- As the season turns to Winter, the Heke water nomads and their herds migrate from the rivers and lakes of the Northern Earth Kingdom and gather on the Western Lake to overwinter in a less frigid climate. Once the myriads of Heke people are gathered, they celebrate the Ukiuk Festival and form an ephemeral floating city on the Southern shore.
You are members of an expedition sent by the University of Ba Sing Se to document the Ukiuk Festival and learn about the culture and folkways of the Heke, as a contribution to the monumental work The Anthropology of the Earth Nations. It was hard to secure funding for the expedition - what with the war you're not allowed to publicly mention back home - but some wealthy sponsors came forward to support the cause, and you were on your way. On arriving to the Floating City, however, you soon discover that something is amiss this year. A disaster has befallen a particular Heke tribe, and rivals point fingers at each other, threatening to break out into a violent conflict, to say nothing of ruining the festival you have been sent to observe. As scholars and impartial observers, you are asked to investigate and report to the Ukiuk Council so that they can make a fair decision about how to handle the matter.
Pregens to follow.