Sharn Special Events

=== Festivals and Diversions ===

As one of the largest cities on the continent, Sharn hosts some of the grandest celebrations and spectacles in Khorvaire. Many people travel from across Brelandeto join in Olladra’s Feast or to pay their respects to the fallen on the Day of Ashes, and La Course des Huit Vents draws tourists from across Khorvaire.\\
In an ongoing campaign set in Sharn, festivals can serve a variety of different purposes. Religious holidays and events commemorating the La Dernière Guerre help to immerse the characters in the setting. Sporting events provide characters with an opportunity to make a little extra gold or to lose their chain shirts. A special event may provide an excellent starting point for an adventure.\\
The following holidays Démontrate a few of the most important or colorful events. Each deity has at least one holy day, and each race and nation has a host of traditions and festivals. Some of these events are unique to Sharn, while others are celebrated across Brelandeor Khorvaire.

=== HOLY DAYS ===

While these are primarily religious holidays, many of the holy days of the Légion Souveraine have become engrained into secular life, and affect the timing of government appointments, apprenticeship terms, and other things.\\
**[[sun_s_blessing|*Sun’s Blessing]] (15 Therendor):** The 15th day of Therendor, the festival of Dol Arrah, the Sovereign of Honor and Light, is a day of peace, a time for enemies to set aside their differences and commune. This tradition continued throughout the La Dernière Guerre, when most armies kept the peace on Sun’s Blessing. However, in 916 AR the armies of Thrane conducted a great assault on the Brelon city of Starilaskur on Sun’s Blessing, and many Brelon curse Thrane on this holiday.\\
Most of Sharn observes Sun’s Blessing, and a grand celebration takes place at the Pavilion of the Host in [[sharn:tours_souveraines|Tours Souveraines]]. It is one of the safest days to wander the city, and a time when rivals often try to resolve their conflicts peacefully. However, the followers of [[:the_mockery|Le Narquois]] and [[:the_shadow|L'Ombre]] may go out of their way to cause pain and suffering as an affront to the sun goddess.\\
**[[aureon_s_crown|Aureon’s Crown]] (26 Dravago):** The Cinq Nations observe the festival of [[aureon|Aureon]]. It is a celebration of knowledge, when the elders of the community share their wisdom with the young at evening feasts. Throughout the day, priests of Aureon gather at the Great Hall of Aureon in the Quartier Universitaire in Haute Menthis, providing sermons and lectures on a host of topics, from history to philosophy and the nature of the gods.\\
Like many of the holy days of [[:the_sovereign_host|the Légion Souveraine]], Aureon’s Crown has become a secular holiday that does not require any particular religious devotion. Aureon’s Crown is the traditional time for students to graduate or advance, and this is true even at the monastic schools of the Flamme d'Argent.\\
**[[:brightblade|Brightblade]] (12 Nymm):** Brightblade, the holy day of Dol Dorn, the Sovereign Lord of Strength and Steel, sees festivals occur in all of the temple districts of the city. Prizefi ghts, wrestling matches, archery contests, and jousts occur throughout the day, culminating in a contest of champions at the [[sharn:pierre_angulaire|Pierre angulaire]] arena in [[:middle_tavicks_landing|Middle Tavicks Landing]]. The champions receive generous prizes, and a fortune can be made gambling on the contests.\\
Occasionally, even more fantastic conflicts have been staged on [[:brightblade|Brightblade]]—full_scale battles held on the training grounds of Garde-dague, free_for_all melees with hundreds of contestants, and similar spectacles.\\
**[[:the_hunt|The Hunt]] (4 Barrakas):** The 4th day of Barrakas is dedicated to the Sovereign [[:balinor|Balinor]]. While followers of Balinor are taught to live in harmony with nature, 4 Barrakas celebrates his role as Lord of Horn and Hunt, the hunter who protects his people from marauding predators. Both rural communities and in greatest cities of Khorvaire observe the Hunt. In Sharn (and many other metropolises), the priests of Balinor arrange to have a dangerous beast transported to the city. The La Sureté cordons off an area of the Lower_City, and on 4 Barrakas the beast is released into the Depths. Anyone who wishes can participate in the Hunt by making a donation of 5 gp. Hunters receive the blessing of Balinor, and enter the Depths to track down the beast. Whoever returns with its head receives a prize of 500 gp, fame throughout the city, and the blessing of Balinor.\\
While the quarry of the Hunt is generally referred to as “the beast,” over the years the Hunt has taken different forms. Sometimes multiple creatures participate, and the victor is the hunter who gathers the most skins. During the La Dernière Guerre, rumors persist that a city in Karrnath used prisoners of war as the quarry in the Hunt.\\
