Re: Bralian Olympics

Here is an excerpt from
http://spelljammer.org/worlds/Bralspace/religion.html concerning the
Olympiad:
Here are the order of events for the upcoming festival, or "Olympics", on
each day there will be competitions as follows:

  a.. 1st Day: Chariot Races
  b.. 2nd Day: Poetry
  c.. 3rd Day: Wrestling
  d.. 4th Day: Foot races
  e.. 5th Day: Singing
  f.. 6th Day: Boxing (unarmed combat, really. Kicking is allowed)
  g.. 7th Day: Dancing
  h.. 8th Day: Archery
  i.. 9th Day: Spell crafting (best "new" spell wins the prize)
  j.. 10th Day: Javilin Throwing
  k.. 11th Day: Horse races
  l.. 12th Day: Fencing
  m.. 13th Day: Spellcasting ("combat" casting against illusionary foes)
  n.. 14th Day: Spelljammer Regatta (through an "asteroid" course)
There is a five gold piece entrance fee for each event, contestents can
enter up until midnight of the night prior to the the event. Each night as
well the church will host a festival at the Arena of Frun with illusionary
shows, plays, music, dancing etc.. Culminating with a Grand Ball on the 14th
day of the games. (only open to the city's upper crust, and event winners).

That was my basis and is the announced framework of events. As usual, I LOVE
your ideas and the one's I find inappropriate for this round will turn up in
the 2nd or 3rd annual event. One of the PCs is a gladiator and pays tithes
to the Olympian church when he remembers so this event is his main focus.

> Archery and hammer, discus and javalin throwing and other target based
events can be taken
> from any of the weapons commonly used in wildspace. Even spear or axe
throwing could be an
> event if you want. I'm sure that the Giff would be the current Olympic
record holders for
> most black powder weapon shooting events. The Giff certainly would have
the most
> competitors.
Archery and javelin have their own days already, and the Giff are mostly on
duty as Andru has commisioned them through Tomojak to provide additional
security throughout the game. Now introducing a Giff lobby for blackpowder
events next year opens up a whole new political ripple....
Thanks for the idea.

> Boxing, wrestling and martial arts (originally introduced by Shou Lung)
would almost
> certainly be in an Olympic Games. Races would probably be grouped with
similar sized races
> in events like this (just like the weight system used in boxing
competitions).
Ran both of those days last night, as expected the Shou monks of Song Ming
(The Bralian Monastery in Shou Town) dominated.

> Not all the events would be pure combat skills. Some would be based on
physical endurance.
> A marathon is a bit hard to organise on Bral as the streets would be too
crowded, but
> perhaps some smaller running events could be held on the underside of
Bral. (Athletics
> events might even make a good opportunity for someone to make an escape
attempt).
No evnts on underside in my game. Particularly with rival powers warring on
the doorstep (Scro and Elves) Think on it like Cheyenne Mountain on our
earth. Nobody gets in/out. Ultra top secret.

> Firstly, you could use zero gravity for some events. If you emptied out
one of the docks,
> it could be used for zero gravity wrestling, swimming.
Again this could becme ongoing Olympic debate for the game year leadng up to
the next one. One of the PCs is expressing interest in getting involved with
organizing the next Olympiad with the church so these concepts actually
really give me something to work with that I had nt considered yet. It also
allows a realistic growth in the event's stature and attendance.

> Secondly, you could use the sides of Bral for climbing or diving events.
Good idea, natives of the  Kayanerehn Manito (
http://spelljammer.org/worlds/locs/RockOfBral/places/KayanerenhManito.html )could
compete/officiate/etc
More later, have to run to work now.Thanks for the input, as always this
list really does help me develop my ideas. Thanks to all of you (esp Dave in
this instance!)
George "Loki," Williams
 DM-Warriors of the Balance Campaign
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