Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Summer of Lore #65: The Ichidou Aeris

NOTE: Most of the material today is story exclusive, and does not appear in the game

Commissioned as Natiliene's first major building project as ruler, the Ichidou Aeris is a sight to behold. Made from enchanted peridot, it is the first building you see when you enter the Jeweled District.

(story exclusive)

Central to the worship of the wind goddess is the kukidama, a special type of crystal that is inflatable like a balloon. When inflated, a kukidama's colors will often change depending on the strength of the denevala's (devotees of the wind goddess that have dedicated themselves to inflating kukidamas) blows, then harden into a jewel that resembles a huge marble when it is completely inflated.

Kukidamas are often displayed in the common rooms of houses and from the roofs of prominent officials in trade cities like Taraka, as thanks to the wind goddess. However, kukidamas are also in high demand as collectibles, with certain patterns being very valuable. An apprentice denevala will have to learn to blow 500 unique patterns as part of their training. Of these, three are often blown as part of ceremonies--Peridot's Luster (a pattern blown during prayers--an apprentice's final task is to blow this pattern as part of a special ceremony), Stardust (a beautiful sparkling pattern blown on holidays) and Windsong (blown to open and close ceremonies)

An apprentice will blow most of the patterns as part of selling kukidamas--a good danevala can blow up to 10 kukidamas a day. Natiliene receives three specially designed kukidamas from the Ichidou Aeris a year--one on her birthday, one on the anniversary of Taraka's founding, and one on Lafisavia.

The weak of lung and those that are not danevalas need not attempt to inflate a kukidama--the inflation process is a long and tedious process (about 3-5 hours--a good danevala can usually finish in 1-2 hours) done strictly by mouth. The huge mouthpiece (which is slightly larger than a tuba mouthpiece--it is custom made to suit each individual danevala's mouth shape) used in this process is attached to a long metallic tube that is in turn attached to the bottom of the kukidama, which pops out on its own when the kukidama hardens.

Since the Ichidou Aeris is one of the top producers of kukidamas in Shokiyu, their work is in high demand. One of the prizes in the tournament Miresa and co. participate in is a "Gemsinger's Hope" kukidama, one of the harder patterns to create  

  

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