Prattlehousing

Prattlehousing is the tradition of building and decorating Prattlehouses. It is a tradition in Prattle that teaches practical skills, teamwork, and creativity as well as reinforcing the relationship the town has with the Prattlecats they are known for.

History

A settler named Seremon Dewberry constructed the first prattlehouse after befriending a Prattlecat while lost in The Weird Wilds. The prattlecat's endless chatter had kept her from falling into despair (while also motivated to find some peace and quiet in her home), and she wanted a way to safely reach out to her friend and thank them.
Over time, the inhabitants of the town adopted the practice and it became a slightly more formalized tradition.

Execution

First, a location is chosen just inside the town perimeter. A Quailstone is buried under the simple stone or cement foundation to prevent anything from coming through the line. Then a long trench is dug in a straight line out to the edge of the forest. Returning to the foundation, participants erect a small booth, just large enough to sit comfortably on a bench out of the weather. A speaking horn is installed inside and connected to the long pipe. While the prattlehouse is being constructed, it remains undecorated.
Then comes the dangerous part. The next morning, adults from the town follow the trench out to the edge of the woods, then begin carefully extending it and laying pipe in a straight line until they loose their nerve or the sun falls past a certain point in the sky. The trench and pipe provide a safe, clear path back to town, keeping the Wilds at bay. They quickly erect another, smaller booth with another speaking horn here, this time without a quailstone and always on a pre-made stone foundation. Then they return home following the trench.
The morning after that, a class of the town's schoolchildren is escorted out to the site by the adults (plus many more to make sure no one wanders). The children bring baskets of supplies: paint, flowers, cushions, garland and whatever else they fancy. The whole group decorates the new Prattlehouse inside and out, then returns along the trench, filling it in as they go. When they reach the other end, they decorate the "sister house" as well and declare it open.
Usually on the same day, younger schoolchildren freshen up the decorations on other prattlehouses in town.
Also included in Prattlehousing is the superstition that if one encounters a prattlehouse while walking, it is terrible luck to leave it untended. Because of the shifting nature of the Wilds, seeing a prattlehouse does not indicate if you are in the Wilds or not, but the townsfolk of Prattle feel seeing a prattlehouse and leaving it untended will offend the Prattlecats and draw the Wilds to you.

Components and tools

One Quailstone, a carved stone or cement foundation roughly 3-4' square, a carved stone foundation 2' square, wood, pipe, two speaking horns, and decorative elements like paint, carved wood, baubles, herb packets, etc.

Participants

The people of Prattle.

Observance

There is no set date for building new prattlehouses, but it is usually done in the late spring and early summer when crops have been planted but can't be harvested quite yet.
Tending to the prattlehouses is more often done at this time, but also occurs sporadically throughout the year.
The superstition of Prattlehousing is observed every day of the year.

Primary Related Location

Prattle

Related Ethnicities

• Human (Onusyian)