Festival of Sunken Treasure

23rd Thundralis

Key Events:

The Great Treasure Dive

: The festival begins with the Great Treasure Dive, where teams of Tritons, adventurers, and daring participants dive into the waters around Portside in search of hidden treasures placed by the Oceanward Guild. The competition is fierce, and the team that retrieves the most valuable item wins a prize—often a relic from the seabed, enchanted by Triton mages. This event highlights the Tritons’ skills and invites others to test their luck and bravery in the depths of the ocean.

Sea Serpent Races:

One of the festival’s most exciting spectacles is the Sea Serpent Races, where participants ride magical water serpents through an obstacle course set along the shoreline. Spectators place bets on their favorite racers, creating an electrifying atmosphere that fills the district with excitement and anticipation. These races are a tribute to the Triton bond with sea creatures.

Tidal Feast:

The Tidal Feast is an enormous communal meal held on the second night of the festival, featuring fresh seafood, seaweed dishes, and delicacies harvested from the ocean. The Tritons share their bounty with visitors and locals alike, reinforcing the spirit of community and abundance. Long tables are set up along the docks, and fishers from across Portside contribute their best catches of the year.

Ocean Prism Gala:

The Ocean Prism Gala is a luxurious event held in the famed Ocean Prism Casino, where the wealthiest visitors and high-profile figures gather for a night of gambling, entertainment, and auctions of rare seabed treasures. The gala is an elegant, high-stakes affair that highlights the more glamorous side of the festival, with performers, merfolk dancers, and illusionists providing spectacular shows.

The Blessing of the Deep:

On the festival’s final day, the Blessing of the Deep takes place, where the Triton clergy and magic users perform a grand ritual to honor the ocean spirits and ensure safe voyages and bountiful harvests for the coming year. This ceremony is held at the edge of the Coral Caves, where the Triton priesthood invokes the blessings of sea gods and releases bioluminescent sea creatures into the waters, creating a mesmerizing display of light that illuminates the district’s coastline.

Impact on Portside:

Tourism Boom

The festival brings a surge of visitors to Portside, with adventurers, gamblers, and merchants all drawn to the events and the treasures offered. The Ocean Prism Casino sees a spike in activity, and the Tidebound Market becomes a hotbed of commerce during the week.

Strengthening Community Bonds

The festival reinforces the connection between the Triton people and the ocean, as well as their relationship with other races within Lustrum Metropolis. It serves as a reminder of the Tritons’ origins and their place in Astrium, fostering a sense of pride and unity within the district.
The Festival of the Sunken Treasure is a vibrant celebration of the Triton heritage, their mastery over the sea, and the treasures they bring to Portside. It’s a time of joy, competition, and reflection, reminding the people of their deep connection to the ocean and the prosperity it provides.

History

The Festival of the Sunken Treasure traces its origins back to Siron Deepwave, the legendary Triton explorer and founder of Portside. According to historical accounts, Siron discovered a long-lost shipwreck filled with valuable relics from a forgotten age. This discovery cemented Portside’s reputation as a thriving hub for sea treasure recovery and maritime trade. Over time, the festival evolved from a small community gathering into a grand citywide event, attracting merchants, adventurers, and dignitaries from all across Lustrum Metropolis and beyond. The festival’s significance has grown, celebrating both the Triton connection to the sea and the prosperity brought by maritime exploration.

Execution

The festival spans an entire week, culminating in the Blessing of the Deep on the final day. Various events occur throughout the district, from thrilling underwater competitions to elegant gatherings. The festival is structured around major highlights such as the Great Treasure Dive, Sea Serpent Races, and the Ocean Prism Gala, ensuring that all visitors find something to enjoy. Public feasts, market exchanges, and ritualistic ceremonies are carefully coordinated, with the Portside Council and Oceanward Guild overseeing the organization to ensure a seamless celebration.

Components and tools

Magical Artifacts: Triton mages craft enchanted relics that are placed in the waters for the Great Treasure Dive and displayed in auctions at the Ocean Prism Gala.
Water-breathing Potions and Spells: Provided to non-Triton participants to allow them to partake in the underwater events safely.
Sea Serpents and Aquatic Mounts: Specially trained serpents and magical water creatures are raised for the annual races.
Sea Glass Lanterns: Handcrafted by locals and imbued with bioluminescence to light up the waters at night.
Ritual Components: Incense, enchanted shells, and ceremonial totems used by the Triton priesthood during the Blessing of the Deep.

Participants

Triton Clergy: Conduct the Blessing of the Deep and oversee the festival’s spiritual aspects.
Oceanward Guild: Organizes the Great Treasure Dive and ensures that the hidden treasures are fairly placed and retrieved.
Portside Council: Oversees the festival logistics, security, and trade regulations.
Adventurers and Divers: Compete in the Great Treasure Dive, testing their skill and luck against the depths.
Merchants and Collectors: Take part in Treasure Trade Day, exchanging rare and valuable underwater artifacts.
Entertainers and Performers: Perform pirate plays, sea shanties, and illusion-based storytelling throughout the city.

Observance

Throughout the festival, Portside transforms into a dazzling spectacle of lights, music, and magic. The celebration is open to all, with Tritons welcoming visitors from all walks of life. The combination of thrilling competitions, breathtaking oceanic rituals, and the display of rare treasures makes the festival one of the most anticipated events of the year. As night falls, the coastline glows with floating sea glass lanterns, reflecting the wishes and dreams of those who partake in the festival’s spirit of adventure and unity.

Primary Related Location

Lustrum - Portside