[MINI-EVENT] Cadens and Libertas Art Walk

[cryptsleeper]

Who: All residents of the Free Cities
What: A multi-city art walk (with strong political opinions invited), organized by Jaskier and Alucard (aka, the “Architects” of Old Public Hall)
Where: The main event is in Cadens, with a special portal to Libertas (!!) for the entirety of the week
When: The final week of July
Warnings: None, please warn as needed!f

Flyers Posted/Lead Up To The Event

[Once again, the people of Cadens will begin spotting flyers posted around the city with a script that may be becoming familiar, appearing at first in the middle of the month. The figure of a large black gryphon weaves between bold blue print reading “A R T W A L K” on each flyer in a carefully inked script. The flyers promise live performances throughout the final week of the month – plays performed in front of Old Public Hall (more information about the Hall itself can be seen here), a nightly concert in the main market, installations of great, unique sculptures, and shops that will turn into art galleries for a full seven days.

This is a full celebration of the Free Cities’ art movements held by the "Architects" of Old Public Hall.]

Most prominently on each flyer is a bolded line with a promise to top even Jaskier’s previous concert: FREE PORTAL TRAVEL TO OUR SISTER CITY OF LIBERTAS WILL BE OPENED TO FURTHER EXPRESSION OF HER ARTS. The portal has been secured through cooperation with Quilleth Kaur of Libertas, and will allow a rare chance for free instant transportation between Cadens and Libertas in order to circumvent the usual weeks-long journey to the sister city.

[If you were lucky enough to have graced Jaskier’s concert a season ago, many familiar components appear again, albeit less apolitical than before:

+ Art is the focus here, especially artistic commentary on politics, war, and the Free Cities’ standing in the midst of it all. Local shops and the markets of Cadens will be hosting the works of contemporary artists. The museums and libraries of Cadens have agreed to sponsor and participate in the walk, providing performances of literature and poetry, as well as setting up exhibits surrounding local artifacts. (Please note Old Public Hall is currently under heavy reconstruction and is closed off to visitors. However, an outdoor cafe has been set up outside her front steps to provide shade/a place to sit during your time in the art walk!)

+ Characters may recognize this appears to be happening quite recently after an undercurrent of tension in Cadens’s military movements. If you know Jaskier or Alucard well enough, you may recognize this as a direct response to those movements.

+ Food and drink will be served in various areas of the art walk, though fancier goods can always be purchased from the market.

+ Miniature sculptures by famed sculptor Axn Kade of Libertas will be available for purchase. Other artists will be providing various sculptures, paintings, drawings, knitted goods, etc. for purchase through the Walk. Please support your local artists!

+ Not to be left out, there are posters in the Cadens barracks that cheerfully announce THE ART IS WALKING TO YOU! which, without additional information, could seem more threatening than it is. Jaskier will be personally organizing and overseeing a special event to ensure Cadens’s military is not forgotten, with Alucard having constructed a temporary stage inside the barracks. A traveling troupe from Libertas will put on a performance in the barracks "for the troops." It will be a fairly apolitical performance, and will be less heavy on the patriotism than what usually comes out of Cadens.

+ Recent new produce introduced to the Free Cities from the ambassadors Ikorr and Luna of Nocwich (see post here) will be highlighted in attempts to broaden the somewhat closed doors of Cadens's local culture.

+ Visitors are asked to be open to ideas and attitudes different to theirs throughout the event. Please don't cause overt trouble or strife that will actively disrupt the event during this period! (Unless you would enjoy being harassed by Cadens guards.)

+ Information regarding the art scenes/movements of both Cadens and Libertas and available performances/artists (barring the musical concerts), as well as the aftermath of the event, have been provided by the mods (thank you!), if any further clarification on it is needed!]

The Art Walk of Cadens



[The art walk encompasses several core hubs of the city of Cadens for a full week - main plazas and the exterior of Old Public Hall, several museums and libraries, and a row of shops along the main drag of the merchant street. Beginning at six in the evening and stretching on late into the night, allowing for the night air to cool things down, Cadens's artistic side asserts itself through written words, performances, and art.

