THE MOONFIRE FAIRE

The Moonfire Faire is a holiday of relatively recent creation. Originally designed to assist the Cascadiers in repelling invasions of voidsent Bombards, it has since become a recruitment opportunity for the Adventurers' Guild as a whole.​

Master Gegeruju's generous funding of the festival has, as well, made it over into a delightful seasonal celebration of its own, with fun on the beach and treats meant to beat the heat!

A Fiery Beginning

As Dalamud began its descent from the sky, that fateful time over five years ago, rains of fire preceded it. Yumah Molkot of The Harbor Herald, ever alert, recorded many such rains of fire proving to be voidsent bombs--which Ishgardians soon dubbed "Bombards". The fiends forthwith grew to enormous size by gorging on all about them that could combust, and an oppressive pall of heat lay upon Eorzea, unusual even for summer. (1)

Kitted out with special heat-resistant swimsuits--though one wonders why it specifically had to be aught so skimpy--volunteers recruited by the Adventurers' Guild aided the Cascadiers in catching and destroying the Bombards that drew too near the settlements and villages of Eorzea. Provoking them with mockery and invitations to combat, the adventurers lured the Bombards to special furnaces, where the beasts met with a fire mightier than their own, and were reduced to ash! (1)

(1) Archive of the Lodestone entry for the Firefall Faire (2011), available via Fragmenter Works.

Traditions

The Moonfire Faire is, after all, a summertime tradition; its customary costume is typically as little as possible without scandalizing the public. Over the years, garb from scant halters and tangas to elegant sarongs and straw hats have made their debut during the Faire, sometimes as rewards for adventuring assistance. For indeed, this celebration continues to fall under the purview of the Adventurers' Guild.

Ever popular is the Eorzea Nimble Warrior obstacle course. Set up in the waters near the Isle of Endless Summer, the course is different every year; but running, jumping, and climbing are always part of it. Recently, low-yield explosives were added to the mix for extra challenge.

Water balloons make up a charming diversion from the heat, along with dances from the South Seas and the Far East. And swimming, of course, is absolutely essential--as long as there are no mutant sharks nearby.

Much-loved foods are regularly offered to sate the hunger and thirst of celebrants. From roasted millioncorn and breaded haddock, to cones and plates of sweet edible ice, there is no limit to the delights of summer.

And last but certainly not least, the fireworks display in honor of the holiday can be watched in Eastern La Noscea and the housing districts!

A FISH TOO FAR

It was inevitable that a beach party would eventually attract a shark. But what a shark was this one, with limbs like a man, and a hunger for flesh!​

But the Bombardiers--the researcher Thracie, Ba Go of the 789th Dig, and Jiriri, proprietor of the island resort and Gegeruju's manager--were on the case! Rather than risking the fiend acquiring a taste for blood and combat by taking it head on, the Bombardiers developed the means to control custom-bred Bombards by a charming South Seas dance. Those Bombards they deployed not to slay the Supershark, but to drive it back into the waters.

The plan succeeded roundly, and the traditional garb worn for the dance became all the fashion that summer.

(1) Quest: A Fish Too Far

Past Celebrations

THE FIREFALL FAIRE

The ever-descending Dalamud was not the only concern, during the summer of this year. Rumors spread wildly that meteors had been seen crashing to earth, at least one nigh to Ishgard, and many in La Noscea. From them emerged terrible great bombs--called Bombards--which proceeded to fuel their inward fire with any and all things they might consume.​

This year was the birthyear of the Cascadiers, experts in the craft of fighting bombs, who recruited adventurers to aid them in putting down the fiery menace. And this year was the birth of the now-beloved summer festival, which has since been renamed the Moonfire Faire. (1)

(1) GamerEscape archive of the event

Just prior to the Seventh Umbral Calamity, the cursed Bombards made a second invasion of the cities. This year, unlike the last, a new means to quench the flames and quell the voidsents' fiery rage was made known: an elegant dance from the Far East.​

Together, adventurers the land over danced their worries away, alongside the Cascadiers, under an ever-reddening moon... (1)

(1) GamerEscape archive of the event

When the Bombards returned after the Seventh Umbral Calamity, so too did the Cascadiers. Proudly seeking recruits to aid them in putting down this reborn threat to all civilization, the Adventurers' Guilds of each city and Haermaga joined hands to reignite the Moonfire Faire.

Those who lent their strength of arms during this time of need were rewarded with clothing; because what else stirs the heart of an adventurer like making him- or herself look as dashing as possible? (1)

(1) Official FFXIV Website page

BOMBARD A-BOMB-INATIONS!

