Video | Public (private to Hawke)

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian smiles and gives a quaint wave a greeting before he addresses the network. His surroundings are smaller, not the modern trappings of his own office, but the stone masoned and naturally lit walls of his office at Fairy Tail.]

Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to talk, today, about Time and, more specifically, the record thereof. You see, through quite a bit of research I'll not bore you with, I've determined the calendar utilized here correlates well enough with my own. The 10th month of the calendar used by Genessia and its environs began yesterday, at midnight. It is referred to as 'October'. In my own world, Frumentum or as it's referred to by the common folk "Harvestmere" will be beginning in roughly two days time. We have 12 months, divided into 30 days each. If Genessia continues on a path consistent with its previous course, its calendar year consists of 365 days, save for every 4th year, when some brilliant scholar ages ago realized they were losing time and devised a rough patching that's consisted into the present day. I've of course not been around here long enough to have experienced this mythical "leap year", but Genessia's calendar, along with many of its residents, seem to hail for "Earth". It's the "Roman" calendar, which is a rather interesting topic in regards to both Earth and Thedas, but, well...

[He clears his throat, turning his gaze to an open journal before him.] I digress grossly.

Last month on Thedas, we began the month with the Annum "All Souls Day", and it would seem there are several similar holidays at the end of this Genessian month. I've read about several of them, but I'm curious what your traditions are. In Thedas, the holiday is rather dour. We dress as ghosts and parade about at midnight, very sad. We don't even get a feast! What do you do?


[Video | Private to Hawke ]

[He wags his fingers.]

Good afternoon, Champion. I have a present for you.

Comments

Video | Private

[stillnotadragon]

[He's out, somewhere with a rather lot of green when he answers the message, smiling a little.]

Oh? Which one? Or have you found something else to offer me.

Video | Private

[tevinteraltus]

[Gross.]

Aside from a staff, for free no less, and a book about yourself, you also want a casserole? "Welcome to the neighborhood. Mind the barriers, sometimes they fall. Nasty Blighters out there when that happens. Cheers!"?

Re: Video | Private

[stillnotadragon]

[Hawke laughs.]Casserole? No. You did promise wine though. I'm just reminding you.

Video | Private

[tevinteraltus]

[He raises an eyebrow. Is that so?]

I made no such promise. I do recall mentioning I could be persuaded.

[Video]

[amicalolafalls]

[The response is video this time, the face that appears a lot more relaxed than the voice from days before. Expression almost thoughtful.]

I mean we've got Halloween. Last day of October. Had, I mean. Kids dressed up and got candy from their neighbors. Adults gave out candy or wore skimpy costumes and got drunk. The day before was for property damage.

[There's something sad in his voice as he recounts, as much as he seems to be trying to hide it with a half smile and shrug - he wasn't sure what all to say.]

[Video]

[tevinteraltus]

Can't the adults do all three? It seems unfair otherwise.

[He strokes his chin thoughtfully.]

Yes, I imagine something like the apocalypse would drape a marked pall over such peace time festivities. They're terrible for morale, after all.

[Private Video]

[Because in private is where personal questions should be asked, damn it.]

I trust you've settled in well, Glenn? Did you find your Maggie or someone else's?

Re: [Video]

[amicalolafalls]

Well, I guess they can give out candy then go to a party, but they can't go door to door. I guess the idea's that they had the chance when they were kids? But even teenagers could get a lot of flak for still dressing up and going around.

[There was still something off with talking about all of it in the past tense.]

You need supplies for it. Time, energy... It...isn't really on anyone's mind.

[Private Video]

So far so good, with the settling. [His face brightens visibly.] It was her. Mine. She actually responded pretty shortly after, but - thank you.

[Video]

[tevinteraltus]

So, the children are made to beg for sweets at neighbors' doors while their parents drink themselves into a stupor? What fun!

[But really, how is that not Satinalia? He'll get to that next month. It starts the month. He might mention it again sooner. People need to know about Satinalia. It's the best week on the planet.]

