Everyone is celebrating in King Philip’s palace! Especially those who want to win a bag of gold—or even two—so welcome to the feast!
His Majesty’s Favorite Holiday
King Philip absolutely loved Christmas! This holiday was the most important to the ruler, second only to his own birthday, so it was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur.
At Christmas, almost all of the king’s subjects had the right to do absolutely nothing, ignoring the orders of their lords. Everyone could indulge in idleness, except for the soldiers and city guards.
All Roads Lead to the Palace
Subjects of the upper class were required to come to the palace. King Philip sent invitations to all counts, lords, and ministers, sealed as if they were documents of state importance.
Of course, subjects could decline the grand party, but any “no-shows” would face, at the very least, His Majesty’s displeasure! And from there, it was only a short step to incurring the king’s wrath… and who wants to end up on the chopping block? Unsurprisingly, all the high nobility attended the Christmas festivities without any complaints.
Merry Christmas to All!
The celebration began with the king congratulating his subjects. King Philip would step onto the balcony and deliver a speech written by the Minister of Enlightenment.
His Majesty’s speech would last no less than fifteen minutes, while everyone else stood in the palace courtyard, listening and freezing if the weather was bad. Once the king finished, the palace gates would open and the guests would be led inside.
Let’s Celebrate Merrily and Properly
Inside the palace, guests would find thirty tables loaded with all sorts of food. Of course, alcoholic beverages were also served—and in unlimited quantities.
However, any fights or, God forbid, duels were strictly forbidden! Anyone violating the “universal peace rule” would be thrown into the dungeon until they sobered up.
Dancing and the Christmas Tree
The musicians would start playing as soon as the master of ceremonies announced the ball. Officially, the dancing lasted until morning, although by 5 a.m., hardly anyone conscious remained in the hall. Nevertheless, the musicians kept playing, following His Majesty’s orders.
While the aristocrats dined, drank, and danced, the servants built a giant Christmas tree in the courtyard. The court wizard would enchant the tree with magic to delight the king. Around two in the morning, the king, accompanied by his servants, senior ministers, and royal spouse, would come out to summon the spirit of Christmas.
Christmas Lights and Magic
The butler would hand King Philip a golden horn, and after sounding it, the king would recite a magic spell. In reality, the spell was meaningless gibberish, but no one dared interrupt His Majesty’s “wizardry.”
The spell would activate the court wizard’s magic: from the giant Christmas tree, a shining spirit would emerge, setting off a fireworks display of colorful lights.
After the magical fireworks, the spirit would bow and disappear. Everyone was thrilled by the spectacle, and the king himself would shine with joy, like a child who just received their dream gift!
Celebrate and Win
After that, the festivities in the courtyard truly began. The palace and its surroundings would be filled with celebration! Sometimes, King Philip would even bestow an expensive gift on a random guest, such as one of the precious rings adorning his right hand.
We don’t know if you’re a count or a lord, but we can confidently say this: it’s easy to be transported to the celebration described above—just place your bet, press the button, and off you go! May fortune and King Philip himself shower you with gold!
Argonauts Demo 
