Festival of Veles - Festival of Intercultural Respect and Understanding
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"Let me get this right Alberto, am I flying to Czech Slavia on a regular Iberia flight with Quintero?", Minister Sémper asked the President of Spain after the Council of Ministers. "You are", Feijóo answered briefly, to then explain the reasons behind that decision: "We cannot let Íñigo Quintero into one of our private jets -not because he is dangerous or something- but he is not a Government official and honestly, we just sent you there because he announced he would perform there. Oh, and because I need you to check on our relationship with Inquista, Istkalen and our first and most reliable REM provider, Czech Slavia. So you better make a good impression there".
Borja Sémper was not too excited about flying regular into Czech Slavia, as he had imagined he would finally get to use the Falcon Dassault or even the Airbus A320 to get there. He would, however, take an Airbus plane on his journey. The day before their departure, Sémper received an email from the Ministry of Finance informing him of the route that they would follow. "A low-cost flight operated by Vueling from Madrid to Litoměřice, first row, baggage included for both passengers", he read. Not only he would not fly in business, he would also be a passenger of a low-cost carrier. At least, he would have the company of Quintero.
Íñigo Quintero was the artist of the moment in Spain. A few months back, he had become the Top 1 Global artist on Spotify, and his song 'Si no estás', which he expected to perform in the Festival of Veles, had become viral on TikTok and Instagram. People loved the song and its message, that some associated with God and religion. Even some attendants to the massive youth catholic convention in Lisbon that took place in Portugalia last summer used it on their stories and sang it. Everyone knew the song: they played it on the radio, he performed on TV... Life had given a 180 degrees turn for him.
During the flight, Sémper and Quintero got to know way better: the Minister was from the Basque Country, and he had listened to the song; while Quintero was from Galicia. The conversation went so good that, sooner than Sémper could have ever expected, he found himself fastening his seatbelt to land safely in Czech Slavia. "The flight was nice, thank you", he told the captain and flight attendants before leaving the plane on last place alongside Quintero. There, a Spanish embassy motorcade was waiting for them, to take them to the Festival.
"Won't the press say anything about me riding a Government motorcade to the Festival?", Íñigo asked.
"We just have our photographer and media team here, no one else has come to cover this event. So no one will actually know about this", Sémper assured his guest. Both got into the car, and headed towards the Festival, expecting Minister Šín to be there.
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There was no country Évretas Iketemar despised more than her own. Her comrades-in-arms she found dull, unconcerned with art, with anything of the higher or the divine, their lives lost in their endless buzz of prosaic work. Their practices - their beliefs and their rituals, their songs and their dances, their rites and their celebrations - she found even duller.
Liris's doctrine of austerity had stripped away all beauty and intricacy from their lives, leaving everything blunt and gray and uninteresting. Marriages, to what extent they existed at all, were meaningless, mechanical recitations; there was nothing to them, no emotion, no tenderness, no worship, apart from those motions and words that were absolutely necessary to make them valid in the eyes of whatever authority was conducting them. Funerals were much the same, reduced to the act of burial or cremation, comprised of nothing but that which was necessary to get rid of the dead body, itself reduced to nothing more than a vague unpleasantry.
It was all so unsentimental, and it was killing her, for her own life was all art and motion, brought to life in wild sound and music. It was energy and excitement, an eternal, elevated striving to capture the higher Forms as best as she could; it was the antithesis, in its entirety, to the ever so horribly ordered society in which she lived.
To be given the opportunity to leave, and be paid - paid! - for so leaving, then, even if only for a day, was, for her, something close to deliverance. And the Festival of Veles would, she was sure - she could already picture it in her mind's eye, ecstatic, wild, colorful dances around a great, roaring fire, a tall statue, jeweled and sparkling, carved ornately, with care and with unfathomable devotion, looming in the background, watching, standing guard over, all the wonderful, colorful, lively festivities - give her all that she wanted. Her cup would run over; it would more than run over.
What new pieces she would be able to write afterwards! She scribbled little, wild passages of song in her notebook, already hearing the fragments of little passages of the new music she was convinced would come to her rising out of the rites of the Rodnovery.
