Crescent Lake

## Climate

Because of it's location, the city experience an abundance of lake-effect conditions such as storms and rain. Even with the dense forests, heat and moisture is often trapped, leading to increasingly humid summers and bitter winters. Drastic fluctuations in temperature or weather is not uncommon between the equator and pincering lakes. In response precautions are taken to promote effective draining and freezing preventions.

## Background

A tiny town tucked under the shadow of mountain ranges, crescent lake is a town surrounding the pool it is named for, surrounded by the mountains.

Due to its mostly rural nature, the community there is tightly knit and rumours spread far. Most of the long term residents at crescent lake know each other, and it is for that reason that it appeals mostly to retirees who want a quiet life, or travellers and fishers looking for a place to settle down after a lifetime of adventure.

The nature of most of its once adventurous residents has led to many legends originating from the small community. The people of crescent lake are deeply spiritual, most of the older generation harbours unyielding belief toward the teachings of Chuami. The experiences of the younger generation differ, but those who blatantly reject the way of life usually leave for other larger cities and coasts. Children of the town grow up in stories and songs, and while education attempts to remain subjective it is difficult not to fall for the beautiful myths surrounding the little town.

## Places

#### Church of Chuami

On one of the taller hills is the church of Chuami, a religious organisation mostly held responsible for holding the festivities in the small town. Similar to a town council, the work of the church is mostly done via spreading the message of Chuami’s teachings to her followers.

* At the foot of the hill is an orphanage that the church supports. Lost children are taken in by the community, and most of the children of crescent lake are closely looked after by the tight knit community. They go to school with the other children, and are taken care of by the nuns or other volunteers from town.
* It is not an unknown occurrence for children to be abandoned at Crescent lake, back in harsher times where resources are scarce. There are accounts that said Crescent lake was started by the lost and the lonely, and therefore the people remain welcoming to those unwanted by society.

#### Crescent Lake

Also known as 月牙湖 to the locals, crescent lake was named by the one who pioneered the town.

* Legend goes that a traveller was lost in the mountains, when he was led to the fresh water lake by the path paved by a single beam of white moonlight. His life having being saved by the lake, the traveller henceforth decided to start a community around it, providing respite for others like him.
* The waters of the lake reflect the moonlight, such that when the moon is full the whole lake’s surface is lit a glittering silver. However, there are other sources that claim the ‘crescent moon’ shape was named after the silver fish in the lake, that seem to mysteriously appear every full moon.
* With their scales reflecting the moonlight, the jumping fish are mistaken for a billion small, glittering crescent moons.

## Trivia

#### Legends

Crescent lake is known for its stories, art and novels being the main export of the town other than its agricultural contributions. With its mysterious and spiritual nature, the town is a well of inspiration.

* **The Wanderer’s Lantern**
	+ The wanderer is a constellation in the stars, and a bedtime story told oftentimes to children. It is said that there once was a man who refused to ascend. When it came time for his soul to pass the gate, the wanderer rejected the hands of the angels, holding stubbornly on to all the experiences he’s gained in life.
	+ The angels were deeply sad, but they could not let him pass. His sadness made his heart so heavy, it pulled him straight down to Gaia. But by then his body had long been gone and dead, so he had nowhere to go. Trapped between worlds, the wanderer wept tears full of regret.
	+ The angels took pity on this lost soul in the end, and gave him a home among the stars. Wearing a cloak of whispers, the wanderer uses his own soul as a lantern, the yellow light guiding his way around the earth until he could finally find a place to belong. Or until he could finally let go.
	+ It is usually used as a cautionary tale for children- Don’t hold onto your worries for too long or you’ll end up like him. There are retellings where the Wanderer became a guard of some sort, punishing bad children who were bitter and cruel.
	+ More empathetic listeners may find that the tale has a more hopeful ending in its open ended nature. The star of the wanderer’s lantern travels the sky during the winter solstice, making its way around Gaia. Perhaps seeing it when one is away from town gives those working in other regions a sense of solace.

#### Holidays

* **Chuami’s Birthday**
	+ Possibly one of the grandest and most prominent events of the year, and the time the small town is most frequented by outside activity, the event of Chuami’s birthday is a celebration filled with art and music that takes place over a week. It is predominantly led by the church, which takes care to educate the people on what to do and discuss with the potential merchants coming to the town.
	+ Before the festival begins, the town makes sufficient preparations by clearing the roads and decorating their houses. It is a grand affair that is taken on with utmost severity by its people, and it is not uncommon for each house to take special pride in the way they decorate their doors and windows with brightly coloured ribbons and lanterns, usually yellow and white in color symbolic of the rising souls.
	+ The ‘birthday’ is less of a celebration of Chuami’s birth (since people debate all the time about the time and the hour), and more of a day to honor the appearance of the prophet and remember the teachings she brought. That whispers are nothing to be feared and instead be accepted and celebrated, just as the angels would.
	+ It is this way that the main festivities are planned, around the symbolism of rising souls and the barrier.
	+ Most of the activities involve cooperation and unity, allowing for easy access and accommodation to even the tourists in town passing by. Purity and forgiveness are greatly encouraged, and the main aim of the festival is to enjoy oneself and rid them of the impurity that may cling to the soul.
	+ ((Inspired by: mid autumn festival, Tanabata festival))
	+ Festival activities
		- Lantern painting
			* Families and guests are encouraged to decorate their own contribution to the festival. Usually a bid for artists to show off their skills, there is an annual friendly competition among the artisans on who can create the lantern most meaningful to the festivities. Most of the people of crescent lake know how to weave their own paper lanterns, with ready made ones available to be purchased and decorated for those too busy to make their own.
		- Ascending lanterns
			* 天灯, Gaian equivalent of sky lanterns in China
			* It is the belief that the lanterns can carry wishes to the angels beyond, and is a way for one to connect to lost loved ones. At the end of the festival, hundreds of lanterns are released into the sky, making their ascension over the mountain and into the stars.
	+ Festival Foods
		- Confession letters- A cookie, similar to the Gaian equivalent of a love letter. Each year on the day of the festival the artisans of crescent lake gather to produce large quantities of these, decorating the surface of the cookies with beautiful patterns. It is said that if you eat it while you think of your worries, they will melt away just as the biscuit melts in your mouth.
			* The name of confessions comes from the patterns on the cookie itself. If you have any misgivings toward another, it is recommended you make the biscuit with them as an act of resolve and forgiveness. There are baking lessons provided readily in the festival grounds.
		- Crescent lake pastries
			* Pastries shaped in the waxing and waning of the moon, as well as those shaped in the shape of a fish. Usually a pastry skin with all sorts of fillings inside, from jam to cream, red bean to matcha. Anything you can think of, it’s easy to make and seen as a bonding activity. (Gaian equivalent of a mooncake or dorayaki)
		- Fish skewers
			* A special, once in a year occasion. The freshwater fish of crescent lake are tender and juicy, a rare treat. The flesh of the fish is milky white, turning a crisp golden brown when grilled. They’re usually served with butter or simply sprinkled with salt and herbs, each household you ask seems to have their own opinion on how best to prepare them. Of course, all of them can agree that no matter how you prepare it, the fish of crescent lake has a whole other dimension of deliciousness compared to regular fish.
				+ Since the residents of crescent lake take great pride in the legends surrounding the lake and its mysterious fish, the fish are only served at the festival annually, and are seen as a protected species.