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[color=FDF5E6]They needed a safe harbour. That much could be said with complete certainty. While a handful returned as triumphant heroes, more returned bruised and battered, both psychologically and physically, their faith in... more or less [i]everything[/i] shaken and, in some cases, shattered. Some were a half-step away from madness or, [i]worse[/i], open rebellion. Others felt used and abused by the academy. Still others didn't return at all. This, then, was their sophomore year.

Of course, the people in charge of Ersand'Enise - those at the helm of the multibillion magi enterprise - were not stupid. They could sense the dissatisfaction building, and it had built along a number of avenues: the biros who had been sent into the field were reeling, there was seething unrest in Mudville as academy interests moved in on the cheap land, and the Grey Fleet of Tarlon had forced the Bin Ada Channel and was, even now, most likely landing in Tanso or Oiyac. Behind it all loomed the spectre of war between those two great coalitions: the Sovereign Pact and the Central Alliance, tempered only by the growing threat of the Tarlonese yasoi. They should have feared their own people as well, but the underclasses are always ignored, in history, until it proves too late.

In the end, the so profoundly necessary safe harbour turned out to be... a fun faire. In truth, the idea of Hugo Day had been conceived not very long after the late paradigm's death and increasingly solid plans had been in place for nearly a year. The timing was merely fortuitous, or so those in charge might claim if pressed on the matter. It had always been known that Hugo Hunghorasz and Giacomo the Owl had shared a birthday, so the Societies Faire was pushed back a week, and what resulted was a four day weekend of revelry rebranded the Founders' Day Weekend Fun Faire, with Mother's Day tacked awkwardly on to the end.

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Banners began to appear on the streets of Ersand'Enise as early as Greenleaves and, by the time of Return Day, when courses resumed, they were everywhere: festooning walls and streetlamps, hanging between trees, fluttering from flagpoles, plastered outside of classrooms. There was no forgetting it. The Academy even asked its Zenos and Arch-Zenos to shill for the event as they taught and mentored, though many found it beneath them and did so grudgingly, at best. 

Gradually, the festivities, games, and events were revealed. First, it was a performance by the famed Soul Sisters, on Assani the 34th, and then Leon Solaire, on the 35th, a Victendes. Soon came news of a merry-go-round, a ferris wheel, a skating rink maintained by cryogenic magic, and a pair of innovative new rides known as 'roller coasters' from Vossoriya and from Retan, named the Tempest and the Dragon's Fyre, respectively.

Bread and Circuses: there is no better short-term solution to discontent. Why, the plebeians of Mudville were even given free vouchers to attend, taking the wind out of proto-revolutionary sails! A travelling zoo was to make an appearance, along with a great circus featuring horse, dragon, and thresher races, acrobats, illusionists, performing animals, fortunetellers, games, and rarities from the world over. Apparently, the Empire of Tantiac had sponsored a grand exhibition as well, though this had been cancelled in response to their unprovoked invasion of Ai Medda.

There was more, though! Soon, the student body was all abuzz about [i]The Academy's Got Talent[/i]: a great talent show among students with Zenos acting as judges and arbiters. There was an eating contest sponsored by the Perrench Société des Gourmands, an Animal Extravaganza with both a show component as well as mounted and unmounted races for dragons, threshers, and equines, and a Sociedad de Forzudos-sponsored team Tug-of-War on a large platform floating on Hedda's Lake in the Arboretum. This was along with dozens of games such as a shaped-lightning racecourse, gargantuan milk-bottle ring toss in heavy winds by the coast, scheduled foot races through the ever-shifting hedge maze in the arboretum, target shooting, a three-legged race, and a 'Reshta Race': a hopping contest.

They did not stop at mere entertainment, however. There was an incentive system as well. Marceline, morose over her brother's disappearance, had been brought in by the school's Student Enterprise Council, and thrown herself into the workings and operation of the festivities. Precisely seven days before the start of the event, students would find, in their mailboxes, a letter detailing how matters would be conducted and the levels of reward to be earned. There were six, in total: Chaos, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron. While some of the prizes were revealed to be eminently desirable, a series of mystery rewards remained unknown. However, given the academy's propensity for extravagance, nobody doubted that they would be quite special indeed.

