Raymon's Rest

Historical Overview

Raymontale

The Raymontale, tale being "to flee" in New Anharan, is the collective term used for events relating generally to the Fall of House Braelea, but more specifically to the flight, and hoped for return, of Raymon II Braelea, last Braelea lord of Surlee.

"The banner of my family came tumbling down last week, says messengers who have began trickling south. I am to be the last of our line, as my kin were butchered by those who's oaths our lords once held, the detestable purveyors of sellswords, lowly hawkers of coin, those ill-bred Semillons." - Guy d'Aimonne, Chronicles of Guy d'Aimonne

Many of the residents of Surlee, and the surrounding countryside, have pro-Braelea tendencies, despite the fall of the house taking place in 450AR. While in the decades after it there were still Braelea claimants skirmishing against Semillons throughout the Blossom Fields, any hope of a Braelea deliverance from House Semillon has long since past. House Semillon, while coming into power with little legitimacy, have since defeated House Salis in their 2nd Usurpation War, and gained recognition as lords of the entire Vinelands from the Rostrum.

"The Rostrum has today recognized what we have long known, Semillon is dominant in the Vinelands! Our Lord's well-deserved seat is granted to him." - The Violet Vellum

Thus, there is little hope of Braelea loyalists seeing any success, especially as the line is believed to be exhausted. However, the Braelea-related events throughout the city of Surlee have, for centuries, served as an outlet against a perceived erosion of the city's cultural fabric, as House Semillon seeks to emulate the Coquet Heights for reputational reasons, given their newfound national power. Coupled with the economic injustice resulting from that, pro-Braelea events have become a self-perpetuating conflict, preventing any rapprochement between House Semillon and their citizens, assuming the possibility of such an event.

Marching Season

The perpetuation of anti-Semillon sentiments are reinforced every marching season, from late Chorus to Pyrae, inaugurated by the Raymon's Rest festival. Marching season sees events pop up across the half of Surlee south of the Spill, and is organized by a number of committees. Most of the "official" marches, the largest and most ostensibly non-violent, are organized by the same secretive committee of notable citizens. Beyond these, chief of which is Raymon's Rest, are smaller, more group- and neighborhood-focused events, put on by organizations or areas.
Most marches feature a common theme, such as House Braelea or House Thewisy colors, portraits of Raymon II or Etien IV Braelea passed down from likenesses provided by the Thewisys, banners and flags, and other regalia. They take place to commemorate various events, across decades, from the actual Raymontale to the battles of the Braelean Hedge Wars, and notable fights between soldiers of the Free Company and Surleens at commemorations.
Also see Braelea Loyalism

Event

Organization

The festival of Raymon's Rest is organized by the same committee that organizes the majority of "official" events throughout the marching season. This secretive body is made up of leading citizens south of the Spill, though it is believed to have had some loyalists from the north as well. Officially elected through co-optation, the group generally has one member from each neighborhood. While only the group knows its own members, most knowledgeable residents have a good idea of who their local representative is, though the insular nature of southern Surlee makes it very difficult for the lieutenants to discover it for themselves.
Besides local notables, the group has some connection with the Guild of Illustrious Hosts and Barmen, who lead Newgate, as well as, according to some, House Thewisy.

"The Free Company of Oldtowne failed to discover the date of Raymon's Rest, the great movable feast of the year, and were taken entirely off-guard by yesterday evening's celebrations." - The Violet Velum

As for the event itself, planning would appear to be done throughout the year, as the organizers are forced to respond to active attempts to subvert them by the lieutenants of the Free Company. House Semillon invests annually in gathering intelligence, through infiltration, coercion, bribes, and so forth, in an effort to identify the starting location or date of the procession. While it was once held on the anniversary of Raymon's flight, the actual date now floats around the month of Chorus.
Traditionally, people would converge on the Raymontale Gate and march north from there, but in an effort to be unpredictable, the gathering now takes place in a seemingly random neighborhood, and then converges upon the gate.

Procession

Information on the starting date and location is disseminated downwards from the committee, through the notables of their respective neighborhoods. The neighborhood is picked at random, though reflective of the desires of the present committee, be that avoiding or antagonizing guards. Given the unpredictable nature of the event, employers immediately call a halt to the workday, even those without particularly Braelea-loyalist tendencies, lest they face repercussions.
Crowds of people flock towards the start of the event, where a selected committee member is wearing a mask in Raymon's likeness. Despite the size and often volatile nature of the crowd, antagonism is only directed at outsiders, and obeisance to that year's Raymon is widespread. Attendants organize themselves amongst the banners of their respective groups, be that their neighborhood, guild, a social club, or even a pub, whichever they identify with most, before heading towards the Raymontale Gate.

"We shall spend our last breath to protect you, as we tried to protect your grandson, from any aggressor, and while we live you shall neither be taken nor unmasked." - Oath sworn by the twenty four "knights"

The groups march behind that of the Raymon of the year, who walks beneath an adaption of the banner of House Braelea, in an effort to limit the antagonism which would come from using the real one, something not followed at "unofficial" events. He is surrounded by twenty four "knights" in an imitation of the Order of the Green Bells, Etien Braelea's closest protectors during his last campaign. They swear, at the start of the procession, to protect the Raymon of the year against any aggressors, and have frequently done so.
This procession heads towards the Raymontale Gate, singing songs and chanting, until their arrival. Upon arriving, they continue, but in the faces of the guards at the gate, before the bravest of the procession head out of the city towards Septhearth, continuing the path of Raymon Braelea. As the event is meant to mimic an Anharan funeral procession, there is occasionally a mock pyre, depending upon the efforts of the guards to prevent it, outside of the walls.

Primary Related Location

Surlee

Important Locations

• Gates of Surlee

Related Organizations

• House Braelea
• House Semillon