard, isn't she? She's effectively pummelling her opponent. (She doesn't actually think they're going easy on her, does she?)

Regardless, Link doesn't interrupt. But he's at the front of the crowd now, where it's going to be much easier for Aira to notice that he's watching.

[testygirl]

Yeah, mostly the goal of her shouting is related to provocation. Her opponent may be outmatched, but he's motivated. After Aira's latest flurry of kicks, he drops to one knee, but doesn't seem intent to give up.

It's during that pause when she glances down from the ring to catch sight of Link. Then her gaze turns back to her opponent, but by that time, some of his friends have gathered around; after a moment, they convince him to stand down. Aira leaves the ring with a huff, first grabbing a towel, then unceremoniously straddling over the ropes so that she can plop next to Link.

"Boring," she says. "You want to get a drink?"

[newmemorywhodis]

As she starts coming over, he gives her a little wave. Though at her comment of 'boring', Link glances back at her opponent, frowns, then looks back at her. Boring? From what he'd seen of their match...that didn't seem right. If she was bored by it, why had she been so riled up?

But he doesn't comment on it. He just gives her a quick nod; yes, he'll come get a drink. Especially if he can get one that's fruity.

[testygirl]

A fair observation! More than fair. The more she thinks about it, the more embarrassed Aira is going to feel about losing control like that. Feigning indifference is a defense mechanism—and a pretty flimsy one.

She observes him while they're en route to the banquet hall, and the obvious question floats to her head.

"How's your leg? You want to sit and I can grab you something?"

[newmemorywhodis]

"I'm fine," Link says - and it's clear from the way he stubbornly keeps pace with her that he does not intend to sit quietly while she grabs something. Link can wait patiently when he wants to...but he doesn't particularly want to. At least he seems pretty mobile on those crutches. By now, Link's gotten plenty of practice with them.

But then he pauses. Like he wants to say something, and is just trying to figure out how.

"...Sorry," he says. "Couldn't come help." He'd wanted to. Wanted to help rescue both her and Donnie. But they wouldn't let him.

[testygirl]

Aira just nods; considering how stubborn she is, too, it wouldn't sit right for her to insist. She's still nicked up and sore from the Maleficent encounter—then spending that time in her dungeons—and she refuses to let it show. But yeah, he seems to be moving well on those crutches, so that also makes her feel better about it.

At his admission, she ends up frowning a little.

"You really don't have to apologize." Her expression lightens. "Thanks, though. I mean, we were lucky that so many people decided they wanted to help bust us out. Which is pretty embarrassing, but... it felt nice, too, when they all showed up."