The Big Market

The Big Market is an annual festival held in Marches.
It is the only time that both sides of the village come together and celebrate, leading to a lawless debauch. Children born around nine months after the Big Market are traditionally given the name 'Merchant', whether male or female.
The Big Market is held at the Old Fortress, around midsummer, but the date is calculated by the village elders.

History

The Big Market's centrepiece is a reenactment of an infamous piece of history. The riverfort was besieged by the forces of the Orcs and Elves who were starving the human garrison out. Under cover of night, the humanfolk managed to capture an orc and an elf, and bargained their lives for some rations. The besieging forces would not offer food, but instead mockingly offered money to the starving humans. The soldiers killed the captives and, in full view of the forces, roasted and ate them. The brutality of this exhibition destroyed the morale of the Orc and Elf alliance, and when relief finally came, they found the garrison well-stocked and thriving.

Execution

The people of the Marches eat very little meat, basically living as vegetarians for most of the year. This changes drastically at the Big Market, where there is considerable feasting. An orc and an elf are slaughtered for the crowd's amusement, and their heads paraded after the crowd offers to buy their freedom for 100 gold each. The gruesome finale involves roasting the flesh of the orc and the elf and serving them on bread rolls. A vegetarian option is available, which is an omelette aux cheveux d'orc et d'elf. True connoisseurs and connoisseuses will opt for a 'one of each' which is both elf and orc meat.

Primary Related Location

Marches