She had managed to convince the boring, workaholic ministers - Virejane, too much a utilitarian, and Laakonen, too much a man - to stay away. She would be - thankfully! - alone to admire the energy and artistry and, above all, whimsy of the Czech pagans.
Thus did she arrive in Litoměřice, gliding across the pavement, overcome with excitement, face alight with a smile as she took in the bright fire, the wonderful singing, the beautiful statue - all she had imagined, all she had wanted, and then more.
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Minister Šin exhaled loudly through his nostrils when he noticed the two guests from Spain approaching him. He was afraid they would be the first to arrive as ever since he was fired from the Spanish sitcom shot 'Jersey' he has developed quite the disdain for the Spanish culture. Not to say that they got to wear normal clothes, unlike him. "Karel Šin, my pleasure." He said as he shook hands with Íñigo Quintero and Borja Sémper directly after him.
"Any plans how to reverse the continuous decline of Spanish culture?" He openly asked Minister Sémper with a grin, "From an outside view it looks like, you know, it'll be a lot of work, so you have my sympathies. Don't worry to reach out if you need any help in elevating it!" he winked and patted the Spanish minister's shoulder.
Šín then turned his gaze at Quintero, staring at him for a little bit, before opening his mouth again, "Do I understood it well that a song about religion made you famous?" Šin shook his head slightly, "People will listen to just about anything these days won't they? We actually got a Catholic in our government now, in charge of education, Bedřich Gebauer. You'll recognize him easily, he is the only one dressed norma... not like me. But he likes country I think." he waved his hand into a distance.
Spotting Ms. Iketemar approaching, Šin straightened his back and tucked his belly in, raising his hand in a slight wave, "Weren't there supposed to be a little more of you?" he finally asked when she arrived closer to him, "Well, not to worry, the Good has arrived while the Bad and the Ugly did not." Šín chuckled at his own comment, but before he could speak again he was interrupted.
"Minister Šín, I see some of our guests have arrived, allow me to introduce them to our Clear and Brilliant Sun." Slavommír announced, beckoning with two fingers for the three guests to follow him, before leading them towards one of the fires, around which the President of Czech Slavia alongside her two Ministers danced.
"We are most pleased to see you, it is good when cultures meet, would you not agree? Please reach out to me if you have any questions regarding the religion or customs. Of course, I do not claim to have greater understanding than comrade Reiserová, but, why would one bother her with trivial questions, when she is leading the revival as a whole? I was deemed competent to answer on her behalf." he smiled at the three guests and pointed at a table with bread and salt, "Please accept our welcome." He urged each of them to take a piece before he finally led them to the President who immediatelly stopped her dancing, and panting and sweating slightly walked over to the guests.
"Greeting sister and brothers! I hope you had a nice travel? Thank you Slavomír, you may go now." she nodded to the older man who nodded and walked away, leaving Reiserová, Saková and Imerová alone with the three foreign guests as they exchanged handshakes.
"I see Mikaela did not arrive yet. And I am not sure whether she will. We barely spoke lately." for a brief moment the President's smile dissapeared from her face as she looked in Šín's direction. "Exciting times we live in, right?" she turned right back at her guests with a smile. "But first tell me a little about what is new in your countries! I was sad to learn about Mr Aguilar leaving office, we knew... a lot about each other you know. I don't yet know as much about Juncker! And I was sad to learn about Mr Rikkalek leaving the office as well, you know between us, he was a bit bizzarre." the woman in a pagan outfit whispered to Iketemar, "But he seemed nice! But you could see in his eyes that he was missing something, now before I wouldagree with Mikaela that he was missing a partner, but now I see clearly that he was, you know, missing a spiritual awakening!" Reiserová nodded and blinked several times.
