The Burning Night

A Foreign Festival

For week-ending 2/13

(one can skip the scribe's long-winded introduction and get to Durham's explanation below the picture)

It is not uncommon in Cothon, a city of foreign residents, metics, and barbarian adventurers, to see the innovation of new sacrifices, holy-days; or even the introduction of a foreign goddess as an idol in a newly-constructed shrine, far from her native home. The longing of a resident of Cothon for his patria, land of his fathers (or matria!--many are the tribes who trace the mother's line for inheritance), often leads to a desire to remember home through tradition or ritual.

For some--the Hansemenner in the Kantor Kabljauhof, for instance--those of the same homeland might build a "city-within-a-city" and maintain their own traditions like they would in their own land. Such traditions tend to stay insulated from Cothon-proper, and win little weight with fellow-residents.

But others without such a community, those alone or in pairs, but with friendships they have built in the city at large, might choose to recreate their received traditions in private gatherings, with those whom they know. Many such little festivals prove fleeting and ephemeral, even as the strangers and sailors from distant lands are wont to disappear as easily as they've come, but from their sparks, sometimes long-burning traditions are kindled.

Ever since stepping off the gangplanks of the Wind's Pleasure, Durham has been somewhat pensive, looking out across the grey expanse of Dirac's Sea north ... Though associated with the Kantor, nevertheless Durham has found himself without companions of his own homeland (for the north-men of the Kantor are not of Durham's people). Confiding somewhat in Telman of Tsipa, Durham tells of the land of his fathers--rolling hills, soughing pines, and frigid mountain lakes. Predators abound in the long-lasting winters there, and few are those wealthy enough to keep more than a handful of hmela against their fangs. For the poor, the meat of such is a delicacy (much better to eat of their milk and cheese for years, rather than slaughter the beast for a month of meat).

But there is one night when the poor and the rich alike partake in the rich meat, and especially in a particular dish of the offal, cooked together with oats and root vegetables in the animal's stomach. And much wine, or even brandt-wine is drunk then, and friends are honored, both past and present, and great pyres light the night ...

(this Festival was written up by Joel, on his own initiative, and so I am granting his character Durham 150 xp per level for "getting into the spirit of the thing"--thanks, Joel! The following is what he wrote up, with some minor editing by me)

The Burning Night

While taking up a residency at the Kantor. Durham is sometimes found staring out at the sea, often when the slipways near the Kantor are still and the water is reflective as a mirror. The scene reminds Durham of home and memories. One memory in particular is the burning night celebration.

A tradition from Durham's homeland, the burning night was originally used to sing songs and poems to the dead. The great poet Robert lamented that the souls of the dead should not actually have to be dead to hear the kind words of the living. So the tradition changed to celebrate the bond between two people.

A large stack of wood and straw would be built and set ablaze. People would stand in front of the fire with a wooden stick and read aloud a short poem that was carved onto the stick, then toss the stick into the fire. These poems were composed of 4 lines and typically honored a friend or family member. As time went on the tradition morphed to not only speak kind words, but also poems of light jest were made between friends.

The Burning Night's focus is on the player-characters' relationships to NPCs. As this event lasts but a single night, it may be taken advantage of in addition to a normal downtime action. (So in effect it acts as a second down time for those who participate.)

Each PC may donate an amount per below and then roll 2d6 to advance an existing relationship with an NPC or develop a new one

• 25gp: helps to provide lumber and gets them 6 sticks to write a poem on and throw into the fire. On the burning night the player rolls 2d6 to advance a relationship of their choice.

• 50gp: helps provide lumber and wine for the bonfire. On the burning night the player rolls 2d6+1 to advance a relationship of their choice.

• 100 gp: helps provide lumber, wine and food. A traditional meal served is trout stuffed with herbs. On the burning night the player rolls 2d6+2 to advance a relationship of their choice.

• 250 gp: helps provide lumber, wine, food and entertainment. On the burning night the player rolls 2d6+3 to advance a relationship of their choice.

Results of the relationship roll still work the same. 6 or less no advancement, 7+ relationship advances 1 tic. In the special case where the result is a 12+ the clock could advance 2 tics or the NPC feels a certain gratitude towards the player that they promise some gift or to aid the player in an endeavor (research, business, etc.)

The Burning Night is also a social event, and such is also a chance to cultivate a new relationships . If a player has no existing relationships or doesn't wish to advance any current relationship, they could develop a new one. In this case, the PC would still roll 2d6 (+ any bonus), but the result will determine the social status of the NPC with whom a relationship is cultivated (and will thus start the relationship at the first “tic”).

7 or less: NPC has a low status, they may be a beggar or lowly footman, but they have a wealth of knowledge about Cothan. They aren't able to directly help the player-character with any research/item/information but they are able to point the character to where or who could help them. They can definitely inform the character of local customs. If the character decides to further develop this relationship the NPC may be turned into a faithful servant or a loyal follower. They may not be the best thing to happen to the player-character, but the player-character is the best thing that has happened to the NPC.

8-10: NPC has a minor status, they maybe a likely lad (or lass) or a street vendor (lamp oil or clam cart). They don't have any major influence but they do have a few connections. They could help the player-character acquire simple items and they could be a source of rumor and gossip. If this relationship is developed they could become an adventuring companion.

11-12: NPC has major status, they might be an experience hireling or a store owner. They have influence or knowledge in a certain area (ex. They could help the player-character with learning a spell). If this relationship is developed they might make the player a business partner or could be hired at lower rate.

13+: NPC is an elite of Cothan, a person of great influence and wealth. They could be a guild member, a citizen, or even a noble patron. Whatever the player-character has done has piqued this person's interest, and the PC may have to do some extra work to gain the favor of such a powerful person but their foot is in the door so to speak. This person could help the player-character in a few areas.

Addendum: as the Referee, I will also grant 50 xp per character level for any PC who partakes and who also writes up a bit of verse to be thrown into the fire. The traditional type may be a four-line verse, per Durham, but I won't judge if you write a haiku, a few lines of blank verse, or even just a rhyming couplet ... either write it in the comments below, or send it to me to publish to the blog for your xp