The Military Fair of 1972
One of the great tragedies of the modern Idran empire was the Military Fair of 1972. The Grand Symphony commissioned a new symphony from the great composer, Ifna. The piece was designed to be more violent than previous, so Ifna recommended that the Grand Symphony double the number of woodwind ensembles hired in order to protect the audience from the effects of the music. Unfortunately, Fred Composer disagreed with Ifna Conductor. The two men began a heated argument throughout the media. The conflict between the two men became so heated that they refused to talk to each other any more and used messengers and articles to convey their venom for each other.
The day of the great Military Fair of 1972 dawned bright and hopeful. The surviving photographs from the day show a large crowd surrounding the glass platform on which the Grand Symphony appeared resplendent. The usual number of woodwind ensembles were used according to the wishes of Fred Conductor. Ifna Composer was notably not in attendance.
Several eye witnesses from the Grand Symphony and the first few rows of the audience have reported that nothing seemed amiss at first. The audience were rapt with attention, but soon the first violins and cellos could see a wave of destruction pouring over the back layers of the audience. People were falling to the earth with mortal wounds that could only be attributed to the Grand Symphony's music. Panic broke out in the audience and people tried to flee. Unfortunately, this took them out of the area of protection that the woodwind ensembles were able to provide. The Grand Symphony and some of the audience that sat closest to the woodwind ensembles watched in horror. Fred Conductor tried to keep the Grand Symphony playing, but eventually he realized that something was terribly wrong and let his arms slump to his sides.
All told, the death count was staggering with many more injured. Fred Conductor was fired. Ifna Composer's symphony was banned from public performance. Double the wind ensembles were hired for all future military demonstrations.
