Monster Parade - Lockhinge
Though there are small differences depending on the region, the event known as the Monster Parade is generally celebrated with a single night of costumes, revelry, and a parade that ends with a symbolic monster-slaying by an archetypical paladin. However, this central narrative is both switched up in Greymantle Marsh and expanded to a major holiday that spans an entire week of celebration. In Lockhinge City, this celebration has become cultural cornerstone that is famous throughout the kingdom as a spectacle to rival even the most elaborate of Candlenights festival in other cities. Tourists from the Greymantle area and far beyond flood the city, markets and cultural events pack every available corner of space, and the partying is the stuff of legends.
History
Greymantle Marsh is home to both native non-humanoid cultures and those who have migrated to the wetlands for refuge over the centuries, so the more popular interpretation of the Monster Parade's narrative is naturally not going to have as favorable of a reception as it does elsewhere in the kingdom. Instead of the heroic Paladin slaying some monstrous creature that is invading the lands, the story becomes one of "monsters" rising up to enough power and prestige that they are able to stand against the persecuting Paladin. Since the event in the rest of the Kingdom revolves around this applied label of "monster," the Lockhinge variation spins this focus to be one of identity--both exploring this label and celebrating all that the "monsters" truly are. House Thriyan: Since the first instance of the holiday being celebrated in Lockhinge City proper, it has been tradition for the rulers of the county to lead the parade. Since these rulers have been the Thriyan family for as long as anyone can remember, they have become figureheads of the celebration, with their personal approach to celebrating becoming a sort of tradition in itself. An example of this would be that the costumes they wear during the opening and closing parades hold some sort of symbolic meaning and connection with each other, with there often being an implied transformation or other visual narrative taking place between the two parades. The current Countess and Count Consort have always chosen masks that obscure their eyes (said to better remove their personal identity and allow them to stand as symbolic characters in the parade), and have made the controversial decision to put themselves and their children in crowns while leading the closing parades. Though some consider this to be a treasonous gesture, the Countess has insisted that this is merely to symbolize how Tieflings and other "monsters" have managed to overcome oppression and "rule" the land alongside the other noble houses recognized by the king. Nothing has ever officially been done to discourage the ways that Lockhinge has chosen to celebrate the Monster Parade (aside from the burning of Paladin effigies that sometimes occurs during the holiday, but this practice has never been endorsed by House Thriyan), so the tradition continues.Celebration
Lockhinge's version of the holiday actually includes two parades--one to open the weeklong celebration that leads up to the event that the rest of the kingdom recognizes as the official holiday, with the centerpiece parade occurring the evening of that final day. Between these two parades are seven days that each feature a unique theme and set of traditions (which themselves vary among the various cultures and groups celebrating), with a quiet ritual of releasing lights out into the swamp as a sort of closing ceremony. Themes: costumes, lanterns, monster symbolism, celebration and play on most days, identity, spooky things both because of monster symbolism and the thin veil between planes.Day One
Welcome. The first day is one of general spooky fun, transforming the city and lighting the lanterns to welcome in the "monsters" of the parade that marks the true beginning of the holiday. The parade starts at the western edge of the city, though the ruling family comes in from out in the swamp itself (both for safety and symbolic reasons), and travels all the way through to the grounds of Lockhinge Keep to represent the "monsters" and other Greymantle inhabitants coming in from the wilderness. Because this day is meant to introduce what the celebrants consider the days and concepts that are overlooked or ignored by the rest of the kingdom (and because referring to two different parades as the "Monster Parade" is cumbersome), the events of this first day are sometimes referred to as "Lockhinge Day," or the "Lockhinge Parade."Day Two
Gluttony. There are conflicting accounts of what the true origins of the second day's celebration are, but it hardly matters when it results in what is unanimously considered the kingdom's largest party. With the holiday formally welcomed in on the first day, the second day shakes the city with a celebration that is all about excess. For this one day, acts of selfishness are considered excused, and every soul in the city is encouraged to drink and feast. As generosity is also considered an important part of the day, prices around the city plummet and establishments open their doors wide. Famously, this is the one day that Lockhinge Keep opens its doors to the public for a decadant party in which every person attending can feel like royalty. Some of the significances that are applied to the day by various groups are: binging before the hard times arrive, celebrating the fact that they are able to indulge like this at all, eating up the excess perishables before they spoil for the winter, giving in to temptation to be a little selfish or cut loose in order to stave such things off for a while, celebrating community as an equal whole, etc.Day Three
