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

[purplexing]

Was it too much? Donnie doesn't usually interact with kids so he's not sure how to gauge the response from them.

He shuts his mouth, suddenly uncertain, but not about his reasoning. But he does blink, surprised, perhaps, when Aira validates the things he'd mostly assumed, because these sorts of stories don't go into that much detail. Something in his chest aches a her words.

When he looks up as Raph speaks up, Donnie isn't sure what to make of the shift in his somewhat-brother's expression. Feeling Raph's arm loosen, Donnie shifts so he can get into a more comfortable position while he listens. He swallows the knot that suddenly seems to be in his throat then, glancing away as he rubs awkwardly at his arm.

[testygirl]

There we go. Aira nods along with Raph's thoughts, quite pleased with what he has to say. Not that she's unique in this experience, but she's been burned before at times when she didn't prioritize enough clear and healthy communication. It's a good lesson, and a few of the kids are looking positively thoughtful.

... Most of the ones who are still engaged, anyway. Since kids will be kids, more of them are just looking antsy at this point. It's probably time to start wrapping this up; in the meantime, she can consider whether to apologize to Donnie or not. Belatedly, Aira is realizing she might be giving him too much crap—just, like, in general.

She offers some closing thoughts, and then the kids head off. The more polite ones say thank you, and quite a few of them smile and wave goodbye to Aira and the turtles. Once the three of them are alone, Aira sighs and stretches a little.

"Whew! That was kind of tough. So thanks for sitting in, you guys, it was nice."

[supersmashbrother]

Oh, kids. They may be like that, but it also saves Raph from feeling a lot more awkward after sharing what's been on his heart and mind of late. So he also thanks them, teaching a few of the older ones how to fist bump and smiling at the quieter ones as he waves after them.

He rolls his shoulders, giving Aira a nod. "Anytime, Aira! You can always count on us."

In saying so, he also gently nudges Donnie—a small gesture, but one that checks in on his not!brother. An encouragement of sorts.

[purplexing]

It's just a story. He's not sure why it's left him unsettled once he'd got to thinking about it. Donnie turns it over in his head as Aira handles the children, missing his chance to wave once they're dismissed, caught up in his thoughts as he is.

He straightens, head jerking up at the nudge before he looks up at Raph, and then glances at Aira.

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure..."

[testygirl]

Raph really is a sweetheart, she thinks. The fist-bumping is extra cute, and Aira can't help but smile. Though her expression dims a bit as she regards Donnie again. She doesn't want to pry, really, but...

"You okay?" She softly clicks her tongue. "I'll try not to put you on the spot next time, I guess."

She's presuming that there will be a next time, which maybe she shouldn't, but it'd be cool if they could make this a semi-regular thing.

[supersmashbrother]

"C'mon, buddy, look sharp." His brow creases, that one worry line prominent when it comes to his brother getting lost in thought.

He agrees with Aira, though, making a slight face in apology. "Yeah. We should've checked with you first."

[purplexing]

"I'm fine," Donnie says out of reflex. "Just...got worked up over the story I guess." That sounds about right, anyway. He frowns a bit before shaking his head. "Sure, I didn't expect it to be an interactive time but it's fine."

[testygirl]

She does catch that Donnie's reply has a sort of automatic quality, but that's alright. There's nothing wrong with getting invested in a story one way or the other.

"That interaction is a big part of story time!" How and where she grew up, anyway. Everyone should probably be glad that she didn't take it further and try to do voices or act things out. "Did you guys get read to when you were little?"

It's fun for her to imagine them as cute little kappas turtle youths.