Starsavel

The **starsavel** is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurised air through a set of tubes selected via a keyboard. The starsavel is generally powered through the use of water pressure. Originally this was done by the displacement of water at the foot of a waterfall such as in the Resél National Starsavellium of M'dánlé. Modern starsavels generally use hand pumps or steam to generate the pressurised air in the pipes.

Starsavels have become one of the most popular musical instruments in the world due their clear and appealing sound. They are installed in every major Resél city as well as most other major cities. The first city outside of the Resél to construct a starsavelium was the Kingdom of Zaramae who also coined the term starsavelium meaning "building of the starsavel".

### History

#### Creation

The first starsavel was built by lord Gérsél II of Stéssérs on the waterfall located on (at the time) the small town of M'dánle. He named the instrument the Stárs'ávél meaning "many pipes", this is still the Resél word for starsavel which is a Cysterised version of the word. The original starsavel consisted of a building at the foot of the waterfall which encapsulated the pressurised air so it could be used to play the organs.

Several issue began to show witht he organ, firstly, the organ was simply too quiet to be heard over the roar of the waterfall. Many solutions were considered but none were taken seriously until one year due to low maintainance the air tanks of the Starsavel exploded destoring much of the insrument. The Duke at the time, the son of Gérsél II, Alb'nál I decided to enhance his father's creation and make it work.

#### Grand Starsavel

Alb'nál was a great scholar and the explosion of the tanks was one of the greatest discoveries of that age. it led Alb'nál to believe there was such a force as pressure, he explained that air too can fill a space even though it cannot be held or touched, and that in fact it can have a force so strong to destroy the container it holds. For this reason he proposed a solution, the entire waterfall would be encased in a tower with a large opening at the top. If the Starsavel was to be played, the valve would be closed so the air pressure could be collected - in other words the entire tower would work as an air tank for the starsavel when it is to be played. Furthermore, he doubled the size and amount of the pipes so they would be much louder. Finally he turned the exhaust of the pipes toward the mountain walls so the sounds would be projected rather than dispersed.

All of the structural changes introduced by Alb'nál created the largest and most magnificent instrument Danterra has seen. The sound produced by the Starsavel of M'dánlé was unique and beautiful. Quickly all the nobles of the federation flocked to M'dánlé to hear the starsavel play.

#### Starsavel Night

It eventually became tradition to play the grand starsavel at the night of T'Neppél's Festival. A day dedicated to the goddess of music and the arts. After years this became the highlight of the day as thousands of rich merchants, nobles and other wealthy citizens flocked from all across Danterra to watch the play put up on a floating platform on the lake adjacent to the organ followed by a grand concert.

The play usually presented consists of a romaticized and comedic version of Legend Qu' Athál and the creation of the Federation where the goddess T'Neppél herself helps the heroes. The play is unique to M'dánlé as it incorporates the terrain into the play by dropping fake snow and rain onto the viewers at certain parts of the play. Other starsavelliums around the world perform their own plays which are generally light hearted, comedic and positive as the festival occurs in mid-summer when the weather is warm enough.

The celebrations continue until the next morning across all cities of the Federation and many others across Danterra especially now that the religious origins of the festival have began to fade away. The festival is also a celebration of art and in recent years Vizzetia has began hosting a world art exhibition on the same day where the most talented artists, writers and painters from around the world can show their work.