And it's at the end of this month? Hmm... [He taps his chin.] There's a festival at the beginning of what would be our next month on Thedas. "Firstfall". It is the beginning of winter, and a magnificent, feast-filled week in celebration of the second moon. Personally, I think this is all an elaborate excuse on the part of the Chantry to allow us to keep our party but abandon the paganism of thanking a goddess for all the food, but that's really notwithstanding. This Halloween is for only one day, and the night previous?

[video]

[chicken_kun]

I don't know about all the rest of that stuff, but the most important thing to know is that it's also just a few days from my birthday!

[begging for attention, yep]

[video]

[tevinteraltus]

Congratulations, Bartolomeo. Should I get a fruit basket? Or perhaps a collection of cured meats?

[Those are typically what people give when they have no idea what to give someone.]

I suppose I could see if I could locate a bottle of dwarven spirits. You haven't lived until you've lost a few nerve endings to a strong dwarven liquor.

[video]

[chicken_kun]

Heh! Well, after our last binge I'd be fine not going out for another party. Whatever, man, it's cool! Just wanted somebody to know.

[video]

[tevinteraltus]

[He chuckles, slightly mischievous.]

Fruit basket it is, then.

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Do you have no one else with whom to celebrate your birthday?

[That's almost sad.]

video;

[whiteas]

In Genessia we usually dress up in costumes, throw a party, and try to work through whatever freak occurrence happens because something always happens at the end of October. One year we turned into our costumes, one year our fears manifested, and last year a bunch of people turned into varying species of monsters which caused a significant number of feeding issues. I ended up anemic for a good portion of October since I got skipped on the monster front.

[ Basically it's a big mess but she tries to have fun anyway. ]

video;

[tevinteraltus]

I see. Is that a tradition started by the captives or was it already in place?

[And he laughs.]

Oh, really? Is it anything as eminently deadly as that deceptively exciting carnival?

video;

[whiteas]

A number of worlds engage in it, actually. I've done extensive research, it seems like a significant number of cultures celebrate the passing of souls through their worlds with festivals and costumes of various kinds. The costumes are allegedly so that the spirits can mingle with others without being outed for being anything other than human, so everyone dresses as spirits to make sure they can do so calmly and without harming anyone.

[ Or something similar to that. She's paraphrasing and lumping some of them together. ]

Nothing quite so sinister, but not safe either. Sun physically fed on me last year, though so that was.. interesting. [ Her hand goes to her neck, rubbing slightly as she remembers. ] He was turned into a creature called a vampire- they need to drink human blood to survive, and since I wasn't turned into anything, I wasn't going to let him starve. If he didn't have self-control it might have been deadly, and the fear thing was certainly more destructive. There are plenty of people with very.. intensive fears.

video;

[tevinteraltus]

I don't know if "celebration" is necessarily the proper term, but we all honor our dead, certainly. Why would we not? Though, I do find it interesting so many simply bury the bodies and are done with it. That sort of thing would never suffice on Thedas. Also, why keep fields and fields of motionless corpses? You see, in Nevarra, they construct massive and elaborate "cities of the dead", and necromancers bind the spirits of the departed upon death. That is how they honor the dead. I have never laid eyes on one of the great Necropoli, but I desperately want to.

[And that desire is fairly obvious in his eyes.]

Most cultures on Thedas burn our dead so their bodies aren't left as vessels for errant demons looking to feed upon the masses.

[He blinks.]

...interesting is a way of putting that. It sounds...both disturbing and somehow erotic. Were the two of you...involved then?

[Video] Decided to go with the time-maid

[sakuya_izayoi]

Honestly, the word 'time' was what got Sakuya's attention, coaxing her to pick up her phone and listen. She stayed to listen to the rather sophisticated looking mage anyway.

So, Dorean, have a lovely silver-haired maid.

"The end of October is rather significant to myself and Lady Remilia. It is a time of empowerment and celebration of the supernatural. As Lady Remilia is a vampire and I am her servant we greatly enjoy holidays such as this."

