Participants:
Kiyli, a foxkin reporter
Niaretya, a quaint mountain village
Kiyli: I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed a village before, but I suppose my hometown’s a good one to start with.
Niaretya: Never been interviewed before, if it makes you feel better.
Kiyli: The last interview I did was about pokemon. They’re a thing from Erfaereen. I don’t suppose you know what those are?
Niaretya: Afraid not. For obvious reasons, I don’t travel much.
Kiyli: No, I don’t suppose you would. It would be hard for you to leave Faereen. And I’d prefer you not slide down the mountain…
Niaretya: I’ve been sitting in this valley for over two thousand years. The river seems like it’s a little further down than it used to be, but that could be my imagination.
Kiyli: How much has changed since you were founded. Er… Born?
Niaretya: Founded is fine. Obviously, my residents are completely different. Although some of them do look a bit like the old ones. The castle on the ridge over me, Sky View, is a different castle than used to be there. This one isn’t as friendly, frankly.
Kiyli: How would you describe your relationship with Sky View?
Niaretya: I get the impression Sky View thinks it’s better than me. The old castle wasn’t like that. The Castle Made of Snow and I were best friends. It needed me and I thought I needed it. Of course, those weird fire people murdered her and built this new one… As you can tell, I’m still upset about it. Which I suppose could mean I never gave Sky View much of a chance. Maybe I should try to do better.
Kiyli: Weird fire people? You mean the Asharae Empire?
Niaretya: I guess? I’m told I’m part of that now? I still consider myself part of Ysk. You know, the nation. Not whatever the rot Yskereen Province is. I was founded by icekin, you know. And I’m only truly happy when I’m covered in snow. What do these empire people know of snow?
Kiyli: Much of the Empire is rather warm, including the capital. But let’s talk about your snow. Even in the middle of summer, you can see snow, yesno?
Niaretya: Oh, yes! For sure! The lower ridges directly over me melt out in early summer, but several of the peaks peeking over them stay blissfully snow-capped year-round.
Kiyli: As someone who grew up skiing at Snow Song, I must ask how you feel about the ski area.
Niaretya: People have skied around me since my founding, and I never minded. I love people who love snow! But recently, a bunch of folks decided to build lifts. I’m mostly used to them now, but when they first went in, they made my edges itch like crazy.
Kiyli: I’m sorry to hear the lifts bothered you. I hope things continue to get better, because I really do love having the lifts there, but don’t want you to be uncomfortable. Do you consider the ski area part of you, then? Not a separate entity?
Niaretya: Oh, absolutely! Do my residents not?
Kiyli: I think most of us do. Although the tourists seem to think it’s the other way around, that you are part of the ski area. They go around being confused by things like the local businesses not being owned by Snow Song. They keep asking local businesses for things like discounts that are only valid at the ski area.
Niaretya: I’m told I’m an official Accessible Recreation Village. But no one’s told me what that is. I think it has something to do with the tourists?
Kiyli: It does. So, those empire people we were talking about earlier believe that it’s important all citizens have access to affordable recreation. Consequently, the Empire has programs to subsidize things like ski areas, beaches, and other destination-type locations. They give boons to local businesses in exchange for businesses agreeing to modest pricing structures. A lot of countries don’t have anything like that, and as a result, it becomes prohibitively expensive for many to visit those places. In Ashareen, it can actually be cheaper to do things like go out for a meal while you’re in a high-demand tourist area than it would be to eat at home.
Niaretya: So it means I’m easier for more people to visit?
Kiyli: That’s the idea. Although, of course, there are only so many people who can do that before there’s too much of a crowd for anyone to have fun. So there’s stuff like lotteries during popular times, like Reset.
Niaretya: But my residents always get to ski, right?
Kiyli: We get a set number of reservations we can make for free and we can opt to buy an unlimited pass at a steep discount, even if the non-resident season passes are sold out. And every other First Day, we get two hours of morning snow all to ourselves!
Niaretya: I’m glad. I understand the tourists help me flourish, but I wouldn’t exist without my residents. They’re my favorite thing about me.
Kiyli: That’s really sweet. What is your second favorite thing about yourself?
Niaretya: My location! Actually, that might be tied for first. Oh! And my weather! I have the best weather for all but like four verses of the year!
Kiyli: Those four verses are the ones when snow’s unlikely?
Niaretya: Precisely. Although I don’t like spring much either and it does snow then. But mostly snow melts in spring, which just feels awful. It saps my energy, makes it difficult to breathe, and itches a lot. It’s even itchier than when they installed the ski lifts.
Kiyli: Sympathies. I have allergies in spring myself. Our time is about up. Is there anything you want people to know about you that hasn’t been covered?
Niaretya: I want everyone to know I welcome visitors in all seasons, but I do believe that on average, they could be a little more respectful to me and my residents. If they have litter, they should take it to an incinerator rather than leaving it at a trailhead for someone else to deal with. Basically, if you’d mind a stranger doing something right outside your house, don’t do it here. And be nice. If you’d be upset over someone saying something to a person you love, don’t say it to strangers you meet here.
Kiyli: Picking up after yourself and being kind to others are things most of us learned in preschool, but I have noticed many people forget to do either when they’re on vacation. So, be clean, be polite, and come visit?
Niaretya: Yep! And you should move back home, Mx Kuznalov. It’s way nicer here than in Heart’s Palace.
Kiyli: I have been considering it, but I’ll have to get back to you on that. Thank you for your time. What are you doing next?
Niaretya: I’m going to focus on the Community Center Iceplex for a bit. There’s a curling bonspiel going on, and I think a hockey game’s about to start. Then I’m going to watch the sunset. Feel free to join me!
