Tarik Fannet was elbowing his way through the throng of the Bell Festival. His greased face and sweaty hair bore a grin nonetheless. The entire town was boiling over with excitement and anticipation as the first night of the weeklong fair approached. Having just finished his day at the smithy, Tarik was hurrying home to wash and don his finest clothes. Then he would bring his Tyn to the contest.
The Bell Festival was a fair celebrated in all of the regional capitals of Arkenaar. The Church of Phion stood for the ceremony on the first night, but after that the public pretty much took over. New wine, contests, street plays, and above all, Tyn music. Lots of foreigners and traders with all their odd clothes and wares came to the fair. Some came from as far as Brigland to the north.
The founder of the Bell Festival was the late Frad Arkenstone, one of the Hierophants of the Church. The Arkenstones held this highest office - the Hierophant was the figurehead of the Church - but seldom exercised the implied authority that followed the title. Once, however, the power was indeed misused to further personal interests. This was done by Frad.
Frad was not well liked by the people nor by his family. He was a vile and cruel man who gained his office as Hierophant through strict discipline and meticulous scheming and trickery. He also demanded piety and rich donations to the Church by the worshippers. Therefore, when he saw how the people was "sampling" the new wine, he sought to punish them, and instated a Week of Penance and Prayer.
This news was met with disbelief at first, then with outrage. Still, the people did not want to leave the Church, and grudgingly attended to the ceremony. Frad Arkenstone himself stood for the official opening of the Week, where a number of heretics were "convicted" and flogged in the Plaza Aroga of Arkopolis. The names of those who had left the Church was also read aloud.
Then, one of Arkenaar's finest player of Tyn came. He was commisioned to sing a religious hymn, written (poorly) by Frad. The bard's name was Martis Skull. Despite his name, he was a charming man of good looks, and also a free spirit. His skill with the Tyn and his vibrant voice was famous throughout Arkenaar, and he later became the Court Bard for the young High King Celor.
As Martis stepped forth, he was suddenly overwhelmed with inspiration and thrift. he forgot everything about Frad's tragic verse, and began instead to play a merry tune. His Tyn danced in his hands, and his fingers strummed and slashed its fine strings like the wind. The dramatic music gripped the entire public, and noone noticed the most FURIOUS Frad who screamed at the bard.
Then, with a tremulous chord, Martis ended the wild tune, and silence fell. In the distance, a bell tolled. Then the enthralled people applauded the bard and begged for him to play the tune again. Exhausted, he had to decline, but others brought out their own Tyns, trying to recapture the frolicking melody. Soon, they began dancing and feasting, and the entire city was rejoicing.
Thus, the tradition of celebrating the coming of the new wine with Tyn music spread to all of Arkenaar. Nowadays, the fair was also an annual trade meet with merchants and goods from all over Arkenaar and beyond. In recent years, Briglandian swordjugglers had come year after year to perform at Court, their show rapidly becoming one of the hallmarks of the festival among nobles.
The Bell Festival ceremony was just about to end as Tarik rushed to the town plaza with his rickety tyn. The town major was ringing the silver bell that signalized the beginning of the Festival week. He hurried down to the town hall to sign up for the Tyn Tune Contest. He smiled as he thought of what the night would bring: music, wine, dances, women... Everyone loved the Bell Festival.
Oh, come on! I was viewing the first page! I don't bother scrolling all the way down to the end of the page to click on that tiny number "4", scroll all the way down again and THEN edit the post! What you ask of me is spimly too much.
