Coruscate[size=105]Coruscate is a vicious game which tends to be played by between two and up to twenty people, though it is not unknown for one man to play it on his own and for a far larger party to get involved.
Materials:- Any number of Players
- One ranged weapon per Player (Bows with arrows is the typical fare)
- One slave - though the same game has been played with two or three in the past, Aficionados claim that one fit slave is always best.
- A lantern for each slave.
- Rope to tie the slave's hands.
- The right conditions (Night/Darkness)
- Space to play. Terrain is usually arranged beforehand and, though hills are preferred since it gives a better view, this is up to the players.
- Ink to write down initials on the arrows (so that it is know who shot what)
- A possible reward.
Description:This is a cruel game usually played by the elite. Many people who play it often wait around for a slave to have done something wrong before they plan a game with their friend. Others will just pick on any unwary slave since, after all, the slave has been given a sporting chance and those involved will merely point out instances in the past where the slave had 'won' the game, so to speak.
The game is played at night. The players will gather in a pre-planned area and a slave will be provided. The slave's hands are tied behind their back and a lantern is tied around the slave's neck, done in such a way that it is very difficult for the slave to try and shake it off. The slave is then set free and starts to run away. In the night, the lantern indicates where the slave is and, after the slave is far enough away, the players are allowed to start shooting. If the slave continues running after the initial shots fired, the players are allowed to start moving and that is when the 'fun' really starts, so to speak.
The game can last five chimes but has been known to go up to close to six bells or all night, which is considered a better game. True players often like to give the slave a better head start for this reason.
Rules:1) The slave must be given time to run, usually a chime. Not only does this make it more fun, but it makes the game more acceptable to some who oppose it.
2) Whoever has the most points at the end is the winner, unless the 'first hit' variation is being played.
3) Shooting at opponents is not permitted.
4) Only one ranged weapon is allowed per player.
5) Dogs and Horses, for tracking down and for ease of movement, are not permitted. Assistants are likewise not permitted, and the game tends to be played as individuals rather than in teams.
6) Freeborn can only play Coruscate if invited to do so by a Dynast member. Slaves naturally are not allowed to play.
7) Officially, there is a rule stating that all players must wear black, but this is a rule that is not much observed.
Points:Please note that there have been cases where no points have been scored at all. In this case, the slave is considered to have 'won'. Also, if skin on skin contact is made with the slave after he manages to put out his lantern and is still alive, it is considered wrong to then kill him/her (Especially as they can then be put to use in future games) As such, the official aim of any slave who participates in the brutal sport is to put out their lantern - which is very difficult to do and can cause them to set fire to themselves - then creep up on any player and touch them. If a player knows he's being crept up on, he is allowed to shoot at the slave before being touched, or merely to capture him and provide another lantern. There are, after all, many variations in this game and most dynasties have slightly different versions, though many (such as the Zulaca, the Paille, the Sitai, the Lynint and the Ackina) have not played it for years (while everyone but the Radacke, Rajor and Askara dynasties now tend to play it with slaves they wish to punish rather than randomly chosen ones)
For example, the Radacke Dynasty allows people to keep shooting at the slave even after the lanterns are out and the 'touch' rules don't apply, while the Sitai Dynasty tends to have three lanterns ready so that, as soon as the lantern is out, they like to bring the slave back in, fit it with another and start the process again. If the slave uses up all three of their lanterns, they are considered to have 'won' the game. Both the Lorak and the Konrath currently play a version where the aim is to shoot to injure, with hands and feet often counting for more points, rather than to kill (unless the game is being used as a form of execution) while the Rajor play it at dusk and take great pride in taking time with shooting the slave so that they die a lot slower. The Lynint and the Morealis also have a variation where the winner is whoever shoots the slave first, though it is sometimes difficult to tell.
Still, this is the standardised point system of the original game:Eye | 75 points | If both eyes are shot by the same person, they are considered to have won the game. This has only ever happened twice. |
Through the Heart | 50 points | Introduced by the Lynint Dynasty in 409AV |
Head | 40 points | |
Neck | 35 points | |
Chest | 30 points | Bonus points often allowed depending on how central the shot is. |
Shoulder | 25 points | |
Arm | 20 points | Arms are considered to be worth more than legs because they're tied behind the back |
Leg | 15 points | |
Any hit | 5 points | |
**Made by Adelaide Sitai