[Video]

[rekindlenpcs]

[Irene turns on the video feed, and while she looks just as put together as ever, her office looks a bit messier than usual – you can see her desk in the background, covered with notes and unorganized papers…which is pretty normal for a desk, really, just not for Irene’s desk. Has she been distracted?

She seems to be in a very good mood, though! Her smile looks more genuine than her usual calm, customer service face.]

Everyone, I wanted to ask you a few questions. Now, we have a lot of holidays here in Saeng Seong. Several of you were here for our last festival, and we’re going to have another one coming up at the end of this month… [oh!] which I’m not sure we’ve notified you about yet, but we’ll have more details later.

Our city – our world - has a long history, but I’m also sure that your worlds do, too. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m curious – what are some of the important traditions from your worlds? What holidays do you celebrate?

[She was going to end the video there, but she stops, reconsidering.]

On another note, regarding the fall festival I mentioned earlier, we’re currently open to suggestions if you all have any. I’ll be keeping track of comments here myself, and I can pass on information to the committee.

Comments

[hamburgerhero]

[Okay it's Irene. Maybe she didn't hear what he did last month. Even if she did he figures it wouldn't hurt to try talking. Now smile.]

There are a bunch of holidays back where I come from. Some of 'em have a lot of tradition or religious meaning to people, and then there are some other more obscure occasions that they say businesses made up to encourage people to spend their money. I can easily tell you about how things go in my country, but between other countries some holidays are different as you'd expect.

The closest holiday back home would be Halloween. Do you have that here?

[rekindlenpcs]

[Sorry to say, but she did since she's the head of native and guest relations. At least she won't hold it against him...]

We do not! Would you like to tell me about it?

[hamburgerhero]

Uh sure. Though you know the curiosity goes both ways. We visitors get to participate in your local celebrations but we don't really know the story behind any of the events. We'd like to know more too. [Is that some sly questioning about Saeng Seong? Shhh.]

On Halloween in the USA, a lot of people get dressed up in costumes. It's supposed to be a day for scares and tricks but all in good fun. There are parties and sweets, pumpkin carving, and little kids go out trick-or-treating in costume. Basically they knock on neighbors doors and announce "Trick or treat!" [He says it in a higher pitched voice.] And then neighbors give the kids candy.

That's how it's celebrated in modern times at least. It has changed over the years.

[rekindlenpcs]

[It is, and she notices. She doesn't mind the questioning, though.]

Well, I could tell you the stories, but my version won't be very eloquent. The short version is that the festival we celebrate now is dedicated to food and celebration - basically, it's a way for everyone to have fun before the weather gets cold and miserable. It derives from a religious holiday, and...well, like I said before, I'd rather spare you all my butchering of that and let you hear it at the festival from someone who really knows their stuff.

As for the holiday in your world, though...well, it certainly sounds different, but what kind of kid wouldn't love getting free candy? [From the way she's smiling, one can guess that she probably would have had a blast.]

You said they wear costumes? What kind?

[hamburgerhero]

Well maybe you could try to sum up the religious back story or... Surely there's a historian or cultural figure in the city who could introduce us visitors to the traditions of Saeng Seong. Learning about the culture of the place you visit is always good. [He's hoping he can make the idea of sharing as appealing as possible.]

Uh. By the way, just how "cold and miserable" does it get here?

Traditionally people wore scary costumes like ghosts and evil witches and stuff but over the years there's a lot more variety. A lot of kids dress up in funny costumes or as their favorite characters. Sometimes adults dress up in costumes too for parties.

[rekindlenpcs]

There will be someone there during the festival. They always are.

It can sometimes drop below freezing during the rainy season, but it's rare that we get snow.

[She seems to be taking note of that.]

Costumes? That's certainly something we don't normally do, but it sounds like fun. Though I would be careful of calling witches "evil" here; one of the resident priests is a practitioner of magic.

[hamburgerhero]

Magic? Huh so there's magic in this world. Is it a part of the local religion or something?

Oh yeah speaking of, that shrine over in district 4- does that go with the religion here or is it more of an... agnostic place?

[rekindlenpcs]

I wouldn't say it's part of it, but most magic-users today are religious.

...That would be the shrine Avana and Akasha, the twin goddesses.