BuccaneerBass

Organiser: This activity is celebrated during Corvis Founding Day and run by the affluent Dunhook family, a military family whose grandsires -the wedded couple Alger and Cara- were actually members of the Rebellion against the Orgoth and served in some of the final battles. They work with retired members of the military, War bards on leave or shore duty, and various members of the Bannister Outdoors Club (hunting in the spring, fishing in the fall), to prepare for the event. They begin hiring volunteers on the 25th of every year.

Description: The activity is an all day 'representative' re-enactment of the end days of the Orgoth invasion, the forming of the Corvis Treaty, the final wars, all ending in feasting and making merry throughout the city, and lastly ending with a brief lights/fireworks display clearly seen over the Dunhook estate at night.

Currently, some of the city nobles are petitioning to have the celebrations become an official matter, and thus occur at the site of the Treaty signing, but the matter has not been heavily pursued as yet.

Agenda: Celebrations actually begin deep in the middle of the night before Founding Day, as hired actors shout and howl oppressively as they enter the city. For those who are still awake, the actors are wearing black clothes with dark helmets (on loan from museums or the Dunhook gallery) while wielding large menacing looking wooden blades. These men represent the Orgoth coming in and taking over the city, as locals are expected to serve them first, give them a wide berth, and treat them with "proper fear and respect." For obvious reasons, only locals are hired for these positions.

Later, as dawn first arises in the afternoon, drummers can be heard as local nobles and merchants march up the streets from the four corners of the city, moving towards the centre square, where the "Orgoth" are noticeably absent. Any local folk are welcome to attend (as fine wines or ciders and sweet meats are served to those in attendance) as the men re-enact the signing of the Corvis Treaties. Dunhook would like to invite members of all the kingdoms and races, but thus far has had little luck.

During this time, it's customary for the 'Orgoth' to leave the city, thus allowing the citizens to go about their regular business or to watch the Treaty signing.

Finally, just as noon strikes, the drumming picks up a heavy and fast tempo as the Orgoth gather in the streets just north of the square (in between the Dunhook estate and the square), this is when the assembled treaty signing actors yell out "To Arms!" as they pull out their wooden weapons and charge the Orgoth forcing them into a full retreat towards the Dunhook estate. When the actors assemble into the courtyards of the Dunhook estate, the gates are closed as all goes to silent. No drums, no singing, nothing.

This is when Brolas Goodhammer, a trollkin fellcaller and friend to Conner Dunhook (the current elder of the family), uses his signal call to declare "Autonomy!" three times. When the third call is issued, the gates are open once more signalling the start of the parties that will last until the evening.

Finally, as evening comes, a hired wizard (or more often than not, a hired alchemist) begins a brief fireworks display, which can be seen above the estate from anywhere in the city.

At the end of the display, locals typically bow their heads and issue a prayer of thanks to Morrow and the heroes of the rebellion.

Social crowd: For most of the day (the re-enactment and noon-day feasting), everyone is allowed and encouraged to witness or take part.

During the Dunhook party however, the only people in attendance are the actors, local nobles, high merchants, and those whom the Dunhook stand to gain from "making merry with". Occasionally, the Dunhook use this date to announce important events such as marriages or births, but this party is usually a purely political affair.

The actors are given their pay (25-75gp depending on performance and role) by the current Dunhook elder, although they can typically gather some donations from others in attendance. (If you wish to put this to a roll, a typical performance roll with modifiers based on role or actions.)