The Song Fair Duck Race

by Dalle 3

Nestled on the grounds of Nesher's sole children's hospital is the Song Fair, a place of joy for not only the patients but children from across the city. Amidst its many stalls and attractions, the duck race, crafted by Marisu and Nola as a tribute to the hospital's care for their late daughter Kona, is among the most popular.

Nora fell in love with ducks after seeing them in the harbour. She demanded one as a pet but settled for a wooden one that her father made for her that afternoon. From then on, ducks were the centre of her life.

Marisu, a skilled carpenter, started carving the ducks for Kona when she was a baby and continued after her passing as a way to manage his own grief. Without Nora to lose them in the narrow water channel that ran behind the house, the workshop soon grew full of Marisu's creations. It became an obsession for Marisu, one Nola tried to curb. But after a heartfelt argument that they both realised had verged into the ridiculous, the couple decided to work together. Marisu would continue making the ducks while Nola would paint them, with the notion of giving them away to other children in the neighbourhood. They took the first batch to the hospital, where they were excitedly received by the patients.
Seeing how much joy the ducks brought to the children, and also to the grieving couple, Sister Thun'dali, head of the Liandran Children's Hospital, suggested for them take over one of the vacant stands in the Song Fair, that sits just outside the front door. At first they were reluctant, not knowing what to do, but Marisu's genius soon came to fruit. He designed a system, using gears and pulleys, where the ducks would waddle along a track, with a random one always coming in first. Even he couldn't tell which one would win since the switch happened under the table. After a lacklustre response to his first attempt, he engineered a foot operated wind instrument capable of making a loud quack. Thus, the Song Fair Duck Race was born, and for almost a decade, it has been bringing smiles to the children of Nesher.

The Ducks

The ducks vary in size, with the oldest being the smallest since Marisu used to make them from off cuts in his workshop. The 'ducklings' hold a special significance for the couple, since they are the closest to Kona.

The painted decorations that adorn the ducks were at first simple, reflecting Nola's talent but soon grew in complexity. There are whorls and ribbons of colour, along with a few that perfectly capture the brilliant plumage of the real thing. Nola's skills are so admired that her ducks can be found in even the grandest houses in the city, with at least one rumoured to be among the most treasured toys of the imperial family. (Sas'ha, the eight-year-old sister to the emperor, inherited one from her older sister Sar'ha and despite the paint having mostly worn off, she still keeps it with her.)

Due to the fair's demands, Marisu can't keep up with the demands for the ducks, but with help from a network of friends, every child at the hospital now receives one. They make other animals for those children not wanting a duck.

Charity and Hope

In line with Liandran values, all the fair's attractions are free, with donations supporting the hospital. What started as a way to cope with their own grief has grown into something bigger and now all in Nesher think of the duck as a symbol of hope.

Liandra's Light

Clerics of Liandra, the goddess of birth and death, are revered for their healing abilities. They are capable of mending bones with the help of the goddess, but also through their own prodigious knowledge. Liandrans are often at the forefront of knowledge and many study at the university as well as performing their religious duties.
If they chose to sell their services, the Order could be amongst the richest in the empire, but they never charge and only accept donations from those able to do so. The Children's Hospital is run solely in this manner with a sizable proportion of their income coming from the Song Fair and the Shrine of the Unfettered Bird.

It might have been Zini’s imagination, but she was sure a shiver ran through the normally stoic guard. “Dora insists I stop by the temple before coming home after every shift to get myself cleansed. She doesn’t want any of this business troubling her or the baby.”
“Wise. Have you made an offering at the shrine of the unfettered bird?”
“I’ve already stuck my head under Liandra ’s bell.”
“This is a special shrine, behind the children’s fair. Tell the cleric that you want to make an offering for Dora and your child. She’ll give you a chime and a blessing. Hang it over your bed.”
“We’ve got chimes and bells. The place sings all ready.” They reached a heavy, iron-banded door, but Aggie paused with the keys in hand. Zini was their only guest, and now that she was on her way out, he might get a quiet afternoon. “She’s even put them in the privy. The last thing we need is another bell.”
“Not like this one. The clerics tune them to the laughter of children. You’ll have the best night’s sleep under one. It only lasts a few weeks, so be sure to revisit the shrine.”
“Thanks, Zini. I’ll call by on the way home.” He gripped the handle but seemed reluctant to go outside. “Almost seems a shame to go through with this, but orders are orders.”
Chapter 1, The Lilac Child

Founding Date

468

Type

Market stall

The Shrine of the Unfettered Bird.

At the rear of The Song Fair deep within the trees that provide shade from the cruel summer sun, and nestled among the flowering vines, is a small statue of Liandra, the goddess of healing. There are many such statues all across Nostvary but this one is different. Normally the goddess is shown with her face half hidden by a cloak with one hand of flesh cradling a baby, while the other of bone holds a skull. But the sculptor of this one decided to replace the skull with a small stone sparrow. Although unrecorded the reasoning is clear since the trees are home to a large flock of song birds that sing happily for those resting under the branches.
Hundreds of tiny bells are scattered through the trees, but they aren't their just for the gentle ringing sound they make as the breeze gives them a shake. They are there because of the healing properties of not just the birdsong, but also the children's laughter. The harmonised bells are free for anyone to take home where they are commonly put up over the beds of the sick or those suffering from bad dreams. Those that can leave an offering at the shrine. either when they take them or when the bells are returned to the branch from where they came.