Dedicated to the memory of Chadwick--an adventuresome child whose life was tragically cut short by a canker too deep and strong for treatment--the Moonfire Faire saw a rebirth in the hands of Haermaga. (1)

A lack of Bombards this year was no reason not to host the Faire, and events meant to train prospective adventurers against the return of the fiery voidsent went on. From using elbsts to extinguish fires, to cannons to cull sabotenders and womandragoras, to deploying explosives to teach how to finally slay a bombard, there was much family-friendly fun to be had by all! For prizes, yukata, to honor the dreams of Chadwick to visit the Far East, and who taught Haermaga the ever-elegant Bomb Dance. (2)(3)(4)

(1) Quest: Remember Me This Moonfire Faire
(2) Quest: Explode It! Moonfire Faire
(3) Quest: Drench It! Moonfire Faire
(4) Quest: Blast It! Moonfire Faire

REMEMBER ME THIS MOONFIRE FAIRE

This year marked the first that the Moonfire Faire would be held at Costa del Sol. Amid the food and fun, however, an old grudge emerged--that of the settlers of Bloodshore against Master Gegeruju. Wunthyll and his pirate crew began causing a disturbance and trying to chase away the partygoers! (1)

A sad tale followed: that these pirates had once been part of the Admiral's settlement initiative, but the salty soil had proven unworthy. With the land bought by Gegeruju, they were left to return to the only other home they had known: the sea. But with the encouragement of the Warrior of Light, they found hope anew in the prospect of adventuring, and the Faire blazed on more brightly than ever!

(1) Quest: An Adventurer's Life for Me

REIGNITING THE FESTIVITIES

Of a promise made to a wistful child, was born the mighty crew known as the Go Go Posing Rangers. The Moonfire Faire of this year was spent assisting the Rangers to prepare against the onslaught of the Bombard King and his armies of Bombards. (1)

With fire control managed with the aid of elbsts trained by former pirate Wunthyll, combat training for the Rangers, and copious quantities of shaved ice delivered, the Bombard King was defeated as soon as he dared emerge from hiding, securing a pleasant summer for all. (1) (2) (3) (4)

It is said that the Rangers carry on their adventures--despite no evidence of it in the years since.

(1) Quest: Who Let the Bombs Out
(2) Quest: Dashing and Burning
(3) Quest: Hot 'n' Cold
(4) Quest: A Battle Royal

HEROES OF TOMORROW

The summer came 'round, and not one Bombard was in evidence. But the Moonfire Faire was now so popular, it could hardly be ended; and so, Master Gegeruju offered up the Isle of Endless Summer, a resort of his designing, for the Faire's new home. (1)

Alas, all was not fireworks and frolic, and adventurers were called upon to drive away "Moonfire snipper" crabs from the supplies, collect litter, and contend with the notorious talking octopus Ultros who, as ever, was harassing the ladies. (2) (3) (4)

Rumors of treasure drew others, but it turned out to be naught but a marketing ploy. (5)

(1) Quest: The Isle and the Faire
(2) FATE: Snippers Gonna Snip
(3) FATE: Adopt a Beach
(4) FATE: The Summer of Ultros
(5) Quest: The True Meaning of Summer

THE ISLE AND THE FAIRE

This year was the first appearance of the Eorzean Nimble Warrior Challenge--a vast climbing wall not unlike the Leap of Faith event at the Gold Saucer. Difficult for even the most agile and coordinated of adventurers, it nonetheless inspired many to take up a life of exploration and battle--or, at least, to improve their fitness.​

The course was, unfortunately, a bit hazardous, but there were few lasting injuries and no deaths, at least.

(1) Quest: Eorzean Nimble Warrior

JUMP TO THE BEACH

The Eorzean Nimble Warrior challenge returned this year, courtesy of Master Gegeruju's generosity, bringing in adventurers both new and veteran. Many an ambitious young man and woman--including one R'fhul Tia--tested their strength and agility on the climbing course.

​And for those whose ambition tended toward the Disciplines of the Hand and the Land, there were orders for battered fish and fresh-caught haddock to be filled.

(1) Quest: Anything You Can Do

HIGH-FLYING HIJINKS

UNSEASONABLE CHILLS

This year's Moonfire Faire was no less hot than previous, even for want of Bombards. For that reason, Master Gegeruju hired Nekeke Neke, the legendary confectioner, to craft a cooling seasonal treat like none other. But to the dismay of Haermaga and P'obyano, Nekeke set off to the frozen Northern Empty to find her inspiration.

Inspiration she found, and more than that: along with three polar bears she had befriended, ice bombards had stowed away among her cargo of glacier ice! It fell to the Bombardiers--Thracie, Ba Go, R'fhul Tia, and the Warrior of Light--to melt the frosty fiends and make sure that the only chills the fairegoers would experience, would be from tasty Hielo del Sol desserts!

(1) Quest: Unseasonable Chills

This year's Moonfire Faire saw the return of fiery explosions--but in form of Ba Go's famous bombs, rather than hostile bombards. Come again also was the Eorzean Nimble Warrior course, and the two were combined for a greater challenge than ever before!

Yet another to return was R'fhul Tia, now a full-fledged adventurer who, in turn, had undertaken to teach two newcomers. His obsessive need to prove infallible caused a rift between them. (1)

The Yellow Ranger Beaudefoin arrived to set him straight: Greatness lies not in the good opinions of others, but in committing fully to what one does. This lesson learnt, the three were reunited, and R'fhul set back on the path to becoming a great adventurer. (2)

(1) Quest: A Matter of Course
(2) Quest: Fhul Me Once

A MATTER OF COURSE