The Feast of Halane

The feast occurs from the 1st to the 10th of Halane. Each of the ten days features plays, fights and a wide variety of entertainment. The Feast is celebrated for 7 days in the rest of the Thardic Republic. Only in the town of Fobin is the Feast celebrated by the other religions.

Entertainments

There are plays, musical concerts, riddle contests and lots of food. The well at the center of town becomes the center of all activities. While much of the entertainment is organized by the Haleans, the majority of it is non-denominational.

Halean Entertainments

Halea, goddess of opulence in all things, is a jealous being. The first day of the festival is hers alone. All other days begin with a Halean breakfast, and end with a Halean party/dinner. The breakfast includes a wide variety of foods and drink (and drugs.) Plays are performed for the awakened detailing Halea's grace (good luck & beauty) and her fury (bad luck & vengeance.) Reveler's are expected to make regular donations to Halea's temple and partake in the priestesses mass lay- um I mean lay mass. If you describe the Halean entertainment as a den of drunken debauchery - you would not be far off.

Exactly where the Halean breakfast begins and the Halean party/dinner ends is a mystery no one has quite figured out. Still gambling, drinking and passion control the revelers in her temple. Still, somehow, there are people during this time that keep their wits about them. The priestesses of the temple are renowned for their ability to make, and keep contracts in all manner of businesses. They oversee most all contracts signed in the town. They are arbitrators of business, and some part of the festival is used to show this as well.

The festival day names come from the names of the seven princesses of Halea and the titles of Halea herself.

  1. Day of Opulence - on the first day it is traditional to give gifts to all visitors, strangers and friends alike. The gifts are suppose to be small (cakes, combs, eating utensils, napkins, etc.) and of equal value.
  2. Day of the Harmonic Cascade - Dulcia (music and sultry words). On the second day there is usually an open-air concert and much dancing. Halean priestesses spend the day singing everything. The night, sometimes called the Chaos, is one of heavy drinking as everyone refreshes parched throats.
  3. Day of Enterprise - Elomia (commerce). The devout renew yearly contracts on the third day. Smaller contracts entered into on this day are said to bring luck to all parties involved.
  4. Day of the Feast - Glaopea (pleasant repast). On the fourth day the Halean and Peonian temples work together to provide a luscious feast for everyone. The food is simple, but there is a lot of it.
  5. Day of Vengeance - Sardura (the Golden wrath/vengeance). This is the day of judgement. The Halean temple publicly tries any prisoners on this day; in small towns mock trials detailing historical crimes are often replayed to cheering crowds.
  6. Day of Abundance - Selina (lust for wealth). On this day the temples provide luxurious foods and throw open their doors for all to enter and enjoy the comfort and luxury of the temple. To pass through the temples doors is to gain luck for the coming year. Ribbons and small bits of cloth are tied to horses and windows to make them more visible to Halea and thus garner better chances at receiving her bounty.
  7. Day of Brief Extacy - Tania. On the seventh day the temple is closed and practitioners may partake in a mass lay ... erm... lay mass. Outside, in the square - barrels of Golden Nectar (a fine cider) are tapped and everyone may drink freely until the barrels are empty. Music and public entertainments continue.
  8. Day of Fortune - Thalia. Contracts for payment come due on the Day of Fortune. Also money bet on this day is said to double if you are in favor with Halea. The priestesses often remind practitioners that the goddess is fickle, and thus not to press their luck.
  9. Day of Beauty - The women of the region are suppose to dress in their best clothes and present themselves in the square. Traditionally this is a day for marriage and proposals. Anything begun on the day of beauty can never be ugly.
  10. Day of the Corsilea - The last day of the festival is the day of heaven. This day ends in a massive party that is suppose to be the biggest indulgence of the year.

Peonian/Laranian Entertainments

Peoni is the goddess of protection, and fertility. Her festivals include lots of good food and drink. Her plays explain her links to the land, and its workers. The Peonians often wear simple costumes and assure that everyone at the Feast has enough to eat. Gifts given to the temple throughout the year are distributed during the feast to the most needy in the area. Matches between men and women are made and blessed by the clergy and gifts of land are bestowed by the legion through the Peonian temples.

The river-side temple often acts as a day-care for the local children deemed too young by their parents to enjoy the revelry going on in town. The Peonians also act as arbitrators in questions of land and livestock. All of their services are free, but gifts are always welcome. Anyone, of any religion, is welcome in the river-side chapel, although the religious of other faiths may find it difficult to enter as their own gods may object.

Larani is believed to be the daughter of Peoni, and is seen as the embodiment of the just war. Her people have no temple in Fobin, but a few Laranians may be visiting/guarding the temple. Their presence is ignored by the other religions of the area.