Many of the pieces from Cadens artists are supportive of Marlo and the government. These views are expressed at all levels from books and articles that focus on the progress made during Marlo's tenure, popular poems and performances honoring decorated soldiers or military heroes, and music that emphasizes defending the freedoms afforded to those in the Free Cities. Criticisms of the government or military tend to focus less on its structure and more on the failures of individuals who have "let the people down" by allowing their self-interest to get in the way of serving their nation.]

Those exploring Cadens will be able to enjoy:

Nightly Concerts outside of Old Public Hall and Grand Plaza!
Samuel L. Matthias (aka, Smithy) of the band “Clarinet Smoke” is one of many local musicians who will be performing in the grand plaza this week. Known for a vocal range that many others might kill for, Clarinet Smoke has been innovating Caden’s music scene for the past two years. The recent performance at Old Public Hall inspired him to take the band in a new direction and embrace a cheerfully defiant edge in the face of neighboring nations.

Also performing will be “Ruins at Their Feet”, Berry Matt, and other familiar local bands. Each concert will be introduced and opened by Master Bard and Master of Ceremonies Jaskier (of aforementioned concert in Old Public Hall) among other noteworthy accomplishments in his diligent work in Cadens’s art scene. Performances begin at 8 or 9 PM depending on location.

University Libraries to give performances of Poems held in the Archives!
Safiye Rudruss, head of education at the Hall of Natural Relics, will be taking the lead on the special program Their Voices are Present as a part of the week’s festivities. Working in collaboration with museum curators and archivists at two sister institutions, readings of past poetic works and histories will be given at the Old Public Hall, the main public library, and on the university quad. Sure to please, each speaker will share not only a great work of the past and the context it was written, but invite discussion about what these works mean now. Performances are held in each location, beginning at 7 PM and concluding with light refreshments.

Stores to become Galleries in Miniature for the week!
A number of shops have agreed to host physical art for the duration of the art walk, concentrated in the primary merchant district of Cadens. Those participating have a garland of the recently arrived glowing blooms from the darkest areas of Nocwich. The pieces hung on the walls run the gamut from quiet, desolate desert landscapes to wild canvases that move thanks to enhancements out of the universities, and some more traditional portraiture of great heroes of yore. (And, in one subversive series housed in a macaron shop, Those Who Failed Us.)

Breathtaking Birds to Delight the Children!
Master of Ceremonies and Master Bard Jaskier will be giving an early-evening performance every night, prior to the concerts, of a magical bird show, in which he will create and perform legendary tricks and japes with his colorful array of magically-crafted birds. Have you ever felt the feather-light weight of a chickadee on your finger? Have you ever been curious about how strong the grip of a seahawk truly can be? Come and witness Jaskier’s menagerie of finely-feathered friends! (A few lucky volunteers may go home with specially crafted jewelry using real feathers from local birds and gryphons, courtesy of local hunters and artists.)

Libertas, City of Individualism, And Her Featured Performances



[Thanks to the interest of Quilleth Kaur, the representative of Libertas and patron of the arts, a travel portal between Cadens and Libertas has been opened for a full week. The free travel between the cities means that the arts of Libertas - subversive, countercultural, probing - can travel as well. Because freedom of expression is emphasized in Libertas, a counterculture movement has formed there which includes more critical voices of the government, politics, and war (though of course voices from all sides of the spectrum are present!)

Upon entering Libertas, a vast sea of artwork, operas, music, and avant-garde fashion can be found. Where Aquila has a thriving marketplace alongside its trendy fashion and artworks, Libertas’s hub is built upon its independent thinkers who express themselves through poetry, visual arts, philosophy, and more. There are artist alleyways throughout the city and even the architecture varies wildly. Poets, musicians, painters, and other artists often meet in taverns to discuss politics and exchange ideas. Printed pamphlets are popular. Street corners are usually occupied with some kind of performance or speech all hours of the day into the night. Libertas is less strictly overseen by city guards, meaning the occasional brawl can break out over a difference of opinion. Citizens tend to govern themselves and anyone who has something to say or create is welcome to do so as long as they're willing to make their stand.]

