Diplodocus Festival

The people of The Great Namilli Plains are more dependent on the diplodocus than they would care to admit. Herds of these giant beasts roam the plains, and each town has a small festival and hunting ceremony whenever a herd is near. The details for each festival is different in each town, but the basics are all the same. Travelers from other towns have no problems joining in the festivities.

History

The festival got its beginings when The Great Namilli Plains were first being settled by humans. The large beasts were hunted whenever a herd was near, but it took immense coordination by the towns to take down even one full grown diplodocus. Everyone old enough to hunt, whether male or female, participated. As the years passed by, the towns started to develop rituals which, they said, drew the herds near. Travelers from those towns spread the idea of the rituals across the plains. The not-so-somber rituals grew and incorporated more and more festivities.

Execution

As the years passed, the people of the towns and cities learned the herds of diplodocus passed by around the same times every year. The festival soon only started to happen in the spring when the first herds of the year would pass. The last of the prior year's harvest would be used to make as bountiful a feast as possible. Whatever winter crops that survived and are ready to be harvested are added for fresh food, but no meat is used. The first fresh meat a person on the plains would taste of the year is that of the diplodocus. Tents are set up and entertainment of almost any kind is available.

Components and tools

Tents of bright colors, usually in the colors of the flag of the Reaches, are erected in the town square. People often sell their wares, whether they be inhabitants of the town or travelers passing through.

Participants

A mage skilled in the Ignus magics will often perform fire dancing, showing a giant diplodocus made of pure fire. If a mage skilled in Chalybs is also in attendance, they will make a show of attacking the fire beast with a conjured weapon, adding to the entertainment.

Observance

The rituals are observed near the end of the first month, Frondis. The exact day changes from year to year and town to town, but rarely do the herds ever pass by earlier or later.

The Hunt

Men and women are both allowed to participate in the actual hunt, but it is typically only men that do so. Once a boy or girl reaches the age of 12, they are allowed to accompany the hunt but not to participate. Only when they are 15 years or older do the other hunters allow them to participate, and only if they are already skilled in hunting smaller animals. One of the tasks of the younger and more agile hunters is to ward off any allosaurs that may be following the herd. Allosaurs do not usually hunt humans, but they are still dangerous creatures. A herd of diplodocus will usually have at least one small family group following it, since the herd itself draws other animals to migrate with them. Horses are typically used to bring the hunters close to the animals, for the smell of the prey animal masks the human scent.

Primary Related Location

The Great Namilli Plains