Agrikan Entertainments

Agrikans dress in bright red flowing garments and perform dances with maces and whips. They perform mock battles against masked men who take the roll of invading demons. Banners are unfurled and children race through this mock-fire to show their bravery. Games to show accuracy and destructive force are held daily. Vats of mulled wine are offered freely to the public. Game winners receive prizes of weapons and "flame banners", scarves that show their bravery.

Other Entertainments

One stranger dresses in a solid black robe and wears a black mask with red eyes. This stranger, called "the darkman" wanders the streets. Each person he touches must give him sesterci. Once paid the darkman bows and keeps his distance. Legend says those who do not pay the darkman, will have a year of chaos and trouble ahead of them.

Morgathian followers either pay him nothing, or give him almost everything. There is no Morgathian temple in Fobin. The darkman is never the same person twice. Monies gathered go towards the legionnaires retirement fund.

History of the Feast

The feast began sometime around 673TR as a celebration of Fertility by the Peonians and the Banquet of Delights by the Haleans. The town welcomed the holidays because of the large number of merchant stalls opened in town. The Halean church receives an entry tax of 5 sesteric from each merchant selling goods during the Banquet. Originally the Banquet of Delights allowed the pious Haleans to experience the delights they can expect to enjoy in Corsilea (the afterlife.)

The following is the story of the founding of "the Feast."

A Master merchant awoke on the eve of the Banquet of Delights. His dreams still fresh in his mind - he dressed and sought out the Aramia (Queen mistress of the Halean Temple.) She received him openly and his tale was heard by several temple mistresses.

He saw himself in Corsilea in his dream, surrounded by a great Feast and gambling over games. But he saw representations of Peoni, larani and Agrik at the feast. Peoni appeared as a floating bundle of daisies that enjoyed the feast and served the wine. Larani appeared as a waterfall of red water that flowed from nowhere to return to nowhere. She hovered near Peoni protectively. Agrik appeared as a flaming fist who was worshipped by the revellers dressed for war.

Confused the Aramia agreed to speak to the local temples about this divine vision. The next day the Peonian Pelnala told the Armaia of their vision of a celebration where all were welcome and admitted that Peoni's favorite flower was the daisy.

That afternoon, a Heruchai (Leutenant of Agrik) came to visit the Aramia. He asked, politely, if he could stage gladiatorial games during the Banquet of Delights. After some convincing she learned he was asking because of a dream he'd had in which he was directed to test the metal of the local Agrikans.

On the first day of the Banquet of Delights the Aramia came forth and told the gathered that from that day forth the celebration would be known as "the Feast" and all were welcome to attend and participate in whatever means they wished. The Feast, she said, would further the devotion to The Queen of Opulence (Halea) as the Peonians would assist with taking care of the children, and the Agrikans would provide games upon which the Haleans could bet.

Since that time the "Feast" has become the largest festival in Fobin.

Economics of the Feast

Each merchant who opens a stall, or a shop, must pay a tax of 5 sesterci to the Halean church. The church, in return, offers up a giant feast with sufficient food and drink to feed the attendees at least twice over. Fobin has a caravan of some 20 merchants for the entire Feast.

The fort town of Fobin enjoys a 10 day festival of plenty. The legion assures all its troupes are paid during this 10day so that everyone can enjoy some part of the Feast. Those who do not appreciate, or wish to participate in the Feast often take refuge at the Peonian Riverside chapel.

The Feast in Other Places

In Coranan, on the first day - a lottery is held. All the names of willing women go into one barrel and all the names of willing men go into another. Then each person steps forward and draws a name. The priestesses call out the name and make the introduction. These two people are then expected to spend the next day together. Some become intimate, others friends and still others enemies. The head priestess of Halea in Coranan is a stunning woman (Comeliness of 19!, blonde hair, pale blue eyes, delicate features, perfect health...) who very publicly drops her marker into the barrel along with everyone else. A local legend, of a farmer who drew the high priestess's marker, is regularly told to the attendants as they fill the barrels. The farmer is a real person, who now works in the Halean gardens. When asked about his experience he is wont to stop, smile, and sigh. Most legionnaires are willing to sell almost anything to get to Coranan for this event.

In Shiran, on the first day, everyone partakes in a grand, open air party. Goods are exchanged as small gifts and all transactions made during the feast are said to be lucky. Shiran, already an opulent city, becomes more resplendent as the Halean devout decorate their homes with colored candles, and home made hanging decorations. Each major family hosts their own feast with a table laid out at the edge of the property for the commonalty to share in the family's bounty.

This page was last updated on January 23, 2002
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