Those exploring Libertas will be able to enjoy:

Playing once daily for a full week: Erbano’s most noted work!
Once a day for a week, an emerging playwright named Engelberta Erbano will put on her most popular play. It depicts the tragedy that results from a conflict between two warring families, one from a land filled with ancient magic and one from a land powered by progress. At the end, the two main characters - whose families will not let them marry - jump into a deep crater so they can be together. Their bodies disintegrate and the families lose their children over what is ultimately a petty squabble. It is not a subtle story. Some may recognize aspects of the play's subject matter from their own world, particularly the two star-crossed lovers. The acting is of high quality and the special effects using New Magic are quite convincing. She has won a few awards for her plays.

Noted Sculptor to exhibit in both Libertas and Cadens!
Axn Kade (born Paxton Kade), a famous sculptor, will show off some of the permanent sculptures located around Libertas, as well as bring one of his larger sculptures over into Cadens for a temporary display. His sculptures are made of scrap metal derived from the abandoned mining equipment and other materials Cadens and its military leave behind, rusting in the ground. Repurposing waste into art is his goal. He's vocal about the dangerous conditions in the mines and the hazards of old heavy equipment left lying around. He also sells miniature sculptures for anyone to purchase, such as this and this. Given his popularity, these cost a pretty penny - the equivalent of a finely crafted sword - but they're available if anyone wishes to splurge on some art. Kade promises some of the profits will go towards improving conditions for miners.

Academic Magic used for rare and unique performances by Theany Newland!
Theany Newland is a performance artist. He utilizes elaborate puppets powered by New Magic, similar to clockwork animatronics on a smaller scale. These puppets perform unusual interpretive dances on a lush and beautiful stage of grass and flowers that bloom using - in direct contradiction to New Magic - a form of magic that is obviously the Academic Magic favored in Thorne. Unlike many in the Free Cities, Theany dresses in a manner that carries the familiar edges of nobles in Thorne. Where many prefer not to acknowledge that the Free Cities was once a part of Thorne, Theany is open about the fact that his family traces a few generations back to Thorne: academics from Hayle before they came to the Free Cities to build a new life. As a result, Theany himself is as much a subject of controversy as his work. Some insist he should be ejected from the Free Cities while others admire his boldness.

The Aftermath/Changing Attitudes In Cadens

[The portal to Libertas closes on the morning of the eighth day, permitting those who stayed for one last night in Libertas to travel back to Cadens. The extra tents and stands for selling arts will gradually disappear, with the remnants of the art walk being the occasional painting or small sculpture still appearing in local shops and taverns.

However, Cadens will not entirely return to her original state.

Following the success of the art walk, Libertas's influence will begin to grow in Cadens and the Summoned will notice a shift in attitude among some of the locals. While parts of Cadens continues to have a strong political push towards Marlo and her leadership style, the counter-culture ideals and beliefs of Libertas will begin setting down roots in Cadens.]

Questions on the Event

Can my character give a performance/show off their own art or metal working/etc.?
Yes! Please feel free to allude to working with a local business to make a display, or slot yourself into a performance space. There are no limits to participation or the content, although those who know Jaskier or Alucard well can assume that they’d rather things contradict the current military bend in Cadens.

Can I just walk through the portal to Libertas?
Yes, and doing so is highly encouraged, as this is the first chance for the Summoned to easily visit Libertas! You can go there and back for the entire week as much as you would like; the mods have explicitly approved this.

