Original Feast
Original Feast
- Related Event: The Hunt for Harmony/April 2020
- Release Date: April 13, 2020
- Featured Characters: Francesca, Cinder Drake, Eleonora, Althemia, Aeleen, Moon Drake, Pipple, Vida, Waike
Dialogue
Francesca: Huh? The Vernal Banquet?
Francesca
Francesca: I've never heard of one of those. Can you make money off it?
Eleonora: Ah, yes. I forgot that you were raised by a traveling human and are not familiar with the Vernal Banquet.
Eleonora
Eleonora: The Vernal Banquet is a festival held once a year by sylvans who come together from all over the continent to celebrate spring.
Eleonora: The various villages each show off their skills in competitions such as egg hunts and archery contests, and winning them is a source of great pride indeed.
Francesca: Sooo NOT a way to make money.
Waike: Oh, there is money to be had for certain! The Banquet has a market featuring local foods and goods—it is a way for people to promote their specialties with aplomb.
Waike
Waike: The people of my hometown used to work together to make loads of specialty goods for this market!
Waike: Although it has been a while, so I cannot swear such is still the case.
Eleonora: Likewise. When I lost my hometown, the Banquet ceased to mean as much.
Eleonora: Be that as it may, I imagine the atmosphere at the Banquet would very much be to a merchant's liking.
Francesca: Promoting your hometown...
Waike: Francesca? What is the matter?
Francesca: I'm fine! I was just thinking, it would be cool if I could help promote the Halidom...
Francesca: Er, I mean... Never mind! I said nothing! La de dum de dooo...
Francesca: Yep! Whooole lotta nothing being said by this lady. Anyway, gotta fly!
Waike: ...Do you think she's planning to participate in the Vernal Banquet?
Eleonora: It would not be a surprise—it IS a rather universal sylvan experience, after all.
Waike: In that case, maybe we should help her enjoy it. You know—as fellow long-ears.
Eleonora: A fine idea. In that case, let us go learn some specialties of the Halidom before the Banquet gets underway.
seeking out specialties of the Halidom...
Eleonora: I must say, I did not expect finding Halidom specialties to be so difficult. Perhaps we need to— Egads!
Moon Drake: Heeey! If you're looking for the Halidom's specialties, how about us? You won't find this many dragons in one spot anywhere else!
Eleonora: While I am grateful for the suggestion, you are friends and colleagues of the Halidom, not spectacles to be goggled at.
Cinder Drake: Wait, we're friends? YAAAAAAAAY! In that case, you can have some scales. THOSE are a Halidom-exclusive item for sure, right?
Waike: We will accept them with thanks.
Aeleen: If you guys are looking for Halidom specialties, you've come to the right vegetable garden.
Aeleen: Lucky for you, it's harvest time! You can have thiiis... And thiiis... Oh, and a few of theeeese...
Waike: Please slow down, Aeleen! We only have so many hands!
Aeleen: I can't help it! Everybody brought plants from their own corners of the world, and it would be wrong to leave any out. ...Oh, you HAVE to take this one here!
Pipple: Pipple pip!
Waike: Let us try to confine ourselves to non-sentient vegetables, mmm?
Althemia: So you want Halidom specialties? In that case...um...maybe...THESE!
Althemia: Yes! Take this old book, as well as this antique I found in the Halidom one day! Oh, and don't forget the castle ITSELF is an artifact of some value and significance!
Eleonora: Er, yes. As we are trying to sell these at the market, we need things we can actually carry. Also, are you sure you want to part with these other items?
Vida: Hey, I've got an idea! How about this?!
Vida: Ta-daaaah! One Halidom knife! It's great for a seasoned knife pro or a beginner to the slashy arts. I'm fine parting with it since it's not the legendary knife.
Waike: Wasn't this yours originally? Er, I mean, this is wonderful. Thank you.
Eleonora: ...And that is how we ended up with this wide hodgepodge of items.
