Parade of the Purge
A Revisionist Feat
According to local legends, a huge band of vicious trolls once lurked beneath a nearby bridge. Anyone who dared to use the crossing would be ambushed and devoured. Then, when traffic over the river stopped entirely, the monsters slithered out and ventured into the nearby villages. The people decided they had suffered enough. They reached out to a travelling mage who taught them the secrets of conjuring fire. With this knowledge, they assembled a large draconic effigy and carried it towards the rampaging brutes. Volleys of flame spewed forth upon them, incinerating the foul beasts in a glorious blaze. It is said that the first Parade of the Purge took place the very next year to commemorate the victory, and that the festival has been held annually for thousands of years.
Nowadays, the event is very different. Whilst a procession of cloth and wooden dragons are still marched along the streets and bridge, the original meaning of this event has been warped. A strong propaganda campaign, masterminded by the Hearthkeepers of Myrengol, has transformed this celebration into yet another veneration of royal might. Regardless of the original tale's story, the official recollection of events instead claims that the travelling mage was Empress Moranos in disguise. As such, the Parade of the Purge has been transformed from a festival representative of the common folk banding together against a terrible threat, into another tale of the benevolent Hearthkeepers saving the day.
Changing Times
Many of the traditions surrounding the event have also changed. In the earliest recorded recounts of the parade, a sacrificial lamb would be doused in green dye and chased across the bridge by a ravenous crowd. At the other end, its path would be blocked a second mob, wielding draconic effigies and burning torches. The panicked animal would be cornered and burnt alive. Thankfully, this practice has ameliorated into something far less cruel. Instead of a poor animal, a small group of volunteers will smear themselves green and don hideous masks. Then, they will be shepherded over the bridge and cornered but, unlike the lambs, they will not be ignited. Instead, the huge model dragons will open their mighty maws to reveal a pack of young children painted orange. These "flames" will then rush at the "trolls", and push them over the edge. With an almighty splash, the crowd will rejoice.
Festive Merchants
Whenever a celebration draws a large group of people onto the streets, vendors will appear. Stands will pop up on every corner, each one peddling wares that are loosely based on the festivities. Street food and seasonal masks are popular, but the most iconic item sold during these events is Firebelly Liquor. It is a strong drink with a spicy taste, but it is most renowned for its unique effect on the drinker. If one consumes this beverage too quickly, they may notice a few wispy flames shoot from their mouth the next time they burp. It is undoubtedly thematic.
Celebration of Art
Each year, the event organisers will scour the Bastion of Myrengol in search of keen and able artists to recruit for the festival. When there was once a singular vaguely draconic effigy involved in the Parade, now there are at least ten, and the public's expectations for these centrepieces are constantly rising. As such, teams of artists will work tirelessly on these dragons, ensuring that their design will delight the crowd. Some particularly talented individuals have warranted such hefty payment that they only work for the few months leading up to the event, and others have used the attention to become personal hires for wealthy benefactors.
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