Branbrig Slayer, Clan Champion of the Amber Clan
Oliver
PS Vogarth Stones are found in many tulas, even those that aren't old enough to have been around when Vogarth lived. These are invariably a series of stones that range in weight from heavy to bloody heavy to impossibly heavy. Tradition says that Vogarth was able to lift all these stones and would be clan strong men compete on Plow Blessing Day and other special occasions to see who can lift the heaviest one.
Rumours that these are just the stones removed from the fields for plowing are of course completely true.
The Bull Roar is a contest engaged in by Uroxi to see who can yell the
loudest (sort of like pig calling I guess). The deafened
contestants/judges/spectators then spend the rest of the market wandering
around saying "What?" a lot.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 3:33 AM
To: HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: Issaries Competition
In a message dated 16/08/01 08:52:05 GMT Daylight Time, HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com writes:
<< And of course all the crafting contests (Gustbran, Minlister, Ernalda),
ploughing the straightest furrows (Barntar), feats of strength (Vogarth the
Strong Man), aerial acrobatics (Vanganth the Flyer, or maybe even skywriting
using smoky torches...just kidding), declamation or debates (Lhankor Mhy), music and poetry competitions (various deities), tall tale telling (Issaries), etc. >>
Of course, we Loskalmi do all of this already,. and what's more, we do
it *properly*. Annual fairs, with all the organisation and judging handled
by
the authorities, to test the skills of the farmer class. Those who do well
earn the right for social promotion, giving a real incentive to excel rather
than merely boosting unseemly pride or handing out a few magic trinkets or whatever you barbarians do.
And, of course, it doesn't stop there. For those who have already been
knighted we have tournaments, which are far more exciting and splendid than
watching a couple of tattooed louts chucking rocks across a field. Of
course,
the Seshnelans hold tournaments too, but theirs aren't as nice as ours, not
by a long way. Not only do ours look much better, with parades and decorated
stands for the spectators, but we take proper safety precautions, so as not to waste the flower of chivalry before they have the chance to protect us from a real enemy. They're fun for all the family, too, and a great day out for the local farmers. Its not just the contestants who stand to gain social
advance at these events, either - its a wonderful opportunity for single women to meet young knights, evaluate their skill at arms and to chat and dance in a suitably decorous and chaperoned environment at the formal balls in the evenings.
So, once again, the Loskalmi Way shows itself superior to barbarous paganism. Huzzah!
Trotsky
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