Fire Festival Fuels Faction Feuding

Factual filings from Veritia Invino...

OVER the last week there has been reported a significant increase of street violence in big cities as well as a number of Horde attacks on peaceful rural communities all around Azeroth. The escalation of crime is said to be triggered by Midsummer Fire Festival activities.

As the nations of the Alliance gather peacefully around bonfires to celebrate the unity of the Sun and the Moon by traditional maypole dancing, bonfire jumping, festive food and drinks, jealous Horde members attack unsuspecting guests and put down and desecrate fires. Several citizens were wounded in a heroic stand against attackers when a rummaging band of rascals raided Stormwind and Ironforge in a futile attempt to steal fire from the city pyre.

Our sources of information claim the Horde are trying to copy long-established festival and make similar efforts to hold large bonfire parties in their lands. Unfortunatelly, they miss the main point of the traditions being joy and peace, and turn them into aggressive drunken orgies. Both the King and festival Loremasters encourage brave adventurers to stop their unworthy efforts.

Last Saturday a group of diplomats escorted by a regiment of Immortalis representatives were delegated to investigate the case and discuss the problem with the leaders of the Horde. Again, none of them deemed the issue worthy their time, and the diplomats were not only refused the audience with any of them, but they also faced hostility and threats from both the guards and citizens of Orgrimmar and Silvermoon!

Fish 'n' Bakes: A Brief History

It must be bizarre for outsiders to watch, really. Several dozens of adventurers – some in full armour, some hardened warriors only previously seen on the battlefield now wearing ornate dresses and beautiful, decorated, and most definitely non-functional weapons. Diversity is rife: from tall, overbearing Tauren to the short Gnomekind and every size in between, right down to the shapeshifted Druids and Shaman; men and women, Horde and Alliance stand side by side. The sole uniting feature? Fishing rods, cooking fires, and use of them.

The Fish 'n' Bakes have been held on Azeroth for over two year. Matriarch Astra, Ethnarch Delanae, Exarch Qialynna and Exarch Antares of Athanatoi (all ranks are stated as they were at the time) conceived them in their current incarnation. Originally, they were held as small meetings around a campfire to raise the morale of the soldiers after long fights. They proved popular among the scouting unit which the Athanatoi was at the time – eventually, the decision was made to open them up to the rest of the Alliance (and, eventually, the Horde too). It was also decided that they ought to use them to teach the rest of the Alliance the survival skills that the Athanatoi had drilled into their heads – the ability to fish for food and the ability to cook the food they caught.



The first official Fish 'n' Bake – under that name – was held in February of the 31st Year AO (Anno Orcini, or After the Orcs). The events were held every two weeks for a while – there was a lull in their appearance for a few weeks over the summer period of the 31st year before the mantle of organising them was taken up by myself, Pentrarch Sprangler-Darksprocket. The marches that made an appearance in many early Fish 'n' Bakes have also made their recent comeback, with some success. They are still going - even after the reformation of the Athanatoi under the new name of Immortalis.

The key ideas of Fish 'n' Bakes is still to teach as many people as possible to fish and cook whilst at the same time giving them a chance to unwind from the stressful mercenary lifestyles a lot of us lead today. However, Fish 'n' Bakes have also included many other events over the months – such as story competitions, further survival training, base-jumping lessons, pet competitions, and more. There is also frequently a fireworks display as supplied by Mr Niblit, and a non-competitive story-telling session around a warm fire after the sun has set. These events are open to all, which is key to the relaxed atmosphere.



Previous events have turned out to be great successes, including the most unusual Hillsbrad edition - which included the special and unexpected guest appearances of El Pollo Grande and Narillasanz. The date of the next event is always a little uncertain, but the general populace will be kept posted via notice boards and flyers.

I have greatly enjoying bringing you these events thus far and hope to do so many times in the future. I trust many of you will attend the next time, and as many times after that as you can – it doesn't cost anything, and is a great way to wind down. See you next time!

Penned by Mrs Pentrarch Kall Sprangler-Darksprocket, of Immortalis.
Pictures by Ms Ethnarch Senya Clearlight, of Immortalis.