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Name of the Attendee:James Mizrachi Roscoe, Amaziah Mizrachi-Roscoe, Danya Mizrachi-Roscoe,Mathias Mizrachi-Roscoe and Yohanna-Mizrachi-Roscoe
Country of Origin:United Duchies
Attendee Role(s) (e.g. President, Monarch, Chairperson, Actor, Singer):European Councillour and his family
Special requests (incl. dietary):Kosher food for Yohanna Mizrach-Roscoe(or vegeterian failing Kosher availability)Name of the Attendee:Marcos Llunas-Roberts, Izan Llunas-Roberts
Country of Origin:United Duchies
Attendee Role(s) (e.g. President, Monarch, Chairperson, Actor, Singer):Pastor of ICS church and son (also a music artist in Spanish and Duchian English)
Special requests (incl. dietary):None -
James had been asked to attend the festival of Veles by the government. He took some persuading after all this is a country that had stole his business but hey politics is politics. The foreign secretary was busy. He decided it would look better if his family also came so Yohanna came with Danya, Amaziah , Mathias and Aerial Amaziahs girlfriend. Maybe this could be an oppurtunity to take part in another culture for them. They arrived on the budget airline flight, having traveled by Wizz Air and then traveled from the airport to the city by bus. They preferred it this way no pazazz no , fuss the bus was fine for them. They eventually found their way to the venue , they saw Íñigo Quintero and D. Borja Sémper Pascual as they arrived to the venue as well as the Istkalen delegation Évretas Iketemar.They started mixing and socialising around the delegations , they just wanted to enjoy the experience.
The Global Pastor of the ICS Marcos Llunas Roberts and his son Izan Llunas Roberts also were in attendence which was a great comfort to James to see some good friends there . The two found each other with Izan saying hello to Amaziah. What would come next at this festival they did not know but hopefully it would be exciting.
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"Don't worry," Iketemar said to Šin, "I don't think you'd have liked the others. You are a devotee here, after all - a deacon, perhaps? you must forgive my ignorance - and the other two have no interest in culture. Football seems to be Mr. Laakonen's one and only true love - no, that and television, my apologies, he talks about these cheap, vulgar foreign productions constantly. There was one called Jersey, or something like that, I do not pay very much attention to these things, they are below me, that he was complaining about just yesterday. He was saying that it had gone very downhill in quality after the eighth season or so. But I can't imagine that someone as enlightened and cultured as you must be could care about such things as that! I suppose it would make you happy that it was I who convinced him to stay away at the end. I'm sure you would have been very annoyed to deal with someone like that."
"Ms. Virejane is a little better, but not by much," she continued, her tongue running, her words careening outwards at light speed. "She is always busy with paperwork - she's always filling out forms and signing things - and never seems to have time for anything else. Imagine - here, as you conduct your rites, Mr. Laakonen going around trying to talk about the latest match or whatever as Ms. Virejane wanders about aimlessly, writing things down on her papers! I can't even begin to fathom the disrespect you would feel! But I am a very respectful person; you can be assured I will give your festival, and of course your wonderful religion, all the gravitas they deserve."
She was slightly disappointed to be so rudely interrupted by the priest, but all her indignation was swept away by the great spectacle she saw before her.
The dancing, the dancing, oh, the dancing! Marvelous motion, in dynamic circles widening; a carnival of color and devotion, a kaleidoscopic blossoming of the purest possible concentrate of faith. She could already hear the beginnings of what was sure to be her next composition, a simple theme, no, themes - this extraordinary rite could not be contained in one strain, one melodic line. From this alone she could see a whole suite - an opera, yes, an opera, she would have to talk with a librettist immediately - arising. Amazing, amazing! Her breath caught in her throat as her eyelids froze; her whole being was so enraptured by this smallest fragment of the great ceremony of worship before her that the ability to perform such lowly bodily functions as breathing and blinking had left her.
Even after the President - like a sprite, she thought, an angel, a fragment of divine light that still, somehow, shone as brightly as it had in the heavens above - had stopped her dancing Iketemar still found herself transfixed, a part of her mind still lost in the fire, the revelry, the faith, the music. She found herself perceiving the world as though the air had become a thick syrup - everything so beautifully slow and distorted, elevated by a ritual that seemed to have brought Paradise to Earth.
