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abraxaslogs2021-12-11 04:25 pm
The Festival of Enlightenment - The Free Cities
In the Free Cities, Enlightenment has come once more.
In each major hub, lanterns and lights of every kind are being hung everywhere. On every storefront, every sidewalk, every home and every fence. From elaborate custom made lanterns with color changing lights to simple hand carved candle lanterns and everything in between. By the time Enlightenment proper rolls around, the three major cities are bedecked in lights..
Lanterns and elaborate candle holders and artfully carved candles are going on sale everywhere. Flyers are being plastered on walls announcing The Annual Circus of The Sciences! The latest and most impressive inventions from every corner of the Free Cities! Hosted by Prime Minister Reiner herself!
This is a time to celebrate technology. Free from a dependency on magic, The Free Cities thrive in this time of literal and metaphorical darkness. The phrase ‘lights for Enlightenment!’ is on every citizen’s lips. In the evenings, night markets pop up in the streets. Vendors offering little mechanical toys and decorations set up, as well as the latest street cuisines, and light up jewelry to celebrate the holiday. Pendants, earrings, headpieces, bracelets... some of them glow due to naturally occurring substances, some have chemical reactions activated with the press of a button that make them light up and twinkle.
In Cadens the focus is on inventions and the latest technological advancements, the buzz about this year’s Circus of The Sciences spreading through the city. On Enlightenment Day, in front of Portham Hall, the greatest inventors from all over the Free Cities gather to show off their greatest inventions, each vying to win the coveted prize of government funding. All inventions are on display to the public - there’s a great deal of talk about an engine powered entirely by steam! - and judged by a team of Ministry officials.
Yet none judge quite as harshly as the infamous Head Judge, Aleksander G. Klingel. Known not only for his own contributions to Cadens innovations and technological milestones, but for his biting commentary during the competition itself. Some of the less technologically minded have even made it a point to attend just to see what the winning insult will be this year...
"I wouldn't trust you running a bath let alone a hydroplane."
"Are you a stuffed puppet? Because your head must be filled with felt to come up with something this inane."
"This is really a tough decision... because you're all crap."
And even the summoned have a role to play, if they so choose. Aleksander is more than happy to compensate any of the Summoned for their time... if they’d just participate in a teeny little holiday experiment. All they need to do is hold a metal rod for a few minutes. Aleksander promises it’s not dangerous, that little tingle is perfectly normal...
In Libertas and Aquila, new plays and performances are debuting - and all seem to have a common theme: the power and superiority of technology over magic. Even overheard conversations may espouse the same ideals - how strange that the other kingdoms still rely on magic, it’s just irrational! The theme of technology and light are found even in the newest fashion collections, unveiled for the season, utilizing reflective fabric and metals.
Should anyone ask a local how long, exactly, this holiday is celebrated for, they’ll be told that in honor of the light of technology triumphing over the dim, the festivities last all day and all night. Come the day, the street markets open in the morning and stay open until the next morning. There’s singing and drinking in the streets, everyone trying to stay up until dawn to show that the spirit of the Free Cities will never go dark. Starting with The Circus of The Sciences, kicked off by a speech from Prime Minister Marlo.
Standing on the steps of Portham Hall, wearing her formal military garb, is Prime Minister Marlo Reiner. She holds up her hands for silence from the crowds.
"Welcome, once again, to another celebration of the Enlightenment! We’re gathered together to celebrate and illuminate all the hard work that each and every one of you do, every day, to make our Free Cities what they are! We’ve cut ties with relying on magic to do everything for us and we thrive! Even now, in the darkest part of the year when the rest of the world struggles, we thrive! Because we rely on ourselves! Your minds are more powerful than magic and nothing can dim your light!
"So let’s have a good time! Starting with the Circus of The Sciences! Enjoy the best of what the human mind has accomplished, and if you see something you really like, I don’t think a single one of our inventors would refuse a donation. Judges will be making the rounds soon.
"Here’s to another year of changing the world!"
With a thunderous roar of applause, The Day of Enlightenment officially begins!
(Coming soon! The events of December 21st and beyond will depend on player actions...)
no subject
After his conversations with Marlo, there was no chance he'd miss it. But more than that, Sam wants to make sure he's not missing any new arrivals, which is partially how he ends up to the blond's side, arms crossed over his chest and frown not as deep as it could be, but there. At the question, though, Sam glances over, shrugs once.
"They're not exactly at electricity yet, last I checked it out, so probably power experiments. Look to use it to work on new tech. Power like that- no telling how it'll end up being used." Sam does not exactly sound excited about the prospect, but that's a much longer conversation this kid probably isn't entirely looking to start. Still, after another moment, Sam will relax - dropping his arms from where they'd been crossed over his chest and offering a hand. "Name's Sam, by the way. I don't think we've met."
no subject
Which is all to say that there's a lot of frowning going on over here. But that's also sort of Matthias' default expression, staying in place even when Sam lightens up.
"Matthias," he answers, completing the handshake. Firm grip, single shake. "I just got here."
There isn't much else to say about that, he thinks — well, nothing he'd want to unload on a stranger — so he turns back to the initial topic. "Whatever they decide to do with it, at least we'll have hindered Thorne."
That may be the one thing he's certain about in this conflict he's been thrust into: a monarch who hopes to shape the entire world to his liking strikes him as Very Bad.
DO YOU EVER FULLY BELIEVE YOU POSTED A TAG FOR SOMETHING + YOU JUST NEVER DID??? oh my god im sorry
The frown on the kid has Sam's brow up, if only because he's waiting for the questions. Waiting for any indication about what that frown is supposed to mean. But then it lightens and he shakes Sam's hand and Sam smiles back to him, friendly. "Welcome to Cadens, Matthias." A beat, and then Sam's shoulders seem to sag a fraction, almost like he's a bit disappointed. Not in Matthias, necessarily. Just in general. "I'm guessing they gave you the speech about Thorne and Solvunn?"