[EVENT] Bonfire Night

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 21st
Location: Various.
Situation: It’s cold. Time to cuddle up and make bonfires for the warmth.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.

As night falls the city’s lights take something of a unique turn. Instead of being lit by millions of paper lanterns, Keeliai is tonight lit by the flames and warmth of dozens if not hundreds of fires. Some of them are small, not much more than warming hearths in a barrel on a street, but others encompass squares and boulevards.

The fire lighting procession winds through the city’s streets, beginning at the first bonfire in Fire Sector. By the time full night has arrived, that procession is a snake illuminated by dozens of torches, parting from the main parade to light smaller fires in smaller streets. It ends, finally, in Central, in the Courtyard of Public Opinion, whose bonfire is second only to the initiating one in Fire Sector.

In some areas an exchange of goods arises, mostly in terms of woollens and other warm clothes and blankets. Though food is considered a public resource on this occasion, bartering small knickknacks, songs, stories and even other woollen items is not uncommon an exchange.

Meals are shared among kedan and Foreigners, commoners and emissaries--primarily stews, soups and other foods easily baked in the coals of the fires. Everyone brings food, and what isn’t contributed to the pot is nevertheless shared around after preparation. Although some bonfires are markedly wealthier than others, food and shelter is spread around to make sure everyone is safe and warm. No one goes cold and alone on this night.

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LINKS
Fire Sector (main bonfire) | Water Sector | Metal Sector | Earth Sector | Wood Sector | Central Keeliai

OOC Notes
The five Bresilykian emissary NPC can be found moving from Sector to Sector and partaking in the various traditions of each, and so can be engaged anywhere, while the Keeliai NPCs generally are staying in their respective areas as detailed below. Please put the name of the NPC you're requesting in the subject line of your tag if you want to interact with them. Thank you!

Comments

[cherrywood]

Milyn is clapping along with a particularly spirited rendition of a kedanese folksong being performed by some of the others, but she pats the empty seat next to her when she spots Zuko coming toward her. "Have a seat dear," she said. "They're almost done, just one more verse."

[lordhotman]

Without hesitation, Zuko came over and sat down next to her. His gaze then went to the performance. The glinting golden crown behind his topknot easily visible as he watched.

"What is this song?" He asked quietly, not wanting to disturb it but genuinely curious. He knew very little about the Kedanese culture, but that could easily change.

[cherrywood]

"It's a folk song," Milyn replied. "Oh, I'm certain there must be a term for it, this particular type, but it escapes me at the moment. It's good for memory, a lot of us learn it as children. The song starts off with a wife, who notices something from the pantry, and sends her husband off to the market to pick it up. Each chorus is his trip back and forth to his house, and every time he arrives, his wife has remembered something else that he needs to buy. So back out he goes, gets that item, and comes back with it and the first item. So on and so forth, but you have to remember each item and what order they went in, so you can imagine that by the time the poor fellow has made a dozen trips or more, it's starting to become a challenge."

She hums thoughtfully, and adds, "I believe the current record is around a hundred items."

[lordhotman]

"A hundred?" Zuko stares in amazement. Someone has a really great memory to be able to do that, and Zuko's isn't sure he could do that. But his astonishment fades to a contented smile as he looks back to the merry singers.

"It's good to see everyone so happy."

After all, he can remember a time when it seemed like no one was happy at all. Most of his memories of this place before returning home were... nothing short of miserable. For himself as well as the Kedan.

[cherrywood]

"We must seem like such a fickle bunch to you," Milyn replied lightly, looking back at the singing group. "Really, it's such a wonder you're all so good about dealing with us."

[lordhotman]

"What?" Zuko asked in surprise, looking at Milyn then back to the singers. "No, I don't think that. Your people have been through a lot, not unlike my own."

He couldn't really blame the Kedan for... well anything. Even with how they treated him and the rest of the foreigners.

[cherrywood]

"Perhaps you'll tell me about your world sometime," the Healer commented. "I would very much like to hear it. I know a good deal about all of you individually, but so much of the time I lack context. It's like knowing the words to a song but not knowing the tune, actually that's quite a good analogy, isn't it? I shall write that one down, and remember it for later."

[lordhotman]

"Of course. I'd be happy to tell you anything you'd like to know."

Even right now if she really wanted to. But... oh yeah, he did have a reason for coming over here, didn't he?

"But I wanted to thank you. For giving me the chance to enter the race."

[cherrywood]

"Oh, lovely. You'll have to stop by my shop sometime then, and I'll let you try out a new herbal mixture I've been working on. Quite a bit stronger than tea, it really has a good kick!"

Milyn seemed surprised that she was being thanked for that. "Oh, I didn't hardly do anything," she protested modestly. "The Foreigners petitioned their way into the race at the Forum, and all I did was help out in a pinch."

[lordhotman]

"Sure. I will." That was an easy thing to promise, though he was a bit skeptical about trying her new mixture. Though it sounded like something Tony would like. Her modesty drew a little smile though.

"Yeah, but without your help, I wouldn't have been able to race."

The entrance fee hadn't exactly been pocket change after all.

[cherrywood]

"I have a lot to make up for," Milyn said simply. "Being unable to get you all out of the Dreaming... being unable to save Evastelei... loaning you money was so trivial in comparison."

[lordhotman]

"I see..." Zuko said quietly. "You're trying to restore your honor."

He could definitely understand and relate to that, more than she could know. He has a lot to make up for too in his own world.

[cherrywood]

"Mhm," the Healer answered. "I hope one day you'll all have cause to forgive me for it, too."