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Chaosium Digest Volume 17 Number 10
Chaosium Digest Volume 17, Number 10
Date: Sunday, December 22, 1996
Number: 2 of 2
Contents:
The Bey of Sinara (Frank Sronce) COC DREAMLANDS
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From: fsronce@tcac.com (Frank Sronce)
Subject: The Bey of Sinara
System: Call of Cthulhu: The Dreamlands
In my "The Children of the Worm" campaign, which is set wholly within
Earth's Dreamlands, two PCs attended the Festival of the Choosing of
the Bey in Sinara. This "change-of-pace" adventure went so well that I
decided to write up the details in full and offer it for other GMs.
This isn't really an adventure, as such. There is no deeper plot
running in the background, although an enterprising keeper could
certainly add one. The PCs attended the festival because they were
feeling "stressed-out" and their master recommended the festival as
something that everyone should attend at least once. It's also a great
excuse for a keeper to restore sufficient San to revive the
playability of his game. In my campaign, I tend to grant high San
awards, so I allowed the players to receive several times the benefit
actually recommended below.
I've left the actual mechanics of the contests up to the Keeper, but
the daily synopses hear should get you started.
Kiz (Frank Sronce)
THE BEY OF SINARA
"Sinara: a small city on the outskirts of the Liranian Desert. The
city is arabic in flavor and unusual in that the buildings, made of
marble, are in the shapes of tents and pavilions rippling in the
wind. The folk here area all swart, cheerful, ribald, and boisterous.
The only domestic animals are dromedaries, used for riding, burden,
and food. One variety of dromedary is raised solely for the delicate
garlicky flavor of its flesh. Sinara is ruled by a Bey who is not
hereditary, but chosen for his prowess in battle, singing, and
riding." -Chaosium, _The Dreamlands_
The selection of the next Bey of Sinara is a time of great revelry and
celebration, and men from miles around assemble to demonstrate their
talents. People from many cities congregate for the festival, which
lasts for more than a week. If your investigators really need an
opportunity to relax, unwind, and recoup a little lost Sanity, it's
hard to beat a festival in the Dreamlands. It's about as far away from
the mundane cares of the waking world as it's possible to get.
Investigators visiting the festival should be encouraged to
participate in as many competitions as they can. Success in an event
wins the participant a token of honor, a piece of brightly colored
cloth, specially embroidered, and tied about the arm. The GM can
consider each token worn to grant the character a bonus of at least +1
in Appearance for the duration of the festival. Everyone treats the
winners well. An investigator who actually performs well enough to
distinguish himself here will be deluged with congratulations, offered
free samples by every merchant, and surrounded by ardent admirers.
Sinara is a primitive, male-dominated society, but its festival is
open to all comers from any land. The competition for Bey is designed
so that foreigners can participate while still having no real chance
of becoming Bey. Not once in the history of Sinara has an outlander
held that position. As far as female investigators go, female
competitors would be a novelty here, but like any novelty they are
more than welcome at least so long as the festival lasts.
People begin setting up for the festivities nearly a week before the
actual competition begins, as various clans and families arrive in
Sinara. Merchants often travel for weeks just to be able to hawk their
wares here, and troups of entertainers come from all around hoping to
liberate a bit of coin from the participants, as well as spreading
word of their art to other cities. By the end of the week, real canvas
tents and pavilions will outnumber the carven marble ones. The
population of the city often quadruples during the festival.
There are two kinds of competitors here: the serious competitors who
are angling for the position of Bey, and those here merely to have fun
and demonstrate their skills before an enthusiastic crowd. The
serious competitors will generally be from Sinaran families, and each
will maintain a personal compound near the festival itself. They will
attempt to gather supporters and make business contacts. Competitors
who appear to have a serious chance of winning can make lucrative
business deals with fellow merchants here.
DESCRIBING THE FESTIVAL
If you've attended any kind of medieval fair or tournament, you should
have some idea of the kind of atmosphere that is present here. But
this is a dream-festival, so remember that the colors are brighter,
the women are prettier, the men are more dashing, the wine is sweeter,
and something is always happening somewhere. The festival never quite
sits still.
THE COMPETITION
By ancient tradition, the competition for Bey is based upon the three
virtues most prized by these people: battle, riding, and song.
Outsiders often miss the true nature of the tests. This competition
has been designed to select the best possible leader for Sinara, and
it works quite well.
The competition is held every three years, although the untimely death
of the current Bey could cause it to be re-scheduled.
