[center][b][color=fff200][i][h1]The Festival of Destiny[/h1][/i]
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[h3]Day One[/h3]

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	It was a beautiful afternoon in Andour City, and the Festival of Destiny had begun. The cobble streets and canals of the city were bustling with life - vendors of all races and cultures had taken to the streets, selling food, trinkets, fine garments, curiosities that they swore would bring good fortune to those seeking love in the coming week. Bright ribbons had been strung across the buildings, and shimmering magical lights flitted through the air in the shapes of animals, a loan from the Archwizards of the Academy of Magic. People filled the streets, laughing and dancing, pouring out of buildings. 

	This first day of the festival was traditionally one for freeform merrymaking; as far as the royal family was concerned, the Festival would not begin until that night, when the King and Queen addressed the city from the balcony of the palace, but everyone knew that the festivities were on. Most of the inns and taverns had massive holiday discounts, performers and musicians and jesters flocked the streets, busking for pennies, and of course, the people had arrived, in their dozens, in their hundreds. Giggling halfling girls in sundresses had arrived in wagons, and burly sailors had come by ships. Distant tribesmen from the far north, wood elves and genasi and strangers from across the sea. Two days ago, Lord Kealander, first among equals of the High Elves to the East, had arrived to great fanfare, parading across the city with his noble guard and greeting the King and Queen publicly. Alfhild, Queen of the Dwarves, had arrived in more subtle fashion the night before, though those with an ear to the ground would have seen the goat-pulled carriage at the front gates, or seen the dwarven warriors who had escorted her to the palace. 

People from everywhere came to the Festival; most of them were not Marked, just here for the party, the events, the free food and drink, or even the religious observations. But many were, young couples looking to partake in the free weddings offered by every temple in the city, or single people, hoping to meet the love of their lifetimes, that fated partner that was somewhere out there in the world, waiting for them. The Festival, ultimately, was for them - half the events were exclusive to Marked, and there would be holidays, fortune-readings, matchmaking services, everything and anything to help them. Many of them would find that special someone in the next seven days; many would not. It was a matter of luck, a matter of circumstance, and a matter, of course, of destiny.

The Festival had begun.