Waike: Vegetables, a knife, an old book, a cake, tempered weapons, embroidered clothes... Oh, and the autograph of a certain vain king.
Eleonora: We also have a homemade makeup kit and a knitted "Luccy" doll—with still more items on the way.
Waike: It is a ridiculous amount of items—and yet none of them really scream "this is the Halidom's specialty" to me.
Francesca: Saaaay, what are you two up to? ...Sakes alive, look at all the loot! What the hey are you doing with all this stuff?
Waike: Well, you mentioned wanting to show off the Halidom's specialties earlier, so we gathered some up for you.
Francesca: Wait, for ME?
Eleonora: Yes. We thought it might be nice if you could participate in the Banquet.
Eleonora: But while we have quite a wide variety of items, I fear we failed to find a true specialty of the Halidom.
Francesca: Oh, thank you both SO MUCH! I'm sure this will be enough to show everyone our Halidom pride!
Waike: Er, but which are you going to use? There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to this pile of items.
Francesca: Which is GREAT! Now watch and learn...
Together: ?
Plaza
Eleonora: We set up the stall just as you asked, but is this really what you want?
Waike: Indeed, none of the other stalls seem to have quite so...scattered a selection.
Francesca: You're just gonna have to trust my ol' merchant judgment. Speaking of which, here come the customers now!
Young Sylvan: What am I gonna check out this year? Aohri Village's mushroom pie? Or maybe Rustu Village's crafts!
Young Sylvan: ...Huh? "The Halidom?" Where's that? I've never heard of it.
Young Sylvan: Excuse me, but could I take a look at your—AAAAAH!
Young Sylvan: I've been looking for this book forever! And check out the craftsmanship on this... Augh! Augh! This scale! So shiny!
Young Sylvan: E-excuse me, madam! This thread is a specialty of my village—might I trade it for this dragon scale here?
Francesca: Ah, you've quite the discerning eye, sir! Very well, that seems a fair trade. Thank you for your custom!
Sylvan Woman: *sniff* I know that scent! It's the newest makeup collection from the famed beautician, isn't it?!
Sylvan Man: Excuse me, but someone said this stall is selling a bunch of rare vegetables?
Waike: My stars and garters! They just keep coming!
Francesca: That's because we've got everything! When a ton of different folks live together under one roof, it means you have a ton of unusual things to sell.
Francesca: THIS is what I meant when I talked about showing off the specialties of the Halidom.
Francesca: Now come one, come all! We're packed to the gills with goods recommended by the Halidom's many residents!
Waike: Whew! I think we've finally hit a lull. Goodness, but I am simply BEAT!
Eleonora: That's proof of a satisfying day, I'd say. So then, Francesca—what did you think of your first Vernal Banquet?
Francesca: It was SUPER fun! Thanks to you guys, everyone has a better idea of what the Halidom is all about.
Francesca: ...Plus, it's given me a look at how all these folks feel about the place they call home.
Francesca: A hometown is more than just a place where you're from—it's a source of pride, comfort, and spirit.
Waike: I recall those feelings from the days when I used to attend the Banquet.
Eleonora: And I as well. I thought I'd have nothing to do with the Banquet once I lost my own home, and yet find myself pleased to have come here today.
Eleonora: If you like, Francesca, you could come again next year as the official representative of the Halidom.
Francesca: HECK YEAH, I'M COMING!
Waike: You seem rather more excited about this than I would have suspected.
Francesca: Are you kidding me? Since everyone here uses barter instead of money, I'm loaded with goods from villages far and wide.
Francesca: I'm gonna sell, sell, sell until there's gold pouring outta my EARS!
Francesca: Yesss... Moneeeey! Sweet, sweet, money!
Waike: Goodness, but you are a merchant to your core! Still, I'm glad you had fun.
Eleonora: It was certainly a Banquet that represented we people of the Halidom.
Waike: And I cannot wait for the next one!
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Vernal Banquet 
