Gala of Spring Flowers

Time: The Gala of Spring Flowers is an annual event, which sees as many as fifty Dynasts arriving at the villa of Cynis Shen in the first week of Ascending Wood. The gala lasts from before sunset on the third day of the week to the same time on the following day.

Location: Villa of Spring Flowers (Imperial City)

Host: Cynis Shen

Invitations: As a gala, the affair is not invitation-only... any Dynast may make a showing. However, Shen often sends out personal invitations to those whom he favours, or whose presence would plant seeds of interesting conversation. Shen also uses the gala to bring out the young Dynasts for whom he serves as a sort of patron, placing them directly into the heart of the Imperial City's social web. Without the social connections gained through gala attendance, many young Dynasts might have difficulty securing invites to more exclusive events in later months, a fact which earns Shen many small gratitudes amongst the junior levels of the Dynasty. Shen does not, however, invite sorcerers or the outcaste.

Theme and Activity: The theme of the gala is of springtime in bloom, budding flowers bursting forth. As such, the decor and dress are floral in nature, with slaves passing about dressing guests with garlands of woven blossoms. As one might expect from a Cynis party, there is debauchery, but other than a vast variety of wines (both rice, grape, and imported fruit varieties), there are few narcotic substances. The vice at this gala is of a sexual nature: in addition to the ready slaves, Shen hires out the staff of a high class brothel in the Red Lantern District to supplement the entertainment. For the less lustfully-inclined, Shen puts his full troupe of orchestra and dancer slaves out to keep up a constant stream of music and dancing... though these themselves are often seized by Dynastic passions before the eve is through.

History:

768 – This year’s Spring Flowers Gala saw Tepet Sorae put on a stronger showing than Cathak Vessala in a display of sword katas, birthing a burning feud. It was also the party where the true love of Sesus Zhoutai and Peleps Archova was put on display as the pair presented their betrothal.