My character would like to give a speech (or similar), is that cool?
While this event is absolutely about the intersection of art and politics, we do ask that unless one of your characters is participating in a part of the art walk (story telling, poetry reading, displaying art etc.), please don't use this opportunity for speeches. Gathering in pubs, street corners, etc. to talk about current politics and potential for war is perfectly fine and encouraged. Rabble rousing is where we're asking you to draw the line for now.

If you have any specific questions about the culture/artwork/political attitudes in Cadens and Libertas, or the performance details in Libertas, please ask on the FAQ, as all of that information came from the mods. However, we are happy to answer questions regarding the general art walk or Jaskier or Alucard's contributions!

Comments

[godshattering]

[ At the mention of healing spells being contained in a book, Claude brightens slightly. That's at least something mostly familiar to him even if the Abraxan application of it is likely different. ]

Can magic be learned through texts here, too, then? I haven't looked into it much, but that's how Fodlan magic is learned as well. Better students than me enjoyed reading the theory behind them in depth. If Abraxan spells resemble ones from Fodlan at all I might be able to help, even if it's just by injuring myself for your practice.

[ He's kidding. Kind of. Either way, it's an intriguing thought that there could be books he could review here himself even if they're just overviews and Claude files that away as a topic for his next trip to the libraries. ]

It sounds like you would've fit right in as one of our professors at the academy I attended. They all taught magic in some ways. One specialized in Faith, better known as healing magic for the most part, and also ran our infirmary and created potions, poultices, and the like. Another focused in Reason which tended to be magic used for tactical offense or defense. A bit of a roundabout way of saying that yes, magic was common enough.

[ And it occurs to him that Nadine would likely be the best person to turn to for something else he'd like to know, having also spent a decent amount of time poring over library books regarding it. ]

Might I ask how difficult it is to learn the botany available here? In terms of not only combining the right things together, but also knowing how to find them.

[nadine_he_loves]

Oh, yeah, in Thorne they mainly practice Academic Magic. It's all set spells you learn from books or a teacher. I brought a spell book with me when I came here, I've been learning little practical spells for a while now. Making fire, finding water, creating light, that sort of thing.

[The small basics. Nadine isn't about to call herself a mage, but she's proficient enough at the spells she's learned. And continues to learn. It's helpful, and eventually she'll reach the healing spells. But those are more complicated.]

Spell books are harder to find here, though. I've noticed they sort of look at magic as...quaint and old fashioned, here in the Free Cities. But honestly as long as you've got a good head for it, it's not too hard to familiarize yourself with local flora and basic potion mixing. I have books and my own journals and notes, if you want to look at them some time.

[The libraries are large and confusing, and books are expensive. May as well offer her own, she's done it before.]

[godshattering]

Interesting. That does resemble Fodlan's teaching methods. One of my good friends attended an academy dedicated entirely to sorcery in a neighboring country for a while and he spoke of the texts available there often. Those practical spells you know sound immensely useful for anyone to know.

[ He's half contemplating if maybe the Horizon could help here, if he could conjure up something in order to show Nadine some of the spells he knows rather than having to rely on explaining them through some hastily scribbled diagrams and retelling of what he remembers of those lessons.

That train of thought's interrupted by her offer to share her materials. It catches him off-guard and Claude turns to look at her with some surprise. It's extremely generous, especially to someone she's only just met. And while he's been told (several times over by now) that those who were brought here tend to help each other where they can, to see it in action is something else. Something familiar in how he's used to working with his friends to tackle problems together, and has sorely missed since arriving. ]

Well. I'd love that, needless to say. [ The smile afterwards is considerably more genuine. ] I don't mind taking some time to learn new varieties of plants since I've done that before, and I've been sifting through what I can find in the libraries mostly to date.

If you truly wouldn't mind sharing, it'd save me some considerable time. I'd be happy to stop by your clinic sometime to review them there somewhere out of your way, if that wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience? Mostly because-- I'll tell on myself here that when it comes to research, my organization skills are... somewhat lacking. And that's fine for my own notes, but I wouldn't want to mess yours up in any way if it can be avoided.

