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

Huh? The Vernal Banquet? Vernal Banquet Newbie

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Francesca
I've never heard of one of those. Can you make money off it? Ah, yes. I forgot that you were raised by a traveling human and are not familiar with the Vernal Banquet. Archer & Banquet Pro

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Eleonora
The Vernal Banquet is a festival held once a year by sylvans who come together from all over the continent to celebrate spring. 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. Sooo NOT a way to make money. 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. Avid Banquet Foodie

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Waike
The people of my hometown used to work together to make loads of specialty goods for this market! Although it has been a while, so I cannot swear such is still the case. Likewise. When I lost my hometown, the Banquet ceased to mean as much. Be that as it may, I imagine the atmosphere at the Banquet would very much be to a merchant's liking. Promoting your hometown... Francesca? What is the matter? I'm fine! I was just thinking, it would be cool if I could help promote the Halidom... Er, I mean... Never mind! I said nothing! La de dum de dooo... Yep! Whooole lotta nothing being said by this lady. Anyway, gotta fly! ...Do you think she's planning to participate in the Vernal Banquet? It would not be a surprise—it IS a rather universal sylvan experience, after all. In that case, maybe we should help her enjoy it. You know—as fellow long-ears. A fine idea. In that case, let us go learn some specialties of the Halidom before the Banquet gets underway. And so, the pair scoured the castle
seeking out specialties of the Halidom...
I must say, I did not expect finding Halidom specialties to be so difficult. Perhaps we need to— Egads! 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! While I am grateful for the suggestion, you are friends and colleagues of the Halidom, not spectacles to be goggled at. Wait, we're friends? YAAAAAAAAY! In that case, you can have some scales. THOSE are a Halidom-exclusive item for sure, right? We will accept them with thanks. If you guys are looking for Halidom specialties, you've come to the right vegetable garden. Lucky for you, it's harvest time! You can have thiiis... And thiiis... Oh, and a few of theeeese... Please slow down, Aeleen! We only have so many hands! 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 pip! Let us try to confine ourselves to non-sentient vegetables, mmm? So you want Halidom specialties? In that case...um...maybe...THESE! 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! 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? Hey, I've got an idea! How about this?! 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. Wasn't this yours originally? Er, I mean, this is wonderful. Thank you. ...And that is how we ended up with this wide hodgepodge of items. Vegetables, a knife, an old book, a cake, tempered weapons, embroidered clothes... Oh, and the autograph of a certain vain king. We also have a homemade makeup kit and a knitted "Luccy" doll—with still more items on the way. It is a ridiculous amount of items—and yet none of them really scream "this is the Halidom's specialty" to me. Saaaay, what are you two up to? ...Sakes alive, look at all the loot! What the hey are you doing with all this stuff? Well, you mentioned wanting to show off the Halidom's specialties earlier, so we gathered some up for you. Wait, for ME? Yes. We thought it might be nice if you could participate in the Banquet. But while we have quite a wide variety of items, I fear we failed to find a true specialty of the Halidom. Oh, thank you both SO MUCH! I'm sure this will be enough to show everyone our Halidom pride! Er, but which are you going to use? There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to this pile of items. Which is GREAT! Now watch and learn...  ? The Vernal Banquet
Plaza
We set up the stall just as you asked, but is this really what you want? Indeed, none of the other stalls seem to have quite so...scattered a selection. You're just gonna have to trust my ol' merchant judgment. Speaking of which, here come the customers now! What am I gonna check out this year? Aohri Village's mushroom pie? Or maybe Rustu Village's crafts! ...Huh? "The Halidom?" Where's that? I've never heard of it. Excuse me, but could I take a look at your—AAAAAH! I've been looking for this book forever! And check out the craftsmanship on this... Augh! Augh! This scale! So shiny! E-excuse me, madam! This thread is a specialty of my village—might I trade it for this dragon scale here? Ah, you've quite the discerning eye, sir! Very well, that seems a fair trade. Thank you for your custom! *sniff* I know that scent! It's the newest makeup collection from the famed beautician, isn't it?! Excuse me, but someone said this stall is selling a bunch of rare vegetables? My stars and garters! They just keep coming! 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. THIS is what I meant when I talked about showing off the specialties of the Halidom. Now come one, come all! We're packed to the gills with goods recommended by the Halidom's many residents! Whew! I think we've finally hit a lull. Goodness, but I am simply BEAT! That's proof of a satisfying day, I'd say. So then, Francesca—what did you think of your first Vernal Banquet? It was SUPER fun! Thanks to you guys, everyone has a better idea of what the Halidom is all about. ...Plus, it's given me a look at how all these folks feel about the place they call home. A hometown is more than just a place where you're from—it's a source of pride, comfort, and spirit. I recall those feelings from the days when I used to attend the Banquet. 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. If you like, Francesca, you could come again next year as the official representative of the Halidom. HECK YEAH, I'M COMING! You seem rather more excited about this than I would have suspected. Are you kidding me? Since everyone here uses barter instead of money, I'm loaded with goods from villages far and wide. I'm gonna sell, sell, sell until there's gold pouring outta my EARS! Yesss... Moneeeey! Sweet, sweet, money! Goodness, but you are a merchant to your core! Still, I'm glad you had fun. It was certainly a Banquet that represented we people of the Halidom. And I cannot wait for the next one!