Students went about their daily business, attending classes, practising magics, passing or failing exams as they would. The fleets of workers who kept the city running continued to do so. On the surface, Mudville was calm, its people eagerly awaiting a better future, but beneath this, it bubbled and thrashed in the grip of an upcoming referendum on its future. All the while, politicians plotted and planned in the background. Ai Medda bled, and the Grey Fleet made landfall in Constantia, welcomed by some, resisted by others. The city and the academy, so deeply intertwined, prepared their salve. 

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Then, as a late stresian thunderstorm crackled and mumbled lazily in the clouds and a soft rain fell away to grey and indistinct predawn, the scaffolds and slipways that had sung with the sounds of hammers and saws lay silent and quietly disassembled, carted hastily away overnight by the endless work crews that had used them these past weeks. The city's four Zenobucks locations were up and running as the sun rose behind a veil of clouds, their pots and kettles bubbling and steaming, carts clattering down the streets to deliver the day's baked goods. Mugs were stacked with careful haste, employees tied their aprons and helped themselves to their complimentary morning drinks. Zarina came by to check on two and Marceline the others. Most of their early customers consisted of departing work crews, who received a small discount, and bleary-eyes students and zenos who were just now setting up tents and booths for the Societies Faire. Nobody but the most fanatical wanted the first shift. Their mugs sat in front of them on tables and chairs as they worked, taking occasional sips. In barely more than an hour, the entire thing took shape from its primordial form.

Fires were lit in hearths the city over, kitchens bustled with cooks, and people rolled out of bed and began to dress. Children chirped excitedly to their parents about this or that, eager conversations were held around tables, and bags were packed for a day out. The banners were everywhere as they began to step out into the streets. Others slept in, taking advantage of the blessed day of rest, at least until the great bells of San Carrera tolled to announce the start of festivities.

It was as if the Gods themselves had heard the sound, for the clouds parted most gloriously less than a minute later, great and puffy and golden-white in the early morning sun. Puddles dried and boots rushed through the streets, dodging what was left of them. The residents of Ersand'Enise were not alone, however. Denizens of Mudville, in an attempt to encourage their continued presence under the great city's umbrella, had been given those vouchers, after all, delivered in style by crows, ravens, and magpies that only a handful had taken the opportunity to butcher and eat. They streamed in, now, through the Seagate: whole families, with uncles and cousins. Hundreds more came from Perrence, Revidia, and Méattu. More, still, came from yet further afield. Finally, came their fellow students. Some curious, enterprising, or hedonistic sorts, they'd have normally arrived a week later for the Trials, but they found ways to arrive now, perhaps thanks to the skyrocketing availability of Temporal magic as of late. 

Crowds filled the streets by the time San Carrera's bells chimed to announce that Shune had given way to Oraff. There seemed to be a musician on every corner, playing some sort of merry tune. There were games for everyone to win: grizzled dockworker and scion of high nobility alike. How there were foods, as well! Great heaping plates of rare and exotic dishes from around the world awaited within the temporarily christened Smorgasbord Hall. Merchants lined the boulevards. Shrewd-eyed housewives bargained. Yet, the longest lines were saved for the grandest attractions... and the most potentially lucrative. The Founders' Day Weekend Fun Faire was well and truly underway. 

[hr][hr][center][h2]Forms and Guidebooks[/h2][/center][hr][hr]
The following forms and guides should help you navigate the Founders' Day Weekend Fun Faire. This is not so very formal an event and much of it will be run via discord. If you have questions, ask away!

[list][*]Here is the [url=https://forms.gle/DAxm5JXpFm3K52AHA]Societies Registration Form[/url].
[*] A fully updated list of all the various student societies can be found in the fourth hider [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5321095]here[/url].
[*]Finally, be sure to read the [url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1es1UnsnTHSBdCp3u7WCW9A04Rgemw4sYLfo_P5cdmbI/edit?usp=sharing]Fun Faire Rules[/url]![/list]
[hr][hr][center][h3]The Hourglass Order's fifth arc, Linchpin of the Hinge, begins... now![/h3][/center][/color]
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