Sanctioned Personal Parties
Oh, we have fun in the order! Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Why, I bet we have more parties than any other group out there. They may not be the types of parties that those Procellans put on, but when we get going, it's great.
Take just two days ago. It was Jeroth's birthday. We were all working on copying documents for the attorneys, when two of them came in, pushing this little trolley that had a cake on it and a tray of drinks. Oh, it was wonderful! We all got together and sang a song to Jeroth, properly thanking Iuris for this time. Then we each drank our cup of hard cider, and that's when things got crazy. Annen started playing with the quills, sticking them in his hair, then started clucking like a chicken. It was so funny, because of course if anyone was to use chicken feathers for quills, it would be our cheap office. Then Janna went behind one of the easels with a pot of ink and a paper, and came back out with a print of her behind on it! We were all scandalized, of course, but it was all in good fun.
We went on for more than an hour like that, before it was time to get back to work. And it's Duren's birthday next week, so we'll see what we get up to then!
History
As Valbarra has become more technically advanced, the need for lawyers and laws has grown in accordance. The followers of Iuris were the obvious group to heed the call. As the numbers of laws and lawyers has grown, so too has the need for bureaucracy, and the Iurans have heeded the call there as well.
In the beginning, this work was done by various monks in hidden abbeys, but they couldn't keep up with the volume. The Iuran Church of Valbarra reorganized into companies, and worked with other companies to deliver the words and law of Iuris, and to influence the laws of other societies. Some companies were exclusively resources for other companies, such as scribe halls.
The company executives noticed that when people gathered in one place to work, they tended to become distracted with socializing. After watching, a particularly wise executive devised the Sanctioned Personal Parties.
From there out, whenever a worker had an annual significant event - also known as a "birthday" - they would be able to participate in an SPP. An SPP would be scheduled for a full hour over what would normally be the 20 minute midday meal, and a member of lower management would present the employees with a dessert, to eat along with their own meals, and one glass of watered down cider each. This was hoped to fulfill the need for socialization, and improve the efficiency of the business. When a birthday falls on the holy day, it is at management's discretion whether to reschedule.
Execution
The supervisor of the group that is celebrating must procure sufficient dessert to feed the entire group. This can be pastries, pie, cakes, or candy, as long as it can give a sugar spike to boost productivity after the party. In addition, a properly watered cider is key - the employees should feel that they are breaking a rule, but should not have the opportunity to become intoxicated.
With refreshments in place, the supervisor will enter the work area and call the employees together. They sing the traditional Song of Celebration, congratulate the specific worker, and then retire to their regular perch to watch.
Components and tools
Refreshments are typically delivered on a trolley - repurposing a supply trolley is most common. As glasses have a high risk of breakage, cheap mugs are recommended.
Participants
The celebrant should take center stage, and does not sing with the rest. They will also get the first choice of dessert (followed by the management representative if they are still present). Some even allow the celebrant to decide on the dessert, but this is uncommon.
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