Events
There are hardly civilizations without celebrations and the world of the Skald is no different. These are some of the celebrations that may be encountered or referenced.
Updates may occur as we all find new reasons to party.
The list is divided between national and local festivities. Some locales always have something going on, while others may keep to a few a year.
Contents
National/Tapestrial Events
The Annual Review
Guild-related shops are closed and trade routes are rather bare, limited to time-sensitive offerings. Attentions are poised on the capital where the guild leaders confer in their great meeting with the Prima Uomo. To many, this is a great shift of power in progress, with some meetings more turbulent than others as the announcement could follow with a wedding or coronation.
It is on this day that the plaza at the capital is filled with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, waiting for the doors to open and for someone to take the podium.
In other parts of the world, it is a time of contemplation, with eyes to the sky and road for messengers of the results.
Beyond that, the day is normal... for many it's a stressful day off.
Date(s): Announced In Character
The Hounding
A single night during a great harvest moon terror runs free through the lands in the form of a fox hunt... and you are the fox.
Massive shadow hounds announce their presence and tear through anything in their path to run you down. Their howls and barking are answered by horns and the galloping of hooves as wraithlike riders on nightmares come to collect. Little bars them from you when they find you... their size means nothing as they shrink and grow to fill spaces and keep after you...
The natives urge you to stay inside. The morning before they are hurriedly painting the top door frame with a band of rich purple to ward off the hunting party. They encourage any campers in the wood to stay the night in the inn, or even offer them a seat in their own living rooms if just to get them out of the wilds for the night. For their sake.
Even the animals are wary, it is their strange behavior that signals the coming as suddenly there is no game to hunt, no birds to listen to... Just quiet....
The next morning the unheeding are mourned for. Some found headless, some torn apart as though the dogs had gotten them.... and some taken by some other means as if their heart was unable to keep up with the demands.
Date(s): Harvest Moon night.
Local Events
Inizio D'Oro
Virtuoso's Gala
A turn of the year event when a stream of colors crease the night sky, believed to be the song coil of the Skald. The inhabitants of the Capital city hosts a black-tie gathering at the Prima Familia's own manor courtyard, and is one of the few times they are exposed to the public in a more intimate, mingling, fashion.
Date(s): Jan 1st, evening.
Uhrwerkstadt
Fortschrittsfeier
A two-day festival celebrating the successes of its inventors and the 'official' start of a free summer. Kicks off with a parade of the accomplishments where the town's leader awards the best work. A little like a science fair, the whole town no matter the type of work has a chance to show off their greatest successes for the year, using the chance to advertise and network. For the people of this alpine village, this also ends the work year with the reward of one season of fun and revelry with the second day of this celebration heavy with drinking, feasting, and dancing via a complete takeover of the square. While the name of the festival translates to Progress Celebration, it is more commonly known as Inventor's Triumph.
Date(s): Summer Solstice
Chanson Isole'e
Hors du Silence
A celebration of spring's return, and with it the land surrounding the hamlet as the waters recede. A grand welcome for the first cargo caravans and a great thanks as sailors take their ships out of service for cleaning and upkeep. Notable entertainment includes a flag throwing contest, where men show off their strength and acrobatics while waving and throwing large guild banners.