**[[:fathen_s_fall|Fathen’s Fall]] (25 Barrakas):** Fathen’s Fall honors the memory of one of the heroes of the Silver Crusade, the great purge of lycanthropes that occurred over 150 years ago. Fathen exposed scores of lycanthropes in Sharn, but on 25 Barrakas a pack of wererats tore him limb from limb on the streets of Marché Nord. In observance of this event, the faithful gather at the Shrine of Fathen the Martyr (in the Marché Nord district of Bordure Nord Inférieur) to listen to a sermon given by the priest of Grands Espoir; followers traditionally donate 1 silver piece in memory of the crusade.\\
Férals in general have an ambiguous feeling toward this holiday. While they have ancestral ties to lycanthropes, many Férals actively participated in the Silver Crusade. Some Férals are comfortable with their ancestors’ participation in the Crusade, while others view it as a dark mark on their heritage. As a result, tensions run high within Sharn’s Féral communities and between Férals and the faithful of the Église de la Flamme d'Argent on Fathen’s Fall.\\
**[[:boldrei_s_feast|Boldrei’s Feast]] (9 Rhaan):** Boldrei’s Feast is a time for the community to come together and strengthen its ties. Maison Normandin and local merchants donate goods and services for a great feast that is held at the Pavilion of the Host. Traditionally, the wealthiest members of a district throw grand parties, competing with one another and seeking to improve social standing through these astonishing and extravagant displays.\\
In addition to these celebrations, Boldrei’s Feast is the traditional day for elections and government appointments, as Boldrei oversees the forces that hold a community together.\\
**[[:the_ascension|The Ascension]] (1 Sypheros):** The [[:church_of_the_silver_flame|Église de la Flamme d'Argent]] was born from the sacrifice of [[:tira_miron|Tira Miron]], who gave her life to serve as the Voice of the Flamme d'Argent. On 1 Sypheros, members of the church gather to reaffirm their faith and to give thanks to Tira for her holy gift. Over the course of the day, followers of the Flame attend a blessing ceremony; the grandest ceremony occurs at the Cathédrale de la Flamme Purificatrice (in the Tours Souveraines district of Middle Central), but the faithful pray at all of the city’s temples. In addition to attending the ceremony and sermon, the faithful seek ways to contribute to their community on Ascension Day.\\
**[[Nuit Sauvage|Nuit Sauvage]] (18–19 Sypheros):** [[:the_Furie|The Furie]], the Sovereign of Passion and Madness, the mistress of unbridled emotion, reaches the height of her power during the month of Sypheros. When the sun sets on Nuit Sauvage, emotions run high, and people find it difficult to restrain their natural impulses. The shy and the superstitious usually stay indoors on Nuit Sauvage and avoid public places. But many see the night as an excuse to cast aside their inhibitions. The streets fill with raucous revelry. From the depths of the Cogs to the highest towers of Plateau Central, wild celebrations last well into the night. But for all the joy and revelry, it is a dangerous time. Riots, brawls, and crimes of passion are all too Commun.\\
**[[:long_shadows|Long Shadows]] (26–28 Vult):** When the Sovereign Lord Aureon created the first arcane spells, he brought a source of darkness into the world—a sentient force of pure magic that stole his shadow to serve as its vessel. According to myth, L'Ombre lurks in the dark spaces of the world, spreading dread and despair, spawning foul monsters and granting power to those who use magic for corruption or evil purposes. Regardless of the truth of these tales, there are three days in Vult when dark magic dominates—the three nights of Long Shadows.\\
For most people, this is a time to stay indoors and huddle around a fire. For the minions of darkness, it is a time to rise up and leave L'Ombres, preying on the weak and foolish who ignore the legends. In Sharn, the primary worshipers of the dark deity are the monsters of Droaam. Humain followers of L'Ombre are usually wizards and sorcerers, and it is possible that a mage would need to complete a particular arcane experiment—such as the construction of an Machine Occulte—during Long Shadows.

