>Kmnellist_at_aol.com:
>
>(I think golden wheel dancers would make good "balls", not to mention rubble
>runners, tusker piglets, minature gargoyles, a blindfolded basilisk
>(dangerous), hellions (tough!), konkons (terrifying))
>
>Keith
From the Notes from Nochet files:
[XXIX.12-46] Trollball is of course played by night, and I decided not to test the reaction of my trollish escorts to the comfort of magical illumination. I was surprised to find however that the playing field (an uneven stretch of turf littered with boulders, rubbish and other detritus) was dimly lit, presumably for the benefit of the giant referees. One of these behemoths was as ugly as I had ever seen: his huge head, face and hands were swollen and puffy. As promised, the trolls had cut the giants a huge pile of vegetation for their services, including, I noticed as I passed, the very expensive sugar-cane I had brought as a gift for the troll queen! The game was underway as I arrived, and a huge crowd, fully double the number of troll-kind I had estimated to live in the area, had gathered to watch. My guide explained that it was some sort of grudge match, between the teams of the local Karrg's Son and his Zorak Zorani rival.
Barely five minutes of the game had passed, yet they were already up to their third troll-ball!
Another dozen of the wretched creatures were strung up next to the Xiola Umbar priestess. The artful priestess had even provided a newtling-ball "in case of wet weather". The crowd were thrilled with the innovation and despite the clear skies it got a run before the first half was out.
I cannot tell you the end result of the game, as play only resumed for a few minutes after the interval. During the break the uglier of the giant referees began to dig a deep trench around the Zorak Zorani goals. Now giants are known to be naturally contrary but it didn't take even the unsophisticated mind of a troll to work out that some cheating had been going on. I could see a mighty brawl in the making, and wisely left as the affray began. This account, all true, by Theodopolus Pandarus, Temple Collator, initiate of Lhankor Mhy and master of Darktongue.
[XXIX.12-47] More on Trollball: Later found out that the Death Lord had bribed the giant with a sack full of bee hives to dig the ditch. Either way that crazy Zorak Zoran figured he'd come out on top: if the other side protested, there'd be a bloody riot; if not, his pack of berserks were certain to win. On the morrow, in the full light of Yelm, I plan to return to Blacktop to see if my sugar cane escaped the fray.
First published in Tales of the Reaching Moon #4, and now available at my Glorantha Page: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~mrmob/notes4.htm
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