King's Festival
The eight 'Rising long King's Festival takes place during the first et'Rise of the Circle of Sun King. It is considered THE aal'khen festival even though it occurs in the third Circle of aal'khen. The Circle is called Sun King because it is the most pleasant of the aal'khen months, being characterized by long days, bright sun, blue skies and increasing, but bearable temperatures (unless you are in High Plains where aal'khen goes from high heat to really freaking hot within the first Circle (Disruption) and pretty much stays that way or hotter until Relinquishing, the first Circle of vhe'jhet). This makes it the perfect time to have an extended festival as travel is likely to be easy, camping as comfortable as possible and supplies plentiful. The festival is held not far outside the Keep itself adjacent to Keeptown Market and across the King's Circuit road on the banks of Feldlak lake. During the festival, Keeptown Market becomes an extension of the festival grounds primarily hosting local merchants, crafters and performers. During the festival, most of the site is covered in crafter and merchant stalls and their wagons with areas left open for a variety of performers to showcase their skills. Throughout the rest of the 'Round, the King's Festival Market is simply open ground available for camping.
Though celebrated joyfully throughout Araela'a Haka'am in town and village alike, most merchants, crafters, performers and others who are at all able will travel to the main celebration since the primary purpose of the festival is to show off their best wares, top crafts, and most talented apprentices to the King. While most merchants and crafters arrive prior to the first 'Rising of the festival, some may not have completed their set up and there may be stragglers yet to come, so M'deem, the first 'Rising of the festival traditionally centers around performers, food and regular local merchants primarily set up in the Keeptown Market. The King gives a (preferably brief) welcoming address around the middle of Third Watch the morning of M'Deem and officially opens the festival and is traditionally not seen again until 6th Watch the following evening when they host and preside over the Opening Feast.
The Opening Feast is at the King's expense, held in the central yard of the Northeast Garrison, and open to all. It is generally seen as an indicator of the King's generosity and and quality of character. Each participant, regardless of age, is given eight tokens (two tokens marked 2, two tokens marked 4, two tokens marked 8 and two tokens of the King's chosen denomination, traditionally between 12 and 24) and has their right cheek painted with a stripe of Aevarn dye so they cannot sneak out and back in to get more tokens. Traditionally, all food vendors are encouraged to provide their wares at the feast with the King reimbursing them based on the number and denominations of tokens they have at the end of the night. To avoid undercutting as well as price gouging, food vendors submit a menu with prices that must be approved by the King (or their designated agent) at least two Watch prior to the feast. As a general rule of thumb, a modest ala carte item is 2, an ala carte item that could pass as a meal is 4, a multi-food meal is 8, and a meal or serving designed to feed more than one haka'amanem can be priced at the vendor's discretion but must be equal to or lower than the cost of the item for an individual multiplied by the number of individuals it is advertised to serve. All prices must be set so that exact change can be provided in tokens.
The middle four 'Risings of the festival are "the King's 'Risings," during which specific business with the King is conducted. D'nesae, the first of the King's 'Risings, is devoted to the common haka'a'manem. Ursuuth, the second 'Rising, is for merchants. Fr'dhau, the third 'Rising, is for crafters. Satra'a, the last of the King's 'Risings, is for Guilds that do not fall under merchants or crafters.The structure of the King's 'Risings is essentially the same: business/trade disputes, proposals, petitions and requests are presented to the King during Third Watch (8th fir'tch through 11th fir'tch), followed by a two fir'tch break. From the end of Fourth Hae'tch through the end of Fifth Watch (14th fir'tch through 19th fir'tch) is the King's Discernment. For the common haka'a'manem, King's Discernment is more or less a continuation of the morning session, but with a greater emphasis on judicial issues. It is at this time the King can settle inheritance disputes that cannot be satisfactorily resolved at a local or regional level, provide assistance to haka'a'manem in need, award damages, and grant pardons. For both merchants and crafters King's Discernment is the opportunity to display their best merchandise and crafts for the King's assessment. For the highest quality merchants, the King's Discernment often results in a commission or referral, the best of the best may receive the designation "King's Own," though this is not presented every 'Round. Being "King's Own" comes with a badge that can be displayed and indicates your professional wares are not only of superior quality but are also highly regarded by the King. It is a little bit of a double edged honor, since "King's Own" are held to higher standards, any complaints and dissatisfactions go directly to the King, and the King unilaterally delivers judgement. On the other hand, it enables a merchant to charge premium prices within reason and bestows automatic respect. For the Crafters, King's Discernment is a bit more of a competition in that the top eight crafted items earn a monetary reward as well as possible commissions or referrals. Crafters may also receive the designation of "King's Own." King's Discernment for the Guilds is also more of a continuation of the morning session, but with an emphasis on trade relations, regional treaties and inter-Guild alliances.