[Video]

[tevinteraltus]

[He smiles pleasantly at the young woman on his screen, inclining his head.]

And which holiday is that? I've seen it referred to in several ways.

Also, is this Lady Remilia the undead variety? I've also read of several different sorts of vampires.

[sakuya_izayoi]

"Ah, yes. The holiday I speek of is All Hallows' Eve. Or 'Halloween' rather." Likely one he's heard before.

"And indeed. Lady Remilia is of the undead. Do not let that fool you. That word has so many associations with decay and mindless creatures. Vampires are not like this. Lady Remilia is noble and well kept, as is her sister and the Master of the castle we are staying in. Lord Tepes."

So there were 3 vampires. Good to know.

Video

[feckinboomstick]

Tis changed over the years. Used to be Samhain, till the Catholic church changed it up to All Saints, which is just like every other Catholic Holiday, and then the Americans faffed with it 'round the twenties or so.

Samhain was a holiday devoted to ancestors and the dead. Some tribes sacrificed two thirds of their crop, milk and children to the Fomorians, personifications of destruction, darkness and chaos in a bid to ensure a safe winter. Human sacrifice was common what up until the church came in.

'Tis what the bogs were for.

Not every tribe participated in that, thankfully, and Samhain was usually marked by bonfires, feastin', and the slaughterin' of livestock for the winter, when it was easier to keep the meat. Saltin' is fine and good, but nothin' keeps a cow better than frost and ice.

Mainly, however, Samhain was the time when the doors between worlds opened, and the dead and the fairies wandered freely about the earth for a single night. To ward 'em off, young men dressed as demons, ghosts and ghouls themselves and performed mischief and pranks.

Supposedly scared 'em off, though I don't think for a second a fae is gonna be too scared of an eighteen year old hooligan with his face covered in muck.

Video

[tevinteraltus]

Then...not unlike the Dragon cults who worshipped the Old Gods in ancient Tevinter. The Chantry has done its part to stifle any blood sacrifice, at least in the open.

[He chuckles.]

So noted, Cassian. In Thedas, the time of year doesn't affect the thickness of the veil, though it is thinner in some places more so than others. Is All Saints Day your chosen interpretation of the holiday?

Re: Video

[feckinboomstick]

Dragon cults? Aye, sounds similar to the church comin' through and puttin' a lid on all the ruckus. Can't say I begrudge that though.

I preferred the gentler version of Samhain with me mother honestly, though father was sure to teach me of All Saints Day as well. Then again, as a child, I enjoyed eatin', dressin' up like a devil and beatin' on doors with sticks so of course I'll have better memories of that then sittin' in Mass.

[gotabadfeelingaboutthis]

We get three festival weeks during the year. Festival of Life is the best...parties, family gatherings, gifts...all that stuff. A lot of beings take trips during Festival of Stars. It's a kind of space travel celebration. Then there's Galactic Fair,which is fun.

A lot of things happen on different worlds, but I don't pay too much attention to most of 'em. Except celebrating the annual Life Day with my friend when I'm able.

I'm just glad they decided on a standard calendar...with so many planets having so many different year lengths, it'd be impossible to get anything done otherwise.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah! The Festival of Life sounds quite a bit like our own Satinalia, though...yes, I wouldn't expect you to remember all the different holidays across what must be countless worlds. Your universe is a marvel. That...just a moment.

[He looks thoughtful, and the rest is spoken as though thinking aloud rather than to Han.]

If this Festival of Life, Festival of Stars, and the Galactic Fair are celebrated as a whole...

...Is there some sort of galactic alliance? I can't even begin to fathom how such an organization would stay cohesive.

[gotabadfeelingaboutthis]

Yeah, I don't remember most of 'em, only the ones that are important to the family.

[He nods] Something like that. It's just called the New Republic right now. But believe me, it's a struggle. I hate hearing about all the stuff my wife gets mixed up in trying to help run the government. It's a big political pain sometimes. I could never be involved like her.