"Madam President," Iketemar said, her voice high and breathy, "I have to say, what an extraordinary, spiritual festival. It is wonderful to find such faith and such beauty in our world - they are endangered, I feel, everyone seems so busy trying to root them out in favor of things, words, like "productivity" and "industry," - and so, well, I can hardly believe it - that this is here, that you have managed to restore it."
"Now, I do not like to speak ill about people - it is already a bad thing, and to do it at a place, a time, like this would make it even worse - but I have to say that I do not share your sadness over our former Head of State. He complained too much, and was very fickle - and he certainly was not someone interested in the matters of the spirit. There was nothing, I think, and it was very sad, he despised more than the matters of the spirit. He hated religion, he hated music, he hated dance - everything beyond the material world and what he called "reason" he wanted to do away with. I suppose it was a complex of his. He had many complexes - I think it was because of his upbringing, his parents were not very fit, I believe, poor man. But nevertheless, I found it a terrible thing, especially when it led him to persecute me."
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Reiserová nodded, impressed with Iketemar's words, "So true! So much creative energy is being lost in the world as we are just trying to do the right thing, all the while the spirit, which yearn for release is dying. And we just get so lost in playing the game that we lose the vision of what is, you know, truly important. Seeking the truth, revival of the ancient wisdom and creating of happier and kinder humanity. I decided to stop playing the game and seek the truth. I take it you are, you know, also a truth seeker?" Reiserová asked with a wide smile on her face.
"Oh you were persecuted? What happened? I feel like I never have the full picture from your country!" Resierová asked in a shock, "He wasn't interested in seeking the truth, which is why he was sad, of course, but, you know, the keepers of the flame should not look down upon those who fail to see the light. They should help them see. Wouldn't you agree? What is he up to now anyways, wouldn't you know? I heard there is this horrible woman, you know, Íkrat and she just doesn't understand anything at all. You are not about to give power to such a woman are you? She would make revival very difficult. Not to say, you know, our relations with her hate of all that is good and just."
Reiserová turned to her Spanish guests, "Now the talking types? That is ok, just breathe deeply and feel the joy and the blessings of the gods, I can have a phone call with Aguilar later!"
Suddenly Reiserová spotted the Roscoe family in the flesh and she froze for a moment, not sure whether she wasn't hallucinating, "Now this is excellent! Grandfather Veles must be truly pleased with us! Slavomír come here quickly!" Reiserová called out to the spiritual figure who hurried to join her and panted loudly once he reached his President.
"Mr. Mizrachi-Roscoe, I am so happy to see you here with your lovely family. Slavomír, these are the prime suspects for leading the effort to sabotage Czech economy! Isn't that right Mr. Mizrachi-Roscoe? Did your company not issue the call for Czechoslavonic workers to leave Czech Slavia to work for your enterprise elsewhere?" Albína beamed with happines, and Slavomír smiled too as he extended his hand to the Duchian Pastor.
"I knew that a Festival of Respect and Understanding would make you want to repent! Now of course, as a Councillor, we won't, you know, prosecute you, with full respect to the international standards. But your adult family member will be kindly requested to attend a court hearing right after the festival!" she looked over at Yohanna and gave her a slightly wider smile, "Worry not, unlike in your country, Czech Slavia fully respects human rights. Religious diet in our prisons is guaranteed! I mean while you are in custody, you know, not to sentence anybody." Reiserová giggled, "Have fun at the festival! Minister Dohnal can show you where the sausages are!"
Felling fulfilled Reiserová turned back to Sémper, Quintero and Iketemar, "Today is good, isn't it?" she asked with a smile.
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James responded "Lets just say the company execs were not pleased at what they saw as theft of company property. Regardless this is a faith event and no the company did call on workers to leave it offered the option if thats what they wanted, as we do in all countries if we leave, that's standard procedure if we close a division we never want to see people out of a job if we can offer them one elsewhere its part of the company values. I'm sure as a humanitarian you understand those values. I'm hoping my kids learn something from today too as we try to give them as wide a breadth of knowledge of faiths as possible.Yohanna is not involved in the company so that will not be necessary."