THE FIRST DAY
The only competition on the first day is a simple test of riding
skill. The serious competitors rarely bother to participate in this
day's tests. Instead they will remain in their family compounds,
engaging in grueling practice sessions for the events ahead.
The first riding test is a simple one. Aged dromedaries are placed
inside the riding rings. All one need do is successfully mount the
animal (invariably chosen for their mild and easy-going disposition)
and ride it on a single loop around the circular track. Anyone
managing this simple feat is given a small piece of blue cloth to tie
about their arm. Similar awards are given for triumph in each of the
tests, with the more difficult competitions earning sashes of fine
silk with delicate embroidery. Competitors are expected to wear their
awards as a badge of honor for the duration of the competition.
The first riding test can be performed with ease by any child of
Sinara and is considered great fun for the children. Foreigners are
also encouraged to participate, particularly those who probably have
never ridden a camel in their life. Applause and hurrahs are given for
both the successful riders and the dramatic failures.
The second test adds one additional level of difficulty. The sash is
hung from a tall post, tall enough that the rider must stand on the
camel's back while riding past in order to seize it. By the end of
the day the camels sometimes become obstinate, and much hilarity
ensues when an unskilled rider ends up chasing the camel around the
ring.
These two are the only actual competitions performed on the first day,
and anyone may participate in either test whether or not they have
tried the other. Those who manage to fail in a particularly humorous
fashion are often encouraged to try several times.
As evening falls, the serious contenders size each other up and often
exchange boasts and insults. The entertainers go to work, each troup
putting on a display of dances, clownery, or acrobatics. The tribes of
the Liranian desert prize dancing skill, and several troups of
scantily clad dancers inevitably vie for the coins of attendants.
Actual nudity or lewdness is considered in bad taste here, but the
dancers sometimes test the local mores to the limit, particularly late
at night. The elders have occasionally forced dance troups to move
their act inside a tent if it was judged offensive.
THE SECOND DAY
The second day of the festivities marks the first serious competition.
A large number of chalk rings are drawn on the ground and wrestling
matches are staged. Leaving the ring (willingly or not) is considered
a loss, as is being pinned. Excessive brutality can lead to a
competitor being expelled from the remainder of the competition. The
serious competitors rarely face each other here. The only requirement
to pass this test is to defeat at least two opponents during the day's
bouts. The judges try to keep aggressive competitors from facing each
other, lest they take the bout too seriously and try to truly injure
each other. There is usually no shortage of young men eager to prove
their manliness. No particular order exists. When a winner is
declared, the judge will award him a sash of victory. Competitors with
two sashes are not allowed to participate further unless no other
wrestlers can be found.
Practically every man at the festival will participate in at least one
match unless particularly elderly or feeble. The wrestling matches are
not a major factor in the competition for Bey, so they are taken in a
lighthearted manner and both winners and losers are cheered by the
crowd.
As evening falls, great bonfires are lit and the participants gather
around them to dance. Musicians are sought for each fire and are
always in short supply, so investigators with any musical talents will
probably be called upon to provide dancing music. Everyone dances
around the larger fires, but around the smaller ones people dance one
at a time, demonstrating their agility and grace to the festival-goers.
Serious competitors rarely join the large dances, but are frequently
seen demonstrating their prowess by performing ancient tribal dances
often unique to their particular family. Wine is shared liberally, and
water-soaked blankets are kept close by to assist the occasional
drunken reveler who dances too close to a fire. Many a would-be Bey
has washed himself out of the competition by imbibing too heavily on
this night.
THE THIRD DAY
On the third day a more serious riding competition begins. The rings
are expanded into fenced-off tourney field for the riders. Wooden
circlets are placed near ground level on alternating sides. Each
competitor has only half a minute to circle the ring on camel-back
while snatching up the circlets. They are laid about on opposing
sides of the ring so that great dexterity and riding skill is required
to pass this test. The rider must lean off the side of his camel,
snatch up the ring, regain his seat, then immediately lean off the
other side to catch the next ring.
Much wagering occurs over who will pass the test and who will
fail. Supporters of a particular candidate always make sure to cheer
their man loudly here. Only fools boo or hiss and they are quickly
silenced by the crowd.
This is a serious and difficult competition, and can be dangerous for
anyone too drunk or insufficiently skilled for the feat.