Dance. The party continues with a day of dancing following the indulgeance. The city works off its collective hangover by getting up and moving; the music everywhere is meant to keep away the lethargy that follows the feasting. There is music and dancing absolutely everywhere; this is the favorite day of bards. Live music is posted up in every establishment that can manage it, costumes worn this day are typically geared to be easy to move in, and there are even light shows and performances made up of gestures and tactile rhythms for those who enjoy music through means other than sound. Temporary stages and dancing platforms are set up around the town, and flyers swarm the city with schedules and advertisements of musicians. The entire Monster Parade week is great for bar-hopping and listening to music, but this day makes an event of it. This is also day that families and various groups throw their own less-public parties amongst themselves. While the keep was open to the general public the day before, this is the day that House Thriyan holds their grand masquerade ball for the nobility (and others who could afford an invitation or otherwise win themselves entry) in the Platinum Ballroom.Day Four
Theater/Performance. At the peak of the week, the fourth day stands as a very "big" day. It is referred to as the day of "theater" or "performance," though the meaning of this runs deep. It is seen as a day of exploring and celebrating identity--both true and imagined. This is the day where costumes are most celebrated, where you can find the biggest and best of the costume contests, but you are also expected to embody your costume on this day, so everyone is advised to choose wisely. You may not want to wear your very best costume on this day if you are not prepared to somehow take aspects of it onto yourself. The costume you wear is celebrated alongside the concept of the "true you," whether this is expressed with cultural pride or symbolically letting out the "creature" inside, and the how this reflection is accomplished varies by individual. More than any other day, how you choose to celebrate this day and what it means is entirely up to you. Aside from theatrical performances popping up all over the city on stages both large and small (Goblin College performance, puppet shows, informal and individual performances such as juggling), this is also the day for the cultural celebrations (including the main Greymantle culture festival held in the Platinum Ballroom), and the famous bonfire that the Tieflings have adopted as the biggest celebration of their own culture. Visitors, especially noteworthy guests from abroad, are encouraged to at least attend the Greymantle culture festival as a gesture of diplomacy and acceptance.Day Five
Play. As the last day of fun before the ominous sixth day arrives, and following the theme of acknowledging an inner self and letting it out to play, everyone is expected to obey their inner child on the fifth day. This is the biggest day for candy, and costumes tend to be more playful and fantastical than menacing. Particular aspects of Lockhinge City make it the major city with the lowest birthrate, and thus perhaps the least child-friendly, so this day is important for both the actual children of Lockhinge as well as the young-at-heart. Small games and carnival areas are scattered throughout the city, with a large, main one in the Stone Quarter. Candy and treats are freely offered at many establishments (including some homes in the wealthier areas of the city), playful things like jumpropes and hopscotch grids can be found all over, and little parades march through the streets, such as the whimsical, luminous "mushroom parade" that announces the end of the day's festivities at sunset. Along with acknowledging the child found in every heart and giving it permission to play, this day began as an opportunity to let children have fun before they're cooped up indoors the following day. This day is also seen as the time to stock up on laughter to fend away the approaching dark spirits, as well as honoring the fading innocence and joy that comes with the warmer months before the cold severity of winter.Day Six
Haunting. Legend says the bounds between planes gets thin today, spooky and magical things happen, and dangerous ghosts and creatures come out. The tradition is to stay inside today, or opt to break the rules and blatantly venture out to spend the night out in the dangerous dark. Ghost hunting, camping, ghost stories, all popular things to do among delinquents. Pranks and malicious activities are very much discouraged but happen anyway today, so you're also avoiding these mean-spirited sorts by staying inside. Lots of related superstitions observed today as well, in regards to avoid bad luck or attracting attention from bad spirits. Not supposed to be out shopping today, but can find the best sales that way at the places that are daring to stay open today. Everything eerily quiet in contrast to the big, beautiful party that the city was the day before. Lights and lanterns expected to be kept burning all night.Day Seven
Monster Parade. Last day to get weird, different people have different meanings for this day. The sixth day is supposedly the most dangerous for supernatural reasons, but common knowledge is that today is when to watch out for people. Some of this is due to the myth that says that inhuman instincts are running high on this culmination of the week or that some transformation has happened during the thinning of the planes the night before, and some is just that people are feeling the fact that this is the last chance to indulge in the holiday before it's gone and normal, respectable behavior is expected to return. The paladin effigies are usually burned this day, though this behavior is discouraged. The finale parade is an ultimate celebration where the monsters come out of the city as royalty (and usually transformed, Tek's family went from animals to demons this year), then releasing of lights. Many different cultures in Lockhinge, most with some kind of autumn celebration and quite a few that have events that involve the lighting or releasing of lights, so these tend to be lumped in and observed on this day. Officially, the lights represent spreading of benevolence and passing-on of legacy, but each person, family, or culture adds their own meaning. Common ones are the raising of wishes and prayers, spreading of peoples across the land, releasing of souls, honoring of ancestors, looking forward to the return of sunlight, and referencing legends that have to do with stars.
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