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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
[ His agreement arrives on the back of a wry huff. He hears the vitriol behind Hector's voice and he can sure as hell agree with that sentiment.
Granted, all these new countries and territories he has to learn about as a resident of a brand new planet are still blurring together for him. ]
Now, Thorne, that's the one the "Free Cities" are free from, yeah?
[ Maxwell puts down his drink long enough to perform the necessary air quotes. ]
no subject
Yes, they are the ones that originally summoned us. Not much common sense. Made the mistake of jailing half of us, then acted shocked when most of us defected first chance we got. They were good at magic, though.
[So it's a mixed bag, as far as Hector is concerned.]
no subject
[ He strokes his chin in thought. Well, that makes sense. The Free Cities isn't into magic, so there's no reason why they would have dabbled in multiuniversal summoning shenanigans before now if it weren't for Thorne doing it first.
Maxwell scowls. ]
What is this, some kind of human trafficking arms race?
no subject
[At least, from what Hector can tell. He's not sat in on any of the Free Cities' summonings to compare to his own arrival.]
You could say that. We're the only ones who can reach the Singularity, so each country wants agents they can send there to see their agendas done and their enemies' thwarted.
no subject
I'd ask 'em what's in it for me, but I'm gonna guess 'survival' is the key word here.
no subject
[Survival as a goal is logical, but the method to get there is too often counterproductive and messy.]
At least here, they aren't trying to force compliance. As long as you don't actively oppose their plans, you'll mostly be free to do as you will.
[It's not the worst place Hector's been, bitterness about the magical slander aside.]
no subject
[ Maxwell's guffaws might sound out of place for such cynicism, but it's funny to him how many universes one can cross just to find that one, universal constant: people can always get stupider. If he still had his hat, he'd have to tip it. ]
That's why I don't fear nothin'. Anyway, that's good to know.
[ This is the part where his grin goes wry. ]
Never been great at sitting down and doing what I'm told, though.
no subject
[Hector flashes him a grin, commiserating with that spirit of rebellion.]
Don't know how you've managed to eliminate fear, though. The only people I know who've done that are dead.
[Or undead, or both, actually.]
no subject
[ But he can still lift his drink in a cheers to that conspiratorial grin. Opinions of where a guy like him belonged tended to vary, and maybe his companion here is the same.
As for fear, well. 'Dead inside' counts for something. ]
Gets easier the more you run out of things to lose.
[ Maxwell's expression doesn't sober one bit, his tone almost joking. He isn't sure himself how sincerely he means it. ]