Dhanû Feast

There's nothing like a good Feast. Every woe forgotten, every feud set aside... And the brawls are pretty fun, too.

— Imari, Dhanû Clan-Warrior

The Feast is a pillar of Dhanû society as a time where oaths are renewed and the bonds of kinship strengthened. The whole clan gathers for a day and night of eating and drinking, while games are played and competitions held. Brawls are more often than not part of the Feast at some point or another, as the competitive Dhanû do not always take well to defeat in those games.
There are many reasons to hold a feast, from victory in combat to the birth of a new heir, but none of them poor. Holding a Feast is always a good idea to the Dhanû.

The Call To Feast

Pfah! He plays like a Duǎn and is twice as ugly! Hold my mug, let me show you show it is done!

— Imari, Dhanû Clan-Warrior

Feasts are held within each clan once every few years, but more often is possible. They begin early in the day with a court held by the clan leader within the Feasting Hall, where a bitter black drink is served and news are shared. Clan leaders usually share their plans for the future during this time or take the time to brag about past accomplishment both personal and of the clan. Any known feuds are called out here and settled, usually by trial of combat or some game.

by Joe Robbins

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After that, the games begin as servants began to bring out food and drink. Wrestling, poetry contests and other contests of strength or wit are held throughout the clan hall. Thunk is a Dhanû favorite and frequently played across the duration of the Feast.
Once the food and drink has been set, the Feast begins in earnest. At first, everyone is seated and the clan-leader leads the gathering to swear new oaths and confirm old ones. Feuds settled earlier in the day are confirmed buried once more here. After that, the eating begins.
The first meal of the day usually consist of Chnagahn and the stew serves as a base for many of the other meals served throughout the day. Roasted scarabs or grub serve as snacks while grilled lizard, snake or spider-patties eaten in between servings of Chnagahn.

Alcohol is served throughout the day and consumed in vast quantities. As the Feast processes, so does drunkenness and most clans select a few warriors to act as an honor guard and remain sober. It is often called the greatest honor that no one wants.

Fun & Games

Just as important as all of the food and drink are the games and competitions held during the Feast. These are opportunities for warriors to show their prowess, earn glory and impress potential spouses. Everyone plays: it is one of the rare occasions where even commoners are invited to share the tables of warriors. After all, there is no better opportunity for warriors to show how much better they are.

Wrestling

Dhanû grappling contests use whatever space they can find and focuses on locking together in the center then try to throw the other to the ground.
Chokes, joint-locks and arm-bars are other ways to win.

Poetry

Similar to the Spar between Rakes, poetry competitions consist of making fun of each other or an agreed upon third party - often the clan leader or some immediate superior.
All normal rules apply. Breaking them during a feast brings great shame.

Saen-Kaw

Matches of Saen-Kaw are sometimes held outside the Clan Hall early in the evening, before everyone has had a chance to get properly drunk.
But not always. Matches of drunk Saen-Kaw are usually highly entertaining for the equally drunk spectators.

Honor and glory does not rule out cunning. Skilled competitors and veterans of the Feasts often ply those they know will be formidable with alcohol and food early in the day to slow them down. Such tactics are not dishonorable, but a sign of cunning.

Thunk

A game of skipping small stones into targets, Thunk is common during Feasts. As the alcohol flows, aim becomes poor and spectators have to watch out.
Although the pebbles are too small to cause injury, they're usually smart enough to cause a drunken brawl - which is part of the fun!

Arm-Wrestling

Together with grappling, arm-wrestling is a space-efficient way of establishing immediate physical superiority and is often played during Feasts.
Each clan tend to have one expert in the area and they sometimes invite challengers from other clans to play against for the amusement of all.

Others

Every clan has their own addition or favorite game. Physical contests such as climbing or running are popular, while other clans have story-telling competitions as their own favorite.
No matter what they are, there is glory to be won during Feasts.

Dhanû
A city-state nestled in the hostile Sheoin Region, Dhanû is home to proud warriors and skilled poets. Their society is one bound together by a web of obligations, often reinforced at formal events such as the Feast.
Read More About Dhanû

by Terje Tuene

Dhanû Cuisine

"Waste nothing" is an attitude that best describes the foundation of Dhanû cuisine. Everything that can be eaten is, from insects to monsters. Blood is mixed with fungi and turned into sausage or loafs, while the poor boil Dragon Tooth Polyp bones to make soup. For the warrior-chefs of Dhanû, the Feast is their best opportunity to show the full extent of their craft.
Read More About Dhanû Cuisine

The Fast

Times of plenty are much less common than those of famine. The Fast is often thought of the brother to the Feast, a ritual time of asceticism and austerity. During the Fast, food and drink is set aside and stockpiled when possible. Famine is a fact of life in Araea and the Feast is a welcomed reprieved from such scarcity.

The frequency with which a clan can host a Feast is a measure of their wealth in Dhanû. Better, wilder and more frequent feasts can bring great prestige.
More than one clan have bankrupted themselves trying to keep up.

Party Crashers

Turning up uninvited to another clan's Feast usually ends with a beating. More than one war has started between clans because of sleights exchanged during feasts when self-control is already impaired. Important messages or other emergencies have a certain protocol to follow to avoid losing teeth.

by Strange Foods Festival

The day after the Feast is usually a day of silence and fasting. Servants have to clean the Hall and hurry to do so before the clan leader sobers up enough to berate them for the mess.

by CC0 Public Domain