The town of
Byssal Sound holds a four day festival called Sounder Feast, in which the town celebrates their
[Big Sounders, a breed of scallops. In the early days of the Byssal Sounds, these delicious mollusks helped sustain the settlers during the harsh winters. The scallops were eventually cultivated and marketed as a local delicacy, and the wealthy of the nearby city Goroma began paying large sums to import them.
Sounder Feast takes place in mid-winter when the scallop population in Byssal Sound is at its highest. Tourists from around the territory descend on the town, to pay local prices for a Big Sounder, and the townsfolk engage in a series of games and competitions.
Traditions
At the start of the festival three members of the community are named "Pyre Captains", and each one must tend to a designated bonfire. Each bonfire serves as a place where locals can grill their scallops together. The three bonfires are to be kept burning through out the four day festival. This job is a great honor and since the inception of Sounder Fest no Pyre Captain has ever let fire their burn out.
Big Sounder scallops are renowned for the shell's beautiful sunburst ornamentation. Many locals like to sit in circles to talk story, and string scallop shells so they can be hung up over doors and windows of shops and homes.
Games and Competitions
Mongo Forage
A mongo is a special scallop that has a bright orange abductor muscle (the large fleshy part that is eaten). One of these mongos are hidden among many other scallops and the children are tasked with locating it. While the water is terribly cold this time of year, the people of Byssal Sound are a hearty folk that embrace the harsh conditions at an early age.
The lucky winner of this competition is placed on a special chair and paraded through town, celebrated as the Master Mongo Finder. Many believe that the year ahead will be quite fortuitous for the child that wins this competition.
The Byssal Ball
For the teenage population, a ball is held in Byssal Hall. As a sign of trust from the elders, they are left to their own devices with minimal adult supervision. Food and drink is provided and a band plays music for the kids to dance to. Any decoration or games are completely run by the teenagers, teaching them responsibility and how to work together.
Prince and Princess of the Sound
As a part of the Byssal Ball, a Prince and Princess of the Sound are elected by their peers. Criteria of this contest is only known to the teenagers in charge of the ball, and the adults think it best to just stay out of it.
The Sandbag Slog
The Sandbag Slog is a brutal contest of attrition in which a large bag is filled with sand and tied off. Contestants must then lift this bag off the ground and chuck it over their shoulder. They then turn around and do it again until they can't do it any more. This competition tests both strength, technique and endurance among the male and female members of the populace. Winners are given a trophy, bragging rights and a full body massage.
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