Yohanna responded "None of us here are really involved in company business given our political and ducal positions and for me frankly I'd rather not get involved in company business so wouldn't really know about company policy too deeply. I'm just here to enjoy the festival with my kids and learn something about your faith."
The pastor responded "Its good to be hear . In the ICS we like to be friendly and understanding of all faiths. Its better to work together than fight over beliefs. To be honest I wish some of our so called christian brothers would get the message about equality , but alas we can't control them."
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Iketemar nodded. "Yes. I try to look for truth wherever it might be - whether in rock, wind, water, or fire. There's just so much knowledge waiting to be found, so much knowledge that has been ignored, so much knowledge I feel must be, for the sake of good in this world, liberated and made clear and visible to everyone."
"That was Rikkalek's way," she continued in response to Reiserova, "making sure that no one ever had the full picture. Even I don't have it - me, one of the victims of his bizarre plots. He would send people to move things around, you know, in my apartment - my furniture would travel from room to room, my plates would be reorganized, my files would be hidden and placed in different cabinets, things like that, every day. And then he had the Minister of Culture continually cut funding - illegally - for the music institute I direct, and claim that the cuts were increases and that I was deluded for thinking they were cuts. The man was trying to drive me insane; he wanted me in an asylum. That was where he wanted all truthseekers, everyone who saw the importance of the spirit and the soul. Very sad, very, very sad, for him, for the country . . ."
Iketemar then watched, a slight smile playing on her lips, as Reiserova and Slavomir accosted the Roscoes. "Be careful!" she called out from away. "You must be careful with these people! Don't let them get out!"
It would be a wonderful day, she thought, truly wonderful.
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Borja Sémper shook hands with Minister Šin, who was famous for his appearance on the series Jersey, but became even more famous when he appeared on the first page of a Spanish tabloid, the magazine "Hola!" (Hello!). Sémper knew that Šin was not a huge fan of the nation's culture since he was fired, and his question was unsurprising to him, but he would take the chance to strike back: «I would not use "decline" as a word to describe the Spanish culture, it has never been in decline to be honest. There is a lot of work to do, however, and our cinema needs more international projection -not only those films Disney produces- but Spanish-made films. I am pretty sure you would enjoy "Eight Basque Surnames" and its sequel, "Eight Catalan Surnames". They were so successful that now they have made yet another film: "Eight Moroccan Surnames". I love them. Thank you for your support, Minister», Borja said and then waved back when Šin left, with a smile on his face.
Quintero nodded to Šin's comments and added: «Indeed sir, my song "Si no Estás" made me famous... that and the Catholic Convention that Spain held in Lisbon last summer. Many people discovered my songs thanks to TikTok, found out the meaning of it, and started to share it on Instagram Stories or their own TikToks. And the organizers of the catholic convention also played it, so that really helped. I hope that, when I get to perform it here, you love it». Íñigo smiled after, and waved back at the Minister. When he left, he turned back to Borja Sémper and spoke: «Why does he seem to hate everything that comes from Spanish culture? I just know this guy because he had an affair with Corinna and my mother could not stop talking about how handsome he was!». Sémper laughed and answered back: «He was fired from a TV series that they played in Antena 3, I believe the show called "Jersey". Let him be, and focus on your great performance!». The Culture Minister then patted Íñigo's back.
Then, Borja approached President Reiserová, and greeted her. Sémper had heard that Reiserová, as many people in Europe, were not aware that Juncker was also no longer the President of the Kingdom of Spain, and so there he went, on his attempt to get the Czech allies back into business with Spain: «President Reiserová, it is awesome to be here today. I have to congratulate you and your nation for such a Festival, with great values like respect and understanding. Both, Íñigo and I, are honoured to be here. Concerning Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Juncker, both have urged me to send you their best wishes and their regards. Both have left the office and are now retired from politics, with our new President being Alberto Núñez Feijóo. He also told me to send you best wishes and warm regards, and an official invite to come to Madrid whenever you wish. He will gladly receive you whenever you deem convenient».