[nadine_he_loves]

There's a university of magic in Thorne, in the northern city. I've never seen it, I just heard about it. It's apparently really exclusive and difficult. But the library and study rooms at the castle had a lot of books, and there were books for sale everywhere.

[Though Nadine's own were stolen by Lloyd the night before they left for the Free Cities. Times had been different then, they'd barely had enough money to scrape by and then paying for the illegal portal...]

But yeah, I try and focus on useful things. I'm not out to be some great mage or anything, I'm pretty sure I found my calling in medicine, but it makes life a lot easier.

[And useful for defense. When it comes to defense, Nadine will explore every possible option available. It's why she's been learning to fight with a sword and continued to practice with her flame spell.]

And it's fine. We're all just sort of trying to get our feet under us here, it's a lot easier if we help each other out. And everything I have is stuff you'd find in the libraries or in Thorne, it's just been conveniently gathered into one set of volumes.

[It isn't as though she's offering up any of her research journals. Those contain privileged information about other Summoned, and are for her eyes only. But her class notes and journals on local flora and their medicinal applications? There's no reason not to share those.]

Come by the clinic anytime in the evening - I'm in class during the day a lot.

[godshattering]

[ Though he's familiar with magic from home, Nadine's insight into the different approaches - especially involving any information from Thorne - is valuable. As she speaks he nods now and then so as to not interrupt her, though at the mention of her calling Claude can't help a smile. ]

This might just sound like flattery, but for what it's worth I'll have you know you would've been invaluable to us on the battlefield just from what you've described. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the rest of the Summoned feel the same about you being here to help as well.

And I was thinking a minute ago, [ with a slight lull first to get his thoughts in order, ] if there's any way I could pass on the spells I know as a kind of repayment, I'd be happy to do that. It'll mean subjecting yourself to my questionable teaching skills when it comes to magic, though, since most of what I've taught others before is archery-based instead of anything academic.

[ Of course he'll have to obtain a bow and arrows first for the latter part before it's an actual option, but he does mean it about lessons. Now if only he could conjure up Lysithea's journals to share with Nadine as proper repayment. ]

Evenings will work well. Most days I've been assisting a few merchants get organized and those projects always take longer than they think - mostly because some of them are somehow even less organized than me - though we're getting there and it's been good to keep myself occupied. But I know you'll likely be working those evenings and I wouldn't want to impose, so if there's any nights that would work best just let me know.

[nadine_he_loves]

Thank you.

[Nadine still isn't sure she deserves the praise, but she'll take it. She knows she's made a difference already, that some of them wouldn't still be walking around without her. That's something.]

And I don't know either, but I'd really like to try. To learn some of your spells. I have a pretty solid foundation when it comes to Academic Magic, so...

[If they're similar schools of magic, it might just work. Or at least be adaptable to the local magic she herself practices. It's the one drawback to living here in the Free Cities, the lack of access to books and teachers in the various magical fields.

But who knows? Maybe she can learn magic from other worlds.]

And it doesn't really matter, I can never predict when I'll be busy or not. People usually come to me in an emergency, not for regular checkups or anything.

[godshattering]

I'm hoping that the basic principles of any magic here might be close to Fodlan's when it comes down to really comparing them. What I have to offer are healing ones I mentioned my professor having us learn earlier, but I also picked up a couple of basic wind spells. There's a bit of fine tuning involved in controlling those since they're meant for... well, attacking someone, but one of them's not bad for creating a small breeze on really warm days.

[ The latter part still works well on particularly hot afternoons in Cadens as he's discovered. And this? It's another project he can sink some time into devoting ways to figure it out, and Claude's grateful for it even if it goes (somewhat) unsaid. ]

That makes sense with what you've mentioned so far. All the more reason to--

[ Whatever his thought was about to be, Claude forgets it entirely when they happen upon the three dimensional paintings Nadine mentioned. They are, in a word, spectacular. Much better than whatever horse print-field abstraction they'd been standing in front of before, and he can't help but stare before approaching the first one to study it carefully like it'll reveal its secrets. ]

Fascinating. [ Murmured mostly to himself while taking in the bright color palette, though he follows it up by glancing over his shoulder back at Nadine. ] I've never seen anything like this before in any of the paintings I'm familiar with. Ours are very, ah, flat. Are these common where you're from?