The Opening Feast is at the King's expense, held in the central yard of the Northeast Garrison, and open to all. It is generally seen as an indicator of the King's generosity and and quality of character. Each participant, regardless of age, is given eight tokens (two tokens marked 2, two tokens marked 4, two tokens marked 8 and two tokens of the King's chosen denomination, traditionally between 12 and 24) and has their right cheek painted with a stripe of Aevarn dye so they cannot sneak out and back in to get more tokens. Traditionally, all food vendors are encouraged to provide their wares at the feast with the King reimbursing them based on the number and denominations of tokens they have at the end of the night. To avoid undercutting as well as price gouging, food vendors submit a menu with prices that must be approved by the King (or their designated agent) at least two Watch prior to the feast. As a general rule of thumb, a modest ala carte item is 2, an ala carte item that could pass as a meal is 4, a multi-food meal is 8, and a meal or serving designed to feed more than one haka'amanem can be priced at the vendor's discretion but must be equal to or lower than the cost of the item for an individual multiplied by the number of individuals it is advertised to serve. All prices must be set so that exact change can be provided in tokens.
The middle four 'Risings of the festival are "the King's 'Risings," during which specific business with the King is conducted. D'nesae, the first of the King's 'Risings, is devoted to the common haka'a'manem. Ursuuth, the second 'Rising, is for merchants. Fr'dhau, the third 'Rising, is for crafters. Satra'a, the last of the King's 'Risings, is for Guilds that do not fall under merchants or crafters.The structure of the King's 'Risings is essentially the same: business/trade disputes, proposals, petitions and requests are presented to the King during Third Watch (8th fir'tch through 11th fir'tch), followed by a two fir'tch break. From the end of Fourth Hae'tch through the end of Fifth Watch (14th fir'tch through 19th fir'tch) is the King's Discernment. For the common haka'a'manem, King's Discernment is more or less a continuation of the morning session, but with a greater emphasis on judicial issues. It is at this time the King can settle inheritance disputes that cannot be satisfactorily resolved at a local or regional level, provide assistance to haka'a'manem in need, award damages, and grant pardons. For both merchants and crafters King's Discernment is the opportunity to display their best merchandise and crafts for the King's assessment. For the highest quality merchants, the King's Discernment often results in a commission or referral, the best of the best may receive the designation "King's Own," though this is not presented every 'Round. Being "King's Own" comes with a badge that can be displayed and indicates your professional wares are not only of superior quality but are also highly regarded by the King. It is a little bit of a double edged honor, since "King's Own" are held to higher standards, any complaints and dissatisfactions go directly to the King, and the King unilaterally delivers judgement. On the other hand, it enables a merchant to charge premium prices within reason and bestows automatic respect. For the Crafters, King's Discernment is a bit more of a competition in that the top eight crafted items earn a monetary reward as well as possible commissions or referrals. Crafters may also receive the designation of "King's Own." King's Discernment for the Guilds is also more of a continuation of the morning session, but with an emphasis on trade relations, regional treaties and inter-Guild alliances.
History
The King's Festival began with Jhefallya, King Generation 0">Jhefallya the first King crowned after the Time of Great Loss. Her Heir, Lae'ana was the First Generation King of the 7th Generation Prophecy.
Since no one knew just who had planned and carried out The et'Rise of Great Loss or precisely why, once Jhefallya solidified her position and ascended to the throne, she felt that solidifying the haka'a'manem's emotional connection with their King would be prudent. Many traditions regarding the way in which the King would support the commoners, merchants and crafters were developed during Jhefallya's reign, but she is most widely remembered for establishing the King's Festival and declaring it "the King's celebration and recognition of the needs, talents, and contributions of all the haka'a'manem of Araela'a." Over the 'Rounds aspects of the festival have become more codified (such as the "King's 'Risings") but nearly all elements of the first King's Festival can still be found in current ones. It is a testament to Jhefallya's lasting impact that any modifications to the festival enhanced rather than curtailed the King's involvement with and generosity to the haka'a'manem.
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