Carefully avoiding the Roscoes, Borja Sémper and Íñigo Quintero managed to spot Évretas Iketemar, and while they approached the Istkalenian delegation, he nodded at Reiserová's question about that day. Shortly after nodding, and just a few metres away from the Istkalenian Minister, Quintero muttered to Sémper: «Why is the President of Czech Slavia talking about prisons?! Borja, I am scared». Borja mumbled back: «We will be fine, Íñigo, relax. Isn't it exciting to watch how Ms. Reiserová is swiftly telling the Roscoes that they are "comfortably remaining" here, in a 6 stars hotel? -Quintero thought Borja had turned crazy at this point- Now act normally, for the sake of our international relations». Both then smiled and approached Évretas: «Ms. Iketemar, nice to meet you, as well as seeing the Istkalenian delegation here! How are things going around Istkalen?», Borja asked.
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The small circle forming near the bonfire around of which Reiserová, Saková and Imberová danced just a couple of minutes later certainly attracted attention as the government ministers, Rodnovery preachers and members of security and police forces quickly edged sooner to listen to what was being said. "Of course Comrade President understands the values of your company and naturally, "as a great humanitarian", she detests them." Slavomír nodded with a slight smile upon his face before he turned back to face to the two members of the Llunas-Roberts family, "Yes, that is most wise. During the times in which the slight mistakes of state atheism prevailed I have always urged unity with people of differing creeds, including the Christian Churches and even the Federation of Jewish Communities,... ehm, just in case you hear about my earlier writings from anybody, mistakes of the youth, you know,... in our common struggle for the ending of all religious persecutions. But of course"
"I am sure the kids will learn a lot! At least the adult ones!" Minister Imberová responded quickly to few chuckles from number of the other Czechs and to a nod from the President which seemed to make the Minister quite happy with herself.
Reiserová turned her head back to face the patriarch of the Roscoes' family and she smiled at him yet again, "James, you and your family are on Czechoslavonic soil. The Czech people hold all power here, not your corporation, so I think deciding what is and isn't necessary is up to me." The President for Life turned away to pay attention to her other guests as well, and signalled three policemen to come over to Yohanna, Danya and Mathias each., seizing them by their right arms.
Second later Minister Dohnal approached the three as well, "Ladies, young gentleman, I have been instructed that you are to enjoy sausages before being taken to questioning, please follow me!" he declared jovially and started leading the way the three Duchians brought forth by the policemen, "I apologize, but torture of animals is banned in the Democratic Republic, so Kosher meat is not available, but we did prepare vegan sausages for you Mrs Mizrachi-Roscoe. I hope they will satisfy."
Slavomír turned his attention to Iketemar and smiled wide at her, "You underestimate our President dear Iketemar, to suggest that the suspects could escape the watchful eye of the Champion of Mokosh."
Reiserová listened to the Spaniards and her face went slightly pink in shame, "I... I knew that, you know." she lied as Sémper infromed her that Juncker was no longer the head of government of Spain, "Send Mr..... Mr President my thanks and my warm regards as well. Oh and to the King and his family. You know, I have yet to meet His Majesty. Please sit down, sit down." she instructed all her guests, that were not taken to eat sausages, to sit down on the ground.
"Now please, all of you, let's talk about the lates happenings in our countries! I feel like we have not had a chance to hear what is goin on for such a long time. For, you know, our part things have been fairly steadfast after the decision to return the forces of production into the hands of the people. And we are considering the democratization of the system of public ownership as well! We are expecting to launch first attempts later this year, maybe in a month or so! But what about you? Istkalen seems particularly dynamic. Especially with the, apologies, crazy woman Íkrat. What urges her to throw a wrench into one of the most brotherly relation in the European Union?" Reiserová sat down herself and crossed her legs, smiling at the guests.
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The three were surprised to be arrested given their lack of links to core functions of the company so agreed to the questioning as they would have nothing to give. Roscoes would surely do someting once they heard about the arrest. James and Amaziah would continue to attend the festival with the Llunas-Roberts their good friends.
The Kingdom of Spain
