Description
The complex now features a permanent feast pavilion with a magnificent carved ridgepole supported by posts bearing full-figure ancestor carvings. The roof, constructed from multiple layers of palm thatch with a distinctive peaked design, covers the central gathering space and extends partially over the ovens themselves, providing shade for cooks while allowing smoke to escape through carefully designed ventilation. Beneath this pavilion, the ground is paved with fitted stones arranged in traditional patterns that also serve as seating areas during feast preparations. Carved wooden benches line the perimeter for elders and honored guests.
A significant addition to the expanded complex is the integration of specialized preparation stations for different types of feast foods. One area focuses on seafood preparation, with running water channels fed by the settlement's cistern system and stone tables designed for cleaning and portioning fish and shellfish. Another station specializes in root vegetables, with storage pits that keep taro, breadfruit, and sweet potatoes fresh until feast day. A third area is dedicated to meat preparation, positioned downwind to keep odors from affecting other food preparation. Each station is staffed by cooks with particular expertise, and the specialization significantly improves both the quality and efficiency of feast preparation.
The complex includes a festival coordination house, a small but well-appointed structure where feast masters plan elaborate multi-course celebrations. Inside, carved wooden panels display traditional feast menus and timing charts that help coordinators orchestrate complex cooking schedules. The house also stores ceremonial items used during feast openings: carved serving vessels, decorated water gourds, special utensils reserved for communal eating, and the traditional implements used in blessing ceremonies. A small altar within the house honors Tangaroa and holds offerings of dried fish and polished shells.
At this expanded scale, the complex can produce feast portions for 200 to 250 people in coordinated cooking sessions, with multiple ovens operating at staggered intervals to ensure a continuous flow of hot food. The facility hosts weekly community feasts, monthly festival celebrations tied to the lunar cycles, and special ceremonial occasions such as coming-of-age rituals, marriage celebrations, and victory feasts following successful expeditions. The complex has become a centerpiece of settlement life, with its activities marking the rhythm of community celebration and the feast days serving as important social bonding opportunities that reinforce tribal identity.
Benefits
The Expanded Umu Complex generates an additional 2 Prestige. Feasts can be prepared that feed up to 250 people. The ugpraded ovens pull in an additional 100 gold a month.