=== SECULAR FESTIVALS ===

The La Dernière Guerre has had a tremendous impact on the psyche of the people of Khorvaire. Most of the events described in this section are memorials commemorating particular events of the war. Many more festivals take place that are not described in this section. **Galifar’s Throne (5 Nymm)**, for example, celebrates the foundation of the Royaume de Galifar, but today only Q’barra openly commemorates the event.\\
**The [[:tain_gala|Tain Gala]] (first Far of each month):** Balls, galas, and feasts occur throughout the year, as ambassadors, nobles, and Héritier des Dragonss wine and dine their relatives and associates. However, the Tain Gala has become an institution in Sharn. The ir’Tains, one of the oldest and most powerful families in Sharn, owns many towers and their wealth rivals that of the Kundarak clan. The guest list of the Tain Gala defines the social order of the city. The families with permanent invitations to the Gala, Les Soixante, are the royalty of Sharn.\\
In addition to these aristocrats and wealthy gentry, Lady Celyria ir’Tain does her best to invite a few unusual celebrities to entertain her guests—artists, poets, and sometimes adventurers. Aside from fantastic food and drink, such guests receive generous gifts and a temporary increase in status; for the next month, the attitude of any member of Les Soixante is increased by one category when dealing with the celebrity. An adventurer known to be a friend of Lady ir’Tain often receives invitations to other events or other forms of special consideration.\\
**[[:crystalfall|Crystalfall]] (9 Olarune):** While Sharn was never besieged during the La Dernière Guerre, sabotage was a constant threat. The most devastating event of the war occurred on 9 Olarune 918 AR. A team of abjurers destroyed the enchantments supporting the Glass Tower, one of the city’s oldest floating citadels. Over the last few decades, a tradition has built up around this day. Crafters carve ice sculptures, creating beautiful miniature towers, and then hurl them into the Fleuve de la Dague. Some see this as morbid, but for most of the participants, it is a way to remember what was Perdu—creating something beautiful and unforgettable, and then watching as it is destroyed. While carvings occur throughout the city, the largest and most prestigious gathering of sculptors occurs in Sunset Park in [[sharn:vue_sur_l_ocean|Vue sur l'Océan]] (in Upper Tavick’s Landing). A few of the city councilors judge the sculptures, and the winner receives a purse of 150 gp.\\
**The [[:day_of_mourning|Jour du Deuil]] (20 Olarune):** The La Dernière Guerre was a time of horrors. With every passing decade, deeper scars were carved into the surface of Khorvaire. But through a century of war, nothing had prepared the people of the Cinq Nations for the events of 20 Ollarune 994 AR—the day when the nation of Cyre was destroyed, leaving the Les Terres des Lamentations in its wake. The nature and cause of the cataclysm remains a mystery, but on 20 Olarune those who survived the fall of Cyre gather to remember their Perdu kingdom. Some tell stories of the dead, while others teach the history of the nation to the young or perform traditional Cyran songs and dances. Others remember only the war, cursing the other nations for refusing to accept Mishann’s claim to the throne of Galifar.\\
**[[:the_race_of_eight_winds|La Course des Huit Vents]] (23 Lharvion):** Dura, one of the oldest and poorest arrondissements of Sharn, contains inhabitants swept in from all corners of Khorvaire. They may not have gold, but the people of Dura have La Course des Huit Vents. According to the Communly accepted—if somewhat unlikely—legend, Roi Galifar II was fascinated by the use of aerial scouts and cavalry. It’s said that he used Sharn as a proving ground to test the merits of different flying beasts, granting land and gold to exceptional cavaliers. Over the centuries, this activity evolved into an exotic competition involving different sorts of magical and fantastic beasts.\\
La Course des Huit Vents is primarily a test of speed and skill through a course that weaves around and through the spires of the city. While the beasts may use any natural weapons that they possess, the riders may not use spells, psionic powers, Marques du Dragon, magic devices, or alchemical items. Anyone who breaks these rules is immediately disqualified and probably torn apart by an angry mob. The only weapon a rider can use is a sporting crossbow, equivalent to a light crossbow but with an 80_foot range increment and 1d3/1d4 damage. Competitors may carry a dozen quarrels, allowing the rider to hinder the progress of another racer but making quick kills unlikely.\\
La Course des Huit Vents brings spectators, tourists, and gamblers from across Khorvaire, and it also presents a host of opportunities for adventurers. The victorious rider receives a 500 gp purse at the end of the race, as well as a grant of land elsewhere in Breland, donated by one of Sharn’s noble families.\\
**[[:Fort_du_trône|Fort_du_trône]] (11 Aryth):** On 11 Aryth 996 AR, the signing of the [[:treaty_of_Fort_du_trône|Treaty of Fort_du_trône]] formally ended the La Dernière Guerre, bringing a century of bloodshed to a close. As might have been expected, the day has become an important holiday celebrated throughout the Cinq Nations. It is a new holiday, celebrated for only the second time this year. Le Maire of Sharn intends to hold one of the most extravagant celebrations ever seen, and tourists and celebrants are likely to attend from across Khorvaire.