As evening falls, the fires are relit. This is a night of song, and
those with skilled voices are encouraged to sing whatever they choose
before the crowd. The groups closest to the wine merchants inevitably
fall to singing only ribald ballads, but serious or romantic songs are
welcome and encouraged elsewhere. Foreigners are often asked to
perform here; if the song they choose should happen to be in a foreign
language, that only adds to the exotic flavor of it. Again, musicians
are in high demand, particularly those with a repertoire sufficient to
provide background music for a variety of songs. Minstels able to sing
and play at the same time are particularly lauded.
Sashes of honor for song are awarded by unlikely sources. The elders
of the town often let children or foreigners bestow a sash upon
whichever performer they liked best. People given a sash to award tend
to bestow it rapidly; it is considered very bad luck to end the night
without having found a performer worthy of it.
THE FOURTH DAY
A large number of chalk rings are drawn, and each would-be participant
is allowed to draw a ring of beads from a great basket. Those with
beads of the same color are taken to the same ring and begin a series
of stylized sword-duels, using padded weapons. Each ring has its own
judge, usually a man who performed well in previous festivals but who
is sitting out this one.
The sword-fights are won by the first person to land two clean blows
(in the decision of the judge). Leaving the ring is considered a clean
touch by the opponent. If doubt is incurred, the two may be separated
and matched with other opponents to allow for a rematch later that
day. The fighters strive to draw the support of the crowd, for judges
often ask the crowd's opinion on uncertain blows.
Several different awards are given out, depending upon how well the
competitor performed. The top two victors from each ring enter a new
drawing composed off all the best fighters and then duel each other to
determine the best swordsmen of the day. Absolute silence is required
by the judges for these events.
In the background of this, a monumental camel-auction is held. Camels
are run through paces similar to those of the previous day before a
crowd of potential buyers. If their lineage is linked to that of a
camel which was actually riden in the competition, then this fact is
always pointed out. Camels well-trained enough to actually be ridden
by serious competitors are occasionally sold in a much smaller but
more prestigious auction on the sixth day.
THE FIFTH DAY
By dawn, people are hard at work clearing fields and setting up
targets for the archery competition. Anyone capable of handling a bow
is allowed to participate, although all serious competitors will bring
their own, personal bows to the field. As the day progresses, more and
more difficult targets are set up, and anyone who passed the
requirements of the previous round is allowed to try his skill at the
next test. Each archer generally gets six shots. The initial
requirement is two hits of six at short range, but the test grows much
more difficult as the day wears on. More hits are required and the
targets are moved further away. The final round involves hitting a
target which is swinging back and forth and only the best archers are
able to succeed.
As evening falls, a single large bonfire is lit in the center of the
festival. In its ruddy light, the real singing competition is held.
The innermost ring of the audience is composed of the Sinaran elders
and their scribes, who bear with them written copies of all the
ancient Sinaran ballads. Absolute silence is required from the
audience. People unable to keep quiet are sternly escorted away. This
is the single most important event in the festival and the one
considered most influential in the selection of a new Bey.
Each competitor steps out into the ring around the fire and announces
which ancient ballad he has chosen to recite as a demonstration of his
skill. No music is provided; the singer must recite the ballad without
any outside aid. This is a test of memory, public speaking, and
knowledge of Sinaran culture. Each singer is graded on several points;
the elders take into account correct memorization, singing skill and
audience approval. The longer and more difficult the ballad chosen,
the greater the honor for the singer if he completes it successfully.
Clever improvisations may be accepted in particularly long ballads,
but anyone reciting a short ballad had best get every single word
correct.
Sinara has chosen Beys in the past who performed poorly in one event
but did well elsewhere, but a failure here indicates a lack of wit and
charm and can easily doom a would-be Bey. This event is not normally
open to outsiders, as only the traditional Sinaran ballads are
allowed. These are very lengthy songs, and competitors need to have as
many songs memorized as possible; the judges look very poorly upon
candidates who repeat a song already used unless they can prove
themselves notably superior to the prior attempt.
THE SIXTH DAY
This is the final day of competition. There is enormous pressure to
perform well here, as it is a candidate's last chance to distinguish
himself. First, the field is cleared for the final demonstration of
weapon skills. The sling has a long history in this region, dating
back before recorded history. While little used for hunting and war in
modern times, it is still an important part of the competition.
Indeed, many candidates find this their most difficult task, since the
other tests require skills used on a regular basis in their lives.
