2. The Great Race

Kicked off by the Roia ring burst, starting the new year.

takes place in Dyll or Enynel...

The noise of cheers and grunts and howls was almost unbearable. The stone streets and buildings around the plaza echoed. Gold and White Flags waved in the air on lines strung between buildings, trees and the tall columns of white stone etched with gold lace; many were hanging from rooftops and windows, and nearly everyone in the crowd had their white and gold new year flag waving vigorously in their hands and or just blowing in the wind. It was anyone's guess if it was in fact the crowd noise causing some of the wind in the plaza.

At one end of the blocked off plaza were twelve rather large and unusual vehicles. These were for the Great Race, a race which would require a vehicle to not only drive on and off road, but climb and descend mountains, sail on and under water, traverse the underground caves and steam vents, fly through the air, and then up to one of the Kæav--islands in the sky--and the monorails. Each vehicle had a team to manage it all; those teams were running round their vehicles performing last minute checks on rigging, pulleys, pressure systems, hatch seals, and grain harvesters. 

"Ddon OnMwrga," (Good morning) "And happy new year! And welcome to the Finals of the 277th Great Race." A sharp clear voice reverberated over the noise of the crowd, and it grew quieter. The voice that rang out through the crowd was a voice recognized by sports fans everywhere, the voice of Vin Chulcii. Vin walked out from the crowd and into the middle of the plaza. The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, I am Vin Chulcii," more cheers; "Today, I have the great pleasure to be announcing the events of the Great Race, and bringing you into the new year!"

The bright sky overhead  seemed more empty than it did most of the year; the golden Verroi peaking out from behind the white Merroi, nearly centered, and impossible to look directly at. 

"In mere moments, the Roia will be aligned, Verroi will give his ring to his wife, Merroi, and we'll welcome in the year 3885, and the Race will begin!" Popular mythic stories describe the Roia in a husband and wife role, or parental role, looking over the AUAK and the four Alru around it; protecting them from the blackness of Illek: the Devourer. There are many myths and beliefs on the matter, few of these are still followed; excepting those who use Roian or Alrun magic.

"While we have a few minutes, let's meet a few of the participants and their vehicles!" Vin walked the short distance toward the giant Alru Stone in the center of the plaza, the starting line. "We won't have time to meet everyone, I'm sorry to say, but team-submitted write ups can be found on the event scrolls available for free pretty much anywhere. If you don't already have one, well, you've failed your preparation check." The crowd laughed; a few looked around nervously, and scurried from their seats to one of the racks along the back sides of every set of bleachers. Some watching from high windows felt like they were missing out on something vital.

"Mr. Mersher and his all-Caitian team are always a crowd pleaser; let's catch up with them first." Vin's white suit coattail wafted as he made his way towards a group of cat-like humanoids. 

Vin Chulcii spread his magnificent white wings, with gold thread woven into nearly every feather. With a few powerful flaps, he was rising into the air, his thick but lightweight white suit buffeted as he moved through the air towards the announcer's booth.