Hey, the First Feast of the Maker is coming up in a few months--how did the D'ni celebrate it? Was it more a spiritual, personal celebration or a secular, group celebration?

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The Feasts of the Maker are all pre-Earth celebrations, so they happened a very long time ago, before the D'ni came here. If we look at the Kings' Journals, we note that the earlier millennia of D'ni were steeped in religious tradition and various issues of denominations and religious strife. It is only in Late D'ni that I've seen a more secular take on things (for example, in the Book of Ti'ana, it's mentioned that Aitrus, according to Anna, had a rational outlook on things, preferring natural explanations). From this, I would think that the Feasts of the Makers, at least in Garternay, were very religious events. We don't know if the Feasts were annual events during D'ni, or if they were specific historical events that only have importance when they first happened.

Gadren wrote:

From this, I would think that the Feasts of the Makers, at least in Garternay, were very religious events.

I disagree. Ri'neref was a religious fanatic (although one of the good kind ) and split apart from the rest of the Ronay because of his religious beliefs and the fact that the Ronay society didn't meet his high standards. I'd say the religious influences in the early days were a result of Ri'neref's influence and the fact he would have gathered like-minded religious folk. IMO the fact that his splinter was so small shows how much the D'ni settlers were on the fringe of Ronay society rather then the mainstream.

One example of that is the fact that the D'ni guilds were made to serve Yahvo whereas the Gaternay guilds were only interested in competing amongst themselves and serving their own purposes.

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Good point. I had always assumed they were once-a-year events, but given that they're barely mentioned in the translated D'ni literature (and certainly not mentioned as being repeated regularly)....hmmm.

Being spaced out thru a 1-year period as they are, they would seem to be regularly scheduled civic events, much like some of the Roman holidays. More a tool for community cohesion.

Or maybe there was a larger purpose, like the few days everyone could bring issues before the king and be treated as equals. No idea. No doubt they were successful to their purpose to be carried over from past Ages.

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Uru-Online Intermediate
"Well, at least you have your beloved West!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (perky, but very drunk)
"I hate the West." -- Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
'Oh, Thaddeus...!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (still, very drunk)

[quote="John Lynch"]I disagree. Ri'neref was a religious fanatic (although one of the good kind ;)) and split apart from the rest of the Ronay because of his religious beliefs and the fact that the Ronay society didn't meet his high standards. I'd say the religious influences in the early days were a result of Ri'neref's influence and the fact he would have gathered like-minded religious folk. IMO the fact that his splinter was so small shows how much the D'ni settlers were on the fringe of Ronay society rather then the mainstream.[/quote]

That would explain why the Feasts of the Maker were the only celebrations carried over to D'ni.

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Uru-Online Intermediate
"Well, at least you have your beloved West!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (perky, but very drunk)
"I hate the West." -- Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
'Oh, Thaddeus...!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (still, very drunk)

Jello Belt Jen wrote:

John Lynch wrote:

I disagree. Ri'neref was a religious fanatic (although one of the good kind ) and split apart from the rest of the Ronay because of his religious beliefs and the fact that the Ronay society didn't meet his high standards. I'd say the religious influences in the early days were a result of Ri'neref's influence and the fact he would have gathered like-minded religious folk. IMO the fact that his splinter was so small shows how much the D'ni settlers were on the fringe of Ronay society rather then the mainstream.

That would explain why the Feasts of the Maker were the only celebrations carried over to D'ni.

Well, we don't know that they were the only ones. I doubt that the small list of eight holidays on Cyan's and the DRC's site are the only holidays. For example, the Finding of the Lost Books of Birenni (http://www.drcsite.org/contests/bookbirenni.shtml) isn't mentioned on that list, but it seems to be a holiday.

True, but aren't that type of celebration more sectarian than general?

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Uru-Online Intermediate
"Well, at least you have your beloved West!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (perky, but very drunk)
"I hate the West." -- Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
'Oh, Thaddeus...!" -- Cora Templeton Massingale (still, very drunk)

Gadren wrote:

We don't know if the Feasts were annual events during D'ni, or if they were specific historical events that only have importance when they first happened.

I wanted to rectify this error. According to the Myst V 16-month calendar, it lists the Feasts of the Maker as "Yearly." Oddly, however, it only puts the First and Third Feasts on its list of D'ni holidays. Probably an error there, but it seems apparent that those feasts were yearly.

Ri'Neref didn't like the direction Garternay was taking with the Art (ie slavery)

I wouldn't say he was a fanatic he was dedicated.

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