Persons inexperienced in the use of a sling are asked not to
participate. Moreso than a bow, a clumsy competitor here could easily
injure themselves or someone in the audience. Like the archery
contest, a wide variety of targets and ranges are used to narrow the
field down to the very best competitors. This competition is notably
shorter than the archery competition. It is not expected to last long
past noon.
As the slingstone competition ends, the crowds begin to gather for the
most popular event, the final, most spectacular riding competition.
This event actually combines riding with the weapon skills from prior
events. Competitors must ride around the field at great speed, using
sword, arrows, and finally the sling to strike carefully placed
targets.
After the best riders of the day are honored, the elders of Sinara
announce which candidates have performed well enough to be considered
for Bey. The number chosen has varied in the past from two to five,
but there will always be more than one even when one candidate has
clearly outshone all the rest. A candidate must have taken first place
in at least one serious competition to have any chance at all. After
the announcement, the elders retire for the night to confer and choose
a new Bey from the final candidates.
Great celebrations are held for every candidate in the
running. Everyone wants to pay their respects to each potential Bey,
in hopes of being remembered when the new Bey is finally chosen.
Camels ridden in the actual event are sometimes auctioned off after
the elders retire. These highly trained animals (whose quality has
already been proven) often bring exceptionally high prices.
THE SEVENTH DAY
On the morning of the seventh day, everyone assembles around the
pavilion of the Sinaran elders and awaits their decision. Eventually
the elder with the best speaking voice will come forth and stand on a
raised platform to announce their decision. A speech is given,
reminding the people of the virtues which a Bey must possess. Remarks
here often indicate the grounds on which the elders made their
decision.
Finally, the identity of the new Bey is announced and the chosen
candidate comes forth to receive the ceremonial blessing of the
elders. The new Bey will then declare a day of celebration and will
ride through the town leading a great parade. Flowers are showered
upon them by the women of the town.
As evening nears, a great feast is held. Only those bearing trophies
from important events are allowed to sit near the new Bey and the
tribal elders. Much singing and dancing ensues. The new Bey will
remain at the table of the elders to discuss any new policies. Others
may celebrate in drunken revelry, but the new Bey now has higher
responsibilities. This also helps keep him from becoming embroiled in
fights with jealous rivals.
THE WEEK AFTER
The festival slowly winds down during the next few days. Many
merchants leave at once, while others remain to hawk their remaining
wares to the dwindling crowds. Merchants often remain to congratulate
the new Bey, but those who supported him before his victory are always
treated better than those who did not.
Sinara slowly shrinks back down to its original size. Foreigners who
remain beyond the week may be looked upon with suspicion like a
houseguest who will not leave.
PLOT HOOKS IN SINARA
The festival is really better used as a change of pace from your
typical adventures than a plot hook itself, but there are some ways
that players might become embroiled in plots here.
* Perhaps one would-be Bey actually has evil plans for Sinara and the
investigators need to prevent his victory. He may intend to cheat in
various events, possibly even poisoning his major opponents.
* Perhaps one investigator's dream-self has spent many years in Sinara
and wishes to become Bey. If your campaign centers on the waking
world, there is little harm in having an investigator's dream-self
become tied down to one spot, particularly if it allows him new
influence and power in the Dreamlands.
* Perhaps a villain's dream-self chooses the festival as a likely
place to hide from the investigators. This would be most effective if
the investigators had only a few days left to find him, as their
desperate search could run in contrast to the ever-changing event of
the festival.
* Perhaps the festival is linked to some real-world event and a
problem there can be dealt with or at least studied in the Dreamlands.
Remember that days or weeks of time can pass in the Dreamlands in the
space of a single night in the waking world. The real-world event need
not be a festival; the Choosing of the Bey could easily be a
dream-analogue to a waking world election.
* If the Dreamlands is important to your campaign, then making an ally
out of the new Bey could be a big step forward for any Dreamlands
merchant or diplomat.
* And, of course, if you want a good opportunity for the investigators
to meet new NPCs from the waking world or the Dreamlands, this is an
obvious place for them to put in an appearance. And think how
interesting things could become if someone recognizes Clarissa of the
Thousand Veils as someone they've met in the waking world (whether
Clarissa is consciously aware of her waking world self or not).
SANITY REWARDS
The Festival of the Choosing of the Bey is a dream of revelry of good
natured fun. For characters who attend it, I recommend a benefit of 1
to 6 points of San, depending upon how much they participated in the
festivities. Of course, this assumes that there are no "normal" plots
occuring at the festival.
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