[nadine_he_loves]

Oh! I have a wind spell I learned in Thorne...it was one of the first spells I ever learned, actually.

[It sounds like Claude's magic might just be compatible. Interesting. Nadine certainly wants to pursue this.

But later. They've reached the paintings she'd mentioned, and it's clear why she's considering one herself.]

They are not. We have something called magic-eye paintings that are sort of three dimensional, but they're like a weird pattern that if you stare at it long enough you can see shapes in it. It's nothing like these.

[Magic-eye paintings are garbage next to these, that seem to be straining right out of the canvas. And the colors...]

I think these might be my favorites.

[godshattering]

I can see why. This is the - [ quick pause to peer this way and that over his shoulders to make sure any other artists aren't lurking near them, or so he hopes, because - ] best thing I've seen so far even if the night's still young.

[ Fingers crossed he's not getting any dirty looks from other contributors since truthfully he's appreciating all of what's on display in their own ways, especially as someone with no artistic ability himself, but this? Lives up to Nadine's promise that they were incredible. After checking the coast was clear Claude's gaze is right back on the one in front of him. There's something almost familiar about it even if the scene is one he's never seen before, and when it clicks it comes hand in hand with a short-lived pang of nostalgia. ]

This one reminds me of where I grew up. When it rained the fields would bloom with all kinds of wildflowers and standing in the middle of it looks a lot like this.

[ A second later Claude catches that wistful tone in his voice and mentally shrugs it and the momentary homesickness off. Nothing to do about that while they're here in Abraxas, and this is supposed to be Nadine's shopping trip. So he follows that up with a smile like it'll sweep what he shared away, even if it doesn't, and gestures to the other paintings around. ]

Which one were you thinking of getting? There's a lot of good choices around here.

[nadine_he_loves]

Yeah? It's a beautiful painting. And it's funny, that's...sort of why I was drawn to one of them, too. It kind of reminded me of the coast by where I grew up.

[She gestures to a smaller landscape, a rocky stretch of jagged coastline in which the froth of the waves seems to be moving. The sea is unnaturally blue and green, and the sky is grey with thunderheads. It makes her think of the summer storms and the low cliffs of the New England coast, but seen through some fantastical eye.

Luckily it's still here. She hadn't intended to purchase a personal painting for her own home, but...well, Jaskier had given her a hefty purse and told her to buy whatever she'd like.]

I think I'm gonna get it.

[godshattering]

It does, does it?

[ Claude follows her gesture to the painting in question and just beams a little brighter when he spots it. It's also hard to miss, another standout in a crowd of easels with one spectacular painting after another, and he sees the coastline Nadine's mentioned in it immediately. Relative to the ones he knows, anyway. ]

That does have a striking resemblance to being by the seas. The coasts of the city where I lived weren't so wild thanks to having some shelter built into the bay a little ways out from land - it was a busy port so that was done to make it easier to dock there - but on windier days you could still be hit with a little sea spray if you stood in the right places along where the canals met the sea.

[ That's neither here nor there, though he'd be curious to hear about what her memory is thanks to general curiosity about the homes, cities, worlds of where everyone he's met have come from since they seem so vastly different from his own. Right now, however, Claude's more interested in enabling Nadine into this purchase even if she's already decided. ]

You should definitely get it! Especially if you feel strongly enough about to consider buying it even briefly, that's a sign you'll regret it if you don't. Speaking from my own experience anyway when it comes to buying something. But it's really all the more reason if it reminds you of where you grew up, even with its own Abraxas twist on it.