Samuel Wise
Demigod
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Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 5, 2015 7:17:45 GMT
Well it is that time of year. Grab your goblins and strap those Fire-Crackers to their backs and set them off in all their DMB glory.
Just was wondering what are the special days in your worlds. What days have brought together all the ordinary folk in a grand celebration? Who or what are the people remembering? Is there worm-wrangling? Zombie Sheep Rodeos? Or Goblin Fireworks?
"In Älmara there is the Sungazer festival. The people celebrate to remember the last time the great dragon King, Sungazer, entered the world, fought against the darkness and ushered in the 3rd age. The celebration consists of both storytelling (of the great battle between Älmara and Feltacia) and pyrotechnics.
The greatest of the fire mages from all over the land come together to celebrate. It is customary for the fire Mages to add their strength together and for a large sun at night, so that the celebrations could continue. Once an Isiah joined the festival and added his own powers to the mix, turning the makeshift sun into the likeness of a flying dragon. Such a thing has not and will not (probably) happen again".
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andywmason
Squire
Posts: 27 
Favorite D&D Class: Blackguard
Favorite D&D Race: Goliath
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Post by andywmason on Jul 5, 2015 7:57:23 GMT
That sounds pretty awesome to behold, especially the likeness of a flying dragon. In my world there is one festival that comes to mind as particularly worth a mention.
The festival of Sylvast, the goddess of music, wine, bards, revelry, love and fertility. Not to mention illusion, tricks, pranksters and humour.
The festival begins with a circus of performances, bards across the land travel to put forth their artistry to the day. Then the slapstick comedy routines and the theatrical comedies are performed. All the while, vendors distribute wines and ales and other intoxicating beverages to the crowds and to the performers. It is considered good form to prank and trick your fellows throughout this day, but it is customary to drink with the target after they have been pranked and to prank someone more than they have pranked you is considered poor form as that can be considered in poor taste. This combination of pleasant distraction, intoxication and good humour leads to all kinds of pandemonium. Although technically a one day festival, it is split into two days, the day of Sylvast and the unofficial day of Elatrin, technically an evil god of Darkness and Silence, but you find me a single man who does not bless Elatrin the next day.
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Jul 6, 2015 11:31:33 GMT
In my setting there is a holiday based on the 'New Dawn' treaty of old. This holiday is basically a week long celebration (7 days) with the celebration of the 'New Dawn' in the middle. So you have 3 days of build-up, a climax in celebration, and then three days of winding down. The holiday is practiced pretty throughout the established world, only it is done so by human communities mostly. The Dwarves and Elves really do not see it as a holiday. Think of large fairs, feasts, lots of drinking and games. With usually some grand 'show' on the day of 'New Dawn'. Followed up by more feasting and drinking of a different kind. The last three days those who celebrate eat 'healthier foods' and drink more 'cleansing' drinks. They think of it as a time to purge the 'bad' in their life!
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 6, 2015 13:42:16 GMT
The festival of Sylvast, the goddess of music, wine, bards, revelry, love and fertility. Not to mention illusion, tricks, pranksters and humour. Although technically a one day festival, it is split into two days, the day of Sylvast and the unofficial day of Elatrin, technically an evil god of Darkness and Silence, but you find me a single man who does not bless Elatrin the next day. I like this humorous aftertaste to your Sylvast's festival. The unofficial Elatrin day could be considered 'dark comedy'  . Is there any reward for getting the largest prank (outside of another drink). The holiday can be compared to an upscaled April Fools. |
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 6, 2015 13:51:31 GMT
In my setting there is a holiday based on the 'New Dawn' treaty of old. The last three days those who celebrate eat 'healthier foods' and drink more 'cleansing' drinks. They think of it as a time to purge the 'bad' in their life! A whole week of celebration! I really like that idea. I think that I, too often, place a holiday into a single day. While holidays in a different world could easily last for weeks or even a month. What is the 'New Dawn' treaty? It must be pretty important to humans. And there is probably a lot of tea drinking on the 'wind down', which I am all for! |
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Jul 6, 2015 15:06:26 GMT
yeah I made this one a rather long holiday. I remember when my family lived in Japan (as a kid) they had several holidays that lasted a couple days and even some that lasted a week! It was rather cool concept for me to take something that is real and put my spin on it!
So the 'New Dawn' treaty was essentially a Non-aggression pact between the Humans, Elves, and Dwarves that was made during the end of the first age. This treaty marked the end of a nomadic/tribe like existence, and the progression into a more 'civilized' lifestyle that is associated with the whole kingdom/realm concept. That is the short and sweet version of it!
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 6, 2015 18:01:38 GMT
Awesome ideas all around. I also really like the extended holiday idea. I feel like Western culture is too go go go for having something like that, but it makes total sense when thinking about it in a medieval type setting. The festival of Sylva st reminds me of my college days and the constant string of pranks played and retaliated. Good times all around, and a holiday to do that would be awesome. It's like a light hearted version of the Purge, haha. How have you guys had your players interact with the holidays? They know of it from lore or personally participating in the events?
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 6, 2015 21:31:01 GMT
It's like a light hearted version of the Purge, haha. How have you guys had your players interact with the holidays? They know of it from lore or personally participating in the events?  Now there is an idea for a game... I haven't played enough of D&D (and few of those games are in my world) for the players to experience much like that, though I might start them out in a festival, I notice festivals like these encourage roleplaying sometimes. |
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andywmason
Squire
Posts: 27
Favorite D&D Class: Blackguard
Favorite D&D Race: Goliath
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Post by andywmason on Jul 6, 2015 22:38:36 GMT
How have you guys had your players interact with the holidays? They know of it from lore or personally participating in the events? It's how my guys started out, I ran it almost as a tutorial, after their first little side mission (to get some stolen ale back from some bandits) I got them to try participating in performances, challenging people to drinking contests, gambling and also giving them the chance to set up pranks for each other, it was less DC based and more figuring out how to use skills and what context they could be useful in and got them to experience both the combat and the role-playing side of the game. |
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 7, 2015 18:04:22 GMT
It does seem like a really great way to set up a ridiculous amount of things that players can tackle with minimal risk to them. Feats of strength for the fighter, attack roll to perfectly hit the button with the hammer. Dexterity rolls for the rogue doing just about any carnival game. Tons of different skills as you mentioned through the guise of carnival games would be awesome!
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Now there is an idea for a game...