The Feast

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 temples throw open their doors. Foods and drink are served for free from Halean and Peonian temples. Agrikans stage gladiatorial fights in the town square while Haleans place their bets. Morgathians celebrate a feast and a dance for the dead, while Navehians dress in dark clothes and pretend to threaten passer-bys. Laranians prey and protect the Peonian temple, while Save-K’norians host riddle-guessing games with large prizes of books, and sometimes money. Sarajin and Siem have no visible representation in the town of Fobin.

Halean Entertainment

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.

Day of Opulence
Day of the Harmonic Cascade - Dulcia (music and sultry words)
Day of Enterprise -Elomia (commerce)
Day of the Feast -Glaopea (pleasant repast)
Day of Vengence - Sardura (the Golden wrath/vengence)
Day of Abundance - Selina (lust for wealth)
Day of brief extacy - Tania
Day of Fortune - Thalia
Day of Beauty
Day of the Corsilea

Peonian/Laranian Entertainment

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 daycare 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 Enertainments

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 unfurreled and children race through this mock-fire to show their bravery./ Games to show acuracy 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 sloid black robe and wears a balck 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 hte large number of merchant stalls opened in town. The Halean church revied an entry tax of 5 sesteric from each merchant selling goods during the Banquet. Origianlly the Banquet of Delights allowed the pious Haleans to experience the delights they cn 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 hte Banwet 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 eh saw representations of Peoni, larani and Agrik at the feast. Peoni appeared as a floating bundle of dsisies that enjoyed the feast and served the wine. Larnai appeared as a waterfall of red water that flowed from nowhere to return to nowhere. It/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 ther 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 ot visit the Aramia. He asked, politely, if he could stage gladiatorial games during the Banquet of Delights. After some convincing she leared 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 attendies at least twice over.

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.

July 16, 2001

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