The Troubadours' Jamboree Tradition / Ritual in Kohtalo | World Anvil

The Troubadours' Jamboree

There is no greater show in the kingdom of elves, dwarves, or men than that of the Troubadour's Jomboree.
— Jasper Cameron, Leader of the Bronze Ravens
  It started out simply enough. Lone Gull would stop by Hell's Half-Acre every summer to check up on Frejya Stormsong. Music would be played, and new songs would be written as Lone Gull told the other denizens of the Half-Acre of the goings on in the world. Of course, the playing of Frejya and Lone Gull alone would be enough to spread tales of the event. Soon enough other bards would seek out the Half-Acre in the summer months to meet and exchange songs with these legends.   It eventually got to be such a brouhaha that Til had to step in and put his foot down, or rather Lux did for him. Sort of, you know how bards and their type get with negotiations. Every year around the Summer Solstice bards in a region gather and hold a large competition/party. They sing of new deeds set to old tunes, old stories set to new tunes, recite poems and put on plays, and in general have a good time. Wherever this is held the local's tend not to complain too much as such a gathering of performers brings in visitors, who in turn bring in money and goods.   This general get-together has taken on the name The Troubadours's Jamboree, and lasts about 2 weeks in which a good time is had by all. There is a secret though, known only to some few bards. At each of these gatherings is a representative of Hell's Half-Acre. It could be Frejya, Lux, a dryad, even Archie has been spotted a time or 2. Impress them, and you can get an invitation in the form of a single magical acorn.   Once a decade, the dryads of Hell's Half-Acre will collect the bards bearing Acorns and bring them to the Half-Acre for a month long party. Magics are traded and taught, songs are recorded, and performances are put on that those in passing caravans speak of with awe for the rest of their lives. Of course, every 100 years every bard that can travel decends on the Half-Acre for said gathering, because Lux thought it was a great way to mess with Til. Can you imagine, thousands of bards, skalds, and troubadours packed into a tiny bit of forest with only a single bar to drink at.   Not the the Half-Acre has ever run out of room...

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Jul 2, 2023 09:59 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

This sounds fun and also... loud. I love the style that you've written it in. Sounds like someone speaking out loud at a campfire.

Emy x   Etrea | Vazdimet
Jul 5, 2023 07:17

It is probably quite loud during the day, but in the evening it quiets down as people take the main stage for special performances. This played a little bit off part of my On the Shoulders of Giants challenge article, I'm slowly trying to link more of the things I have written together into a cohesive world instead of blurb here, blurb there.

Feel free to stop by some of my WorldEmber articles if you want. My favorites are The Book of the Unquiet Dead, Outpost of the Moons, and The Emerald Hills. Feedback is always appreciated.
Jul 4, 2023 13:08 by Haly the Moonlight Bard

My legendary bard, Shiv, wants to be the first and only bard to ever collect 10 magical acorns. Ambitious, that one!

Jul 5, 2023 07:31

Hmmm, that would be interesting, in theory the dryads would know if you already had one from the current decade, although I haven't really considered if they can be lost or stolen, or what happens if someone with one dies. It could be possible to do in a short time, but more than likely would take a longer lived race... things for me to ponder   I love the name Shiv for a bard. or really for a lot of things, I have a minotaur with an axe named Shiv for the running joke of "dont make me take out my shiv," ... *pulls out magical great axe from bag of holding*

Feel free to stop by some of my WorldEmber articles if you want. My favorites are The Book of the Unquiet Dead, Outpost of the Moons, and The Emerald Hills. Feedback is always appreciated.
Jul 5, 2023 14:27 by Haly the Moonlight Bard

That is hilarious!   Soooo...when I started writing my book in November, I swore I wasn't going to conlang, and then I went...and did a conlang, so I ended up changing my main character's name, LUL. In Ancient Argentin, Shiv means ghost, spirit, soul, but it ALSO means story, book, plot, fable, narrative.   The book is called The Haunting of Library Inn. It might be a little on the nose but damned if I don't love the symmetry.

Jul 13, 2023 21:02

I love the magical acorn touch and the whole affair seems so much fun. Surely there are grand tales of such invitations too!

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Jul 14, 2023 07:20

There are a few tales, the idea for this actually came from my "On the Shoulders of Giants" challenge article, so the foundation is there.

Feel free to stop by some of my WorldEmber articles if you want. My favorites are The Book of the Unquiet Dead, Outpost of the Moons, and The Emerald Hills. Feedback is always appreciated.
Jul 26, 2023 11:07

This looks like such a fun festival to attend! Has any bard tried to impress a representative of Hell's Half-Acre the "wrong" way? ^^

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Jul 27, 2023 10:38

In my best DM voice "Well, you can certainly try..."

Feel free to stop by some of my WorldEmber articles if you want. My favorites are The Book of the Unquiet Dead, Outpost of the Moons, and The Emerald Hills. Feedback is always appreciated.