=== SPORTING EVENTS ===

As a metropolis catering to people of all cultures, Sharn hosts all kinds of sports and athletic events. La Course des Huit Vents only occurs once every year. Other events occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Férals hold informal hrazhak competitions every night in Bordure Nord Inférieur. The ogres of the Cogs are fond of tugs_of_war, arm wrestling, and similar simple tests of strength. People wishing to bet on sports can usually find a gambler willing to set odds in [[sharn:allume-feu|Allume-feu]], [[sharn:callestan|Callestan]], [[sharn:pierre_angulaire|Pierre angulaire]], or [[hareths_folly|Hareths Folly]]. Three exotic sports practiced in the city are described below.\\
**[[hrazhak|Hrazhak]]:** Two teams of seven Férals play hrazhak, a rough, full_contact sport. Each team carries a wooden idol. To score, a team must steal its opponent’s idol and place both idols in its goal. Obstacles such as trees, streams, and piles of rubble play a major role on a hrazhak field, requiring the competitors to make full use of their inHumain jumping and climbing abilities. Idols can be thrown or carried, and there are no limits on contact between participants, although only natural weapons are allowed. There is no required structure to a hrazhak team, but most include two runners, climbers, and renders. Renders and biters can inflict serious injuries on their opponents, and a low_level druid or adept is usually on hand to provide healing; however, any competitor who receives healing is removed from play for the remainder of the match. Competitors are not allowed to use magic or psionic abilities.\\
The only formal hrazhak arena in Sharn is located in [[sharn:pierre_angulaire|Pierre angulaire]], where it is a spectator sport and a source of gambling. However, Férals have created ramshackle hrazhak fields in the slums and warehouse districts of the city, and Féral youths often play impromptu games in the parks.

**[[:Joutes aériennes|Joutes aériennes]]:** Commun jousting is popular enough throughout Breland. In Sharn, the sport has taken to the air. In a formal skyblade match, the goal is to knock the rider from his saddle—attacks against the mounts are forbidden, along with use of magic or Psioniques.\\
Formal matches take place in one of Sharn’s two aerial arenas, located in Pierre angulaire and Hareth’s Folly. However, informal matches occur throughout Lower and Centre Dura, Tavick’s Landing, and Plateau de Menthis. An informal match may be drawn out across an entire district, with competitors weaving between towers and around bridges. Rules for an informal match are set before the start, establishing whether magic can be used and mounts can be targeted. Skyblade jousters typically ride hippogriffs and carry blunted lances that deal nonlethal damage.

**[[six_stones|Six Pierres]]:** Six Pierres, a Droaam tradition brought to Sharn by immigrants, involves seven competitors who each pay a base stake. The seven are then sealed in a large Chambre with a cockatrice. The match ends when six of the competitors have been turned to stone, at which point the survivor receives the majority of the stakes (with a share being set aside for the organizers). A Méduse handler monitors the competition to ensure that rules are followed.\\
Contestants carry no arms or armor, and no magic or Psioniques may be used. Additionally, no one may attack the cockatrice. The challenge lies in defeating the other contestants or luring them into the path of the cockatrice. Le Champ de Bataille varies. It may be completely barren or chocked with rubble and cover; there may be light, or it may be pitch black.\\
Six Pierres matches are run by the monstrous organization known as Daask. The sport is highly illegal, but the matches are confined to the Dura Cogs and well hidden from the eyes of the Watch. Six Pierres usually only occurs once every few months. Sometimes participants voluntarily enter the arena, but most are debtors who have been offered a chance to clear their loans. Daask takes bets on the outcome, and usually earns a tidy sum.\\
Currently Daask has four cockatrices in Sharn (5 HD, 5 HD, 6 HD, and 8 HD), all of which were carefully trained in Droaam. A Méduse named Karyale (NE female Méduse expert 2) handles the cockatrices.

**Source:** Sharn: Cité des Tours




page revision: 2, last edited: 15 Jul 2010 21:30
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